I woke up thinking about this on Sunday morning, in my USA home:
1. Why is it that in the land, where we can afford to make phone calls, that I get more calls from Africa from one friend (David, my Tanzania partner) than I get from all my friends combined in the USA? (I do have many good friends that return my calls, after I call them!)
2. Why is it that when I visit a church and see people I know and I share that I have little fellowship in this country that none of them ever call me to invite me back or stay in touch with me, even though they are very interested and supportive of the things I share with them?
3. Why do I get more email replies from Africans who walk and pay to use the internet than I do from a larger list of Americans who have unlimited internet in their homes or phones?
4. Why do I know three African leaders who have learned from my example to usually carry a book to read to use their time well, but I don’t know any Americans who have learned from my habits except one old friend who memorizes scripture and my youngest daughter who loves to read and actually walks through the house reading as I did at her age.
5. Why did my most successful USA ministry happen with mostly Mexican immigrants, who did not have regular jobs?
6. Why do my best African leaders live with their wives and children in small two room houses and trust God for food while they work harder for the kingdom of God with many more scores of personal converts than most Americans?
7. Why did one of my African friends in the USA tell me that American Christian leaders say they are radical, but they are not, and she highly respects what I do in Africa.
8. Why is a friendly, likable person, like me, happy in Africa and lonely in America?
I know a number of you follow-up on new visitors to your meetings, and you already carry books to read and my life here is without the spouse and children that many of you have. But I suspect….
You are part of Americanized Christianity! But it’s not biblical!
1. You are busy working to pay for and maintaining vehicles newer than the 93 Ford that I drive.
2. You likely watch more television than I do.
3. You probably pay rent or mortgages and repair costs on nicer looking property than I have.
4. You haven’t given up the time-consuming comforts of western life for the basic command of loving God and your neighbor, which all require time for relationship!
5. You have friends and family through home, work, and school, so you are not conscious of the visitor’s lack of Christian fellowship.
6. Many or most of you have not obeyed the command to give up everything for the sake of the gospel that you might receive 100 times as much in this life and eternal life.
I really appreciate many of you, especially those who give us money or prayer time and truly love my wife & I, but if you love someone you tell them the truth, even if it is the “faithful…wounds of a friend.” Also, I don’t expect others to be like me. I was called to Africa and painful self-discipline, perhaps more than others, but all of you were called to “deny himself and take up his cross daily.” Luke 9:23. Just consider my words and ask God how He wants you to be a Kingdom disciple not an Americanized or westernized disciple. Keep praying for my wife, who is ever so slightly improved from her mysterious headaches, but says she is still too sick for a 3 minute ride to town and 20 minutes of errands. I know God remembers all that you have done in secret for His kingdom. We do have two mature leaders in Gisenyi just beginning a 40 day fast, and David in Tanzania, is finding a quiet place for a 7 day fast. Not things I like to do, but I have done them both.
I worked on information tools that help me serve the Lord and made phone calls this morning, because I have no American who wants to help me plant a church or friends that show any change when I visit their meetings, but I have a church planting idea among the local Mexicans.
I did enjoy the fellowship part of an African Fellowship meeting tonight and found a white young man to work on my van & an older white guy to give me price on some carpentry work to continue building the porch on the front of my house, since I already own the framing and trusses.
Naye Lia kwa Mapenzi na Furaha,…
or
He Who Weeps with Love & Joy, for the Beautiful African Bride of Christ
(Known in the past as Greg Cunningham)
Mail & donations to:
New Wave Ministry
29731 C. Rd. 28
Elkhart, IN 46517, USA
Or Chase New Wave Ministry Account # 736 971 904—Locations at www.chase.com
www.newwaveministry.com–with a Great slide show & credit card donation buttons
(+) 1-828-367-0115 All the time
(+ )1-574-679-0011 or 295 9696 Cunningham Air & Heat (working in IN, MI, & even ALL USA)
(+) 1-877-679-0011 Free from US phones for African visitors or if your free long-distance won’t work
Three New Waves:
Ø Passionate Love————–From & for Jesus
Ø Never-Ending Humility—To follow the King
Ø Total Sacrifice ————–Living out His Love & Humility
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