Well, I arrived back from my ministry tour in Africa and have taken a few days to catch up with the time difference — 9 hours to be exact. The time difference is one thing, but the loss of sleep due to strange beds, strange foods, and strange tongues also took its toll. All that to say, it is really good to be home again.
I won’t bore you with all the details as it would be a book. Everyone asks how it went and my short answer is really well. I was able to catch up with old friends, make new friends, and encourage many along the way toward loving the Lord and walking with Him. It seems like my consistent, and more potent message is about learning how to love the Lord and walk with Him. There is so much more power and freedom to walk with Jesus when we understand how great is His love toward us. That is why Apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesian church:
“to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
The actual success of my trip is difficult to measure in that most of it was teaching and training disciples to become and to make disciples. In fact, even before I returned home some in Uvira were already starting new Discovery Bible Study groups.
There were about 35 folk at the Uvira conference representing different areas of eastern Congo where we now have DBS groups — an area that covers about 600km north to south. You will find photos of these dear folk on our website: https://theriver4.wixsite.com/website.
Arriving in Rwanda the next day I took a small bus to the Congo border, buying the seat next to me for $6 just so I would not have to travel like a sardine in a can. Six hours later, traveling across the beautiful mountainous terrain of Rwanda I got to the border and met Mbirima who came with a borrowed car to take me the rest of the way to Uvira the next day.
The guys put me in the back seat as we drove through a dangerous corridor to prevent me from getting shot – as in bullet. Bandits normally shoot the passenger in the front seat to get the driver to stop. We arrived safely but the joke from that point on was, “Who is going to sit in the front?” (Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase, “I want to ride shotgun!”)
Our Great Harvest church in Uvira decided to not allow me to pay for the conference food as is normal. What a blessing to see such generosity coming from the poor. A true move of God is when God’s people not only open up their hearts but their pocket books as well. Generosity was one of the marks of the early church in Acts.
From Uvira, Congo Mbirima and I made our way back to Kigali, Rwanda to meet with two guys and train them to do DBS groups. The church in Rwanda has suffered much persecution from the government closing 6 to 8 thousand churches last year and requiring pastors to be certified by the government. This is potentially a hindrance for the expansion of the Gospel with DBS groups transforming into house churches (our basic vision). Nonetheless, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God…” Acts 4:19. The government now requires a “church” to have a proper building and the pastor to be certified by the government. Our model is exactly the opposite. The Gospel slows down tremendously when buildings and professional pastors are required in the context of undeveloped nations.
Busimana is one of those we trained. He is part of a government-sanctioned church and he has a theology degree, but his pastor will not allow him to teach. His heart is to go to the villages and bring the Gospel, but both the regulations of the government and the suffocating demands of a controlling pastor have prevented him till now. Perhaps after our encouragement he will have strength to go and share the Gospel with others. Please pray for him.
Next stop was our bush conference in Monapo, Mozambique for our Makua pastors. Getting there each day was challenging. We had to travel by chapa (a minivan crammed with up to 25 people), semi-truck, or personal taxi, and a 10k motorcycle trip into the bush — a severe test to the gluteus maximus.
After the first day we both went back to our motel sick and discouraged. It was only prayer that got us there the next day. Yet by the end of that day eight young men stood to receive Christ, and we were able to pray for each of our pastors individually.
The Makua tribe is in such need of the Gospel. Drunkenness and immorality is prevalent and the cultural practices are detestable. When a family’s daughter comes to age (around 12 or so), she is given to a man of the father’s choosing for sex to “draw blood”. This is her initiation into womanhood. Witchcraft and the worship of trees are the norm. Yet we see the truth of the Gospel changing lives. According to the testimony of one man I prayed with last year, he was set free from alcoholism. This year, with a big grin on his face, he asked for prayer to overcome smoking.
Finally, our time in Lichinga was just as powerful. As we had Muslims and Christians alike in attendance, I didn’t quite know what to do. I had much teaching prepared, but it didn’t seem like anything I prepared was a fit. In speaking with Kath back home she suggested that we share about Jesus and the antichrist spirit from 1 John. I read 1 John that day and felt strongly to teach it right from chapter 1 and get through as much as we could. So many important truths there, especially about the Identity of Jesus, which is just what the Doctor ordered for those at the conference. Three men gave their lives to Christ, including two Muslims (one a mosque leader called an Imam), and one Catholic guy. Mbirima was the main speaker and I just got to add tidbits here and there, but that’s what one who disciples others does — he releases them to do the works of ministry. What fun just to see our disciples in action ministering.
We still have much to do in Africa. The needs are great, but our God is greater. If the Lord wills we will return next year and to wherever else the Lord opens the doors.
Mbirima will soon be going to an undisclosed place to bring the Gospel to a people of 100% Muslims. He has an old friend there, an Imam, who has welcomed him. Much prayer needed for that!
Others have welcomed us to Zambia and even Dubai. We are praying and are open to wherever the Lord takes us. I love this quote I recently posted in FB by David Livingston:
God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours.
David Livingstone (*1813, †1878)
We will continue to go as He continues to provide. Thanks to each of you for doing your part. You are very much loved and appreciated.
Kevin & Katherine Bubna
Great Harvest International Ministries
You can give to Kevin and Katherine Bubna online. Credit card submissions take a 3% fee; however, ACH (electronic check) transactions are free. (“Notwithstanding any other statements in this communication, all contributions to MVI are under MVI’s full discretion and control by IRS regulations, and MVI is accredited
