Dear partners in the mission
1998-2008: Reformed Faith and Life has been operating as a Reformed radio
ministry in the French language for almost 10 years (the exact anniversary being
on 29 November, when, in 1998, I was ordained minister of the Word in the
Reformed Churches in South Africa). From
hesitant beginnings facing major challenges, RFL has grown to become a partner
of several international Christian broadcasters and of more than 40 FM stations
around the globe. On the African
continent, FM Christian stations now approach us directly to receive our
programmes and put them on the air. The
last such request came earlier this year from... Timbuktu, the legendary (but
very real!) city of Mali in West Africa. New
opportunities for broadcasting are also opening up in Cameroon and even France.
Reflecting on this growth, and on many new challenges, I am reminded that
the Triune God who sends his servants on the mission field, has a plan which he
carries out Himself, just like in the book of the Acts of the Apostles the main
character is not Peter, John, Philip or Paul, but the Holy Spirit working to
spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth!
After chapter 12, Peter is not mentioned anymore, and, like in a relay
race, Paul and Barnabas take on the task of going further to carry out the
mandate given by Jesus to his disciples in chapter 1 verse 8.
Even at the end of the book of Acts, Paul’s own race is not completed,
for we know that afterwards he did other missionary travels and spread the Word
further. Even today this relay race
continues, carried out by a succession of servants of the Word, but still
conducted from heaven by the Holy Spirit, who is Lord and Giver of Life (as we
confess with the fathers of Nicea-Constantinople).
This is also the wonder of God’s Covenant, who raises new generations
of believers and ministers of the Word.
Earlier this month my father Rev. Aaron R. Kayayan passed away at the age of
eighty. After working for many years as a missionary through radio broadcasts
and also producing much Christian literature in French, he had launched the
ministry of Reformed Faith and Life with fellow Reformed believers in North
America and South Africa. The idea
was that this radio and literature ministry in French should continue after his
official retirement (in the meantime he had started a similar ministry in
Armenian - his mother tongue - which
he pursued till a few weeks before he departed this life).
Generations pass, but God’s plan must and will be fulfilled for
ultimately this plan does not originate in a man’s will, but in God’s
eternity. Heaven and earth will
pass away, but my words will never pass away said our Lord Jesus Christ
(Mat. 24:35). A different conviction
than this one for those who want to go on the mission field is simply impure,
unworthy of the divine Master who
calls workers to go sow and harvest on His field.
It is therefore with this conviction that I intend to continue laboring on
the particular field I have been called to sow and harvest, for as many years as
the Lord will allow. You are
partners of this mission, by your prayers, interest and concrete support.
Please keep doing so, for Reformed Faith and Life needs you active
involvement.
In Christ’s service
Rev. Eric Kayayan