Dear friends
When the apostle Paul set out for his first missionary journey, he first reached two harbor cities on the island of Cyprus, then another one in Pamphylia (today Southern Turkey). During his second, third and fourth missionary journeys, harbors were almost always his next destination, when traveling from one place to another. The reason for this is easy to understand: harbors were at the same time main commercial centers as well as prime communication points. The latest news, trends and fashions were first conveyed to harbors. There were no better places for conveying the Gospel and helping it spread further.
Today this state of affairs is still true of Africa: for instance the main harbors on the Gulf of Guinea (Central and West Africa) form a chain of cities through which ideas and fashions circulate in a remarkable way. Just one example to illustrate the rapidity of this circulation: a few years ago, a strange rumor was spread along this axis, according to which some people were passing on AIDS to other people simply by crossing them in the street and touching their hands in a certain way. Fear of contamination spread like a fire from Douala to Dakar. Some suspects were killed by infuriated mobs.
From its inception, Reformed Faith and Life has set as a goal to establish itself in as many French speaking cities of this coastal region as possible. Abidjan, Lomé, Douala already form part of this network, through radio stations which broadcast our programmes. Shouldn’t the Good News of Christ’s healing power replace strange rumors with devastating effects?
Our network alongside this coastal axis is slowly but surely becoming larger. Lately, RFL has managed to come on the air in two important cities of the other Congo: Brazzaville (political capital) and Pointe Noire (economic capital). Other possibilities of broadcasting in this country are emerging little by little. Local pastors keen on collaborating with RFL manifest their interest and offer their help. We always seek new sources of finances when we hear of new possibilities. Our budget has to increase if the Gospel is to be proclaimed in new places by way of radio waves.
The real treasure, however, is this Word of truth and comfort which God has addressed to all mankind. About this treasure, Paul writes in his second letter to the Corinthians (4:7): “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” Sometimes, the jar of clay gets a crack on it. It may be a small one, it may be a large one, which makes you wonder whether the jar will not completely fall apart. But when God decided to put his treasure in a jar of clay, you can be sure that the jar will not fall apart. God Himself will fix the crack and show that the all surpassing power of His Word comes from Him, not from us. May His name be glorified through good and bad times.
Rev. Eric Kayayan