Political Activism, Radical Faith, and the Believer's Responsibility

"A certain amount of healthy and balanced concern about current trends in government and the community is acceptable, as long as we realize that such interest is not vital to our spiritual lives, our righteous testimony or the advancement of the kingdom of Christ. Above all, the believer's political involvement should never displace the priority of preaching and teaching the gospel because the morality and righteousness that God seeks is the result of salvation and sanctification." - John MacArthur, from 'Why Government Can't Save You' (emphasis mine)

I read the above quote from a book written by John MacArthur and it prompted my quick and sincere agreement. The fact is that as American citizens we have been blessed by God with the gift of a representative government (it's not a pure democracy, but that's a discussion for another time). God is sovereign and according to His sovereign plan we (American citizens) have been born into a constitutional republic called The United States of America. And this republic has a government that was designed and established not to give us rights, but to protect our God-given rights as the founders of this country understood them. Some of these rights and privileges have to do with voting and running for office, both being a means to have our voices represented in government, be it local, regional, state, or national. We should all thank God for the privilege of living in a country that honors and protects these rights, and we should be keen to make our voices heard and to use our gifts and talents in government according to God's will.

That being said, being a political activist, a politician, a talk show host, a banner bearer, a sign waver, or even just a simple, unknown voter, is completely moot in regards to the Kingdom of Christ if it is being done apart from authentic, biblical, disciplined, Christian faith. It is only the saving, sanctifying, transforming power of God that provides a worthy candidate for office. It is only by the saving grace of God in Christ Jesus and the resulting empowering of His Holy Spirit that a person blessed with the privilege of a vote can actually make full use of it for the Kingdom of Christ. I agree that more Christian believers should vote and get involved in their country's politics. The truth is, though, that most Americans who attend church and/or go by the name "christian" don't really know Christ very well, if at all. Most American "christians" don't truly call Him Lord; He is not their Master or the one whom they serve wholeheartedly. So what good would more "moral" or "traditional" or "conservative" people do in American politics. Those kinds of people are already a dime a dozen and most are doing terrible jobs, hurting more than helping (other than helping themselves to lobbyist monies, earmarks, and pork barrel spending)! And lest you think I'm throwing the baby out with the bath water, I know there are some truly awesome and sincere believers involved in American politics at many different levels who are doing a tremendous job representing the people, and Christ, in a totally corrupt and degenerate system. That's who we need more of. But, as John MacArthur so clearly points out in the above quote, the morality and righteousness that so many Christians are seeking for in American government and daily life is something that results from salvation and sanctification, not from legislation or politics. If only we could get our priorities straight as the Church of Christ here in America, maybe we truly could make progress towards having a government that actually represents us. If we, as the body of Christ, judged ourselves and allowed the sanctifying power of Christ to change our hearts; if, by the empowering of His Holy Spirit, we were vessels of righteousness bringing the truth, love, and power of the gospel to our communities; if we could do this - living as true disciples - then whatever true change in our society is possible according to the sovereign grace of God would take place. By working on the problem from the proper paradigm we'll find that we could possibly change our country one neighborhood at a time, accomplishing the very thing in our entire nation that we had originally hoped to convince our neighbors to do through legislation.

Regarding California Proposition 8

I know that for some this topic is painful, divisive, frustrating, and just plain emotional. But silence on my part does not show tolerance and love towards others, but rather a disregard for them by not being willing to politely explain the truth - which in itself is one of the most sacred responsibilities of true love.

Proposition 8, on the ballot in California this November, is not a long and confusing document. It is actually quite short and to the point, being only 14 words long. The entire text of Proposition 8 is as follows: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California."

So why are the two opposing camps spending so much money to convince voters to cast their votes one way or the other? Let's look at the "NOs" first.

Why does the "No On Prop 8" camp feel so strongly? According to what I've seen and heard in the television ads, Internet ads, radio ads, billboards, and conversations, it appears that opponents to Proposition 8 feel as if the passing of this law somehow takes away their rights. Whether this feeling of having their rights offended is something reasoned or learned, whether by thought or pure propaganda, the effect is the same: they are incensed and outraged that anyone would try to take their rights away from them. If I were a homosexual, I imagine that I would feel the same way. Especially if I hadn't considered all the facts.

But the fact is that under current California law (CA Family Code 297.5), all "domestic partners" are allowed the same exact rights as a "spouse". So in all actuality, to clearly define "marriage" as being between a man and a woman does not "strip", "remove", or "steal" any rights of domestic partnership. They already exist. Interestingly enough, the very law that gives all "domestic partners" this spousal equivalency, by it's very existence and wording, clarifies the natural reality that a "spouse" is by definition someone other than a "domestic partner", while at the same time maintaining equal access to health benefits and other privileges typically accorded a "spouse". If a homosexual couple seeks legal recognition as such, they "need only file a 'Declaration of Domestic Partnership' with the secretary of state, who adds it to a statewide database. (Cal. Fam. Code sec. 298.5(a), (b).) It's harder to redeem frequent-flier miles than to register as domestic partners." (Quoted from the blog of Oasis California, a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender organization in California - http://www.news.oasiscalifornia.org/2008/09/domestic-partnership-vs-marriage.html).

The only major difference in the State of California between a "marriage" and a "domestic partnership" is the title itself. Having said this, I can understand why homosexual partners would prefer the title of "marriage" over "domestic partnership". The title of "marriage" or being married just sounds right. It has history and legitimacy and strength. If a homosexual partnership can legally use this title, instead of the made-up title of "domestic partnership", it could theoretically help them to accomplish the sense of equality so longed for in the homosexual community. So... I can and do see why it's important for so many homosexuals in the State of California (and in other states for that matter) to see that Proposition 8 fails so they can continue their quest for "equality" as "married" persons and not just "domestic partners". Again, I would most likely be campaigning similarly if I were a homosexual.

So now let's look at the camp of those promoting Proposition 8 and the "Protect Marriage" campaign. Why do they want Prop 8 passed? If California "domestic partners" and "spouses" already have the same rights under California law, what's the big deal in just using the same title for everyone, regardless of being homosexual or heterosexual?

In theory, because of the current rights and protections under California law, it would seem that there is no real legitimate reason for fighting for a clear definition of marriage as that of a man and woman only. Whether you are a male or female "spouse", or a male or female "domestic partner", the only major difference in the State of California is the title itself. So why not allow "domestic partners" to call themselves "spouses"? There are a few reasons why the "Protect Marriage" folks feel the way they do. Let's take a closer look.

One of the reasons that you will here from many Prop 8 supporters is the fact that marriage always has been defined as being between a man and a woman. The word "marriage" carries with it a sense of honor, respect and commitment that's based on centuries of historical practice and observation (even despite the modern-day divorce epidemic). This is, of course, one of the reasons that this title is so sought after by homosexual partners over the title of "domestic partner". Historically, anything outside of marriage has been referred to as "an affair" or "liaison", be it heterosexual or homosexual. I have to say that I, too, am often frustrated by the re-defining of words that have for eons meant one thing but now mean another just because of popular culture or because "we say so". Whether this is in and of itself a strong enough reason to support Prop 8 is unlikely, but its still a piece of the puzzle.

Another reason given, and seen in many of the television and internet ads, is the lesson learned from the State of Massachusetts on this very issue. While it has been counter-advertised that these claims are "not true" by the opponents to Prop 8, I guarantee that I did due diligence to verify the information before posting it on this blog. It is a fact that in multiple cases the Sate of Massachusetts has taught homosexual marriage to young children and then used the State laws regarding homosexual marriage as their foundation for being allowed to do so. In both cases they did it without parental notification and when parental notification was requested by the parents they were denied. When one of the parents asked if they could remove their child from class for the days on which the topic was being taught, the Massachusetts courts told them NO.

The following video is simple and informative in regards to the potential legal ramifications if Propostion 8 is not passed:


Here is a video from the Family Research Council documenting the example of the five-year-old Kindergarten student being taught about homosexual marriage in Massachusetts:


Neither of these videos are intended by me as "scare tactics", nor are they untrue. They are simply examples of the potentialities in the State of California if "domestic partners" and "spouses" become one and the same.

It seems to me that the only thing "lost" by homosexual partners in the State of California - if Proposition 8 were to pass - is the possibility of being able to officially use the title of "married" or "spouse". And again, I have to be honest and recognize that I would prefer that title as well if I were in a homosexual partnership as the historically defined term is a respectable one. But that doesn't change the fact that the definition of marriage is what it is because the definition is what it is. I realize that sounds trite, but it's still true. The reason that marriage is defined as being a life covenant between one man and one woman is because a life covenant between one man and one woman is what marriage is. This definition was not some random thought of a homophobic heterosexual wordsmith. It's the actual definition, understood by those who first received the instructions regarding marriage from God Himself, and then recognized by the billions of souls and countless generations it was passed along to since. Even in cultures which have already changed the true definition of marriage, the truth of what marriage is and always was can still be found in that culture, if you look.

In the ongoing debate over this issue, locally and nationally, I often hear the term "traditional marriage" used. While I understand what is meant by that phrase - the traditional marriage of one man and one woman - I shy away from using it. Why? My perspective is a bit different, having traveled to and lived in other cultures. Where we currently live, it is traditional for a man to marry several women. Should I fight for this type of "traditional marriage"? The issue I have is with the word "tradition". I don't believe our primary motivation for belief, taking a stance, or "fighting" for something should be based upon tradition. It's like a friend of mine once said. His wife's family had a tradition of eating waffles every Saturday and he didn't like waffles. So he got rid of that tradition. The truth of God, His commands, His ways, His will - these always trump tradition. So if God says "traditional marriage" is wrong, then we should get rid of it. In the case of polygamy being considered "traditional marriage", God says it's wrong. In the case of one man and one woman being married, God says it's right, so that is what we should hold to. Not because of traditions, but because of the truth that our Creator communicated to us.

So, in an attempt to conclude my thoughts... It would appear that those who are currently protected as "domestic partners" under California law, really have nothing to lose other than the potential for using the titles "marriage" and "spouse" instead of "domestic partnership" and "domestic partner". But for those who believe that marriage is a sacred institution designed and defined by our Creator Himself, there is a clear reason for defending it as such. Additionally, there is the clear evidence of history that, ironically, provides us with foresight into what could, and probably would happen in California if the definition of marriage is not protected, and instead changed to include anything other than one man and one woman in covenant.

I have been honest and even tried to put myself into the shoes of the homosexual individual so that I might try to imagine their thoughts and feelings on the subject. For those who know me well you know why doing this is so important to me. Having done that, I cannot agree that the importance of what may be gained for the cause of the homosexual community by defeating Prop 8 is greater than the importance of what may be gained for the truth of God's Word and for the families who must live under the laws of the Sate of California should Prop 8 pass.

True love is honest. And though some people very dear to me will be very upset with me over these words, I must trust God with those relationships and honor His word and His truth above my own desires for avoiding conflict or the world's cries for "tolerance" as they define it.

Jasmine Grace pictures

Here's a few pics of Jasmine from days one and two. This will get you started, but for more pics visit our gallery here - http://gallery.me.com/thelangleyclan

Grace... Jasmine Grace that is!

We want to thank God for his goodness and grace to us. Carrie delivered our fifth child early yesterday, Monday, October 13th, 2008, at 9:35am in San Diego, California, USA. She was 8 pounds 8 ounces and 19.5 inches long. Her name is JASMINE GRACE LANGLEY and she and mom are both doing well. Carrie did a terrific job. Thanks for you prayer. We'll put up some pics soon.

The Hand of God in London (Part 2)

So... last I wrote I had just arrived in East Dulwich, London. My friend Ayo hooked me up with a Pastor from Calvary Chapel South London named Patrick. He and his wife, Sarah, took me in for the two days and two nights. They have two great kids, both boys, and staying with them was a real blessing.

(I know for some what I'm about to say doesn't seem like that big of a deal. But for me, personally, finding true, biblical hospitality, love, and fellowship with other Christians who are otherwise complete strangers is a tremendous joy.)

Upon arriving at the Pierre-Powell home in London, Patrick welcomed me in and showed me around. Then we spent a little time getting to know one another. One of the reasons I enjoyed the conversation was the very fact that I was sitting in his home with my backpack unpacked, already having seen where I'd be sleeping, where the bathroom was located, etc., and yet just then actually getting to know one another. That's one of the reasons that it stands out in my mind as such a great example of Biblical Christianity. Ayo - a brother in Christ whom I barely knew to begin with - wanted to bless me with a place to stay to allow me to layover in London for a couple of days to visit the local church family. When he couldn't fulfill the need himself due to unforeseen circumstances, he simply asked another brother from yet another local church family if he could help meet the need of a Christian brother whom he had never met or heard of, and voila! There I was. What a blessing.

After a while Sarah came home with their youngest son. A bit later we were eating some delicious Indian food and having a great time getting to know one another around the dinner table. We stayed up rather late talking and planning out the next day, and then I went to bed; blessed, full, and very tired.

Saturday morning I woke to a warm and happy home. Sarah was very thoughtful and offered to make whatever I'd like for breakfast. As usual, I told her that if it starts with an 'f', ends with a 'd' and has an 'oo' in the middle, then I'll eat it! Seeing that I was trying to be an easy and flexible guest, she quickly conjured a common American stereotype and applied it to the situation: she offered to make pancakes. She even had a box of 'Hungry Jack' brand pancake mix that another American friend had brought to them as a gift (which made me laugh of course). I was very pleased, and I'm sure I furthered the common belief that all Americans love pancakes for breakfast. The funny thing is that I'm enthusiastic about having pancakes for breakfast for the simple reason that I rarely do! So we ate a delicious breakfast together before heading off to fulfill our various schedules.

While Sarah and Patrick had their own commitments to keep, I walked over to the bus stop (after Patrick gave me his Oyster card and helped me to load some money onto it), and caught the 176 north to London's city center (Picadilly Circus to be exact). When the bus came I saw that it had a second level and immediately decided to ride up top. It wasn't one of those double-decker tour buses with an uncovered second level; just a regular public transport bus that was two stories high, so I figured I could see more and take some pictures from up top. It wasn't until about five minutes after the bus pulled away that I realized I had left my camera at my hosts' home! Typical.

The bus stopped what seemed to be every single block, so the ride took a bit. Along the way I took "mental pictures" of the various burroughs of London, the River Thames, the various bridges across the River Thames, the people, the architecture, etc. About fifty minutes later I arrived at my destination, which is basically "downtown" London. That's where I met Ayo, my guide for the day. He walked around London with me and tried to point out a few sights. After being in East Africa alone for so long, I really just needed koinonia, so we mostly just talked a lot and encouraged one another in spiritual things as we walked around the city. As much as I love history, architecture, and other cultural things, that day, those hobbies took a back seat to my desire for good friends and fellowship, which worked out well for Ayo. (I love you fam, but you're a terrible London tour guide!) He did take me to a museum to show me some ancient something-or-other from the Biblical Book of 1 Chronicles. But after getting lost in the museum looking for it (literally), we finally asked one of the museum employees and were told that we were at the wrong museum. Afterwards, we actually did manage to find Buckingham Palace (if he would have failed that one I would have reported him and asked that he be deported).

We sat outside of the biggest house I've ever seen for quite a while (Buckingham), talking and sharpening one another, and then meandered back to where we started. Then we took the Tube to Tower Hill and walked to another brother's place over by St. Catherine's Wharf. His name is Alistair, and he and Tim and Dan all met up with us at the market where we bought groceries to cook up for dinner. We took the supplies back to Alistair's house (his wife was gone), and then Tim, Alistair, and Dan whipped up a killer dinner of spaghetti and meatballs, hamburgers, salad, and rolls, which we ate out on the balcony facing the garden courtyard. The food was so good (kudos especially to Tim), but more importantly, the fellowship was great. I needed it so much. After dinner we had a time of worship and then we had communion together, which they asked me to lead. Then we topped off the night with cake and coffee/tea. It was such a great time.

When it was time to go, Dan (an American who has been living in London for about two years now) escorted me via bus back to East Dulwich. He told me it would be no problem. He said we'd jump on the 100 bus to 'Elephant and Castle' and then take the 185 to East Dulwhich. As we rode along on the bus we got to talk and learn more about one another. After a bit I realized the bus was stopped and nobody else was on the bus. So I asked Dan how much further it was. He said, "I think it's the next stop." Then he realized the bus wasn't moving and walked to the front to ask the driver. He sheepishly told me, "This is our stop." It was funny. Then we walked over to the other bus stop to catch the 185 (according to Dan). When we got there I noticed that the sign listed several different buses, none of them the 185 that Dan mentioned. I pointed out the correct bus to Dan and then spent the rest of the trip harassing him about how he was supposed to make sure I got back okay and couldn't even get there himself without my help. It was a little funny.

The next morning was church. I walked with Patrick over to the school where Calvary Chapel South London meets. It was so reminiscent of Grace Chapel in the early days: meeting in a school, going early to set up the chairs and the sound system, getting the children's ministry ready, etc. It was like being transported back in time about seven years. The service was great, and family of Christ was so welcoming. They even asked me to come up and share briefly about who we are and what we're doing in Tanzania.



After church, we hung around and had fellowship for some time. Since Ayo fellowships at Calvary Chapel Docklands and Patrick and his family had to go to a relative's house after service, they had arranged for a "babysitter" for me - Peter Beggs. Pete is a great brother. We walked together from the school to a nearby bus stop, planning to take a couple of buses to the home of Mark and Tabitha Fyffe for food and fellowship. We waited at the bus stop for a bit but Pete seemed a bit confused about whether it was the right one or not. We then decided to walk a ways to another bus stop, nearby the Pierre-Powell's home. We got there and Pete told me where we were going and the bus we were waiting for. When I looked at the bus stop sign it didn't jive with what Pete was saying, but he assured me that we were in the right place and that it only looked confusing because the bus turned around nearby. We waited... and waited... and waited. I eventually convinced him to look at the bus stop accross the street where the buses were headed in the other direction (the direction that looked right according to my reckoning). He reluctantnly crossed over with me and I showed him the map on this stop and how it looked to be the correct direction. Just as I was convincing him of this our bus arrived and we boarded. That was the second time now that I'd had to help one of my hosts to help me find my way around. It was such fun to harass them all about it.

We arrived at the Fyffe's home, where they were celebrating their oldest son's 16th birthday. It was so much fun. I met a bunch of people from the church again and a few others that I hadn't yet met. The food was awesome! A new brother named 'Jack' (real name withheld for privacy) had made most of it and it was really, really good. We had curry goat, jerk chicken, fried plantains, some other stuff, and most importantly, homemade mac and cheese. "Jack's" mac and cheese was honestly the BEST I've ever had, and I let him know about it. He had just come to live with the Fyffe's five days earlier after having been on the streets and addicted to alcohol. Mark and some other brothers met "Jack" on the streets and told him about Christ. After "Jack" repented and called upon Christ as Lord and Saviour, Mark offered him shelter and the opportunity for fellowship and encouragement until he got back on his feet. (As of the writing of this blog, "Jack's" health is in jeapordy. He has quit drinking and his body is having a severe reaction to the change. He had been consuming massive quantities of alcohol, and quitting has resulted in seizures and hospitalization. Please pray for this dear brother.) We stayed at the Fyffe's all day, listening to music, talking, playing games, eating food, and otherwiase having great koinonia. Patrick came and picked up Ayo and I that night and took us back to his place for my last night in London. We stayed up and talked for a bit and then I hit the sack.

Early the next morning Patrick took Ayo and I to Victoria Station where we could catch the "tube" or London Underground to Heathrow. It was nice to have the escort but Ayo and I were so tired that we both pretty much slept on the tube while listening to music. There was nearly a third incident of my local escort needing my help to make the correct transfer at one of the stations, but Ayo caught his own mistake just as I was about to say something. It was still comical how often it happend in the course of two days though.

I made it safely to Heathrow, boarded, and got safely back to California where a good friend picked me up at LAX and drove me down to San Diego where my wonderful wife and children were waiting for me. The night before leaving I told Ayo and Patrick the honest truth: I missed my family more than anything, but I was enjoying the family of Christ in London so much that I wished that Carrie and the kids could come to London to be with me rather than me having to leave London to be with them in California. I truly pray that the Lord gives us the opportunity to visit the body of Christ in London as a family some day in the future.

The Hand of God in London (Part 1)

As usual, while traveling on British Airways between the continents of Africa and North America, I was forced to stay the night in London due to a layover of nearly 24 hours. Usually we just sleep on the seats in Heathrow's Terminal 1, but since I was traveling alone on this particular occasion, I took advantage of an invitation to stay with a brother I had previously met at the Calvary Chapel Bible College in California who lives in the London area. This brother's name is Ayo (he's originally from Nigeria, that's why he has such a cool name), and he serves the Lord at Calvary Chapel Docklands in East London. When I was a couple of weeks away from coming through I sent Ayo an email to cash in on his offer. He informed me that since returning to London from school in California, he was still looking for steady work and a place to live. But that wasn't a problem, because he hooked me up with another brother in Christ named Patrick, a pastor at Calvary Chapel South London (both CCSL and CC Docklands sprang from the church plant of CC Westminster that Brian Brodersen started several years ago).

Upon landing at London Heathrow airport and hearing the beautiful 'ding' of the seatbelt sign - the signal for the human herd aboard to all stand up at once and begin grabbing for luggage and shoving various body parts into each other - I stood with the other animals and awaited the opening of the pen door. As I did so, the gentleman sitting one row up and over with his wife and baby apologized for his fussy son's screaming sonnets throughout the flight. I replied that it was no problem and commented that I have four of my own. Then I realized from his speech that he was British. I casually asked him about the best public transportation route to 'East Dulwich' - the London neighborhood I was headed to in order to stay with complete strangers at the request of a brother I had met and talked to in the States for only a few hours (I love being part of such a big family). My fellow passenger quickly and calmly replied, "We live in East Dulwich. You can ride with us if you don't mind the baby." I had to ask him to repeat himself. I probably sounded like a typical American, deaf to most words of English as spoken by the English. But the truth is that his answer was so shocking that I thought I actually must have been mishearing his English English! He repeated it again and I was so surprised and humbled that I nearly didn't accept the offer. Finally I repeated what he said as a way of thrice clarifying the situation. He nodded that I had heard him correctly and then I accepted. It was definitely a divine appointment. When I told him that I had to stop and ask British Airways a question, he didn't even flinch. He told me it would be no problem and that they would wait for me. So we left the airplane together and headed for baggage claim.

As I had no luggage to claim, I headed straight for the British Airways counter to talk to them while my benefactors stood at the waiting wheel for their bags. I took the elevator up to the airline counters and looked for the right place to ask my question. Oh, my question was a doozy by the way. When an agent was available I walked up and told her plainly, "I just landed and have an overnight layover. I'm scheduled to leave tomorrow afternoon. I'm a missionary who has made this trip many times and have never left the airport. When people ask me what London is like, I always reply, 'which terminal'. So, I'd like to actually leave the airport and visit a church here in London on Sunday. Is there any way you could change the remaining leg of my ticket from Saturday afternoon to Monday morning? Oh, and I don't have any money to pay for it." That's almost word for word what I said. I kid you not. She looked at my ticket and saw that I was indeed on a missionary fare. She asked her co-worker if she could change it without charging me and he thought it sounded fine. She did the stereotypical fast-finger typing made famous by many-a-movie and printed out a new ticket for me. Done. Once again, I was shocked. I had to ask her, "Did you already do it?" She had. And she was really nice about it too! Clearly God was interested in allowing me to visit the church family in London.

So I headed downstairs and hooked up with my ride - Rob, Liz, and their 16-month old little one, Henry. We caught a bus out to long-term parking and piled into their brand new BMW X5 (that's an SUV) with leather interior and seats that were much more comfortable than the airplane's. Not only did God allow me to change my ticket and hook me up with a free ride, He hooked me up with a NICE ride! If I had taken public transport as planned, it would have cost about $10 and taken about an hour and a half on two different subways, an overground train, and a bus! Riding with the Cassidys was approximately 40 minutes of luxurious comfort and pleasant conversation. They even offered to share there little miniature hot dog snacks with me, which a politely declined (the British eat some strange things).

So that's how God got me to London. More about my hosts and the rest of the brothers and sisters I had the awesome pleasure of spending time with later.

October 2008 Update

Bible College - Kigoma, Tanzania. The Bible College I was teaching at previously is currently closed until the February session starts. This is due mostly to a lack of teachers. I wish I could accurately describe what it’s like to teach the Word of God to the students here. They are like sponges, just soaking up the truth of God’s Word and asking so many questions. If I could only paint a picture that would give you the inspiration and vision that the Lord has given to me, then I’m positive that those of you able and qualified to teach God’s Word would be on the next plane. I don’t want to exaggerate. There are always a few students who are there for the wrong reasons and even those who have never truly committed their lives to Christ. But even that is a blessing, as we get to re-introduce them to Christ and His Word and lead them into an understanding of a right relationship with Him and a right motive for studying His Word at the school. I can always attach pictures and tell stories, but I pray that God will instill in some of you a true and deep desire to come and help us teach - short term, long term, any term - so that the truth and power of His Word will continue to go forth to the men and women of Tanzania, Burundi, and Congo (yes, there are students from many places). And if you’re reading this and you’re not in a position to help by teaching, there are many other ways to co-labor with us, both here in East Africa and there where you live, including spreading the word to others about the opportunities. Fortunately for me, there is another Bible School in a nearby town that had a visiting teacher cancel at the last minute and they asked me if I would teach the class with only five days notice. You’ll never guess what class they had scheduled... MISSIONS. God has a wonderful sense of humor. Though I’ve taught Inductive Bible Study, Hermeneutics, and various books of the Bible before, I’ve never taught a class on “missions”. But if you’re going to ask me to teach a class that I’ve never taught before, and that at the last minute, what better subject is there? The class was daily for two and a half hours and we had a great time looking into the Word in regards to missions. The topic of the class was geared mainly towards evangelism and “church planting”, and I was able to teach them by example of Christ, Paul, and those whom Paul trained up, as seen in Acts and the letters that Paul wrote to those churches he planted and ministers he trained. The students always have so many great questions, many of which I would never be asked in the West and therefore never have to spend time reasoning and searching the Scriptures for the Biblical response. It’s not so much a challenging experience, as a refreshing one. I, the teacher, am learning and being built up in the Word by looking at things in ways I normally wouldn’t think to. The students were very well disciplined, relatively attentive (considering it was the “after lunch” class in the heat of the day), and seemed to really “get it”, and retain the information well. Preparing for and teaching a new class at the last minute is hard work, as you sense the sudden responsibility of teaching a subject for which you cannot just use previous notes and teaching experience. But at the same time, it’s so rewarding, as you are forced to let go of “how I normally do things” and trust in the Holy Spirit for His guidance, enlightenment of Scripture, strength, peace, and ability to communicate. I, like Paul, am surprised and humbled that “to me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the nations the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8).

Southern California, USA. By the time you receive this update the due date for our new baby will be at our door (October 15th). Carrie and the kids are doing well. All of her check-ups with the OB/GYN have been good, with the baby growing normal and healthy. Here’s a short excerpt from an email Carrie sent to me (Jon) regarding the children's schooling:
“The kids are doing well. My goal is to have them memorize a Bible verse every week. We are reading through the book of First Samuel and they memorized 1 Sam. 12:24 this week. We read one chapter a day and sometimes they really like what we're reading and ask to read more. It's a blessing for all of us. I know we have Foxes Book of Martyrs somewhere. I was thinking of reading that to them once a week as well. I am also having the boys write in a journal everyday and read a book.”

The Vice President of Tanzania. What do “Sandals”, “The Vice President of Tanzania”, and a “T-Shirt” all have in common? Me, unfortunately! Let me explain... I went to town to meet with a Congolese friend who is a leader in one of the local ministries here in Kigoma. Shortly after arriving at his office, he told me he had to hurry to the airport and asked if I could give him a ride. He said we could talk while driving. As we were driving, he told me that the Vice President of Tanzania was coming to town and that he was going to join with other local politicians and community leaders to greet him when he got off the airplane. So I planned to drop him off at the airport and then meet with him later regarding the questions I had about ministry. As we were driving he began to explain to me the protocol for meeting the Vice President and what was going to happen at the airport. It was then that I suddenly realized that he intended for me to join him in meeting the Vice President! As soon as I realized what he was saying I exclaimed that I wasn’t properly dressed for the occasion. I was wearing long pants, but only had on a T-Shirt and sandals. His response was a bit derogatory, but comical in it’s honesty. “Oh, he knows that Americans don’t care about the way they dress,” he said. I tried to convince him to let me make the detour to my house to put on a nicer shirt and some shoes, but he insisted that we needed to get there right away so we could get a good spot. To make things worse, I realized when we arrived at the airport that he intended to introduce me to all of the local “bigwigs”. First I met the Regional Traffic Officer (the head guy over the Kigoma Region’s Traffic Police). Then I met the second in command of the Kigoma Region for Immigration. Then I met the Kigoma/Ujiji Mayor, then the District Commissioner of the Kigoma District (like a county in the U.S.). His name is John, and so when he said I had a good name and asked if it was he who was lucky to be named John or me, I correctly stated that it was I who was lucky to be named like him. I passed the test and we talked for a brief moment. After that I met the Regional Immigration Officer in charge of the immigration department for the whole Kigoma Region (like a state in the U.S.). Then I met the Town Planner for Kigoma/Ujiji. He’s in charge of all land use issues and zoning for the area and he is a Christian and a very amiable man. He’s a good person to know when it comes time to find a plot for the Kigoma/Ujiji Youth Center we’re trying to develop. Then I met a bigwig from the Tanzania Revenue Authority (like the IRS in the U.S.), then the Regional Commissioner of the Kigoma Region (like a governor in the U.S.), and finally, after waiting for almost two hours for his plane to arrive, the Vice President of Tanzania, the Honorable Dr. Ali Mohamed Shein. And even though they all supposedly don’t expect us Americans to dress nice for such an occasion, it was still extremely uncomfortable, though very fruitful.
Left to right: Regional Commissioner, Vice President, Mwenge (my friend), Me

Praises and Prayer...
Please join with us in praising the Lord for His goodness to us in providing for our daily needs.
We also want to thank Him for a healthy pregnancy for Carrie thus far and pray for a continued blessing upon Carrie and the baby in her womb; that the pregnancy, labor, and delivery would all go well.
Please continue to pray for provision for the ministry in Africa, that we can stay busy, and be able to stay for a long time without having to think about finances.
Please pray for Jon’s health and safe travels.
Please pray for Carrie and the kids, that the Lord would grant them peace and safety and bless their time together.
We really need language training in order to be more effective in Tanzania. Please make this a matter of prayer on our behalf, as this will cost a few thousand dollars if this is what God wants us to do.
Lastly, please pray for the funds for a new phone/modem.

Reunited and it feels so good

Sorry for the cheesy reference to the 1980 Peaches and Herb song, "Reunited". My mind is a multi-generational, multi-genre mega-jukebox, containing many songs I wish I didn't know!

It's so good to be back with Carrie and the kids! I missed them so much, and though quite jet-lagged, I'm enjoying my time with them dearly.

Thank you to all of you who have been praying for us over the past two and half months. Also, thanks for the prayers for the pregnancy and baby. Both of the girls are doing well, the baby has finally dropped, and it looks like she'll come right on time.

We'll keep you updated.