How far have you journeyed to spread the Good News?
Pastors in Angola, Madagascar and Brazil all have one thing in common: they’ve crossed deep, dirty and dangerous rivers to share the Gospel.
Wading Through Waist-High Waters in Angola
Pastor Peter Kambulo from Zambia would bag up his belongings and hoist them over his head to keep them dry as he waded through swamps and flooded river plains to reach the unreached people of Angola he cares so much about. He was determined to share the Gospel at any cost!
Through dedication, hard-work and a passion to see lives transformed by the Gospel, he planted a church in a nearby town of Kasupa – which is actually over the border in Angola.
Peter has now relocated permanently to Angola with his family, continuing to reach the lost for Christ.
Long Journeys Down the Amazon River
Pastor Marcos da Silva, in the Amazonas region of Brazil, is trained in the Harvesters methodology of church planting. Now he travels along the mighty Amazon River evangelising to unreached tribal communities.
As his small boat chugs down the vast river corridor between walls of trees, he listens to every splash bringing him closer to people who are so sheltered that they have never heard the Name above every other name: Jesus.
“Hundreds and hundreds of kilometres are travelled in small boats on the mighty Amazon to reach thousands of souls and plant churches where there are none,” says Francois Rauch, Harvesters’ Regional Director for South America, as he presents a photo of dozens of people crowded together in a small rural hut listening to the Gospel. “Eighty percent of villages along the banks of the Amazon River have no church or Christian community.”
Crossing Crocodile Infested Waters in Madagascar
Pastor Alain Moreno is a Bible college lecturer in Madagascar. Many of his students travel from far away to join his classes. He noticed one in particular who was different in her serving, her faithfulness, and her attitude and commitment. He wanted to know why, and the Lord prompted him to visit her home village.
Alain travelled 600km to the nearest town, then 40km on a bus to a closer village, then walked a further 10km to reach his student’s home! “There is no access for the car, and it was hard and hot,” recalled Alain. “We had to climb mountain by mountain – going up and down. The walk took 8 hours.”
In the middle of this treacherous journey, Alain and his companion were halted by a river blocking their way. “You have to pray if you are afraid,” said the elder who was travelling with Alain. “Why?” Alain replied nervously. This river was home to crocodiles.
The elder was prepared. “We have an old technique to distract the crocodile,” he said. They threw a large rock to the left side of their path, causing a huge splash to grab the creature’s attention – providing an opportunity for the pair to rush through the waters. They emerged on the other side unharmed!
Alain continued his travels to his student’s home. Because of the crocodile river, the inhabitants only travel to market twice a year, when the waters are low. Alain was welcomed with generous hospitality, but he only ate a little as not to use up their reserves. Many had not left the village their whole lives.
“When we finished eating by candlelight around 8pm, the people are coming one by one joining the place where I was seated in the yard. They were asking questions,” remembered Alain. “I thought this is very good occasion to tell them about God and humanity.”
Alain stayed with the people of that village for 5 days sharing the Gospel. Before he left, he baptised three people in the rice field.
These men and women of God are dedicated to the mission of Christ’s Church. Pray for all our pastors as they lead more souls to Jesus Christ. You can support the work today and provide a Student Pastor with four years of ministry training, during which they will plant at least three churches through evangelism.
