The Gambia and Great Britain. 2 countries separated by over 2,000 miles. One a thriving player on the international economic scene, the other a nation where a third of its 2 million citizens live below the international poverty line. Both a place where God's word is bearing fruit as people preach and respond to the gospel.
Last week, The Good Book College Director, Doug Johnson, his wife, Ann and I took to the air (well, a Monarch plane) and travelled from London to Banjul. We'd been invited to speak at a series of lectures run at the Gamfes centre (the Gambian branch of the Independent Fellowship of Evangelical Students). And what a week it was!
In 37 degree heat, under tin roofs, with the odd lizard wandering in and out of our lecture rooms, we had the privilege of teaching extracts from various Good Book College short courses. One group of pastors looked at preaching Old Testament narrative by delving deep into the book of Joshua. Another group of pastors, women's workers and student workers looked at the biblical basis of pastoral care and the importance of churches being Bible-centred communities where each individual spurs on their brothers and sisters to love and good deeds. A final group of Sunday School teachers looked at how to teach a Bible overview and explain the gospel to children. All looked at the core message of the gospel using the Christianity Explored booklet. Keen to learn, keen to contexualise the teaching and keen to be faithful, the students lapped up the material and eagerly planned how to put it into action.
At the same time we were treated to immense hospitality. Glorious servings of Chicken Yassa, spicy rice and bags of fresh water fueled many a gospel conversation as student after student spoke of their desire to see God's Kingdom grow in a country where 90% of the inhabitants are Muslim. There are costs to that conversion... we heard tales of individuals who had been rejected by their families once they turned from Islam to the cross. But encouragements too as students persevered through poverty and power cuts to study God's word to get equipped to point others to Jesus, constantly prayerful for the lost of their neighbourhood. And we were spiritually fed by some excellent sermons given by a couple of pastors who had been over to the Cornhill Training Course in recent years.
Many of the students we met will be continuing their studies with The Good Book College in the coming months. Please do pray for them. In a nation which has no evangelical theological college for full time study, there are limited opportunities for training. But the exciting work done through Gamfes is changing lives. And changing eternal destinies. Just one overseas endeavour in which we, as a company, are privileged to be involved.
Andy Harker