In just four weeks and some, we will be winging our way once again to the formerly "dark continent" of Africa. It is an amazing place to live, providing amazing ministry opportunities, amazing challenges, amazing people to rub shoulders with, and amazing heartaches, but most of all we will see an amazing God work out complications and impossible situations right before our eyes!
In preparation for the trip, we hosted a benefit dinner on April 22 at Crystal Gardens in Southgate MI. Our coordinator, Tammy, pulled out the stops, and we enjoyed a beautiful atmosphere decked with fresh white linens gracing 32 tables. In the center of each table was a runner made of bold, bright, beautiful African cloth, surrounded by lovely china and real silverware (we are such a disposable society these days with our dinnerware), goblets, and a charming candle centerpiece.
Crystal Gardens served a delicious meal, consisting of 3 entrees, three side dishes, salad, rolls, soft drinks, topped off by an ice cream sundae. Programs outlined several "Did you know's?" about the work in Africa. It was hard to choose which of these Q&A's to include because the work is now pushing 72 years, and Africa is such an interesting place to discuss.
Our son, Jack, was Master of Ceremonies this year. He brought something new to the table--live violin and guitar accompaniment--a feast for the ears. There is great passion in Jack's singing, and his stirring historical overview of Laban Ministries not only brought tears to his eyes, but to ours as well.
Paul Perugi, board member, and dear friend, interviewed Jim and me. Jim and I could blab all night about the work and the people and what God is doing there, but Paul managed to reign us in. One of the highlights of the interview was that Pastor Kilundu surveyed graduates of LMI spread out all over the Bandundu Province. He traveled 200 miles on foot because his motorbike is worn out. His job as overseer of our graduate pastors takes him into areas where he must park his motorcycle and walk because there aren't even paths to some of the remote villages these Laban pastors call home. He reported to us that hundreds of thousands of people have made professions, and we were reminded once again that just because we don't see that happening here in America, doesn't mean that it isn't happening elsewhere.
Pastor Tom Downs of Gilead Baptist Church challenged everyone to become a part of the highlight of this summer--an aggressive evangelistic thrust, outreach, and crusade if you will at Ilebo (ee lay bow), a city of up to 200,000 people. A city that is impossible to travel to by land vehicle, and so Mission Aviation Fellowship will be flying our evangelism team and musicians there on or about September 7, providing the weather cooperates and the schedule works out.
Ilebo is a town of darkness, despair, hopelessness, voodoo, witchcraft, and idolatry. Steeped in demonism, it offers people the option of following satan at his beck and call. Pastor Ibala, who has ministered there for about a decade, decided this needs to change. So he walked, biked, took a boat, and walked some more all the way to the Nkara campus to plead with us to come and preach and teach the Word of God.
The trip will be costly. This summer and fall in Congo will be costly, but nothing is too hard for the Lord, and so we go trusting Jesus to supply every need and then some.
Pastor Downs poured his heart into making this daunting trip possible with the help of God's people. An offering of over $19,000 was received, which is the largest ever for this amount of people attending one of these dinner events. Thank you Pastor Tom for your compelling words.
Thank you everyone who attended for responding to the need.
As usual, we will keep you posted through FB, twitter, and this blog.
The big thing we are seeking before, during, and after this next season of ministry is your prayers. The fervent prayers of a righteous man (a man or woman in Christ) avail MUCH. Nobody knows how much that much is, but we know this much: It is powerful. It is changing statistics for eternity. It is snatching people from the fires of hell forever. It is transformation. It is worship of demons turned sour, and it becomes worship of the Ancient of Days. It is resurrection for people who are lost and dying, hell bound. It unleashes the opportunity for anyone and everyone to come to the Living Water. It is break through after break through. It is introduction to the fruit of the Spirit. It is a defining moment that thrusts people into the wonder of resting in the arms of Jesus. And so much more.
Please join us in prayer. Please join us by investing in this endeavor. Paul said that he didn't want the people's money in Philippians for himself. He wanted them to give so that their spiritual bank account would be BIG, that it wouldn't be overdrawn because of a lack of souls banked there. That is a noble thought. How much are we banking in heaven NOW?
This is an amazing opportunity to invest in lives who some day will walk up to you in Glory and thank you for giving so that they could enjoy life in Christ for evermore. Praise God, what riches we can extend to others through something as close to our fingertips as money, any amount. God's interest pays high dividends. God bless you all. We are excited to go and will be excited to share with you as we walk this journey the amazing results of letting God's Word loose and watching it do its work.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Killer Bees in Congo - Jim Smith
We have noticed for years that there were African killer bees in the little woods near our house. They have never bothered anyone, and one man even climbed up and got us some honey from their nest. He did this by smoking the nest so that the bees scattered, and it was at night. Night time is better because the bees cannot see as well at night just like us.
The Congolese do not wish to kill the bees, so they use smoke to chase them away temporarily in order to obtain the honey and the honeycomb. The palm tree containing the bees was cut down in order to give more sunlight to our newly built greenhouse (Congolese style). Although we knew bees inhabited that immediate area, we did not know that this particular palm tree was THEIR HOME.
Two days later,the bees whose house had been violated decided to put their nest IN THE ATTIC OF OUR HOUSE! Hundreds and hundreds of bees entered our home between the tin roof and the wall because screen was not covering all the little air passageways. They found places to enter and began setting up their new nest, preparing for a queen bee to come sit on her throne.
I had no idea this was going on as I had been out of the house working all day. In the late afternoon, however, I and some of our staff began seeing bees swirling round outside near the attic, looking for a place to enter, which they did. The men with me were very concerned. They knew something would have to be done, but it was late in the day.
I thought the bees might be trying to put their new nest in the eaves of the tin roof, so I went to bed as usual, and slept the night undisturbed. My wife, Nancy, had already left Congo to return to America. The following day, one of our workers, Aza, went up into the attic, and he returned very quickly. The attic was loaded with killer bees. They were all over. I was still in the house because they had not chosen to come down to the second floor. The attic is on the third floor.
When Aza returned he said that the situation was not good and that we needed to do something about it. Now they were beginning to come to the second floor where all the bedrooms are, buzzing around in the landing, so I got the bug spray. It worked--for a while. I was warned by the nationals not to step on and crush any of the bees because the other bees will rush to his defense after smelling his fluids that come out after he is crushed. They can come by the hundreds, so trying to get rid of them by the bug spray was not quite like crushing one of them.
I closed the bedroom door (its' about 9 p.m.), and the generator is running to give us lights. By this time, about 50 bees were dead on the floor from the bug spray on the landing outside of our bedroom. Aza came by and shut the generator off. With the lights turned off and the doors closed, I felt by their silence, they were settling down.
The next day, one of the first questions asked was, "Did the bees bother you last night or this morning?" I said, "No." Now there were even more bees swirling around outside. Aza, from the Bapende tribe, knew that we had to take action to get the bees away from the house. They have had experience with killer bees. These are aggressive African bees, and if they are bothered in any way, they strike. So, he and his son, Ntoto, got the long ladder. The attic is close to 25' in the air. The bees had centered themselves outside of the attic in vents which are usually covered by screen, but they had found a hole to get in.
Aza took an old rag and put some used truck oil on it. He lit it well enough so that it was smoking. I gave him a hooded raincoat and a pair of gloves and a torch that was 10' long. He didn't want to get any closer than he had to. The smoke began to drive the bees away. I am outside watching this happen. The bees knew because of the smoke that this was not a good place to set up housekeeping.
So they left. We really didn't know for sure the status of the attic--whether or not they had cleared completely out. So Aza went up the stairs again to make an inspection two days after their arrival. They were gone, but the floor was covered by hundreds and hundreds of them.
Though I had been warned that the African bee is very aggressive, I didn't realize how dangerous they could be until I saw the way Aza and many of our work staff reacted to their presence. Their concern was contagious. How grateful I was for Aza and Ntoto who were willing to risk being bitten to protect me and get rid of those bees. Again the method was smoke and fire because no fluids are exuded from the bee which would draw other family bee members to attack whatever or whoever had crushed one of their relatives.
I am thankful to this day for the mercies of God and the goodness of our African people!
Jim Smith
The Congolese do not wish to kill the bees, so they use smoke to chase them away temporarily in order to obtain the honey and the honeycomb. The palm tree containing the bees was cut down in order to give more sunlight to our newly built greenhouse (Congolese style). Although we knew bees inhabited that immediate area, we did not know that this particular palm tree was THEIR HOME.
Two days later,the bees whose house had been violated decided to put their nest IN THE ATTIC OF OUR HOUSE! Hundreds and hundreds of bees entered our home between the tin roof and the wall because screen was not covering all the little air passageways. They found places to enter and began setting up their new nest, preparing for a queen bee to come sit on her throne.
I had no idea this was going on as I had been out of the house working all day. In the late afternoon, however, I and some of our staff began seeing bees swirling round outside near the attic, looking for a place to enter, which they did. The men with me were very concerned. They knew something would have to be done, but it was late in the day.
I thought the bees might be trying to put their new nest in the eaves of the tin roof, so I went to bed as usual, and slept the night undisturbed. My wife, Nancy, had already left Congo to return to America. The following day, one of our workers, Aza, went up into the attic, and he returned very quickly. The attic was loaded with killer bees. They were all over. I was still in the house because they had not chosen to come down to the second floor. The attic is on the third floor.
When Aza returned he said that the situation was not good and that we needed to do something about it. Now they were beginning to come to the second floor where all the bedrooms are, buzzing around in the landing, so I got the bug spray. It worked--for a while. I was warned by the nationals not to step on and crush any of the bees because the other bees will rush to his defense after smelling his fluids that come out after he is crushed. They can come by the hundreds, so trying to get rid of them by the bug spray was not quite like crushing one of them.
I closed the bedroom door (its' about 9 p.m.), and the generator is running to give us lights. By this time, about 50 bees were dead on the floor from the bug spray on the landing outside of our bedroom. Aza came by and shut the generator off. With the lights turned off and the doors closed, I felt by their silence, they were settling down.
The next day, one of the first questions asked was, "Did the bees bother you last night or this morning?" I said, "No." Now there were even more bees swirling around outside. Aza, from the Bapende tribe, knew that we had to take action to get the bees away from the house. They have had experience with killer bees. These are aggressive African bees, and if they are bothered in any way, they strike. So, he and his son, Ntoto, got the long ladder. The attic is close to 25' in the air. The bees had centered themselves outside of the attic in vents which are usually covered by screen, but they had found a hole to get in.
Aza took an old rag and put some used truck oil on it. He lit it well enough so that it was smoking. I gave him a hooded raincoat and a pair of gloves and a torch that was 10' long. He didn't want to get any closer than he had to. The smoke began to drive the bees away. I am outside watching this happen. The bees knew because of the smoke that this was not a good place to set up housekeeping.
So they left. We really didn't know for sure the status of the attic--whether or not they had cleared completely out. So Aza went up the stairs again to make an inspection two days after their arrival. They were gone, but the floor was covered by hundreds and hundreds of them.
Though I had been warned that the African bee is very aggressive, I didn't realize how dangerous they could be until I saw the way Aza and many of our work staff reacted to their presence. Their concern was contagious. How grateful I was for Aza and Ntoto who were willing to risk being bitten to protect me and get rid of those bees. Again the method was smoke and fire because no fluids are exuded from the bee which would draw other family bee members to attack whatever or whoever had crushed one of their relatives.
I am thankful to this day for the mercies of God and the goodness of our African people!
Jim Smith
Sunday, March 21, 2010
A Braid of Joy, Sorrow, and Hope
March 17 would have been the second birthday of our grandson, Luke. Referred to by his parents as, "Our little man," they decided to bring together children and friends to honor his memory yesterday, on March 20. We gathered at a beautiful park in Franklin, and scores of children and their parents, both sets of grandparents, Greg and Nicol and Summer, cousins, and some people who are walking the same road as Nicol and Greg all met to remember and celebrate Luke's life.
We mingled with purpose, and our ears and eyes delighted in
the sounds of adult laughter
the joy of children laughing
the sweetness of cousins hugging
the balm in lots of hugging
the satisfying fun food
the freshness of new acquaintances
the warmth of family
the delight of a cake walk
the surprise of discovery on an Easter egg hunt
the wealth of sharing
the wonder of God's Hand in holding off the rain
the showing up of the Lord in the little things
the appreciation of decent weather
the peace of no stress
the visiting of Luke's grave site later on
the quiet tears
the shared sorrow
the soft weeping
the reminiscing
the wrapping of all these wonderful elements into the blessed hope that
the best is yet to come
the balm that followed
Postscript: Jim, having lost a baby brother, a teen-aged brother, his father at the age of 10, and his mother who preceded us to Congo in '78, offered to Nicol that Lukey might be offering them this comfort, "Oh! Mama, Oh! Daddy, Oh! Summer, What Glory!
We mingled with purpose, and our ears and eyes delighted in
the sounds of adult laughter
the joy of children laughing
the sweetness of cousins hugging
the balm in lots of hugging
the satisfying fun food
the freshness of new acquaintances
the warmth of family
the delight of a cake walk
the surprise of discovery on an Easter egg hunt
the wealth of sharing
the wonder of God's Hand in holding off the rain
the showing up of the Lord in the little things
the appreciation of decent weather
the peace of no stress
the visiting of Luke's grave site later on
the quiet tears
the shared sorrow
the soft weeping
the reminiscing
the wrapping of all these wonderful elements into the blessed hope that
the best is yet to come
the balm that followed
Postscript: Jim, having lost a baby brother, a teen-aged brother, his father at the age of 10, and his mother who preceded us to Congo in '78, offered to Nicol that Lukey might be offering them this comfort, "Oh! Mama, Oh! Daddy, Oh! Summer, What Glory!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
A tribute to Bob Mero
Everyone needs a Bob Mero in their life. We met him more than forty years ago at the Michigan Sunday School Convention in Detroit. Jim and I had just left Warrendale Community Church to go into music evangelism; and, while singing at the convention, this gentleman by the name of Bob walked by his booth. His wife, Helen, was by his side. They immediately took an interest in Jim and me and our family
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Dinner Benefit April 22, 2010
On Thursday, April 22, at 6:30 p.m., we will gather to lift the name of Jesus high. We long to tell new people about the work the Lord is doing in Congo and praise Him for His incredible faithfulness. We will celebrate with music by Jack and Molly Smith, updates on our evangelism efforts in Congo, what the Spirit of the Living God has accomplished this past year in Congo, future goals, a sit-down, family style dinner with 3 entrees, and a great evening of meeting new people and renewing friendships. Your presence is so desired. This year there will be no charge, but a ticket is necessary to attend. The evening is being underwritten by friends and supporters of Laban. Call 313 292 5445 to make reservations. Please mark your calendar and join us to spread the good word and make Jesus famous!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
"If Your Presence does not go with us. . . "
Moses pleadingly replied to the Lord in Exodus 33:15, and 16, even after God said He would go with them, continued to plea, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with (us) and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish (us) and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth."
He was leading about 1,500,000 stiff-necked Israelites through the wilderness, which turned out to be a 40-year hike. As you recall, they had gotten sick and tired of waiting for Moses to come down off the mountain and gave all their earrings (given so eagerly to them by the Egyptians from whom they had fled) to Aaron because they had had enough of waiting on Moses' Lord. They wanted to plot their own course. Sound familiar? How often I have taken things into my own hands instead of allowing the Lord to completely navigate my course of action.
At any rate, God forewarned Moses before he returned from his mountaintop experience that trouble was brewing below. When Moses saw the people dancing and reveling, his temper flared, and he flung the two tablets containing the Ten Commandments to the ground, "breaking them into pieces at the foot of the mountain." Instead of returning to the sound of victory with the Israelites rallying around Him, wrestling in prayer for direction and God's blessing, they were "running wild" and out of control, thus making themselves "a laughingstock to their enemies." And, out of no where, a calf had sprung up out of the fire started by Aaron. However, Exodus 32:4 clearly states that Aaron made the gold earrings "into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool." On top of all that, the calf got credit for leading them out of Egypt!
"And the Lord struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made."
Furthermore, he told Moses to leave that place and go to the land of milk and honey. Only one big catch--Yahweh refused to go with them. They had made him so angry he might destroy them on the way!
This historical account always grips my heart. and every time we go to Congo, I bow the knee and reiterate the words of Moses, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with us and with your people, unless you go with us?"
We are due to leave for Congo on June 2. It will be another daunting trip. Just going to a third-world country can stretch a person taut. If I allow my flesh to ponder too much on the what ifs and the utterly humanly speaking impossible challenges we will face, my heart grows faint.
Today I choose to remember His faithfulness these past 70 plus years since Dr. Laban and Marcella Smith first landed on African soil. With God WE ARE ALWAYS A MAJORITY. Tears fell from my eyes yesterday as I read these penetrating facts through the pen of David, the warrior poet who says in Psalm 62:5-8:
God, the one and only--
I'll wait as long as he says,
Everything I hope for comes from him,
so why not?
He's solid rock under my feet,
breathing room for my soul,
An impregnable castle:
I'm set for life.
My help and glory are in God
--granite-strength and safe-harbor God--
So trust him absolutely people;
lay your lives on the line for him.
God is a safe place to be.
It takes a mighty army fighting the good fight when it comes to ministry. Will you be a part of that army and fight for the kingdom by interceding for Laban Ministries starting right now and then continuing June 2 through October 26, which is when we get back in the States? I cannot tell you the comfort we have experienced down through the years from the heartfelt prayers of God's people. Please, please consider bending the knee with us for a summer of breakthroughs. Praise God for the freedom to ask you even to do such a thing! As we are praying for Congo, its needs, its government, its future, let us not to forget to pray for our beloved America. God bless America!
He was leading about 1,500,000 stiff-necked Israelites through the wilderness, which turned out to be a 40-year hike. As you recall, they had gotten sick and tired of waiting for Moses to come down off the mountain and gave all their earrings (given so eagerly to them by the Egyptians from whom they had fled) to Aaron because they had had enough of waiting on Moses' Lord. They wanted to plot their own course. Sound familiar? How often I have taken things into my own hands instead of allowing the Lord to completely navigate my course of action.
At any rate, God forewarned Moses before he returned from his mountaintop experience that trouble was brewing below. When Moses saw the people dancing and reveling, his temper flared, and he flung the two tablets containing the Ten Commandments to the ground, "breaking them into pieces at the foot of the mountain." Instead of returning to the sound of victory with the Israelites rallying around Him, wrestling in prayer for direction and God's blessing, they were "running wild" and out of control, thus making themselves "a laughingstock to their enemies." And, out of no where, a calf had sprung up out of the fire started by Aaron. However, Exodus 32:4 clearly states that Aaron made the gold earrings "into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool." On top of all that, the calf got credit for leading them out of Egypt!
"And the Lord struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made."
Furthermore, he told Moses to leave that place and go to the land of milk and honey. Only one big catch--Yahweh refused to go with them. They had made him so angry he might destroy them on the way!
This historical account always grips my heart. and every time we go to Congo, I bow the knee and reiterate the words of Moses, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with us and with your people, unless you go with us?"
We are due to leave for Congo on June 2. It will be another daunting trip. Just going to a third-world country can stretch a person taut. If I allow my flesh to ponder too much on the what ifs and the utterly humanly speaking impossible challenges we will face, my heart grows faint.
Today I choose to remember His faithfulness these past 70 plus years since Dr. Laban and Marcella Smith first landed on African soil. With God WE ARE ALWAYS A MAJORITY. Tears fell from my eyes yesterday as I read these penetrating facts through the pen of David, the warrior poet who says in Psalm 62:5-8:
God, the one and only--
I'll wait as long as he says,
Everything I hope for comes from him,
so why not?
He's solid rock under my feet,
breathing room for my soul,
An impregnable castle:
I'm set for life.
My help and glory are in God
--granite-strength and safe-harbor God--
So trust him absolutely people;
lay your lives on the line for him.
God is a safe place to be.
It takes a mighty army fighting the good fight when it comes to ministry. Will you be a part of that army and fight for the kingdom by interceding for Laban Ministries starting right now and then continuing June 2 through October 26, which is when we get back in the States? I cannot tell you the comfort we have experienced down through the years from the heartfelt prayers of God's people. Please, please consider bending the knee with us for a summer of breakthroughs. Praise God for the freedom to ask you even to do such a thing! As we are praying for Congo, its needs, its government, its future, let us not to forget to pray for our beloved America. God bless America!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Thank you
Thank you so much to all who prayed for Jim's surgery. He is doing well. We are so grateful for your prayers.
In other news, our first tea to support the Ladies Literacy Center in Congo was a smashing success. Tickets were sold out 2 weeks ahead of time, and the fellowship hall at First Pres. was bursting at the seams. 170 women were served, and more than $6,000 was raised for the reading school.
We would love to replicate these teas, so if you are interested in organizing one and holding one, please email me at labancongo@aol.com. Praise the Lord for people in America who love the poor. The Lord surely does!
In other news, our first tea to support the Ladies Literacy Center in Congo was a smashing success. Tickets were sold out 2 weeks ahead of time, and the fellowship hall at First Pres. was bursting at the seams. 170 women were served, and more than $6,000 was raised for the reading school.
We would love to replicate these teas, so if you are interested in organizing one and holding one, please email me at labancongo@aol.com. Praise the Lord for people in America who love the poor. The Lord surely does!
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