Roots Report – Niger

ARE YOU THE MISSING PIECE?

By Ben Stokes

Have you ever worked a puzzle and gotten to the end only to realize you were missing some pieces?  The picture on the puzzle would never represent its intended meaning as long as there were missing pieces. You search high and low, but the pieces are not there.  It’s just not complete. Think with me for a moment about the picture on the puzzle.  There is a small hut in the middle of a village in Niger.  It looks like the other huts in the village only there is more excitement surrounding this one. Minute by passing minute more and more Fulani try to cram into what is already a packed hut. They have come because they have heard the message of Salvation was being proclaimed! They have not only heard about this message, but have seen how it has transformed peoples’ lives and given them freedom. This buzz about “Jesus” was now being heard from the marketplace to the fields. In fact, this “Jesus” was the reason for this meeting, and people were now spilling out the doorway.  Then the whisperings stopped as the newest follower of the Jesus way began to tell off his changed life. This is the picture of a Fulani church.

How did this beautiful picture come about?  What pieces of the puzzle had to be put together to form this marvelous depiction?  I submit to you that even now the pieces are all coming together for this picture to be a reality among the Fulani. At this moment in Niger, a place where ten years ago it would have been unthinkable to find one person that would spread the gospel, we now have a handful of faithful followers of the Jesus way that are taking His name to their brothers, their sisters, and their neighbors. They have taken off the shackles of Islam and have been released by God to proclaim His Kingdom.  Members of organizations such as the IMB, Wycliffe, and SIL among others have been laboring among the Fulani for decades and are beginning to see God water the seeds that they have been planting. Not only are individual cross-culture workers investing in the lives of the Fulani, but now we are seeing entire Church bodies joining together to use their own gifts, abilities, and talents to spread God’s fame among the Fulani. This brings us to a unique piece of the puzzle and one that has been put in place because of the Churches love for the Fulani; that being church based sending. What does this piece mean for FBCA? It means my wife and I will be moving to Niger to continue the work of FBCA.  God has invited us to walk with Him down the path that He set FBCA on just four years ago when they adopted the Fulani. We will be discipling the believers that FBCA and other partner churches have seen come to put their trust in Jesus Christ.  We will strive to make short term mission trips more effective by gathering important information and better preparing teams that travel to Niger.  This is the beauty of church based sending; we are not going alone, and we will not be left on our own.  As exciting as it is to witness first hand this beautiful puzzle coming together, we can’t help but be overwhelmed in some small part by the work that is left to do.  There are so many Fulani to reach and so few workers.  The core of our strategy centers on equipping believers to in turn become missionaries to their own people. For this goal to be accomplished it is going to take all of us. That’s right, YOU! WE are going to have to hit our knees and plead for the God of this Universe to render the Heavens and invade Niger. WE are all going to have to get creative and put our minds together to figure the best way to pull our resources together to see a Fulani Church come to pass.  With all the vast resources of this Church, I cannot help but imagine the full impact that we could have in Niger. All it will take for this picture to have holes in it and never represent what it was designed for (that being to radiate the glory of God) is for you to say, “no”. Whether you believe it or not, you are a key piece in this puzzle. Listen to the words of Richard Stearns, President of World Vision, “God has created each of us with a unique contribution to make to our world and to our times. No other person has our same abilities, motivations, network of friends and relationships, perspectives, ideas, or experiences. When we, like misplaced puzzle pieces, fail to show up, the overall picture is diminished.” The real question is are we going to show up? I have already mentioned how the puzzle pieces are in place. The stage is being set, but will there be a Fulani who does not receive Salvation because you shrug off the call of God on your life? Do not be so quick to answer. What is God inviting you to do? Is it to pray? Is it to come to Niger on short term trips and see first hand what God is currently doing among the Fulani? Is God inviting you to move to Niger? Do not dismiss that last question so quickly. Instead I ask you, “Why not?” What else in this life is more exciting than walking hand in hand with our Creator and watching Him show off to the World?  I am reminded of Confucius’ words, “To know what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice.” If God is inviting you to join His work in Niger, no matter what it is, DO IT! TODAY!

We know God has been painting a beautiful picture of his redemption story from the beginning of time.  We know the puzzle comes together at the end, which encourages us to keep working to fit all the pieces together, to keep looking for the lost pieces, and to also enjoy the beauty of the picture we can already see taking form.