Discipleship is not exclusive to Americans or English speakers. It is worldwide, and Sisher is one of many disciplemakers around the world who has given his life to the cause of Christ. A Lifeword video producer, he lives in rural Nepal, where BMA personnel recently visited his home and his church.
He says, “I train college students how to share the gospel and how to disciple others then commission them to go to different college campuses. I tell them, ““Now your responsibility is to share the gospel to your friends and then you disciple others.””
Sisher continues, saying, “This is how I also work with college students on campuses: I meet them sometimes in a small restaurant or sometimes in my church, and that is where we learn together. And there they are witnesses to what Christ has done for them. That generation is more open to us. That’s what we tend to hear in general is that the college generation is something that different cultures have more open. In colleges there are lots of Indian students or Buddhist students and Muslim students and other cultures.
“So our people, our guides, are already here in colleges. It’s our responsibility to develop them so that they can be witnesses for Christ. That’s how I also gather them and teach them and send them. They share the gospel, and the great thing is that they are very faithful to do so.
“Then they give feedback with each other from each one they share the gospel with. We take accountability or feedback about their sharing of the gospel. And sometimes they share with me, but they also start discipling their friends, which is really awesome.
“College is when they will walk away from the faith. That’s a critical age. And those students who come to faith can lead their families to Christ also. So there are multiple chains of our students who will share the gospel with friends and, when they become saved, will come to faith they will bring their family to Christ.
That’s how I gather them and teach them and send them.”
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My friend was explaining the relationship she has with her father after years of healing from divorce . . . I understood exactly what she meant because it happened to me. When a father leaves his family, the repercussions can be life-altering for his children.
But the fathers with whom I serve at the BMA are more than ”the best fathers they know how to be.” Their very best far exceeds society’s. They are incredible fathers who love the Lord and put God first in their lives. The men of the BMA are humble and sacrificial servants of God first and fathers second. I see them teaching their children lovingly and wisely. I see them prioritizing and celebrating special life moments. I see them making choices that match their teaching. And I see them guiding and teaching their grandchildren “to the next generation.”
I have the honor of serving with these men of the BMA who are called to be missional in every way. Called to travel to “third world” and “creative access” areas. Called to disciple, train, and encourage late at night and early in the morning despite the time zones of those they serve. I hear their prayers for wisdom and the difficult decisions they must make. I know they pray for the kind of wisdom that only God can give.
These are the fathers of the BMA that I know and serve with, and it is a blessing to see them serve you, the people of the BMA. So we thank them for their sacrifice, and we wish them a Happy Father’s Day with their families or wherever they are serving around the world.
Such is the case with 2024 Legacy Missionary David Dickson, whom God protected when bullets were flying.
Dickson’s parents were from Arkansas but relocated to California where they raised their family until David was fifteen. Ironically, Shelley’s family lived in California just fifteen miles from the Dicksons without ever meeting. The Dicksons moved back to Arkansas when David was fifteen and David finished high school in Walnut Ridge then began attending CBC (Central Baptist College). Shelley enrolled at CBC two years later David and the two began dating.
His Story
David was saved at nine years old and called to preach at thirteen. But he didn’t consider mission work until John and Shirley Ladd sent a letter inviting CBC students to spend the summer with them in Nicaragua. David signed up, and that first trip led to a second one as a six-week summer volunteer. After the first trip to Nicaraugua, he knew the mission field was God’s direction for his life but wanted to confirm it. When the second trip ended, he was sure of the Lord’s calling and had been all his life.
Her Story
Shelley’s father was a pastor, and she was saved in fifth grade as he preached a revival service. During the sermon, her aunt sitting next to her realized she was under conviction, so the two of them went outside where they talked about salvation. After the service, her father joined them and led her to the Lord. Then while attending church camp in Gary, Texas, at fifteen she felt the Lord calling her something but told her she would have to wait. When she met David at CBC she realized that God had not revealed his will to her until she met David, which was the Lord’s plan all along.
Nicaragua
Once the couple understood God’s call on both of their lives, they were ready to get to their first mission field: Nicaraugua. Shelley attended CBC for just one semester and David wanted to drop out of college and get there faster, but CBC President Wassell Burgess encouraged him to finish his degree. Six months after their marriage in 1971, they left for Nicaragua, where Paul Robinson and John and Shirley Ladd were serving when the Dicksons arrived.
Three of their children were born during the seven years they served there and quickly learned the Spanish language that all their children can speak fluently. At the time, there was peace in Nicaragua, no open warfare in the country. In 1977 the Dicksons moved back to the States, and he spent eleven years pastoring in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas.
While there, he realized that pastoring in the States wasn’t for him.
The year after they returned to the U.S. all missionaries had to leave and the communists took over the country. For David and Shelley, it would seem like in just about every country they served, there was tension and unrest.
El Salvador 1978-1979
The Dicksons dealt with the communist takeover of El Salvador and anti-American sentiment the entire year they served in El Salvador. They witnessed people shot in their doorway, bodies lying in the middle of the road, a peace-corp worker compound burned to the ground, and hostages held for a night because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The communists were against any charity, because they would rather the people suffer and join the rebellion. One night, David and Shelley went to dinner at the home of a recent convert who worked for a charitable organization. Their children were with a babysitter at the Dicksons’ home. When the man’s house became surrounded by the military, their babysitter took the Dickson children to her home for the night. Intimidation was their motive, so in the morning it was all over.
During the day nothing happened, but after dark, violence erupted and even the police wouldn’t go out after dark.
Despite the danger, the Dicksons remained in El Salvador because God was blessing the church and bringing lost souls to Christ. Because of the constant nighttime gunfire, however, the children slept in David and Shelley’s room until the morning when everyone began going to market and living life as normal . . . until one final incident:
While watching a nighttime news broadcast, the family heard gunshots and saw that in front of their house the president’s brother – who owned a bus line – had parked his buses, which the guerillas often torched. To prevent them from doing so, guards on the buses began shooting.
David’s son was with him in the living room as a guard was shot in their doorway.
They left El Salvador two days later.
The year after they returned to the U.S. all missionaries had to leave and the communists took over the country. For David and Shelley, it would seem like in just about every country they served, there was tension and unrest.
Honduras 1980-1991
The Dicksons were in Honduras for eleven years as the Garifuna story, chronicled by many BMA writers through the years, continues to unfold. It has resulted in effectively winning a people and language group to Christ, and it all began with a trip to the beach in 1980.
David heard two boys speaking in a language he had never heard, and as a curious linguist, he spoke to them in Spanish, asking them questions about where they were from. In the next months and years, and with the help of professional linguist and translator Lillian Howland, David developed a relationship with the Garifuna that continues to this day. After years of learning a language that had never been fully translated or written down, the Garifuna hailed him as a hero when they once ridiculed and spat on him.
Ricardo Herrera was among those who ridiculed David’s efforts to share the gospel and vigorously opposed his wife’s conversion. In a rage, he went to the church with harmful intentions, but instead received new life in Christ. Ricardo became a church leader, even naming one of his sons after David. Sadly, the son died. Garifuna traditions for a proper wake include liquor and vulgar dancing to keep the ancestors happy, but Ricardo refused to allow either one. People warned him that no one would attend the wake, and without mourners, the spirits would come and take away more family members. But he told them, “They can come and take each of my children one by one and I still won’t participate.”
Brother David says, “It’s amazing to see what happens with a culture after an entire generation has heard the gospel. The adults now in church are the first generation of Garifunas to be raised in church. Seeing stable marriages and kids raised to serve the Lord means there is no more influence of spiritism, and animistic beliefs are longer celebrated.” At first, David was ridiculed, now people yell out “God bless you!” when he walks down the street.
Guatemala
The Dicksons left Honduras in 1991 and served in Guatemala for a short period. It was not a fruitful time, and they never understood why God led them there. It was a time of discouragement and complete lack of visible fruit. However, while in Guatemala, they were able to work with the Garifunas there. The Dicksons left Guatemala in 1993 and went back to the States with no idea what was next.
Puerto Rico
After leaving Guatemala, David and Shelley thought that was it . . . No more mission fields. But Missions Director Don Collins told them they had not lost confidence in David and to find out what God wanted them to do next. He suggested that because of his linguistic skills, maybe David could learn Russian since the Cold War was over and missionaries were able to share the gospel there.
So they went to Russia to see Bill Gibson, who was in Czech Republic and struggling to learn the language. The two men cried together in frustration without resolving the issue of where to serve, but Bill told David about his son who lived in Puerto Rico and was an assistant manager at a WalMart in Costa Rica. Bill, Jr. told David that he couldn’t find a true Baptist church, so the Dicksons went to Puerto Rico to plant a church and discovered an entirely different church-planting experience.
They had never been part of a church of primarily middle class people. On every other mission field, David was the wealthiest and most educated. But in Puerto Rico, the church was made up of doctors, lawyers and teachers. Soon after they arrived there, WalMart transferred Bill, Jr., but within six to seven years, the church was running 700, and for two years in a row, they baptized over 100 people. Really neat to be involved in what God was doing. To minister to people who challenge you intellectually was interesting.
The Dicksons served in Puerto Rico for fourteen years until God led him to leave the church in Puerto Rico. Normally, pastors don’t leave a church when all is well, but when David was diagnosed with his first bout of cancer, he didn’t feel like he could give the church all it needed. He was 59 and felt the Lord saying,”It’s time to go.” It had been the most successful time of ministry in his life, so to step away was difficult and didn’t make sense.
He told the Lord, “I don’t know how you’ll beat this (cancer), but if you want me to leave, I’ll do so, but don’t let me doubt this decision.” For the next ten years, he served as Regional Coordinator of Latin America, a perfect way to serve the countries he was so burdened for.
http://bmalife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/BMALife_Retina2-300x138.png00BMA Lifehttp://bmalife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/BMALife_Retina2-300x138.pngBMA Life2024-04-12 13:42:302024-04-12 13:42:31Since 1950, BMA missionaries have been sent to foreign fields, leaving a legacy of faith, perseverance, and obedience to the call to serve. Sometimes those fields are fraught with danger, but the men and women of the BMA are more likely to run into the fire rather than away from it. Why? Because that’s where the lost souls are.
Bill and Jeanette Gibson are BMA Global’s Legacy Missionaries for 2024.
William L. Bill Gibson was born January 17th, 1942 in Jonesboro, Arkansas, to a family of farmers. He and his wife Jeanette were the same age, and when they were young, their families farmed within five miles of each other, attended church together, and saved at an early age. Later on, Bill began picking Jeanette up for church services every Sunday at Big Creek Valley in Jonesboro where Bro. G.E. Jones pastored.
Bill graduated from high school in 1959 and attended CBC for one year but dropped out to join the National Guard. He trained at Fort Knox, Kentucky, then Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, while Jeanette went to Jonesboro Business College for a secretarial degree. They were married in 1961 and Bill began farming with his father while Jeanette worked in the office of a local attorney.
Not long after that, however, God called Bill to ministry, and he returned to CBC to complete his studies. Like many “preacher boys” at CBC, he pastored a local church while there, Fairview Baptist in Violet Hill, Arkansas. After graduating in 1966 he began pastoring Bethel Baptist in Forrest City, Arkansas, then served as a missionary pastor at Fellowship Mission Church in Wichita, Kansas. It was there that he felt the call to missions work in Costa Rica.
First Mission Field: Costa Rica
Bill then travelled to Costa Rica to visit missionaries Duane and Francis Heflin to see the country and seek their counsel. The visit confirmed his calling, so in 1971 they bought a Volkswagen bus and named him “Herbie.” On September 29th of that year, Bill, Jeanette, nine-year-old old Bill, Jr. and four-year-old Monica loaded the van and began the journey to San Jose.
The journey was a long one, especially for the children. But the trip was made easier when Francis Heflin gave Jeanette the idea to give the children a present to open on each day of travel. It wouldn’t be the last time that the Heflins spoke into their lives as they continued their love and care of the Gibsons for many years.
Some of the best missionary stories are about a family’s travel to a new mission field, and the Gibsons’ story is no exception. On the way to Costa Rica, Monica became ill in Mexico City and had to to see a doctor. While she recovered for two days at a hotel, Bill junior enjoyed the hotel and pool. Two famous wrestlers were also staying there, and one of them was professional wrestler Jerry Lawler, who taught Bill, Jr. how to swim.
Attending language school was the only training offered to new missionaries in that era, so Bill and Jeanette spent their first year in Costa Rica at language school in San Jose while the children attended school with their Spanish-speaking peers. Over the years, the Gibson children were always part of their ministry. Bill preached, Bill, Jr. led singing, and Monica helped in Sunday school. They also built relationships with Costa Ricans by handing out flyers and inviting everyone they met to church. Even the children participated. During one of those outreaches when Monica was five years old, she handed a lady an invitation, but the lady said, “No thank you. I’m Catholic”, to which Monica replied, “That’s OK. Anyone can come to our church!”
Bill was known for his genial nature and never-meet-a-stranger attitude. He willingly met people’s needs on the mission field, loading up Herbie the little Volkswagen, and going anywhere he was needed. If someone said, “I need you to go to my family’s hometown up in the mountains”, the family would load up and head to the mountains to meet their needs. If someone said, “I want you to go talk to my family” or “we would like a church”, he was faithful to meet with them. In addition to planting churches during their twenty years in Costa Rica, they also established a Bible Institute
By the time Bill and Jeanette left Costa Rica in 1992, Bill, Jr. and Monica had already graduated, moved back to the states and were married with children of their own. Herbie, the Volkswagen bus, stayed with the Heflins.
Currently in Costa Rica, there are thriving churches in the cities of Tibas, Santa Ana, Villa Colon, La Mora, Naranjo, Villareal en Santa Cruz de Guanacaste due to the missionary vision and diligence of the Gibsons.
Second Mission Field: Eastern Europe: Czech Republic
After the Berlin wall fell and communist countries opened up, Bill was one of many missionaries who seized the opportunity to share the gospel with the unreached. So in 1992, the Gibsons left Costa Rica for Czech Republic (former Czechoslovakia), basically moving from a friendly Latin culture to a cold, unreceptive one. The Gibsons had a hard time with the Czech language and the people weren’t responsive, but Bill met a man named John, and that one contact has kept the work going.
To the States Then Back: Honduras
In 1994 the Gibsons returned to Jonesboro where Bill began pastoring Cottage Home Baptist Church. Five years later, Bill was asked to serve in the country of Honduras as Bobby Bowman was retiring from his work at the BMA Bible Institute there. Bill and Jeanette moved to Honduras where they served as administrator of the BMA Bible Institute in Sula, as well as church planter from 1999 to 2007.
Final Mission Field: Chile
In 2007, Bill and Jeanette moved to Santiago, Chile, where they planted Metropolitan Baptist Church. One of the first people Bill met in Santiago was Pablo, their water delivery man and neighbor. He was also a pastor, and when he saw Bill’s Bible, they hit it off immediately. The Gibsons began attending the church Pablo pastored then worked together to plant a church. Pablo’s son and another young man have gone farther south in Chile to plant churches where Pablo, Sr. and his wife Miriam now serve now
The Gibsons returned home to Jonesboro in 2012 when Bill was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He died on October 29, 2015.
The Work Goes On: Multiplication
When missionaries start a work and plant a church, there are many unknowns. Regardless of the preparation, location, and fervent prayer for success, there is always the question, “Will this plant take root?” Bill was perfectly fitted by God to be an encourager and exhorter and give sound advice to everyone he knew, particularly if there was a question about ministry. When Bill’s son-in-law, Randy Stimach, told Bill, “I’m afraid God is calling me into ministry”, Bill replied, “Well don’t be afraid. Just do it!” Those who served with him said he was always direct and to the point but loving and caring to everyone he met, never missing an opportunity to share the gospel.
Former missionary Phil Knott served with Bill in Costa Rica for many years and tells the story of the two of them handing out flyers to invite people to church for a week-long revival. When Costa Ricans heard they would also be fed, even more people came to help. Bill was footing the entire bill himself, and after the entire week, he had spent a lot of money. One person was saved during the revival. Always the optimist, Bill looked at Phil, stuck his thumb in his belt loop and said, “Whew! That was an expensive soul!”
Monica said, “My dad would have died on the mission field if he could have. At his funeral, letters came in literally from people around the world talking about the impact that both my parents had on them They truly fulfilled the Great Commission.”
http://bmalife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/BMALife_Retina2-300x138.png00BMA Lifehttp://bmalife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/BMALife_Retina2-300x138.pngBMA Life2024-04-12 10:17:252024-04-12 10:17:26Honoring our legacy missionaries is a priority for BMA Global. And whether deceased or alive, learning from their lives and ministries is important to their incredible legacies. Through family testimonies, archived articles, and ministry partner stories, understanding the ongoing work in their former fields impacts future generations.
By Michel Poirier, Missionary to French-speaking Africa
So many are asking, what about Haiti? How is it? How (are) our churches?
Here (is) what I hear: From Pastor M___ in Port-au-Prince:
“It is not easy but God is in charge.” That’s what he tells me every week.
For us in Quebec, Canada, we hear the pain that the people go through. If a person have to go to get food, they have to pay a toll in order to travel on the street from one place to another. In other word, if a person have to go on many streets they have to pay each time, if not they cannot go, or they get robbed. Sometimes they get shot from (an errant) bullet, and sometimes they get kill just for the (fun of it).
People are living just one day at the time, not knowing what will happen during the night. The school are almost all burn down, some hospital are invaded by the gangs who shoot patient if they feel like it, even the police are under attack and kill and cut into pieces, as a show to the other policemen. The two prison are broken down, the penitentiary of Port-au-Prince and the one at Croix des Bouquet are empty and 6,000 prisoner are at large and terrified the population of Port au Prince. The gangs are more equip than the police of Port-au-Prince.
Most people in America dont know what is it to sleep with one eye and one ear open. If you have been on a mission trip with me in Haiti, you probably know what I mean. At another occasion we have two church family in Port-au-Prince who received the visit of a gangs, and have been asked to feed them, but the family did not have any food to give them, so the leader of the gangs told them, that they will be back the next day and if they dont have a meal prepare for them they will kill them all.
As I receive the message I send money to the family and the gangs came back and they were satisfied and let the family alone for now.
As for any support that come in for Haiti, it is sent to them the next day to the people that are in charge of distribution. Another question (people ask) is can they get food? Yes, but for a certain amount (of money) for protection from the gangs.
The gangs have 80% of Port-au-Prince (under) their control. Almost 2 million people are suffering of hunger every day, and it is a battle for them to survive. The airport is close(d), there is no plane flying in or out of Port-au-Prince. The only airport to fly out is through Cap Haitian in the North of Haiti, and it is 10 hrs of difficult drive to Port-au-Prince. For anyone who want to go to Port-au-Prince from Cape Haitian, it is very dangerous because the road are control by the gangs.
Now concerning our two churches; they are under God’s protection, they are asking to pray for them for God’s provision and protection on them and that souls might be save through the situation.
I try to give you the information that came to me this week, but every couple days new info new prayers request comes in.
Put Haiti on your prayers list if you didn’t already.
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On a trip several years ago, my wife and I had lunch with a lady who was truly a world traveler, so I asked about her favorite trip. She immediately responded, ‘’Africa. It touched my very soul.”
Years later, we planned another milestone anniversary trip and had agreed on a destination. But after contacting a travel agent and beginning the process, a month went by without hearing from her or returning our calls. So I reached out to another agent.
In our initial conversation, I told her our chosen destination and asked for help with the process. She agreed then asked a strange question: “Have you ever considered Africa?”
I told her that was the furthest thing from our minds and not really an option, but in the next few days, the comment from the world traveler about Africa being a soul-touching trip continued to dominate my thoughts.
I knew I wanted an experience like that, so I began to pray for it. And in those months of intentional prayer we would never have guessed it would involve sickness, a level of neediness I have rarely experienced, witnessing a level of care and compassion from strangers, and two stories directly from Scripture played out in real time right before my eyes . . . with me as part of the story.
Asking for help and accepting help have always been uncomfortable for me. I know it is a form of pride that is not God-honoring, but I have not overcome it. This time, God allowed a level of helplessness in a foreign country where I had no choice but to comply.
I was totally dependent on Him and those who provided help. It is one thing to say we are totally dependent on God but another thing to truly be unable to help yourself and live out that dependence in a very humbling way. I had that experience, and in hindsight, I see what a precious and beautiful gift it was. Not only was it a “soul touching” experience, it was a “soul changing” one. I couldn’t see it in real time, but on this side, I am thankful for it.
Shortly after arriving on the African continent, I began to experience digestive discomfort but wasn’t overly concerned, but by the next morning the discomfort had escalated greatly, and I was experiencing digestive issues at an acute level. I’ll spare you the details.
Over the next 24 hours, my condition continued to deteriorate, and the lodge where we where staying summoned a paramedic. He provided me with medicine, but my condition only worsened.
By the following morning, it was obvious that I was in real trouble and the remoteness of our location did not allow us easy access to medical care. We considered cancelling the rest of our trip and trying to get home to the U.S. But at best, that would mean 24 hours of air travel, and I was in no condition for that.
Once conscious, I noticed a young man across the aisle who continually watched me with a look of caring and compassion. Some may think it improper for me to point out that I am a white guy, and this young man was a black guy. But with all the racial and ethnic tensions in our world, it seems relevant to the story to me.
When the plane landed, he immediately sprang to his feet and assisted me. As I stood unsteadily, he took my by hand and said, “I’ve got you. I will help you. I won’t leave you.” It was as if God was speaking directly to me.
Deplaning involved portable stairs and walking to a bus for transport to the terminal. The sight of that young man walking backwards down those stairs while holding my hand will forever be in my memory.
He accompanied us to the airport clinic and assisted us as if he were a family member. He did not leave us until he was sure I was stable and then only long enough to retrieve his luggage. He returned and stayed with us until he was assured that we would make our connecting flight. Then in what was one of the most compassionate acts I have ever experienced, he asked to pay the bill for my care.
As I lay there receiving an IV, emotion overwhelmed me as I realized I was witnessing, in real time, Jesus’ parable of “The Good Samaritan” right before my eyes and for my benefit. Even if you have read that story hundreds of times, I encourage you to read it again remembering that it was not a real story, but Jesus’ illustration to show how things should be.
Then consider that Bible stories did not end when the Bible was complete. God is still writing those stories every day. Reading and studying the Bible is one of life’s really important efforts. But to be honest, it does not compare to experiencing the story personally.
My prayer is that each of you would somehow experience being in the middle of a Bible story personally and that it would touch your very soul.
Several days later, we received an email from this young man checking on us. His last words of that email were, “Thank you for letting me help you.” Then I learned that his first name is “Goodwill”. All I could manage to say to God in that moment was “Are you kidding me?”
He assured me He was not.
The experience with Goodwill had left us in awe. We have longed believed that God intentionally puts people in place to help others in need. But I do not remember ever having experienced it so dramatically. Little did I know that our need was about to get even more intense and God’s provision even more dramatic.
We arrived at our second destination, an island even more remote than our first, a small Mozambique island about 45 minutes out in the Indian Ocean. There were no medical facilities there and my condition was continuing to worsen.
So we made the decision to continue the second leg of our trip, a short flight to Mozambique. That didn’t go well, and I basically “crashed” on the flight and lost consciousness. Fortunately, a flight attendant took charge, revived me, and stabilized me for the remaining few minutes of the flight.Early the next morning, it became frighteningly obvious that I needed medical care, and I needed it quickly. In an hour, the resort found a nurse who had cell phone access to a doctor on the mainland.
When he arrived, our differences could not have been any more drastic. I was an old white guy from the wealthiest and most developed country on earth. He was a young man from one of the most impoverished and underdeveloped countries in the world. I was accustomed to the most advanced medical equipment and care available. He had no equipment except a backpack with some medicine and a cell phone. He spoke little English. I spoke no Portuguese. But he cared, and that is all God needed.
I watched as he rummaged through his backpack to find medicine that might help me. Fortunately, he found some and it worked. The real story is not the medication but the care and compassion I received later from this unlikely hero:
This young man sat by my bed for over four hours until I stabilized. After that he sat with me an hour on two occasions and returned every couple of hours to make sure I had taken additional medicines on time. He worked an 18-hour day and still came to check on me at 2:30 the next morning. Then he was back again at first light.
Each time he came, he was on foot. He had no transportation. He had no computer or other electronic devices, so he wrote out his report on the back of a scrap of paper. To say I was amazed and humbled by his care would be a major understatement.
But out of all this, there is a scene that continues to bring tears to my eyes. As I mentioned, this young man had no medical equipment and no pole for suspending my IV bag. So he stood with his arm raised above his head holding that bag so I could get the help I needed. Words can never express the gratitude I felt and still feel in that moment.
Immediately my mind went to the beautiful Old Testament story of Aaron and Hur holding up Moses’ arms when he was too weary to do so. Once again, I sensed the feeling of watching a scene from a Bible story play out in real time. And again I was overwhelmed.
I fully believe God can heal and help people supernaturally without human intervention. But I believe He most often chooses to use people as His agents to help others. I think people helping people has always been His plan for humanity. We see it in the model of Jesus. God could have accomplished His plan of redemption in an infinite number of supernatural ways. But He chose the route of coming to earth in human form, the ultimate example of man helping man.
Never in my life have I been more in awe than having God use this young man – with few resources at his disposal – to facilitate my recovery. I have been blessed, moved, and changed by the experience. Intimacy with God and love for strangers jumped to a whole new level through this trip. My desire to cooperate with God has never been higher.
I had prayed for a “soul touching” experience. I received a “soul changing” experience and feel closer to God than ever.
My wife and I fell in love with the African people, the most welcoming, compassionate, helpful, appreciative, and friendly people we have ever met. The poverty was heartbreaking and the needs overwhelming, but we serve a God who created and maintains a universe that inspires creative ideas to address the physical and spiritual needs of these countries. But we must ask Him for that creativity.
My overriding prayer coming out of this trip is that our missionaries and others with influence on the continent would pray for fresh, creative, effective, “outside the box” visions and opportunities for spiritual and economic innovations in Africa. The model of Jesus has always been to meet both spiritual and physical needs. Our collaboration with Him must be inclusive of both.
As I have prayed over the dear people of Africa since this trip, I sense the lack of inclusiveness in Christian business leaders in the missional efforts on this continent. Join me in praying that God will reveal new and creative ways for that to happen.
By the way, the name of the nurse God sent to help and touch me at my lowest point is Fidelis, which means “Faithful”.
http://bmalife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2321.jpeg1080810BMA Lifehttp://bmalife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/BMALife_Retina2-300x138.pngBMA Life2024-04-02 14:59:222024-04-03 12:54:44Africa: A Trip For the Soul
Johnny Hachem was born in 1981 during the Lebanese Civil War that affected his home country and lasted nine years. But even after that war ended, armed conflicts occurred frequently in Beirut. He recalls glass having to be extracted from his skull, frequent uprisings, and continual gunfire. But despite the complicated politics of the region, his family encouraged his obvious musical talent.
Born into a Christian family of musicians, he was saved at the age of twelve and showed musical talent at an early age by imitating his mother and listening to his sister’s piano teacher who was always looking for prodigies. He began playing piano in church at twelve, where his parents served as well, his father as worship leader/ Sunday school teacher and his mother as pianist.
He says that although he attended church regularly, musical studies were his priority, and since most of his teachers were atheists, they influenced his walk with the Lord and criticized everything Christian. He respected his teachers so much that they influenced his faith negatively. During that time of trying to discover himself, he was not really living for Christ and more interested in his music and the compositions he created.
But at the age of twenty, God intervened. Johnny began teaching private piano lessons to a Christian man’s grandchildren. When the man asked Johnny to join a Bible study in his home, he agreed, and in the years that followed, the man discipled him and completely changed his life.
With a renewed faith, a master’s degree in composition from the Lebanese Higher Conservatory of Music, and a teaching diploma, he continued giving concerts. And in 2009, he won his first international award, which opened a wide door for him, especially in Europe, to also be part of musicals, radio broadcasts, orchestras, and writing piano music.
Once international recognition began, Johnny shared his music in festivals, competitions, and venues all over Europe and the Middle East including Poland, Romania, South Korea, The Netherlands, Japan, Qatar, Brazil, and the Caribbean. One of those competitions was in Vienna, Austria: The International Composition Competition. Three hundred 300 composers from around the world were whittled down to three in different categories. Johnny’s orchestral composition was chosen as one of the three pieces.
It was one of the highlights of his career, but personally and professionally, the dream prize was being asked to perform at Mozart’s home in Vienna.
For the next four years, Johnny shared his music all over the globe, and in 2013, he held a concert in Ukraine, a country in which he had previously performed. There he met Tania, a Christian young lady who was involved in planting a church in her small town. She was moved by his music and introduced herself after the concert. They both felt an instant connection, and the two began a long-distance relationship.
In 2014, they were married in Beirut and decided to live in Ukraine, where they expanded their family to four with the birth of their son Jason and daughter Katy. Johnny continued touring and serving on Regional Coordinator Charlie Costa’s team as social media director.
But when the war in Ukraine began, they started the process of getting out of the country. With Charlie’s assistance and help from BMA Global, they received visas and other documents allowing them citizenship in America and enrolled their children in school. Johnny, who speaks Lebanese, Ukrainian, French, and Arabic, recently received his driver’s license as well and would love to visit churches and continue to do what he loves: sharing his talent and love for the Lord with others.
Johnny and Tanya Hachem are remarkable and talented servants of God, and this article barely touches on the horrors of being in a war torn country. If you’re interested in knowing more or having him speak at your church, contact Johnny at
My husband John and I have the privilege of visiting pastors all over the world. It’s one of those “pinch myself” kind of honors we do not take lightly. When we’re abroad, we visit Americans and national pastors and in both cases, these men, these servants, work hard and serve their churches in every area, no matter what the job description says.
Recently my pastor called to make sure our Bible study class knew about a death in our church family. He went on to briefly mention food and the likely timetable of the funeral, etc. It was your basic heads-up . . . but it got me thinking, “What does my pastor deal with – maybe every day – that is outside his “job description” and that he might never mention to church members? It’s not like he’s keeping something from us. We can trust his judgment on certain matters, but I just wonder about his “caseload” if you will.
In many areas of the world, pastors are also construction workers and build their own churches. Some pastors make a living as fishermen, farmers, teachers, and translators. But what do they really deal with that is difficult and heartbreaking?
I know that pastors in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Myanmar deal with constant war and religious hostility. Those in wealthy countries like France, the United States, and Canada must handle the effects of complacency, progressivism, and gender issues. Pastors in Nepal, Thailand, and Papua New Guinea must undo a works-based belief system. And pastors in Central and South America labor against the poverty, corruption, substance abuse, and polygamy that destroys families.
You might say that these are extreme issues or not problems for pastors where you live, but I think that both worldwide and at home, pastors deal with some very real and difficult things we’ll never know about. Perhaps some of those issues are personal, painful, and private.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that pastors need our prayers, not our criticism; our understanding, not our complacency; our willingness, not our excuses.
I don’t know about your pastor, but mine works hard. He’s at church hours before most church members and hangs around long after the last person leaves. He shakes hundreds of hands and knows who’s new and who’s sick. He’s there for concerns, counseling, and crying. He knows when a new person steps through the door, and he knows who’s hurting.
And the same thing is true for our pastors around the world who have church under a tree, sitting cross-legged on a dirt floor, or while officials look for unlawful gatherings.
So tell me about your pastor, brag about him, let him know you are praying for him. And consider Pastor Appreciation Day all year long.
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Ours has truly been a love story. We were two young adults ready for a mate in the early 1970s and were both praying for one. We lived 150 miles apart and never met, but that wasn’t a problem for God. Once He brought us together, we knew He had answered our prayers. What a Blessing! All who knew us said we were a perfect match. We never doubted it. Would God do anything less when answering the sincere prayers of two dedicated Christians?
Recently a young married lady observed us and said, “There’s nothing I like better than to see an older couple walking together hand in hand.” We hear that often and it always Blesses us. Whenever given an opportunity, we mention our 50thanniversary this coming Valentine’s Day (2024). We don’t mention it to brag, but to let people know that it can be done.
You see, we are best friends. As two retirees, we stay busy but are either at home together, running errands together, going to appointments together or, of course, attending church together. I am so Blessed to hear my favorite pastor every Sunday, my husband John! We just enjoy each other’s company, and I guess the reason is that we have God to arrange our marriage with a God given love for one another that has only grown over the years.
Through those five decades, all these years John and I have been Blessed with good health: no heart attacks, tumors, strokes, blockages, lung or kidney disease, etc. But last October of 2023 John was diagnosed with cancer, the first major health issue we had ever experienced. I had never been so afraid or prayed as much in my life. I could not imagine my life without the Love of my Life. Suddenly my love for John was even deeper than I thought it could be. I tried not to show any fear but rather strength and courage from God and gave John even more hugs to reassure him of my love and support.
After tests, x-rays and an MRI, the specialist finally met with us in November. It seemed forever waiting to meet and get the results. He told us the cancer was a small area and said it was caught early. He spoke to us in a calm, reassuring, and optimistic manner, which really helped . . . and that was such a Blessing! He said John should not need chemo, just 28 days of radiation treatments. So we drove on weekdays to the treatments from November 15 to December 27, a 100-mile round trip. Many were surprised John had no ill effects from the radiation, but we know that it’s another Blessing from God.
We have so many family members and friends who were and are praying. We could feel and witness the results of their prayers. What a Blessing! We thought it would be an exhausting, long-and-drawn-out ordeal, but we made each trip safely. We even had strength and energy and didn’t feel tired when returning home.
Our two sons came at different times to help with some of the driving and anything else requiring attention. Neighbors checked on us and brought food. Then suddenly, the treatments were almost over and we were amazed! Where did the time go? What a Blessing! With that much traveling, we were so thankful to have our nice and dependable car.
Of the 28 trips, only once did the car fail to start, and that was the only day we needed to rush home to an appointment I had. At first, I thought about calling to cancel my appointment, but I had made it several months prior and decided to wait awhile. God knew what was going on. John tried and couldn’t get the car started, so he had to call Roadside Assistance. But instead of having to wait an hour or so on him, he was just around the corner! That had never happened with us before. I just sat back and watched the miracles God was performing for us. The man soon arrived and quickly assessed the problem as a dead battery. And among the ones in his truck, he even had what we needed. It didn’t take him long to install it and we were on our way! The traffic flowed smoothly. We had just enough time for John to drop me off at my appointment with three minutes to spare. What a Blessing!
I am writing this in January of 2024, and even though John completed his radiation treatments last month, his appointment for the treatment results is in April! We have never stopped praying and will continue to, of course.
God graciously provided all our needs: a caring and praying family, friends and neighbors, safety, safe travels, food, inquiries, compassion, strength, energy, endurance, and many Blessings I am failing to mention. So, throughout all our lives and everything written above, including 50 years of marriage, we sometimes just sit and talk about how thankful we are and, as the hymn goes, we “Count Our Many Blessings”.
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Soon after I began “working” at the BMA Global Ministry Center, I learned that I was actually “serving” instead. First at Lifeword then at BMA Missions (now BMA Global), I have served the people of the BMA for ten years. And I learned how to do it from the people with whom I interact every day.
The broader picture of what that means has forced me to change my thinking. We are all meant to serve by sharing the gospel to the whole world. But for a long time, I thought that mandate was for the missionaries whose names I memorized at GMA meetings. Boy, was I wrong! The best examples of servants and servanthood come from our missionaries but also from ChangeMakers around the world that you will likely never see.
How these co-laborers serve all over the world looks very different and is intertwined with their own cultural contexts. My husband John and I have had the honor of visiting many areas of the world to see first hand their ministries, encourage them, and have face-to-face conversations. We come back with pictures and videos and souvenirs but also with a ground-level view of their ministry and a greater understanding of that unique context.
Although there is sometimes a language barrier, meeting and interacting with those ChangeMakers all over the world has been a special privilege. They are co-laborers building relationships and working to plant churches. They are better able to reach their own communities. Many were once in darkness about who Jesus is until someone shared the gospel. They are servants who bring people to Christ.
What that “serving” actually looks like is far different from what I imagined forty-five years ago when I memorized the names of BMA missionaries.
In most parts of the world, worship services are much livelier and louder than in the States. (Whatever you’re imagining, multiply it by one hundred!) Every country I’ve been blessed to visit has more from-the-heart worship than the American church.
At a baptism service in the Middle East, each new convert gave their testimony, then the celebration begins: The whole congregation stands to their feet and sings the entire salvation song loudly with whoops and hollers. No way you can keep from tearing up, smiling and clapping. Same thing happens with the next new believer. Then the testimonies, singing, and clapping begins again.
In the Spanish-speaking world, the Philippines, and Africa, many churches are open-air with flat out dancing and loudly miked-up musicians telling the whole area, “It’s Sunday morning! Come worship with us!” (In comparison, we don’t even go across the street to share the gospel and invite our neighbors to church.)
The comfort level of churchgoers all over the world is also very different. In Africa, church is the ground beneath your feet and the tree above you with no concern about time or temperature. No one has a watch or strictly adheres to any schedule.
In rural India, church is a small tarp suspended above a crumbling concrete floor, men and women separated and shoes off. The worship leader holding the microphone just a few inches away from the “congregation” turns up the volume just in case the neighbors can’t hear that church has started. Worship also includes dancing by girls young and old.
Church is a celebration, and churchgoers don’t seem to care about their comfort level, whether it’s too hot, too cold, too loud, or too long.
In stark contrast, the Myanmar church is a quiet indoor meeting of fewer than five people or whatever new government-restricted number officials decide. Someone is stationed at the door in case officials are looking for small gatherings that might be church meetings. If unlawful activity is suspected, worshipers are ready to hide songbooks and give an explanation for the meeting. Sometimes, they are hauled to jail. Because it’s a closed access country, I have never witnessed their worship, but the stories I read make me shudder.
Across the world, I have seen Christians serve others, share Jesus, and sing a joyful noise in ways that we complacent Americans would never consider. For our ChangeMakers, It’s just how they serve God and serve others.
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