Two weeks ago, on Wednesday evening, I accepted the invitation to participate in Wieuca Road Baptist Church’s Experience Africa. When I arrived with my two children in tow, I was directed to one of three Sunday School classrooms that had been converted into “dining rooms.” Each room was hosted by someone who had either lived in or had much experience with Liberia, Kenya, or Ethiopia. Our meal was catered by a local West African restaurant and was standard fare for a middle-class family living in one of these countries: rice, chicken, “greens,” and cornbread (ok – maybe not so African!). In the “Liberia” room, we also had a taste of ginger beer and a crispy casava bread.

After dinner, we traveled in groups to the fellowship hall, which had been converted into an African village. It was loud and bustling! Eight different huts or stations were set up around the room and told a story of how through education and the work of CBF field personnel, people are being lifted out of poverty. One hut was a small grocery business that a woman was able to establish after receiving a microloan. Another hut showed her home “before” and then “after” she had earned some money. There was also the “school” hut that demonstrated how children were first taught by drawing in the sand before their community had a building for a school. Other huts included the local worship center with rhythmic music; the clinic; a refugee station staffed with CBF field personnel; and an area led by children teaching the game of mancala and the construction of homeade cars made from scrap materials. As adults traveled the stations, they were listening for answers to a crossword puzzle game. Finally, after the “tour” was complete, guests were invited to shop in the mini marketplace to purchase African items as well as Christmas cards made by Wieuca Road children.

I was so impressed with the amount of time and energy that went into this event and could feel the excitement of all who participated! The idea for Experience Africa emerged as the children were studying Spark, CBF’s missional formation resource, and it built on the church’s partnership with CBF in support of field personnel, Jessy Togba-doya. The response was incredible for Wieuca Road, with almost triple the number of people attending than on a typical Wednesday evening.  

For more information on this event and to share your great ideas….join me in a conversation at http://fellowshipportal.ning.com/group/missionsteachers!