I remember that first night in Mangodara in the southern part of Burkina Faso. We had traveled 9 hours from the capital city, Ouagadougou. Much of the final few hours of the trip were navigated on “roads” that needed four wheel drive. Mangodara was a town of over 5,000 people, but there was no running water and no electricity. The “hotel” we were staying in was a cement building with metal doors (termites would eat anything wood). Our small group of 6 men was split into two groups and all I remember about that first night was how hot it was. I wanted to leave the door open to hopefully get a breeze going, but I was worried about snakes, spiders, mosquitoes, and the fact that we were hours away from any hospital. If something strange bit us, help was a long way away!
I remember staying up late into the night with two fellow pastors, Tommy and Jason. We were trying to adjust to the time change and the reality that we were out in the African bush. We spent a lot of time in prayer that evening. In the midst of the uneasy feeling that we all had, we found comfort in a prayer found in the book of Ezra. In chapter 8, Ezra is about to lead a ragtag group of peasants and priests on a journey from Persia to Jerusalem. They are carrying a small fortune to beautify the temple and buy sacrifices, and Ezra becomes worried about safety. So he prays that God would protect his group and provide them with a safe journey.
We turned to Ezra’s prayer that night. We knew the people group we were visiting, the Doghosie, needed to hear the Gospel. We knew the risk was worth it. However, we found great comfort in echoing Ezra’s prayer for safety.
In the world we live in today, with the coronavirus spreading and the rise of violence, advancing the Gospel mission can seem daunting. However, I think Ezra gives us a model for how to approach an uncertain world. Ezra prayed for God’s protection and safety, and then Ezra continued on the journey in which he knew God had called him. In the same way, we pray for safety, and we continue living out the calling that God has given us.
After staying up late into the night praying, I remember the peace of God that washed over us in Mangodara. We realized there was going to be some level of danger being out so far in the bush, but God was gracious to give us peace. We knew that God had called us to share the Gospel with the Doghosie people. Ezra’s prayer was a great model for us and encouraged us during our trip.
As we think about the global missions mandate that God has placed on our church, please join me in praying for our missions teams going to Mexico in April and the Dominican Republic this summer. Join me in praying Ezra’s prayer for our global missions teams, and for our teams going to North Carolina and Windermere as well.
In the midst of uncertainty, it is comforting to know that “the hand of our God is gracious to all who seek him” (Ezra 8:22).
In Him,
Pastor Zach