The Desparate Cry (by Jerry Richardson)

Jerry Richardson
Regional Director - Africa

Just as the Apostle Paul heard the Macedonian cry and was willing to leave the comfort zone of where he was in order to go to a place where need abounded, the church of today must hear the urgent cry of AFRICA’s MILLIONS and be willing to answer by going.

Today’s situations place countless people outside the provision which most of the world would consider the necessities of life.  I recently drove down a street in Africa and wondered have these people even had a decent meal this week.  It was not so much a question about today but for the week.  I see orphans and street urchins struggling to exist and help siblings that are weaker or less able to content in a difficult world.  Where is their hope?  I know that the masses are endeavoring to exist while political systems continue to place the politicians ahead of the needs of the majority of their population.  If the economic system and the political system offer no promise to these masses then who will?  AIDS continues to devour the lives of so many.  Again I say, where is their hope?  Do we care?  Is there something that we can do?

Words cannot amply express my appreciation for the missionaries, pastors and churches that comprise the Africa Region.  Daily sacrifices are made that one more can be reached.  It is not unusual to see them meeting in school classrooms, outdoors or in many differing circumstances because they don’t have the means to obtain a piece of land or construct a building. Their desire is not dampened.  They are determined to reach one more for the master.  The abundance of the harvest field far outstretches the grasp of the harvesters.  Today doors are open in places where we have no one and where it seems that there is not even one witness to send.  Missionaries are covering multiple tasks in order to try to meet the urgent needs of the bulging works.  We hear the cry but we also cry, “WHO WILL GO?”

It seems that the cry for laborers is more intense today than it has ever been before.  No longer can we say the door is closed.  We also cannot say that there are not hungry hearts waiting.  We can only join our prayers together that God will speak to one more pastor or minister to leave their comfort zone and become a missionary to Africa.  CAN YOU HEAR THE CRY OF EIGHT HUNDRED MILLION SOULS?

Today the harvest needs commitments of people who will make this their life long profession as well as those who will join in for the immediate task.  Together, with all of us involved, we can make a difference.  By joining forces in prayer, finances and by going the cries of many will be answered.

Listen!  Hear...

                                THE DESPERATE CRY!

KOUCHIBOUGUAC (by Colleen Carter)

Colleen Carter
Missionary to Ghana

Kouchibouguac? You might ask – where in the world is THAT? Honestly, it is a place in New Brunswick, Canada where my story starts.

The youngest of four children, I was raised with my brothers and sister by God-fearing parents who still live according to God’s Word. We weren’t rich by material means but God supplied our needs and blessed us with plenty of love.

The little one room schoolhouse – converted church was where my family attended. I received the Holy Ghost standing to the right side of the pulpit and was baptized in Jesus’ name in the Kouchibouguac River. My foundation is strong and secure.

My mother was my Sunday school teacher and we always sent Christmas cards to missionaries. The year I was seven, I selected the Everett Corcorans – missionaries to Pakistan. That was the beginning of a sacred friendship. As I wrote and they responded, God was moulding my heart toward missions.

At fourteen, God called me to missions. After graduation from High School I attended Northeast Christian College. While there I kept praying for the Lord to direct my footsteps. In my third year, with graduation fast approaching, I earnestly prayed for God to reveal His will to me. My brother went to Because of the Times and met the Jim Poitras family. He returned with a bookmark and told me to pray about it.  I placed it in my Bible. The next sermon I heard was about commitment and giving God all. I took my Bible to the altar and laid myself over it saying, “If this is what you want God then I will do it with everything within me.”

February 2000 I arrived in Ghana, West Africa as an AIMer for the first time with the simple goal of “being an extra set of hands to the missionary.” Immediately I fell in love with the country and church. Over the years, God has moved in my life – placing a burden in my heart for: reaching Africa’s children; passing the Word through the printed page; and training pastors through teaching at ACTS Ghana.

With almost five AIM terms behind me, I marvel at what God has done in my life. Has it been easy? Not always, but His grace is sufficient.  If I should ever question my being in Africa, all I need to do is watch the Holy Ghost being poured over a soul and my vision, passion, and burden are renewed. It may not always be easy but it sure is worth it!

With my tiny hand in God’s mighty hand, I applied for intermediate appointment in September 2005. Now I await God’s timing and perfect will. This is a big step, but when God says “Go,” I’m ready to run. The race isn’t to the swift, but to the one who endures to the end.