Fishing Season in Africa (by Jim Poitras)

Jim Poitras
Former Missionary
to Ghana

It’s fishing season in the Africa Region. We have launched out into the deep. Forget the single pole. We’re casting our net. Our Regional Director, Jerry Richardson compares our ministries and multiple nations to the rope that holds the net together. Every nation - where the United Pentecostal Church International is present - is bent on being fishers of men. We will double in less than ten years.

Strengthening the catch is the Vision for Africa Ministries. We have seven specialized groups assisting us. First things first: Africa Network of Prayer represents our prayer needs throughout the region. We are not only a continent in need of prayer ,we are one that is in prayer. Africans everywhere are on their knees with raised hands storming heaven for revival. Under promotions in our region, we have the Africa@Revival Newsletter bringing good news from far countries. Both the Africa Network of Prayer and Africa@Revival have monthly e-letters that go out to thousands of friends and supporters. Join the list by writing vdrichardson@gmail.com or AfricaAflame@aol.com. We’ll be happy to welcome you on board!

Africa boasts the largest number of Bible schools and nations presently desiring to be part of the Global Association of Theological Studies. Over half of the nations worldwide that have sent letters of intent come from the Africa Region. We are thankful to be leading the way in Bible school education. We believe in trained workers in every nation. Brother Nicky Sisco is our new leader of GATS-Africa.

Africa Aflame is a long standing ministry of the Africa Region producing an annual CD of print and non-print resources. Requests come from around the world for our resources in English, French, and Swahili. We have literally hundreds of resources available.  Need help in resources? Write us at AfricaAflame@aol.com.

Leadership Development Africa is now under the capable leadership of visionary Ted Grosbach. He writes lessons regularly, has taught in loads of countries over the last year or so, and is planning to put his material on a CD for distribution. With the catch that’s coming, we need qualified leaders to facilitate our anticipated growth.

Former Secretary-General of the United Nations once said something like, “If you want to know how the future of any nation would look, you do not need super computers to predict. They are already represented in the minds and hearts of the young people.” There’s a lot of little fishes in our fishing pond. They are our future and believe me, the future is bright. Over fifty percent of our population is below the age of fifteen. So, we have two ministries preparing for the gigantic catch. Campus Ministries Africa reaches students at every level. Reaching Africa’s Children envisions a children’s ministry in every United Pentecostal Church on the continent.

Someone has said, “No one leader has all the answers, but by combining the most brilliant ones, you have everything you need to lead your organization to success.” In Africa, no single ministry takes its fishing pole and expects a gigantic catch. Together, as strands of rope in a fisher’s net, we are working to lead the United Pentecostal Church International in Africa to unprecedented success.

TIME IS RUNNING OUT (by Jerry Richardson)

Jerry Richardson
Regional Director - Africa

When you pick up a newspaper, listen to a radio commentary, or speak to Africans on the street, the subject that seems to come up is that of time.  Everyone is time conscious. It is recognized that time is truly short.  The church, as well, realizes that time is short because of the soon coming of our KING JESUS.  However, to many, time seems to be even shorter.  Political battles, genocides and the battles with diseases may mean that the end is nearer than one would expect.

In a recent report, I picked up some alarming statistics on the HIV/AIDS virus that is rampant in so many parts of Africa.  In the age group between 15 years and 49 years of age, Kenya reported 14 percent infected.  Further south, the figures worsen.  These include also Malawi with 16%, Mozambique 13%, Zambia 20%, and Zimbabwe with a whopping 25% of the population in this age group infected with this terrible disease.  Even South Africa has climbed to 20% and Botswana is all the way up to a 35.8%.  If these figures are only depicting the ages between 15 and 49, then the overall figures could rise even higher.  So many are destined to die lost without ever hearing of a Savior that can deliver.  We are racing time to see how many can be reached before it is too late.

The more than 700,000,000 people occupying sub-Saharan Africa are participating in many different religions.  Some are Muslims, some Christians, and some just follow the ancient ways of their ancestors.  How can they hear the truth?  Some 24 missionaries families are endeavoring to carry this message, but they are so few among so many.  With their tremendous dedication, they have affected entire nations, but even with that, time is running out for so many.

This is where I have to lift my hands in thanksgiving to God for what He has done.  He has spoken to the hearts of pastors and evangelists along with some church members across our fellowship to join the efforts in Africa.  The efforts of great men and women of God who have joined their efforts with the efforts of the missionaries and many national ministers will help bring us much further along in the task of reaching Africa for Jesus.  The shortness of TIME requires our best.  How could we stand before God if we have not awakened to the fact that time is short and have given our best effort to HIM by working together to reach AFRICA?

The number would grow into the thousands of how many people have been snatched from Satan’s grip this year because of these efforts.  Let us rejoice together!  The lost one has been found!  We must not allow one to be lost when it is within our power to make the difference.  I pray that others will step forward and say, “Let me also be a part of this great effort to evangelize AFRICA.”