I don’t often write trip reports after I travel, except, of course, in the form of books and documentary projects like Epic and From the Rising of the Sun. Yet, I thought I would make a rare exception after returning from my recent journey to Southern Africa (and, strangely, Northern California). While I am accustomed to traveling by myself or with project partners, Aileen was able to accompany me this time—her first-ever journey to the south of Africa.
The primary purpose of this trip was to speak at the Reformation Family Conference in Harare, Zimbabwe. This annual conference is hosted by Berean Reformed Baptist Church, a church plant of Conrad Mbewe’s Kabwata Baptist Church.1 Berean is pastored by Joe Shoko. After I accepted that invitation, I was asked if I could also visit nearby Zambia to speak at Central Africa Baptist University’s annual Equip Conference, since it was set to begin just two days later. Having been to CABU many times, I was eager and glad to do so.
The trip actually began, though, in Abu Dhabi, where we enjoyed a stopover that was long enough for us to have a delightful lunch with Dave and Gloria Furman, who live in neighboring Dubai. We were also able to worship at Evangelical Community Church of Abu Dhabi, a like-minded congregation whose liturgy, sermon, and song selection would have been entirely at home at my own Grace Fellowship Church. Like all the churches in the United Arab Emirates, ECCAD is notable for being made up entirely of people from around the world who have moved to Abu Dhabi to work, but not to permanently settle. That makes it massively multi-cultural, perhaps even more so than churches in Toronto.
That night, we flew far south to Namibia, a country I have long been interested in visiting. Because we were already in Southern Africa, we thought it would be a nice place to spend a couple of days adjusting to the 7-hour time difference before beginning a heavy schedule of speaking. Namibia quickly proved itself to be one of my favorite African destinations. We visited a national park where we enjoyed a handful of game drives that allowed us to marvel at the local wildlife, all in its natural setting. I would very much like to return so I can explore the desert, dunes, and coastline. I think Namibia could prove a good “gateway country” for people who may be intrigued to visit Africa but are intimidated by the thought of doing so. It is one of the few countries in that area where I would comfortably build my own itinerary, rent a car, and just drive. It was a great experience and a very cost-effective one compared to many of the alternatives.
Now fully adjusted and re-energized, we flew to Harare. Where Namibia is a peaceful country that has enjoyed stable rulers in recent years, Zimbabwe is quite a bit more chaotic and, in recent decades, has suffered under poor leaders. The contrast was apparent within minutes of landing when it came to the chaos of customs, the broken traffic system, and the poverty of so many of the citizens.
Yet the Christians were delightful, and it was a joy to spend several days with them. Joe Shoko began the conference speaking about backsliding before John Bell (another local pastor) and I provided two messages each and then joined Joe for a Q&A session. There were perhaps 80 people in attendance, representing 7 or 8 churches from across Zimbabwe. I was encouraged by their obvious love for the Lord and their deep-rootedness in sound doctrine. The next morning, I preached at Berean Reformed Baptist Church, and once again, the liturgy and songs, but for a couple that were in the local Shona language, would have been right at home at Grace Fellowship Church. I have been to Zimbabwe several times and would generally recommend visiting Victoria Falls ahead of Harare. Almost everyone there told me that next time I visit, I ought to make my way to the eastern part of the country where the busyness of the city gives way to serene highlands. I would like to do so in the future.
(Parenthetical cultural observation: In Zimbabwe, and Zambia to a lesser degree, I learned that it is no cultural taboo to interrupt another person’s conversation—to simply walk up to two people who are engaged in a discussion and to begin a new one. Whenever I travel, some of my favorite cultural moments are the ones in which something that is rude in one culture is perfectly acceptable in another. We human beings are nothing if not quirky! I always walk away wondering what cultural sins I inadvertently committed and thankful to those who extended grace!)
That evening, Aileen and I flew to Lusaka, Zambia, and overnighted at an airport hotel before continuing to Ndola the next morning. An hour’s drive brought us to the city of Kitwe. After checking into our hotel, we visited Faith Children’s Village, a ministry to orphans I have visited many times in the past (and which appears in both of my documentaries). I always appreciate seeing how the ministry has grown and, of course, how the children have grown. It is a ministry that has impressed me deeply over the years, and I was eager for Aileen to see it as well. Over a million Zambian children have been orphaned, in large part due to HIV/AIDS, and while any organization can help only the smallest fraction of them, it is a blessing to know that Faith Children’s Village is caring for 100, and faithfully tending to both their bodies and their souls. The orphanage itself is under the authority of Faith Baptist Church Kakolo, a church we featured in From the Rising of the Sun.
With that visit over, we headed to Central Africa Baptist University so I could speak at the conference. It is an intensive event with separate tracks for pastors, chaplains, and those who simply wish to be equipped for life and leadership. Each group hears 20 or more addresses over the course of the week, and some of the other speakers included HB Charles, Conrad Mbewe, Ken Mbugua, and Karl Hargrove. The theme this year was the Holy Spirit, and my task was to set the Holy Spirit within the context of the Trinity. The attendees were eager to listen and did so well, despite my talk coming right after lunch on a hot afternoon! At the event, they announced the happy news that the university’s leadership is being passed from Phil Hunt, who founded it, to Chopo Mwanza—a good and natural progression from missionary founders to local leaders. (See also: The Missionary Task: Train Leaders and Step Aside)
With that event behind us, we began making our way back toward North America, a process that took a couple of days. We had to spend a night in Johannesburg, South Africa, and gladly accepted the offer of hospitality from some friends there. It was then a very long, delayed, and disrupted journey back through Abu Dhabi and onwards to Toronto. And while Aileen headed for home when we reached Toronto, I carried on to San Francisco so I could speak at the Biblical Counseling Coalition’s Global Summit. This was an honor and a blessing, and while my brain was more than a little scrambled from all the time zones, it was a joy to spend a couple of days with friends.
A final flight, my twelfth of the trip, brought me back to Toronto and back to my home. I returned home thankful for traveling mercies and, even more so, thankful to have seen further evidence of how God is at work all over the world. One of the great honors of my life has been to travel far and wide and to worship with local churches in dozens of different nations. I am always blessed and encouraged by the experience, and know each one is just a glimpse of the day we will finally join together as one people to worship the Lord in glory. May God hasten that day!
- People often wonder how conferences can take place in contexts where the economy is poor and expenses are high. Generally, a sponsor in North America (sometimes an organization or sometimes an individual) will cover the major expenses like travel and accommodations. I neither desire nor expect any kind of compensation for my time in such contexts, so that leaves the local church simply supplying the location and other minor expenses. ↩︎
