WE'RE EXPECTING

We are expecting again.   We are pregnant with the dream of a new church plant called Nations Chapel.

 After spending a year in the United States we have come away convinced of several things.   First, our Diaspora people from Africa’s Great Lakes are here and need shepherding.   Two, the United States herself is in desperate need of missionaries.    We have become convinced that God has called us to church plant again.    We are going to do it with our Diaspora friends.    Our intent is not to plant an African church, but to plant a multi-cultural church that serves many cultures and generations.

Many compare the journey of church planters to birth (Galatians 1:15; 4:19; Titus 1:4.)    We concur.    Before a birth happens there is a season of preparation.    The physical body stretches.   At times it is painful.   Preparation for birth is all consuming.    Not only does the body change; but finances are adjusted, doctors are visited, rooms are prepared, and a community waits in anticipation.    We are in birth preparation again.   

Some consider church planting to be the task of the young and strong.    We agree.   The hours are long and demanding.   There is usually great painful turmoil to start.   The future is full of many mysteries.  

We’re in our mid 40’s.    Most who church plant do so in their 20’s and 30’s.    Our eyes and ears have lost a little.   Our bodies hurt a little.    Yet God has given us a great wealth of relationships and experiences.   Also, God has also given us just a few more youthful steps than some of our peers.   We must well steward these gifts from the Lord (Joshua 14:6-15; Matthew 25:14-30.)

We deeply love both our Diaspora and American friends.   Due to this love which God has given us we must church plant again.

We ask your prayers and support in this calling,

Mungu akubariki (May God bless you),

Dave and Jana

 P.S.   To read our vision process check out http://jenkinsinrwanda.blogspot.com/2013/08/10-point-vision-of-shepherding-africa.html

10 POINT VISION OF SHEPHERDING AFRICA GREAT LAKES DIASPORA AS MISSIONARIES

1.      God gave our family the privilege of 19 years of church planting as adults in East Africa.    The Lord grew that gift to include a deep well of relationships and experiences.

2.      Our people, the Diaspora (a people dispersed from their original homeland who form community http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Diaspora.) from Africa’s Great Lakes (Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda) are clustered in many major cities in North America.     They are doing very well professionally and academically yet some have spiritual struggles in their adaptation.   Their children are Third Culture Kids (TCK’s) just like our own children. 

    3.      We have a solemn pastoral responsibility to shepherd the Diaspora from Africa’s Great Lakes.    We have spent a year praying and listening.    Our intent is to begin a monthly fellowship in Chicago land to shepherd the Diaspora in the fall of 2013 called Great Lakes Fellowship.

   4.      Christianity’s influence in North America has experienced a rapid decline in the last 20 years.

   5.      The greatest growth of Christianity in the 20^th Century was in China, Korea, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

6.      The children and grandchildren of some of the previous century’s most effective

church planters are Diaspora now in North America.

7.      The United States ethnic composition is rapidly shifting.   Caucasians will soon be a minority.

8.      Diaspora esteem deep held American ideals such as faith, knowledge, freedom, ingenuity, and perseverance.

9.      We believe one of the most crucial tasks for Christian influence in North America is to church plant among and with the children of Diaspora peoples.

10. Thus we conclude we have a sacred responsibility to shepherd Africa’s Great Lakes Diaspora through their transitions to become missionaries who plant multi-cultural churches in North America (James 4:12-17.)   We intend to begin a new multi-cultural church in Chicago called Nations Chapel.