During my first trip to Africa, a teaching trip to Tanzania in 1988, before most of you whippersnappers were born, the IMB missionary we worked with told of a problem in the churches. Chiefs in the villages had great privilege and the people served the chiefs. He told us that pastors tended to act like church chiefs, lording it over the congregation and expecting to be honored for their exalted position.
Fortunately that never happens in American churches!
I am currently on my 15th trip to the Casamance in Southern Senegal and I ran into a problem with one chief in one of our 7 villages. At first he was welcoming and friendly and then, as we made some inroads in the village he grew increasingly hostile. On one trip, we went to see him (you always visit the chief when you enter his village). When we left, my translator was fuming. We’d been insulted and I had no clue. He never asked us to sit. The chairs are so uncomfortable I considered it a blessing! Alioune knew exactly what it was.
We began to pray that God would soften his heart and give favor in the village.
Wow! The next time I went we found out he had died. His replacement is a delightful young man who has been supportive and helpful in our ministry.
On our first full day of ministry we went to visit him. When we showed up, he asked us to have a seat and wait a few minutes. He wasn’t being rude.
The village chief was bathing his small children!
I joked with him about that and he said that his wife was busy and it was his duty.
He is not a believer but he understands servant leadership better than many.
I walked away impressed with a young African chief. I want to be more like Jesus. And Jacques.
(I have little idea about matching the time, so I’m just gonna post this. It’s 8 pm here and we are showing the Jesus film.
