Return Journey: KW Missionary Ministry Description

Initial Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

- Gain language proficiency while studying in France
- Teach at IBAO
- Facilitate Theological Education by Extension (TEE)
- Coordinate the development of the IBAO library

(IBAO is the French acronym for West Africa Bible Institute, which opened it’s doors January 15, 2007. It is located in Yamoussoukro and is the first French-speaking Bible institute of the Church of God anywhere in the world.)

Milestone: Missionary Commissioning

A major milestone on this journey was the Missionary Commissioning Service held on Wednesday, June 25 at the 2008 North American Convention of the Church of God in Anderson, Indiana.

Baylor/Watts Commissioning Service 2008 on "YouTube":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mymnB8PvKtA

October 2007: Children’s Ministry

On my first Sunday in Côte d'Ivoire, I visited Platform village and sat in back of children’s church so I could observe their format and style before my seminars later that week. It was similar in many ways to American children's churches. They did lots of echo singing, prayer time, memory verse, Bible story, a contemporary story illustrating the memory verse, more singing/chanting including songs that affirmed applications of Biblical living.

I held a baby during children's church (1st pic) that a little girl around 8 or 9 had been carrying around on her back/side tied in a cloth, and fed baby a bottle. I could not talk their language, but continued to tenderly hold the baby - hoping that would communicate my love for children (not just a strange white woman sitting there gawking); the children later smiled at me holding the baby. I prayed God's blessing on that child, and felt impressed to pray that God would make her a mighty leader of children and trainer of children's workers. I mentioned my prayer to the mother after service who seemed to understand and nodded enthusiastically.

Twice I attended children’s church in Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire’s largest Church of God congregation. Without previous notification, I was asked to lead a chorus. PANIC!!! Not knowing French, the shortest song with the most repetition I could think of was "Hallelujah, Praise Ye the Lord" (2nd pic) with boys and girls sitting then standing on their respective phrase. The children’s church leader translated, a participant in my workshop a few days earlier.

Interesting observation – a part of every children’s church service I attended while in Côte d'Ivoire was the "Papa Abraham" with various motions. The culture shock of children’s ministry in the churches I attended was the simple furnishings – backless benches and a chalkboard. Singing was acapella, with clapping and sometimes dancing. Yet worship and learning with smiles took place.

October 2007: Christian Education Seminar

For the Christian Education Seminar on Thursday and Friday, October 11 & 12, I had been asked to share creative teaching methods (alternatives to traditional lecture) and ideas for discipleship with adults.

Pastors and CE leaders who are responsible for training others came from five churches around Ivory Coast. My foundational verse was the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Among others things I explored the need to use varied and interactive teaching methods, and led the group in trying various activities for teaching Bible memory verses (see 1st pic). One person commented they did memory verses and games, but had never thought of doing both at same time.

Another big portion of the seminar was presenting section one of Group Publishing’s Disciple-Making Teachers “The Learner Outside of Class – What Is a Disciple?” Daniel, my workshop interpreter and speaker for the new French CBH radio program, had also worked with me to translate the acrostic into an outline handout. The material was very well received - several participants asked about getting the book in French, and I passed their request on to the publisher.

Both days I mentioned the scriptural pattern for teaching and disciple making. Jesus, the master teacher, taught and made disciples in both large groups (3000 & 5000) and in small groups (12 - his disciples, 3 – Peter, James, & John).

An interesting thing happened Friday morning that I did not expect. For devotions, I read 2 Timothy 3:16, then asked folks to share a favorite scripture and a brief story illustrating how it has impacted their life. Much of the sharing was not so 'brief'…it took 1 hour 45 minutes for 13 people to share, but it was a rich, precious time together.

I also presented an overview with scriptures of How to Lead a Child to Christ, along with discussion of home and church nurturing the child in preparation of a decision. I was told that one of the participants immediately started having family devotions after the workshop.

October 2007: Library – West African Bible Institute

My primary responsibilities in Côte d'Ivoire during October 2007 were providing assistance in the initial setup and cataloguing of library materials for the newly formed West Africa Bible Institute. Approximately 95% of the books there were in French, and with limited time I was asked to focus on just the French ones. What did that involve?

First task was to enter each book not already recorded in a master register log book (top pic above) and stamp books in several places.

Second a Dewey Decimal Subject Classification number for each title was determined. There are several Dewey Decimal versions; I was inclined to use a recent version, but ended up using a Dewey list adapted for theological libraries by a librarian missionary, Martina in Burkina Faso (country north of Ivory Coast).

Third, I entered data for each book into French cataloging software Papyrus 2000...with help of my laptop French-English dictionary and sometimes clarification from Sherman & Kay Critser. Data included author, title, publisher, date of publication, number of pages, condition of book, ISBN #, registration/accession number, copy or volume number if appropriate, and Dewey Decimal subject number, often entering a new one from the adapted list.

Fourth, came preparation of spine labels, checkout card/pocket labels, and old fashioned card catalog cards …printing done by Sherman Critser (I thank God for his computer expertise and patience!) Phone calls and emails with Martina and two consultation visits from Denise, an Australian missionary part-time librarian in Côte d'Ivoire enabled this project to be accomplished. God is faithful to supply necessary assistance.

It was a race against the clock. During my last week there, three Yamoussoukro church members came over to help with applying card pockets, labels, entered more books while Kay C. & I covered paperbacks with plastic laminate (see 2nd pic).

The process did not go smoothly and quickly, but neither is life smooth. It took Sherman literally hours to figure out a way to print old-fashioned card catalog cards from the modern Papyrus software via MS Word mail merge & Excel. There were a multitude of computer difficulties. An older computer intended for IBAO did not survive repeated reinstallations and downloading fixes from Internet. Constant double checking all my French typing for spelling and adding French punctuation marks was tedious.

I appreciated my Kay C.’s question one day when my energy was waning, "Is what you're doing going to make a difference for eternity?" I said "Yes!". She asked "How so?" I went back to statement in my brochure that library materials will help train and equip church leaders to fulfill the Great Commission – "…make disciples of all nations… and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20). Helpful to keep tedious work in perspective. I shudder to think what my ministry over the years would have been without many resources! There is a shortage of French ministry resources and books in general.

My basic "John the Baptist" mission of 'preparing the way' for Denise to teach basic research skills in a November Bible Institute course – was accomplished with 80 books fully cataloged. 103 more books are pocketed and stamped; all IBAO library books to my knowledge are recorded in the log. I was rather disappointed I did not get more books done, but I was told the Christian Education seminar was important. The software plus printing of labels and cards was figured out and foundation laid for continued processing of resources, which took place following my departure.

Journey Invitation: Missionary Call Rekindled

You've got mail

A life changing email arrived February 21, 2007 from previous seminary classmate Kay Critser. I had hosted Sherman and Kay Critser, Global Missions Africa Regional Coordinators, in my condo several years earlier when they spoke at my church’s weekend mission’s conference.

Subject: recruiting to missions

… I came across your business card today! …it came into my view and immediately when I read MASTER OF LIBRARY SCIENCE AND MASTER OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION, I said to myself, YES!

Here goes the situation here in Ivory Coast In January, we began our Bible institute, which consists of two modules in two weeks every other month. ... We are still in the starting up stage. One area where we are really behind is in setting up the library. Of course, all the books are in French, but the library method is the same I believe. Also, we could use your expertise in Christian Education.

So, Kay, would you please consider joining us in Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) as a Special Assignment Missionary (1 - 2 years) with the option of becoming a Career missionary? If neither of the two options pleases you, we could still use your expertise even in a two week,
month, two months, etc. as you wish. Should you be interested after much prayer, for we do desire the will of the Father, drop us a line letting us know what you think.

WOW! This email indeed called for “MUCH PRAYER!” I confess there were a number of “Yes, BUT’s” …the biggest being I know French) but scriptures and many supports enabled me to take this humongous step of obedience out my comfort zone.

That email led to planning for “Operation IBAO LIBRARY” - my name for the opportunity to aid in the development of a library that helps train and equip church leaders to fulfill the Great Commission – “…make disciples of all nations… and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20). [IBOA = French acronym for West Africa Bible Institute]