Taking Stock: Term 1

An evening class at SOW

I’ve been in the Gambia for a few months now, and I’ve taught at SOW (Servants of the Word), this Bible School in the Gambia, for one term. Perhaps I should say, I’ve been taught at this Bible School in the Gambia for one term. Here are some things I’ve learned…

2 mistakes (I’m being selective…)

1. Inappropriate greeting

Week 1 of teaching: Excited and a bit nervous to be about to teach my first class. I pass a senior lady outside the classroom - pursuing politeness I greet her, “Good evening [Name]” - with a warm smile. She looks strangely perturbed and walks past. Word reaches me that she wants to see me. She graciously sits me down and explains that for me, a younger man, to greet her, an older woman simply by her first name is inappropriate and not done… [“Ground, swallow me NOW…!”] Instead, a title such as Aunty or Sister is required. “Ouch” doesn’t even come close.

2. Turning up to teach a class on the tail end of an anaesthetic
[For the gruesome dental details, see post here…] It had been a pretty rough morning in the dentist’s chair. But I had a class to teach that afternoon, and the anaesthetic seemed to be doing its job quite well so, on a relative high from the temporary pain relief, I proceeded as normal. Somehow it stupidly slipped my mind that before long it’d wear off and I’d soon desperately want more painkillers than allowed following the rather brutal treatment.

As the pain began to emerge, I opted for as interactive an approach as I could, to get others to speak (“Interesting - please go on; explain what you mean… What do others think…?”), whilst I half-listened, gazing at my feet, wincing in pain… The effort was short-lived, and I had to abandon ship half-way through the class.

2 examples

1. From the students: humility

In the last chapter of Isaiah’s epic prophecy God says, “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2)

Humility is the most basic attitude that displays an accurate understanding of our smallness, selfishness and sinfulness, and God’s greatness, love and holiness. And the litmus test of true humility is trembling at God’s word - listening eagerly, attentively, obediently to what he has to say.

That is what I have rejoiced to see in students at SOW. I think particularly of two pastors who faithfully attend my classes, each probably almost double my age. There’s M - who travels an hour each way from his village on his old motorbike three times a week. He’s got poor literacy, his eyesight struggles in the dim light, and he often struggles to keep up. But he listens intently and works hard. Or there’s O - a respected pastor and gifted orator. He’s always the first to hand in his assignments, and obviously dedicated to seeking to understand and teach God’s word more accurately. They rightly and humbly tremble before God’s precious word. They are the ones God esteems.

2. From the Director: servant-leadership

Jesus says that he came “not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom” (Mark 10:45). He therefore calls those whom he has served to serve others in the same sacrificial way - as “slaves of all” (Mark 10:44).

Pastor Steven, the Director of SOW, is a beautiful model of a leader who hasn’t forgotten that he is first and foremost a servant. There is naturally much honour, respect and dignity given to elders and leaders here. It makes it extremely tempting to “lord it over” others (Mark 10:42). But Steven is quick humbly to serve, not to be served; quietly to listen, not to speak; generously to give, not to receive. His godly example of humble service and courageous faith flows out of a deep personal devotion to prayer and God’s word. “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Mark 10:43). This man is indeed a great servant.

2 wake-up calls

1. What a privilege Bible literacy is

It can feel unnatural to stand up and teach people like M and O mentioned above - they’ve been following Jesus far longer than I have and they’ve learned much more in the school of life than I have. So I take heart from the Apostle Paul telling his protégé Timothy, “Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young…” (1 Timothy 4:12), and telling another church leader Titus (though we don’t know his age) to teach the various age-groups in the church, even “Teach the older men…” (Titus 2:2).

I am sharply aware of the responsibility and privilege I have, that simply because I happen to have grown up and been discipled in a context of excellent and faithful Bible teaching and gospel ministry, I am equipped to a certain extent to help train and encourage guys like these in their ministry here.

OH what they would give to have received the years of careful preaching and simple but rich teaching that I have been blessed with - if they could even imagine it! I’m aware that might sound condescending. But I really believe it is so.

2. What a need there is for Bible training

I’ve noticed a big American ministry online with a project called “Theological Famine Relief”. That might sound outrageous but it really isn’t an exaggeration. So many people in the world are starving for the word of God, which alone gives true and lasting life: “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3). Even Christians who seem mature in some respects, even experienced pastors, often have a dangerously thin understanding of the vital word of God, leaving them precariously close to drifting into seriously harmful error. 

A village church in the Gambia

Who knows why God does things the way he does? But in his sovereign economy, the fact is that today there are many Christians in the West with a clear appreciation and enjoyment of the truths of God’s word for which people here are desperately hungry. And this is not just about pursuing excellence for excellence’s sake. It matters. Anything valuable has deceptive replicas, and that is certainly the case with the truths of God’s word. With eternities at stake, people desperately need to hear the word of God “correctly handled” in order to know the truth and not put up with that which “only ruins those who listen” (2 Timothy 2:14-15).

Jesus said, “the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest therefore to send out labourers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:37-38)

[Coming Up Next: continuing the looking back theme, 100 things I’m thankful for from 2015…]