from our roots in africa…
Some time ago I stood at the monument and burial place of David Livingstone's heart in Zambia. It
was a memorable moment that stands out in my mind even today. Everything we do is a question
of the heart. The Word of God tells us in Proverbs 4:23 that out of the heart comes the issues of life.
Today, Africa consists of fifty-three countries with approximately one billion people. Even though
David Livingstone arrived in Africa in 1841 as a pioneer missionary, his descriptive expression
“Dark Continent” is still relevant. There is no doubt that Livingstone was the very arrow shot into
the heart of Africa that opened the door for our missionaries to burn their own trail across this
great continent.
BIMI is growing in numbers and effectiveness
across Africa, from the deserts of Senegal and
Niger in the West to East and Central Africa
and all the way down to the tip of South Africa.
Our beginnings were humble in the early
1960's when a few missionaries from the old
Congo Gospel Mission became a part of the
establishment of BIMI. Our ministry in Africa
has grown from a handful of missionaries
serving in the Congo in the early 60's to 124
missionaries serving in 17 countries, with new
fields being opened on a regular basis.
There is excitement among our missionaries
who have worked to see 29 Bible institutes and colleges presently training over 350 students. God
has enabled them to plant 250 churches across this needy field. There are five orphanages serving
many needy children. The momentum is growing and BIMI's commitment to Africa is awe-
inspiring. In Proverbs 29:28 we read, “Where there is no vision the people perish….” We certainly
never want those words to die in our hearts.
The apostle Paul said, “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me…” (I Corinthians 16:9).
In like spirit, we too must thrust forward in these last days before our Lord returns. I am proud
of our 124 missionaries and the great work that has been done, but I am sad when I think of
all the open countries across Africa where we presently have no missionaries. We can never be
comfortable with what has been accomplished when there is so much left undone. In the fourth
chapter of the book of Nehemiah, we read that rubbish was on the wall and the work was stopped.
We must keep our Gospel wall clean of the rubbish and comforts of this world so the work can
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