Sitting around the table she asked, “Why do you use the hashtag #forathousandsons on Instagram when you post pictures from Africa?” She’d noticed that when we post pictures from around Dakar and across Africa we add that simple phrase.

for a thousand sons

It took me back to the early months of 2008, as Elise and I were worshiping in Northern Virginia at Chapel Springs. Elise was pregnant with our second and I was hoping for a son. As I stood there praying for a healthy pregnancy and a namesake I felt the Lord offer a trade: If we would give him the dream of having a son He would give us a thousand sons. A thousand sons, a thousand trailblazing apostolic disciples that would transform the world for His kingdom. It was an easy decision. We gave God our simple dream in exchange for His prophetic promise.

This is why every image I post of men, women and children in Africa is married with that short phrase. Elise and I serve as links from the local church to the unreached of Africa for a thousand sons. This promise empowers us to share the good news of Jesus’ victory on the cross. We know that not all will respond to the gospel, but among the millions are orphaned souls waiting for adoption as sons and daughters into relationship with Christ and His people, the church (Romans 8.23, Ephesians 1.5). May the weight of this pastoral responsibility draw us to our knees!

Every day is heavy with the possibility of adoption! For a thousand sons moves beyond evangelism into discipleship (Galatian 4.5). It refuses to leave people on the doorstep of relationship with Christ grasping at a nominal faith. It spurs us to see each new believer as a brother and sister that need the fellowship of the Church to guide them to maturity, to care for them through this life and journey with them as they bring their walk into balance with their calling (Ephesians 4.1).

for a hundred new churches

It is for a thousand sons that we plant new churches among the unreached. It drives our goal to plant one hundred new churches in Dakar that plant another two hundred churches throughout Senegal. Why? Because churches must be born through making disciples. Can we even begin to imagine a Christ-centered, disciple-making church in every neighborhood, community and village in Senegal? For a thousand sons, who today are coming to Christ one by one, our mission is creating space to grow a church planting movement.

This month, a booklet came in the mail from Chapel Springs. Hundreds of people took the time to write or draw prayers over our family. They were hard to read through tear-saturated eyes. So many brothers and sisters who wrote heartfelt encouragements and sincere prayers. So many boys and girls drew their prayers. Like the image of a hundred churches seen above.

for an increasingly redeemed and transformed Africa

Today these future realities are just a vision, aspirations in search of fulfillment; but dream with us for a moment. One by one we will continue to see men, women and children decide to choose Jesus above all else. Into these fellowships of believers we will see communities transformed across Dakar and the country through local churches. These newborn churches will mature and plant others and what started as a vision will become an increasingly redeemed and transformed Africa!

What more could we do for His namesake?

It looked like she was frozen in time.

Last month, flying to teach a class in Equatorial Guinea, I found myself early one morning sitting in the new Senegal national airport. Long shadows shortened as the sun came over the horizon and hints of life began to stir. The terminal, besides a few other travelers headed to unknown locations, was empty. I looked at the planes sitting in wait, the trucks and people moving near the runway. Then all of a sudden the most remarkable thing happened.

A bird swooped into view and, as it’s body came parallel with the window in front of my face, it froze. Wings extended. Eyes steeled ahead. It’s brown top feathers and soft speckled off-white belly unmoved. It was like watching a movie and at the height of the action someone pushed the pause button.

This beautiful Montagu’s Harrier was frozen in time before my eyes.

The headwind was like a brick wall. The bird hung there suspended in the air, her previous momentum keeping her from falling backward. After a few seconds of what appeared to be miraculous, the harrier began to beat her stationary wings, a fury of feathers, raising her body at least five feet. I thought to myself, what a beautiful illustration this bird had given me of overcoming!

That was until it froze again!

Despite raising its body straight up, she was still caught in the same wind tunnel, spreading her wings against the wind, her frame frozen against the opposing force. My beautiful illustration of overcoming was shattered. The bird was in the same situation just higher.

If you don’t know anything about the Montagu’s Harrier it’s an incredible bird. It is not native to Senegal. This particular bird flies long distances, has conquered the Sahara, flying from Southern Europe and Eurasia. It is a migrating bird capable of flying through all kinds of harsh conditions and climates.

And despite all this, a minuscule airport wind tunnel had conquered her. My sermon illustration was wrecked! Then the wings began to beat again, harder, faster, stronger. Her body raised another five feet and this time instead of being frozen in space her svelte shape went shooting out of sight like a bullet fired from a gun!

As followers of Jesus we have a choice when we face opposition, but too often we oversimplify the Christian life. When we face trials and tribulations, regardless of the momentum that has brought us to where we are, we freeze. We know that we “are more than conquerors” but when faced with something that must be conquered we shrink from the battle (Romans 8.37).

This past month the Family Church, the first church we planted here in Dakar, was evicted from her building. For months, the pastor and elders worked back and forth with the landlord to come to a new agreement. Yet, after all the ups and downs, after all the beating of wings, in a matter of hours the pulpit, chairs and keyboard were on the street. Moments like these can crush a people’s spirit. Just think of the desert-wandering former slaves of Egypt who instead of looking toward the unknown and unseen Promised Land were ready to go back to their former lives of known suffering.

Like the Montagu’s Harrier you were made for more, more than an airport wind tunnel, more than a single point in history. You were made to conquer the unknown and the unseen, to ascend higher and higher still. But don’t be deceived by these simple words, there is nothing simple about them. “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus told us this so that in the face of trials and tribulations, we can have peace (John 16.33).

Like the Family Church in Parcelles Assainies, if you are going through difficulties don’t be surprised, hear the voice of Jesus calling you to take heart, lift you eyes, raise your arms, refuse to be defeated or cling to the known meager past. There is a future and a hope only found in Jesus, and Jesus is calling you higher, unfrozen in time.

Header Picture by Radovan Václav Used through Creative Commons