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A New Vision
About seven years ago, while Tove and I worked in Tanzania, the Lord
gave us a new vision for our ministry in Africa. Until then, since 1978,
we had worked through direct evangelism, church-planting and training of
local leaders, first 11 years in Zambia and later on, 4 years in Tanzania.
Now the Lord revealed to us that our next big task was to empower
our African brothers and sisters for their mandate in mission-work,
so that they might be able to send and be sent into the work by their
own churches.
2004 is the Year
This new vision has grown in our hearts. We have named it, “Mission Made in Africa”,
under the motto, “MULTIPLYING THE MINISTRY OF MISSIONS”. We have been preparing ourselves
for the task through different kinds of research. Tove has investigated various models for
helping AIDS-orphans, and I have completed a Masters Degree, studying the subject,
“Mission Made in Africa” (MMA). We are convinced that 2004 is the year, in which we are
to commit ourselves fully to the MMA-ministry.
God’s People in Africa Should Wait No Longer
Our vision is to propagate the vision for God’s people all over Africa,
to rise up and reach out through the power of the Gospel to the many people-groups
who are still unreached, bypassed and hidden from the eyes of the Church. God’s people
in Africa should no longer wait in dependency on “the rich donors”. They are to realize
and experience that they themselves have greater resources than they have ever thought
possible.
Partnership
The MMA-vision is not about “replacing” white personnel with black. However it is
about partnership and teamwork between people from both groups. It also includes God’s
servants from other races, such as Asians, of whom there are many in Africa.
Beachheads all over Africa
MMA’s strategy is to establish beachheads all over Africa. At these bases,
the workers are to be taught, inspired and trained through courses, seminars,
conferences and consultations. Furthermore the new mission-groups are to be set
into motion in their ministry.
The First Beachhead
Of much interest for us at the present moment, is the fact that such a beachhead –
the first of its kind in connection with MMA – is being established in the city of
Pietermaritzburg. The plans for this project were made in January 2004, and the first
few gatherings of participating workers have already been held in February.
The Main Objective
The objective will always be to inspire God’s people in Africa to reach further
out than near neighbour evangelism (which they are already carrying out with success);
they are to ”lift their eyes” and see harvest fields, which they as yet have not seen.
Transformation of Communities
Their propagation of the Gospel, both in their own vicinities and further out in
cross-cultural evangelization, is not only to include salvation and healing for spirit,
soul, and body for the individual person. It shall also aim at transformation of whole
communities, from sickness, corruption, and oppression to healthiness, integrity and new
hope for the future.
Realistic and Effective Partnership
The MMA-vision also aims at establishing ongoing contact between God’s people in
Denmark and God’s missionary people in Africa. We, as Danish missionaries living and
working in Africa need to have a strong support from brothers and sisters in our home
country, especially concerning persevering intercession. We also wish to keep you well
informed about the progress of the work here.
We realize that we also need to have support from God’s people in South Africa,
in other countries of Southern Africa, as well as other countries of the world.
If any of you would wish to become intercessors for the MMA-ministry, and also have
the possibility and desire to visit us and our African brothers and sisters in the future,
it would be a blessing both for you and God’s work here.
Blessings to each one of you,
Tove and John Thomsen
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