"LORD, PLEASE DON'T SEND ME TO AFRICA!"
By Jeremy Reynalds (08/29/05)
Pastor Buddy Marston used to pray that the Lord would send him anywhere other than Africa.
He said his feelings came from a perception fostered at least in part by media reports that made him think negatively about Africa. In addition, he said, "I was kind of a home boy, and it was a long way from home."
However, with Marston gearing up for his fourth trip to Nigeria it was evident that something had changed. In a recent telephone interview Marston said, "I see the need people have is the same, no matter where you're at." In addition, he added, "I have matured."
On Aug. 31, Buddy and his wife Gaye will again travel to Port Harcourt, Nigeria as representatives of EQUIP (www.iequip.org), a ministry that is mobilizing America's leaders to use their personal time to train the next generation of leaders worldwide (www.iequip.org/site/c.gqLTI0OBKpF/b.817167/k.8A10/Mission_and_Vision__iEQUIPorg__Equipping_Leaders_to_Reach_Our_World.htm).
In addition to maturing, there are other reasons for Marston's change of heart.
"I was scared to death of going to Nigeria, but I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself," said Marston in a news release, who with his wife Gaye (www.salemfields.com/staff/gaye.cfm), co-pastors Salem Fields Community Church in Fredericksburg, Va. "Having strong mentors and high quality-training has been critical to helping me become an effective leader. I wanted to give others around the world that same opportunity."
"The people in Nigeria are hungry for leadership training. They don't have resources available like we do in America," Marston added. "It is a privilege to share what I know about leadership with them."
During the Marstons' stay in Nigeria, they will speak to crowds of more than 300, lead training workshops, and meet one-on-one with some of the region's most prominent leaders. EQUIP programs are designed to help local Christians in all walks of life to be effective leaders in their churches and communities.
The Marstons are being joined by five members of their church, who will help set up a second location for Salem Fields Community Church-in the heart of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
"Our desire is to be a global church," Marston said in the news release. "This new venue will be designed to meet the needs of the Port Harcourt community, providing spiritual, leadership, and vocational training, as well as meeting medical needs and feeding the poor."
Marston said he and his wife also have a personal vision for the upcoming conference. "We would like to give the (leaders we are training over there) an example of a husband and wife pastoral team. Sometimes God does call the husband and the wife. (That means they) either work in two different churches, or come together in one. We also want the leaders to go away with the next step in understanding leadership. Each leader is commissioned to train 25 other leaders. EQUIP provides the material for that."
"LORD, I'LL GO TO AFRICA!"
Marston's change of heart about Africa began when he attended an EQUIP conference in Atlanta.
After being exposed to the EQUIP leadership vision while attending the conference, Marston felt that his church should get involved financially.
Marston said, "(Then) the president of EQUIP talked to me about being a (leadership) trainer (www.iequip.org/site/c.gqLTI0OBKpF/b.847389/k.A58D/Associate_Trainers__iEQUIPorg__Equipping_Leaders_to_Reach_Our_World.htm)."
Marston was initially reluctant, but quickly saw the Hand of God in the invitation. "We didn't give the money for me to get something from it. We gave the money because that was what we should do as a church. (EQUIP leadership) said that they would find me a (country to go to). They called me back and said that they had picked Nigeria. (But it was) the Lord Who (really) picked me. He spoke to me that I needed to go. He was placing me there."
Marston said that on his first trip he was afraid. "Everything was new and different, and I felt like I wanted to get back on the plane to leave. My ride wasn't there to pick me up either. I was overwhelmed. It was altogether different. I remember thinking this was why I didn't want to come to Africa. All of my fears were coming true. I'm just a little country boy."
PREVIOUS LEADERSHIP TRAINING TRIPS TO AFRICA
Marston said previous trips to Nigeria to teach similar leadership conferences have shown him the value of the experience.
"The leaders over there see you are willing to pay the price to train other leaders," he said. "It is good for them to see someone caring for them. I am a pastor as are they. I have had first- hand experience with many of the things they are talking about."
Marston said following a day's training, he and his co-teacher would "come back and debrief and pray like crazy. It's an awesome responsibility to train leaders who will be training other leaders. Also, you want the anointing of God as you teach. Then I would pray for the needs back home and study the next day's lessons."
The material taught in the conferences, Marston said, includes issues such as God's call for us to lead, the leader's responsibility to pray, strategic planning, developing people skills and teaching people how they can teach others to develop their spiritual gifts
For more information about EQUIP, visit www.demossnewspond.com/EQUIP/presskit/factsheet.htm
To learn more about Salem Fields Community Church, go to www.salemfields.com. To e-mail Marston, write him at buddy@salemfields.com
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