1) Sammy, when do you plan to leave for Cameroon? The real answer to this question is that I will leave when I get all my support raised. I am trying to raise 24/7 prayer support as well as a significant amount of money for ministry. I hope to have all the support by May '09, but only God knows whether or not I will meet that goal.
2) Do you guys plan on discipling women as well, or just men?Because of the personal and intimate nature of life-on-life discipleship we believe that it would be wise if we (Bruno and I) focus primarily on discipling men. However, we hope and pray that God will bring women on our team who will disciple women at the same time. We also pray that the Lord may someday have one or both of us be married, and our spouse(s) will then be able to disciple women. We are just as passionate about women being discipled as men, but we need to be cautious for the sake of our own integrity and reputation.
3) How much will the average scholarship be? Each Scholarship will vary, based on the needs of the individual recieving it. However, the overall average will probably come to about $150 per student per year. So then, in order to have 300 youth recieve this help, I need to raise over $45,000 in pledged yearly support for this program.
4) Which people groups do you hope to work with in Cameroon? Bruno and I feel called to every people group in Cameroon where the majority of its members have not heard the clear message of Christ. Right now there are estimated to be about 16 such groups there.
5) Why do you think that such a big goal is realistic? We believe that we are doing what God wants us to do. We also believe that God can do anything, absolutely anything!
6) How do you expect to reach 16 entire people groups? By facilitating, enabling, inspiring, and mobilizing believers in existing local churches that are near the unreached people groups. We will not be doing most of the work, but rather hope to cast vision for the body of Christ there to do what Jesus has called us all to do. If God is for us and if He confirms our words in the hearts of His people there, then we will succeed. We are standing on the shoulders of hundreds of missionaries and church workers who have gone before us and laid the groundwork.
7) Sammy, why are you trying to raise 24/7 prayer support? There are three main reasons. First, for the power. I believe that the prayers of the saints are powerful and effective and that when the church prays, God acts. Secondly, for the protection. The kind of work that God has called me to involves many dangers, both in the spiritual realm and in the physical realm. I will be going into villages where Satan has the powers of darkness have reigned for centuries and planting the seeds of light. I will most likely face various forms of sorcery, spells, and witch-craft being directed against me. I will also be in danger from poisonous snakes, wild animals, and (in some cases) hostile hosts who could poison my food. I believe that these things will not harm me as long as I am covered by the prayers of God's people and walking in His will. Thirdly, for perseverance. I believe that the knowlege that I am being prayed for during every hour of every day will be a source of crucial accountability. It will help me say no to temptations, and to keep on running the race even when things are tough.
8) Why did you choose to go with International Teams? I chose them for several reasons. The first is that God gave me a strong sense of peace about them. Secondly, they are very flexible in how they do ministry. They do not have a "one size fits all" kind of ministry philosophy. They recognize that how one does ministry will vary based on the culture in which one works, the gifts of the one ministering, and the leading of the Holy Spirit it that context. Thirdly, they were willing to facilitate the kind of ministry that God was calling me to, whereas many other mission organizations that I looked into were not. Also, my values and the way that I look at ministry in general fit very well with them. In my opinion, International Teams does a very good job of finding a ballance between being relational and being strategic, and of combining the two.
9) How can I learn more about International Teams? 1) Go to: http://www.iteams.org/ 2) Choose your country. 3) Explore
10) How long to you expect to be in Cameroon? My dream is that I will be able to leave Cameroon after about 5 years, with there being no unreached people groups left there that are not already being reached by someone else. I would then go to other African nations to do similar work. Whether or not God will bring this dream to pass so soon - that is up to Him.
11) What do you hope to see as a long-term result of your work in Africa? It is my hope, my dream, my prayer that by God's grace, and by His power working through me and many others like me - that every unreached people group in Africa would be reached with the gospel and that an army of one million African missionaries would be raised up from the African church to go to the remaining unreached peoples of the world. It is my dream to see the Great Commission fulfilled in my life time, to look up and see Jesus coming in the air. This is my long term vision.
12) Is the work that you are going to do dangerous? Dangerous is a relative term. Living in Chicago is dangerous. Much of what I will be doing in Cameroon will be life-threatening, if you look at it from a human point of view. However, because it is what God has called me to do, I consider it to be the safest thing I could ever do. I have only one life to give for my Lord. Whether I die early, or die daily and live long on this earth, what difference does it make?
I cannot, I dare not, I shall not give any less than my all to Him who gave His all for me - whose all was imeasurably more than I could ever give. I do this not only out of a sense of passionate duty, but also out of love. I do it out of love for Him who is Love Incarnate! I could do no other.
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