YWAM Africa Leadership Team meets in Bamako, Mali

Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5


ALT 2010 Daily Report 3: Leadership, Unity and Suffering


The Africa Leadership Team spent the morning of their third day together with a prolonged time of prayer. They began with the theme of today’s YWAM Monthly Prayer Day, reading Philippians 1:27-2:18 (which all YWAMers are encouraged to learn by heart in their own language, as part of this year’s Jubilee).

A challenge was spoken out. God wants a consecrated, united body, serving Him. This is true worship. The ALT were challenged that YWAM’s unity is not perfect. We may be ready to die for unbelievers, but we are not willing to die for our YWAM neighbours. Like Paul we are called to pour out our lives for those we are called to serve. Such service and unity is the worship that God desires within YWAM Africa.

A devotion was then given, reflecting on the simple fact that life is difficult. Too often our tendency is to want to avoid trials, denying the reality that we grow by learning to overcome problems. The ALT then listened to the recording of one the last messages of a colleague who was recently martyred. His prophetic words were sobering: “Is my life about Him who is invisible, or sadly, what is visible? Let’s live for Him who is invisible, faith and fear cannot coexist.” Shortly after speaking these words he was killed.

With this powerful reminder of the danger and hardships that face many YWAM teams, the ALT moved into a time of prayer for those enduring suffering and grief. Key leaders who have died recently in Lesotho, Zimbabwe and North Africa were remembered. Large gaps have been left by their passing, but they are seeds that will bear much fruit.

The ALT also remembered a pioneering hero of YWAM Africa, Rudi Lack, who died yesterday in Switzerland. Rudi pioneered the very first YWAM School of Evangelism in Africa, in 1973. According to Rika van Niekerk, who is the longest serving YWAMer in the continent, "Rudi had an incredible heart. He instilled a passion for world missions in everyone. From my SOE in 1974, 56 out of the 57 students stayed in missions.” Rudi will be missed. The ALT prayed for more pioneers like him to be called to the hard unreached parts of the continent.

YWAM teams in North and West Africa are currently facing growing difficulties. YWAM Nigeria has experienced great growth, yet has come under strong attack and persecution. The leaders prayed for protection of workers, the breaking of isolation over Nigeria, and for unity and reconciliation between the West African nations. Just as the River Niger flows freely through Mali, Niger and Nigeria may there be a unity and easy flow of YWAMers through the region. May the 50th Celebrations in Mali, Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, Egypt and Spain be times of Jubilee–forgiveness of past debts, and of great unity, where representatives from every nation gather together.



In the afternoon the leaders moved back to their full agenda. They continued to hear reports from the different Regions and ministries in the continent. Some of the issues grappled with in this context are complex. Please pray for wisdom among the leaders. Pray too for repentance, reconciliation and great unity in our large family. Remember too those grieving and facing danger on a daily basis. May there be miraculous stories of protection, but also of incredible fruit in the midst of the trials.



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More detailed information about the various 50th Celebrations in May 2010 will soon be sent out.


Tim Heathcote