Eight billion people: Not problems, solutions!

This week the world's population reached 8 billion people.  It is a marvel to see how rapidly the world population has changed in the last seventy years!

The very brief video below (30 seconds) shows how population has increased from 1.5 billion in 1950 to a projected 11 billion in 2100.  It took all of humanity's history to get to 1.5 billion people in 1950, and then just 150 years to see it grow seven times that number.  That is really amazing.  By the year 2100, one in three people in the world will be Asian; one in three people in the world will be African; and the last third will be everyone else.

But as you watch the video, pay attention to what is happening in Africa.  While almost every other geographic area in the world is decreasing in terms of population, Africa is growing rapidly.  

When we ask people in Africa, "Is this a problem or an opportunity?" we are often met with a resounding, "This is a problem!"

To which we say, "People, made in the image of a working, creative God, are not the problem.  They are the solution."

But a few more facts yet.  By the year 2100 (or now they are saying even sooner, 2080), the world population will begin to shrink.  People are having less children and fertility rates are falling below replacement rates (think of two parents having two children - flat growth rate; once two parents have on average 1.8 children, declining population).  And the world is getting older as there are less children being born and people are living longer.

The median age in the US is 38; in the UK is 43; and in all of Africa the median age is 17.

Where will we find the future work force?  Where will innovation and creativity come from?

We see it coming from Africa.  People, made in the image of God with creative capacity, solve problems.  As populations grow, countries actually begin to flourish more, not less.  

One of my favorite lines from the video series the Poverty Cure says this: "Human beings are not mere mouths.  They are not like animals, getting up to search for their food every day.  Human beings have been created for a much higher purpose.  To take the world and move it forward."  

It's time we stop seeing people as a problem.  Let's get excited about what problems will be solved and what flourishing will take place in the next seventy years.  And watch out for Africa.  They will be the leaders.

Thank you, God! DML Global Summit 2022, Tanzania

It was all we hoped and prayed it would be and more.  The joy of being with each other in person again cannot be measured.  Bonds that have grown deeper by regularly praying together allowed us to very easily and quickly feel safe with each other and have good and challenging conversations.  

We laughed and cried.  We prayed and sang.  We celebrated what God is doing in the Marketplace across the world and marveled at the idea that He would include us in this work.  We re-examined WHY we do this ministry.  We re-examined for WHOM we do this ministry.  And we brainstormed and shared best practices for HOW to do this ministry.

We saw the work of the Tanzania team in action in a Masai village as well as a church in Dar es Salaam which has implemented DML in a way that is changing lives in the community.  And we had fun.  We went out to a game park for one day, filled up five jeeps and enjoyed the majesty of God's beautiful creation and creativity in animals.  

Words can't express how thankful to God I am for the richness of this summit.  Thirty-seven delegates from twelve countries arrived and departed with almost no problems.  That, by itself, is a miracle! We had prayed for a spirit of wisdom and revelation for our time together, and God answered that prayer.

Words can't express how thankful I am to donors who supported this gathering.  I admit that I struggled with the cost of the summit prior to the event.  But I'm convinced that it was worth every dollar spent.  

And I'm thankful for every DML team member who showed up.  It is clear to see that DML is not just a program that these teams are doing but it is a lifestyle that they are owning and adopting within their own family, community, church and beyond.  We heard story after story of these leaders making disciples who make disciples, and doing work as an act of worship.  God has blessed DML with leaders who love God and love His Church.  

God is good, all the time.  And all the time, God is good, and that is His nature.

Beauty and Hardship in Morogoro, Tanzania

Our DML Global Summit ended on Saturday, and it was an incredible week.  It was a very full time and I am still processing some of the things that we heard together as a team in our prayer and reflection times.  So I will write more on this later, but we are so thankful that everyone arrived and departed safely, and for the precious unified fun, worshipful, strategic, and blessed time that we had together!

Morogoro, Tanzania is a very beautiful place, as you can see in the pictures.

Yesterday (Sunday), I went to visit one of the churches with whom DML is partnering (through the Full Victory Gospel Ministries).  It was about ninety minutes of driving straight into the bush...except there was no bush as everything was dry from the current drought.  Rains were supposed to start in October but as of November 6, there had been no rains yet.  Everything was very, very dry.

The place we visited is far off the main road and just two years ago, there was no road.  The road is mostly a sandy dirt path, and the cows that travel this road look very skinny.  The population has been growing and most people are doing some sort of agriculture.  The pastor of this church had the soil tested and is helping to show people to move away from growing maize and toward millet, sesame, and sunflowers, which grow better in the soil that they find there.  The borehole that was dug (going down 120 meters) is producing a good amount of water but it is salty and therefore cannot be used on the plants.  

Rain is needed.  Please pray with us for rain to fall so that the farmers don't miss one of two short planting seasons.

Today (Monday) we start a DML foundational workshop for 400 pastors and church leaders from various evangelical churches in the Morogoro area.  We thank God for this opportunity!

The church in the distance.

This water place is fed by the church's borehole and has brought peace to pastoralists in the area as they can have access to water.  It has also been used for baptisms!

To the right of the church, you can see where a new foundation is being laid for a bigger church as they are outgrowing this current church building.

Testimonies were heard of those who have given their lives to Christ since this church started three years ago.  Men who had multiple lives and were addicted to alcohol and drugs are now productive farmers, providing for their families.

Most people are living in mud homes.

I just can't get over how big baobab trees are!  They are humongous!  The oldest baobab tree was recorded to be 2500 years old!  Unfortunately many are dying now due to climate change.