We watched the Mahafaly churches become churches on their own, by the power of the Holy Spirit. They heard stories of the early church and desired to follow God’s Word in forming churches, and so, praise the Lord, they did. In the same way that we couldn’t force them to become churches or to grow, we also couldn’t ensure that none of them would ever struggle, or even dissolve altogether.

 

Struggles and dissolution have occurred. Sometimes we would return to visit a church to find that some we considered strong believers were wearing charms again. In one of our villages, members of the church could not agree, and so they split into two churches. Another tiny village church simply disappeared when the very village itself disbanded, the members moving to join family in other villages in the region.

 

These struggles were personally devastating, heartbreaking. We questioned our efforts, and God’s work--“Were they ever truly believers?” We also had to then consider, how should we respond?

 

Through the years, when believers have returned to wearing charms, we have addressed it. As brothers and sisters in Christ, not simply as missionaries, we feel we must confront those who profess Christ when they return to idols. We’ve reminded our believers that God alone is the One True God, and that He is sufficient to meet every need.

 

When the church split, we visited, we asked questions, and we shared Scripture about God’s desire for unity among His people. Still, though, we allowed the church to make its own decision. We were saddened by the split, but we knew we couldn’t force togetherness simply by our influence--nor would it be lasting if we could.

 

Much like a true farmer, as church planters we are at the mercy of powers we don’t control. As a farmer waits desperately for rain he cannot produce, so we wait for the empowering work of the Holy Spirit. We can’t stir up obedience in a Mahafaly church with motivational speaking or promises of reward--not true, lasting, heart obedience. Much like a farmer whose crop is attacked at night by a blight or locusts, so we cannot defend against every predator that threatens our churches. We fight for them through sound teaching of God’s Word, we fight for them through prayer, we give our very best to lay a wise foundation of clear evangelism and thorough discipleship--in other words, we till and water and weed--but in the end, they are His. We have to entrust them to His Word and His Gospel. If we have faithfully and consistently and contextually brought them His Word and lifted up Christ to them, then we can do this, and trust Him with their future. After all, they are not our churches at all--they are His.