Around the World
The Day I Learned to Read Scripture through African Eyes
By Michael Lumbard
A Google maps search could not help me find the church I was standing in or even the road it was on. All I knew was that we were thirty minutes outside of Kakamega, Kenya. For over an hour worship had permeated the rural community from inside this church. This little church with its dirt floors is where I began to read Scripture with new eyes.
For years I have known that the area wherein I was raised, the churches I had attended, and the training which I received afforded me only a small perspective of our multifaceted and multicultural God. I knew that God loves culture. I even acknowledged that my reading and understanding of Scripture was shaped in part by my view of the world. Reading the book Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes by Brandon O’Brian and Randy Richards even helped me to identify and address some of my cultural blinders.
Now, serving as missionaries, my wife, Pamela, and I have been learning how to embrace a new culture. We are learning how to lay aside our own cultural biases and preferences so that we can minister effectively. This is not an easy process. It takes looking beneath the surface to discover the “whys” behind the actions of a group of people. It takes time just listening to hear the joys and pains that drive a culture. Then if you are patient enough, you will begin to see the world through their eyes. These are the same cultural eyes through which they view Scripture.
Six weeks in this country had begun to show us many aspects of Kenya’s culture. However, I realized that it would take a lifetime to truly grasp the tribal differences and traditions. It also became apparent that for some, the abuses of colonialism had tainted their view of Christianity and its first missionaries. At times the conclusion was that Christianity is simply a western religion.
For me, everything changed on this particular Saturday in this simple church that I could not even find on Google maps. The worship, the dancing, and the love for God drew me in. It was impossible to simply look on from the view of a spectator. However, the words of one song stopped me:
When Jesus came down; He came down from Heaven
When He landed; He landed in Israel
But when there was trouble; He came down to Africa
So we must praise Him; praise Him in an African way*
My mind began to race. I was already experiencing the African way of worship, but the song’s words captured my attention: “When there was trouble, He came down to Africa?” I had to process this. Joseph took his family as refugees to Egypt to escape King Herod’s edict. I always viewed this as simply the country of Egypt, but it was Africa!
Then the thought hit me: Africa was not an afterthought to God. The promise of God to Abraham was that all nations would be blessed through him. As the worship continued, I began to recognize Africa throughout Scripture. The Queen of Sheba (probably Ethiopia) came to see King Solomon. The man who carried the cross was from Cyrene (Libya). On the day of Pentecost, people were in attendance from Egypt, Libya, and Cyrene – all in Africa. One of the early converts to Christianity was the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8). Then Christianity spread to Alexandria, Egypt, in the first years after Pentecost, and by 300 AD Alexandria had become one of the centers of Christianity.
The conclusion was clear to me. Before Christianity was “Western,” it was already in Africa!
By the time worship was over and it was my time to speak, I was changed. I began by acknowledging that Africa has always been in God’s heart; therefore, they needed to keep worshiping God in an African way. They shouted their approval. I was beginning to look at Scripture through African eyes.
*“Praise Him in an African Way,” by Solly Mahlango from South Africa
About the Author
Mike Lumbard and his wife, Pamela, are directors of the School of Global Leadership, a missions training school in Trinidad and Tobago. They train future missionaries to have God’s heart for the world and God’s heart for the lost. Through on-the-job training and missions intensives, they show people how to live and minister cross-culturally. Mike and Pam are visionary leaders with a heart for the lost and hurting.
In parts of Nigeria today, land is no longer just a livelihood – it’s a battleground. In search of increasingly scarce water and grazing land, semi-nomadic Muslim herdsmen are moving their flocks south into areas already inhabited by Christian farmers. This encroachment has intensified conflict, resulting in thousands of deaths, the displacement of millions, increased kidnappings, and deepening ethnic tensions. This is the environment in which Open Bible’s ministry continues day after day.
Despite these challenges, the Gospel is advancing.
Okon Obot, Open Bible’s Superintendent in Nigeria, shared the following story with me:
Recently we held an evangelistic crusade in one of the affected regions. Despite security concerns, people came looking for hope and peace. Evangelistic crusades remain a powerful and effective way to share the Gospel in village communities where fear and uncertainty are a part of daily life.
The theme of the crusade was “Arise and Shine,” and over 300 people gathered. By the end, sixteen people had given their lives to Jesus and fifteen were immediately baptized and welcomed into the church, each a testimony to God’s faithfulness.
A high point of the crusade was the reconciliation of a family of brothers divided for five years. Under the conviction of the Holy Spirit as the Word of God was shared, they chose forgiveness and were restored to one another. They returned to their homes with joy and peace.
In response to God’s work in their lives, the brothers donated a large piece of property in their village, Mbabuu, for the construction of a church building.
This is where the 2026 Global Harvest Offering, “Build Hope for Africa,” comes in. When we reach our goal of $200,000, Nigeria will be one of the recipients. Open Bible will partner directly with Pastor Okon to build a new church building in a place like the village Mbabuu.
This is more than a construction project – it is the next step of what God is doing. Despite hardship, churches in Nigeria are growing and new buildings are needed to serve expanding congregations and reach their communities.
Your gift to “Build Hope for Africa” can help provide a visible witness of Jesus in a region marked by instability and equip local leaders like pastor Okon to continue evangelizing where the need is great.
In a place where land is fought over, God continues to build His Church!
Snapshots of the vibrant ministry happening in Nigeria:
About the Author
Tammy Swailes is passionate about cross-cultural Christian education, so working with INSTE Bible College to disciple and equip leaders throughout Europe and beyond is a great fit! Tammy has lived in Europe since 1999 – first in Hungary and now Ukraine. Before that, she was in Japan, as well as Spokane, Washington. She now serves as INSTE regional director in Europe, assisting INSTE programs in five languages. Tammy has her undergraduate degrees in both Missions and Christian Education and a MA in Intercultural Studies. Photography, good coffee, multi-cultural experiences, and the family’s Yorkie are some of Tammy’s favorite things.
Have you ever wondered, What in the world are our Open Bible missionaries doing now? We wish we could visit every church or sit down over coffee and share what God is doing where we serve—but that isn’t always possible.
So this month, we’ve gathered brief notes from missionaries around the world. As you’ve read these updates from around the world, we invite you to pray for our missionaries—their families, their ministries, and the communities they serve. Please also share these stories with your church so others can join in prayer.
Use the interactive map below to see the updates:
Trouble seeing the map? Click HERE
About the Author
Tammy Swailes is passionate about cross-cultural Christian education, so working with INSTE Bible College to disciple and equip leaders throughout Europe and beyond is a great fit! Tammy has lived in Europe since 1999 – first in Hungary and now Ukraine. Before that, she was in Japan, as well as Spokane, Washington. She now serves as INSTE regional director in Europe, assisting INSTE programs in five languages. Tammy has her undergraduate degrees in both Missions and Christian Education and a MA in Intercultural Studies. Photography, good coffee, multi-cultural experiences, and the family’s Yorkie are some of Tammy’s favorite things.
Ask Open Bible pastors in Africa what the biggest problem in their church is and most reply with one word: REVIVAL! Just as Saul once ravaged the early church in Acts 8, our African brothers today face similar conditions: harassment, arrest, and even death for following Christ. But in the face of persecution, our churches are experiencing rapid growth in thirteen African nations. They’re calling for our help, not to alleviate the suffering, but to build new church facilities to serve their expanding congregations and communities.
The Global Harvest Offering of 2026 is “Building Hope in Africa,” and it is our opportunity to participate in this revival. In this initiative, we will partner with our missionaries and national directors to fund thirteen new church building projects across the continent. God is using faithful missionaries and nationals to plant churches, raise leaders, and reach communities with the hope only found in Jesus!
… in the face of persecution, our churches are experiencing rapid growth in thirteen African nations.
Our missionary partners are many: the Godwins, the Kopps, the Parkers, Okon Obot, Peter Mahoye, the Moores, the Welches, and our brothers and sisters throughout the Antioch Network.
Thirteen churches.
Thirteen countries.
One goal:
to raise the $200,000 needed to
cover the costs for all thirteen projects.
With over 230 Open Bible churches in the United States, we can meet the financial goal of the Global Harvest Offering if each church gives $875. Alternatively, just 2,000 people giving $100 this year would meet the goal. Your support in this effort helps build more than walls; it builds hope, community and the Kingdom of God. Look for the QR code or this link to give to Building Hope in Africa today. Thank you for your partnership to build hope for Africa.
