Dark Towns

That's the phrase that stuck out to me Wednesday as we ascended up to a very remote mountain village called Lon`e (pronounced Lone A).  Our team made our way into the village at the edge of dark for the purpose of showing an evangelism film called "The Hope".  As we began setting up our portable power generator and the projection equipment, the villagers began to slowly make their way into the fading light of the church.  Chris Brumley, one of the full time missionaries to Haiti, gave me a subtle warning as I was preparing to shoot video and take some photos.  He simply said in a very nonchalant manner, "be careful and pay attention to people's reaction to the camera.  They may not want you filming them...this is one of the darker towns in Haiti.  There's a lot of Voodoo presence in this area."  He then sat down and waited for the movie to start.

That short conversation instantly conjured up an image of a witch doctor poking needles in a small, bald cameraman doll.  Needless to say, a statement like that makes it easy to think about the sinfulness of a town.  It makes you actually think about how far from God the people are!  How badly they need a Savior!  How desperately they need us to tell them about Jesus!  As I sat and watched the film, I began to realize once again about the "dark towns" in which we all live.  

Sin is Sin!  Plain and simple.  Just because our neighbor across the street doesn't sacrifice a goat to Satan doesn't mean he isn't going to hell.  Our neighbors, the people we work with, people in our family, those we meet on a daily basis are no different than the villagers of Lon`e.  They are far from God!  They need a Savior!  

They desperately need us to tell them about Jesus!

Matthew 28:19 says..."Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."  

As a person that is passionate about missions, that is an easy verse to love.  But I have to admit that it's easier sometimes to "go" into all the world instead of doing what the bible is actually teachingus. The International Standard Version actually does a better job at getting to the point of this verse..."Therefore, as you go, disciple people in all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

Each day that we live, we need to realize the people's desperate need of a Savior in the "dark town" in which we live.

By the way...at the end of the film last night, our translator presented the gospel and gave an invitation. At least fourteen people left their spiritual darkness and found the light of God all because they heard about the saving message of our Lord.  Merci Jezi (Thank you Jesus)!

--Willis