Going to Africa

The last couple of years have been quite the journey. I am undeserving of the grace God continues to give. He has taught me to love better, forgive faster, and wait at times when all I want to do is run. The last few months, I’ve prayed for a next step. That in His time, He make me ready to do whatever He wants to do. Careful what you pray for. In order to get there, I had to be available. I had filled my life with good things to keep me busy. I wasn’t preaching, teaching or going to Seminary – the list of things that normally kept me busy for the last decade. So I found new things to do and made my greatest effort to keep those things Christ-centered.

But I’ve known since 2003 what God has called me to do and I don’t want to spend years running from that. I also knew I needed time, as one close mentor continually suggested, to do nothing. To be consistent and faithful out of the “spotlight.” To come to the realization that doing God’s will isn’t about being liked by everyone, but a lifestyle appreciative of the fact that I am loved by a really big God. I discovered ministry takes work. Real, get your hands in the dirt, work. Any opportunity you’re given isn’t because you earned it. Ministry doesn’t work like any other career. It’s a calling given to those He chooses, not a calling given to the deserving. The only thing that makes you deserving/worthy/qualified is His calling. Not your last name, the years you’ve invested, or titles you hold. This may sound like an obvious lesson, but it was a tough and needed one I had to learn the last couple years. Of the many things God’s given me the opportunity to do, I’ve never been on the foreign mission field. God calls people to do crazy things, but that has always been one area of ministry I was never led to do. God has given me so, so much and I’ve never preached a sermon or labored anywhere outside of California; that is about to change.

From February 22 to March 5, 2019, I will work in a MacMed team (a Macedonian Ministries Group) as we travel to Kapoeta, a town of 7,000 people in the southeastern corner of South Sudan, Africa. We will team with Missionary/Church Planter Ernie Hopper at a newly established work with the Taposa Tribe, a kin to the Karamojong of Uganda and the Turkana of Kenya. The Taposa Tribe have lived like they have for centuries, following ancient customs.

This is a medical team, so there will doctors, nurses, dentists and others from the medical field there. The country of South Sudan has been in civil war almost since her independence with many parts of the country still feeling the effects of previous wars. The Taposa Tribe need our help physically and spiritually. I am convinced God is calling me to help in some capacity in this.

I will inform you with more about this incredible opportunity as the information comes to me. I will be visiting a number of churches in Northern/Central California in hopes of some financial support. All funds in support of this trip are being made out/sent to my home church: Faith Missionary Baptist Church, Concord earmarked, “Zak Crouch S. Sudan 2019.” The address is 4266 Thompson Dr, Concord, CA 94518 with attention to Liz Snedeker, the Church Treasurer. The cost of this trip is $3,600. If you can’t help me at all financially, I understand. I could certainly use your prayers over this endeavor. I appreciate any support you can give.

If you would like more information or would like me to visit your church to discuss this opportunity, please email me at zakcrouch@outlook.com.

To those who know my journey to this point and have prayed faithfully for me and my family, I thank you so much and selfishly ask that you continue to do so. Your generosity and love is unmatched. I don’t know exactly why here, but I have faith He will reveal that to me during the experience. What I do know is this: He’s called so here am I, send me. Signing out for now. Talk to you again soon. Thanks for reading.