Out of Africa

Fellowship couple leads at African Marriage conference
By Dian Belbeck

We arrived in Africa eager to see what God was up to—how He would show Himself. We were ready to catch glimpses of His glory. And as is always true, He does not disappoint. Surprise, yes—but not disappoint. ALARM had scheduled a marriage conference in Nanyuki, a few hours from Nairobi, inviting pastors, their wives, and staff. Although the couples all live within a few miles of one another, they arrived with more than miles separating them in many cases.

The week spent sharing our lives with our fellow believers in Nanyuki was unforgettable. They described themselves as being baby birds, their mouths wide-open, hungry and wanting to be fed. Dan and I can close our eyes now and recall the faces of these newfound friends—family indeed. There is Danson, the young liaison pastor who would hardly leave Dan’s side. There is Lucy, his wife, pregnant with their second child, asking me to pray for her that to love her husband and his family (from another tribe), even when they shun her. There is a room full of small groups, learning how to be courageous enough to share hurts, anxieties, victories, and defeats—praying with and for each other. There is David, tearfully confessing that his teenage son was using drugs, asking how to love and encourage him while showing him the truth concerning his choices. There is a whole group of ladies, looking at pictures of our family, laughing at grandchildren’s shared antics and a son’s chocolate wedding cake. All these things happened in the context of God’s call for His people to build strong, biblical marriages—shored up and encouraged by fellow believers, endeavoring to live out the call to faith arm-in-arm.

When you see Dan and I on campus or around town we may look the same. But we are different, deep inside, because we have left a piece of our hearts in Africa. We bear testimony that our God delights in WOW-ing us, filling our lives, and causing us to live Beyond Belief!