The eV&B Bulletin

As unto a light that shineth in a dark place...

eV&B Bulletin: December 22, 2009

At the end of our January 2009 mission with the Maasai, Daniel Bucher and I toured the Bagamoyo Museum in Bagamoyo, Tanzania. In the late 18th Century, the port of Bagamoyo was central to the ivory and slave trade. According to the museum website, "the name Bagamoyo comes from the Swahili words Bwaga moyo (throw down your heart), a despair expressed by the people who were captured as slaves." The museum is filled with photographs, documents and relics from the slave trade.

It was heartbreaking to imagine the people once held captive by the shackles and fetters now on display. But like a light shining in a dark place, atop a small podium was a three-ring binder labeled "African Bible from Cameroon." It was a picture book of beautiful postcard-sized watercolors of the Gospel story depicted in an African setting. These illustrations were alive with faith, hope and charity and I was deeply moved by them.

With permission from the museum curator, I took photos of the painting. Unfortunately my photos only give a hint of the marvelous originals. The protective sheet of plastic over the artwork caused some problems for me, and the lighting wasn't optimal. Even so, I think you will enjoy seeing these pictures. Please consider them my Christmas card to you.

(By clicking on the photo, you will be brought to a page displaying the entire series.)

Christ has never been the central figure of the holiday that bears his name. Jesus was never "the reason for the season." His name was attached to existing winter festivities in order to sanctify the festivities, not to sanctify him. That being said, whatever this season means to anyone else, the important thing is what Christmas means to you. For me, Christmas is "a light that shineth in a dark place." It is a time to remember the birth of my Savior and to celebrate the good things that are in my life as a result of my Christian faith - my dear family and friends, and the joy and peace that comes with knowing the Lord. And if the name of Christ is somehow squeezed into the worldly hullabaloo, I will rejoice.

Philippians 1:18:
What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

It is my hope and prayer that your day is spent basking in the warmth of family love and pleasant fellowship. As sung in the English Christmas carol, "Here We Come A-wassailing":

Love and joy come to you,
And to you your wassail, too,
And God bless you, and send you
A Happy New Year,
And God send you a Happy New Year.

In the service of His Majesty, the King of kings,
Rev. Tim Sullivan

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The eV&B is now Tim's Blog.