God in Gambia

January 2004 index

‘Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did
not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking
the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance
as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross’.
Philippians 2:5-8

more about Smile - the short-term programme

 

 

above: The Gambia team, including the students

Phil Selby is a third year Geography
student from Nottingham University
who went to the Gambia on a
SMILE placement this summer to
work with GAMFES on their
summer outreach programme . . .

“The outreach to different villages
involved GAMFES students helping
local Christians and showing the Jesus
video, whilst the SMILE team ran a
youth programme. This included basic
computer classes, games, and most
importantly sharing the Gospel, often
tackling Muslim misconceptions about
Christianity. It was a real privilege, hard
work and very rewarding.

As space is limited, I’ll just share how I
grew in my faith and what I learnt. The
words from Philippians 2, and the
reality of Christ clothing himself in
humanity, making himself nothing for
me, really struck me in the Gambia.
Jesus put up with the heat, the smells,
the food, the water and all the things I
had to get used to, yet He is God! I’m
only human, yet so caught up in ‘my
rights’: me having this, me having that.
How can I be like this when Jesus gave
up all his heavenly splendour and dealt
with all the difficulties of life on earth –
just to bring me to him?

Also, I learnt the importance of being
right with God. Certain situations
taught me that regardless of the
outcome – I am forgiven by God and in
a right relationship with him by grace,
and my future is totally secure.”
Phil also discovered a real affinity with
the Gambian students. On the first night
one of them shared why he was there:
“I have always desired in my heart to
share the Gospel with people who may
never have heard the Truth. I try doing
this with my friends on campus. But
when I think of trying it with people
who are like your parents, and who say
they knew everything before you were
born, I often get scared. I want to
overcome that fear as I obey the Lord’s
command to preach his Word”.

Says Phil, “I’m involved in the Christian
Union movement in the UK, and it was
amazing to share with brothers and
sisters in Christ in the same work in a
different country. Please do pray for the
Gambian students, and for the youths
who heard the Gospel through the
youth programme, that they would
respond and move from death to life!
GAMFES (Gambia Fellowship
of Evangelical Students) was
established in 1997 under
the supervision of Steven
Musa-Kormayea who is the
General Secretary. Their
primary aim is the training
and discipleship of students in
the various college campuses
across the country, with the
goal of raising mature disciples
of Jesus Christ. GAMFES is also
involved in evangelism and
outreach to rural communities. 		 

 

Crosslinks magazine January 2004 index