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Mourning and Hope in Guinea

February 16, 2012

It is February 11, 2012.The coffin with Dr. Isaac Keïta’s body is placed in front of the platform in the People's Palace in Conakry. He was just 62 years old. On the platform, his five children, all in white, the color of hope. They talk about their father, literally: "We are proud of him! He didn’t leave us much money or property, but something more important: the word of God and awe for the Eternal One." Then they sing about the faithfulness of their heavenly Father.

 

It was the culmination of a full day program. Among the speakers is the Minister of Information expressing condolences from the president of Guinea. I was asked to deliver the sermon and felt incompetent, because the deceased was one of the best communicators I have ever known. Thankfully I could use an illustration which I heard from him: A woman with a heavy basket rode on a truck loaded with cement and she sat on top it. Another passenger said to her: "You do not need to keep your basket on your knees, put it on the cement. But the woman replied, “Oh no, the truck has already a heavy load, I don’t want to add to that.”  
Just like Isaac, I could refer to Jesus, who invites all who are weary and burdened. No burden is too heavy for Him. Isaac's widow, Rachel, can go to Him with her grief. So can the Theological Faculty which he led and the international family of the AWF, in which he played such an important role.

In accordance to Isaac’s desire, the day was a declaration of hope in Christ, most vividly expressed by the testimony of his children. If they are the future of the church, then there is hope!

"It is better to go to a house of mourning   than to go to a house of feasting” says Ecclesiastes 7:2. Mourning in the People’s Palace in Conakry was transparent: through it the light of hope was visible. Let’s continue to pray Isaac’s wife and family and let’s praise God for their commitment to Christ, the risen Lord! Pray also for the AWF-Africa region. May God give wisdom as to how to proceed without our brother Isaac Keïta. 

Arie Verduijn, President

Alliance World Fellowship

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EVENTS

 

2012

April 15-28  Philippines: Leadership Matters Course

 

May 15-19, Toronto, Canada :

AWF Quadrennial Convocation

 

July 3-7 Winnipeg, Canada: Genral Assembly Alliance Churches in Canada

Aug 5 - 18 Nepal: Leadership Matters Course

Sept 16 - 29 South Africa: Leadership Matters Course

 

2013

April 18-21 Krasnodar, Russia: Regional Conference Europe/Middle-East

June 11-16  USA: Tampa, General Council

 

2014

May 8-11 Amman, Jordan: Regional Conference Europe/Middle-East

 

2015

May 7-10 Turkey: Regional Conference Europe/Middle-East

» About us

The mission of the Alliance World Fellowship is to facilitate cooperation amongst its members (churches and organizations) as they work for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. The AWF has its roots in the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA). It started as a movement in the 1880’s and developed into a mission-minded denomination with partners in more than 80 countries under a variety of names.

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