Africa Arise to Destiny

By Jannie Compion

What do you believe about the destiny of Africa?

Africa, Arise to Destiny serves as both an encouragement and a practical challenge to every evangelical believer in Africa and its diaspora.

This tale of hope and destiny explains how God’s interventions have changed our fate in Africa forever! It also relates the stories of the many African pioneers who courageously arose to walk faithfully in the light they received. Africa, Arise to Destiny illuminates five truths that will shape the future of Africa:
• The gift of a Jubilee
• The highway from Cape Town to Jerusalem
• The restoration of the former foundations
• The heart of man
• The making of disciples

Africa, let us arise to be ‘A Light to the Nations’!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jannie Compion
• Release date: Dec 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005993825

Jannie Compion

Jannie Compion was born in Clanwilliam, South Africa, in 1967. He completed his schooling at Clanwillam High School in 1985. He continued with tertiary studies at the University of Stellenbosch (1986-1993), where he completed his BA and Master’s degrees in Sport Sciences and Education.Growing up in a family with a mother who loved and served God, he developed a desire to know more about God during his student years. His love for Christ grew and he realised his ultimate goal was obedience to the call of God.In 1991, he was one the co-founders of the Foundation for Cross-cultural Education (FCE). After marrying his wife, Elise, they left for Zambia in 1996. They now have two sons, Pierre and Johan, and have lived to see the fulfilment of a vision: Jesus Christ, making disciples through us, by building a Highway of Holiness through Education and Training.Over thirty years many lessons were learnt about God’s heart for the lost in Africa. Jannie helped to establish different discipleship training centres in Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe and South Sudan, and taught and ministered in severalother countries as well.He decided to further his studies and in 2011 obtained his PhD degree from NorthWest University, South Africa, in Comparative Education. His thesis was entitled: A Strategyfor a Mini Education System to Support Transformational Development in a DevelopingCommunity.

Book preview

Foreword

I have been acquainted with Dr Jannie Compion for a very long time, and it has been my privilege to serve with him in the mission field in Africa and Asia for more than 30 years.

I have always been astounded and encouraged by Dr Compion’s passion, anticipation and longing for Christians in Africa to take up their positions and responsibilities as followers of the Lord in their own countries. Throughout the years, in his capacity as Field Director of the Foundation for Cross-Cultural Education (FCE), he has diligently endeavoured to exhort and train Christians to rise up, fulfil their destiny as advocates of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Africa, and extend God’s Kingdom on earth.

In this book, Dr Compion takes the reader on a very interesting and enlightening journey. Over past centuries, through the obedience of so many men and women from Europe and the Americas, God has been operational all over the beautiful continent of Africa. Numerous South Africans have lately also taken up the mandate of teaching, training Africans within the setting of their own countries. This book testifies to the knowledge and experience which Dr Compion has gained serving in Southern, Central and Northern Africa.

Jannie and his family have lived at the Koti ni Eden Training Centre, close to Luanshya, Zambia, for more than 20 years. They are now permanent residents of Zambia. Jannie and his wife, Elise, have counselled and coached many people from all circles of life, and they have become increasingly convinced that there is an important destiny, especially for the youth, to evangelise the world.

This book, coming from a man with so much experience, is a must read for every believer in Africa. It will motivate, encourage and inspire.

I recommend this book with great enthusiasm.

Neels de Jager

Director: Foundation for Cross-Cultural Education

Introduction

This book was not initiated with an idea to write, but rather, it sprang from an expectancy and a desire, grown over the past 30 years, that Africa would mature into the pure destiny of its Creator: for the African people to become a Light in a dark world. The book has slowly grown in my heart - from years of visiting many African countries, meeting many of God’s people, and the reality of being exposed to the many needs in north, east, central and southern Africa (I’m still looking forward to being exposed to what God is doing in West Africa).

Every socio-economic statistic and index in the world states that Sub-Saharan Africa (or the people beyond the rivers of Ethiopia) are in difficulty/trouble/danger etc. While this is the case, you cannot reason with the statistics, only with the instruments that are being used. I hope that this book will share a glimpse into things that cannot be measured by indices or are rarely heard of in the mass media.

Africa is a simple place, with so much beauty reflected in that simplicity.

So then, how does one measure Hope in Africa? It is when you have seen:

• A five-year-old walk 12 km to pre-school every day, wearing ragged clothes but a joyful smile.

• A grade 10 child working hard after school and during holidays, just to pay his own school fees.

• A village woman slaughtering her last chicken for a visitor… without fear, only joy.

• A man standing up in a bus to pray to a living God for protection on the trip and have everyone on the bus agree with a loud ‘Amen!’

• A grandmother of 85 years looking after six children as their sole life support.

On the indices and statistics of the kingdom of God, this is a high score all the way - we are ‘developed and rich’ people! The weak shall be strong! The poor in spirit will see God. Maybe we might just be surprised by God in the years to come.

I have a desire that this book will communicate Hope and Destiny to us all. I’m not turning my eyes blindly from the many wrongs and evil on our continent; I just choose to look at Africa from Christ’s life-giving perspective. Not where we are now only, but also at the amazing transformation that has already happened over the last 150 years. Oh, what we could become if I believe, and you believe, that the Holy Spirit will visit Africa once again!

Who will appreciate this book? I believe that this book should target the 100 million African evangelical believers who might value its message… a message that I should like to convey in straightforward and simple language:

Africa, Arise to Your Destiny!

‘Arise’ means that we come to the Light, get up, and bring Him an offering of obedience through a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17).

‘Destiny’ is written with a capital letter because we are predestined, according to His purposes and calling, to receive our Divine inheritance. We need to walk in the work God has prepared for us, before the foundation of the Earth. He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, and above all we could ever ask or think. Therefore, we can take action as believers to cast out the works of darkness.

This ‘action’ is in line with a new season and a new Word for Sub-Saharan Africa today: A harvest is coming, with a thrust to make disciples… through you!

The first chapter of this book starts by explaining who the ‘worshippers beyond the rivers of Ethiopia’ are, and what choices they should make to carry Jesus’s Cross again. By definition, we are not discussing worship in song, but rather a total reflection of His Lordship, in a life of devotion to Christ in everything we do. The first chapter ends with some of the redemptive purposes for particular nations in the season to come. We believe that this is His Word for a time such as this. We believe that each believer in Africa needs to find His ‘Kingdom destiny’ very clearly, so that they will not be tossed around by the many voices that become louder as people feel more insecure and sin increases. We look again to ‘His story’ of love for the people of Africa and see a summary of what has happened over the last 6000 years - a story of Hope… and rebellion.

In the next two chapters we examine details about the intervention or intercession of God’s Grace and Mercy, especially over the last 150 years. These penetrating acts of faith have brought about a revolutionary change. Seeds were sown all over the continent, becoming ‘builders of Hope’ for the age to come - seeds which articulated thankfulness to a God who is sovereign over all the nations.

This part is followed by a study of some African pioneers of Destiny, who followed in the footsteps of Christ. They walked in the midst of darkness, but in faithfulness to the Light. Their lives are such an inspiration to our generation for bringing Him the offering that He deserves. Up to this point in the book, we take a look at what happened in history… but now the focus of the book also turns our eyes towards the future and the responsibility that we have as evangelical believers. Yes, a responsibility to arise!

First of all, we arise as people who have received the gift of Jubilee, to pass it on to our families, churches and governments. This includes the mandate to be faithful with our land - from Cape Town to Jerusalem - on His Highway of Holiness.

Secondly, we arise as watchmen who will cry out to the Church in every African nation, that it should be awakened to prepare a way for our Lord - the eyes of every believer, firmly fixed on our King of Glory - to finish the harvest which stands ready in the Gentile world. Soon, it will also become ready in Israel.

Thirdly, we arise to pray for the restoration of the former Kingdom foundations that shone so brightly in the past. We commit to build up the foundations of this as well as future generations. For that to happen, our Lord needs our undivided hearts and commitment – hearts that will declare His Destiny.

Fourthly, we acknowledge that Destiny starts with the hearts of men in relation to God, men who bring Him an offering of obedience.

Last of all, we arise to express our Destiny to allow Jesus Christ to make disciples through us.... only then can Africa rise up as a Light to the world.

Enjoy the read!

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My Worshippers Beyond the Rivers of Ethiopia

Jesus Christ stumbled forth with His back ripped open from several