Our Vision: Who? What? Where? How?

 

To put it simply, Fuzzy and I have a vision of seeing a disciple-making movement overtake the Horn of Africa as more and more Somalis become followers of Jesus. Walk with me as I break this down into more detail.

 Let's start with Where are we going?

The Horn of Africa is the most eastern part of Africa that sticks out into the ocean like a rhinoceros horn. It is sometimes known as the "Somali Peninsula," touching the Red Sea, The Gulf of Aden, and the Indian Ocean. It includes the countries of Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, and Northern Kenya.

In recent history, Somalia has had many civil wars and tribal conflicts that have caused many divides in the country, with different tribes claiming certain regions attempting to create separate countries. The most commonly known territory is the de facto state of Somaliland, in the northern part of what most people know as Somalia. It is considered  "de facto," meaning that it exists in reality, even though the country itself is not recognized by law. Somaliland declared itself independent from Somalia in the early 1990s. However, it is not yet recognized as an official country by UN standards. But it does have its own government, land borders (though disputed) and requires a separate visa to travel than Somalia. A few years later, "Puntland" also declared itself an autonomous state of Somalia. However, it is not seeking recognition as its own country. Puntland does have a president and parts of a working government but also adheres to and is still considered part of Federal Somalia.

Map: www.bbc.com.uk

 This is all a bit confusing, I know! The most important thing to remember is that Somali, Somaliland, Puntland, and the general region of the Horn of Africa is that the tribes and clans are truly the ones who control the area. All of the borders you see on typical maps are not often recognized or upheld by the local people. The clan elders and their relationships with other clans determine reign and rule in the region. What land belongs to what clan can change if there is a conflict between the clans. This brings us to our next point:

Who are Somalis?

Somalis are the people who descend from the Somali region of the Horn of Africa. There are many Somali people around the world, most of whom started out as displaced people or refugees who fled from civil conflict taking place in Somalia.

Depending on who you talk to, "Somali" is made up of the Somali words "soo" and ‘maal," meaning "go and milk," referring to their camels, goats, or cows. Though like much of Somali culture, that too is disputed! Some say "soo" and "maal" mean "from fortune," pointing out that Somalis have a lot of wealth in their herds. Either way, both definitions allude to the Somali people and their herds. They are well known for their herds of camels. They come from a background of being nomadic herders, taking their animals to where there is grass and water. Now, there are more traditional cities and villages, and the people are generally more settled and only send their herds out close to home.

The Somali tribes are made up of five prominent clans. As previously mentioned, the clans make up the central part of Somali culture and politics; the clan leaders rule and reign. Clan ties are passed down from the father.

The majority of Somalis are Muslim. Historically they have been called the "Protectors of Islam." Though they follow the teachings of Muhammad, most also put their faith in sheik's or medicine men, who make amulets, often using the verses of the Qur’an as spells for protection. This need for security is based on their fears of the evil eye or curses from others.

These deep Islamic roots bring us to What?

What exactly is the goal of moving to this region and spending so much time learning the culture and the language? Our goal is to see a disciple-making movement among the Somali people. Our biggest hope and prayer is that Somalis will give their hearts to Jesus and surrender to following Him, becoming a disciple who shares this new faith with others.

When we say disciple, we mean both the noun and verb form. We want to see devout disciples who desire to study the ways of Jesus, take on and embrace their new identity in Him and follow in His footsteps by encouraging and raising up others who also desire to follow Him.

How?

How are we going to see this movement happen? First, we pray! We cannot make any plans that will force this to occur among these people in this region- Only the Father can soften their hearts, open their minds, and give them ears to hear the True Gospel! We have, and we will continue to posture our heart toward the Father, lean on Him, listen closely for His voice, and follow His leading as we take steps toward this goal.

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