Chocolate and the Gospel – Part 2

This is Part 2 of a series of posts titled “Chocolate and the Gospel.” Read Part 1 here.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?”

In restricted and hostile nations, answering this question and finding a legitimate identity in the intended community of service takes time. An appropriate identity is essential since it is indeed a peculiar thing for people to visit places for prolonged periods when there is no clear expressed reason to be present.

When a purpose is not apparent, the result is suspicion and lack of trust. Therefore, in Amir’s area where they do not accept Gospel-bearers and where there are no apparent employment opportunities, the question then becomes: “How can an ambassador for Christ obtain time and opportunity to learn Amir’s complex unwritten language, become acquainted enough with his way of thinking in order to communicate clearly, and establish a relationship of respect deep enough for Amir to be willing to listen to a message from an outsider that contradicts the established beliefs of everyone he knows?”

Four years ago, Global Serve International (GSI) personnel visited Amir’s village, taking note of this dilemma. A year later, the team gained the right to visit regularly and began building trust in the community. How have they been able to position themselves in Amir’s community in a way that contributes to trust rather than suspicion? As GSI sought out a way to see the spiritual and physical needs of the community met, a plan of action began to take shape…

Amir is a cocoa farmer. He plays a small part in making sure millions of people across America and Europe can continue to love and enjoy chocolate. For years, Amir had been able provide for his family by managing a small cocoa plot and selling the raw cocoa beans to buyers from the city.

Unfortunately, the last several years have brought steadily decreasing yields due to the arrival of new pests and diseases in Amir’s area. Although Amir and his community are capable farmers, they have not been able to access proper information on how to combat these new agents of harm that are threatening their cocoa trees and thus the livelihood of their families.

In order to address this issue, the GSI team formed partnerships with cocoa experts, donors, and chocolate industry stakeholders. A cocoa development program was launched, thus giving GSI inroads into Amir’s community in a way that makes sense. The GSI team has been able to spend countless hours with Amir and his neighbors—working together, eating together, and connecting them to agricultural knowledge and resources that have helped them begin to reverse their economic fortunes. In short, the cocoa program has provided the opportunity to engage in the task of church planting, while helping to benefit Amir’s community by meeting their felt needs.

The end goal of GSI working in Amir’s village is for a strong and sustainable church to be planted among them. It is a lengthy process, but one well worth the time in order to see one of the world’s darkest areas infiltrated by the Light of salvation. Church planting is not always as simple as erecting a building and inviting the community to join. Geographical, political, social, and linguistic barriers require organizations like GSI to infuse their efforts with extra creativity. In the case of Amir’s people, God has chosen chocolate as a part of His mission toward reaching every tribe, tongue, and nation with the Gospel.

Do you want to learn how to use your skills and creativity to reach people like Amir with the Gospel? Do you desire to overcome the barriers and proclaim God’s glory among the nations? Learn more about our work CLICK HERE.