Al– Isn’t it great when you meet someone that totally inspires you to be better? Somewhere around 15-20 years ago I met a man that inspired me and he still does it every time we get together. We were having a 40 year celebration for World Radio (WR), an outreach ministry at our church, when I was so inspired. World Radio brought in some speakers from around the world for the celebration. World Radio, now called One Kingdom, raises money to buy radio airtime for nationals around the world. We currently have about 200 speakers teaching and preaching on the radio in over 100 countries.
Isaac Daye is the man that blessed me all those years ago and he keeps blessing me today. Isaac is a Liberian that was forced out of his country almost 20 years ago because of a civil war. He went to a refugee camp in Ghana and was converted to Christ. After his conversion he went to Ghana Bible College where he was trained to be a preacher of the gospel of Christ. He and his family settled in The Gambia and they did mission work planting churches in four different western Africa countries. All of these countries are over 90% Muslim. Isaac became known in the entire region of western Africa as the go-to-guy when it comes to preaching, dreaming and leading people to Christ—this was primarily because of his radio presence and his work with World Bible School, a Texas-based outreach program. It was during this time that he came to our church and spoke passionately about his ministry and dreams. I was blown away and really challenged to do more as a minister, preacher and missionary.
Isaac and I struck up a quick friendship and discovered that we were destined to become partners for the gospel of Christ. My sentiment for Isaac is much like the Apostle Paul was toward the Philippian church that he wrote to in Philippians 1:3-6 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. I went twice to The Gambia and worked with Isaac and he has come here to the US several times to raise funds for his many works. I’ve preached and taught and recorded a lot of radio sermons during my visits to The Gambia and also helped Isaac complete a K-12 Christian school with about 80% Muslim children attending—what a way to win hearts and minds for Christ!
The Liberian civil war ended 4 years ago and Isaac had a passion to return home and help his people rebuild their war torn country. This would be a tough, tough transition for his family, as Liberia has almost no infrastructure after the war. Two years ago we helped Isaac start a preacher training school that also teaches agriculture so that these guys and their families would be able to provide for themselves and the churches that they would start all over Liberia. The school also teaches the power of entrepreneurship, which will help rebuild Liberia. The name of the school is Restoration Bible and Agriculture Institute and we named the operations fund after Dad, the Phil Robertson Preacher Training Fund.
Our shared vision for restoring people to Christ has prompted me and Isaac to use the same language to describe our passion and our ministry goals. Restoration—it’s the love that restored us to Christ and we want to pass it on to as many as we can. We also helped him buy a radio signal and they put up the tower at the school where they train these guys to use the radio to reach people. Of course, it is called Restoration Radio.
Lisa and I recently went over to attend and participate in the first graduation of 13 students! We were also able to tour several more ideas that Isaac has for the school and for growing the business side. It was a hard trip, but a very rewarding one and we are more energized than ever to help our dear brothers and sisters to rebuild, restore and redeem the country of Liberia.
Lisa—
We had a great time with our friends and brethren in Liberia. Isaac is an energizer bunny, but he is married to a selfless, sacrificial “eveready” bunny too. Together, they go non -stop with the church, the school & their family. Fatu, Isaac’s wife, is a business owner, friend, mother, grandmother, ministry wife and encourager. She has a store right in the front of their house. She started small, but she is growing by leaps and bounds. They are a dynamic duo for the Lord. They give most of what they have to those who do not have the means to live. They live and love in their neighborhoods. They represent the name of God daily.
While we were there, we spoke on their radio broadcast about marriage and relationships. As we spoke, they invited listeners to call in with questions and remarks. As we listened to the callers, we realized that it doesn’t matter who you are or where you are from, marriage is difficult. Relationships are difficult. We know that as humans, we are selfish, we let others down, we hurt feelings, we break promises, we are not honest, we aren’t sacrificial. But, as Children of God, as learn to imitate Him and we will become less selfish, more dependable, more sensitive to others, transparent and sacrificial. As we each grow closer to God, we will grow closer as a couple. As we become more like Jesus, we will have closer, more understanding relationships. Their listeners were glad to hear the transparency of our testimony. We were giving “hope” to the hopeless, confidence to the fearful, and telling them where our help comes from. It comes from the Lord.
As we were leaving, we told Isaac & Fatu that we were setting up a “date night” fund for them. As with many ministers, they work hard and long hours that they forget to save resources and energy for their own marriage. They give so much to so many that they forget to give their soul mate. We want them as a couple to be recharged and to continually re-store their relationship and marriage.
If you haven’t traveled outside of our great country to see how the third world countries live, do it one day. The brothers and sisters live with so little materialistically, but they give with all they have, all their heart. You will be blessed by them and you will see how blessed you are.
I pray to see our sweet family in Liberia again. I love their children and grandchildren as my own. They have taught them that work ethic and love for the Lords people and they too are going, and going and going! I’m always so blessed to visit them and love on them and be loved by them. They restore my faith that God sees no color, race, ethnicity or gender. He wants us to love everyone. Be that kind of example to your family, church and neighborhood. You’ll influence them as The Daye family has theirs.
May God restore your soul and bring you into a closer walk with him.
Our plan is to write every week about what God is doing in us and with us as we globe trot the world trying to make a difference in the lives of other people. We hope you get some encouragement, some reproof, some joy and some tools as you read along with us. We’d love to hear about what’s going on in your lives, marriages and family as well. Lord willing, we are going to convert these into podcasts as some point, but we are also writing a new book, which you’ll be hearing more about as well. May God bless you as you live a restored life in him!