Look at their smiles. They appear to be a typical, retired Canadian couple holidaying in some exotic, faraway place. The Komants are anything but typical and certainly not retired.
Elmer and Sherry Komant are North Pointe’s partner missionaries serving in Bujumbura, Burundi.
They know what it is to be fearless.
Consider their description of neighborhood gunfire as “pressure cooker popcorn.” They’ve faced hostile governments, financial challenges, strange foreign customs, and Elmer’s diagnosis of inoperable brain cancer, thirty years ago.
Seniors Strong
The Komants successfully planted churches in Zambia, Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi.
They are in their 60’s and still going strong.
At an age when most Canadians are retiring the Komants ramped up their commitment to serve.
In 2014 they planted the first English speaking church in the capital of Burundi. They survived an attempted military coup, faced personal threats on their lives and have seen hundreds of people become followers of Jesus.
Sherry’s Perspective on Fearless
“I think Corrie ten Boom’s phrase goes hand in hand with my thoughts on ‘Fearless’ – “Safety is not found in the absence of danger but in the presence of God.”
In my understanding: Fearless is not denying the emotion of FEAR, but applying the facts of FAITH.
My missionary life has been dotted with varied and frequent spots of fear.
From the earliest days while in Zambia in the 80’s when threats of armed robbery, rape and drunken militia were as common as the staple food shortages, and as frequent as diarrhea and malaria, I’ve had reason to battle fear. This past year when the attempted coup in Burundi played rock and roll, I held on to the kitchen cupboard and called on the Name of the Lord like anyone would do.
FEARLESS = Trusting God Completely.
I haven’t gone looking for opportunities to be heroic or to prove myself fearless.
Like everyone else I experience fear. It’s just that part of the “polka dot” design of life (which I love, by the way)is God’s. My life would have been one simple, smooth color had I been the designer. However, the One who made me, knows me. He has entrusted me with many spots of fear. May the pattern and design of my life bring honour to His glorious name!
There was a phrase popular at one time….”Do it Afraid!”
That’s our motto.
APPLICATION: Please pray for the Komants. You can leave a comment below for the Komants.
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Thank you for sharing the wonderful story of your amazing, fearless lives. Ever since the church in Antioch of Syria, commissioned Paul and Barnabas to travel with the Good News of Jesus, missionaries have been living lives that are not humanly possible. Your smiles and successes definitely honour God’s name, because His name is the only possible answer to the question, ‘how do they do it?’.
Thank you for your encouraging comment Shirley – just like a high five.