Matt Shada joins the podcast for a discussion about the future of Possibilities Africa. What will it take to reach the entire continent of Africa? What challenges are we up against? How might the people of God pray? Hear all of this and more in this episode with Matt. 

Matt Shada currently serves as the lead pastor for Steadfast Bible Fellowship in Omaha and has been an active, faithful, and committed board member for Possibilities Africa. Matt has been with Possibilities Africa in some form or fashion since the very beginning, when it was only an idea, and he has stayed with the organization over the last 20 years as a visionary, prayer warrior, and supporter.

Transcription

00:05

Emily: Welcome back to the 4:18 podcast. We are here for another episode with Matt Shada.  Matt currently serves as the lead pastor for Steadfast Bible Fellowship in Omaha and has been an active, faithful, and committed board member for Possibilities Africa.  Matt has been with Possibilities Africa in some form or fashion since the very beginning, when it was only an idea, and he has stayed with the organization over the last 20 years as a visionary, prayer warrior, and supporter.

00:34

Matt is here to discuss the future of Possibilities Africa. Before we dive into what’s next, Matt, my question for you is, how has your personal view of impact or faith grown through your time with Possibilities Africa?

Matt: Well, I think it’s important for people to understand, at least as it relates to my journey, that my personal view started before Possibilities Africa ever was born.

01:04

One of my mentors, Dr. Warren Wiersbe, used to always say, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”

And I knew Martin before Possibilities Africa was born.  And I saw who he was, I saw what he was about. And so for me, I have grown in my respect and admiration of him over the years.

01:32

And what he’s been willing to go through to do what God’s asked him to do. And so this has been a ministry that we’ve seen over the years just grow and impact many people, but it hasn’t been without challenges.  A ministry that’s led by Africans for Africans, and to see Martin and his team develop a model that works and is reproducible now,

02:02

very quickly, it has been awesome to see.

Emily: As we look back, how does the history of Possibilities Africa inform the next steps?

Matt: Well, I think the ministry itself – it’s a ministry by Africans for Africans that we get to come alongside and support. It’s a model that works, and it’s a ministry that combats a culture of handouts. So…

02:31

I think that’s the thing. What it has started as the mission, the vision, it’s got to stay on that focus. You know, that informs the next steps that we’re going to take, you know. 

Emily: Yeah, totally. When we initially talked about this podcast, I asked you what comes to mind when you think of the future of Possibilities Africa, and truly, without missing a beat, you said, “Well, I think of the whole continent and I think of millions of people.” So what’s it going to take to do that?

03:02

Matt: Well, it’s going to take a laser-like focus on the vision and a resolute focus to stay true to the mission as well. Just spiritual leadership development, economic empowerment, and children mentorship, the whole gospel impacting the whole person. It’s going to take more godly visionary leaders in strategic countries around Africa

03:31

who are willing to partner with Martin in the vision. It’s going to take more strategic partnerships with people in the United States who are willing to get behind the vision. So I think  those are the main things of staying true to the vision and the mission, as well as just praying fervently for…

03:58

I know whenever I pray for Possibilities Africa, I always pray for godly spiritual leaders in strategic places to partner with Martin in the vision.

Emily: Yeah. So good. Why do you believe things will multiply?

04:19

Matt: Well, I believe things will multiply. One, because I believe the continent of Africa is ripe for what the ministry of Possibilities Africa provides. And Martin and his team have developed a model that works. And that includes from vetting people to the people then who they end up training. So to me, we’re seeing this happen.

04:47

Now it’s not become an issue of where are we going to go next?  It’s now an issue of do we have the people resources and the financial resources to do all that God’s asking us to do?

Emily: Yeah, because people are asking for this in other places.

Matt: In other countries.

Emily: Yeah.

Matt: And I think that’s why it’s important just that the goal and what God’s put on our hearts from the beginning has always been the whole continent.

05:17

And so, so when I think about what has happened, even the last few years, and what could happen, we are talking about tens of millions of people’s lives being impacted.

05:33

Emily: What do you see as the non-negotiables in the DNA of Possibilities Africa that must remain as we continue to grow?

Matt: Well, first of all, it’s got to stay a ministry by Africans….

05:47

for Africans.  It’s gotta be that.  That we, here in the United States, come alongside and support. You’ve been there. I’ve been there. It’s impossible for us, just even culturally, to grasp all the uniquenesses. And so, that’s one of the reasons why this ministry is so effective. It’s a ministry led by Africans for Africans.

06:13

And then also it’s got to stay a ministry that combats a culture of handouts. And so that has been one of the things that was a tremendous challenge to overcome in the beginning of this ministry, because many of these villages where Martin would go to, all they’ve known is a culture of handouts.  And once the people have grasped what Martin and his team have been

06:41

teaching and seeing the dignity, value, and worth, and the hope that is created by realizing that you’re created in the image of God, that he’s given you a vision and a hope for you to embrace for your own future is radically changed–not just lives–it’s radically changed communities.  And that’s what’s got to keep happening. That’s got to be the non-negotiables.

Emily: How do we ensure that we grow with depth, not just breadth?

Matt: Yeah, that’s really up to Martin and his team, but it has to do with equipping.

07:23

They, which I know they’re committed to, have to stay committed to equipping in these three areas of spiritual leadership development, children’s mentorship, and economic empowerment. PA provides the framework for people to continue to grow if these people will embrace it, which, as we’re seeing, they are. And again, it’s radically changing.  It’s radically changing communities.  And I believe…

07:53

countries and soon a continent. To me, it’s a question of leadership. You know, everything rises and falls on leadership. And so that’s why it behooves all of us to continue to pray for Martin, to pray for his team, that God will give them the strength, the resolute character to stay focused, that God will provide other strategic godly leaders with vision,

08:23

and alignment with Martin and the vision moving forward. That’s a huge prayer request is we need more visionary, godly leaders who are aligned with the vision of Possibilities Africa all over the continent of Africa. And to me, that is how we stay the course. 

Emily: So you already kind of mentioned this, but what kind of leaders do you picture, and what kind of leaders will it take to reach the whole continent?

08:53

Matt: Well, the first characteristic I think of a good spiritual leader is obviously they’re godly, and that’s a spiritual word, but the word godly simply means to take God seriously.  And so we need spiritual leaders in Africa who take God seriously and also who fully embrace the mission and vision of Possibilities Africa. And I believe it’s a God given mission and vision.

09:23

Remember, Martin didn’t just come up with this out of thin air.  This came out of what he has lived and experienced as someone who was born and grown up in Africa.  And so to me, I think of godly, visionary leaders who fully embrace the mission of the ministry.

Emily: What challenges do you foresee as we expand into more countries?  And how do we prepare for those?

Matt: This is why it’s so critical that we lift our brothers and sisters up in prayer because anybody who pays attention to the news a little bit knows that different countries in Africa means different challenges. Different challenges politically, different challenges religiously, even culturally. And so we got to be praying.

10:22

Because some of these, and some of these countries are tremendous challenges. The great thing is, though, the model that Martin and his team have developed transcend cultures and is an incredible evangelistic tool to reach lost people. And so we here in the United States need to pray. We have to remember that every God given ministry

10:51

involves a spiritual struggle that is not against flesh and blood. The challenges are not just people challenges and financial challenges. There’s real spiritual challenges that we need to be lifting up our brothers and sisters in Christ over in Africa as they seek to carry out the vision that God’s laid before them.

11:18

Emily: So Possibilities Africa currently exists in eight countries. There’s over 50 countries in Africa. So it’s a lofty goal to think about reaching more countries, but what keeps you hopeful when the vision might feel overwhelming at times?

Matt: It could feel overwhelming because of the tremendous opportunity that’s in front of us, in front of them, the number of people that we know,

11:48

are reaching out to them from other countries, wanting to see Possibilities Africa come to them.  It’s big, but the last 20 years have proven it’s possible.  And I’m hopeful because Jesus is on the throne and he desires to reach people.  He’s still seeking. He’s still wanting to save those who are lost.  He still wants to see the whole Gospel impact

12:18

the whole person. 

Emily: Can you cast a vision for our listeners about hopeful expectation? What should we expect in light of who God is? 

Matt: We should be praying for the whole continent. We should be praying that God would use Possibilities Africa to impact tens of millions of people and to see reach in every country in Africa. That should be our prayer.

12:49

Emily: If we look back 10 years from now, what story do you hope we’ll be telling?

Matt: Well, I hope 10 years from now that we’ll have thousands of other stories about millions of people whose lives have changed and many more countries where Possibilities Africa is. And in 10 more years, it will be, I think, as we continue to walk by faith and lift up our brothers and sisters in Christ, both prayerfully and financially,

13:17

I think we will be just amazed at what God has done and the number of other countries that are added to the mix in 10 years.

Emily: For someone listening who feels stirred, what is a meaningful way they can participate in the vision?

Matt: I think of three specific ways that people can and should participate.  And the first one,

13:46

is, and I mentioned this earlier, is we need to be praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ because there is a battle that is going on, and we can participate with them in the battle. I mean, this is what Paul says in Ephesians 6, you know, we are to lift up our family, our brothers and sisters in Christ in prayer. can join them in the battle, and they need us to be praying for them. And so I would encourage all

14:15

the listeners to this podcast to be fervently praying for our brothers and sisters. Pray for Martin. Pray for his team. Pray that God would provide more godly, spiritual, visionary leaders to partner with Possibilities Africa. Another way that people can practically participate in what God is doing is by giving. It’s been neat to see people giving not just here in the United States, but also in Africa

14:44

to participate in this work. We have the privilege of partnering in a God-sized work where we will not know the final results until we get to heaven. And so I encourage people to give generously to the ministry because their investments are going to have an incredible return. And then I’d also encourage people to go on a vision trip.

15:13

I know you’ve been a few times. Doug is consistently taking people on vision trips, and once you are there, it just blows your mind what God has done and is doing.

Emily: Yeah, as you were sharing that,  I thought it might be sweet to end this podcast with prayer. So Matt, would you so graciously close this episode in prayer for our brothers and sisters in African countries? And if you’re listening, you can pause wherever you are.

15:43

and join us as we take a moment to come before the throne of the Father.

Matt: Oh, that’d be great.

Emily: Cool.

15:51

Father in heaven, we’re grateful that you are still seated on the throne, and we are thankful that you are working out all things to accomplish your purposes. Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to do something about our sin. Thank you that you take broken things and you make them new.  Thank you, Lord, that you are still in the business of saving

16:19

and transforming lives. And I just want to take a minute to lift up our brothers and sisters in Africa, Martin and his team. And I pray, Lord, for strength. I pray for wisdom. I pray for discernment. I pray for creativity. And I pray for a harvest of souls. I pray, Lord, for godly, visionary, strategic leaders in strategic countries all over the continent of Africa,

16:49

so that millions more people, millions of lives can be transformed because the whole Gospel impacts the whole person. Lord, we worship you, and I know Lord, I know this is Emily’s heart and my heart as well. We consider it an incredible privilege to participate in what you’re doing across the world for your glory and for our good in Jesus’ sweet name. Amen.

17:18

Emily: We are so glad you joined us today for this episode with Matt Shada.  If you are stirred to participate in the vision of Possibilities Africa through prayer or giving,  go to our website, usa.possibilitiesafrica.org, and learn more.  Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share this podcast with a friend so we can share this good news. Thanks for tuning in. We will be back for more soon.