Halftime Report

Fishing Lessons

In October of 2005, 41-year-old Dan Sosa boarded a plane with one-way tickets to Africa for himself, his wife, six children, and a 13-year-old dog. He was going back to Africa to get his heart.

Two years earlier, while on a mission trip with Every Orphan's Hope, "God yanked my heart out of my body and planted it in African soil. While I stood there, surrounded by young children who had eternal hope shining in their hearts but no earthly hope in their eyes, God clearly said to me, 'Dan, if you want your heart back, you're going to have to come back for it.'"

"As I looked at those AIDS orphans, the Lord began to unveil Ephesians 2:10 as His purpose for my life - and it

over 80 percent of Africans live below the poverty line of earning 1 dollar per day

wasn't living in an upscale neighborhood, building the kingdom of Dan. The Lord began to show me that, in the name of Jesus, my gifting and skill sets as a CPA and small business entrepreneur could give orphans and others in Africa economic hope for a God-glorified life here on earth. I felt the first stirrings of joy that had eluded me in all my material accomplishments."

"Let Me Handle This."

Imagine this: You're the primary breadwinner for a family of six kids, ranging in age from 2 to 13. You live in a great neighborhood, your kids attend high-quality schools, and you have a close-knit group of friends. Exactly how do you tell your wife, "God wants us to move to Africa"?

You don't.

"The Lord made it clear that He was God, and I was not. It was not my responsibility to convince Gillian that God wanted us in Africa. The Lord told me not to get in His way, that He would tell her. 'Tell her you had an incredible time and saw Me at work, but let Me give her a heart for Africa.' "

Four months later, Gillian and Dan met for coffee after a Bible study, and she said, "Dan, we were talking about this scripture in Romans . . . 'Happy are the feet that carry the good news.' When we go to be with the Lord, are we going to wait for Him to say, 'Come in' or are we going wait for Him to say, 'Well done my good and faithful servant.'?"

Dan waited to see where Gillian was going with her thoughts. Then she said, "Honey, I think we need to do something kinda crazy for the Lord - like move to Africa."

"I consider myself a tough guy, but I began to weep. I told her, 'Gillian, next to 'I do,' those are the most incredible words you've ever spoken to me.' And then I told her the entire Africa story, planted heart and all."

A Halftime Confirmation

In April of 2005, Dan attended a Halftime Summit. There, God "confirmed my calling, clarified it, and gave it legs."

The Sosa Family

"At the end of the day, after diagnostic tests and discussions about living in your sweet spot, we were challenged to write a one-sentence mission statement that 'sums up your life from today to the day you are with the Lord.' The Lord made mine perfectly clear: Equipping and encouraging the African entrepreneur. I left that Summit knowing exactly what my kingdom assignment was: helping Africans help themselves."

the African workforce is talented and capable, it just needs a little help getting started

It was a charge that perfectly matched Dan's skill set. Today, working hand-in-hand with pastors, Dan is helping the African community grow Christian businesses to help offset the high unemployment rate and assist the needy in Africa. He calls his equipping ministry Teach to Fish.

Recently a Zambian pastor told the Halftimer, "Brother Dan you are an answer to many prayers. As pastors and the leaders of our flocks, we know we have problems - orphans, hunger, those dying of AIDS. And while salvation is free, everything else in this world costs money. We've been praying that the Lord would send someone to live among us to teach us how to bring more financial resources into the kingdom."

"As I pour knowledge and skills into these Christian entrepreneurs," Dan said, "and partner with their local

pastors, who will pour prayer and discipleship training into these individuals, we will see financial blessings that will be used to take care of those in need. Local churches will receive larger tithes, lives will be transformed, the community will benefit, and God's kingdom will grow."

When the Sosa family and their faithful dog walked off that plane last October, they stepped right into God's will - and began living the sweet life. They represent the new breed of missionaries, and they confirm that you don't have to be independently wealthy to follow God at Halftime, merely obedient. Entrepreneur Dan Sosa didn't wait until he polished his nest egg solid gold, or for his kids to leave home. Instead, he dropped his nets right where he stood and followed Jesus. All the way to Africa.

Leaders there hope other Halftimers will follow Dan's example.

Larry Warren, President of African Leadership, Nairobi, Kenya, issues a challenge to highly skilled Christian business leaders: "It is time for a new breed of

unemployment rates average over 50 percent (CIA World Fact Book)

missionary to come to Africa - people coming in the name of Jesus Christ, bringing with them business and agricultural skills to build economic hope for the Body of Christ in Africa."

To learn more, visit www.teachtofish.org or e-mail Dan at dan@teachtofish.org.