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MR.
CHRISTOPHER: (turns to look at Penny) Excuse
me, Penny … Bob … this is so interesting,
I just have to share it with you! It’s all
about Arabs, the desert … it’s just
intriguing!
PENNY:
What’s that, Mr. C?
SURFER
BOB: Did somebody say dee-sert? Ooh, doggies!
I sure could use me a big ol’ fudge brownie
right now. (Imagines the desserts) Ooh, ooh –
or maybe one of those cherry cheesecakes. Mmm-mmm!
Whatcha' got fer me, Christopher?
MR.
CHRISTOPHER: No, Bob. Not dessert –
DESERT. The Sahara Desert, to be exact. (motions
to books) I’ve been reading such fantastic
things about North Africa. I really want you and
Penny to hear this.
SURFER
BOB: North Africa! Talk about Big Sky Country!
They’ve got miles and miles of beach out
there! Some of it's beach without water …
if you know what I mean! I’d have to be
a sand surfer to live out there in the desert!
(pauses) …Ooh! Ooh! But wait! I could be
a sand-surfin’, gee-tar playin’ cowboy!
One of a kind!
MR.
CHRISTOPHER: Believe me, Bob, you’re
already definitely one of a kind!
SURFER
BOB: Jest a second, hombres! (Surfer Bob
zooms off, then reappears with a guitar, then
begins to sing.) Oh give me a home, where the
camels do roam, and the Arabs and Africans play,
where seldom is heard … (PENNY AND MR. C
groan.)
PENNY:
(to camera) Let’s just ignore him right
now, OK? (laughs) Now tell me, do YOU know anything
about North Africa? Let’s find out!
MR.
CHRISTOPHER: A large portion of the people
of Northern Africa are Arabs, and many of those
Arabs are Muslims. The history of North Africa
dates back to several thousand years before Christ,
and includes so many names and places we hear
about in the Bible such as, Carthage, Romans,
Emperor Octavius …(Mr. C. looks at Penny
and Surfer Bob. Penny rests her chin in her hand
on her desk, apparently bored to sleep. Surfer
Bob is laid out on his surfboard, snoring loudly.
Mr. C. obviously has an idea)
MR.
CHRISTOPHER: (continues, louder) And I
believe it was about the year 818 that one group
began searching for the source of GOLD that had
been flowing into their land … (SURFER BOB
and PENNY wake up with a start)
SURFER
BOB: GOLD!! Cowabunga dudes!
PENNY:
Did you say “gold,” Mr. C.?
MR.
CHRISTOPHER: That’s right, GOLD.
But surely you know that the riches of this world
don’t compare with eternal spiritual treasures.
PENNY:
Of course, Mr. C. … But tell us,
what happened? Did they find the source of gold?
SURFER
BOB: (appears in Arab clothes, with a small
shovel) I’m a-ready! I’m gonna strike
it rich! I can handle sand surfin’ if that’s
what it takes to find me some bricks o’
gold!
PENNY:
Now, Bob-O, Mr. Christopher was just reminding
us of the TRUE treasure of life, the spiritual
treasure of a personal relationship with Jesus.
SURFER
BOB: Yeah, yeah, I know yer right, Miss
Penny, but gold is jest so pretty! All shiny and,
and, … gold! (Imagines himself surrounded
by a treasure of gold.)
MR.
CHRISTOPHER: (clears his throat) ANYWAY,
back in North Africa, Islam began taking over
the area, and a lot of Christian believers headed
north toward Europe. And more Muslims started
heading south toward North Africa. And today,
relatively few Christians exist in Northern Africa.
In fact, some countries are hostile toward believers
– especially those who try to share their
faith.
PENNY:
Wow, Mr. C. That’s really sad!
SURFER
BOB: Yeah, man, that’s a lot sadder
than not finding a big ol’ pot of gold.
Way, way sadder.
PENNY:
Mr. C., you said it’s true that Muslims
can be hostile toward a Christian witness?
MR.
CHRISTOPHER: Yes Penny, that’s true.
SURFER
BOB: Then what can little ol’ people
like me an’ Penny – or all those KOM
dudes and dudettes out there – do to share
Jesus with them there hombres in North Africa?
MR.
CHRISTOPHER: I’m so glad you asked!
Let’s take a look at how God has used an
artist and some teenagers to make a difference
in North Africa.
PENNY:
(clicks on Feature) Here we go, one feature
coming up!
PENNY:
Those were some great paintings! What a fantastic
way to share the gospel with the boys at that
detention center.
SURFER
BOB: Yeah, man! Ain’t it great that
God can use somethin’ like a paintin’
to spread His love! It’s like paintin’
His love right on those folks’ hearts.
PENNY:
That’s true, Bob-o! God is always showing
us wonderful new ways to share His love.
SURFER
BOB: And even I know we all oughta' remember
that being on mission with God is so totally,
way more cool than stuff like gold!
MR.
CHRISTOPHER: Well, I must admit, the “sparkle
of gold” in your eyes had me worried, but
you definitely know how important it is that Southern
Baptists are on mission with God!
PENNY:
Hey you guys, let’s check out our
mailbag and see what our KOM friends say about
being on mission with God!
SURFER
BOB: Those kids always have such great
questions an’ letters an’ such. Heh-heh.
I betcha' they jest can’t wait to learn
more an’ more.
MR.
CHRISTOPHER: True, true! Let us know your
questions at Kids On Mission, P.O. Box 6767, Richmond,
VA 23230.
SURFER
BOB: On that note … get it, note?
…, I’m gonna teach ’em my new
desert jingle.
MR.
CHRISTOPHER & PENNY: No! Please no!
SURFER
BOB: Oh, yeah!! Oh give me a home, where
the camels do roam, and the Arabs and Africans
play, where seldom is heard….
MR.
CHRISTOPHER: (to camera) Let us spare you
this little, uh, presentation! We’ll see
you next time! (Surfer Bob continues in the background)
PENNY:
’Bye!
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