Greetings Friends and Family!

Well, it's official. I'm off to Africa. Why am I going? Because I've been asked to join a team of believers in filming a documentary about God never giving up on His children. I'm going to Africa to document a story about how God overcomes evil with good!

It's a big project, I know. But Paul says in Colossians 4:7, "My good friend Tychicus will tell you all about me...I've sent him to you so that you would know how things are with us...He will tell you everything that is happening here." Obviously God thinks it's important that believers know what is happening with the different parts of the body in the family of God. And like Tychicus in the New Testament, God is using our team to tell about the good things happening in Africa!

You'll find several bits of information on this webpage, so let me explain what's all here. First, the paragraphs below will tell you about how I got involved in this project, what the documentary is about and the vision of what we hope it creates. Second, over on the left you'll find links to the official documentary website, a more in depth profile about Tim and you can learn about how you can support me in this endeavor. Third, once we leave the USA and begin this journey, I'll be using this webpage to post updates on how we are doing in Africa and how things are shaping up.

Thanks for being here! It means a lot to me that you even cared enough to visit this webpage to see what is going on with ole Tim. As always, you can email me at emailsmittytoday@gmail.com if you have questions or just want to get coffee with me!

How did I get involved in all of this?

If you know me at all, you know I'm involved in mission work. I've been on half a dozen mission trips to Central America in the last 10 years. I have a heart for God's people in other countries, especially those brothers and sisters who suffer from poverty and lack of necessities. Two verses from the Bible really speak to me on this. I read them almost everyday:

Proverbs 31:8,9
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."

Luke 12:48
"For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required."

A lot of responsibility in those two verses, but a lot of eternal goodness in there too. I've always been involved in mission work, but how did I get on this mission team to Africa?

As you know, I work for Dave Ramsey in Brentwood. I work with some amazing people who are passionate about many things. One of my fellow employees is Kraig McNutt and his heart for Africa, particularly the Lost Boys of Sudan, is about as big as Africa itself. He’s been with Dave Ramsey for almost six years now and has been involved with ministering in South Sudan since 2003.

Kraig is leading a documentary team into Africa this December made up of employees of The Dave Ramsey Show. I was uber-excited when he approached me, now several weeks ago, to play a key role on this team as a writer for this project. Kraig founded a ministry in late 2005 called New Seed of Hope. NSOH's mission is to spread the message that God has not abandoned the millions of people in central/east Africa who are victims of genocide, poverty and HIV/AIDS. We are praying that New Seed of Hope will play a strategic role in changing an entire nation that is threatened to be swallowed up by disease and poverty.

New Seed of Hope is a brand new ministry. The first project it's commisioning is the filming of this documentary to raise awareness of the situation in Africa. I'm honored Kraig has asked me to participate.

People criticize Americans for not supporting humanitarian organizations. The problem isn’t Americans don’t care though, the problem is Americans don’t know. That’s why we’re using creative media – a documentary – to tell the stories of Africa.

What is the documentary about?

Many of us have heard the story of The Lost Boys of Sudan. In the 1980's, most of these boys were orphaned or separated from their families when government troops systematically attacked villages in southern Sudan killing many of the inhabitants, most of whom were civilians. The younger boys survived in large numbers because they were away tending herds or were able to escape into the nearby jungles. Several witnessed their parents execution from the surrounding hillsides. With no parents, their homes burning and a ruthless army chasing them, the boys were lost. So they ran.

The Lost Boys would make epic journeys lasting years across the borders to international relief camps in Ethiopia and Kenya evading thirst, starvation, wild animals, insects, disease, and one of the most bloody wars of the 20th century. 75,000 fled, but only 30,000 survived. Examiners say they are the most badly war-traumatized children ever examined.

The international community opened its borders to these boys. Many of the Lost Boys were sent to countries all around the world to live and receive college educations. But a few stayed behind...

The Story of James Baak

James Baak fled from south Sudan when he was just ten years old. He lived in camps in Ethiopia and Kenya for the next several years. James became a Christ-follower and a youth leader in Kakuma refugee camp in northern Kenya. He provided spiritual direction and guidance to thousands of Lost Boys there.

James was able to get out of Kakuma and was offered a scholarship to attend college in the United States, but he turned it down so he could stay within reach of his people. He ended up getting theological training in Nairobi and eventually returned to his home village - Lietnohm - in 1998 to start a church.

Through his leadership in the past eight years God has transformed his village. Basic healthcare is available. Small business and micro-enterprise development is growing. A primary school has been started. In short, people have hope like never before.

James Baak's Vision

"Lost Boys come home!"

James no longer considers himself a Lost Boy because he is back home, in his home country, and even his home village. He is calling all of his fellow "Lost Boys" from around the world to come home to south Sudan. He says, "Come home, and you will no longer be lost." James considers people like himself to be the new seed of Sudan. His message is simple, "You are only lost if you don't come home."

God is using one man to change an entire village. He is doing incredible works through James Baak. Another former Lost Boy has joined with him in his village and any more eventually will. If God can radically change a village with one or two returning Lost Boys, imagine what He could do if scores of Lost Boys returned to their respective villages? As larger numbers of Lost Boys return home entire regions will be transformed, and regions will transform an entire country.

Our documentary is telling the story of how God has preserved a remnant through people like Pastor James Baak. Despite the evils and suffering that took place, God is transforming it for good all across Africa.