Teen not just a missionary kid, but a missionary

BURKINA FASO, West Africa (IMB)—He knows two languages fluently, English and French, and is in the process of learning a third. He also greets in seven languages and he is 17 years old.

Zac Lyons has been an International Mission Board missionary kid since his family moved to West Africa when he was nine years old.

Besides playing the guitar and chatting on the Internet he spends most of his spare time talking about the differences between the Quran and the Bible with his Muslim friends.

Zac's family started their work living in Cote d'Ivoire, but while they were at a meeting in a nearby country, civil war broke out and they have never been able to return to their home.

After a few years of short-term assignments and a year stateside, they moved into a position working in southern Burkina Faso with the Wala people. When Zac heard his parents were praying about moving again, he started praying.

"When we were moving I felt a call to the Wala people," Zac says. "And I think that the best way I have been able to fulfill that call is following in my dad's footsteps and seeing how he works.

Wanting to work with his dad, he started reading books about how to share his faith with Muslims.

He's a junior in high school and goes to school with four of his five siblings in one room of his house. He works hard to get good grades and realizes his school work comes first. But he doesn't like it when his "Dad goes out [to the villages] and I have to stay and finish my school."

He considers one of the village chiefs his "grandfather" and the chief's family, his family. He makes a point to visit one village elder, Zachariah. Since the two share a name, they also share a special bond and Zac listens as the elderly man tells the stories of his visits to Mecca, the Muslim holy land.

"I love being in Africa for one thing and working with Muslims ... but my favorite part is witnessing," Zac says. "It's different from anything you have ever done. I love being with the people, my people, the Wala."

Zac takes every chance to be with the Wala people. He takes weekend trips to Wala villages, translates for volunteers and stays out late on the front porch with the neighborhood guys to talk about faith and drink attaya.

Attaya is the tea West Africans fix through out the day, mostly to spend time sitting together and talking about life. Zac uses this time to talk about his faith and help his new friends understand the Bible.

"Usually we start with the Koran and show them the contradictions in the Quran," Zac said. "We will discuss Mohammad, whether he is a true prophet and if the Bible said he will come."

Zac doesn't want to get in his dad's way, but he loves the Wala people and feels the same burden his dad does to tell them about Christ.

"Any time Zachary is with me, they give an instant rapport because [the people] are drawn to the children," says Phillip Lyons, Zac's dad. "Bakary said it's special to have a white kid come into the village, because in their minds they don't think many white kids come to Africa."

Bakary is a spokesperson for one of the Wala villages. He tours the village and helps the Lyons get to know the people. Although he is not a believer, he looks forward to the Lyons' visits so he can ask questions about their lives and faith.

This last visit, Bakary grabbed Zac's hand in a show of friendship as they walked through the narrow lanes of the village. He stopped to greet villagers and pulled Zac along.

Zac's prayer is that one day Bakary will be leading them around the village to openly share about Christ.

"I think God just personally called me to this," Zac says. "I think that I am to serve my Lord. As far as I can tell this is what he wants me to do."

For more information on how you can be involved in missions, visit imb.org, or call 800-999-3113.