Pray for the Persecuted

Praise God for He is good and working, when we can see it and when we cannot. Thank you to everyone that has been praying for the ministry work I have been doing this past month. It has been a wild ride. Being flexible in West Africa is like breathing you cannot do anything unless you are breathing.

Around a month ago I traveled to the village Canaan Baptist church has been doing ministry in for many years. I was there about a week and everyday would go and cook with the women. After lunch while we would make tea there would be time for me to share a story from the Bible. Some of the stories I shared included Ruth, Jesus feeding the 5,000, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. I also shared the Gospel, the story of Ester, and Jesus casting out demons. These conversations went well, and we discussed Jesus coming from God. After I would share, I would ask them questions, and we would discuss the story some more. The ministry with the women went well. I look forward to coming back to share more and continue building relationships. Please pray for the women and children who heard the stories. Pray that they would think about them and seek God for answers about who He is.

After village ministry, I headed to the south of the country to being visiting churches in the villages. We traveled all over for many days. I got to meet with pastors, evangelists, and church planters. I discussed with them about the work they are doing and prayed with them. It was extremely encouraging to see all the things God is doing and how He is growing His church. It is rainy season, so the roads were bad. It kept raining, which made it not possible to visit all the churches we were hoping to. One day we even traveled by horse cart to get to a village church. The car we were driving back from a visit got stuck in about a foot of water. It broke down because of this. We had to reschedule the rest of the church visits for the dry season.

One of the most exciting things during the church visits was witnessing the baptism of seven men. Two men were baptized from the first village church I visited. If the man had any charms from the witch doctor or marabou, they would take them off before. A church leader would then explain that we only need Jesus. We trust in nothing else. We would burn the charms after. During another visit many church leaders gathered for the baptisms of four men who decided to follow Jesus. Another man came because they had been sharing with him. He wanted to know more. He told one of the church leaders that he was too sinful. He believed God would not want him. He had done terrible things. I smiled as I heard my translator tell me this because I knew what was coming. I knew the church leader was sharing the hope we have in Jesus. Jesus died for our sins. When we repent and trust in him, we are saved. The man listening wanted Jesus to save him and believed in the Gospel. He then joined the other four men. Together, we went deep into the bush. We found a watering hole where these five men were baptized. For their protection I cannot share their photos, but the picture above is where they were baptized.

Please be in prayer for the Christians being persecuted. During my meetings with the pastors I would ask about the persecution they are facing and how we can pray. I have heard stories of men that get saved and their wife and children are taken away from them. Many new believers are kicked out of their homes and excommunicated from their families. All their clothes and everything they have is burned. This year alone I know of two church leaders whose houses were burned down because they are Christians. Some young women who get saved are then forced to marry Muslim men and are not permitted to attend church. I was told that some women who are married and then become Christian are beaten by their husband. One pastor even shared that his sister tried to poison him when he became a Christian, but God saved his life. Some believers are not allowed to eat with their families. This has a major effect on the individual because all meals are shared from one large bowl, to be excluded from this is very painful and isolating. New believers normally face harder persecution from their families especially once they are baptized. Please commit to praying for these seven men and the other persecuted follower of Jesus.

Thankfully, the rain did not stop us from still having the two-day woman’s conference. About 25 women came, and we had a good time of fellowship and teaching. There would be about a 45-minute time of teaching where I taught on many topics in the Scriptures. Then we had the women break into groups to discuss the teaching. Afterward, one person from each group would share what they had discussed. Then we would go on to the next session of teaching. At the end of each day, we would have time of questions as a large group. This was a great time when many things were being discussed. I am grateful to God for the opportunity to do this women’s conference. He worked out all the details to make it happen. Thank you to everyone that was praying for this.

Right after the women’s conference finished I joined a group of believers doing a kids club ministry. This was their 9th year traveling to different villages every day and playing with the children and sharing Bible stories. In the evening, they would play music and dance with the kids then show a Bible story movie. We would walk around the town and village during the day sharing the Gospel. It was a pleasure getting to serve with them and see how God is using them.

One of the questions I asked every pastor during my church visits was whether their church needed Bibles. The answer is YES! There are 1,500 Bibles needed in seven different languages. Printed and audio Bibles are needed so whether someone can read or not they can have the Word of God. These Bibles will help people learn and grow in their faith through His Word. It costs about $4 for each Bible. This cost includes transportation so we can deliver these Bibles to the people that need them. If you feel led to give, please go to this link and donate. https://pushpay.com/c/898e865adfad4942bad0a3617b337e00/c058AdczH2KdAgkFr53xdw

I do not know of something that has more eternal purpose then the gift of God’s Word.

Jeremiah 15:16 “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.” ESV

The chickens are growing more delicious every day.

Please pray for the new believers and the persecution they are facing. Pray for the women who attended the conference. Pray that God would continue to speak to them. Pray that He would grow their faith. Please pray for those who heard the Gospel through village ministry and kids club. Pray that they will seek God. Pray that He will reveal Himself to them. Lastly, please pray for the need for Bibles to be met. Thank you all so much for your prayers. Grace and peace to you in our Lord Jesus Christ.