An Update

Names in a couple of places have been changed just as a precaution. This is from some people I know.

June 24, 2008
 
The 50 plus kids showed up at least an hour early for Kids’ Club, the weekly Bible story and play time for the neighborhood kids at Keru Naan (House of Prayer). These children are all Mu$1*m and it’s a miracle that their parents still allow them to come to hear Bible stories every Wednesday. In fact, this past Wednesday our friend asked the kids “Who are you?” She was hoping for a different answer, but in unison they all responded, “We’re Mu$!*ms!” It was time to sing praise songs and some of the children that had been coming since last September began singing enthusiastically: “Sant Yalla, Sant Yalla, Sant Yalla, Yeesu Krist a dekki na.”  (Praise God, praise God, praise God, Jesus Christ is risen.) One little guy looked up at me with big brown eyes and the seriousness of life itself and asked, “Jesus Christ is risen?” Not realizing at the time that he was new, I responded, “Yes. Have you never heard that?” He shook his head.
 
I stood for a minute reflecting on the significance of that short dialogue. It reminded me of the more than 300 people groups in West Africa alone that have no witness and have never heard the name of Jesus; no one to tell them that Jesus died for them or that He is risen.
 
But thanks be to God because…
 
we received word today that there are several churches in Texas and Arkansas that are ready to take on this challenge! God is using churches in unprecedented ways to reach the lost of West Africa. They are not depending on the missionary to do the job; they are responding to God’s call to take the message to the world that Jesus Christ is risen!
 
Pray for the churches that have heard and responded to the call that God would show them the ministry opportunities that He has for each of them in …