Lost People Seeking, Found People Transformed

Thank you for being our partners in the Lord’s harvest in Mali!  As we report to you, we are reminded again that the work is about lost people seeking, and about found people being transformed, even in this Islamic context.  Please consider the following:

Sidik
For two years Sidik resisted the Gospel witness, especially our insistence that “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” His Islamic upbringing would not allow him to believe that Issa Al-Massih (Jesus) is the only way.

Believers kept him on their prayer list.  In June of this year a single persistent thought kept him awake at night: “No other Name, No other Name!” He came to our church in Kouri, and, convicted of his sinfulness and of the grace of God in Christ, he gave his life to the Lord.  The next day he came back with a bag full of Islamic baraka objects (amulets for protection, power, and blessing) and had them all burned.

The Church Is Alive In Timbuktu!

Dear Friends,

As we write these words, at least 15 heads of state are gathering in the city of Timbuktu, Mali, to celebrate the birthday of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam.  This highly publicized event has been sponsored by Ghadaffi, the president of Lybia.  He is personally leading this remarkable group of African leaders as part of his efforts to promote “a purer and greater Islam” on the continent.

Timbuktu is considered an “Islamic holy city” not only in Mali, but throughout West Africa.  Historically, it was the entrance point of Islam into all of West Africa.  It has been known for its resistance to outsiders and to the Gospel, and it has been a place of persecution of Christians from time to time.  And yet, the Church is alive in Timbuktu! It is a suffering church, but it remains triumphant.

On Our Way Back To Mali

Dear Friends,

We are on our way back to Bamako, Mali! God willing, on August 14th, we will fly back for our sixth term of service among the Muslims of West Africa.

This has been a long and arduous furlough. We wondered if we’d ever be able to raise our substantially increased budget (up 32% due mostly to the weakness of the dollar overseas), but the Lord has given us favor in your eyes and has helped us raise the necessary funds. We do regret two things: (1) the fact that we were unable to visit and report to some of our longstanding and faithful supporting churches; (2) the fact that our six month extension to pursue our graduate studies was practically swallowed up in travel and fund raising. But we are so grateful for the ministry opportunities and for the time spent with family and friends. We are excited about getting back to the land of our calling. Thank you so much for making it possible!

Latest Furlough News

Dear Friends,

It’s hard to believe that ten months have already gone by since we came home for furlough and deputation. We have so deeply enjoyed visiting churches, friends, and family. What a privilege to be your partners in the cause of Christ and Missions!

Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land
Proverbs 25:25

We rejoice for the continued growth in the work among the Muslims of Mali. Our colleagues, Rick and Elaine Caswell, have encouraged us with these recent events:

• A new church has been planted in the city of Kayes. This is our first work among the Malinkés, an unreached people group in the western part of Mali.

• In spite of efforts by opposing Muslim imams (religious leaders) in the city of Timbuktu, we were able to secure our deed to the Christian school property which had been donated to us by the local government there. The first classroom building (a modified ‘tabernacle’ pre-fab structure) is finished. This school is strategic to our outreach among the Tamasheks. This desert tribe is the main unreached people group of northern Mali.

• The youth camps held in July were particularly blessed. A substantial number of young people were baptized in the Holy Spirit, and some have responded to God’s call to full-time ministry.

• $20,000.00 were received from the World Assemblies of God Relief Association for famine relief in Mali. Praise the Lord! This is timely, because of the invasion of locusts that has decimated so much of this year’s harvest in this already very poor nation.

End Of Term 2003

Warm Christian greetings from Bamako, Mali, West Africa!

We are already in the middle of our 4th year of this term! Here’s what’s been happening these last few months. Actually, there’s little that you can call routine about our particular missionary lifestyle, except maybe sunrise, sunset, and Sundays. It is true that David (Faouzi) preaches regularly, and Linda meets every week with her Global University students and with various Malian Assemblies of God women’s groups. Otherwise, the rest of our time seems to be a kaleidoscope of special events. Through it all, the Great Commission is being fulfilled as more Malians are being trained and strengthened to reach the lost.

In January, David held a seminar with the churches in the Koro region on “Stewardship.” From there we flew to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, to a conference promoting a West African missions movement into North African closed countries. Later, David also held a “Ministry to Muslims” seminar in Kayes. As a result of a renewed concern for Muslims, we are believing God for a greater harvest in that tough region. Hospitality — be it a cold Coke or a week’s stay — is an integral part of our ministry, woven through everything we do. So, we housed an AG Costa Rican missionary family of 6 for the month.