Greetings again from Mali, West Africa!

Some of our friends and faithful supporters have been wondering if all was well with us, since we missed sending a newsletter this past quarter. We are doing fine and are so grateful for your prayers and partnership as we minister in this predominantly Muslim land.

So much has happened that we are struggling with a mountain of information to share in this report. Here are some of the highlights:

Our Teaching Ministry
The task of equipping national ministers and Christian workers has taken us beyond Mali’s borders to other African countries and beyond, even to far away places such as the Philippines. Part of our teaching ministry involves work through the new ICI-Global University center which Linda has launched in Bamako.

Follow Up On Timbuktu
The construction team from Oak Grove Assembly of God (Springfield, Missouri) has put up the first classroom building of the very first Christian school in the Muslim stronghold of Timbuktu. We also thank God for new believers like Gheli (pictured below at left) and Muhammad (pictured below at right). Gheli has recently announced to his family and clan that he has become a follower of `Issa (Jesus) al-Massih (the Messiah). Please pray for Muhammad and others who are faithful, but still secret believers.

Five New Churches Established!
Praise the Lord for vibrant new works in Koury near the border of Mali and Burkina, in the eastern town of San, and for a second church in Sikasso. We also have pioneer works in the villages of Blajé and Heramakono.

Ongoing Projects
Thank God for the college team of six from Neighborhood Church of Castro Valley, California, and for construction volunteer Dale Chastek from Bemidji, Minnesota. Together we put in foundations for the churches in Koulikoro and Garalo, erected the pre-fab church building in Segou, and built trusses and frames for the two churches in Bamako. When such volunteers come, they not only minister and model missionary commitment, but they do in a few weeks what would take us months to achieve on our own. This frees us to focus on evangelism, teaching, and discipling. Praise the Lord!

Relief Work
We believe that our service and worship to the Lord in this Muslim land must extend to issues of justice and care for the poor whenever possible:

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Isaiah 58:6-8 (NIV)

We thank God for the privilege of distributing food (above) and medicine in famine areas and in prisons, and we pray that you will continue to help us with the needed funds for next year.

In the grip of His grace,

David (Faouzi) and Linda Arzouni