Timbuktu
It is a joy to tell you about our work at the “Ends of the Earth” — in Timbuktu! The Lord is doing great things in this famous and mysterious city which in the past has murdered many Christians and still persecutes believers today. It is just amazing to realize that here, at the edge of the Sahara Desert, in one of the most Islamic and hostile environments in the world, the Church stands and souls are being saved no matter what the risks are. Praise the Lord for the two growing evangelical communities there, the Assemblies of God and the Baptists. Our French colleagues pioneered our work in Timbuktu a little over three years ago, and now at least 25 adult believers, and also many children, attend regularly. It was my privilege to meet some real trophies of grace, and I would like to tell you about them ...
Sidi al-Wafi Ag-Issa Cissé
Sidi al-Wafi Ag-Issa Cissé is the son of a well-known Muslim cleric in Timbuktu. When it was learned that he had accepted Jesus Christ as his savior in 1998, his family persecuted him publicly. He was beaten and then tied up and exposed on the main street of Timbuktu for three days without water or food in order to make him recant. When he was released he headed straight for the church to worship. This happened three different times, but Sidi held firm.
Finally, a mob of more than a thousand people, led by Sidi’s own brother, took to the streets of Timbuktu shouting Islamic slogans, burned tires to protest against all Christians within the city, and then headed to the Assembly of God church to burn it along with Sidi’s spiritual leader, Pastor Mohammed Ag-Mossa Yattara (pictured to the left of Faouzi). God delivered them in that the Malian army unexpectedly felt compelled to intervene. Three years later, Sidi is still serving the Lord, and the church is growing!
Mohammed Ag-Tangaw
Mohammed Ag-Tangaw became insane — some say it was due to sorcery. He was unkempt, totally incoherent, and often violent. There were brief moments of lucidity, and these seemed to always coincide with encounters he had with Pastor Yattara. One day he came to the pastor’s home and to everyone’s amazement he asked for prayer. This was the start of a spiritual journey that led him to Christ and to a restored mind! He is one of seven such insane people who have been strangely attracted to the community of believers in Timbuktu. Thus far two have been saved and healed. We are praying for the others.
Zayda
Zayda’s life was shattered when she discovered that her 14 year old daughter had been raped by the girl’s own father ... Zayda had a nervous breakdown and ultimately became insane. For over a year she wandered aimlessly in the desert around Timbuktu. God’s grace reached her in that dark place with the love of Christ. Her life has been transformed! Praise the Lord! She and the other church women helped in the construction of the new “Tabernacle” church.
Issa Ag Muhammad-Diko
The Gospel came to Issa Ag Muhammad-Diko through his radio on a hot July morning last year ... “That Christian talk,” as his Muslim friends would say, got into his mind and into his heart. So he walked 15 miles to Timbuktu to talk to pastor Yattara ... Issa (his name means “Jesus”) had a life-changing encounter with Christ. He still faithfully makes that 15 miles trek to be in church every Sunday!
Zaynabou
Zaynabou heard that when the Christians of Timbuktu pray, God hears and answers them ... and she needed a miracle. Her promiscuous life had left her sick with a swollen body, an ulcerated leg, and unable to walk ... So this “Samaritan woman” encountered Christ and was totally delivered! In spite of persecution she has been boldly witnessing to the people of her past about the Gospel’s power to transform anyone!
Please Pray For The Unreached Tamasheks
The trip to Timbuktu with the construction team from Oak Grove Assembly of God (Springfield, Missouri) was an unforgettable experience. The crossing of the desert between Douentza and Timbuktu is the hardest trek I have ever undertaken anywhere in Africa. On the way to “the ends of the earth” we took time to greet caravans of Tamashek Moors (desert people) traveling on camels, most of them with slaves who walked behind herds of donkeys laden with wood, rock salt, millet, and other commodities. These “Photo Ops” soon turned to opportunities of ministry, as we shared our news and our water, gave medicine for various ills, and invited both masters and slaves to join us in prayer to “Issa al-Massih” (Jesus the Messiah) for healing. We know that the Holy Spirit planted a good seed in their hearts, and we trust Him to make it grow.
Pray For Hamadoun and Hawa
Pray for Hamadoun (we are not free to give his full name), who was converted to Christ while he was an informer sent by his Muslim leaders to spy on our church in Timbuktu. Due to severe persecution we sent him off to another town. Pray for Hawa (not her real name), an elite Tuareg lady in Timbuktu who has expressed her desire to follow Christ secretly. She stands to lose everything on the day she decides to follow Him openly.
Praise God For The New “Tabernacle” Church In Timbuktu!
Please pray with us for the Oak Grove Assembly of God team that will return to Mali in January 2002 to build the first ever Christian school in Timbuktu!
We thank you for standing with us and your spiritual brothers and sisters in Timbuktu and throughout Mali by praying, giving, and sending!
David (Faouzi) & Linda Arzouni
Posted on Jan 16, 2006 
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