A team member wrote: A young believer “H” and I ate together. I mostly listened. He talked on and on of his recent journey to faith in Christ. Disillusioned with family and his religion, he was ripe for change when one night he dreamt of visiting church. In his dream, he met friendly, caring people. […]
Region: Africa
Of whom shall I be afraid?
A team member reports: Today is a historical day here. Millions are taking to the streets to express their views. There is a sense of excitement and hope in the air as many anticipate drastic changes in the coming days. However, there are also tensions and clashes between the groups of differing opinions. Meanwhile, we […]
Wouldn’t trade
A new team member: WOW! What a ride it’s been so far. I can’t describe how hard this life is, by far the hardest and most mentally trying time in my life. Struggling to find my place in the culture, I compare this first year to the first year of marriage. Everything is up in […]
Nothing but Jesus
A team leader remembers: I met Z for the first time as he pulled into the compound on his small, old and rickety motorcycle. My first impression of him was hardly complimentary. I thought he was a poor, uneducated and naive man. In addition, I was disappointed in his performance in the water filter program. […]
sobered but joyful
A team member writes from East Africa: While a bit unsettling at times, we truly believe we have the best job on earth. This is difficult for many to understand especially when our children are involved. We must have a clear understanding of Scripture as we assess the times and our work in foreign lands. […]
Then we will be free
A team leader’s friend, Nik Ripken, from his book “The Insanity of God” The security police regularly harass a believer who owns the property where a house-church meets. The police say, “You have got to stop these meetings! If you do not stop these meetings, we will confiscate your house, and we will throw you […]
First spend time with me
From a team member: Since arriving in Africa, these 7 months have been full of learning experiences. We’ve learned to pray, find scriptures, introduce family and shop…all in a new language! A few embarrassing moments have come with the new language. I’ve introduced my ‘wife’ as my ‘rear’, and paid 30 thousand when it should […]
Curses, spit…and smiles
Team members write: We often walk or drive through our neighborhood, a short trip but an emotional marathon. Crowds of dusty children, small adoring fans, race to catch a glimpse of our “white” skin and call our names as we bounce past. For a moment we are Christ’s celebrities. Then come curses, spit and rocks. […]
Hate is all they know
From a team member: In the past three months, I have been a part of four distributions of food and shelter material to people in need. Three of these distributions ended in gunshots and violence. Friends of ours have been jailed because of their faith and the opposition is fervently sharing their anti-Christian messages. Living […]
Suffering, expected and normal
From a team leader: Many of our former co-workers were interrogated, some arrested and imprisoned. National believers fared worse, facing pressure from families, loss of jobs, cultural ostracism, and even violence. My former supervisor, a national, was imprisoned and beaten before being deported. He was later hospitalized for head and internal organ damage. Make no […]
