Unlocking the
Gospel Door
With the
Key of Medicine
May 2009
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Unlocking the Gospel Door With the Key of Medicine |
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May 2009 |
Long Haul
The Christian villagers at Yauiri were glad to see us return. However, the
leader stated that because we had not come in November, many of them thought
that we were not going through with the project as we had promised. How true it
is that Our Word is Our Honor. For the scriptures admonish us, that if we open
our mouths unto the Lord, we must do that which we have said. I have recounted
before how we were told early in this ministry by the leaders of one village
that we were the only missionaries that had come back when we said we would!
What an indictment against the body of Christ!! We must not get caught up in the
emotion of the moment, but walk as we are led by the Holy Ghost. We are here for
the long haul. Others may become discouraged because they do not see results and
growth quick enough to suit their American microwave mentality. However, God did
not give us a time table, just a Vision, with a Plan to fulfill it, and Goals to
accomplish the Plan. I believe that the results of our steadfastness in
ministering regularly and faithfully these past 13 years is evident in the
relationships that have been built with the villagers and their leaders. That is
why we have Muslim Chiefs today saying they will argue our case for us because
they want for their villages what we are offering! Praise God!!
Pray Without Ceasing
The last word out of Nigeria, from the team there, is that the chiefs are still
planning to have meetings with the politicians. However, as of this writing that
has not happened. So again we urge you to continue with us and "pray without
ceasing" for God's will to be done and approval to be given by the politicians
for the project to go forward. We were told by the chief in Bazamri that once we
are have this approval, he would give us a written document transferring
ownership of the land to us. This would make it legal and binding and much more
difficult for someone on a whim to just take it back. Therefore, we have started
a monthly day of fasting and prayer with our Nigerian team members as a way of
staying connected and focused on our vision. We welcome you to join us every
third Monday of the
month as we pray and fast together with our Nigerian brethren for the work that
God has called us together for.
Normal Tension
As you may remember from previous letters, there were riots in Jos last year at
Thanksgiving. The Muslims went on an organized, orchestrated campaign of killing
and burning of Christians and their homes and businesses and properties. The
results of this destruction were still much in evidence as we drove through
parts of the city where most of the rioting took place. The burned out shells of
Christian's homes, churches, businesses and vehicles was visibly apparent. Upon
arriving in Jos, I was told by the brethren that the mood there was one of
"normal tension." This "normal tension" escalated out of control in the city of
Bauchi the day after I left there after preaching during my first week
in-country.
Bauchi Deliverance
Bauchi is the Capital of Bauchi State just 70 miles east of Jos. In fact, during
the Jos riots of November, several hundred Muslim youths from Bauchi were
arrested in Jos for contributing to the violence. Again in February, churches
and Christian's homes were targeted with several killed in 2 days of rioting by
Muslim youths. It all started over Muslims from a Mosque using the parking lot
of a neighboring church for their prayers. However, one of the Praise Reports
that came out of this violence was the story of a Christian and Muslim
neighborhood where the two sides united against the mob on the street. They
defended their neighborhood together turning away the rioters bent on destroying
the homes of the Christians!! I returned to Bauchi two weeks after these riots
to minister and found the city back to a state of "normal tension." Once again,
however, the burned out shells of homes and churches were evidence of the chaos
and destruction that had taken place. Truly, Nigeria needs our prayers to hold
up the Christians there and to tear down the strongholds of Satan "that seeks
not but to steal, kill and destroy."
Your Servants In Christ,
Larry - Sarah