PRAYERWALKERS
More Prayerwalking Stories from West Africa

The American women volunteers accompanied me as we prayerwalked through my village. One man led us into his courtyard and showed us his toddler grandson who had fallen into the fire. The baby's stomach was an open mass of flesh from the severe burn. We prayed for him in Jesus' name, but I must admit my faith was small. My husband and I traveled away from our village for a while, so it was some time before I returned to that courtyard. When I saw the little boy again, he was completely healed, with very little scarring. I must admit I was very surprised, but the grandfather was not. "You prayed in Jesus' name," he said, "and my grandson was healed." That began a relationship that culminated in the opportunity to do Chronological Bible Storying in that courtyard. Today, the grandfather and grandmother as well as the boy's father are all believers.

LaNette W. Thompson - Field Strategy Leader Team

Jula team members felt God calling them to begin a ministry in a very strategic Jula village, yet the doors were not opening to build relationships there. The Jula prayer team began praying for an opening to this village. One day, as a Jula team member was visiting with one of her Jula friends, the friend mentioned that many of her relatives lived in this village. Plans were made for an upcoming prayerwalk team to go to this village. Before going to the village, the prayerwalk team met together and asked the Father to open the door for a witness there. After prayerwalking throughout the village, asking God to pour out His blessings in that dark place, the prayerwalk team and Jula team members sat down to visit with the village elders. The prayerwalk team began praying expectantly while Jula team members talked with the elders. During the course of the conversation, one team member explained that several of those on the team were in the process of learning the Jula language and culture. One of the old men instantly replied, "They need to come and live with us here so that we can help them learn!" Praise God that as a result of the prayers of this prayerwalk team, there is now a Christian presence in that village!

Diane Pace -  Jula (JOO-luh) Team

In southeastern Senegal, after locating a village of a people group who has never heard the gospel, a volunteer team was given a tour of the village. One of the stops on the tour was a "spiritual forest" where the women of the village invoke spirits to remove demons and evil spirits from people and their homes. Denied the opportunity to prayerwalk this "forest," the volunteers plan to return next time to prayerwalk this area and declare it for God. Pray that the stronghold of fear that Satan has on this area will be removed and that many of these villagers will be open to hearing about the Spirit of Truth.

Greg Queen - Engagement Team

Five volunteers (2 men and 3 women) came to Burkina Faso from Arkansas in February when the weather was cooler. Joining IMB missionaries and Christian Bissa men, they divided into three teams. Each day the teams would prayerwalk in different courtyards in the morning and again in the afternoon; one of the Bissa men would lead out as we visited with the people in the courtyard. No one refused our request to pray for them, even though we knew some of them were Muslims. Often they asked us to pray for family and everyday events - a lost cow, sickness, new babies, etc. We encouraged questions and interaction as time permitted. It was a wonderful experience for all of us. The volunteers were able to see our Bissa people in their natural environment rather than at a planned event. The Bissa people sensed the warmth and concern that the American Christians felt for them. The Bissa Christians who participated in these prayerwalks experienced much spiritual growth during that week as they translated and heard the needs of their people. Several people visited our church the next Sunday, and one young man has become a Christian since that time.

Elsie McCall -  Bissa (BEE-sah) Team