When the Ground Breaks

I suppose this is what it looks like when the ground breaks. After years of sowing seeds and watering, something remarkable is beginning to take place among the Wassulu in Mali.

Twenty-four years ago our friend Moses was the first Wassulu in his area of Mali to become a Christian. His village and family felt so much shame that they tried to kill him for 20 years. He finally fled to the United States. Since my wife Nichole and I moved to New York City and met Moses, we have been praying with him that a church would be established in his village. Recently, members from an Engaging Church* in Georgia, along with Malian believers, went to Moses' village and shared a Gospel video presentation. Later, Nichole and I, along with a Malian missionary and another Wassulu believer, shared the Gospel with approximately 125 people in Moses' village. Another team from Georgia, along with Malian believers, returned to the area for follow-up. In short, 24 years of perseverance have culminated in at least four new believers in this village that has been hostile to the Gospel for so long. Among these new believers are Moses' own brother and cousin. Pray that a church will be established in this village and that these new believers will grow strong and confident in their faith.

The Georgia team also reported that 36 people attended intense discipleship meetings in the Wassulu village where I used to live. Pray for the village chief and others who believe that the "Jesus path" is the true way, but are afraid of persecution from others. Pray that a church planting movement will start in this village and spread throughout the Wassulu.

Paul,** a man who attended the discipleship meeting, insisted that the Georgia team visit his village nearby. Upon arrival, they were greeted by an 81-year-old man (the oldest man in his village) that Paul** had visited occasionally. The man said, "Just last night I had a dream that four white people were going to visit me. I heard the phrase 'What was lost is now found.' Can you explain the meaning of this to me?" Our team member Jerry shared the story of the prodigal son, and the man was elated when he heard the words, "What was lost is now found." "It is just like my dream," the man said, and he announced that he wanted to follow Christ that day! Pray that God will continue to work among the Wassulu, revealing His power and His desire for them to "be found."

Events like these continue to affirm that our presence in New York is opening up new doors in West Africa.

Chris Clayman
(Chris and Nichole Clayman are Church Planting Catalysts with the North American Mission Board in New York City. Chris is a former IMB journeyman to Mali.)
 

*An Engaging Church is committed to evangelism, discipleship, and church planting among a people group with little or no access to the Gospel.

**Name changed for security reasons