Go West Africa Prayer Requests

Prayers For Guinea Answered

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:37:28 -0500

“Thank you so much for your continued prayers for the situation here in Guinea,” writes the Susu Team. “We are rejoicing as we see God’s hand at work here. In January an agreement was signed, paving the way for a transitional government to work toward ‘free and fair’ elections in June 2010. An opposition party leader, who was present and wounded at the rally held back in September, was chosen as the transitional prime minister. People are beginning to be optimistic about the future. Pray that they will see God’s hand at work and humble themselves and turn to Him. Please pray also that as the international community begins to renew and strengthen relations with Guinea, the French government will reopen their school here in Guinea where team members Gregg and Amy’s children had been attending.”

- Susu of Guinea

Applaud God For He Is Good!

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:34:34 -0500

It has been difficult for Lori of the Samogho Team to wait to tell you the answer to her earlier prayer request. She is surprised that you have not heard her shouting and singing for joy in Mali! Your faithfulness to pray for the two women’s groups in her village of K has paid off. W, one of the women in the first group, decided to follow “the Jesus Road” last month. Lori had been noticing a change in how W was responding to God’s Word. W had been asked numerous times if she was ready to follow, both by Lori and by several volunteer teams, but her answer was always a disappointing, “No, I am not ready”--until recently. That day, without hesitation, her response was, “There is power in the Jesus Road, and I am ready to follow it . . . only God . . . only God.” Lori writes: “It was fun to hear her keep saying, ‘Only God.’ For us, that might be simple, but God did not mean for it to be hard. Keep praying for W as she continues to follow ‘only God’ and learns more about what that means. It seems so inadequate just to say thank you for praying for this group. One day W will come up to you in heaven, and she will be able to thank you herself! What a day that will be! Rejoice with us now though; sing and shout and applaud God, for He is good.” http://www.samogho.com/

- Samogho, Western Duun of Mali

Volunteers Coming Alongside Missionaries

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:32:13 -0500

The Northern Sereer Team writes: “God is answering your prayer for churches to partner with us. Last month, a volunteer team on a vision trip from Missouri shared in a village for which you have been praying. Missionary Jason had shared the story of ‘Creation to Christ’ there a few months ago. Afterward, the chief of the village said that the next time we came, he would like for more people from his village to be able to hear the stories. We are thankful for the team from Missouri that sought a place to sow seeds among the Sereer-Safen (see Mark 4). During their visit, the pastor was able to share in this very village the message of salvation through chronological Bible storying. Continue to pray for village T, asking that they will remain open to hearing more stories like those that were shared by this volunteer team. Pray also for the church from Missouri as they follow the path where God leads them to ‘sow the Word’ in Senegal. Pray for them as they seek to find the village or villages in which God wants them to share.”

- Sereer of Senegal

Receptive To The Gospel

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:25:46 -0500

“We asked, and you responded!” writes the Futa Toro Team. “Your prayers truly make a difference. We want to graciously thank you for praying for the women’s volunteer team and their missionary leader. This being their fifth trip to village D, they enjoyed the best health they have ever had here. Thank the Lord that every place they visited either heard the Gospel, a personal testimony, or prayer. They were very well received and established many open contacts for the missionary to follow up on. They were unable to visit with the religious leader because he was ill, but they had a wonderful time of sharing with his wife and daughter, whom we believe are presently seeking the Truth.”

- Fulbe Futa Toro of Senegal

Partnering to Reach the Lost

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:23:45 -0500

Last month, a team representing several churches from an association in eastern Tennessee traveled to Mali on a “vision trip.” They spent some time in a Maninka village along the border, which was very open to hearing stories. Pray for this group of churches, as they are feeling led to invest themselves among the Maninka in this area of Mali. Pray for Village S to remain open, as future teams are already preparing for a return trip in July. maninka@gowestafrica.org; http://www.gowestafrica.org/peoplegroups/maninka/

- Maninka of Mali

Seed Sowing Through Broadcasts

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:21:42 -0500

Only a small percentage of Mandinkas are able to read functionally. In an oral society, radio programs are an effective means of sowing the Gospel. Sedhiou has a new radio station. It reaches a large area in southern Senegal as well as into The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. “Sila Tilindingo” (The Righteous Way) consists of 100 chronological Bible lessons. As people listen to this radio program, please pray for open hearts to receive the Word of God. Pray that lives will be transformed. http://www.mandinkapeople.com/

- Mandinka of Senegal

Answered Prayer in Bozo Village

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:19:39 -0500

“During our last visit to F-village, for which you have been praying, the gentleman who had quietly asked many questions in the privacy of our hut sought us out again,” writes a Bozo Team member. “This time, he boldly came to our group and asked for prayer for healing. He had developed an infection over his eye, resulting in a large cyst. We gently laid hands on this friend and prayed to the Great Physician for healing. The next day, not seeing much of a difference, we offered a ride to the nearest doctor. “No,” he responded. “The prayers of the Christians work. It is already starting to feel better.” Praise the Lord that God is showing His power in amazing ways to this man and that the man is willing to give the glory to our Father!”

- Bozo of Mali

Bringing Gifts To Children and Adults

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:17:10 -0500

Eleven volunteers from two Illinois churches will be coming this month on a mission trip. They will be distributing Operation Christmas Child boxes, prayerwalking, and sharing the Good News. Please pray for the teams, asking that God will keep them all healthy and open doors for them to witness to those they encounter. Pray also for those who are coming here for the first time on a mission trip, asking that the Lord will open their eyes to the lostness and encourage them to be fervent pray-ers and advocates for the Sereer-Sine people.

- Sereer Sine of Senegal

Come Help Us Understand

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:42:36 -0500

As Lori of the Samogho Team began visiting new Duun villages, she remembered that when Jesus sent out His disciples, He told them to go and search out a “person of peace” (Luke 10:6) and stay with them. He instructed them that when they entered the house, they were to give it a blessing. Then, if there was peace, they were to stay and share, but if not, they should shake the dust off their feet and leave. Lori and J, a co-laborer, prayed that God would show them where He was working. They went to five villages. At four of them, they had peace, but at one there was no peace. They agreed that they would shake the dust off their feet for now at that one but continue to share in the remaining four. S is one of those villages. There they found more than peace; they found four men who had been listening to a Gospel radio program for awhile, and one of them was the chief. These men were excited that Lori and J had come to share and help them understand what they had heard. Pray for all these villages. Ask God to bring peace to the one village and to protect the peace of the other four. Pray for the men of village S, asking that their growth and understanding of God’s Word will affect the whole village. http://www.samogho.com/

- Samogho, Western Duun of Mali

An Unexpected Broadcast

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:07:49 -0500

Isaiah 55:11 (NIV) says, “…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” In May 2009, you prayed specifically for those who would hear the Bible stories broadcast on Radio Wassulu. Among many others, one very influential person was drawn to the truths shared over the airways! During the November 2009 visit to the station to renew the contract for the broadcasts, the station director was in town. He asked the Wassulu Team representatives to come into his office for a visit and began sharing how much he had enjoyed the wonderful stories taught from the Bible. These words were coming from a man who follows a world religion! In turn, he said that he would like to do something to help the team’s work and offered to broadcast something live if ever there was an opportunity. Thank God that this man readily agreed to a remote broadcast of the February discipleship seminar for only the cost of the fuel to transport the equipment and run the generator! He also offered free airtime to provide a summary of each day’s teachings. Praise God with the Wassulu Team for working in the heart of this man and for the exciting opportunity to broadcast the seminar’s teachings! Call upon the Lord to continually draw the station director to Christ. wassuluprayeradvocates@gmail.com

- Wassulu of Mali

Relief From Pain

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:04:08 -0500

Missionaries Lee and Donelle Kauffman write: “Thank you for praying for the volunteer dental team that came from North Carolina on Jan. 24. They had a safe arrival in Dakar, Senegal, with all of their luggage and then a safe 10-hour trip by road to our home in Bougoutoub. In eight days of clinics, they treated 243 people with dental needs. Several of these people had been hurting for months with infection in their teeth, to the point of causing facial swelling. Many said they had not slept for days and thanked the dentists and the assistants for the care they received. Each of these people heard God’s Word while waiting to see the dentist, and many stayed to hear more stories. Some even had people traveling with them who also heard God’s Word. Please continue to pray for these people, and ask that God’s Word will touch their hearts in a way that will make them want to hear more about Jesus and even accept Him as their Savior.” http://www.jola-fonyi.org/

- Jola-Fonyi of Senegal

AreYou Afraid?

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:01:34 -0500

“Are you scared of the followers of a world religion from the North?” A Bozo Team member writes: “Slightly stunned by the question, I responded, ‘No, are you?’ As my friend had just finished his washing in preparation for his prayers, he chuckled and said, ‘No.’ Then he became very serious and said, ‘It is bad, the things they do. They cannot be true followers.’ I sat surprised that my friend, being of the same faith as the people in the North, was speaking so negatively about their views and actions. I asked, ‘What is it that they do that is bad?’ He quickly responded, ‘They will kill 40 people because one will not convert. This is not good. People should have a chance to convert based upon listening to preaching from the different faiths, not by force.’ I said, ‘I agree with you.’ As my friend went to join the 8-10 other men who were already kneeling and reciting phrases in the language of their religion, I turned and asked my Malian brother in the faith, ‘Are you afraid?’ He gently smiled, scanned the room with his eyes, and responded, ‘In some ways, yes, but Jesus is worth it.’ As you pray for the Bozo people, remember that although they are allowed legally to become followers of Jesus, there are many forms of persecution that they will encounter, including the threat of loss of life.”

- Bozo of Mali

Obvious Need For Physical Healing

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:54:21 -0500

Jesus went from village to village, and when He sent out the Twelve, He said to them, “Take nothing for the road except a walking stick . . . ,” sending them out two by two” (Mark 6:6-8, HCSB). The Northern Sereer Team writes: “While our main focus in ministry is chronological Bible storying, with the purpose of church planting in Northern Sereer villages, occasionally we come across a need that is so strong that we simply cannot ignore it. Such was the case last month when a volunteer team from South Carolina came across a young girl who had been badly burned in the village. Little Y had been burned months before the team’s visit, but due to a lack of money or resources in her family, was unable to receive the medical care needed to see that her burns were healed. By the time the team found her, the burns on her body were so badly infected that she was fighting to stay alive. Y was brought to a local Baptist hospital and has been under their care for over a month now. She has received a much-needed skin graft and is on her way to healing. During her stay in the hospital, missionaries Jason and Dorothea have been able to share with her and her grandmother the story of true healing found in Jesus. Please pray for the physical healing of 6-year-old Y and for the spiritual healing of her grandmother, F, and the salvation that could extend to her family and Sereer village.”

- Sereer of Senegal

Celebrate With Us

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:47:55 -0500

Give thanks for how the Lord is continuing to bring brothers and sisters, both local and foreign, to work among the Fulakunda in answer to your prayers. “As the local brothers and sisters grow, they are continuing to search for ways to spread the Good News,” writes the Fulakunda Team. “God has blessed us with new people on our team, as some previous members have moved to another region or have finished their term of service. We are excited to see how He will use this body of believers to reach many in the coming months. Thanks for your prayers and celebration with us!"

- Fulakunda of Senegal

What Do I Do Now?

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:45:26 -0500

Week after week, Bambara Team members Shirley and LaVerne head out to village BA. There is a group of approximately fifteen believers there. While these believers know that they follow “the Jesus Road” and what that means, they don’t know much more about their faith. So, equipped with a story from God’s Word, Shirley and LaVerne go out to teach these young believers more about their faith--things like how to pray, how to worship God, essentials of being a follower of the Jesus Road. Please lift up this group of believers. Ask God to help them grow in their relationship with Him and to give them the courage to share their faith with those around them. Pray for the other villagers in village BA, asking that they, too, will come to follow the Jesus Road. Shirley and LaVerne asked the chief for a house to stay in while they are there. Praise God, a house has been given to them but needs some work. Pray that the work will be done in a timely manner so that they may go and stay longer, especially before the planting season begins. http://www.gobambara.org/

- Bambara of Mali

Pray For Discernment

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:41:42 -0500

Please pray for Susu Team members Paulo and Keelan as they continue to reach out to the villages in their region. They are meeting with seekers in several different places, and holding Sunday services in a believer’s compound in one of the villages. Pray that those who are seeking the Truth will hear and have the courage to believe. Ask for discernment for Paulo and Keelan as they share God’s Word in these places. Keelan is a journeyman who arrived on the field last fall. Please pray that his grasp of the Susu language and culture will continue to grow. Pray for health and encouragement for him.

- Susu of Guinea

In All These Years--No One Has Come

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:38:13 -0500

During a recent research trip, a small people group called the BangeriMe was found embedded deep inside a remote escarpment in central Mali. Communication with them was difficult, because their dialect is much different from all other surrounding Dogon dialects. However, God provided a translator. The chief said, “This village is 1,000 years old, and we have never known anyone to come here just to share stories.” They have never heard of the Bible or the name Jesus. Please ask the Lord to send storytellers to the BangeriMe so that they can learn about and follow Jesus. http://www.imbafrica.org/engagingchurch/

Becoming Disciples of Christ

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:34:05 -0500

“First Baptist Church of Bainbridge, Ga., asks prayer for our team members. Pray that they will be guided by the Father and given safety and health as they enter and work among our people group in Mali. Pray for the new believers we will disciple in one village and for the opportunities to share in new villages.” http://www.imbafrica.org/engagingchurch/

- Multiple People Groups of Mali

Nothing But The Blood

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:30:33 -0500

“Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” A member of the Oral Peoples Strategy Konyanke Team asks: “How many times have you heard that phrase? Has the Gospel ever lost its wonder for you? Here in my town and village, most people have never heard this Good News, and that is why our team is here. Currently our story work is progressing. We have five Old Testament stories in the works. The Old Testament stories show how God required the blood of animal sacrifices in order to forgive His people. This foreshadows Jesus’ death on the cross, which makes it possible to be made right with God (our metaphor for this idea is ‘being on God’s path’). Whoever would have thought that I would be so thankful for a bloody Gospel? Join me in praying this year that the Konyanke people of Guinea, West Africa, can know the way of salvation through Jesus Christ.”

- Konyanke of Guinea

Understanding the Word of God

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:27:49 -0500

The Wolof people say that ultimate power and authority comes from God. However, they also say that the spirits have power. “Marabouts” (religious leaders) are believed to have supernatural power as prophets and the ability to help solve problems. These religious teachers have authority because of their religious knowledge. The Quran, Haddith and writings of their local marabouts are the primary documents of the religion. The reading of the actual words of these books (even without understanding) is thought to have power. Many people own Arabic books, and some can read them but cannot understand what they are reading. Pray that the Wolof will know the power and authority that resides in the Word of Almighty God. Pray that many will accept a copy of the Bible and that their lives will change as God’s Word explains to them how to have a relationship with Him.

- Wolof of Senegal