The Necessity for Abundant Living

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Where there is no vision the people perish . . . (Pr.29 :18)

We’re not talkin’ some dynamic human inspiration (Claude Mariottini), nor some dream by which one man engages others (Tim Challies). The Hebrew proverb shares a well known experience of history. When God’s Word is incorrectly interpreted for a given reality, people die. The inverse is also true. When God’s Word is rightly perceived, the obedient live in abundance (Ps.111.10; Pr.19.23; Pr.22:4; Jn.10:10).

A typical West African calendar change canceled last weekend’s planned church visit and so begin to demonstrate this truth one more time . . . no make that seven more times  . . . and counting!

The cancellation of a weekend preaching trip this month allowed Verlin to follow-up a prior weekend visit of two years ago and participate in a local evangelization campaign. Seven professions of faith were made those first two days while he participated. In this fourth effort to re-launch a work that was most recently slowed by the separation of a pastor and his wife, a youth evangelization team and several pastors coordinated for the effort. One of the converts saved during the visitation of Verlin and a CHE trained pastor was a woman who stated she anticipated our visit by a dream the Lord gave the week prior. She and we now pray for another of whom she has dreamed will be converted. The new Christian sister describes herself as ‘warmly content in her innermost being’ after professing Christ. She was to testify of the Lord to her earthly brother Friday evening. He’s a businessman, a reseller of medications, almost persuaded during a visit as God spoke to him through Verlin’s testimony of Godly love preferring that we choose obedience rather than be forced into it. However, he had yet to hear his sister’s witness of being transformed prior to the Verlin’s return to Bondoukou. The brother and sister have together resisted the call of God’s Spirit for many years.

The missionary presence gave an added focus for the aged adult leader of the church, the team, and the pastor. The review of previously shared CHE principles let adult participants focus on the evangelization of adult businessmen and community leaders who reside long term in the town, rather than the oft’ targeted transient government employees who tend to be already converted. Islamic Mauritanians even accepted a ‘tea time’ together during which we discussed local business and common beliefs compatible with Jesus’ teachings and life in contrast with certain offensive Roman doctrines. The door seems to have opened for future evangelization with them. Other contacts contributed to the cause, funding parts of the evangelization effort; some promised support to show up for the pastor during the evening film service. They choose to bless our church which does not preach “on-demand” miracles from God, but Divinely guided human interventions that bring abundant life. Two adults and several youth made professions of faith during the door-to-door, market day visits; children heard creation stories. Pray for the continuing follow-up. Twelve new persons attended church Sunday. Verlin expects a follow-up visit with the pastor in Bondoukou in late May or early June to examine a way to increase local funding for building on church purchased land.

The linked video is one of several provided by Pastor Yao Kobenan Gboko of the Gouméré Free Will Baptist church using a camera he purchased with increasing income . . . a testimony to God’s Way of developing life here. Sharing neem and papaya leaf tea preparations once again opened ears to hear the gospel of how Immanuel, God’s Word of Salvation, the Christ, saves men who, by believing in his Divine self-sacrifice and resurrection, receive His enabling Holy Spirit teaching men to correctly manage the creation and understand His Bible for living with Him. Kobenan’s church begins a second this year while his household size has doubled.Where God is, life springs eternal; where God’s people get a vision from His WORD, people get saved . . . they live rightly (Ro.8:4) . . . happy is he who keeps the law (Pr.29.18), whose society is transformed (1Kg.2:3).

PRAYER & PRAISE POINTS:

1. Pray for the follow-up of new believers and the increase of attendance to surpass the twelve gained for worship at the conclusion of the evangelistic campaign.
2. Debbie and Corbin started their English class February 13. Pray for relationship evangelism development between the Christians and non-believers studying together.
3. Verlin visits Appimadoum for a 3-day preaching weekend February 22 -24 with one of our elder pastors. Pray the pastor’s efforts are successful to lovingly confront those responsible for a loss of his church donated retirement funds not in bitterness; that no sin dominate during the needed corrections.
4. An Ordination Committee meeting will be held in Bondoukou. Pray for that meeting. Sometimes issues are very sensitive. A candidate for ordination is expected to be examined at this time.
5. The Education Committee meets in Abidjan. These are usually all-day affairs. The committee’s oversight responsibilities are like a combination our denomination’s Randall House and Bible College boards. For the first time, the committee has hired an outside auditor to review the financial books. The FWB National Committee plan also to have their books examined. Praise the Lord for this advance in accountability.
6. Our return home to Bondoukou in January went well. We immediately began receiving Ivorians into our home as guests for 3 weeks, and the Lord gave strength to do it with joy and grace. The family experience in the Pixar movie, The Incredibles, reflects our experience; it will probably be three years before all is unpacked once again.