Dear pray-ers,
Mwani girl in Mocimboa-da-Praia
We are hearing so much exciting news from workers among the Mwani at this time. Thank you for your faithful prayers; 30 years of hard work, planting, praying and interceding is beginning to see its fruit. For this update we have encouraging reports from Radio Nuru and also from the team working in Mocimboa-da-Praia.
Radio Nuru News:
The Spirit of God is at work in the hearts of our listeners! (see comments below) If I want to be “moved” in my spirit, I need only to go into the studio when Muchante is on the air during his special 15 minute segment of “Questions and Answers for Brother Muchante.” When I help him field the text messages and phone calls and listen to his on-air responses to people, I just want to jump and dance around the studio or cry tears of joy…that is… right after all the hairs on my arms settle back down after standing up on end!
Aside from these times, the other moments that give me feelings of utter joy and fulfilment are when we are able to create new “studies” on Biblical truth, appropriate for Muslim seekers, using passages of God’s Word in Kimwani and then mix them with relevant, practical advice and music, seeing it all come together in an irresistible way! It is most gratifying, and I love the fact that people’s souls are “delighting on the richest of fare as they listen and eat what is good!” Truly, God’s Words are delicious, and THAT is what people are discovering now!All last week, we ran a daily special program on peponi (heaven) in place of the normal chronological Bible lesson time! The previous month, we ran a special study on hell, and people couldn’t get enough of it. Just yesterday, since we just finished the translation, recording, and editing of our new study on sin, we have placed that in a special slot for the week. But guess what? We will already be interrupting the new study to go back to a specific selection in the chronological stories to run a repeat on Nicodemus in the Gospel of John, chapter 3. Why? Because folks are calling, texting, or writing in (we sell little papers at six locations, 3 in Macomia, and 3 in outlying villages, on which people can send their greetings or messages to one another. The radio is a great way for family members to communicate, especially when they live at great distances where there is no cell coverage.)…..asking:
“To be good, what must I do?” - Man from Bairro Changane
“I want to know how I can be saved?”- Professor from local primary school
“I want to know how I can know God?” - Mwanlimu (Imam) from local mosque
“I want to send greetings and thanks to everyone who works at Radio NURU.” - Man from island of Ibo
“I beg the BIG favor of asking for the people who work at Radio NURU to come and visit me soon.” - Man from Makonde village
We at Radio NURU are being bombarded with questions, not just over the air, but also in person, by acquaintances and neighbors. Pray for Abdul and Muchante specifically. Pray for their testimonies and that their light will shine!
News from the Mocimboa Team:
Mwani Baptisms!
The first public baptism of Mwani believers from our group happened recently! (See photo on right). On the big day 12 of us (including representatives from all 3 churches with whom we have placed our cross-cultural workers) piled into a truck at 5 AM for the 10 mile drive out. It was a beautiful service of singing, praying, and preaching the meaning of baptism. The only mishap occurred when the “baptizer” lost his footing and started going downstream after dunking Kumba (it is now rainy season and the stream was rushing). But we are so proud of Kumba and Momade (an older Momade, not the Momade you have prayed for) for making this stand of faith. Do pray for them as they continue to grow in the Lord!
“The Hope” movie, in Kimwani, is finally in our hands! After a LONG process of translation, recording, editing, praying, paying, and waiting, we are thrilled to have this ministry tool. You may be acquainted with “The Jesus Film.” Well, this movie, “The Hope” is similar, only it begins in Genesis and gives an overview of the whole Bible story, focusing on the redemptive threads throughout. We had the privilege of showing it just yesterday to the 73 prisoners down at the local prison here–with whom we have been telling the chronological Bible stories.
Spiritual oppression, spiritual opportunities! In the past 3 weeks we’ve seen 3 unique situations….First, a Muslim lady from another village (with no church presence) presents herself to our church on Sunday. She is sick and has tried all the traditional means of witch doctors, amulets, etc…. In a last gasp effort, would our church please pray for her? Over the next week our ever-more prosperous church heads out to the village on their 3 tiny motorcycles, carrying 6 of our leaders, and begin to pray and teach in the lady’s home. She has accepted Christ, her family seems very open, and there seems to be a beach head into this village!
Secondly, and remarkably similarly, you might remember the village north of us which supernaturally sprung up through a unique set of circumstances involving elephants and headaches. Once again, Satan has oppressed a young lady with demons to the point where her stomach pains only allow her to eat candy and drink tea (this sounds bizarre to us Westerners, but these are real symptoms recognized by all as coming from the evil one). After receiving Christ and publicly burning her amulets and charms, this lady is also healed!
Thirdly, please could you pray for a close friendship forged by one of our team members, Ana. Her friend’s husband suffers from a recurring demon who comes in the night demanding he wash himself consecutively for 7 days with water and a special plant from the forest. He demands that he wear certain colored clothes and put on weapons of knives and machete underneath. Well, this couple is tired of the constant oppression, and have asked for a meeting with men from our team. When Ana quickly agreed, they wanted to know how much it would cost. It is sad to see the grip Satan has on people’s hearts and even finances. Please pray alongside!
Biggest Mwani worship service ever!! One recent Thursday afternoon, there was a combined worship service held, including the 4 ladies who came to Christ through Ana’s friendship, together with the other 4 regular Mwanis who have been coming all along. The team leader had the privilege of sharing the Word during this time. This won’t happen every week, for various reasons, but we hope to combine our groups at least once every other month…
PRAYER POINTS
- As you read through this update, pray for each individual mentioned. Praise God that they’re all precious to him and that he is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”. Pray that the gift of repentance will be given to all those mentioned in this update.
- Don’t be afraid to ask God for the big, impossible things! For house churches to begin in all the bairros of Macomia and in all the villages and islands to which Radio Nuru transmits, and for groups of Islamic teachers to get together to discuss and agree on the undeniable truth that Jesus is the Savior of the World, that they are loved by Him, and that God sent INSA (Jesus) to the world to provide atonement for their sins
- Keep on asking the Lord for protection for all the believers and seekers. The enemy will not be willing to leave them alone, especially while such exciting things are developing.