New Names Written Down

Sunday July 19, 2009 was a first for me. It was the first time 100% of my congregation professes belief in Jesus Christ. The day started slow. Peggy stayed home because she needed to keep off of her infected toe. (Pray for the infection to clear up). When Lansah, Joseph and myself arrived at the village school Pastor Daniel's son John was there and had the classrooms open. There were a few children there and Pastor Immanuel who teaches with me at the Seminary was also there. We waited until 10:15 and no adults came though theMuslim children continued to arrive and join John in the other building. I told the rest we need to pray, so we sat on the porch and prayed. I prayed that God would encourage us and show us that we were right in what we were doing in Jesus name. We waited. I had brought an English translation of the Bible and a Dagbani New Testament for a young man who had asked for them last week. His name is Abukari. He was not there and a passer by said he was working somewhere. Abukari is a carpenter. Now it is 10:45 and still no adults. I told the rest if no one comes in another 15 min. we will go looking for people to share with in the village. Then a man came by going toward the village on a motorcycle. I hailed him and he stopped. We began to talk through Joseph and Lansah. He said his name is Yakubu and he is a farmer and a butcher. He is Muslim, but he said that he liked the Christian way. I told him that he could become a Christian and he said that he had been a Muslim for a long time and that all his friends and family are Muslim. We told him that we were waiting for some people from the village to come so I could tell them about Jesus, but that so far only children had come. This Muslim man then did a strange thing thing. He said, " don't be discouraged. As long as the children come continue to tell them, and work with them." I thanked him and said we would. Then I felt led to do something. I offered the Dagbani New Testament to Yakubu. He said, "I cannot read, but I have four children who are grown and they all read. They will read it to me." I gave it to him on his promise that he would get them to read it to him. He then left for his home in the village. We returned to the porch. Now it is 11:15. The children are still coming but no adults. Then one elderly man arrives on foot. He was with us last Sunday and said he thought he was too old to become a Christian. I had told him that no one was too old and told him about Nicodemus. After he sat down with me I told him the story of Jesus from birth to resurrection and ascension. When I finished I said, "Do you believe what I have told you is the truth?" He said, "I believe what you have said is the truth." To be sure I asked again, "Do you believe that Jesus is God's Son and that He died for you sin, and do you put your trust in Him? He said "I do." I told him how glad I was that he had become a believer and a child in God's family. I told him that we were now brothers in Jesus Christ. Almost at that exact moment another of the elders from the village arrived. His name is Haruna. He also was there last Sunday and rthe Sunday before. I then went through the story of Jesus again and asked him the same questions I had asked Iddrisu and Hharuna also stated that he believed in Jesus Christ. We rejoiced together in the wonderful saving grace of God. Tomorrow Pastor Daniel and I will do follow up with these two men. Pray for them and also pray for the young carpenter Abukari and for the farmer/butcher Yakubu, and pray for John and all the children he is working with. Pray that we will get the water project completed this week as a testimony to God's faithfulness.