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Friday, July 25, 2008

“And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” (Acts 8:36, ESV)

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the International Prayer Strategy Office, rejoicing with you in the evidence of new life.

An engaging church team returned to Mali to share Jesus with the Yalunka people in a remote village. They were joyfully met by a man they had met previously and accepted his invitation to go to the market, not realizing that it meant a two-hour walk in the heat of the day. They shared stories of Jesus then this man of peace plus two others confessed their faith in Christ! At one point, they had to cross a creek that was thigh deep; and one of the new believers said, “Why can’t we be baptized now? There’s water right here.” The team was stunned.

Two months later, the team returned to find that a dozen others had confessed faith in Christ and been baptized. The team went again to the market, praying for opportunities to make an impact there. Once more, they were amazed to find several men and women sharing stories they had heard. The message was spreading African to African, even when none had previously professed to walk the “Jesus Road”!

The OneStory Senufo Supyire Team in West Africa shares the story of a man willing to leave all he has known to follow the “Jesus Road.” After walking 20 minutes in 100-plus degree temperatures to a small pool of brown water that the cows drink from, this village brother stood in front of his Muslim family and boldly told the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. He said, “I believe that Jesus is God’s Son. Now I am this African man. I will be baptized, like him.”

* Please pray in thanksgiving for these new African believers!

* Intercede for the young churches that have been planted.

* Search your own life: Who is hearing stories of Jesus from you? Is God equipping you and your congregation to engage an unreached people group with the Gospel?

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