These last several months have seen several professions of faith, from Nixon (a single leg amputee) to his friend Danieli; to Kadiri (a young man from a Muslim family) to the young men which we mentioned before, Michael, Fredi (who was recently baptized), Gupta, and Saidi (who has an area of sin in his life that must be repented of before he makes any spiritual progress). But just like in child-bearing, the birth is not the end of the parent’s responsibility, but rather the beginning. So in recent weeks, the long—and sometimes challenging—process of disciple-making has begun. Please pray for these young men that they would demonstrate fruits of genuine repentance and spiritual rebirth. If you are unable to pray for all of them, please choose just one to intercede for on a regular basis.
Six Months and Counting:
Our partners, Rodney and Lynn Myers, are planning for their furlough beginning this December. Although Christmas may seem far away, it is less than six months now. There is much work to do in preparation for that time, but perhaps my greatest concern is to be linguistically advanced enough to handle the pastoral responsibilities of teaching, counseling, and evangelism by myself for a significant duration. Please pray for me to be disciplined in language learning in the months ahead. Also, please pray for a church member, Mama Sunday, as she prepares to take Lynn’s spot teaching Children’s Church. She has never taught children before, but has agreed to observe and learn in the upcoming months. In addition we are continuing to pursue the official deed to the property so we can begin construction of the new church building before this December. One of our church members, Elbariki, recently built two new benches to accommodate the growing number of people attending our now cramped church.
One Baptized and Facing Persecution:
Just last month Fredi, one of our recent converts, got baptized. It was an exciting day, but honestly we were hoping for others to obey the Lord and be baptized as well. Would you pray that his example would stir the hearts of others to be obedient to the Lord in this area? Also pray for Fredi, although he received permission from his parents to be baptized, immdiately following his baptism, he began to face persecution from his own parents in the form of beatings and threats. Pray for Fredi to remain faithful in spite of these trials. The words of Jesus in Luke 14:26 speak powerfully to this situation, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”
Serving a Worthy Master,
Aaron and Nicole Shipe
