OBERG PRAISE N PRAY – September 9, 2007

PRAISE God for a good visit Kevin had to Sirasso this past week.  He wanted to meet with several believers to get their testimonies “on record”, and in the midst of Omar (from Katana, remember him?) sharing his testimony, a 15 year old boy sitting close to the group and listening committed his life to Christ!  As an older woman in Nimberla shared her story, among a group of village elders, Pastor Marcel had a natural opening to share the gospel.  An old man begged him to return, telling him, “We need to hear more of this! This is truth!”  Please pray for those who listened to these testimonies—seeds were planted in their hearts—pray that God will reap a harvest!

Pastor Francois from Banzon called us last night to tell us that the head of a family had chosen to follow Christ this past week!  These men are “crucial” in coming to Christ, as their influence on their families is strong and they are often the leaders in the church.  He was in church this Sunday—please PRAY that he would grow in His new faith, that he would stand firm in any opposition that he might face, and that his family would come to faith in Christ as well.  Please PRAY that many “heads of families” will put their faith in Jesus in the Kenedougou region.

Please continue to PRAY that God would do a might work among the Senefou!  We are finding a spiritual openness that is so encouraging—as indicated in the stories above.  At times, we feel as if we have a “window of opportunity”, as Islam is also taking hold and spreading in this country.  Please PRAY that God would grow His church strong in these days, and that many would come to Christ!

PRAY for the Field Leadership Retreat that will take place this Thursday-Sunday in Ouaga.  (Kevin is a part of that group again this year.)  Please PRAY that God would give them unity in their decision making, and that they would have His wisdom and guidance as they meet and lead our field.  Please PRAY for Steve Nehlsen, our field director, and Larry Burg, our assistant field director.  PRAY that God would encourage them, strengthen them, protect their families, and that they would know His leading in all situations.

We are sorry to have to relay some discouraging news we have recently discovered.  A Bobo pastor who we have worked fairly closely with in the Kenedougou region, who was helping us obtain the Ndorola church property, has stolen the majority of the money that we had given him so far (about $2,100).  (We had written a few months ago, asking for prayer in his situation, as he had been put under discipline for another issue.)  Please PRAY that God would give us and the Bobo district wisdom in knowing how to handle this situation.  Please PRAY that God would change this man’s heart, bringing him to repentance and a changed life.  Please PRAY that we would not become calloused and that our trust in others would not be destroyed, as this is the second time this term that we have had a large amount of money stolen from us from someone who we trusted.  PRAY that we would keep our eyes focused on Jesus and on the encouraging work that God is doing in the Kenedougou region.