OBERG PRAISE N PRAY – April 7, 2008

PRAISE God for His work in the village of Ngana.  We found out that this village is primarily made up of the Bobo people group, and that there is already a group of 5-6 believers who have been meeting as a prayer cell!  5 adults and many, many children responded to the salvation message—please PRAY that the adults will grow in their faith as they join the existing believers, and that these children will somehow continue to grow.  There just aren’t great programs for kids out here, especially in the bush where the churches are small and don’t yet have a pastor.  In seeing the hearts of children responding to the truth, we’re reminded of the verses in the Bible that talk about the faith of a child.  They SEE the truth that adults have become calloused to.  Please PRAY that the adults in the Kenedougou region will have faith like these children!

PRAISE God also for His work in Samorogouan.  A Muslim man, invited by his neighbor to church yesterday, received Christ as his Savior during the service!  He then went and talked to 3 of his friends, brought them back that afternoon to talk to some of the church believers, and they chose to accept Christ as well!  That night during the evangelism meeting, they came forward as a testimony in front of the people in their village that they were choosing to follow Christ.  Twenty more adults joined them, as well as many, many kids.  Thank you SO much for praying—it has made the difference!  Please continue to PRAY that God would reap a harvest in these villages.   

Please PRAY for Kevin and Toby as they head to Sirasso and Temetemeso on Wednesday to drop off cement to finish the Sirasso church construction and visit with Pastor Marcel and the believers there.  They’ll be doing some video taping in Temetemeso for Island Church on Bainbridge Island, WA, who has adopted this village.  If you’re a church or group who is interested in “adopting” a village, let us know! 

Please PRAY that the construction of the pastor’s house in Samorogouan will go well.  The mason is heading there today (Monday) to begin construction, and we hope to have the house built by the end of May.  Based on the reports above, the new pastor will have a lot of follow up to do!  :o)

Please PRAY for a Storying Seminar that will be taking place here in Bobo this week, which will be presented to many pastors and lay leaders in our churches (including those from the region where we work).  Storying is an evangelistic tool which is basically telling the story of the Bible from Creation to the Cross.  Several presenters will be using materials from New Tribes Mission and the International Mission Board.  This is a great tool that can be used in formal and informal settings.  Please PRAY that our pastors and leaders will grasp the tremendous opportunity available through this tool and that they will incorporate the training that they receive in their ministries. 

Thank you so much for praying for the bookkeeping as I’ve been trying to catch up these past several months.  I’m happy to report that my March books will be turned in ON TIME this week!  I think I’m back to my normal schedule now.  :o)