July 2006
WEST AFRICA
Carrying Living Water to a Thirsty People
One of the most ethnically diverse regions of the
world, West Africa encompasses more than 287 mil¬
lion people living in 22 countries. More than half of the
1,612 people groups living in West Africa are unreached
by the gospel; one-third are Last Frontier peoples. West
Africa is parched ground for the Gospel. Slightly more
than 50 percent of the population is Islamic. Although 39
percent of West Africans profess to be Christians, less
than 6 percent of the total population is evangelical Chris¬
tian. Most Africans, including many who claim Islam or
Christianity, practice African traditional religion (ATR).
ATR involves reverence of ancestral spirits and the belief
that spirits inhabit most natural objects. Currently there
are only enough IMB missionaries in West Africa to reach
about 50 people groups, representing 28 percent of the
population. There is a desperate need for more Southern
Baptists to minister in West Africa as volunteers, short¬
term or career missionaries. Following God's call to West
Africa demands a pioneering vision and vigor. Poverty,
illiteracy, political and social instability, harsh climate and
disease hinder development in many countries. These
factors also hinder the spread of the Gospel. IMB mission¬
aries serving in West Africa are focusing on three primary
objectives: ENGAGING new people groups, ADVANC¬
ING toward church-planting movements, and CO¬
LABORING with West African Baptists. Pray that South¬
ern Baptists will accept the challenge to join IMB
missionaries and West African Baptists as they overcome
a multitude of religious, cultural, social and geographical
barriers to make Christ known among the peoples. Will
you come? For more information about West Africa, visit
our Web site at GoWestAfrica.org.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go
and meet ivith God? (Psalm 42:2, NIV)
SEREER OF SENEGAL AND THE GAMBIA (suh-RARE).
Through our weekly radio program and continuing
chronological Bible storying, the Sereer people in Senegal
are increasingly aware of opportunities to learn more about
God's Word. Many have expressed their thankfulness that
God has not forgotten them. With this kind of openness
and only one IMB couple serving among them, it is very
difficult to share the stories in every village that requests to
hear them. Please pray for more workers - volunteers,
short- termers, long-termers ... ALL are welcome!
AFGHANISTAN (central Asia). There are no easy answers,
no easy way out for new believers in this country. If fami¬
ly members find out they have converted, they sometimes
believe they must torture or kill them to restore the family's
honor. New converts must trust their Savior in ways believers
in the United States have not usually encountered. Pray for
these new believers and so many others like them who have
found peace with God through Jesus in the midst of turmoil
and trouble. Ask God to help them stand strong in the face
of persecution and danger.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (central
Africa). Ask God to call more team members to the Dem¬
ocratic Republic of the Congo to work with the people
groups that do not have a Christian witness among them.
JAHANKA OF SENEGAL, GUINEA AND THE GAMBIA
(jah-HONK-kay). There is great pride in being a Jahanka
in West Africa. This pride comes from a reputation of being
the Islamic elite, a pious people who are the Quranic teachers
of others throughout West Africa. This reputation has created
wealth among the Jahanka as other people pay the leaders for
spiritual services and prayers offered on their behalf. This
pride in being Jahanka presents a barrier for them to hear
and respond to the Gospel. For the Jahanka, they must truly
lose themselves to find life in Christ (Luke 8:24). Ask God to
reveal His Word and His Son to the Jahanka.
KHARKOV, UKRAINE (HAR-kov). Discipleship of new
believers is vital to seeing a church-planting movement
become reality in the Kharkov oblast (region) of Ukraine.
Pray that pastors and church leaders would understand the
need for empowering believers to mentor and disciple oth¬
ers. Ask the Lord to give believers a passion to know Him
and to share His love.
QUICHUA OF ECUADOR (KEE-choo-ah). Please pray for
missionary Paula King, journeyman Amanda Gore and
national co-laborers as they reach out to the community of
Cochapamba. Paula writes: "We were all so amazed at the
reception of the people. All but a few seemed interested
and said they wanted to know more. We feel that the Holy
Spirit is at work there, and that is where we want to work,
too. Thank you so very much for praying for the salvation
of the dear Quichua people in Cochapamba."
