teaching nationals

In our region of west Africa, we have a daunting task--to tell the unreached about Jesus. As new missionaries, it can be overwhelming. How to start, what to say, learning their language, discipling believers. All of this is still new to us. 

How wonderful to have a team, including within other agencies, collaborating with us to reach nationals! 5 missionary families joined in to help teach at a recent conference. 80 natioals attended from parts all around the region to come together, be encouraged by other believers, and be taught the Word of God in their own language.

This was the second such conference that was held for these believers. The first emphasized theology. The elders attending the conference now wanted to learn about faith.

A program was designed. We had nationals share their testimony. We had a national believer teach from Romans on faith. We had a missionary teach from James 2 on the importance of faith and works. Roy shared his testimony and shared from Eph 2 that to understand faith we must understand grace. 

The majority of our focus, though, was on teaching the idea of storying. We modeled storying for them so they could take these stories and share them with their families and in their home villages themselves.

We used the faith chapter, Hebrews 11, to tell the story of 5 patriarchs and their acts of obedience as a response for their faith in God. Each of us was able to take one story and share it in their heart language. After the story they were to get into small groups and retell the story themselves. After that, they discussed it together-what they liked about the story, what they didn't like. What they learned about God, what they learned about man. And finally, how to follow the story, or better worded, how to apply the story into our lives today.

Denise told the story of Abraham and Sarah leaving their father's land and going to a foreign land, and God blessing Abraham and providing descendents as numerous as the stars and as the sands. She was the rock star! Everyone applauded her story telling.

Roy shared about Moses. Though the Israelites lived in slavery, God never forgot them. Time and time again God made a way to protect the Israelites from harm and provided for their needs. Moses obeyed God.

We were even strong enough in the language to participate in the small group stoeying with these men. We were encouraged to understsnd the stoey and walk together retelling the story and what we learned. 

Roy has already built into the lives of 6 national believers who were able to attend this conference. And he met several new friends as well. One friend lives in a village nearby and wants to start his own house church of believers. After this teaching he feels empowered to do this.

At the closing of the conference, 7 men made their decision public to follow Christ and were baptized!  It was really special to see a glimpse of God's glory this week, and to play a small part in it.

Thank you for your prayers!