1 December 2003

Dear Devoted Partners,

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel – which means, “God with us.” – Matthew 1:23

As Christmas approaches, we decided to look at the prophecies of Christ found in the Old Testament, and fulfilled in the New. We thoroughly enjoyed this study as the faithfulness and righteousness of God appears over and over. But the predicament remains: the MNK do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Promised Savior, forecast since the beginning of time.

As you pray this month, please pray for MNKs to accept the prophecies as true, that Jesus is indeed the Son of God, the promised Messiah, not just one of many good prophets. And as you pray on the 1^st, please pray for those MNK around the world who are suffering with HIV/AIDs. Pray that someone will take the time to tell them about Jesus.

We are beginning an itinerant evangelism ministry this month. Please pray with us as we walk from village to village, praying for the village, praying for those who are ill, praying against the evil spirits which inhabit this land, and praying for a hearing for the Gospel. We are grateful to God for the provision of a walking partner; please pray that both these men will be kept healthy, spiritually and physically. For more information, please contact us directly.

We are excitedly awaiting the arrival of our new colleagues in our town in early January. Please pray with us that their houses will be ready and that they will be able to move their belongings here with relative ease. Praise God with us that the single young woman in this group will be returning to the US to get married! While we are sad to see her leave us physically, we rejoice in this gift from God and anticipate her return one day, with her husband! Continue to pray for our colleagues on stateside assignment; they are speaking in numerous places and enjoying the amenities of the US. Pray for their continuing spiritual and physical renewal. Our son will be returning to Iraq early this month. Pray for him, for his wife, and for his remaining time in Iraq; he is scheduled to rotate back to the US in February.

We wish you a joyous and Christ-centered Christmas!

Your sister on the MNK field,

MNK Update December 2003

Mon, Dec 1: He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. – Psalm 107:20 Today is World AIDS Awareness Day. While AIDS is not the horrific problem among the MNK that it is in other places in Africa, it is nevertheless growing. At present, approximately 2% of the MNK population is infected with the HIV/AIDS virus. In countries where the medical care is substandard and drugs for common diseases are nearly non-existent, this is a serious predicament. But whether the MNK die from AIDS or malaria or hepatitis or old age, they are still dying without knowing the Savior…that remains our greatest concern. Pray for those working within the health care sector among the MNK to have compassion on those who are ill, and to not neglect sharing the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Tue, Dec 2: All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. – Acts 10:43 Peter declared in Cornelius’ house that all the prophets testified about the Messiah. God’s fulfillment of His promises through His Son, Jesus Christ, should have been no surprise to anyone, but many were, and still are, blinded by Satan. The MNK acknowledge that Jesus was a great prophet, but cannot…will not accept His divinity. Pray for MNKs as they learn the truth of the messages of the prophets to accept Jesus not only as a great prophet, but as the last prophet…the Son of God.

Wed, Dec 3: You are my son. – Psalm 2:7 and A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” – Matthew 3:17 Those who witnessed the baptism of Jesus heard the voice of God. MNKs don’t believe God speaks to mankind. Rather they look at themselves as slaves and put on earth to do God’s bidding…mindlessly. Pray for MNKs to listen carefully for the voice of God as He desires to relate to them.

Thu, Dec 4: Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. – Psalm 41:9 While they were reclining at the table eating, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me – one who is eating with me.” – Mark 14:18 Jesus knew that his betrayal would come from within his own group of disciples, because Jesus knew the Scriptures well. Still it saddened Him. While an MNK would never publicly condone a betrayal of this kind, secretly they admire Judas’ tenacity and cunning, all the while excusing his behavior as caused by God. Pray for MNKs to become aware of their personal participation in sin; pray for them to repent and come to Christ.

Fri, Dec 5: If you think it best, give me my pay, but if not, keep it. So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. – Zechariah 11:12 Judas asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. – Matthew 26:15 Within the Israelite community, thirty pieces of silver was the legal price to be paid to a slave owner if his slave was gored by an ox. Among the MNK during the rainy season, a penalty is assessed on the owner of any cattle that wander through a farmer’s field…so much per hoof print. But there is no apparent penalty for lying or betrayal within MNK society. To their thinking, there is nothing, aside from being a non-Muslim, which God will not eventually forgive. Pray for MNK men as they listen to Scripture to see that God is a god of justice, and of mercy.

Sat, Dec 6: So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord to the potter. – Zechariah 11:13 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” – Matthew 27:5-6 Jesus knew what Judas was going to do; all the disciples knew what he did; the religious authorities knew. Was it true remorse for his actions, or was it that his deeds were known to all that caused Judas to kill himself? MNKs see nothing wrong with paying bribes or the like; the crime, or shame, is not in the asking nor in the paying; it comes from being found out. Pray for MNKs to embrace the true meaning of remorse.

Sun, Dec 7: Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. – Zechariah 13:7 Jesus said, “But all this has taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. – Matthew 26:56 Earlier this same night, the disciples declared they would never forsake Jesus, yet He knew they would, and told them so. MNKs subscribe to Jesus supernatural powers that are not related to His documented miracles. They have Him speaking from His bed as a baby; they have Him making toys out of clay to play with. They have an explanation for everything, except that He knew all that would happen to Him because He is the second person of the Trinity. Pray for MNKs to desire to know the Scriptures as completely and fully as Jesus knew them.

Mon, Dec 8: Wicked and deceitful men have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues. – Psalm 109:2 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. – Matthew 26:59-60 King David endured false accusations. It is recorded in Scripture that try though the religious officials might, evidence was not found to condemn Jesus. A tenet within MNK society is to keep the peace, nearly at any cost. If this entails telling a lie to keep from causing someone harm, then it is acceptable. Lying is a fact of life in MNK society, even though it is taught to be abhorrent in Islam. Pray for MNKs to appreciate that God is a God of Truth, and demands no less from His creation.

Tue, Dec 9: He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. – Isaiah 53:7 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge – to the great amazement of the governor. – Matthew 27:14 Jesus offered no defense for Himself. There was no reason. It was the will of the Father that He endure this disgrace, humiliation and suffering for the sake of our reconciliation with God. Jesus willingly bore all of this so that the world could find peace with God. When an MNKs reputation is at stake, there is little he won’t do to clear his name. Many attribute weakness to Jesus because He did not defend Himself. Pray for MNKs to recognize that Jesus’ silence was for mankind’s benefit.

Wed, Dec 10: They will strike Israel’s ruler on the cheek with a rod. – Micah 5:1 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him. – Matthew 26:67 Throughout time, a slap in the face has been considered an extremely personal assault, and to spit on someone, an atrocity. In MNK society (and our own), these actions are not tolerated. Retaliation is immediate and appropriate to the offender. Yet Jesus taught throughout His life NOT to retaliate. Here, in His final hours, He was able to embody all that He taught. Pray for those who live and work among the MNK to have the grace and patience to exemplify the Person we are endeavoring to bring to light.

Thu, Dec 11: Just as there were many who were appalled at him – his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness. – Isaiah 52:14 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. – John 19:1 Self-sacrifice is not a concept widely known in MNK society. They believe the martyrs of Islam are ushered immediately into paradise if they die for a religious cause. But the idea of self-sacrifice, for something greater than yourself, for no personal reward or gain, is alien to their way of thinking. This is another characteristic of Jesus that affords MNKs pause for thought! Pray for MNK men and women to see the tremendous sacrifice Jesus made on their behalf; pray they will find ways of expressing that same kind of love as they become believers.

Fri, Dec 12: But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. – Isaiah 53:5 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” – Luke 23:4 Neither Herod nor the religious leaders could find fault with Jesus, yet still He was crucified. MNKs refuse to believe that God allowed Jesus to suffer this humiliating defeat; God obviously intervened and tricked everyone into thinking that the man on the cross was Jesus when in actuality it was not. Pray that MNKs will see that God’s plan for salvation pivoted on Jesus’ acceptance on our behalf of the punishment for sin, which is absolute separation from God.

Sat, Dec 13: They have pierced my hands and my feet. – Psalm 22:16 Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands.” – John 20:27 Crucifixion, as a method of execution, was unknown to David. The Jews executed criminals by stoning them to death. Yet throughout the 22^nd Psalm, David accurately describes the agonizing death of Jesus. The MNK tell tales of the wars which brought Islam to their nation. They recount the heroic deeds of the victors; they have forgotten what they were before Islam conquered their nation. Pray for the MNK to seek to be restored to their right relationship with God, the relationship which existed prior to sin entering the world…and each of us.

Sun, Dec 14: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. – Genesis 1:1 In the English translation of Genesis, as well as MNK, the word God (Allah) is singular. But the original Hebrew word is Elohim, which is plural; it corresponds with “let us”. This is the first indication in Scripture that the Trinity is a reality…God, the Father, God, the Son, and God, the Spirit. MNKs, however, believe that Christians worship 3 gods…God, Jesus, and Mary. They see us as heathens since we are, apparently, not mono-theistic. They cannot grasp the triune concept of God. Pray for the MNK to distinguish between man’s understanding of God and God’s actual, divine nature.

Mon, Dec 15: An evil band of men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. – Psalm 22:16 Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Stop doubting and believe.” – John 20:27 For the MNK, faith is a difficult concept. They are more inclined to believe they can eventually appease God, and thereby escape His wrath, than they are to accept the gracious, generous and selfless gift Jesus gave mankind by His death on the cross. Belief comes slowly for the MNK, as it did for Thomas. Pray for the MNK to truly be like Thomas, to see the nail marks in Jesus’ hands and feet and the hole in His side, and to declare, My Lord and my God!

Tue, Dec 16: He was assigned a grave with the wicked…and was numbered with the transgressors. – Isaiah 53:9,12 They crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left. It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’. – Mark 15:27; Luke 22:37 MNKs and Christians agree that Jesus was sinless, but we disagree as to the foundational nature of His sinless life. Within MNK society, there is no greater shame than to have your name and reputation maligned at death. Jesus was crucified between two criminals…people called Him a criminal, yet His death with criminals was predicted years before. Pray for the MNK to accept Jesus as the Messiah, the One who was predicted, the One through whom God’s plan to reconcile Himself to mankind was made manifest.

Wed, Dec 17: For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. – Isaiah 53:12 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” – Luke 23:34 Praying for enemies is a sign of weakness. MNK adults never consider this option when dealing with someone who is troubling them or who is speaking evil of them or who has wronged them in some way. Pray for MNKs to allow the words of Jesus to penetrate their hearts and minds as they listen to them through radio broadcasts, audio cassettes, and preaching.

Thu, Dec 18: I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads. – Psalm 109:25 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” – Luke 23:35 What those watching the crucifixion of Christ failed to realize was that this was God’s intention all along. Jesus remained on the cross in order to complete God’s plan of redemption. Jesus could not save Himself, and us, at the same time. The MNK struggle with this concept of sacrifice. A personal benefit always follows any act of sacrifice...whether it is fasting or giving alms or making the pilgrimage. Pray for the MNK to accept Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross as He intended it...wholly selfless...wholly intended for the benefit of the MNK.

Fri, Dec 19: They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. – Psalm 22:18 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, diving them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” – John 19:23-24 These soldiers were ardent gamblers; they even gambled away Jesus’ undergarment, leaving Him no human dignity whatsoever. While Islam teaches against gambling, the MNK live in countries where national lotteries are touted as a way to solve problems. Men (and some women) who don’t have enough money to adequately support their families still spend a day’s wage on lottery tickets. Pray for those who work among the MNK to be so reliant on the Holy Spirit that MNK men and women will desire that same relationship with God, forsaking man’s solutions to their problems.

Sat, Dec 20: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? – Psalm 22:1 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” – Matthew 27:46 As Jesus hung dying on the cross, He repeated words written ten centuries earlier. Jesus knew the Scriptures of the Jews. An important tenant of Islam among the MNK is the ability to recite large portions of the Qu’ran. Some memorize the whole thing! The recitation is always in Arabic, the language of Allah. As the Gospel is shared with the MNK, missionaries must memorize Scripture in Mandinka, the language of the MNK. Pray for those who work among the MNK, and MNK believers, to commit to memory Scripture so that we can discuss the things of God without the crutch of a book or a tape.

Sun, Dec 21: They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst. – Psalm 69:21 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. – Matthew 27:34 The MNK understand thirst. Living in an arid climate, they deal with being thirsty daily. If a child is asking for water, no adult will refuse him, and no older child will be allowed to refuse him either. The first thing you offer someone when they come to your house is water. And the last thing they will ask for before they leave is water. Pray that the MNK will come to know the Living Water so they may never thirst again spiritually.

Mon, Dec 22: Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. – Isaiah 7:14 Some 700 years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah spoke these words. Still, however, MNKs refuse to accept this fact. “Did God have a wife?” “Would God have a child outside of marriage?” “How can a virgin give birth?” The angel Gabriel gave Mary the same answer we give to MNKs: For nothing is impossible with God. – Luke 1:37 Pray for MNKs to accept the prophecy, and fact, of the virgin birth.

Tue, Dec 23: But you, Bethlehem…out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel. – Micah 5:2 During the same time period that Isaiah was prophesizing that a virgin would give birth to a son, Micah stated where this birth was to take place. Bethlehem is a small town five miles south of Jerusalem. As a historical document, the Bible covers thousands of years of history including names of specific towns and cities; few are mentioned in the Qu’ran. MNKs can tell you where their ancestors came from, which villages and towns and which families intermarried. But they have difficulty sometimes understanding the significance of God’s attention to detail in Scripture. Pray for MNKs to accept Scripture as accurate and true.

Wed, Dec 24: “I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight,” declares the Sovereign Lord. – Amos 8:9 From about the sixth hour (noon) until the ninth hour (3:00 PM) darkness came over all the land. – Matthew 27:45 December 24, Christmas Eve, is the night we celebrate the actual birth of Jesus. The contrast between Jesus’ birth and death is striking. On the night of His birth, a star illuminated the night sky to show the shepherds where the child lay. On the day Jesus died, the sun was obscured by darkness as all creation mourned His suffering. Pray for the MNK to be able to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and worship God in Truth.

Thu, Dec 25: The Lord says, “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” – Isaiah 29:13 The MNK observe the celebrations of Christians worldwide on Christmas Day, but continue to acknowledge Jesus only as a prophet, not as the only Son of God. Their understanding of this day is that presents are distributed and parties abound. They equate it to their own special prayer days which truly have little personal significance. Their celebrations are stale and dictated by their religious leaders. Pray for MNKs to not ask Christians, “Where is my Christmas (present)?”, but rather to ask, “Where is your Jesus?” Pray that believers will be quick and able to answer.

Fri, Dec 26: Into your hands I commit my spirit. – Psalm 31:5 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. – Luke 23:46 A foundational belief of Christianity is that Christ willingly gave His life in order for His Father’s will to be accomplished. Working as one, God the Father designed, God the Son carried it out, and God the Spirit now dwells within the life of every believer. Still, many in the world fight to hold on to what Jesus died to destroy...the sin which separates man from God. Pray for the MNK to commit their spirits to God through His Son.