1 February 2003

Dear Faithful Ones,

If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all. – Isaiah 7:9

By God’s grace we will be living in our new home in Sedhiou as you read this! We came to the field in 1984 with 3 young children. We worked in the same area in the field of public health until 1997. We lived in the same house for 17 years, the only home our children have ever known. But in 1995 God showed us we needed to move on to a place where no one was working, where the MNK had no opportunity to hear the Gospel. It has been a long eight-year journey, but we praise God for His faithfulness even when our faith was shaken and weak.

I received an interesting email early in January from someone who is blinded by Satan. It read:

We Mandinka peoples have always been, and will always be proud of our traditional and Islamic modes of living, in the same way that westerners have held on to cannibalism and Christianity. Gone are the days when you can fool us into thinking your way is better than ours, for there are plenty of us today who've studied your culture and religion, enough to know better. If you want to be friends with us, that's fine, but if you think you can change us, you've arrived too late.

How did she get my email address? I don’t know. Does she know who I am? I don’t think so. Is she a security threat in a country that espouses freedom of religion? Perhaps. But that threat really lies on the MNK who hear and believe; her thoughts exemplify what the MNK themselves are up against. Leaving Islam is neither easily done nor easily accepted. This woman equates her traditional culture with her religion. For her it is not a faith, but a way of life. For many Christians, it is the same way. Yet Isaiah said it 2,500 years ago…if you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all!

Having spent 3 months looking at the 99 Beautiful Names for God in Islam, we are moving on to look at the Names of Jesus. I have used the excellent work of John Timmerman, A Layman Looks at the Names of Jesus, published by Tyndale House, 1985. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. – Acts 4:12 And that name is Jesus! Scripture is rich in its revelation of God and His character. Pray with us that the MNK will hear and accept the Truth, and stand on His True Names.

Your sister on the MNK field,

MNK Update February 2003

Sat, Feb 1: The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. – Proverbs 18:10 Much of Hebrew literature is replete with fantastic imagery. The writer of Proverbs expresses a vision of protection. In ancient wars towers were a place of refuge, as they strong, tall and nearly impossible to scale. In the tower people found safety. Pray for the MNK to call on the name of the Living God and find refuge in Him.

Sun, Feb 2: Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” – John 4:10 The Gift. Jesus is the greatest gift God ever gave to the world. Unfortunately we often see gifts in light of their monetary value. We readily accept gifts that are valuable in the world’s eyes, yet how many of us quickly discard the picture drawn by that 3-year old neighbor? All Jesus has to offer us is power, healing, joy, and life everlasting, all in His name. Pray for the MNK to accept the true gift of God, His Son, even though in their eyes He was only a prophet.

Mon, Feb 3: The angel said to Joseph, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:21 Jesus. The meaning of the name Jesus is “God’s salvation” or “God is my help.” The MNK are quick to call on the name of Allah, swearing by his name to do something, or swearing that if God agrees they will do something. And every time the name of Mohammed is mentioned, they must repeat the phrase, “Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.” The ritualistic blessings recited at every formal and informal occasion (weddings, funerals, naming ceremonies, general greetings) always end with “Praise the messenger”, meaning “Praise the prophet Mohammed”. Pray for the day when the MNK will call on the name of Jesus as their source of joy and salvation, without fear or doubt, and declare, “Praise the Messiah.”

Tue, Feb 4: Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” – Exodus 3:13-14 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am!” – John 8:58 I am. This is one of the names for Jesus that MNKs cannot tolerate because He is equated with God Himself. God is, was, and always will be. Jesus fully shares in godhood with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Yet to Muslims, Christians worship three gods: God, Jesus, and Mary. Pray for the MNK to accept that God’s plan may not be easily understood by the human mind, but that doesn’t make it any less authentic.

Wed, Feb 5: He is the image of the invisible God, the first born over all creation. – Colossians 1:15 As the image of the invisible God, Jesus is the exact representation of God. He not only reflects God, but He reveals God. Jesus came from heaven, not from the dust of the earth. The deity of Christ is a central truth of Christianity and a stumbling block to Muslims. MNKs would agree, however, that you couldn’t draw an accurate picture of God. Throughout Scripture, God reveals Himself to us in images we can understand, but MNKs cannot accept that Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Pray for MNKs to grasp the unfathomable aspects of God, and to do so with joy, faith, and reverence.

Thu, Feb 6: The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. – Psalm 18:2 Rock: Protector. In Old Testament times, the image of the rock indicated a place of relief from the sun, a place of relative comfort in the wilderness, a place of safety. For the MNK who live in a flat, desolate, arid land, a similar image might be a tree. While working in a peanut or rice field, MNKs will seek shelter under whatever tree or outcropping can protect them from the intensity of the sun. Many afternoons in West Africa exceed 110 degrees F in the shade. Pray for the MNK to seek the protection of the Solid Rock.

Fri, Feb 7: The Lord said to Moses, “I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” – Exodus 17:6 They drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. – 1 Corinthians 10:4 Rock: Cornerstone. MNKs construct their homes from mud block bricks and a thatch roof. Every MNK man knows the importance of the cornerstone in his house. If it is not strong, the house will collapse under the weight of the roof, or in the rainy season, the corners will wash away the walls as well as the whole house. Only foolish men ignore the cornerstone. Pray for the MNK to accept Jesus as the Cornerstone of their faith; pray that they will no longer allow His deity to be the stumbling block keeping them eternally separated from God.

Sat, Feb 8: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. – Matthew 16:16 Rock: Lord. Peter’s confession at such a crucial time for Jesus and His disciples is the rock on which Jesus said He would build His church (v.18). There is no way to avoid calling Jesus Lord, for it will be done, either in this life or in eternity. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. – Philippians 2:10-11 Pray for MNK men, women and children to confess, in one voice, that Jesus is Lord before their time of judgment.

Sun, Feb 9: Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” By this he meant the Spirit. – John 7:38 Living Water: Gift of Mercy. God created the heavens and the earth; he created water; he created man. God knew man could not survive without water. And yet water is not just for drinking. It is for cleansing, cooling, heating. Many MNK must walk long distances for every drop of water they use. It is a precious commodity, not one to be taken for granted or wasted. Pray for the MNK to see Jesus as Living Water, as God’s gift of mercy to man; pray for them to desire this water above all else.

Mon, Feb 10: Isaac moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. “Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.” – Genesis 26:22 Living Water: Community Hope. Wherever there is water, there is community. Throughout the Old Testament, towns and villages were bound together through their water source. So it is among the MNK. When the well dries up, the village dies. In the past, the entire village would relocate together. Water signifies hope to a community and its future. Pray for the MNK to come to know Jesus, the One who gives hope and a future for every community.

Tue, Feb 11: Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. – Psalm 51:2,7 Living Water: Agent of Cleansing. Water cleanses. The Hebrews knew the physical cleansing power of water; they also knew that it represented God’s cleansing of our souls. Before every prayer time, the MNK use water to wash their hands, feet, and eyes, and to wash out their ears and mouths. If they are in the middle of the field and have no water for this process, they will pretend that it is there and mimic the washing process. Pray for the MNK to desire true cleansing from sin, not just washing away dirt.

Wed, Feb 12: Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the Lord, the spring of living water. – Jeremiah 17:13 Living Water: Source of Life Jeremiah knew God was the source of life, the living water. Jesus became the incarnation of Living Water. Those who know Christ are to pour out the Living Water to those who are parched. The MNK live in a land that is dry, both physically and spiritually. Pray for more workers to come, live, and pour out Living Water on the MNK; thank God for those who are already pouring.

Thu, Feb 13: Jesus said, “If any one is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” – John 7:37-38 Living Water: Channel of Grace. Jesus’ words are clear; we enjoy the inflowing spring of living water from Jesus, and we participate in the outpouring of living water to others. For the MNK, religion is something you do; it is what you are born as; it is a given. Grace has nothing to do with it. Living water flows; if it does not, it become stagnant and rancid. Pray for those few MNK believers not to allow their living water to become rancid; pray they will allow God’s spirit to continually and freely flow through them to their friends and family.

Fri, Feb 14: Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. – Isaiah 35:6-7 Living Water: Promise of Eternity. The contrasts Isaiah depicts here are tremendous…water gushing in the wilderness…streams in the desert…burning sand becoming a pool. The promise of eternity is not just a physical rest, but spiritual; we will be in the presence of God. For the MNK heaven is the place where everything that was denied on earth will be allowed; the concept of being before God’s face escapes them. Pray for the MNK to seize the opportunity to share in the promise of eternity before it is too late.

Sat, Feb 15: Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” – John 10:11 Good Shepherd: Defender. Boys between the ages of 8 and 15 are normally the ones charged with making sure the sheep find their way home at night. In this part of West Africa, the threat of lions and bears on sheep is nonexistent. Hyenas occasionally attack, but usually only at night. Bees, however, are a different story, and there is no defense against angry, attacking bees. They sting any living thing, man or beast; the stings are known to kill sheep and shepherds alike. Pray for the MNK to look to Jesus as their personal shepherd; pray they will understand that the Good Shepherd not only desires to take care of them, but loves them beyond human comprehension.

Sun, Feb 16: Jesus said, “Whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.” – John 10:9 Good Shepherd: Provider of Rest. MNKs are survivalists in the truest sense of the word. They survive from one day to the next. From the day a child is born, his caloric intake is barely sufficient for basic growth. During the rainy season, when physical labor is at its peak, most MNKs expend far more calories than they ingest. The goal of having plenty is rarely attained. What they don’t yet realize is that God has provided a way to more than just survive this life on earth. He has provided an avenue of peace with Him, peace in this life, and in our eternal rest. Pray for the MNK to desire to know the Good Shepherd, the one who cares, provides, and keeps us secure.

Mon, Feb 17: Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” – John 10:14,16 Good Shepherd: Seeker of Lost Sheep. Sheep get themselves lost quite easily! Horses, sheep, goats, donkeys, and chickens roam about every MNK village. Horses are used for farming and carts, as are donkeys. Chickens really do run the roost, sleeping in their own houses every night. Sheep and goats are watched carefully, for they serve as a type of bank account. Goats take care of themselves, but sheep don’t know when to get out of the rain! They need a shepherd, a guide, to show them the way home every night. Pray for the day when the MNK will hear the voice of Jesus, and recognize Him as the Messiah.

Tue, Feb 18: Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate [door] for the sheep. – John 10:7 Good Shepherd: Door Recently we were attacked by an angry swarm of bees; literally hundreds of bees descended upon us and stung us relentlessly. If it had not been for the door of an MNK family, the situation would have been much worse. This family led us by the hand into their house; they opened a door for us, and closed it to protect us from more bees. They took us into a room and gave us shelter. They looked after us until they were sure all the bees were off our bodies. They wanted us to stay until the bees moved on in an hour or so. Pray for those of us working among the MNK to have this same sense of urgency in sharing about the Good Shepherd; Satan attacks like a swarm of bees; only in Jesus will they find true refuge.

Wed, Feb 19: Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people? – Jeremiah 8:22 Great Physician: Healer of Sickness Among the MNK, disease is rampant. Diarrhea kills many, mostly children, every year. Malaria is uncontrolled; tuberculosis is on the increase. Hepatitis is common; HIV infection is on the rise. When an MNK becomes ill, the concern is not so much what made him sick, which disease, but who! To find this out, and to exact a cure, the MNK goes to the marabou (mare’ ah boo) to acquire a stronger amulet, or charm. Modern medicine may be able to cure the physical illness of the MNK, but only the Gospel can cure their condition before God. Pray for those working among the MNK to depend upon the power of prayer in all situations; pray that we will make use of our unlimited access to the Great Physician.

Thu, Feb 20: Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know, I was blind but now I see! – John 9:25 Great Physician: Healer of Sin The man born blind could testify only what he knew. He knew that before his encounter with Jesus, he was blind. And he knew that after his encounter with Jesus, he could see. The MNK spend much of their lives working to forge the gulf that exists between them and God. They know they are not righteous before God; they only hope that after they spend a period of time in Hell, God will be kind enough to let them into heaven. Pray for the few MNKs who truly know God to boldly testify what they know: before their encounter with Jesus they were sinners, unrighteous before God, but now they have been healed of their sins.

Fri, Feb 21: Jesus said, “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ.” – Matthew 23:8,10 Rabbi: Teacher Within MNK society, being an Islamic teacher is a highly cherished, high sought-after, highly coveted position. Village men will rarely answer a question regarding religion if there is an imam (ee’ mom) present. They defer to the one who has knowledge. New MNK converts have the same perception. Since they have not spent years studying the Bible formally, they think they are inadequate to tell what they do know…Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected. Education is important, but not as important as personal experience. Pray for new MNK believers to grow in their personal knowledge of Christ; pray for them to have boldness as they are guided and taught by the Holy Spirit.

Sat, Feb 22: After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. – Luke 2:46-47 Rabbi: Authority In the Jewish system, unlike the Pharisees, a rabbi was one who knew the Law and had not forgotten the Giver of the law; they were considered truthful men. Having just a little knowledge of the Qu’ran or the Arabic language gives Islamic teachers complete authority. They often contradict not only themselves, but the Qu’ran and one another as well. Most MNKs defer to anyone who apparently has more knowledge on the subject of religion than they do, and they NEVER challenge anything said, even if they know it to be incorrect. Pray for the MNK to come to the Rabbi who has all knowledge; pray for them to seek the Truth, and to hold on to it tightly.

Sun, Feb 23: She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). – John 20:16 Rabbi: Master This term, Rabboni, is an even more respectful term than Rabbi, and carries the sense of “my Lord and Master.” Jesus summarized all the Laws in this: This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. – John 15:12 His life exemplified all that He commanded us to do. The MNK don’t trust anyone, including one another. While outwardly hospitable and open to the Gospel, they hold tightly to their superstitions and distrust of everyone. They don’t even really trust Islam, but they have nothing else. Pray for the MNK to hear the Truth with open ears, learning about their true Master in whom they can entrust their eternal souls.

Mon, Feb 24: Jesus said, “I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” – Revelation 22:16 Bright Morning Star An MNK’s religious life is controlled by the moon. One of the symbols of Islam is a star and the crescent moon. Rather than seeing the star as a significant part of God’s creation, they are ruled by it. Jesus’ title of Bright Morning Star indicates He is the light of salvation to all. Pray for the MNK to see the Bright Morning Star, not in terms of what they must or must not do, but in terms of their relationship with God.

Tue, Feb 25: Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12 Light of the World Light not only drives away darkness, but it reveals the truth. We see clearly in the light. MNK women cook every meal over an open fire; wood is burned between three rocks on which they place their cooking pot. The smoke in the cookhouse is heavy, and the women squint in order to protect their eyes. Even in the bright light of day, they are work in twilight. Pray for the MNK to see that only by the light of Jesus will they ever be able to perceive themselves as God does; pray for the MNK as Paul said: For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8).

Wed, Feb 26: Jesus said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” – Revelation 22:13 Alpha and Omega MNKs, and Muslims in general, do not accept that Jesus is the Son of God. Consequently they have great difficulty with the concept of Jesus being with God in the beginning. They believe the final revelation came through the prophet Mohammed. But Scripture is clear. Pray for the MNK to accept Christ as God’s Son, as the avenue through which sins are forgiven, as truly the Alpha and Omega.

Thu, Feb 27: And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Might God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6 Prince of Peace The Mandinka have an expression: Peace is Everything. It doesn’t matter if I tell a lie, if telling the truth would have somehow hurt you. It doesn’t matter if I take what isn’t mine, as long as we keep unity between us. Maintaining harmonious relationships is extremely important to an MNK. Men must not fight; wives of the same husband must not fight; friends must not fight. But their lives are NOT filled with inner peace. Pray for the MNK to come to know the Prince of Peace who is able to fill their souls with joy, contentment, and assurance of salvation.

Fri, Feb 28: Jesus said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” – Luke 19:10 Son of God: Son of Man For the MNK, this is the most unreasonable of all of Jesus’ names. Jesus canNOT be the Son of God, because God had no wife. Calling Himself the Son of Man revealed Jesus’ true nature. Jesus is fully divine and fully human. The Son of God became Son of Man to redeem the MNK, to resurrect the redeemed, to ascend and prepare a place in glory, and to return again to judge the world. Pray for the MNK to have the gift of faith to accept Jesus as the Son of God and the Son of Man.