1 May 2003 

Dear Faithful Ones,

 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught Peter.  “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” – Matthew 14:31

 Personal encounters with Christ!  This concept is a reality completely foreign to the Mandinka.  They do not believe God is able, let alone desirous, of having a personal relationship with man.  He is distant; he is capricious; he is completely out of the reach of the ordinary man or woman.  Yet this is the very characteristic that Christ exemplified during His life on earth.  Christ spoke with everyone; He physically touched many; He empathized with all; He became the link of reconciliation between the Creator and His highest creation.  

 This month, we are examining a variety of personal encounters with Jesus recorded in Scripture; many were direct; many were indirect; all had to do with faith.  As you pray this month, as God to make your encounters with Him more real and poignant than ever before.

 May 1, 2003 is the National Day of Prayer in the United States.  Consider a period of fasting and prayer, asking for God’s Spirit to envelope the world.  Please pray for the MNK, and the thousands of other unreached, unevangelized people groups around the world, to have ears to hear the truth of the Gospel, and eyes to recognize a personal encounter with Jesus.  Continue to pray for all those involved in conflict areas around the world, military and civilians alike. 

 A few personal notes.  The Kelly family (Richard, Fran, Alex, Daniel & Patrick) is preparing for a well-deserved stateside assignment.  After four years in West Africa, they are ready for an opportunity for both spiritual and physical refreshment.  At present, they are finishing up many storying groups they started in our area.  Begin praying for them now to be protected from Satanic attacks during these last few months.  I am facing shoulder surgery on April 28 in Florida.  Please pray for the doctor and for my recovery.  The doctor is telling me 4-6 weeks minimum for physical therapy; I’d sure like to return home before then!  Chris will return to the field on May 5-6.  We are confident in God’s providence and care.

 Your sister on the MNK field, 

 

MNK Update May 2003

Thu, May 1:  “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” – John 12:21  People came from near and far, Jews and non-Jews, to see Jesus, to experience His physical healing, to witness His miracles, to listen to His radical teaching.  It is impossible to come away from a real encounter with Jesus unchanged, in one way or another.  Pray for the MNK to desire to encounter the Resurrected Christ.

Fri, May 2:  “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.  For nothing is impossible with God.” – Luke 1:30-32,35,37  Mary’s first encounter with Jesus was the announcement of His birth by the angel Gabriel at the time of His conception.  Mary was a young,  engaged, unmarried virgin…what an encounter!  Her unbridled faith in God allowed her to accept the seemingly unacceptable.  Pray for MNKs to be set free of the bondage that does not allow them to believe the seemingly unbelievable.

 Sat, May 3:           When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  In a loud voice she exclaimed:  “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.  Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.” – Luke 1:41-45  This encounter with the as yet unborn Christ was experienced by at least three persons:  Mary, Elizabeth, and Elizabeth’s unborn son, John the Baptist.  Elizabeth’s sensitivity to God allowed her to recognize the leaping of her son within her womb as an affirmation of this unique event.  Pray that MNKs will become sensitive to out-of-the-ordinary encounters with God.

 Sun, May 4:           An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.”  When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.  She gave birth to a son.  And he gave him the name Jesus. – Matthew 1:20-21,24-25  Joseph’s encounter with Jesus was unique.  He was Jesus’ biological father, but God entrusted him with the responsibility of training and nurturing this child.  Joseph’s personal relationship with God was forever changed when he encountered his infant son…all because he listened when the angel appeared to him in a dream.  Pray for God’s Spirit to encounter MNKs in dreams and visions; pray for MNKs to allow themselves to be touched by Christ.   

 Mon, May 5:           And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” – Luke 2:8-11  It’s dark in the wilderness at night.  No street lights.  No flashlights.  Then suddenly a bright light from an unexplained source!  The shepherds listened to the pronouncement and then went to see for themselves if “this thing” really happened.  The most remarkable aspect to this whole story is verse 20:  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.  Reality.  Pray for MNKs to grasp the reality God has for them in their individual and community lives.

 Tue, May 6:  Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout.  He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  Simeon praised God saying, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.  For my eyes have seen your salvation.” – Luke 2:25-26,28-30  Simeon’s life culminated in his encounter with Christ.  His praises included that Christ would be a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.  He saw this as the fulfillment of all that was written in Scripture.  The Gentiles include the MNK!  Pray for the MNK to see Christianity not as a religion, but as the bridge between God and man.

 Wed, May 7:  There was also a prophetess, Anna.  She was very old.  She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.  Coming up to them (Joseph, Mary, & Jesus) at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. – Luke 2:36-38  Anna’s encounter with Christ was brief…it probably lasted a few minutes at most.  Yet she spoke about him to all who were within earshot range!  Jesus did not speak to her; Jesus did not heal her; Jesus did not perform a miracle for her; Jesus did nothing more spectacular than simply lie there!  Still, she recognized this infant as God’s redemption.  Anna fasted and prayed as a regular part of her life; this habit obviously kept her very in-tune with God.  Pray for the MNK to truly seek to know God as they fast and as they keep their ritual prayer times.

 Thu, May 8:  When the Magi saw the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.  And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. – Matthew 2:10-12  The wise men came from the east, the now Arab world, to worship Christ.  When they found Him, they were delighted.  While the gifts carried great monetary value, the greatest gift they gave was their worship.  As the saying goes, “Wise men still seek Christ.”  Pray for the MNK to learn to worship the Living Christ. 

 Fri, May 9:  Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.  He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child.  As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” – Matthew 2:7-8  It is recorded in Scripture that the Magi did not return to Herod with the information he requested; he became so angry he ordered all boys two years old and younger to be killed.  He thought his encounter with Jesus would get rid of any threat to his rule.  But he died before he was able to meet Jesus face to face on earth.  Pray for MNKs to meet Jesus face to face before the day of their final judgment.

 Sat, May 10:           After three days Joseph and Mary found Jesus 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  During the Feast of the Passover, the greatest rabbis of the land assembled to teach and to discuss great truths among themselves.  Jesus was found sitting among this group.  He was a well-trained young man; He knew to sit and listen politely.  But more than likely, He also asked probing questions, questions concerning the coming Messiah.  Over the next 20 years, surely these teachers remembered this young man, His demeanor, and the depth of His wisdom.  Were they among those who sought His crucifixion?  Pray for the MNK to desire to ask religious questions with minds and hearts open to God’s Spirit.

 Sun, May 11:           The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ.  John answered them all, “I baptize you with water.  But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” – Luke 3:15-16  Scripture does not tell us specifically, but presumably John and Jesus knew one another; they were after all cousins.  As adults, John knew God’s calling on his life.  He was able to express to the crowds that their desires and expectations would be fulfilled through another, through personal encounters with Jesus.  Pray for the MNK to desire to encounter the Living Christ.

 Mon, May 12:  Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.  After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.  Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan!  For it is written:  ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’  Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. – Matthew 4:1,10-11  This is the first recorded encounter Jesus had with Satan.  Immediately after His baptism, Christ went into the wilderness; He knew what would happen…why else would He have been fasting?  But even Satan tried to change Jesus rather than allowing Christ to impact him.  The MNK do not allow for the fact that God can change lives; they only allow for Him to change His mind, and to cause evil to happen to them.  Pray for the MNK to come to know Christ and the fullness of His power as God’s only Son.

 Tue, May 13:  Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”  Nathanael asked, “Nazareth!  Can anything good come from there?”  Philip said, “Come and see.” – John 1:44-46  This is the crux of an encounter with Jesus…we must come and see for ourselves!  Every encounter with Christ has an impact on a life; sometimes it is accepted…often it is not.  The plight of the MNKs is that they need to at least take a look.  Pray for the MNK as they listen to Bible narratives; pray they will not be afraid of comparing Truth against Islam.

 Wed, May 14:  In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.  So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the moneychangers and overturned their tables.  To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here!  How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” – John 2:14-16  This encounter with Jesus quickly dispels any myths about Him being a weak-willed man.  We can imagine Him running throughout the temple courts, chasing people out, overturning tables, flailing His whip everywhere…people must have thought He was a crazy!  And this was not the only time Jesus made a scene at the temple.  Were there any who recognized His rantings as Scripture quotations?  Pray for the MNK to sift out everything peripheral to their relationship with God; pray they will become zealous for Truth, not religion.

 Thu, May 15:  Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council.  He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God.  For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” – John 3:1-2  The story of Nicodemus is well known; this is where the expression born again comes from.  Why did Nicodemus seek to have a personal encounter with Jesus at night?  Perhaps he was afraid of what his colleagues would think.  His stature was such that he could have sent an assistant to ask Jesus to come to him, but he didn’t; he examined Jesus for Himself; he asked the questions which were in his own heart and mind; he worked at making sense of his head knowledge and his observations.  Pray for the MNK to seek out believers…whether under the cover of darkness or not; pray they will find answers to their questions.

 Fri, May 16:  Jesus sat down by the well.  When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”  The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman.  How can you ask me for a drink?” – John 4:7-9  The Samaritan woman’s encounter with Jesus was multi-faceted.  Not only was she a Samaritan, but a woman, and a divorced woman at that!  No self-respecting rabbi would have anything to do with her.  On the surface, all Jesus wanted was a drink of water.  Yet, his willingness to engage her in conversation not only shocked her, but comforted her as well.  Jesus’ ministry was for all mankind, including Samaritans, women and the MNK.  The most amazing part of her story is this:  Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony (v39).  Pray for MNKs to listen to the testimonies of other believers, whether from MNKs, or Jolas, or Fulas, or Malinkes, or missionaries!

 Sat, May 17:  The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”  Jesus replied, “You may go.  Your son will live.”  The man took Jesus at his word and departed.  While he was on his way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.  The father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.”  So he and all his household believed. – John 4:49-53  The government official who came to Jesus took Jesus at His word…he didn’t have to see the miracle to believe it happened.  Yet when he did see it, this encounter had a profound effect on him, and his entire household.  They believed!  Pray for the MNK to believe the miracles as recorded in Scripture; pray for them to recognize God’s miraculous intervention in their lives everyday.

 Sun, May 18:  Jesus said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”  Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.  But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”  When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.  – Luke 5:4-6  Can’t you just hear Peter?  “You’re a pretty good carpenter, and a very perceptive rabbi; but what the heck do you know about fishing?  But if you say so…”  Then the nets began to rip!  This monumental encounter with Jesus in Peter’s life was just one in a long line!  How many times did Peter have to experience Jesus in order to truly believe who he was?  How many times must an MNK hear the Gospel before he or she will believe?  Pray for MNKs to grasp the lessons already learned by others in Scripture.

 Mon, May 19:  Jesus told Levi the tax collector, “Follow me.” Levi got up and followed him.  While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” were eating with him and his disciples. – Mark 2:14-15  When Levi (Matthew) left his tax collecting job, he moved into permanent unemployment.  He was a despised element in society, yet Jesus saw something in him that the religious leaders were blind to – his value to God.  And Levi obviously experienced something unique in his encounter with Jesus!  Levi invited not only Jesus to dinner, but threw a dinner party and invited other “sinners”!  His desire was to share the new “family” he discovered in Christ.  Pray for the few MNK believers to accept their responsibility in sharing the joy of the Gospel.

 Tue, May 20:  One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.  When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”  The invalid replied, “Sir, I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred.  While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”  The Jesus said to him, “Get up!  Pick up your mat and walk.”  At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.  The day on which this took place was a Sabbath. – John 5:5-9  This man had been lying in Jerusalem for 38 years!  No one had ever helped him; he had no hope of every being healed, and no desire to help himself.  He had sunk into what John Bunyan called “the pit of despair.”  His situation looked hopeless, until his encounter with Jesus.  Pray that MNKs to look to Jesus in all circumstances.

 Wed, May 21:  Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down.  His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. – Matthew 5:1-2  During the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus impacted thousands of lives.  Each encounter was unique, but each encounter was also exactly the same – Jesus taught that faithful obedience of the heart was more important than position, authority or money.  The masses could not have listened to these teachings over several days without being affected.  Pray for MNKs to not harden their hearts to the teachings of Jesus; pray that opportunities to hear the Gospel truths will occur daily.

 Thu, May 22:  As Jesus approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out – the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.  A large crowd from the town was with her.  When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”  Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still.  He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”  The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.  They were all filled with awe and praised God. – Luke 7:12-16  Compassion was a significant feature in Jesus’ ministry.  It was not the dead man on whom He had compassion, but on the man’s mother.  This story is powerful among MNK women; they know that widows with no sons have no one to care for them in their old age.  That produces much fear in their hearts.  Pray that those who share the Gospel among the MNK will take full advantage of the stories in Scripture that build bridges between the MNK and Christ.

 Fri, May 23:  That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.”  Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat.  A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.  Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.  The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” – Mark 4:35-38  The disciples learned anew that Jesus is Lord over all creation.  Was Jesus really asleep?  Scripture says He was.  Were they really in danger of their boat being swamped?  Apparently.  Were they in danger of drowning?  Perhaps.  Looking through human eyes, the disciples could not see the complete image of Christ’s character.  When Jesus calmed the wind and the waves, they were terrified, not of the storm now, but of Him.  Pray for MNKs to acknowledge Jesus as Lord of all Creation.

 Sat, May 24:  Jesus welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.  Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and find food and lodging.”  Jesus replied, “You give them something to eat.”  They answered, “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish.”  This encounter with Jesus ended with more than 5,000 people being filled, physically and spiritually!  Once again the disciples were amazed at what He did…there were 12 basketfuls of broken pieces left over.  Scripture doesn’t tell us how many people were able to recognize the miracle they witnessed that day, but the disciples did!  Pray for those who work among the MNK to exemplify Christ in every facet of their lives.

 Sun, May 25:  Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this.  Nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him.  Rather it is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean’.  For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.  All these evils come from inside a make a man ‘unclean.’” – Mark 7:14-15,20-23  The Pharisees who were listening to these words of Jesus were holding to legalistic practices.  They followed strict dietary laws and had detailed Sabbath regulations.  Jesus was making the point that it is a man’s heart where filth begins.  MNKs also adhere to strict outward Islamic rules…what to eat…when to pray…how to fast.  Pray for MNKs to desire purity within their hearts and souls, not just in their diet.

 Mon, May 26:  The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery.  They made her stand before the group.  Jesus said, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”  At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.  Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they?  Has no one condemned you?  Then neither do I; go now and leave your life of sin.” – John 8:3-4,7,9-10  This woman’s encounter with Jesus was a frightening experience; she was about to be stoned to death.  Jesus brought God’s mercy and judgment out of the community level to a personal level.  Jesus didn’t condemn her, but neither did he ignore or condone her sin.  MNKs believe they can do things to gain God’s forgiveness.  Purity of life is not part of their thought process.  Pray for MNKs to desire to lead holy lives for God’s sake, not mans.

 Tue, May 27:  As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. – Luke 10:38  Jesus became very good friends with this family.  Martha was the quintessential hostess, always concerned about providing properly for Jesus.  But that meant she spent more time doing than being.  Every Islamic holiday celebrated by MNKs finds women preparing and cooking all the food; since Islam does not include women in religious activities, they are more like Martha.  They miss out on religious teaching; they do not know it is for them.  Pray for MNK women to desire to know God in a personal way.   

 Wed, May 28:  Martha had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. – Luke 10:40  Mary chose to sit and listen to Jesus’ teaching rather than helping her sister with food and other preparations.  Both activities were important within their society.  It was unusual for a Jewish woman to be concerned with religious teachings.  Jesus praised Mary’s choice, while encouraging Martha to find a balance in her household responsibilities and her desire to know more about Christ.  Pray that MNK women will find balance in their physically demanding, spiritually deficient lives.

 Thu, May 29:  Jesus spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.  Jesus told him, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam.”  So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.  The religious leaders turned to the blind man.  “What have you to say about him?  It was your eyes he opened.”  The man replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know.  One thing I do know.  I was blind but now I see!” – John 9:6-7,17,25  This man was just sitting there, basically minding his own business when he became the object of much debate.  Who sinned causing his blindness?  Who was this man who healed him?  How could a man of God heal on the Sabbath?  Finally the man born blind made the statement…One thing I do know.  I was born blind but now I see!  MNKs are missing out on personal encounters with God.  Pray for MNKs to encounter with Christ  in such a way that it cannot be denied!

 Fri, May 30:  Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”  Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me.”  When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. – Matthew 19:16,21-22  This young man was a good Jew.  He kept the Law.  He did all he was supposed to.  Apparently possessions were his downfall.  MNKs have very little in the way of personal possessions; wealth is not what keeps them from knowing God.  Rather it is their belief that they will earn God’s favor, by keeping fast, by giving to the poor, by praying five times a day.  Following Christ is not about doing; it is about being.  Pray for MNKs, who are poor and possession-less, to accept the free gift of salvation through a personal encounter with Christ.

Sat, May 31:  When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.  He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior. – Titus 3:5-6  The New Testament abounds with accounts of individuals encountering Jesus Christ…before His birth, during His earthly ministry, and after His death and resurrection.  Every encounter with Christ is a direct result of God’s everlasting love for mankind.  Pray for MNK men, women and children to long to discover God’s love through an encounter with Jesus Christ.