Worth the risk?

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West Africa

Posted by Justin Long ⋅ January 1, 2007 ⋅

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“Heavily veiled, she walked almost two miles to reach our office to beg for a Bible. We went through a Bible study with her and gave her what she requested. She quickly hid the precious book in her burka before making her long trek home.”

The story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 is the model for the Bible League’s ministry strategy. Working with believers across West Africa, Bible League-trained Christians engage others in a study of God’s Word.

“Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked. ‘How can I,’ he said, ‘unless someone explains it to me?’ So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.” Acts 8:30-31

During 2006, more than 360,000 Nigerians (out of almost 3.3 million worldwide) completed Bible League Bible studies. In Bible League’s first year of ministry in Niger, more than 7,000 people completed the studies. Each person received a copy of God’s Word. These studies were always with the help of a local Christian and always with the goal of bringing people into fellowship with Christ and with a local church.

After just one year in Niger, we have seen multiple confirmations of God’s direction to this hungry land. “No other evangelical ministry in Niger has accomplished so much in so short a time!” says a Christian leader in Niger.

“For many years, evangelism efforts stopped at the southern strip of Dogon and Doutchi and Maradi. Northern areas remain a challenge. For these areas to be touched, the Bible League with its practical method focused on evangelism and discipleship, is desperately needed. We need to work hand in hand,” said a missions leader in Niger.

Bible League national workers always partner with local national believers. We work to motivate churches that are not active in evangelism to engage in outreach to friends and neighbors using the Scriptures. This is important, because in urban areas there are many insular Christian congregations that are in a perfect position to impact the community. But they need training and Bibles.

Ministry in West Africa is often uncharted and uncertain. Civil war or natural disasters could be used by the evil one to stop the impact of this work. But the rewards are worth the risk. Providing the Gospel to tens of thousands of Hausa people who have never before heard the hope-filled message of Jesus Christ is worth the risk.

To learn more about Bible League ministry in West Africa and around the world, visit www.BibleLeague.org….

“The believers who receive Bible League Scriptures and training become like levers of influence—give us a place to stand, and we can move the world!” —Bible League Director