Burkina newsletter #30

Greetings from Burkina Faso! A couple weeks ago I did some research among the Zaorsé people. We knew there were many Baptist churches among them but needed to update our statistics. I was pleased to learn that there are 57 Baptist churches and almost 5,000 believers among an ethnic group of only about 28,000 people. That’s simply amazing! Unfortunately there is no other people group in Burkina in which we have seen similar results from Baptist work. So of course we look at this example and try to learn some secrets of this spiritual success. Ultimately we know that God gets all credit and glory for the fruit that has been seen there. Yet if we look at the missionary dealings among the Zaorsé we notice that this is one of the places where we had the longest, sustained presence of full-time missionaries. Our team’s main purpose is to connect churches and short-term teams with unengaged people groups. We are truly thankful for the churches who are answering this call and God is using them. However this strategy has come about largely because there are not enough full-time, long-term missionaries to get the Gospel to the plethora of unreached people groups. Still the ideal is long-term, sustained ministry. So I just want to take this opportunity to challenge each of you to consider and pray about your role in the Great Commission. The Lord uses all sorts of people in all sorts of roles: prayers, givers, senders, short-term and long-term missionaries. All are necessary and important. May the Lord guide and use us all.

The other big happening over the last couple weeks was Southside Baptist’s (Lufkin TX) ministry among the Sambla people. Although the team was somewhat hindered by a little sickness, still the love of God was shared. New relationships were built and old relationships were strengthened. The team also picked up a little language. Please continue to pray for the Sambla people.

Before taking on their current role on the Engagement Team, my supervisors, David and Tami Wood, were the leaders of the Marensé team (during my first term). The Marensé are a small people group found in north-central Burkina. Part of the ministry that some of the team members took part in was to begin the translation of the New Testament into Marensé. Even after full-time missionaries left their area, Marensé believers continued the project. The Marensé New Testament has just recently been completed and has now been printed. Several former Journeymen from the Marensé team (some of my very good friends) are thus coming back to help dedicate and distribute the New Testament. The first of the team members will arrive tomorrow (the 17^th) and most will be gone by the 1^st of November. That is what I’ll be up to the next couple weeks.

Immediately after that I’ll be taking a four day vacation/adventure to northern Burkina to see some dunes, camels, and other deserty stuff. I’ll be joined by several of my good friends working here in Burkina (peace corps and orphanage workers) and one of the former Marensé team members.

Praise God for:

* the many churches and believers among the Zaorsé people.
* the completion of the New Testament in Marensé.
* Southside Baptist’s dedication to reaching the Sambla for Christ.

Please pray for:

* God’s direction in your own life concerning how He can use you in the Great Commission.
* the upcoming dedication and distribution of the Marensé New Testament. Pray that there would be many opportunities to share the Truth and that many would accept it.
* a safe and enjoyable vacation/adventure to the north.

As always thanks so much for your continued prayers and support. I also want to inform you of a new website for viewing some of my photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/kerrylspencer. I plan to update the pics periodically. Enjoy. God bless!

Final thought:

Our young men are going into the professional fields because they don’t “feel called” to the mission field. We don’t need a call; we need a kick in the pants!

~ Jim Elliott