Reach people for Christ - Support a Bible Worker

Denis, a Bible worker, is preparing for a big baptism this week.  He has over 100 people in a small village in norther Niger who are ready to make a commitment to follow the God who Loves people.  They live in an area where terrorism is a constant threat.  Everyone knows what it is like to evacuate because the rebels are coming.  Most have lost personal belongings to raiding parties.  The rebels also do things like cut down power poles to make life difficult for them.

But Denis tells them stories of a God who loves them.  A God who created the world in 6 days, then set aside the 7thas a day of rest.  A God who gave them 10 rules to show how to live in love toward God and other people.  A God who chose Abraham as His friend and blessed his descendants and all who chose to follow.  A God who became a human being to show them true love and to ransom them from a life of slavery to sin.  And a God who promises to come back and take everyone who loves and follows Him to Heaven, even if they have already died.  These stories bring HOPE.

A baptism in this part of the world takes a fair bit of preparation.  It’s too dangerous to have the baptism down at the river now.  The church doesn’t have a baptistry.  So they will use a feeding trough and fill it with water.  No running water.  So a donkey will bring water in 50-gallon drums to be emptied out into the trough.  Several trips later the makeshift baptistry is full of water and ready.

Denis teaches from the Bible and also uses the Bible in Living Sound stories to teach God’s story of love.  He teaches entire families, the grandparents, parents and the children.  This helps them remain in community and have a support system.

We are so excited to be able to support Denis in his ministry for God.  And to welcome all these new believers into God’s worldwide Church family.

Praise to God, the Lord God Almighty, for the 74 People baptized in Niger in March! 

"I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”  Luke 15:10

Restoration seeks to help people experience the Unfailing Love of the Creator God.  Denis is a Bible worker in the country of Niger.  He lives and works in a dangerous part of the country, with heavy terrorist activity.  His heart is devoted to relieving both physical burdens and restoring spiritual peace by teaching them to know the Merciful God of the Bible.  Denis teaches whole families, Grandparents, Parents, and Children, from the Bible.  He also uses the Bible in Living Sound stories in West African French to help people know God better.  He has trained several to help him as Evangelists.  Denis has recently prepared 140 people for baptism. Due to terrorists in the area, they felt it was too dangerous to attempt the baptism of 140 people on Sabbath. Monday is the market day for his village. So it would be easier and safer to get a group together on a Monday.  

Due to it being the dry season, water is difficult to find. He wanted to have the celebration at the church, but it does not have a baptistry or water to fill a baptistry.  See THIS POST​ A heart for sharing the Good News of a God who Loves people (agrre.org) to see how Denis worked around that problem.

On Monday, a truck was sent to bring people to the baptism. Most of them live many kilometers from the village Denis works in.  The first truckload of people had grain to be milled in town on this market day. The truck was stopped by terrorists and all the people were forced to descend. They took grain from 14 people.  But God protected them. The terrorists ordered them back into the truck and let them continue to Market. The truck driver returned for the other group, but advised them to return home and come back another day.  So he sent them away.  He didn't want to risk another trip that day.

Some of the leaders of the local congregation were invited to come witness the baptism; but not the whole church.  It would be too many people and arouse too much suspicion.

Seventy-four people were baptized this day, in the makeshift baptistry in Denis' courtyard.  See pictures and videos below.  We have many more.  Contact us if you would like to see more.  We are reluctant to share too many details on the Internet for their safety.  If there is rejoicing in Heaven over 1 sinner who repents, imagine the celebration in Heaven over 74 people who have changed their course and set their eyes on God!

May God bless and protect each one, those baptized, those turned away, and Faithful Pastor Denis. May God also work on the hearts of the terrorists! What would your church be like if 74 people were baptized on one day?

Praise God, Denis reports that Everyone returned home safe and sound!