Testimonies

From South Sudan and a man of a Muslim background:

“When I received these booklets, I started learning with lots of eagerness, wanting to learn much more in the booklets. I took three days reading these booklets. I was hungry to learn the word of God.

When I reached Lesson 43 and the beginning of the New Testament, I met the question which shakes all of the Islamic world: Was God ever born? Did God give birth to Himself? Did Mary give birth to God?

I paused a little bit because this is so unacceptable in Islam. God cannot be born, and yet, Christians claim that Mary is the mother of God.

I immediately left everything, found my uncle, and asked him this question. He slapped me and chased me away. Later, I asked him why do we say that we love Jesus, yet we do not really value him as Muslims?

My uncle wanted to know where I got the booklets from, and wanted them, but I could only give him a few as I was still reading them.

Later, I learned that the son of Mary is fully man and fully God, born without sin, and therefore, is able to save us.

Looking at my life, I saw all of the evil things I have done–fighting, smoking, and raping children. I knew that I needed a person who could save me. The guilt was too much and I surrendered my life to Christ. Now, I have great peace and I want to share the story with my family. The booklets are lovely.”

Pray that the Mooro tribe will hear the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

In South Sudan, schools are closing down because of indiscipline and continuous tribal war.

The Dinkas have been in constant war with the Nubians, calling them all sorts of names, and this has brought much fighting. There are “fight teams” in the schools, fighting one another. There is drug abuse among the students, but also among the teachers. It is so bad that the students come to school with weapons like knives and machetes.

While we were having our teaching last week, we were studying the story of Noah and the ark. After sharing, many have said this:

“We have been like the people of Noah’s time. We have disobeyed our leaders. We have not listened to the voice of God. We have disobeyed God. We have trusted in our guns and our knives as our strength, and not in the ark of God.

Today we are no longer continuing in witchcraft. We have been so bad. We have been the children of the devil. We are now crossing over to become the children of God.”

These testimonies has so moved the teachers that two of them who are Muslims have asked that we continue to teach from the chronological booklets.

Thanks so much for your constant prayers. The harvest indeed is plenty. Let’s pray for more laborers.

In South Sudan, an average of twenty women on a daily basis show up at the health facility with bruises and wounds. Wife beating has robbed many families. Some of the wives end up being maimed because of the beatings. Others divorce and leave their family, making living very hard.

After having taught the booklets, we received this testimony from a man of the Koalib tribe in the Nuba mountains:

“Growing up in a Muslim culture teaches us that we need to beat our wives. Beautiful as women are, we have been taught that they are useless unless we beat them.

My first wife divorced me after I almost beat her to death. My Muslim brothers told me that this is the way that we show the women that we are a man. So, I beat her, and felt good seeing her wounds.

When we were taught the chronological booklets, of God’s creation and how He created a woman from man’s rib, it hurt me so much to the point that I realized that even though I had beaten my wife, I was truly beating myself. I hated myself and was so sad that I couldn’t get my wife back.

I could then see that I am really bad, full of hate and violence, and not at all a loving man. Our children have suffered so much such pain and shame.

Now that I have heard the Good News of a loving God, I have believed and I want to walk with my God. This journey is a new journey. I am making a decision after learning the truth. Thanks so much for sharing these booklets with us.”

From Fred, a teacher in one of the Kapsobet schools:

“Last year our school improved so much in our national exams. Thank you for the prayers and the changes in our girls. I have been a teacher here for six years, but such results have never before been achieved. We have experienced improved discipline, and hence, improved results. All these courtesy of chronological lessons.”

From one of the girl students in Kapsobet, Maurine Isinja:

“I am the first born in our family. Our father died when I was in Class Six. My mother must struggle to find food for us to eat, and even to buy clothes. Life was so difficult that I ended up on the streets to beg for food.

On the streets I found myself in wrong hands. I ended up engaging in early sex to get money to eat. When I got pregnant, I had an abortion that my mother did not know about. When I started back to school, one of the leaders forced me into sex. My life was hell. I was so stubborn because I was used to street life. I have been suspended from school three times.

After I started listening to the chronological lessons, I started thinking about my life. All that I wanted was to have a clean heart before God.

I am now a girl of God. I know that Jesus has forgiven me. I am a new creature. Only God can changes lives. I will not be suspended again.”

This report is from Bithian in western Kenya:

“Schools are heading to half term and so I have some time to report on what the Lord has done these past two months. We watched as the Holy Spirit was convicting students to surrender their lives to Christ.

In the past, we were only teaching the students who would attend the Christian Union club meetings, but his year, things have changed. In most schools, we are now allowed to teach the whole school. One of these schools is St Mary’s Yala
School run by Catholics. At first, they would only allow us to teach the Christian Union teachers, and the teachers thought that the booklets were too basic until they saw the changes in the girls. Now, we are reading chronological stories to the entire school.

A new school has joined us this year, the Gahubwa Girls High School. This is because of the testimonies from the other schools. None of the girls want to belong to the wrong tribe. We have had 340 students give their lives to Christ from the seven schools where we teach the chronological lessons.

Pray that God will use these booklets to bring more to the knowledge of the truth of His word. Pray for more teachers to come on board so that they can take over the lessons in their schools. We need more books so please pray that funds will be available for more copies. Pray for wisdom as we have more invitation to schools and we cannot be everywhere at the same time.”

This is from a young man from the Leera tribe in South Sudan:

“All of my family used to be Muslims. Many of the people I know are Muslims. As a Christian, I wanted to share God’s Word, but we were not allowed to preach the Gospel nor could we walk into the area with a Bible. If we would have done so, the chief would have banned us from the area, and would have killed anyone who would have listened to us.

When I came to have my exams and attended the teaching of the chronological booklets, I grew tremendously. I decided to share God’s Word using the booklets and their stories. The stories have touched a lot of people, and the people have responded to the point to where we now have Bible study.

The Muslim chief has been threatening us, yet the people greatly enjoy the booklets and want us to continue to teach them. Among them is an elderly imam (Islamic leader) who said this:

‘Now, I believe in Jesus as the Son of God. I believe that all men have lost their holiness because of sin. I need the holiness of Jesus and I believe in His holiness. I will not go to the mosque again as it is no help.’

Keep praying with us to be more bold to share the word of God. Pray for the Kaunyaru tribe and their chief.”

From a truck driver who listens to Wycliffe’s radio program:

“My name is Kennedy. I am a truck driver from Mombasa, Kenya to Kampala, Uganda. Most of the days, including Sundays, I am on the road.

I am hardly at home, so as a man, I have had several women on the road. Every town where I have slept, I have had a woman there. I almost forgot my son and my wife.

One day, on my way to Mombasa, I turned on the radio and I heard some teachings in my mother tongue. I got interested as I had never heard such teachings before. I parked the truck at the side of the road so that I could listen to the teachings.

The teacher said that God was sad with what He had created, and decided to wipe out everyone in the world. Only Noah and his family were left. People had turned away from God and had turned to prostitution, idolatry, and many other bad things.

The truth is that I was a prostitute. I was also an idol worshiped as I visited witch doctors to give me protection charms. A week ago, I lost a friend through an accident even though we all had the protection charm.

As I listened to the teachings. I started to discover myself. That day, I didn’t sleep in any town. I drove all the way to Mombasa. I was hurting inside.

The following week, as I was heading to Nakuru, Kenya, I heard the teachings again. I decided to go to a church that I saw on the way, but when I entered, the pastor was preaching nonsense so I left.

I have followed the teachings and decided to ask God to change me. I am back with my family. I listen to the teachings, and most of my questions are being answered. I believe that I will be completely changed very soon. Keep praying for me.”