Testimonies

“I am Betty from Isiolo. A few years ago, I was in the same situation that Pastor Joshua and Joanna were in. My child had a problem with his bones. I was told by the doctors that he would never walk nor stand, and that he has only a few months to live. Every time we prayed, we reminded God that He is our creator.

Just like Pastor Joshua, we almost gave up, but God did it. Our son is able to walk, and he is not dead. He is three years old now. Sharing their story has given me strength to trust God even more knowing that the God of America is also the God of Africa. Just like the candle that we were given, my light and my faith in God will keep glowing. I will not allow Satan to take the place of Christ in my life.”

“I am Mrs. Kinyua from Kirinyanga. I am a Kikuyu by birth. The women’s conference was an eye opener for me.

Being from the Kikuyu tribe, we are a proud people and we always think that others are to always serve us. This was the first time in my life for anyone to wash my feet. This really humbled me to learn that I need to serve others, and that pride can chase God from my life. I want to serve God wholeheartedly, and I can
only do that by serving others.

The last gift from the conference was the chronological booklets we received which have given me a starting point to serve others by teaching them Bible stories. I have a group of women who now meet in my house to listen to the Bible stories. I could not have done this if not for the booklets which I received
from the conference. I take this opportunity to thank our teachers for giving us another chance in life.”

“My name is Anastasia and I am from Meru, Kenya. This was my first conference to attend. I thank God that I was able to attend. I learned new truths about God, especially concerning my relationship with Him. My greatest lesson was the
spraying of our sins that keeps God away from us just like the insecticide that keeps mosquitoes away. I learned that pride kills, but that humility gives life. I trust God that I might attend again next year.”

From Bithian in Kapsobet, Kenya:

“The Lord remains faithful. We human beings were born of sin, but saved by His grace. Even with the grace of God, the world is still divided among those who receive the grace of our Lord Jesus, and those who refuse to obey the grace and follow the father of destruction, the devil.

Young boys and girls in schools are not any different. They have to decide which tribe to belong to, but how will they decide if they do not know the truth? How will they get the truth?

God has used the chronological Bible stories to bring the truth to these students. Since we began teaching the stories in schools a few years ago, we can humbly say
that there have been over 400 students who have come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Prayer has been a key in all our meetings, and we have seen God answer our prayers. Teachers, too, have joined in prayer with us, and have been a great pillar and example to the students.

One of those who has come to believe in Christ is William:

‘My name is William and I am a beneficiary of the chronological lessons. I was sodomized by my uncle at the age of twelve, and I have lived with the shame for years. My father would not even defend me even after I had reported this to him.

My life has also been full of physical pain as my anus was torn, and had to be stitched up. My uncle ran to an unknown place where he stayed for years.

When I came to school, I was afraid that the bigger boys would do the same to
me. I was not able to sleep at night because of this fear. This also affected my academic performance.

When I attended the chronological teachings, I wanted to learn more and maybe get some answers to the questions I had. “Why did God allow this to happen to me? Why would my uncle do this?”

I have learned that only Jesus is good, and that He is the way, the truth, and the life. Listening to and reading the stories, I learned that others, like me, have suffered.

Abel was killed by his brother Cain. Joseph was sold by his brothers. All of this is Satan’s doing. Therefore, I decided that I wanted to be on the winning side with Christ. Our Savior alone can save us from the destroyer.

Now, I am free from fear and pain. My Savior has healed my body and my soul. I have forgiven my uncle, and I pray for him that God would save him wherever He is.”

This is the shortest term in the academic calendar in Kenya as we have national year-end exams. William and many others will be having their exams and leaving the schools to join universities and other colleges. As they leave, my prayer is to give them the last lessons to continue on their own and the first lessons to go and start teaching others where they go.

Please pray with me that God will provide funds for 500 copies of lessons 43-50, 51-60, 61-68 and lessons 1-10. These would be a great gift as we send them to reach out to others.

Pray for students who are going through pains that only they know. Pray for the Holy Spirit to keep and sustain those who have given their lives to Christ. Pray for provision as we need the booklets before the government locks us out of schools starting next month. Pray for wisdom as many schools want us to start teaching in their schools next year. We pray that we will make the right decisions, that God will direct us to where He wants us to go. Thank you so much for your support.”

Bithian Asigi

David Okurut reports from Uganda:

“Area 40 is one of the most Muslim populated areas in our district. Most believers even fear to share their faith openly due to the persecution and harsh treatment of the Christians.

When we began our home fellowship in Area 40 using the chronological booklets, very few people attended and most of them were very fearful. After one month, the fellowship began to increase in number, and people started sharing their faith openly in their homes and with their friends.

Two weeks ago, some brothers in the fellowship decided to openly share their faith with love in the streets. One of them, Yusuf Hussein, said this:

‘I have never shared my faith with anyone. I come from a Muslim family. Sharing my faith as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is prohibited, and can bring death. My parents have always felt bad because I am a “Kaffir” (an unbeliever according to Islam) but since I started sharing the Bible stories with them and praying for them, they have shown much interest in learning.

Today is my first time to be in the streets to share the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am happy, and I thank Jesus Christ for using me to bring a light to Area 40. I pray that I will keep learning more of the Word of God so that I can share more.’

I am glad that the open street evangelism not only brought boldness to this team, but also that four new believers have joined our fellowship.”

From a woman who is now a part of an ADC in Burundi (Name withheld to save her image):

“Two years ago, my life was almost ruined. I found myself picking up papers in the street and eating from trash cans in the market. I was mentally ill.

My family was ashamed of me and didn’t know what to do with me. They kept me locked up at home for weeks trying to hide their shame. They even took me to many native, herbal doctors, but nothing worked. I guess they got tired and gave up on me. Then, they set me loose. Even my own family abandoned me!

That’s when I found myself in the streets. I had to wander the streets picking up papers, eating trash, and sleeping in unfinished buildings. For several nights I would come back to my senses, and I would cry, but then, I was helpless because after a few minutes, it was back. I was all alone with no one to help me. I had no hope, no home, and no one to love me.

But then, God showed me love and gave me another chance. A kind person saw me, took me to church to pray, and they read some Bible stories to me from the chronological booklets. I enjoyed listening to the stories so much.

Later, the church had me admitted into a psychiatric hospital to get help for my mind. Prayer sessions were organized for me almost every week, and even in the hospital, the Bible stories were my lullaby. I remembered one of the stories of how God saved the Israelites from slavery and I prayed that God would save me too from the shame I was facing. Soon, I started to feel better and started reading the booklets by myself. I kept crying to the Lord for healing.

Today, I’m completely healed and happy! I am married to the man whom God sent to be with me, and we now have a beautiful daughter. Please help me to thank God for being so kind and merciful. He gave me another chance at life.

The booklets gave me strength as they taught me of a Savior I did not know. I forgave my family for rejecting me and I rejoice because the Lord has blessed me with a bigger family of brothers and sisters.”

Yes, we serve a God of second chances. Thank You, Lord, for your healing power. Wycliffe

From brother Julius Khaemba in Butenga, Uganda

John 12:24 “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

“This has been a scripture in my heart since we attended the chronological booklet
teachings in Butenga house fellowship in 2022 July. While there, I learned about the Word of God.

The very first questions propelled me towards the great need to share my faith: ‘Will you share the Word of God to others, since it is more important than your chief’s message?’ and ‘Why is the Word of God the most important message?’

These two important questions opened my heart since I was lost in drugs and women. I chose to change and walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.

When the teaching was done I was among those who were baptized by Brother Bright and Joseph. I went home happy that I was transformed.

I shared my faith though many who knew me didn’t believe me. They thought that I was only joking. Others only gave me a week to go back to my former life.

I kept reading the booklets and sharing and through the booklets, my faith grew.

I found brothers to share the Word of God with others and two years later, thirty new believers have been baptized. We now have three house fellowships.

Thank you for having allowed the Lord Jesus Christ to use you to transform my life. Thank you as well for the booklets. I am praying to have more classes to be fruitful, to multiply, and to fill the earth.”

Brother Julius Khaemba.

Testimony from a Maasai in Kenya, Tanzania:

“My name is Lenrok. I was among those who believed stealing other people’s cows would prove me to be a man. When our chief started reading some Maasai Bible stories to us, I thought it was a joke, that he was becoming weak, and that we needed to replace him. I started a revolt within the group and we rebelled against our chief who had become a Christian.

We planned to attack another village and steal without our chief’s consent. One of our members heard us and reported us to our chief who preached to us and warned us of consequences if we did not stop stealing.

Just as people in the Bible stories were rebellious like Satan, I wanted to be my own god, just like Satan wanted to be like God. Just like Satan, we disobeyed our chief and God. We went and attacked another village. Three of us were killed and I lost a finger on my left hand. Since then, I have decided to continue to listen to and to read the booklets. I gave my life to Jesus. I won’t disobey again.”