Getting MAWLed in Sambava

 M.A.W.L. model, assist, watch, and leave. One of the teaching methods that we use to teach, encourage, and prepare new Bible study/house church leaders to be effective at teaching others God's word.

On Monday December 3rd, Adam and I traveled 11 hrs from Diego Suarez to the Northeast town of Sambava to share the gospel, teach a new leader, and MAWL him.The young mans name is Slyvier (pronounced Sleve). On Tuesday the 4th we started the process by going to the nearby town of Ampanefena to share with a small group that he had gathered. We then went to a second group and then to a third group in the village of Tsarahitra. In all, we preached the gospel of God's salvation through faith in Jesus to over 100 people, and this was day one. We had brought some resources for Slyvier to use and he took advantage of it immediately. He gave out 100 tracts, 15 "good news" Bible study books, 1 Bible and 2 New Testaments.

On day two, the model part of MAWL was still happening. We traveled out into the forest to the village of Slyvier's wife, and I was able to share the gospel with over 35 adults. After lunch, we went down to another village and shared with another 25 adults. The spirit of God is moving in these places and it was incredible to see people that were so willing to listen and have a desire to learn more.

On day three, we spent one on one time with Slyvier, teaching different Bible study methods and answering alot of questions. Later that day, he was able to put into practice the things that he had seen and heard us do, this was the assist and watch portion of our program.                  Our time in Sambava was short, and our MAWL was accelerated, but not only do I believe that God will use Slyvier in a powerful way, but God has also answered our prayers by calling Kurtis and Holly Jones to go to Sambava and be His hands and feet for His kingdom. Please pray for the work and the workers in Northeast Madagascar as they strive to reach the Betsimisaraka people for Chirst.

Tanambao V

A short update from Tanambao 5. We have been returning every Thursday to the house of Francisca, and are encouraged by her willingness to learn not only the word of God, but also her attempt to improve her ability to read. We have become quite known in the community now and more people are showing an interest in coming to talk with us and study the Bible with us. It is my belief that God is about to move in an incredible way among the people of Tanambao. I regret that I don't have new photos to show right now, especially since we had a herd of goats walk through our study today, but I hope to have some photos soon. Please continue to pray for this area of Diego Suarez and for the people that come to Francisca's house to study God's word. 

Tanambao

 Tanambao, one of the many neighborhoods of Diego Suarez that sadly, is full of lostness and hopelessness. A few weeks ago, I felt that God was leading me to this place so Christina and I took a walk deep into the area and stopped to talk with several of the residents that live there.


                                           

I was encouraged to hear that there may be some people that would like to study the Bible, but I would have to return and search for them. The following week I went back with my teammate, Adam Mitchell, and we were able to share the gospel and hand out 14 tracts to some folks that seemed motivated to learn. We returned on the day and time that they told us, but alas, no one showed up.

Disappointed, yes. Discouraged, no. 
Determined, yes.
Adam and I returned to Tanambao this week, met another man that everyone called Papa and he took us to the house of a lady named Francisca. After sitting, talking (and sweating) in her house for a while, she told us that she would like us to come back to her house on Thursday and that she would gather people that she knows that would like to learn the Bible. I would ask that you would please pray for this neighborhood, for the house of Francisca, and for the people to come and study God's word with us on Thursday. I will post an update about this next week. Thanks for your prayers, God bless.

Prayer Walking through Diego . . .

There is a lot to notice as you walk down the streets of Diego Suarez . . . lots of people and lots of mosques. You will meet people from various tribes who come seeking jobs in the North. Our people group, the Northern Sakalava, are steeped in an identity that strives to please their ancestors.
Our prayer is that the peoples of Northern Madagascar would come to know their true identity in Christ Jesus.

"Now this is eternal life; that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." John 17:3




Our town is dark and lost not only in traditional ancestor worship, but in other false teachings. There are many voices crying out into our town, keeping people afraid and hard-hearted. Our prayer is that God would soften their hearts, that their eyes would be opened to the truth and that their ears would be willing to hear the gospel.








"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

 

Please pray for the leaders of our town and our country. Our prayer is these leaders would seek guidance and direction from the Lord. That they would seek His counsel in how to provide employment, health care and education to the men, woman and children of our area.








"Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalms 25:11

We pray for our church, that it will be a source of light in our community. Our prayer is that as people grow in their knowledge of Jesus that they would take that to areas all over town. That they would share the love and truth of Jesus Christ. They they will share with others how He is working in their life!

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12

Baptist of Diego Suarez Evangelism Celebration

The month of June has been a month of celebrating the anniversary of the Baptist Church in Madagascar, as well as an opportunity to have evangelism/outreach events all over Diego Suarez. The Jesus film, in the Northern dialect of Malagasy, will have been seen in two different sections of town by hundreds of people during this month.

 In partnership with our local church, we have had events every Saturday of the month to share the gospel of Jesus throughout our town.

 In selected areas of Diego Suarez, there have been booths set-up where people can come and receive information about the church, gospel tracts, and counseling.

 Of course, we not only hand out tracts to passersby, but we actively share the gospel with the people and invite them to join us on Sunday.

Occasionally, we have to conduct drive-thru evangelism. (whatever it takes to reach Northern Madagascar for Christ).

Gospel Power

 The deaf school in Diego Suarez is a place that Christina just loves to visit. Last week we were asked to come and teach a Bible lesson to the students. The fact that we are here and that we were asked to teach the Bible at a school for deaf children is just more proof of the power of the gospel, because we are not yet fluent in the language ( although we had to be pretty accurate for the teacher to be able to correctly sign what we were saying), and the fact that you do not need to be able to hear in order "to hear".

 Christina shared the story of the good Samaritan and how we all need to love each other just as God loves us. After that, I shared the gospel with the students and teachers and opened up a time for questions.  

 Before we left, we made sure that everyone received a Malagasy gospel tract and we prayed for them and the school. The director said that she would like us to return in the future and teach the students again. It is so amazing to be able to watch God work in these kids.

JESUS FILM IN MAHAMASINA

 ON MARCH 2ND MICHAEL, MICHELLE, PASTOR ELYSE (FROM THE BAPTIST CHURCH IN DIEGO SUAREZ) AND MYSELF TRAVELED DOWN TO THE VILLAGE OF MAHAMASINA, WHERE MUCH EVANGELISM AND TEACHING HAS BEEN TAKING PLACE, IN ORDER TO SHOW THE JESUS FILM.

THERE HAS BEEN ALOT OF WORK AND PLANNING FOR THIS EVENT, AND WE WERE AMAZED AT THE RESPONSE ON FRIDAY NIGHT WHEN OVER 175 PEOPLE SHOWED UP TO WATCH THE FILM. THE NORTHERN DIALECT OF THE MALAGASY LANGUAGE IS SAKALAVA AND WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE A COPY OF THE JESUS FILM IN SAKALAVA MALAGASY. FOR A LARGE NUMBER OF THE PEOPLE, THIS WAS THEIR FIRST FILM, AND FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE, THIS WAS THE FIRST FILM THAT THEY HAVE EVER SEEN IN THEIR HEART LANGUAGE. IT WAS INCREDIBLE TO BE A PART OF THIS EVENT.

GOD BLESSED US AND THIS EVENT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. THE VENUE FOR THE EVENT WAS A SMALL LOCAL RESTAURANT THAT THE OWNER HAS GRACIOUSLY GIVEN US PERMISSION TO USE, AND THE FILM EQUIPMENT WAS A GIFT FROM OUR PARTNERS AT MT. PISGAH BAPTIST CHURCH, RINGGOLD GEORGIA. PRAISE GOD FOR FRIENDS AND MINISTRY PARTNERS.

 THE SECOND NIGHT OF THE FILM IT RAINED, BUT WE HAD A DRY PLACE TO MOVE TO. AFTER THAT, THE DVD PLAYER STOPPED WORKING AND THE DVD WAS NOW STUCK IN THE MACHINE. HOWEVER, WE HAD BROUGHT A BACK-UP DVD PLAYER AND AN EXTRA COPY OF THE MOVIE. GOD IS GOOD!!!

PRAISE THE LORD!! MANY PEOPLE RESPONDED TO THE INVITATION AFTER THE FILM, AND ON SUNDAY MORNING WE HELD A CHURCH SERVICE FOR THOSE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN STARTING THEIR OWN CHURCH IN MAHAMASINA. THE PREACHING AND TEACHING WILL CONTINUE EVERY TUESDAY AT 2P.M. AND OUR PRAYER IS THAT THIS GROUP OF NEW BELIEVERS WILL CONTINUE LEARNING THE WORD OF GOD AND WILL SOON BECOME THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF MAHAMASINA. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY WITH US THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN.                                             TO BE CONTINUED...