Image above: A witch doctor.
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My friend Mark was a missionary for several years in the western African nation of Guinea-Bissau. He and his wife Cindy had an exciting ministry there. He tells the story of a woman named Maladu in one of the remote villages that he and his wife visited. Maladu had not been able to become pregnant for eight years, so she and her husband had been going to the witch doctor for help. He did whatever witchdoctors do, and then charged a hefty fee. (Apparently, the cost of health care is high there, too.) Maladu’s husband had paid the witchdoctor half of their goat herd already, all to no avail. Mark and Cindy offered free medical care in the village, so they were tolerated, but their preaching was not welcome, and converts are few and far between. But Maladu and her husband were desperate, so they went to Mark for help. Mark explained to them that they had no medicine that would help Maladu become pregnant, but they would pray for her. Mark and Cindy did pray, and Maladu did become pregnant, and Maladu and her husband then became Christians. The witchdoctor did not like it, but the villagers do like to keep the missionaries around for the medicine they bring. In another village, one of the witchdoctors came to Mark for help with his own illness. Mark was able to help him get well, so from then on, that witchdoctor worked with Mark and Cindy instead of against them.
In another village, Mark prayed for a man who had lost most of his hearing and was almost deaf. The next day the man ran up to Mark and said excitedly, “Great news. I could hear the rats running around in my hut. I have not been able to hear them for a long time, but now I can. I am healed. Thank you, Jesus!” Such miracles are not uncommon on the mission field. Mark had many such experiences.
Villagers who did convert to Christianity would face significant opposition from their neighbors, and even their family. One of the early converts was a man named Saka Musa who has become a leader and co-worker in the evangelism efforts. Saka Musa said that at times he became discouraged by the persecution. He said, “Jesus brings me peace, but believing in Jesus has brought division within my family, and now, my family wants to be my enemy. One night I was wavering in my faith and pondering whether to return to the religion of my fathers. I did not sleep all night because I was struggling against the Lord. But finally, I decided to follow Jesus no matter what until I leave this world and go to the next.”
Mark brought a message of hope and healing to a people that lived in fear and hopelessness. It almost cost them their lives. In 1998 there was a Civil War in Guinea-Bissau, and they were forced to leave. The ship that was sent to rescue them was delayed, and they were left waiting at the pier with no food or water. They were surrounded by fighting and unable to leave the pier. The ship finally arrived, but they were severely dehydrated. A much longer delay could have been deadly.
Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he sent his disciples out into all the world with the Gospel of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life. Unless you are from Israel, somewhere back in history, missionaries had to bring the Gospel to your ancestors. We can all be grateful for the courage and the sacrifices made by these Christian missionaries.
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Matthew 28:16-20 — Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
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God of truth and love; Father Son and Holy Spirit, hear our prayer for those who do not know you; that they may come to a saving knowledge of the truth and that your name may be praised among all peoples of the world. Sustain, inspire and enlighten your servants who bring them the Gospel. Bring fresh vigor to wavering faith; sustain our faith when it is still fragile. Continually renew missionary zeal in ourselves and in the Church; raise up new missionaries who will follow You to the ends of the world. Make us witnesses to Your goodness; full of love, strength and faith; for Your glory and the salvation of the entire world. Amen
–Orthodox Christian Mission Center
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