Rishel Family- Burkina Faso, West Africa
Dear faithful ministry partner, Charles Spurgeon once said, “You may speak but a word to a child, and in that child there may be slumbering a noble heart which shall stir the Christian Church in years to come.» It has been exciting to see this truth being played out in the life of Cheik! Last month, we shared with you how God saved Cheik, the 14 year old grandson of the Muslim chief in Noumoundara. Since he has put his faith in Christ, Cheik has become a little evangelist in his village! Every week, when Augustin and his team pass by the village to evangelize, Cheik is waiting for them with a group of his friends that he has led to Christ. They have a Bible study together and then often help the team with evangelism. By God’s grace, this new work out in the village of Noumoundara is going really well and we are excited to see what God does. The chief, Cheik’s grandfather, has been very kind and receptive towards us. We recently asked him about the possibility of purchasing land in the village for the work there, so we can establish a more permanent presence in the village and, one day hopefully, a church! Please pray that God will continue to open doors in the village of Noumoundara. The churches in the villages of Finlandé and Kouentou are also both advancing well! Recently, God has opened the door for us to buy a piece of property in Kouentou that is adjacent to the land we already own for the church. This property would double the size of the land for this church and already has a house on it. This would allow Pastor Drabo and his family to move out there and really impact the village with the Gospel (they are currently just driving back and forth between there and Bobo). The price for this land is $4000. Would you please pray that God would provide for this need and help advance the church in Kouentou? Our radio Gospel broadcast ministry, which we were able to start in March of 2023 thanks to Taking the Light and Lighthouse Global Studio, has seen over 100 people call in asking for a pastor to come and talk with them more about knowing Jesus as their personal Savior. One of the recent callers was a Muslim witchdoctor named Diawara. He called requesting a visit. Pastor Drabo spent four hours witnessing to Him and answering his questions. Pastor Drabo left with Diawara under heavy conviction and asking for a follow-up visit. Would you please pray for God to save Diawara and many others like him who are lost in the darkness of Islam and the traditional religion? Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support for God’s work here in Burkina Faso! We greatly appreciate your faithfulness and we are praying for you all. God bless!
By God’s grace, a total of $64,138 has been given towards the purchase of land for the school and a new church. Thank you so much to all of you who have invested in this project! We are starting the process of purchasing the land and our prayer is that God will provide the rest of the funds needed to buy the land (we still need $27,562) during the month of February, so we can finalize the purchase of the land in March. Would you prayerfully consider what God would have you contribute to help us advance with this important ministry? Donations can be sent to Vision Baptist Missions (PO Box 647 Dawsonville, GA 30534) and marked for ‘Bobo School’.
Garcias- Honduras
One Whole Year
January 24th marked the end of our first year here in Honduras! We have come a long way since we first came here a year ago and are grateful for all of the continued support and prayer that has enabled us to have success during this stage of our life and preparation for our ministry here in Honduras. Our family has grown since we got here as has our faith in God.
Sofia, while still small of stature, is growing up far to fast. She always surprises us with how much Spanish she can speak and understand and she shows a growing and persistent interest in the Bible, often initiating conversations about her favorite Bible characters. Rosie loves to grab and chew on everything in sight and is very proficient in rolling over. Amber has grown as a mother and is often stretched in having so many things to do and not enough time to do them all, and I think she has learned a little better that it is okay to ask for help. I think I have learned more patience, something we all could use more of. Honestly, our first year was a great blessing to me and fairly relaxing compared to the hustle and bustle of a deputation schedule. I have had more time to study, and I have been thrilled to improve my Spanish and learn more about Honduran culture. With all that being said, I am still impatient to begin our church-plant, as not everything has gone according to our planned timeline, but God has a reason for everything and He knows what we need as a family. Pray that we enjoy greatly all that God has for us here in El Progresso before we move onto the next stage of our ministry.
As we take this prayer letter to reflect back we are also looking ahead. Very soon we hope to take our tests to be officially done with language school and to then have our residency as well. After that we will be in the States for a few months and then being our first four-year term in Honduras. There is lots of planning to be done. Obviously we will start our first church plant during that term, but Sofia, and maybe Rosie also, will begin school. We will have an entirely new city to get to know, people to reach, and our daily life will look very different than it does now. Many changes are on the way, but one thing that will not change is that God is good to His children.
Thank you for being a blessing to us in 2023. We are grateful for you. May the Lord bless your 2024 with a greater and greater knowledge of His love.
Serving Christ,
Andrew and Amber Garcia
Broyles to the Balkans
THIS THEN IS THE MESSAGE WHICH WE HAVE HEARD OF HIM, AND DECLARE UNTO YOU, THAT GOD IS LIGHT, AND IN HIM IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL.1 JOHN 1:5
Dear Partners in Ministry, The need is all around us. As we open our eyes and see the souls that surround us every day, we are reminded that we have a great job to do. This week as my daughter and I were out visiting and witnessing, we met a man who didn’t know for certain that he was going to heaven, and several others who were confused about what happens after death. What great opportunities to share the light of the World, Jesus Christ, who is the only way to the Father!
Language Classes – As we continue Albanian language classes, we have enjoyed not only learning the language but also learning more of the Albanian culture. Albania has a wonderful culture, and wonderful people that are interested in learning more about others. The Albanian language has been fun to learn and we are excited to better our communication.
Working While We Are Here – We were busy this past month with opportunities to teach at an intensive course at our mission board, preach chapel at the Our Generation Training Center, as well as teach children and other groups. Many of the opportunities we have had is to encourage others, whether that be churches or individuals, in the area of missions. It is a blessing to show others the need for the Gospel to be proclaimed to every nation and every creature, and to see their desire to reach the lost with the good news of Salvation!
Fier – Fier is a city in south western Albania, and is home to around two hundred thousand people. It is a beautiful city with a rich history, but does not have a church that preaches the Gospel. Would you pray with us for Fier and many other cities like it in Albania, that God would use us to reach them with the Gospel and see many churches started?
Here to preach the Gospel,The Broyles
Praises:-Documentation is moving forward.-Opportunities to Teach and Preach.
Prayer Request:-Salvation of those we give the Gospel to.-Language learning.-That God would prepare a good house for us in Albania.
