Fear of spirit used against believers, others
The Mengen believers are facing some difficult situations and need prayer.
The people need to develop a serious hunger for the Word of God. Without that hunger they will not grow into responsible Christians.
The believers are surrounded by those who have either not yet heard God’s message of Salvation or are afraid to come to the meetings because of threats from others. A Mengen lady named Anna has been trying to come to the meetings but her husband beats her and has stabbed her for going to a meeting to hear the Firm Foundation Bible lessons.
Many village leaders are also against the teaching of God’s Word and the believers who proclaim that Word. Some of them claim that a spirit indwells them called Maliaba. They threaten that people will get sick or even die if they attend the Firm Foundation lessons. Those with the Maliaba spirit blame the missionaries for every bad thing that happens. They are greatly feared by the people.
Missionary Lourens Laureti wrote, “It makes it very difficult for us to live and work here with these leaders speaking against us.”
A few villagers are bravely ignoring the persecution, and some teachers-in-training, Kamalus, Eddie, and Brus, are learning how to teach so that they can take the word to others.
Pray that the Mengen believers will grow in their knowledge of God and will stand up to those who are threatening them. Pray for those who are ignoring the threats and listening to the Firm Foundation Bible lessons. Pray that they will hear and understand God’s message.
Also pray fervently for those who are against the teaching and are persecuting the believers. Pray that God will convict their hearts and they will develop a hunger to know Him.