Public prayer a first
Santos, a Guarijio believer in Mexico, taught on prayer at the Bible study last week and the response was immediate.
In the Guarijio culture only the Kasumes or spiritual leaders pray out loud and it is really chanting rather than an actual prayer. So the believers would always tell the missionaries, We don't know how to do it."
Santos has been stepping up to pray when the others would not so missionary Dennis Bender asked him to teach on prayer at the believers' Bible study. He shared with the group that we can talk to God whenever we want and it pleases God when we talk to Him.
Immediately after he finished teaching, Genoveva, his brother-in-law's wife, stood and began to pray. She did a great job everyone was thrilled with her courage. She stood as a clear example that Guarijios can pray aloud.
After the meeting was opened with prayer, Dennis handed a few pictures illustrating Old Testament stories to Santos and asked him to explain how he would use the pictures to tell others about the Gospel. He began showing the connection between Old Testament stories and the promised Savior. He showed the other believers how to clearly present the Gospel message.
The missionaries were rejoicing that Santos had such a clear understanding of the Gospel and that Genoveva had demonstrated that Guarijios can pray out loud. Though this was the first time a Guarijio woman prayed publicly, Genoveva told the missionaries that each night she prayed for her family, the family of Santos and the missionaries.
Pray that the Guarijio believers will continue to grow in their walk with the Lord and that they will soon be ready to reach out to others with the Good News.
In the Guarijio culture only the Kasumes or spiritual leaders pray out loud and it is really chanting rather than an actual prayer. So the believers would always tell the missionaries, We don't know how to do it."
Santos has been stepping up to pray when the others would not so missionary Dennis Bender asked him to teach on prayer at the believers' Bible study. He shared with the group that we can talk to God whenever we want and it pleases God when we talk to Him.
Immediately after he finished teaching, Genoveva, his brother-in-law's wife, stood and began to pray. She did a great job everyone was thrilled with her courage. She stood as a clear example that Guarijios can pray aloud.
After the meeting was opened with prayer, Dennis handed a few pictures illustrating Old Testament stories to Santos and asked him to explain how he would use the pictures to tell others about the Gospel. He began showing the connection between Old Testament stories and the promised Savior. He showed the other believers how to clearly present the Gospel message.
The missionaries were rejoicing that Santos had such a clear understanding of the Gospel and that Genoveva had demonstrated that Guarijios can pray out loud. Though this was the first time a Guarijio woman prayed publicly, Genoveva told the missionaries that each night she prayed for her family, the family of Santos and the missionaries.
Pray that the Guarijio believers will continue to grow in their walk with the Lord and that they will soon be ready to reach out to others with the Good News.