To fast or not to fast?
It was Day 16 of the 40-day fast of the main religious group in the Mwinika tradition. But believers who have embraced the Gospel feel full freedom to not participate.
One believer, when asked if he was fasting, replied emphatically, “Whatever for? It wouldn’t accomplish anything. … I know my Redeemer and I don’t have to do anything to own my salvation!”
This man is a leader in a group of believers that missionary Nadia Hattingh says is already functioning much like a church. They are hungry for God’s Word and are very eager for Nadia’s husband, Francois, to begin the next level of Bible teaching.
She says that Francois explained to them that his language ability must reach a certain level of proficiency.
“You speak well enough now! We want to hear more!” the believers insisted.
Entirely on their own, this little group of believers has started to collect money to help other believers in need. “This is quite amazing,” Nadia observes, “because they don’t have any Scripture yet to teach them about deacon funds. They simply saw the need and decided to do something about it. … Amazing.”
Please pray for this group of believers as they take on the challenges of living in a culture that frequently challenges their faith and Biblical convictions. Pray that God will encourage and help Francois and Nadia as they study the Mwinika language. Pray that God will give Francois proficiency and fluency to be able to clearly share further truths from God’s Word.
Pray that God will continue to grow this group of believers and make them agents for extensive change in their culture as they learn to live by the principles of His Word.