True heroes of the faith
Zebedee and Kolaiso, a Yagarian elder and his wife, have counted the cost of serving Christ. And it will cost them and their four children dearly.
The call for help came loud and strong to the Yagaria church. And when Zebedee heard that an Abelam church plant was struggling greatly, his heart was burdened to help.
Zebedee had just finished several years of ministry in planting a new church in a neighboring area. It was a ministry that required walking two hours to help build up a church that has now grown strong and mature.
And now Zebedee is ready for God’s next step for him. The new ministry will require relocation. It is three provinces (about 200 miles) away. Missionary Greg Greenlaw says, “It would take two months to walk—if you were a billy goat.”
But Zebedee is preparing to move his family to this new place and begin a new ministry of encouragement and leadership. The journey will be first by road to the coast, then by ship and then again by vehicle to the new little village.
Greg and Heidi Greenlaw recently invited Zebedee and Kolaiso to their home to visit with them and share what they know about the coming challenges of the new location. Greg writes, “It was amazing to hear their testimony and the struggle of faith it was for them to count the cost and make this sacrifice.”
Zebedee and Kolaiso’s land is a small parcel. When they move away, their land will be absorbed by others, leaving nothing for their sons when they grow up. For subsistence farmers, this is huge. Their land equals their livelihood.
Though following God’s lead will cost them their son’s inheritance, Kolaiso told Greg, “These two boys were born according to God’s plan and they will grow up according to God’s plan.”
Greg shares, “God has settled this issue in both of their hearts and now they are ready to move. These are true heroes of the faith.”
Please pray for Zebedee and Kolaiso and their two sons and two daughters. Pray that God will protect and encourage them and provide for them in amazing ways as they move far away from their home to nurture and help this struggling church. Pray that hearts will be opened to God’s work in their midst; that believers will be strengthened and many lost people will be drawn to Christ. Pray that God will use Zebedee and his family to help build His church mightily for His glory.