Beaten and Bible Burned
“Village T” is a small community that receives its water supply from a nearby dam. The village is inhabited mostly by tribal people groups, but there are 100 additional families who migrated there from other nearby areas due to the water supply. Most people of Village T earn their wages as day laborers at a neighboring town. Drinking alcohol and gambling are two primary social evils prevailing among the men, who have earned a bad reputation among other villages in the area. In 2012, a church planter we will call “Pastor R” visited Village T to share the gospel. Pastor R’s evangelistic attempt infuriated the villagers. They beat him and burned his Bible and gospel tracts. They threatened him to try to keep him from visiting their community again.
Pastor R never gave up… he started praying for this village with a hope that one day the Lord would build his church there. On one occasion, a few ladies went to the community for a marriage ceremony. They happened to meet Pastor R and asked him to pray for them and their husbands. One of the ladies had a bleeding issue, and she received healing after the prayer. Soon, a house was opened for prayer and the Lord started his work in this village. Many left their old ways and several among them experienced a gradual change within their families. Approximately 35 families have recently accepted Christ as their Savior and Lord!
Thank the Lord for the persistence of Pastor R in praying for Village T even in the face of threats and persecution. Please pray that the Lord will continue to work in this village and that more will become disciples of Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16, NIV)
