The Gambia / Guinea Bissau Update –Ronda Tyson

I have counted myself so blessed to see first hand what God is doing in West Africa, particularly The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. From the first day of compound-to-compound evangelism and home bible study, to CPR training, village outreach, and enabling the distribution of rice, as well as being instrumental in finalizing a seven year saga of church registration—all this sang through the ever-ringing theme of God’s Faithfulness.

In a Manjago village about an hour’s drive from Bakoteh, home of New Life Fellowship International, there is “High Church”, a church that far surpasses my imagination of any cathedral built by hands. (Mind you I am qualifying that statement by the words “my imagination”). No stained glass windows, large pipe organ, immaculately constructed architecture in the nicest of locations can compare to the glory of God that was seen

Mendi (a Manjago) had fled long ago from the Portuguese colony of Guinea-Bissau to save his family from the war. Tired from his journey, he settled on land in the peaceful country of the Gambia, where he and his family could find refuge from the calamities of war. There he would raise his pigs, and his wife would plant a garden. His children would have a much less chance of becoming casualties of the senseless rioting, and bloodshed.

Mendi, had heard about Jesus the Son of Mary. He had gone to see the priest on occasions. If you asked Mendi, he would tell you that he was Catholic. He would say this only because he never subscribed to Islam. However, he regularly visited a nearby marabout (witchdoctor) who lived in the village. When Mendi was sick, he would go to the marabout. Whenever he was conscious of his need of good fortune, he would pay the marabout to perform certain rituals and contact the spirits on his behalf. This included curses, spells, and divinations. Mendi would still need to do his part and wear the amulets made by the marabout and perform rituals to appease the spirits which ailed or assisted him. This was all very real to Mendi. He was constantly concerned about these spirits. To cover his bases, he would still go to a priest whom he would pay to do the same thing.

In January 2004, a guy from his village, who was known to be deaf and mute went to a church in Bakoteh. It wasn’t his Catholic Church. It was New Life Fellowship International. It was a Sunday morning service and a friend had brought him so that maybe Pastor Martins would pray for him. Pastor Martins went ahead and prayed for him. The guy went back to his village. Mendi knew this guy’s family well. The guy’s sister helped Mendi’s wife in the village. Mendi, now white-haird and pretty skeptical, overheard people talking about this guy who could not hear, now able to hear. He went to ask the girl about him. How could this be true? He had seen the boy grow up. It was his brother’s son who traveled with him from Guinea-Bissau. By the next Sunday, the guy was able to hear clearly.

Mendi’s son Marciano Mendi was in grade 12 in secondary school. Marciano had heard that a person could have his own relationship with The Almighty God. He came home to tell his father, but Mendi again was skeptical. God of all spirits is too big! He is too busy! God is too superior! It is just impossible.

But when Marciano saw what happened to his cousin, he went to talk to Pastor Martins the next Sunday. He took his cousin with him and said, “You prayed for this man last Sunday and he could neither hear nor talk, but he can now hear and talk. Before, we thought this was impossible.” This amazed Pastor Martins. He remembered praying for the guy the week before that could not hear or talk. Using an interpreter, they began testing his hearing. As they spoke, the guy would respond. Indeed the impossible had happened! Yes, with Jesus, all things are possible! Marciano began asking questions. How can a Pagan have a relationship with the Almighty God? He began to share that he and his father were Pagan. Pastor Martins began explaining to him that Jesus Christ performed the ultimate rite for him. While, yes it is impossible for any man to have a relationship with God, Jesus made it possible. He did this by becoming the only sacrifice that can make a person right with God. He helped Marciano realize how Christ wanted to live in him if he would just accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Marciano understood lordship. He was now in a predicament. Mendi, being Marciano’s father, was still his authority. What a dishonor this would be to his father. Marciano has never been able to make a decision independent of his father.

Marciano, asked Pastor Martins to come to his village to share with his father. Mendi greeted Martins with respect, because of what he had known so far about Pastor Martins. He knew there was a very Powerful Spirit listening to Pastor Martins. A Spirit more powerful than any others he has seen at work. He was willing to listen to him. Pastor Martins told him about how the Almighty God not only wants to have a relationship with him, but has even made it possible through Jesus Christ.

When I saw Mendi sitting in “phase one” of the construction of the church at Latria Village, with no roof, with the fresh smell of dung and dried wood and leaves, a monkey singing soprano tied to the tree overlooking the service, an adolescent donkey singing tenor in the background, with an open door policy to any goat or lamb as they wandered down to the altar, he looked relieved. He had burned all of the amulets he had previously clung to for security. I could only thank God for Marciano Mendi who said, “Now that we are saved, please teach us. We don’t want to live in sin.” Marciano Mendi, now manages the church. No, he is not the Pastor. Yet he is the one who went out to the bush and with cut glass, began gathering branches of wood for the church structure, and who organizes the village outreach. It was Marciano who gathered the people so that they would hear the gospel. He has taken on the duty of making sure that those meeting in this village are growing spiritually. So when I look at Mendi, it is really hard to tell if what I see on his face is relief or satisfaction. One thing I am sure of—there is no higher church than this: 1) A people who hunger and thirst for righteousness; 2) who continue to find their satisfaction in Christ; 3) and the desire to spread God’s glory throughout the earth. No human hands can make a greater building. That is “High Church!” The best location? The answer: The worst one.

Thank you for your support and prayers!