MISIONEROS LANDUMA ENSEÑAN A LOS BALANTAS
_img.jpg) |
 |
| Since we have seen the truth, we can`t hang onto a lie! |
|
|
July 1, 2009
por Dena McMaster
Last week two Landuma believers in Guinea, Masalu and Abdulay, traveled to a Balanta village to share God's Word.
In November missionary Benton Willard was asked to go to a Balanta village and teach the evangelistic Bible lessons. Balantas in the area speak Susu, another major language in the area. Benton is fluent in Susu so he agreed to teach there.
"Of the half million Balantas in West Africa, about 3,500 of them live in northwest Guinea, in a few villages scattered among other, larger people groups," wrote missionary Kirk Rogers. "The Balantas of Guinea are animists, having resisted for generations the pressure exerted by their neighbors to convert to the majority religion. In fact, the Balantas' name means ''those who resist,' and their [resistance to] religion is proverbial."
After several months of foundational teaching by Benton, several Balanta people trusted Christ as their Savior. Then Benton and his family left for a short home assignment. It was very difficult to leave these baby Christians who were in the early stages of discipleship. So Benton asked Masalu, who also speaks Susu, if he would go to the Balanta village and encourage the believers.
Abdulay decided to accompany Masalu and the two men who have followed Jesus for many years traveled to the Balanta village. The Balantas were thrilled to hear more teaching. Masalu began by sharing his testimony of how he came to the Lord and then read Old and New Testament passages to help clarify their position in Christ.
The Balanta believers then shared their testimonies of belief with Masalu and Abdulay and described the opposition they received from those of the major religion in the area.
Masalu and Abdulay had a similar testimony to share with their new friends. "We too, they try to get us to go back to our old religion. But we have seen the light. Regardless of what they say, how they insult us or shame us, regardless of the suffering we endure, we can never go back to the darkness! We can try to get others to join us, but we can never return to the darkness and ignorance."
Pray for the new Balanta believers to continue to grow in their walk with the Lord. Pray also for Abdulay and Masalu as they shepherd the believers in Benton's absence.
|
_img.jpg)
_img.jpg)
