The Shumaker Family's Blog

10 years ago, today, I married the most wonderful woman alive.  Its hard to believe that 10 years have passed. It’s hard to believe that Rebecca has had to put up with me for 10 years.  She has faithfully followed me all over the world.  She has encouraged me, when others didn’t.  She believed in, me when others didn’t.  She has been a great wife, friend, companion, and helpmeet.

Rebecca, I love you.  You are the greatest wife a man could ask for.  I could never find anybody better than you.  Thanks, for supporting me and following me.  I know that sometimes it had been hard.  Situations haven’t always been easy but you have always stuck with me, helped me, and loved me.  I can’t wait for next 10 years.  I thank the Lord for putting us together.  Thanks for all that you do.  I love you with all my heart.

Bread of Life Baptist Church was started last November.  A young man named Mamadou is the Pastor of this church.  We just recently were able to help a little with their church building.  We have been able to save some of our love offerings since being on furlough.  We have taken this money, and we have built and helped in some of the different churches.  Mamadou sent me an update on what is going on in the ministry and I thought I would share:

•  We just had an evangelistic campaign.  There was a total of 19 professions of faith.  16 were children and 3 were adults.
• By the Grace of God we have had new visitors that have become faithful.
• In the near future we would love to have a children’s camp and be able to have a class for the community teaching them to read.
• We are in need of building a restroom for the church.  We are praying God would supply the need.  It will cost about $1000.
• I am happy that God is using me as a channel in Saonre.

Here are some of the pictures they sent me of the construction.

Edouard, or Edward in English, came to our church about two years ago.  After a few weeks of preaching, he came under conviction and got saved by the wonderful grace of God.  His family wasn’t happy with the decision that he made.  They were religious but didn’t like the fact that he changed churches.  We know that is was more than just changing churches or converting to another religion.  He was regenerated and born into the family of God.

His family has given him a hard time through the years.  They have threatened to kick him out of the house on many occasions, but he remained faithful.  Upon seeing his faithfulness we began letting him do some different things at the church.  One day while he was giving announcements the question hit me.  Has he ever been baptized?  We never let people do much until they make the decision to be Biblically baptized.  I asked  him after the service, and he told me that he hadn’t been.  I have no idea how it was overlooked, but it was.

I told him that he needed to be baptized, and he agreed.  He went through the baptism course and then told us he wasn’t ready.  Man was I shocked.  I knew the reason, but he had been faithful through so much.  He was afraid of what his family would say and do.  Maybe they would kick him out of the house.  Maybe they would totally ostracize him.  For months he refused.  We took away what he was doing at church.  We were not mean about it.  We still loved him.  I was afraid that he would get mad and leave, but he remained faithful.

My assistant pastor, Konate, just sent me some pictures of the last baptism.  I realized that Edouard had made the decision to be baptized.  What a blessing.  It is great to see God help people overcome their fears.