The Shumaker Family’s Blog

I traveled at the end of April to our village work(Roungou).  Salif asked us if we could come to have a special evangelistic service and to help with the Baptism.  Saturday night was wonderful.  We had about 300 present.  I preached and gave the invitation.  Then I let one of our young men Konate give his testimony.  He did a superb job.

I know that I have written about Salif many times but he is doing a tremendous job.  He is probably the least educated of all the men I am training, but he is getting the job done.  He didn’t go to school except for a Muslim school to learn the Koran and to learn how to be an Imam.  His earthly father chose him to be an Imam(Muslim leader) but His heavenly father chose him to preach the good news!!!

I was truly amazed at the job that he is doing.  We started Sunday morning services in this village in January.  I haven’t been back since January until this time.  I really wish that you could see what a genuine love for Jesus and a love for others can do.  I am not against education and I am not against training.  I am giving that to Salif, but it really is amazing what God is doing through him.  We have put a great importance on education and put little on our relationship with the Lord.  We have put great importance on a doctorate and minimal importance on a love for souls.  Sorry about the preaching!

Salif Baptized 18 people.  It was a wonderful time of watching God work.

Below: Salif teaching the children at Roungou.

Below:  Salif Leading signing.

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Below:  Salif was baptized in 2005.

Below:  Salif baptizing 4 years later.  Praise the Lord!!!!

Below:  Baptisms in Africa are definitely different.  I wouldn’t change it for anything.

Below:  What is a special day in a Baptist Church without food.

Below:  Do I need to say anything?

I haven’t written for a few weeks.  That is due to the fact that I traveled to North Africa to visit a good friend of mine, and well, I don’t really have another good excuse.

My good friend, Aaron is doing a tremendous job in this needy country.  I was given the privilege to preach and teach while I was there.  God really blessed.  I also enjoyed the fellowship with him and his family.  He has developed a good plan, and God is blessing it.

It really is almost unbelievable to go to cities of more than a million people who might only have 20 Christians in them and two or three house churches.  My heart was stirred and saddened because of the lack of workers.  We have  looked at many of these countries and felt that we couldn’t go because they are closed.  The command of the church is to “go”.  Jesus didn’t say if the country is open, go.  He didn’t say go if it is easy or the people are open to it.  He told us to go.  That means that we will need men and women that will be willing to go and risk their lives to get the Gospel to the World.  We have men and women that give their lives to protect our great country.  That is respectable and honorable, but where are those who will give their all to get the precious Word of God to the world?  Those that will put their lives on the line to serve their Lord.  I have watched many risk their lives for wealth and fame but few in our day do it for God.

God bless you brother Aaron.  Keep up the good work.  May God raise up others like him.  Those who deny themselves and live for Christ.

I wanted to write a few days back about my trip to Mali but I didn’t get around to it.  While there I was able to visit Missionary Dwayne Harrison and his wife.  We also visited a national missionary named Francis.  Living Water Baptist Church (our church in Burkina) supports him.  He has done a wonderful work in a country that is 92% Muslim.  Last Sunday he told me that they had 65 or so adults and about the same amount of kids.

Because he is  a national missionary and doing a good job, my heart is really touched to help him.  I was talking to Francis about the current land situation.  We could build a church building where he is currently meeting, but space would be greatly limited.

He has done a great job getting to know people in the government.  He asked them why all the reserve land is given for Mosques when they are a free country. They have proposed that they would sell him four lots.  Each lot will cost $3,000.  I really don’t know how I can help him, but I am going to do all that I can because I believe in him and I know that Mali need a strong witness.