New Leaders - New Dreams
New Zonal Training Center in Senegal
Submitted by Rev. Timothy R. Eby - District Superintendent Senegal
God is Raising up a New Generation of Leaders in Senegal
A Journey of Faith
When we brought the Jesus film in the local Serere language it had a deep impact on the people. Many gave their lives to the Lord and were baptized into the faith. In this remote village where they receive rain only one month in a year, the prospect of finding a place to baptize them seemed impossible.
God answered their prayers that He would bless their village and sure enough, one year after their conversions a river began to flow less than 100 meters from their village. The day we baptized more than 40 people was a day to remember. The members have been worshipping under a tree and have grown in their faith.
We now have fellowships in four villages in the surrounding area. Pastor Jean Benoit has a vision to reach all 28 villages in this area for Christ. Part of that strategy is to raise up young leaders that will continue to teach and preach the Word of God.
One year ago we began the dream of building a training center in this village. The chief and the local elders gave our church land to build on. We hired a local mason and with the young men of the church forming cement blocks we reached the roof level. It then became a challenge for our mother church in Dakar to come and help this new work.
Together with a team of youth we tackled the job of putting on the roof.
In March of 2011, we opened our first class for training. With great interest 23 young men came to our first training course. Our youth leader brother Salomon Diatta has committed to coming to this center to teach every month. His first course was “Survey of the Bible.” The course was received with great interest. These young men are the strength of our future church here in Senegal.
However, we understand that youth have dreams and with out vision we will lose them as they leave the village in search of jobs in the city. This is why we began the Barnabas project to help find ways to create small enterprises that will keep them serving the Lord here in their village.
W
e installed a solar panel system on the center. The year around sun provides an endless supply of energy to our center. With a simple battery and inverter system we have created not only lights for our center but also a charging center for cell phones. Many people in these villages have no electricity, no running water, but almost everyone has a cell phone.
An irrigation program has also
begun in order to raise vegetables that are commonly used in traditional dishes here in Senegal but are hard to find. Most are imported from the south of the Casamance or from neighboring countries. Our elder, Dip Nyang took training in agriculture to learn how to raise these plants in the dry regions.
God blessed their land and they found fresh water in a hand dug well right on their property. With this project, the youth will be able to develop a source of income as they learn about God each month in their new center and begin to evangelize the villages in the area.
I praise God for how He is slowly putting the pieces together for the building of His kingdom in Senegal. We plan a great celebration service on May 1st, 2011 for the dedication and official opening of the center.
Continue to pray that God will use this place to raise up a new generation of believers and leaders that will change the hope of the future for Senegal. We pray that they will be beacons of hope and light in a very dark world.
For the sake of the cross,
Rev. Timothy R. Eby
To find out how you can be a part of the Barnabas Project to help new believers and leaders find support as they minister the gospel in Senegal, please contact Tim Eby at teby@awfcon.org.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Developing Zonal Center in Baad Village