September 2005

Dear partners in the mission

Yesterday, I received the following letter from Bassar ( Togo , West-Africa) and I thought I would share it with you, for it speaks about Africa ’s hunger for the Word of God: “Another of these anonymous listeners who throughout Africa listen to you, is writing to you.  I am writing from Togo for the first time.  You cannot imagine my joy at the idea that I can become one of your correspondents, and even  one of your friends.  My name is A.P.S., I am 30 years old and I am a teacher at a local high school.  I am a member of a small Baptist congregation in Bassar.  I have a great passion for Biblical knowledge and theological reflection.  In my church I am involved in the ministry of the Word as a Sunday school teacher and “lay preacher”.  Therefore you will not be surprised if I ask you to send me as regularly and as much as possible some Christian literature or your audio material so that I may deepen my knowledge of the Holy Scriptures in view of my own edification and the edification of those who listen to me.  I would be so grateful to you.  Receive my congratulations en my encouragement for all the sacrifices which you go through for the sake of the spreading of the Gospel in Africa and in the world.  I know that these words seem very insignificant, but I am convinced that the Lord God, who is just to reward those who serve Him, will pour upon you his rich blessings.”

This grateful correspondent is not just thanking me, he is also thanking you with all his heart, for you, as partners in the ministry of Reformed Faith and Life, are the ones making many sacrifices so that the Word could be spread further.  His letter is a witness to what we read in Acts 12:24, in the midst of all kinds of trials and persecutions for the disciples: “But the Word of God continued to increase and spread.”

Certainly the hunger for the Word of God is not only felt in Africa .  How rejoicing however to see that Africans carry their passion for this Living Word away from their native countries, bringing it back to the secularized West.  Another African correspondent writes to me from Geneva , Switserland, where he works as an evangelist among the local youth: “Following our recent conversation on the phone, I wish to express again  our sincere gratitude to you on behalf of our youth and mission group in the district of Geneva for the written material we received from you.”

In a few weeks time I should be heading towards Europe and North America for an annual visit that takes me every year to different places in order to explore new possibilities for the broadcasting of our programmes: this year, Québec will be the focus.  “La Belle province” as it is commonly referred to in French, is part of this hardened secularized West.  Will you please pray so that the Lord open new avenues there for the continued increasing and spreading of His Word?

In His name

Rev. Eric Kayayan