Dave & Patsy Alfors
Reach Global
Happy New Year! May Jesus be your joy, courage, and strength in this new year!
Here is what’s going on in our corner of the world.
Testimony from a Kanuri Christian
Several weeks ago we met 3 Kanuri Christians from northern Nigeria. The Kanuri tribe is known to be very devoted to Ixlam and many of the radical Boko Haram are from this tribe. But these Christians estimate that there are now over 300 Kanuri who are following Jesus!!
Aliou grew up in a staunch Mxslxm home. His father had 18 wives, but in keeping with Ixlamic law, he never had more than 4 wives at a time. When he was in high school he attended a boarding school. In his dorm there were 8 beds. 7 of the boys were Kanuri and 1 boy was a Christian. Being teenage boys the 7 Kanuri decided to make life so miserable for the Christian that he would decide to leave. When he wanted to read his Bible in the evening they would turn off the light and wouldn’t let him turn it on again. Sometimes they poured water on his foam mattress so he would have to go and sleep somewhere else. But whatever they did to him, this Christian boy never reacted in an angry way. One day Aliou was playing chess with a professor when someone came up and gave the professor a Christian tract. The prof gave the tract to Aliou, and he felt obligated to accept it in order to be polite. He stuck the tract in his front shirt pocket and forgot about it. Another professor who was a Christian saw the tract in his pocket and told Aliou that if he could explain what the tract said, the prof would give him 15 points out of a total of 25 points on the upcoming test. Aliou liked the idea of getting “free” points on his test! He read the tract but it didn’t make any sense to him. So he went to his Christian dorm mate. They found a quiet spot and he clearly explained the tract to Aliou. In fact, he seemed to have already memorized the verses! Just to be sure, Aliou went to another Christian professor and asked him to explain the tract, but his explanation didn’t make any sense. On the day of the test Aliou was able to explain the tract to his prof. The prof said, “Now I know that you can understand and explain clearly in English what this tract says, so I will give you 15 points.”
Aliou is now an ENT medical doctor working in a hospital in Jos, Nigeria. He knows what it is to suffer for his faith. Twice his home was burned down by arson. Another time he hid in someone’s attic for 3 days to escape from those who were trying to kill him. His faith is a shining light of the difference Jesus makes.
Blessings,
Dave & Patsy Alfors
Here is what’s going on in our corner of the world.
- Next week, January 10-12, Patrice, a Cameroonian colleague, will be teaching his second seminar on reaching out to Mxslxms up north in Maroua. There were about 100 who attended his first seminar. This time they will spend the first day listening to reports from those who attended the seminar to hear what they have found out about the 3 areas in Maroua they have targeted for evangelism. The second day Patrice will help to choose coaches and train them in coaching skills. The third day Patrice will give ongoing training in reaching out to Mxslxms.
- A couple weeks ago Rebekah, a Cameroonian colleague here in Ngaoundéré, organized 3 days of fasting and prayer for the Mxslxms. Patsy was able to join them for part of one day. It was encouraging to hear them pray with passion for our “cousins.” Praise God for the way He is answering our prayers for Cameroonian Christians we can partner with for reaching out to Mxslxms.
- Abdullahi and Gabriel continue to meet faithfully with Dave. This past week Gabriel said he received a phone call from Mxslxm woman he met several months ago when visiting someone in the hospital. Her first question to Gabriel was, “Are you still in the faith?” Praise God for Gabriel’s faithful witness. Pray that this woman will seek God with her whole heart.
- Pray that God’s Word will take root in the lives of Habiiba, Zaynabu, Aysaatu, and Mariaatu as Patsy shares with them. Last week Habiiba was excited to share that she had stayed up late to watch the entire Jesus film on the Cameroonian national TV station.
Testimony from a Kanuri Christian
Several weeks ago we met 3 Kanuri Christians from northern Nigeria. The Kanuri tribe is known to be very devoted to Ixlam and many of the radical Boko Haram are from this tribe. But these Christians estimate that there are now over 300 Kanuri who are following Jesus!!
Aliou grew up in a staunch Mxslxm home. His father had 18 wives, but in keeping with Ixlamic law, he never had more than 4 wives at a time. When he was in high school he attended a boarding school. In his dorm there were 8 beds. 7 of the boys were Kanuri and 1 boy was a Christian. Being teenage boys the 7 Kanuri decided to make life so miserable for the Christian that he would decide to leave. When he wanted to read his Bible in the evening they would turn off the light and wouldn’t let him turn it on again. Sometimes they poured water on his foam mattress so he would have to go and sleep somewhere else. But whatever they did to him, this Christian boy never reacted in an angry way. One day Aliou was playing chess with a professor when someone came up and gave the professor a Christian tract. The prof gave the tract to Aliou, and he felt obligated to accept it in order to be polite. He stuck the tract in his front shirt pocket and forgot about it. Another professor who was a Christian saw the tract in his pocket and told Aliou that if he could explain what the tract said, the prof would give him 15 points out of a total of 25 points on the upcoming test. Aliou liked the idea of getting “free” points on his test! He read the tract but it didn’t make any sense to him. So he went to his Christian dorm mate. They found a quiet spot and he clearly explained the tract to Aliou. In fact, he seemed to have already memorized the verses! Just to be sure, Aliou went to another Christian professor and asked him to explain the tract, but his explanation didn’t make any sense. On the day of the test Aliou was able to explain the tract to his prof. The prof said, “Now I know that you can understand and explain clearly in English what this tract says, so I will give you 15 points.”
Aliou is now an ENT medical doctor working in a hospital in Jos, Nigeria. He knows what it is to suffer for his faith. Twice his home was burned down by arson. Another time he hid in someone’s attic for 3 days to escape from those who were trying to kill him. His faith is a shining light of the difference Jesus makes.
Blessings,
Dave & Patsy Alfors
