How Farmers in Africa are Revolutionizing Ministry to Muslims

Although the Gospel message and God’s Word itself is unchanging, the presentation of the Good News is often adapted for each group that is receiving it. In Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya, God gave Call of Hope a culturally appropriate method to connect with the people - Farmer Evangelism. Due to the rich agricultural area that makes up much of the land of these countries, most of the villagers have become farmers to feed and support their families.

Call of Hope Farmer Evangelists are trained in effective small-scale agricultural production, which they use to assist their neighbors and eventually start conversations about Jesus. The evangelists begin by planting crops on a leased plot of land, as the crops begin to grow, nearby villagers take notice and want to know how to improve their own farm productivity, beginning a conversation. Curiosity about farming methods and fertilizer leads to relational evangelism and the presentation of the Gospel message to Muslim farmers. When enough people in a village have come to faith in Christ, a church is established, believers are nourished in the Word of God, and are able to have fellowship one with another.

The Farmer Evangelist project has been remarkably successful. Many churches have been planted and more than 80 farmer evangelists have been placed in villages across the region! As the Gospel message continues to spread and seeking Muslims are coming to faith in Christ, Call of Hope has made discipleship training a priority. Every two months, the farmer evangelists gather for a time of encouragement and training in the Word of God. Despite strong opposition, the Good News of Jesus Christ is setting free villagers who were once bound by the chains of Islam.

How important is the Bible to you?

How important is the Bible to you?

Surveys show that 88% of homes in the US have at least one Bible in them. You can find one at the bedside of your hotel room, in any bookstore, and even on your phone! 

It may be hard to imagine a world where Bibles are scarce, but this is the reality in much of the Muslim world. Possessing a Bible in many Islamic countries is against the law, and in some cases punishable by imprisonment or worse. 

God's Word is dishonored in many ways, and often is burned by extremist groups! Because of this, believers hold tightly to their Bibles because they know that if it is lost to them, they may never get one again.

At our center in Lebanon, a congregation of former Muslim Syrian refugees meets every week to receive teaching in God's Word. At the end of a recent service, we asked them "What does the Word of God mean to you?"
 

"The Bible shows us the true God and it teaches us how we can know him. It shows us the true faith and a God who loves us" - Ahmed

"The Muslim leaders used to tell us that the Bible is corrupted. Now I know the truth and the power it has to change our lives!" - Said

"The Word of God has the highest influence in my life and it teaches me my purpose. I have become a new person through the Bible." - Farez
 

Right now, there is a need for Bibles all across the Muslim world. If God has touched your heart, would you please consider giving a gift of $5 or more, so that we can put new Bibles in the hands of Muslim converts?

Please also pray for these new believers, that they would read, understand, and grow in the knowledge of God's Word.

• Please pray for believers in Northern Nigeria who face danger every day for their faith in Christ. In this area, the Bible's are confiscated and burned in the streets.

• Please Pray for new believers in the Syrian Refugee camps. Pray for their safety as they read the Word among their Muslims neighbors.

• Pray for understanding. As new Christians read God's Word, they often have many questions and long to know more. Please pray that the Holy Spirit would speak to them and that Frontline Workers would explain the Word clearly.

New Christians yearn for the truth, encouragement, and peace found in the Bible. Right now, you can help bring light into the darkness! 

A Family’s Unbelievable Transformation from an Unlikely Gift

We all want the best for our families. The Duwani family in Ghana is no different. Every year they come together to work hard on the family farm simply to cultivate enough crops to feed themselves. In years past, when the harvest was meager, they barely had enough to survive the season. As you might imagine, living in such scarcity doesn’t leave a lot of room to provide for schooling and health care for the Duwani’s 4 children.  Today, the situation is very different, thanks to a gift from a Call of Hope donor like you. 

Years ago, a donor provided a goat to Mawuli, the oldest son in the Duwani family. Looking back, it’s clear that the single goat began a chain reaction that has affected the entire family! Today, the Duwani family is thriving, and it all started with one goat. 

“The goat given to our child gave birth to two baby goats and within a span of two years we had many goats from the offspring of the first goat” Mr. Duwani recalls. “Everyday our children would pray that God should protect their goats from diseases,” God answered their prayers, and none of the Duwani goats suffered any sickness, despite the fact that much other livestock in their village died from illness! 

The multiplication of the goat marked the financial breakthrough for the family. Though the goat was given to one person, the benefits affected everyone! “Through the goats, our son was able to finance his education to the college level and has since become a professional teacher.” Mrs. Duwani exclaimed! In fact, the goats also financed the schooling for Mawulis younger brothers and sisters! 

Paying for school was just the beginning, for the first time in their family history, the children were able to receive check-ups and attention from a doctor when they were sick! When health insurance wasn’t enough to cover the cost of treatment, they simply sold one of the goats to offset the cost!

During lean years, when the harvest didn’t yield enough crops for the family, they simply sold a goat at the market to help put additional food on the table. Every night as the family gathers to eat, they remember the years prior when they had to scrape by with very little food. Now they praise God for the bounty that they are now able to share with others! When Muslim neighbors ask about the tremendous transformation in the family, they are always ready to give thanks to God and share this testimony of God’s faithfulness!