Please pray for a few families in the village

Whenever a new team member visits the village for the first time, Pastor A asked a family in the village to "adopt" that person. In 2005 my "namesake" became Demba Diouf. Each year I longed to visit with Demba. I prayed that God would reveal Himself to Demba. Each year we discussed the good news of Jesus Christ. This picture was taken last year. The CFC Prayer Shawl Ministry sewed this wordless book scarf that I gave to Demba. The 5 colors summarize the Gospel. I just received news that Demba passed from this life. My heart is so heavy. I was looking forward to seeing Demba when we return to the village. Please pray for his family and the family of one of our sponsored children whose father died in the past two weeks.

In light of this news, I would like to share the message of hope of eternal life using the wordless book message. The 5 colors are Gold, Dark, Red, White and Green.

The story begins with the gold color. It reminds me of the streets of gold in heaven that the Bible talks about. Do you know who lives in heaven? God does and He wants you to be in Heaven with Him some day. You usually like to be with people you love, don't you? That's why God wants you to be with Him in Heaven - He loves you very much! In the Bible, He says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love" (Jeremiah 31:3). That means that God loved you even before you were born! You could put your name in there and say, "God has loved me with an everlasting love." and it would be just as true. God wants you to be in Heaven someday with Him, but there is something that can keep you from being there - sin.

Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 21:27)

The dark color represents the darkness of sin. The Bible begins with people enjoying the presence of God. We were created to be in relationship with our Creator. But, very soon, sin entered into the world and into the hearts of people and put a barrier between God and humanity. The Bible states that “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). It’s a universal, spiritual problem. It contaminates every part of us: our physical bodies, our minds, our relationships, our emotions, our decision-making abilities and our destiny.

The Bible states that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Death is the just penalty and punishment for sin. In the Bible, the word “death” means “separation”. There are three degrees of separation people experience because of the problem of sin:

• Physical Separation: Every obituary is a reminder that all of us are mortal. Our physical death, separation from this life, is the result of sin in the world (Genesis 2:17).
• Spiritual Separation: Sin puts a barrier between us and God and prevents us from enjoying a relationship with Him. The holiness of God prevents Him from compromising Himself and turning a blind eye to sin. He must, instead turn His back on us.
• Eternal Separation: Some have thought hell to be an imaginary place. However, the Bible teaches that sin leads to a very real separation from God forever (1 Thessalonians 1:8-9).

This inward sin problem cannot be cured by outward actions. No matter how good, helpful, truthful or kind we might try to be, none of us will ever be able to change the condition of our sinful heart. Only God can do that. And He did!

The red color represents God’s solution to our sin problem. Jesus came to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. He visited our world, took on human flesh and lived a perfect life deserving no punishment. Yet Jesus willingly took on Himself the just penalty for our sin by dying on the cross. The Bible says, “God demonstrates His own love toward us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). By taking our place, He exchanged our imperfection for His perfection. Think about this truth: “God made him who knew no sin to become sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The white color represents the cleansing and forgiveness that we experience when we receive the free gift of eternal life through faith in the Lord Jesus. King David said this when he confessed his sin before a holy God, “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean, wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7).

A transformed life is a free gift of God. It is not earned. It is not purchased. It is personal and non-refundable. It is the ultimate gift that will last forever. And, it’s available to you. You may respond to God’s gracious provision simply through faith. You can trust Jesus for who He is and what He has done for us. The Bible speaks about this step into new life: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” (Romans 10:9-10).

The Bible says, "Yet to all who received him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12). Have you ever believed and received the Lord Jesus so you could become God's child?

I'm not talking about whether you attend church or have been baptized or if your parents are Christians. Those things are good, but they cannot take away even one sin. Jesus wants you to believe in and receive Him as your Lord and Savior.

I admit that I am a sinner and I need a Savior.
I believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for my sin and rose from the dead.
I confess that Jesus is my Lord and I surrender my life to him and desire to live for Him.

The Green color reminds me of things that grow. (Like trees and grass and plants.) When you become God's child, He wants you to get to know Him better. The Bible says, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). You can get to know God better by reading and obeying His Word, the Bible. Another thing that can help you grow in Christ is by talking to Him in prayer. Going to a church and being in community with other Christians who also desire to grow in Christ will help you know Him better too. You can also tell others about Jesus! In fact, if you have just become God's child, by grace through faith, would you let me know? I would like to thank God for what He has just done for you. It would be a good idea for you to thank Him right now as well.

This is the testimony: God has given us eternal life and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
1 John 5:11-13

Jesus speaking … “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” John 5:24