Mennonite Church Guinea Bissau is part of a Mennonite mission presence in West Africa since 2000. The mission began first in Gambia and by 2005 the good news was being carried to Guinea Bissau by new believers from Gambia. Most of the work focuses on the Balanta people but other people groups are also part of the emerging church. The mission is sponsored by Eastern Mennonite Missions and seeks to establish an Anabaptist circle of churches in those two countries plus in the intervening territory of Senegal. Welcome to our blog page and thanks for your interest in learning more about bringing Christ to a part of Africa where the church is weak or non-existent.

Friday

April 2015 Newsletter

 




"One of my favorite activities:  Sharing a Bible lesson with my African friends."

 
                                                                                                 

Sierra Leone tour                                      
On April 12th, I leave Bourofaye, Senegal on a trip that will take me to Freetown, Sierra Leone for a teaching tour with leaders of Hope of Glory, a house church ministry Sierra Leone. The folks at that mission are dedicated to bringing hope and righteousness to a people still finding their way returning to stability following an eleven-year civil war and more recently by the devastation of Ebola. It will be an opportunity to encourage these leaders with their vision for peace and restoration in a country many would consign to failure and hopelessness.
I will be providing these brothers and sisters with an overview study of the epistle of Ephesians, an apostolic letter calling Christians of all ages to build firmly on the foundation of the Christ the cornerstone and the witness of the New Testament apostles and prophets. I can summarize the goal of this teaching tour by putting together some of my favorite phrases from that epistle, (plus tinkering with the pronouns). My prayer is to-
Bless [them] in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose [them] in him before the foundation of the world, that [they] should be holy and blameless before him. In love,  he predestined [them] for adoption as sons…  according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ  as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. To bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. That through the church [in Sierra Leone] the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, thru whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. And that [the faithful in Sierra Leone] are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Amen
This goal statement I would further add that I am aware of risks of travel to Sierra Leone, but I am also know that God is calling us to share the Gospel of peace. We must not be bound by the paralysis of fear, nor can we abandon brothers and sisters in Christ who survive in the many threatening settings around the world today. I particularly solicit your prayers for safety, wisdom and enablement for this time of ministry in Sierra Leone.

To help you understand the situation in Sierra Leone please have a look at this YouTube video: http://youtu.be/8kme5X5ERf4, and read the attached report of Dr. Gess. Both of these recent reports provide a perspective on Sierra Leone by missionaries who have spent many years in that country.

Summer Plans 2015
Following my time in Sierra Leone, I will return to Bourofaye for a 3-week period, the 21 days required before entering the U.S. after leaving the Ebola region. I will arrive in the U.S. on
May 30th and be there until July 30th. Returning to Senegal shortly after Mennonite World Conference. Hopefully, those 8 weeks will provide opportunity to meet many of you.

July 19, 2:00-4:00 pm - MST with New Holland Congregation planning on a book signing of Beryl’s new Book “Animsts To Anabaptists” and a celebration of “The Walk for West Africa” at the New Holland Mennonite Church.  Light refreshments served.

The book
My forthcoming book, Animists to Anabaptists, detailing the story of the beginnings of the Mennonite mission in Gambia and Guinea Bissau is scheduled for publication during the month of April 2015.  I am in my final days of working with the book editor and designer at Dove publications in Lititz, Pa.

Would you like to make a donation to Beryl’s ministry in West Africa, and at the same time become a well –informed supporter of the work? You can receive a copy of the new book Animist to Anabaptist, describing the development of the Mennonite Church in West Africa when it is released in April this year. Please make a minimum contribution of $15 to cover the book and shipping. If you wish to receive a copy of the book for your donation, please return the slip below to New Holland Mennonite Church, 18 Western Ave., New Holland, PA 17557 Att. Robert E. Martin. All proceeds from the sale of books go into the fund that supports Beryl’s ministry. If you are only making a contribution, it is not necessary to return your address slip.
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1 comment:

Emilio Fernandez said...

Bom dia, como vai você?

Meu nome é Emilio , eu sou um menino espanhol e moro em uma cidade perto de Madrid. Eu sou uma pessoa muito interessada em saber coisas tão diferentes como a cultura , o modo de vida dos habitantes de nosso planeta, a fauna , a flora e as paisagens de todos os países do mundo, etc, em resumo, eu sou uma pessoa que gosta de viajar , aprendendo e respeitando a diversidade das pessoas de todo o mundo.

Eu adoro viajar e conhecer pessoalmente todos os aspectos acima mencionados, mas, infelizmente, como isto é muito caro e meu poder de compra é muito pequena , por isso desenvolveram uma forma de viajar com a imaginação em todos os cantos do nosso planeta. Alguns anos atrás eu comecei uma coleção de selos usados ​​, porque através deles, você pode ver fotos sobre a fauna, a flora , monumentos, paisagens, etc de todos os países . Como todo dia é cada vez mais difícil conseguir selos , alguns anos atrás eu comecei uma nova coleção , a fim de receber cartas tradicionais que me dirigiu em que o meu objetivo era fazer com que pelo menos uma carta de cada país no mundo. Este objetivo modesto é viável para chegar na maior parte dos países , mas, infelizmente , é impossível de conseguir em outros territórios , por diversas razões , ou porque eles são muito pequenos países com poucos população , ou porque são países em guerra , ou porque são países com pobreza extrema , ou porque por algum motivo o sistema postal não está funcionando corretamente .

Por tudo isso, eu gostaria de lhe pedir um pequeno favor:
Estaria a gentileza de me enviar uma carta por correio tradicional de Guine Bissau? Eu entendo perfeitamente que você acha que seu blog não é o lugar apropriado para pedir isso, e até mesmo , é muito provável que você ignore a minha carta , mas eu gostaria de chamar sua atenção para a dificuldade na obtenção de uma carta daquele país, e também Eu não conheço ninguém nem onde escrever em Guine Bissau , a fim de aumentar a minha coleção. uma carta para mim é como uma pequena lembrança , como se eu já tinha visitado esse território com a minha imaginação e ao mesmo tempo , a chegada das cartas de um país é um sinal de paz e normalidade e uma maneira original de promover um país em o mundo . Meu endereço postal é o seguinte :

Emilio Fernandez Esteban
Avenida Juan de la Cierva , 44
28902 Getafe ( Madrid)
Espanha

Se desejar, você pode visitar o meu blog www.cartasenmibuzon.blogspot.com onde você pode ver as imagens de todas as cartas que tenho recebido de todo mundo .

Finalmente, eu gostaria de agradecer a atenção dada a esta carta, e se você pode me ajudar ou não, eu enviar os meus melhores votos de paz , saúde e felicidade para você , sua família e todos os seus entes queridos .

sinceramente seu

Emilio Fernandez