In The Gambia, a small nation in West Africa, many people are extremely poor. They need God to provide food and clothing. The women work so hard, walking with no break day after day to collect water and fuel. But they have a hunger for the gospel. Because of the Bible, people have hope.
Instead of brooding about their situation, people look forward to attending Bible literacy classes and Scripture listening groups. They come and laugh, they are happy, they forget about their pain. And they hear that God loves them.
Around 95% of the population here is Muslim; the rest are Christians or followers of traditional religions. Many Muslims come to these literacy classes. One lady said: ‘I have been a Muslim all these years but I don’t know what the Qur’an is telling me because it is in Arabic and I don’t know Arabic. But I understand what God is saying in the Bible.’
The Bible Society has combined its Bible literacy and listening groups. Participants do 45 minutes of learning to read and write, then listen to the New Testament read for 45 minutes on a solar-powered device called a Proclaimer. Twelve people have been trained up to do this job. All are on fire for Jesus! They have enabled us to establish literacy and listening programmes in nine more regions across The Gambia.
The Bible in the Jola language will be launched later this year, the first translation into a language spoken by 60,000 people. This is a huge moment, much anticipated by people who long to hear God’s word in their first language.
Never underestimate the impact of Bible translation. The Jesus Film is the story of the gospel, available in film in more than 1,800 languages. One man was seen weeping on a nearby street corner. Asked if he was okay, he said: ‘I didn’t know Jesus spoke my language; I thought Christianity was a white man’s religion. I am giving my life to Christ!’ What an amazing impact!
Another movement making a huge difference in The Gambia is Theophany Teens, which focuses on young people in 13 different communities and eight schools. (A theophany is a personal encounter with God.) Paul Mahmood, a converted Muslim who is also on fire for Jesus, runs one school; he is also an evangelist for The Gambia Fellowship of Evangelical Students. Paul says: ‘Many Theophany Teens are actively reaching out to their unchurched friends one-to-one, with powerful effects. Despite the enormous physical, environmental and financial challenges The Gambia faces, it brings us so much joy to see lives transformed in this way.’
