The Kenedougou region (west of Bobo) appears to be opening up to the gospel after years of resistance!  There are several unreached people groups living here, primarily the Senefou and Bolon (as well as Fulani).  The Obergs are currently focusing on evangelism and church planting.  Two churches (in Ndorola and Sirasso) are continuing to grow as they are sharing the good news of Christ with those around them.  Small groups of believers are meeting in surrounding villages, and we praise God for how we are seeing His hand at work!

The Obergs:

continues

His conversion to Christ was powerful, and he immediately decided to burn all of his fetishes and idols.  During the ceremony, other people actually testified to the fact that his spiritual power was so great, that they had seen him stand still in fire and not get burned.  (Okay—you’ll have to get out of that western mindset !)  Moussa watched all that was happening, wondering what would take place.  As you know, we serve a God who is more powerful than Satan, and as you can guess, nothing happened to this new believer.             This was the turning point for Moussa.   Last Sunday, Moussa dressed up in his special clothes and amulets, holding a bag of fetishes, for the last time.  He wanted Kevin to take a picture of him before and after, so he could show proof to others that he did, indeed, own these articles and that he had burned them.  The church members gathered around and built a fire.  The pile of clothing, amulets, and fetishes were placed on the ground, and in a final moment of surrender, Moussa untied two amulets that he had kept hidden under his new clothes and added them to the pile.  Pastor Marcel read several scripture passages, and as the church members danced in celebration and sang songs of victory in Christ, the clothes, amulets, and fetishes were burned.  After the ceremony, the believers gathered around Moussa and prayed for him, for his protection, for his testimony, and that God would use his example to help others who might be struggling to give up their fetishes as well.     (see pics)

Burkina Faso

The Hulls

Tobi: Baptism at Sobara

Reading Class

Kirsten Hull and her Mom teaching VBS

Top of page

This page was last updated: March 14, 2008

The Schaeffers

The Church in Bobo

Esther and Andrew Schaeffer are very active in the Bobo church district in  different roles. Main Ministries in the church: Esther works mainly with the woman en Andrew usually preaches on Sunday morning. Counseling and encouraging pastors is another important role they play.

Pasor Héma Bamaki's installation service at the Colma church (second from left with his wife)

Moussa

Since Moussa came to Christ, Pastor Marcel and other believers in the church have talked with him about the importance of getting rid of his amulets and fetishes.

           About 3 weeks ago, an old man who was a relative of Moussa’s came and talked with Pastor Marcel and surrendered his life to Christ.  This man was one of the strongest animistic leaders in a nearby village, what we would call a “witch doctor.”