Despite what looks like an abrupt stop to everyday ministry, God is still working through New Hope trainings. The training in Burkina Faso in January 2020is producing fruit even now!
Mid-January 2020 Anna Farmer* trained a co-ed group of 30 church leaders of multiple denominations from across Burkina Faso. Burkina’s motto, “the land of men of integrity,” has suffered greatly from terrorism the last 2 years. With more than 490,000 IDP’s in a country of 19 million, Burkina is a land in need of trauma healing.
One older pastor said, “ Lady, you thought you came here to train a group of people, I’m telling you came here to help me with my internal hurts I have been struggling with. In the north of Burkina Faso where we have had so many terrorist attacks, we have many refugees in our town. People are just ‘living;’ they do not have life. No one is sleeping at night. This training has helped me and I now have a tool to help the people just ‘living’ in my town.”
The New Hope training was the first story based training Mary ever attended. She was amazed how the stories came alive and at the same time was so therapeutic for her. Mary left the training each day compelled to share the stories she had learned. She had learned it was not just for her healing but others as well. Mary shared the stories during the training with the guards on the property of the facility each evening. By the end of the week both guards gave their lives to the Lord.
Since January groups have started. Ron is leading a group of 7 in his small church. Those 7 have shared stories of healing with 24 of their neighbors and 2 of those have come to faith through Jesus. Would you pray for continued healing in Ron’s community?
Pray for Mary as she starts a group in her village in the next few weeks. Ask the Lord to bring healing to the many wounded hearts across Burkina Faso.