Pioneers of the Faith

Imagine what it would be like to be the first in your family – a long line of Muslim believers – to leave the faith and put your trust in Jesus Christ. You would probably face a lot of rejection from your family; scorn for making such a decision; and heaviness felt by walking out this new faith alone. Seven women in the Nanerige tribe are “the firsts” – the first in their families to leave behind their Muslim beliefs and follow Christ.

Fatimata is the first in her family to be in a church. Though she hasn’t made the choice to be baptized yet, the missionary team in N’Dorola (Phil and Carol Bergen and Blaine and Michelle Warner), overheard her scolding a neighbor who sells them peanut butter. She said to this woman, “Don’t think that just being friends with them (the missionaries) is good enough. You need to find out what makes them the way they are. They are following God’s ways. You should do that too!”

Fatimata is so convinced by the Word of God that she is ready to tell others who do not yet know. Becoming the first Christian in a Muslim family will bring some complications for her when she decides to get baptized, but she will not be alone in facing the challenge.

Seven women in N’Dorola – 3 of whom have been baptized – are helping define what this will mean for others who come after them. They are all pioneers – and this can be tricky. One of these women ties amulets to her children to protect them from evil forces. Another has a husband who follows tradition and sleeps around with young unmarried women. Another shares her husband with his other wife. Neither of these husbands has come to church – yet.

Another woman has been attending church with her husband, but is deeply concerned about what Christianity might cost them since she may be sterile. If she and her husband give their lives to Christ, they will not be able to add a second wife who can bear the children who will care for them all in their old age. How would you react if becoming Christian meant giving up your retirement?

Each woman is precious. Though their journeys of faith look much different than ours in North America, Jesus is patiently and graciously leading them through the challenges of following Christ in families where none have done this before.

Join us in prayer for these 7 Nanerige women – and people all around the world – who have left everything they know to count the cost of following Christ.