News
New update March 2008
“We do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord,
and ourselves as bondservants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Cor. 4:5)
“You also joining in helping us through your prayers” (2 Cor. 1:11)
West African Mission Update
March 2008
Steve & Patricia Phillips
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Most of Steve’s
publications,
Including
Workers Unashamed
can be read
and/or downloaded by visiting the
Gospel for West Africa
website,
Then click on
the
Publications tab,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear
Brethren,
Suffering
afflicts the soul of every
mortal man here below. What we providentially may be spared
outwardly will nevertheless need to be endured inwardly. Sorrow’s
draught must trickle into all trembling lips without exception,
Christ Jesus included.
That startling
passage, Hebrews 5:8, confirms this: “Although He was a Son, yet He
learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” Jesus! Tempted
in all ways, yet without sin. Son of God! Ever doing what delighted
His Father on high.
Yet He learned
obedience; not due to fault in order to correct, not as enlightening
a dull perception, but to taste sustaining support while sufferings
threatened their cascading billows.
He relied upon
grace abundant to counter necessity’s press, drank from wisdom’s
fount when harangued by contradicting sinners, and was garrisoned by
the Spirit’s embattlement when sorely assaulted by the tempter. It
was in this stern and cheerless classroom that He learned what we
all must.
Rightly
perceived, the crucible of affliction is granted by a Father’s
severe mercy to school us to obey; to obey when obscurity’s pathway
overshadows in gloom, as anxiety churns its fearful foam within,
when disappointment’s bitter herb is pressed onto our unwilling
tongues.
Through these
tutors, the virtuous twins of longsuffering and patience are
nurtured to stalwart stature. Longsuffering, mingled with mercy,
does not flare into flames of retaliation when provocation prods
against its even temper. Patience, abiding in hope, does not crack
and collapse under weighty loads.
Neither will
thrive in the hothouse of an affliction-free nursery. Rather, roots
must extend to reservoirs unseen during droughts of isolation.
Branches need lift their arms pleading even while unanswered beneath
skies of scorching bronze. Leaves will tremble, yes, thrash, whipped
by howling tempests of raging scorn.
And thus it
is that the All-Wise grants sufficient grief
in every life to fit our souls for His habitation and service,
whether on the shores of American plentitude or amidst the jungles
of African privation. The heart and need of man are one and the same
on every continent. And if we will become like the Lord Jesus, we
cannot eliminate the fellowship of His sufferings from the equation
of knowing Him [Phil.3:10].
Yes, it is
fellowship, fellowship with the Man of Sorrows, who was and is
acquainted with grief, and sympathizes with our weakness, having
faced all temptations like unto our own. “In all their afflictions,
He was afflicted” [Isa.63:9].
Let us
therefore draw near to Him for that grace to help which proceeds
from this Savior of mercy during the times of our need. And while
suffering according to Divine design, let us ever be entrusting our
souls to the faithful Creator by doing what is right [I Pet.4:19].
And so shall sorrows contribute their quota for our everlasting gain
and the glory of Christ throughout endless day.
Here in
Sierra Leone, our own hearts are heavy,
yet with comfort, in the bitter-sweet sending of our children back
to the States while Patti and I attend to the necessities
confronting us in the village. They are heavy with their departure
and the circumstances surrounding that, as we love them so dearly.
Yet we are comforted in the infinite wisdom that has ordained it so,
committing them into the everlasting arms of our Father above.
We thank the
Lord for being able to correspond with them weekly via email and,
from all reports from them and the wonderful families that are
caring for them, they are doing admirably for which we are very
grateful to God. Thank you so much for your continued prayers and
encouragement to our hearts during this difficult time for our
family.
The most
encouraging aspects of our work
presently are in the responses of brothers Emmanuel, William, Foday,
and Usman to the teaching of the Word. Brother Freeman is making
good and consistent progress through the Discipleship Experience
that we meet together weekly to discuss. He has faced much
persecution and slander, primarily from those loving money in a
prominent “Prosperity” preaching denomination in their area.
Nonetheless, he has continued to speak the truth in love and
currently there are more than 40 brethren meeting together in the
east end of Freetown.
Brother William
is attending the university here and has been the target of numerous
attempts to initiate him into cultic groups on campus. There at
school he teaches two Bible studies and is quite active and
effective in evangelism.
Due to his
influence with his colleagues, I am now teaching a weekly session
with some very earnest Christians who are truly hungering and
thirsting for righteousness. Whenever he is able to do so, he joins
us here in the provinces [about 100km from Freetown] where he
interprets into Temne as we teach the Word together.
One of the
young men who are staying with us here in the house is brother Foday.
We meet several times weekly for Bible study in preparation for his
desire to do pioneer gospel work in the father reaches of the north
here in Sierra Leone. He also interprets for me into Krio during our
monthly radio broadcast that reaches the entire south of the
country. This brother continues steadfastly to demonstrate the grace
of Christ despite the slanderous opposition he is receiving on
several hands.
Here in Rotaprr
village is brother Usman, a former Muslim whom we had preached the
gospel to on many occasions, who now is zealous for the truth along
with his dear wife Nancy. He has shown much earnestness in the Word
and has been testifying to his close acquaintances in the village.
We see real evidences of true conversion in him.
Recently, in
the village where his mother and relatives live and where he has
some cattle he is rearing, several of his cows were stolen. The
family, being Muslim outwardly though very traditional inwardly,
urged him to go to the evil forest in their place in order to have
the juju man put a curse upon the thief. He stood up against all of
them and said that Jesus commanded that we not curse our enemies,
but rather forgive, bless, and pray for them. And this he did,
refusing to follow the very expected animist way of dealing with
such matters. We were so glad to hear of this, as it came directly
from his own heart of conviction and we were only told of it
afterwards.
We are planning
to have about 10 of these faithful ones to our home for a three-day
intensive Bible teaching time during their spring holiday later this
month.
Do continue to
pray for us as we work with these and other faithful brethren to
raise up servants of Christ to carry on the work among their own
people.
With all our
love,
Steve and
Patti Phillips
http://www.gospelforwestafrica.com
Sierra Leone
Mailing Address:
Steve Phillips
& Family
PO Box 1370
Freetown,
Sierra Leone
US Mailing
Address:
Steve Phillips
& Family
PO Box 1531
Shelton WA
98584
US Fax
(360) 427-8181
The Characteristics of a Godly Wife
by Patricia Phillips
See new photos in the Photo Gallery from a visit of two Washington State friends. (12/24/07)
pdf file: 429 kbs
The Way Of A Man
With A Maid
(pdf file: 98 kb)
Purity & The Will Of God.
Procinwarn.com Blog

