For Freedom's Sake

Abandoned, neglected and unaccepted are three words that could accurately describe what Mohamed Bayoh experienced at age 16. This was due to his acceptance of Christ and desire to follow Him. Watch how God works; Mohamed’s story is one to hear, following the footprints of redemption, which is the glory of the story through the death on the cross. I had the privilege of watching him closely during our seven day stay in Lungi, Sierra Leone. We served alongside one another and he touched my heart more than any other youthful male there. He is now 22 years old.

Mohamed’s parents are practicing Muslims with a strong distaste for Christianity. His father drove Mohamed out of his home in Freetown, Sierra Leone when he was a teenager and told him not to return. He recalls the specific words of his father: “As long as you’re a Christian, you will not be in this house. If I see you in public, there’s going to be a problem.” You can assume that the “problem” would be something quite more severe than a simple verbal dispute.

With an air of humility and refusal to abandon the spiritual freedom he obtained through his new faith in Christ, Mohamed ventured miles out of Freetown, landing in Lungi. There, he ran into one of Pastor Jacob Gbateh’s elders, who then brought Mohamed to church and explained that he had no place to stay. He didn’t know anyone in Lungi. If you’ve followed any of the previous articles, you won’t be surprised to hear that Pastor Jacob was unhesitant to offer this young man a home to “bring him up in his own way.” He is the pastor for Pure Life Evangelical Ministries and also, a father of 23 orphans.

Mohamed captivated our attention as we watched him diligently, humbly and steadfastly serve the home in which he lived. The main part of our journey there was to execute three nights of revival. Pastor Jacob had obtained a big piece of land on which to build a church, orphanage and hopefully a school. They call this land the “New Jerusalem.” This is the land on which we held the revivals. The members of the congregation built a stage and hung lights the whole way across the land. What fascinated me was that Mohamed slept on the ground in this area each night to watch over and protect the stage and other things on the land for our revival. Rest assured that now, with the orphanage God is blessing them with through Orphan’s Promise, that he is still there guarding the work of his Father’s hands. He has a servant’s heart and as Jacob explains, “He is very, very humble…so humble.” Mohamed is also the sound technician at the church.

In July 2009, Mohamed received word that his mother had passed away. Since and before her passing, his father and mother had split up. This was heavily due to the fact that she wanted a relationship with her forgotten son and the father would not have it. Mohamed attended the funeral and it was no surprise that his father did not come to pay his respect. Mohamed has forgiven his father. His strength of character is known and seen by all of those surrounding him. Jacob is sure he will be a strong leader for the Kingdom.

I had the opportunity of talking with him and also, serving with him in the realm of worship. My husband and I lead with singing and playing the guitar and piano while Mohamed ran the sound equipment. His gracious demeanor and supportive skill really made us feel like a unified team. It was a fusing of two very distinct worlds and we felt more at home than we do in our living room.

I know Mohamed will be an active executioner and helping hand with the project that Orphan’s Promise has facilitated to the people of Pure Life Evangelical Ministries. The youth as well as the children are being equipped with the resources to further their ability to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. It is our prayer that we can continue to drive forward hand in hand with Orphan’s Promise to continue to meet needs in ways that hardly taint our very existence, whether it be monetary support or utilizing the power of prayer.

It really does something when you look into the eye of someone and know his or her history. I would be so bold as to say that deliverance from a broken life apart from Christ is the most poignant experience we ever encounter. The liberation from chains of anger, malice and spiritual imprisonment has been unchained because of the cross. This young man had every reason to battle against the faith and grow in his bitterness, but by the endless and limitless grace of God, he was held tightly in the hand of his Maker. Great things are in store.

Can I Keep Her?

She was the one for me. Of the many orphans I met and spent time with in Lungi, Sierra Leone, there was bound to be at least one that profoundly mesmerized me. Now, that’s not to say I wouldn’t scoop every single one up if the opportunity presented itself. Little Adame Bungura, who went by A.D., caught my eye the first day we arrived at Pastor Jacob’s house this past January.

Her presence is charming, her demeanor fiercely loving. She is a worshipper. The way this young lady was discovered is one of those circumstances that we often hear, but seldom have the ability to realistically grasp. She was simply walking by herself. She was walking alone and it was evident that she had no family. Pastor Jacob explains, “They left the child and she was just walking about.” Street children are so unfortunately common in this impoverished country.

A.D. is a brilliant girl. She is five years old and already in Grade 3. She assertively recited the ABC’s and she unquestionably surpassed my skill at five! And she was doing it barefoot, covered by the dust of the earth with glowing white teeth and the most beautifully woven hair I’d ever seen. I love watching God shower love on his children.

She’s a singer and I wish you could see the video I have of her dancing and singing with her arms up high in the air, eyes closed as if it was just her and Jesus boogie-ing. She caught us videoing her once and she was completely and utterly untainted. She just closed them again and kept on. It was beautiful. The feature I valued so much in her was the very same quality Pastor Jacob described the example of her character on a regular basis: “She is so very appreciative. She gets along with everyone. She is a very good girl with good potentials if only she can be cared for. She will be great in the future.”

The orphanage that Orphan’s Promise is building is such a Godsend and encouragement for situations like these. Their plentiful contribution has set this area on a Jesus wildfire. The needs are still abundant and it is evident that God is certainly planning a fruitful future. Sometimes in such destitute places, you can vividly see the Holy Spirit; there is a special glow around these people and I could smell their yearning for a deepened relationship with their Creator, not just with man, not just with money, and not just with our help. It is real. That’s where I want to be.

It is undeniable that this ministry is growing and more children will be seeking the light that these people carry. It is our prayer that people continue to grab the vision and invest in the cause. It’s a righteous cause. It is wonderful that they will have a place to live, and of close importance is building a Christian school. The only school offered to these children in this community is a Muslim school, where they are forced and expected to participate in the rituals of the faith. It takes a little to do a lot in a country like this. We need to support and pray this through to fruition.

One thing I want to mention about Pastor Jacob is that he is such an incredibly hard worker. He is the most delightful man and his heart is bigger than the earth itself. He tirelessly labors in the realm of construction and/or any trade that will support the Lord’s ministry there. His drive is Christ, not abundance. It’s to sustain, and then give it all away. How awesome it is to partner with such a man. His wife, Fatu, as well, is a warrior of a woman. She cares for these 23 children with all of her might and is equally “mama” to all of them, from the physical needs to the emotional and spiritual needs of the children. I am thankful A.D. has acquired a phenomenal mother.

Here’s the catch with these children. Our standards would conclude that they have nothing. The world would say they have very little. They, themselves, would say they were blessed. In a way I was shocked that the children were so well behaved. I guess the many years I had seen the very somber faces of children in need on various advertisements for initiatives to help these children – I might have thought to myself…”They’re children; they can’t be that humble all the time, can they?! Kids are kids at the end of the day!” I’m here to tell you, if I could take our children to Sierra Leone in this stage of their life, I’d do it and call it the educational and spiritual field trip of a lifetime. Trust me, they will go in the future. These children have changed me. They have touched my heart. Their essence won’t leave me and, truly, that’s not really essence, that’s the Holy Spirit. That’s His pressing on the hearts of those who care and who can show that with effortful support.

Almost always, life’s circumstances should be understood with context in mind. Every book of the Bible has a context. So think about this and read the following sentences with two contexts in mind. Once, read it for your own children amidst their daily lives at school. Twice, read it as if you are a parent of a child and living in Sierra Leone. I was reading an emergency preparedness letter that an educational institution sent out to parents. A part of it read, “We want to remind parents that no matter how hard we try to protect our children-emergencies happen. Preparedness is key to ensuring children in need receive the right care when it counts.” It also made the statement that over 30 million children need emergency care due to injury or illness. What emergencies are they talking about? I’ll let you decide. My heart and mind immediately shot to the children I spent time with in Sierra Leone. It also went to the adults. We’re all in a crisis; it’s called sin. We’re not home. We’re to keep a global worldview and consider how many things are happening spiritually all at once in our vast universe. I see a worthy emergency, an exciting crisis. Jesus’ message is hope, not despair. Positivity is reigning in a disastrous area and Orphan’s Promise is fighting evil on the front line with these loving people. Jesus Christ is alive and well.

So, can I keep her? The answer is, she’d be better off where she is, in a country that needs a little girl, going-to-be-woman, in the future; it’s home to her. We often mistake, as Christians, the importance and value of culture. Although broken in many African countries, one thing remains the same. The people are unique; they are capable individuals that have as big a heart as anyone to love Jesus Christ. We, who want to make a difference, need to meet them where they are at and build bridges, not change the very beautiful fundamental nature of their being. What I can do, however, is commit to encouraging fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to join the cause. I’m sure you’ve heard the tale about fishing…Don’t just give your children fish, teach them how to catch them and how to fish for themselves, so when you’re gone, they don’t starve. That’s our ambition. Orphan’s Promise is facilitating an inconceivable outpouring of resources full of hope and encouragement. What they are providing is a platform for these incredible ministers of the Lord to grow the kingdom where they are. This is my Father's world. O let me ne'er forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet. This is my Father's world: why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King; let the heavens ring! God reigns; let the earth be glad!

A Prayer Warrior with Hope

Our brother Pastor Jacob Gbateh in Lungi, Sierra Leone, West Africa, provides physical and spiritual shelter for as many children as he can in his three-bedroom home. In the midst of a broken third world country suffering heavily from a lack of resources, he currently has 23 orphan’s living with him and they all have a story. He shared this one about a special little girl with me in January.

Agness N’danema lost her mother when she was two years old. On top of this painful reality, her father was not working. In this environment and culture, when a parent is not working, it forces children to the street in an act of true survival. There is no food, no shelter, no clothing, and no care.

Agness’ grandmother happened to be one of Pastor Jacob’s elders in his church. She sought him out for wisdom and help in an act of desperation for her granddaughter. Jacob, as God has continually led him, embraced Agness with fervor: “I want to bring her up in my own way.” That is, he wants to bring her up in God’s way by the truth of Jesus Christ.

Agness is in grade three and her report card portrays great success. She loves to sing and loves to read. “Whenever she sees a book on the ground, she picks it up,” Pastor Jacob describes. How important it is to grab hold of the opportunity to see this young girl excel in her capabilities. Sierra Leone needs warriors for the cause of Christ. Education will always be a significant medium for children to reach their God-given potential in order to inspire cultural growth and health.

“She is fond of things of God. She always wakes up the others to pray.” Jacob tells this story with a smile on his face. The situation is always brought to his attention when the other children in his home approach him with a seemingly tattling demeanor, saying, “Papa, Agness is waking us up to pray!” He nods, “She is a prayer warrior.” Jacob discerns that she will definitely be a leader and “love to work for God.”

The unnatural reality for Agness is that, although she is under the parenting of Pastor Jacob, she is not able to sleep there regularly. This has to do with the number of orphans that are in the home. There is literally not enough space.

God’s grace has been glowing in Lungi and Orphan’s Promise has committed their service to build an orphanage for this family of 26. Jacob’s heart and passion is always directed towards the tremendous needs of children with the desire to provide physical and spiritual nurturing. It is inevitable that God will bring more children to him and bless his ministry. We hope you can capture the vision, too.

Sierra Leone - A Diamond in the Rough and A Fearless Angel

Have you ever met someone that captivated your soul and sent chills of humility racing down your spine? I have. Enter the life of Pastor Jacob Gbateh and his wife, Fatu. This family runs Pure Life Evangelical Ministries in Lungi, a community in Sierra Leone, Africa. G Phillip May Ministries, located in Pennsylvania, USA, aided in a successful church planting there years ago. I witnessed a testimony that was visible without words; this ministry is undoubtedly in the hands of the Lord and new miracles are being showered on this impoverished land. The relationship between two men, one of a first world country and one of a third, has been crafted into a radiant manifestation of God’s grace. It is an unblemished portrait of unity between our brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone and us in the small towns of Pennsylvania. God’s vision far surpasses ours.

What adds to the uniqueness of the Gbateh family is that they currently parent 23 orphans along with their three biological sons. In a culture where a single individual severely struggles to meet his or her own needs, it is farfetched to imagine adding not one or two, but 20 children under one’s care.

We arrived the first morning of our weeklong trip to minister and fellowship with the Gbatah family and members of Pure Life Evangelical Ministries. We were greeted eagerly with several muddy hands and the whitest smiles I have ever seen. I have always heard about the smiles, but seeing it in the flesh facilitated a more tangible sensation. They were simply beautiful.

We entered the Gbateh’s home and I immediately observed the 3 bedrooms that were about the size of a large walk-in closet with three or four mats laid out for the orphans. I then turned my attention to the children, who had followed us in, and wondered how they could all fit in this home but they do; they have to. It is better to find a place in a godly home under the care of a passionate, steadfast and sensitive man than to be on the street. It was a moment when I could taste the unmistakable calling on Pastor Jacob’s life to raise up orphans in the name of Jesus Christ. We need a place to take care of these children. We need children brought up in the palm of God’s hand by providing the countless needs, from the basic essentials necessary for sustaining life to the fostering of children in a godly environment. . We need them to grow into soldiers for the cause of Christ in Sierra Leone.

A day in the life of one of these orphans looks like this: one meal a day, consisting of mainly rice. Breakfast is a rarity, although if they don’t have food to provide for latter parts of a day, Jacob will attempt to make something for them before school. Their need for food is overwhelmingly noticeable. One meal a day is not adequate. This is obvious as I glance around and see numerous protruding bellies from malnourishment. Let me provide a little background information on how Pastor Jacob runs his home, which is distinctly different from neighboring communities. I watched the fire in his eyes and listened to the authenticity in his voice as he explained, “One thing I am teaching the children is not to go to neighbors and beg. They need to believe that God will provide. And, whether or not they have food, they are home. We have a God who can do all things. We can sleep, wake up and we might not have food…but I know that by evening, somehow God will provide.” He carries an insurmountable faith and his reliance on God is a witness in itself. His faith has provided a gifted strength to hold fast to the gospel and surrender his and the children’s lives to the Lord. His pursuit is especially worthwhile to us, as we rest in our companionship because we’re working towards the same goal: to win more for the kingdom. Our blessings need to be shared selflessly and used to accentuate their blessings. Their devotion to this ministry and to the Lord is reason enough.

Talk about a spitfire! I took special notice to one little girl, or miniature superwoman, I should say. One glance at her told me I was in for a treat, and by treat I mean a sassy and tasteful personality that would make you laugh uncontrollably, but inevitably wear you out; she would pick on us all day. Oh, the stories I could share, like how we daily gave her gum per her request, or demand I could say: “GUMMY!” Then she would approach us again for another piece “for her friend,” with a saintly smile only to stick the next two in her pocket. I adored her. As Pastor Jacob described her daily demeanor, “As long as you play with her, you’re okay.” We experienced the tiring joy in that mission each day.

Esther is four years old. Pastor Jacob gave her that name. He adopted her in 2006 the week she was born. He was on his way to the hospital to do routine prayer rounds with patients. He, by the wondrous work of the Lord, ran into a doctor who approached Jacob with his predicament. The doctor explained that Esther had no father and her mother, being impregnated and then abandoned with nothing to her name, had snuck out of the hospital in the night to avoid the bill for services, leaving Esther without a guardian or caretaker at her birth. After the doctor explained the situation to Pastor, Jacob asked their permission to take Esther and care for her. The doctor was appreciative and willingly put Esther in the arms of Jacob and offered free medical treatment for her in her first year. Fatu, Jacob’s wife, was by his side and agreed to nurture this child as her own. This would be the tenth orphan to come into the Gbatah home.

Esther was the apple of the Gbateh’s eye; she was the first girl in the orphan family of ten, 13 including Jacob and Fatu’s sons. They were thrilled at the prospect of providing physical, emotional and spiritual care to this precious soul. During her first few years, she was frequently affected by malaria and struggled to maintain her wellbeing.

Esther is currently in Nursery 1, more or less comparable to kindergarten. She loves people. She loves to eat sweets. She loves to eat, period. As Jacob chuckles to himself, “When she wakes up, she wants food. If you don’t give her food, she won’t talk to you! She is too much.” She is one spunky girl, and as I listened to Pastor Jacob, I can see her on the ground, smiling slyly, scraping the side of our dinner plates from that day. She’s as happy as can be. All of those qualities can be seen as something deeper than a mini-woman on the prowl: “She’s a survivor; she won’t quit,” Jacob explains.

It is exhilarating to dream of the potential this strong-willed, spirit-filled young girl will be able to accomplish with the assistance of Orphan’s Promise. It is children like this, under the care of a willing, empathetic Pastor that a transformed community is possible. Each of these children needs an education for a hopeful future. In our culture, it would equate to approximately $1.67 a month to educate a child for a year. However, for the Lungi community, the only educational institute is founded and run by Muslims. God has called us to build and support a Christian school in this community. God has provided the land on which to construct this project, all for His glory. Now it’s a matter of following through by heightening awareness around the world about these fruitful opportunities for an investment in a child’s life that hardly taints our daily standard of living. To put it in perspective, the effort and monetary supply we could contribute in one day is an investment that will drastically change the daily life of a child for a year.

In the midst of poverty, hunger and a disturbing quality of life, praise God for the opportunity to be one vessel of aid to these diligent and loving people. Every person counts. Call it cliché, but it’s as clear as any absolute; God put a pressing on our soul, and as believers, winning even just one for the kingdom is our most valuable profession on earth. And pertaining specifically to these children and this divine-designed, handcrafted opportunity, what better than to invest where young soldiers are being cultivated into Christ followers, who will then ultimately have a lasting impact in the country of Sierra Leone, Africa.

Nothing is by happenstance; it is a work of His hands. It is not an accident that Pastor Phil of Pennsylvania developed a heart a decade ago to serve in Sierra Leone; not an accident God bringing Phil and Jacob together; not an accident that God planted a church; not an accident that from young until adult, Jacob had a pressing to raise children up in the Lord. It’s not an accident that through the interwoven reality of global networking, Orphan’s Promise captured the essence of this vision and, it’s not an accident that you’re reading about it now.

We pray a hedge of protection over the people of this God-thirsty community.