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.
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