Tobo Believers Need Prayer!

The Tobo believers clearly understand that baptism is simply an expression of their belief in Christ and that they are now associated with Him. They also understand that it is an act of obedience to Jesus’ command in scriptures, and that it is a testimony to those around them that they now believe in Jesus’ finished work on the cross. But to the rest of the community, baptism is the means by which a person leaves one religion and enters a new one, and thus they see it as an attack to their old belief system. I guess, in a way, they are correct, but the believers know that they are not becoming a part of a new religion; but that they have already been born into a new family; the family of God!

The date for the baptism has been set for Thursday, January 10th. I wish we could report that everyone is excited with anticipation for that date, but that is not the case. We have talked and prayed with various believers who have made it known that they are going to be baptized, and they have already been under tremendous pressure and persecution. Husbands, families, and village leaders have mocked them, laughed at them, and have even threatened to harm them if they proceed with their decision to be baptized. So the general atmosphere has been more along the lines of fear and nervousness, rather than joy and excitement. But we know that God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. So we know that because they will be obeying God, this baptism truly will be a testimony to others, just as God intended it to be.

We covet your prayers. We need them. If we felt that your prayers were of no use, then we would not be writing this e-mail to ask you to pray. Pray for the Tobo believers, that they will have strength and courage in the face of opposition. Pray that we will know how to encourage them and that this would not hinder Jason’s relationships with the unsaved for language learning opportunities. Pray for Jason Knapp and some of the Tobo men who will be preparing what they will say on the 10th to the crowd of people. Pray that Jason K will have courage and wisdom in addressing the crowd. Pray for the ladies whose husbands have not believed, and who are taking a real step of faith by disobeying their husbands in order to obey the command of Christ. And most of all, pray that God and his Son would be glorified in all that is said and done.