November 1, 2010
By David Thompson, M.D., serving at Bongolo Hospital, Gabon, West Africa
David Thompson and his wife Becki, an RN, are medical international workers who have served at Bongolo Hospital in Gabon, Africa, for more than 30 years. The following excerpted adaptation of the Thompsons’ recent newsletter, On Call, includes an update about three local Christians burned by demon worshipping villagers in mid-September. Dr. Dave has been on the road for nearly two weeks, most recently in Colorado Springs to attend Alliance Board of Directors meetings.
I am happy to report that the three Christian men who were tortured by fire recently in Bilengui village are still hospitalized but doing well.
When I left them 10 days ago, their skin grafts were slowly bonding to the raw undersides of their feet, although not completely. Continue to pray for complete healing. Two feet aren’t healing quickly-one of Pastor Moukingui Jean Pierre’s and one of elder Jean Daniel’s.
Pray for Strength, Justice
News from Bilengui and its neighboring village of Epamboua-where the Guevede mission station was located among the Mitsogo people-is not as good. So far there have been no arrests, and the Christians from both villages are living in fear.
Police have indicated that they will help Pastor Moukingui and the other two men file a convincing charge against those who burned their feet with kerosene and torches. Pray that those responsible will be brought to justice and that believers in these villages will stand strong.
Many who used to identify themselves as Christians no longer gather to worship Jesus; the majority of the population in the area has returned to worship the demon god Bwiti.
Tension with a Purpose
At Lausanne III in Cape Town, South Africa, Dr. John Piper eloquently stated the twofold tension we constantly struggle to uphold-what Jesus calls us to faithfully keep before us as we serve Him in this broken world:
“Our compassionate hearts must always go toward the poor, toward the disenfranchised, to where injustice is found. This is the heart of the gospel: to bind the broken, to bring healing; to bring light in order to ALLEVIATE A SUFFERING WORLD.
“Our compassionate hearts must always be toward the lost, to those who have never heard God’s redeeming story, toward the darkness-to move into the dark and hopeless neighborhoods in order to bring salvation, to bring hope, to bring light in order to ALLEVIATE ETERNAL SUFFERING.”
Together we are God’s team in serving a lost, broken world-thanks to your continuing prayer and support of Great Commission Ministries.
Learn More
Watch a video about Bongolo Hospital-a ministry that daily seeks to fulfill this twofold tension for the glory of Christ. [duration, 2:46]
View Dr. John Piper’s expository message on Ephesians 3 at Lausanne III. Note: Clicking on this URL will take you off of the C&MA Web site.