Delayed Plans, God’s Timing

Our well-digging team also faced many obstacles; they finally succeeded in installing our deepest well yet—164 feet! It is producing fresh, clean water for this spiritually dry community.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

Our Dakar Academy outreach in Ndiop, Senegal, last weekend reminded us of a truth that we as Jesus followers too often forget. When life doesn’t go as we plan, God does work things out for our good and His glory.

We had hoped to conduct a school outreach to Ndiop last January. However, because of a number of issues—including Evan and the missionary helping us to organize the event being hospitalized with heart problems—we had to postpone those plans.

Waiting allowed the team enough time to obtain construction permits.

Why did God delay us for a year? His timing opened doors that would have been closed if we had persisted in keeping our schedule.

  • Ndiop church leaders shared with us that a local religious leader (not a Jesus follower) advised them to be patient and wait to do the outreach. He was right. Because we waited, more people in this gospel-resistant community accepted our being there to build the church.
  • Waiting also allowed us enough time to obtain construction permits.
  • This mishap resulted in one village hearing the gospel for the first time.
    Our child evangelism team met all sorts of obstacles in Ndiop, including one of their vehicles getting stuck in wet sand. Yet, because of this unplanned diversion, they met some students who invited them to their village where residents heard the gospel for the first time! Another village invited the local pastor to return and begin Bible clubs for the children.

More than 3,000 heard the good news last weekend in Ndiop. Christians in the area have told us they were greatly encouraged by what God accomplished. He will build His Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it!

Adapted from a report by Evan and Jewel Evans, Alliance international workers at Dakar Academy—a boarding and day-school program (K–12) largely for the children of international personnel

Pray

“Please pray for Ndiop and the surrounding villages, where evangelical Christians are a mere .5 percent of the population,” the authors add. “Pray for God’s Word to take root in the hearts of those who heard the gospel last weekend.”

Use the weekly Alliance Prayer Requests to join the Alliance family in praying for our teams in Africa and worldwide, who serve in often challenging circumstances that require Holy Spirit–inspired perseverance, wisdom, and creativity in demonstrating God’s love to those who don’t know Him.

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