By Dave Bill, serving in the Republic of the Congo
Last spring, I decided I needed to get back into regular exercise. So I invited my national colleague, Célestin, to jog with me several days a week.
We began our morning routine—Monday, Wednesday, and Friday runs—on a route that passes by a forestry camp. We noticed on our runs that a team of camp workers gathered each morning to prep for their daily tasks that include reforesting the barren, treeless areas in our community.
During one run, I got the idea to stop and share the good news with these workers. Célestin agreed.
So we asked to meet with the camp workers’ boss to obtain permission. We wanted her approval to minister to her team on the mornings we ran.
No Coincidence
When we met, I told her that even before I became a missionary I was interested in ecology and conservation. She then asked me if I knew a pastor who worked for the forestry service in northern Congo. I told her that I not only knew him—I had ordained him.
She then recalled to me how she’d attended his ordination. She even knew my name!
When we concluded our meeting, I presented her with a Bible in her language. And she “presented” Célestin and me with permission to minister to the team.
. . . whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Pray
Use the weekly Alliance Prayer Requests to join the Alliance family in interceding on behalf of our teams in Africa and worldwide.
Learn More
Take a few minutes to watch “From Darkness into Light” (2:47) to see God’s redemptive work in Célestin since his remarkable conversion.
Read “The Women at the Well” by Dave Bill, describing additional ministry efforts in Congo.