Jessica Schaeffer

About Us › Our Family › Locate a Worker

Prayer Letter/Ministry Update

Matthew 1:23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” – which means, “God with us.”

Dear Friends,

Immanuel, God with us
In the challenges of these past months, I’ve often reminded myself that Jesus is with me right now. What a gift to know that we are never alone, that God is always with us. And what a joy it is to see others come to know the Gift, and to enjoy the presence of Jesus in their lives.

Immanuel, God with Seydou
Seydou is from Sun (“soon”), a village about 20 miles from Koutiala, where his father is the village chief. A few years ago, Pastor George (the church planter living just a few miles from Sun) reached out to Seydou’s family. Seydou’s young nephew received treatment at our hospital when on the verge of death, and was healed. Seydou began attending Pastor George’s church regularly with his two wives. Last month, Seydou asked Pastor George if someone could come do an evangelistic night in Sun, which has been a very resistant village. A team from Koutiala went, and many stayed after the film to ask questions about Jesus or to request prayer. Seydou, although he hadn’t yet given his life to Christ, told everyone – “what you saw in the film, and what you’ve heard Pastor George say, it’s all true.” A few weeks later, after church one Sunday morning, Seydou gave his life to Christ. A few of my teammates and I, along with Pastor George, had the privilege of praying with him and for him that day, and encouraging him that Jesus is always with him. Seydou has chosen the name “Immanuel” as his new name.

Immanuel, God with Salif
Salif is the teenager who came to our hospital a year ago looking for help – he had had an open femur fracture and hadn’t received proper care, so a piece of bone was sticking through his skin and chronically infected. Salif has been attending church with me since last spring, and just recently decided to follow Christ. He came to visit me a few days ago, discouraged because his father continues to verbally persecute him for having become a Christian, and has threatened to kick him out. After missing school since his accident, Salif was finally back in school, until a few weeks ago when his father pulled him out…seemingly as a consequence of his profession of faith in Jesus. As I talked with Salif, I kept reminding him that even in the difficult things he is facing, He is never alone – God is with him, and at any moment, he can cry out to Him for help. Pray for Salif, that he will grow in his faith, and that He will know God’s presence with him, even in the midst of rejection and persecution from his family.

I am so grateful that God is with me, that He will never leave me or forsake me. I am not alone. Immanuel, God with us. It is a joy to see others find Jesus and experience God’s presence with them always. Thanks for your important part in helping people here come to know and experience Immanuel. May you know His love and presence in your life today and everyday.

Rejoicing in His presence with us,
Jessica

Prayer Requests/Answers to Prayer

1. Praise God for providing help and encouragement during these past several challenging months. I’m very thankful for two missionary nurses who will be starting full time at the hospital soon, Kristen and Lisa.
2. Pray for Seyou (Immanuel) and Salif, that they will grow in their faith. Pray for wisdom and strength for Salif in the challenges he faces at home.
3. We will be interviewing some nurses this week. Pray that God will provide the nursing staff we need at the hospital who share the vision for our ministry.
4. Pray that our upcoming move to 2 new buildings, probably in early January, will go smoothly.
5. Pray that many more in Mali will come to know Jesus.

Mali

Share