Barbara Sorensen

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Prayer Letter/Ministry Update

Dear family and friends,

What fun it has been to knock on doors here in Brazzaville and find that each one was wide open. "Yes, no problem and how often can you come?" was the response. We asked permission to do an exposition on a Scripture portion that is given to each participant in French and in Lingala.

Mireille, Brice, Bibi and Darcia accompany me and translate my ole lady French into perfect Lingala.

Mirelle and I go to an Association of women that are all HIV+. They were meeting in one of the women's homes but in August they found adequate funding to rent a piece of land and house that is open 24 hours a day to receive those who are in crisis as they learn of their condition. There are 4 leaders, all of them HIV+. It was their vision because they themselves had been thrown out of the home by husbands/families because of fear of this disease. Unbeknownst to Mireille and I the day we asked to come was their first day at this new location. Lucie, one of the leaders, when she introduced us said, "we didn't even think to ask God to be a part of our ministry but He was gracious enough to consider us anyway and has shown up on our beginning day in this house." Evidence of our Father's radical sovereignty continues to overwhelm me. Such peace it gives as we walk with Him.

Bibi and Darcia assist me with 3 other open doors of opportunity with young girls in crisis. The life stories are absolutely crushing to hear. Our Father in heaven hears and He is the Just Judge that will make it right. His heart can be trusted and His will is good is the only declaration to make, He makes no mistakes.

Two verses that have been speaking to me during these weeks are Colossians 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, work heartily for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance for your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." ESV Sometimes when I am doing the Scripture portion I realize how easy it is to do it for men's applause or trying to impress the young person translating and forgetting WHO it is that I am serving. When I do it for Him, it is so different, it is so right and there's such assurance that it is His work. His grace alone will incline and open hearts to His Word. We are serving the Lord Christ, we are serving the Lord Christ - may those words resound in your heart as you work/serve/minister for Him.

A Bible lesson that Brice did at the orphanages was a story of a young girl named Ti-Fam that was from Haiti, a true story. Her father was the village witchdoctor and his daughter, Ti-Fam, found Christ through the witness of a man named Victor that came to their village to tell about the Lord Jesus. In the end Ti-Fam had the privilege of being a vital part in bringing her father to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus. At the Moukondo Orphanage they had just received a 3 day old baby that had a cleft palate. When the single mom delivered her and saw her disfigured face she fled the hospital without her baby. They still had not named her so after the Bible Story the Directrice said her name is going to be Ti-Fam. Ti-Fam died in the following week. To think that one day these 2 little girls (one from Haiti and one from Congo) will have the privilege of meeting one another in heaven and discover this divinely planned mutual name.

Aymard, a former inmate who found Christ during his time in prison was just baptized 2 weeks ago. His wife, Geraldine is preparing to be baptized in December. I was at their house to celebrate Aymard's 30th birthday. The picture below is from that day. At the conclusion they were quoting as fast as they could all the verses they had memorized from TEE and from MasterLife. They had to quit because I started crying - tears of absolute joy. What a life-changing God we serve.

Thank you for your ministry in prayer and your ministry of generosity to allow me the privilege of being here in Congo. Thank you.

Barb Sorensen

Home Church:
New Life Community Church
PO Box 5, 301 West Second St.
Grand Island, NE 68801

Field Address:
B. P. 2030
BRAZZAVILLE
Rep. of Congo, Central Africa

Support of my ministry:
Your giving to the Great Commission Fund of the C&MA supports me and my ministry budget. Money can also be given to the Work of Barb Sorensen for special project needs related to my personal ministries (orphanage, Bible Correspondence within the prison, hardship cases, medical assistance).
Checks can be made out to: The C&MA, PO Box 35000, Colorado Springs, CO 80935-3500

Please indicate what your gift is for:
--Support of Barb Sorensen
--Work of Barb Sorensen
--Gift to Barb Sorensen (not tax deductible; personal gift to Barb)

Prayer Requests/Answers to Prayer

Praise:

There have been 3 open doors of ministry that I am so very thankful for.

1) an association of HIV+ women that have all suffered from being chased from home/family b/c of their diagnosis

2) a social service agency associated with a local hospital for girls in crisis - very young girls that are pregnant and father/family does not have the resources to assist them

3) project funded by a govt. leader to teach single moms to become seamstresses -

These 3 projects have opened their doors to have us come and do a short Bible Study during their regular meeting times. There are young people that take my ole lady French and put it in perfect Lingala and I covet your prayers for them that the Lord will give them joy in ministry and if He so desires call them into fulltime ministry - HE knows His perfect plans for reaching this world!! Their names are: Mireille, Brice, Bibi, Darcia, and Geraldine. Thank YOU so much. The power of your prayers - to guard their young lives for Him, to live lives that are holy and set apart for Him. Isaiah 43:1-2

Please pray for the Congo, this land is so open to any and everything - which is a blessing but also a curse. Because of this openness so many false cults and prophets are present and unless people are truly founded in the Word they are soon prey. Thank you.

The prison ministry continues to see fruit. A class of 8 men that have completed the 25 week Bible Correspondence Course will now begin a TEE book called "Following Jesus". Please pray for these 8 men to be founded in the word and become new creatures in Christ, 2 Cor. 5:17.

Thank you so much for praying.

1 John 5:14-15 What confidence we have as we approach our Father.

Republic of the Congo

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