The following is based on a recent report by Evan and Jewel Evans, staff workers at Dakar Academy—a boarding and day-school program (K–12) largely for the children of international personnel.
During the 2015 Thanksgiving weekend, more than 6,000 people heard the good news in and around the large bush village of Diohine, Senegal. An estimated 600 people indicated that they wanted to follow Jesus.
“We saw God’s raw power like never before!” exclaimed Evan and Jewel Evans, reporting on Dakar Academy’s evangelistic outreach that weekend—a biannual school event.
At the invitation of Senegal’s national church, students and staff traveled to Diohine to dig the foundation for a new church. Also asked to share the good news in 13 surrounding villages, students participated in building projects, child evangelism, drama, medical ministries, and evening evangelistic services.
Healings, Spiritual Bondage Broken
When the drama and child evangelism teams traveled to surrounding communities, many villagers approached them to ask for prayer for healing. “We witnessed people being healed of much suffering, including joint pain, headaches, and back pain. Many were set free from the powers of darkness,” the Evanses observed.
Another weekend highlight for students and staff was revisiting a formerly gospel-resistant village. A lame girl was healed there during a previous school outreach in January 2014. She, along with 4 family members and 30 other believers, now worship together weekly.
Celebration, Joy
During the weekend, one of the national pastors serving with the team explained that Diohine is a stronghold for sorcery. “This was confirmed when several of our ministry teams encountered a sorcerer, his face painted, dressed in special garb, chanting, and trying to intimidate us,” the Evanses reported.
“But God’s Word says He will build His Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it,” the couple added. “The most exciting thing we witnessed during the outreach was the celebration, the joy on people’s faces when they experienced God’s love.
“In spite of the sorcerer’s efforts, we had more people attend our outdoor evening evangelism campaigns to hear the gospel than in any previous outreach. God is building His Church in Diohine!”
Pray
Praise God for the successful outreach. Pray for the new believers to grow strong in their faith and for area pastors to disciple them well.
Use the weekly Alliance Prayer Requests to join the Alliance family in praying for our teams in West Africa and worldwide, often serving in challenging circumstances that require Holy Spirit–inspired perseverance, wisdom, and creativity to demonstrate and proclaim God’s love and power over darkness.