Andrew and Esther Schaeffer

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Prayer Letter/Ministry Update

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9plhAyeX-4

ENCOURAGING EACH OTHER
“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13).

Dear friends,

This verse gives us insight into the dangerous effects of discouragement. At times life and ministry in Burkina Faso can be discouraging and lead to hardening to the despair around us.

This past week I was with a small group of Christian women leaders. Due to a sudden change of program, we had some extra time. We decided we would take turns sharing our stories, how God was at work in our lives.

One woman shared how she went 22 years without entering a church. She had attended Sunday School with missionary Nancy Pierce and learned so much about Jesus. But in her teen years, she was convinced to marry a man from another religion and she abandoned her faith. Twenty-two years later, through a family crisis, she made her way back to the Lord Jesus and began attending church again. All of her children followed her and experienced new life in Christ. Recently her husband also came to know Christ as his Savior. "I feel such a burden for young women who might be tempted to make the same mistake that I did. I had many years of misery and tears before I returned to the Lord."

Another shared about the death of her daughter's husband and the challenge this was to their faith. After months of praying, the Lord made a way for her daughter to secure a job. "There are many young widows who need to know that their life is not finished, that God has not abandoned them."

Several more shared before a pastor's wife told about the challenges her family had experienced, adding five children of relatives to their family of six. She shared ways that she was encouraging these children in their Christian walk and in their schoolwork. "God is helping me to be a mom to all of them. I want to let others know how important it is to have family devotions and to talk with our children about the Lord Jesus."

These words of encouragement came at a good moment for us. As we seek to push back the darkness here, discouragement and despair seem to be on the rise. But the author of Hebrews tells us what to do. Keep encouraging each other as long as it is day. Let encouragement be the goal of our daily pursuits so that together we can stand strong against the darkness!
Next time you get together with your family or friends, let me encourage you to take a moment to share words of encouragement. Share an answer to prayer and remind each other how God continues to work. Thank you for the encouraging words and support you send to us!

Blessings,

Esther and Andrew too

For our latest video clips ...
https://youtu.be/5b5CFTNIIYE
https://www.youtube.com/user/estherschae

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Andrew & Esther Schaeffer
Mission Protestante C&MA
B.P. 3050; Bobo Dioulasso
Burkina Faso, West Africa

Andrew: aeschaeffer@gmail.com
Esther: estherschaeffer@gmail.com

Donate: We are supported thanks to your giving to the Great Commission Fund at your local Alliance church. If you would like to help with ministry projects, mark your gift "Andrew Schaeffer work special" and send to:
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8595 Explorer Drive
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Our ministry is part of the worldwide effort of The Alliance.
Our "big team" includes over 750 people!

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Prayer Requests/Answers to Prayer

October 11, 2019

1. Pray for believers who are facing those fiery trials that the enemy brings. Pray that our women's Bible studies would be a source of strengthening for them and that they would understand how to stand firm in their faith.

2. We are starting a new outreach this week, putting good intentions into practice. It is a bit frightening, like going underwater to look for hidden treasure. But we believe that the Lord wants us to bring light to young women who are involved in prostitution and so we step out not exactly sure what this will look like in the long term. Please pray that we will not shrink back, that we would be motivated by love for the lost, and that the Holy Spirit would guide in every aspect, including those women who will be a part of this ministry.

3. Pray for Mousa, a young man who is deaf, who needs to learn sign and yet is too old for the deaf school. Pray that we can find a good situation for him where he could learn a practical skill and also be with deaf people who sign.

4. We thank the Lord for the six deaf students that we sponsor at a sewing workshop. Three will prepare to take a government exam at the end of the year to be certified in sewing. Pray as we hope to add three other deaf young people to the program this year.

ctober 8, 2019
1. We thank the Lord for answered prayer in the lives of our children, especially the encouraging report from our granddaughter Hope's neurologist.

2. Pray as we begin ministering to young women in our city, targeting them in several venues. Pray for a seminar for young people that we are sponsoring later this month.

3. Pray for two new students that we have enrolled at the deaf school. Pray that they will adjust quickly to being away from home. Pray God's blessing over all the children in our Christian schools.

4. Pray for our Bible schools that will begin this month. Pray that the Lord will call many into full-time Christian service. Almost weekly we hear of a new church being planted.

October 4, 2019
1.Pray for Esther as she begins several women's Bible studies this week. Our theme for this year is the armor of God. Pray that many women will attend and that they will be strengthened and built up in their faith.

2. Pray for an upcoming seminar for youth in our city. Invitations will be sent out to all of our churches. Pray that as the Word of God is proclaimed, that it will ring true in the hearts of the young people and that they would stand strong in the Lord.

3. We are putting together a team of women that will focus on schoolgirls who prostitute themselves on weekends to have spending money. Pray as we begin prayer walks in the areas where these girls are found. Pray that the Lord would clearly direct in this ministry.

4. Pray for our son Stephen as he serves this month at the Bongolo Hospital in Gabon. He is in his 3rd year of residency as a family practice doctor at Via Christi and is doing an overseas rotation. Pray for clear direction in his life and that he would be a blessing to the community in Gabon.

September 27, 2019
1. We praise the Lord and thank each one of you for your prayers on behalf of our granddaughter Hope. Arriving early and at just 1 pound 9 ounces, she has made amazing progress. Yesterday, she was given a thumbs up from her neurologist after an MRI. He said that he has never seen anything like it, but she is officially discharged! We know our God has given healing in response to the prayers of His people. We are thankful for each one of you and your partnership with us!

2. I am thankful that the Lord allowed me to visit our newest grandchild, Eliana Joy, and also join in the celebration of Hope's first birthday. For a few hours I was actually with all of our five children and spouses and babies and it was great to share and pray together. Our son Stephen is off for one month of his residency at the Bongolo Hospital in Gabon. Pray for him, that he would gain experience and be a blessing to those serving there.

3. Pray for Andrew as he prepares for a weekend of meetings in one of our new church plants. Pray for him as he leads our Bobo Team and serves in different capacities alongside our national church.

4. Pray for the deaf school as they begin classes this week. Pray that parents would bring their children and that this school would have everything it needs to teach these children. Pray for those coming from distant villages who will be leaving home for the first time. We hope to sponsor 3 additional children this year.

Burkina Faso

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