A Fulani man named Isaac and his wife attended last year’s classes at the Fulani Short Term Bible School in Burkina Faso. This school takes place during the dry season—January to March—when men and women can more easily be away from their farms and occupations. When Isaac arrived, he was unable to read, seemed marginal in his faith, and his wife was a staunch Muslim.

During last year’s school, Isaac improved his reading and preaching skills, and memorized many evangelistic verses. His wife heard the Word of God and interacted with Fulani women believers for the first time in her life. She returned home and, after contemplating more about what she had heard, trusted Christ as her Savior.

	Isaac with his wife and baby daughter

Isaac and his wife began to share their faith in a very gradual, winsome fashion, and members of his wife’s extended family began to be attracted to Christ. Isaac returned to the 2011 session this year with a believing wife, brother-in-law, and a sister-in-law — all of whom now profess faith in Christ. We give praise and glory to God who is building His church among the Fulani people!

Isaac now leads two Bible studies in his village. One is for his wife’s relatives who have believed. The other is an evangelistic Bible study for Muslim men that he has contacted through his trade as a tailor.

He credits his pilgrimage in the faith to a Fulani friend who led him to the Lord, as well as the witness and support of Gourma Christians in his village. Because of vast cultural differences between Fulani and Gourma people, this is a wonderful achievement. Gourma Christians have reached out of their comfort zone to minister to the Fulani, who might be considered their “Samaria”. (Acts 1:8, John 4:9)

Isaac, now thriving in his own ministry of evangelism and discipleship, is very thankful for the influence of the Fulani Short Term Bible School (FSTBS) upon his wife and for the ministry skills he acquired.

The FSTBS was founded in 2003 in Burkina Faso with a chief purpose to equip Fulani believers to develop their own ministries in their home areas. The vision is to see each student develop a multiplying ministry of evangelism and discipleship. Isaac is just one illustration of what the FSTBS is all about.

Pray

• Praise God that 33 Fulani from 17 different locations throughout Burkina Faso were trained in Bible Study, evangelism, and small-group ministry skills.
• Praise God that two new lay leaders stepped up to replace those who have gone on to the Long Term Fulani Bible School. The role that these two men played in the shepherding aspect of this year’s FSTBS was crucial!
• Please pray for each student as they return to tough environments with little or no Christian fellowship to spur them on in their walk with the Lord. It can be a lonely road. Pray for strength to run the race faithfully and boldly.

Give

To learn more about the Short Term Fulani Bible School or how you can partner with it, please contact John and Lis Joyce. Thank you for your partnership with us. We couldn’t do it without you!

Go

“…so neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but God, who makes things grow.”
1 Corinthians 3:7

	Students of the 2011 Fulani Short Term Bible School