8 December 2005

Milking a camel on a sand dune... what a disastrous effort to gain nourishment! A Somali would readily agree with you as this expression comes from his culture, and it indicates "futility." So when a listener to SIM's Somali Gospel broadcast, The Voice of New Life (VNL), wrote that "your advice did NOT become like a camel milked on a sand dune," the program producers rejoiced. This was another expression of the Lord using the programs to bring the Gospel to the Somalis. This Somali expression implies that the man milking the camel has no bucket.

This listener has made a decision that could cost him his life, a decision that brands him as an apostate. He has left Islam and embraced Christ. He wants to be baptized, but with certain safety conditions: in his local church, not by a lady, no photographs, and no one outside the church fellowship would know.

While there is grave danger for a Muslim to convert to Christianity and be baptized, there is also danger in simply studying God's Word through the Bible studies provided by VNL.

The parents of one listener discovered that their son was studying the VNL Bible courses. The son writes, "My parents set the Tabliiq [an Islamist organization] against me. For eight months they followed me and I did not leave my house during at that time...now my community considers me evil when they heard, 'He studies Christianity and he became someone living in fear and terror'. Even up until now they have my earlier email address and its password in order to check on my email traffic. But I have made my movements secret and created another email address. I need fellowship...I am a victim... My brother I love Jesus Christ and I am serious."

The SIM's Voice of New Life Somali language Gospel programs are broadcast nightly for 30 minutes to the Horn of Africa. The Lord is using these programs to bring His Word to the millions cut off from the world because of the disintegration of the Somali nation into fiefdoms ruled by warlords.

For more information on this vital ministry, contact your nearest SIM office and refer to Project #88900.