"Our neighbors are dying without knowing the salvation of Jesus."

“We can’t wait any longer for Pastor Abdu to invite us on his evangelism trips.”

“We are wasting time!”

These were words spoken by members of my youth choir in Dakoro, a mostly Muslim town in southern Niger. (I live here with my parents who are SIM workers.) So one day during choir practice, my Nigerien peers wrote down the names of ten local neighborhoods that had no Christian witness. Putting the names in my hat, we prayed and drew one out.

The following Saturday we gathered together, read from Joshua 1, prayed and set out. We didn't want to waste any more time! When we arrived at the first street in the neighborhood, Yakubu and Bango headed towards three men lounging on mats under a straw shelter. Peter and Omar began to witness to some teenagers. And Fatima and I continued up the street towards an open door. We "salaamed,"; which means we greeted with a blessing of peace, and entered. We asked to see the woman of the house which, in the Muslim context, means the first wife of four possible wives. The woman of the house was not home, so we continued on our way.

At the next house we found two women. After greeting them and sitting for a while in customary silence, we explained that we were Christians and had come to wa’azi, literally instruct about our faith. The women seemed shy. I understood why when a man coughed a warning inside. The women told us they would first have to ask permission of their mother-in-law. If she agreed, they would come to us for teaching. We said goodbye and continued on our way.

We were warmly received at the next two homes and were able to share the Gospel with 20 people! Encouraged, we met Yakubu, Bango, Peter and Omar at our designated rendezvous point. Our hearts were filled with joy and we felt motivated to do it again. Adding up our totals, the youth choir members had shared the Gospel with 40 people that afternoon.

During our return visits, we encountered more antagonism, making it harder to share the Gospel. (Read Extra: Return Visits) The effort to reach these neighborhoods is just beginning, and the youth choir in Dakoro is wasting no time.

Please pray that God will open the way for the youth to witness and will give people the courage to accept Jesus'salvation. Pray that God will send others to help evangelize the unreached neighborhoods of town, especially since three or four of the youth choir members are moving to other countries this year.

What about your neighborhood? Are you wasting time?

The author will begin university studies in the United States in 2007. Eventually she hopes to serve the Lord in mission.