May 2021 Senegal Prayers Answered over the Decades Uruguay 26 Below Retreats CMML Serving in the Encouraging Youth Meet the Team Center of God’s Will for 15 Years THINKING IT THROUGH BY KEITH R. KEYSER A Body Born for Crisis he world is a dangerous place. Beyond the COVID-19 pan- and strengthen each other so their fellow saints do not suc- Tdemic, economic disruptions, and “wars and rumors of war,” cumb to discouragement or division.8 Christians face the added problem of opposition, suff ering for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake.1 The fi rst century was no diff erent. Prayer: a bulwark against spiritual foes As the early church carried out its mission to “make disciples of The early church answered trials by fervently crying out to all the nations,” God empowered the believers to stand against God in prayer. They met beatings, imprisonments, and threats diverse challenges.2 Happily, the New Testament teaches that with intercession and supplication. While Peter participated in the body of Christ is still well-suited for crises like sickness, per- an angelic jailbreak, the saints assembled in a prayer meeting secution, and geographical disruption. on his behalf; his release elicited thanksgiving from them and gave testimony to the lost.9 Likewise, Paul and Silas greeted im- Hospitality: the antidote to dispersion, loneliness, prisonment with prayer and praise, thereby seeing God rescue and disunity them and save the Philippian jailer and his family.10 Beginning with Stephen’s martyrdom, saints were scattered as gospel seeds, winning souls and planting assemblies in far- Faith: calm amid the storm fl ung places like Antioch.3 Faithful and hospitable fellow be- The fi rst Christians actively trusted the Lord to work through lievers, such as Lydia, Aquila and Priscilla, and Mnason, greatly their diffi culties. When Paul encountered a two-week storm, he helped traveling believers—especially missionaries like Paul.4 looked to God and encouraged his shipmates to believe in the Al- The fi rst believer listed, Lydia, opened her heart and home to mighty. Listen to the apostle preach in the teeth of the tempest: gospel expansion; the second couple, Aquila and Priscilla, built And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss up local churches and encouraged young workers like Apollos. of life among you, but only of the ship. For there stood by The latter believer, Mnason, is described as “an early disciple,” or me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and alternately, “a disciple of long standing” and “a Christian from whom I serve, saying, “Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be the early days,” or even, “one of the original disciples.”5 brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you When he visited Mnason, Paul undoubtedly enjoyed hear- all those who sail with you.” Therefore take heart, men, for ing this insider’s view of the church’s early days. It demonstrates I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. However, the wonderful interaction between the diff erent generations of we must run aground on a certain island.11 saints. There is no generation gap in the body! Obviously, faith makes anxiety depart. When we look to God, The hymn writer and preacher John Newton opined: “I look our thoughts move from fear to faith.12 With Christ in our ship, upon our old believers here, as misers look upon their gold, with perishing is an impossibility, so we may walk through this per- a mixture of pleasure and pain. I am daily apprehensive some of ilous world confi dent in God’s keeping power and sustaining them will be called home; but I long and pray that, before they grace.13 are removed, others may be raised up to supply their places.”6 Recognizing this truth, let us follow pioneer missionary Clearly, Christianity is meant to be passed on from believer William Carey’s advice: “Expect great things from God. Attempt to believer—older to younger—through the centuries.7 Even great things for God.” Christ’s body was made for worshipping within the same time period, believers must encourage, exhort, and serving amid adversity. n Keith Keyser is a commended worker based in Pennsylvania. 1 Matthew 24:6; John 15:18–16:4. 2 Matthew 28:19. 3 Compare Acts 8:1, 4 and 11:19–26. 4 Acts 16:14; Acts 18:1–3; Romans 16:3–5; 1 Corinthians 16:19. 5 Acts 21:16; Acts 21:16 (NASB); Acts 21:16 (REB); Acts 21:16 (NET margin). 6 John Newton, The Works of John Newton, Vol. 6 (London: Hamilton, Adams, & Co., 1820), 70. 7 2 Timothy 2:2. 8 1 Thessalonians 5:14–15. 9 Acts 12:16–19; see also the prayer and praise following persecution in Acts 4:23–31. 10 Acts 16:25–34. 11 Acts 27:22–26. 12 Isaiah 41:13–14; Philippians 4:6–7. 13 Mark 4:35–41. Vol. 50, No. 5. Christian Missions in Many Lands (ISSN 0744-4052) is published eleven times a year by Christian Missions in Many Lands, Inc., Belmar, New Jersey. Periodical postage paid at Belmar, New Jersey, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send United States address changes to Christian Missions in Many Lands, Inc., PO Box 13, Spring Lake, NJ 07762. Send Canadian address changes to MSC Canada, 101 Amber Street, Suite 16, Markham, Ontario L3R 3B2. MSC Canada publication agreement Number 40026478. All correspondence, including address changes, gifts for missionary work, and for expenses should be sent by Canadian readers to MSC Canada, 101 Amber Street, Suite 16, Markham, Ontario L3R 3B2 and by United States readers to Christian Missions in Many Lands, Inc., PO Box 13, Spring Lake, NJ 07762. Copyright © CMML. All rights reserved. COVER PHOTO: Friends in Senegal—Nathan & Priyanka Bramsen 2 MISSIONS www.CMML.us When God’s Word Sounds Forth A Look at Prayers Answered over the Decades BY NATHAN BRAMSEN ne Friday evening in Saint Louis, Senegal, after another City of Saint Louis tough day with much resistance to the Gospel from Fast forward 37 years to January 13, 2021. With great antici- OMuslim contacts, friends, and neighbors, a missionary sensed pation, Priyanka, my wife, and I stepped off our Delta Airlines God directing his heart to 1 Thessalonians 1:7–8. He read, “So fl ight onto Senegalese soil carrying our one-year-old, Haven that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who Rahab. We looked forward to seeing how the local church was believe. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, doing and to having our daughter experience my birth country not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your for the fi rst time. After clearing the various airport procedures, faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say we began our fi ve-hour trip to Saint Louis—the major fi shing anything.” The day was November 18, 1983. The missionary was port and former capital of French West Africa and the city of my my father, Paul Bramsen. birth. From my infancy until I was about 16, my family called At this point, more than two years had passed since he and Saint Louis “home.” my mother, Carol, (Missionary Prayer Handbook Day 28) had Though fi shing the seas is a physical, economic blessing to many moved to Senegal as missionaries, and they had not yet seen there, my soul’s encouragement lay in observing the Senegalese any Senegalese turn from Islam to Christ. The passage became believers who fi sh for the souls of their people in this desertic West his heart’s cry for the work in northern Senegal and formed the African nation. What a joy to see local Senegalese who had come basis of his specifi c prayer: Lord, may the church in Saint Louis to faith in Jesus Christ in my youth now mature in the faith, abid- be an example to all in Senegal who believe, and may Your Word ing in Christ, and walking in the light with a vision and passion for sound forth from here in the surrounding regions and in every seeing their own people place. reached with the Gospel. Soon, the Enemy began to intensify his attacks of discour- agement. On November 21, a young man who had shown in- terest in the Gospel and his friends showed up at the reading room my parents operated. He mocked the Gospel and my fa- ther, saying, “Just go back to America, because Saint Louis is the strongest Islamic town in Senegal, and no one will ever believe your message!” Later, he came back by himself and told my dad, “If I had some gasoline, I’d love to pour it on your books and light a match to it.” The battle was well underway. Three-and-a-half more years Top: Haven high-fi ves a group of street would pass before my parents saw one soul come to true faith children, who live on the streets and, often, work for Islamic religious leaders. in Jesus Christ, yet their prayer remained the same. Though I Above (R–L): In January, the Bramsen fam- wasn’t born at the time of that discouraging episode, their faith ily arrived in Senegal, where Nate was born and raised; On their trip, the Bramsens— impacted my life and trajectory. including one-year-old Haven—built new relationships and renewed old friendships.