Pioneering pastor John Ikayo and his wife whom we have known for many years, have planted several churches in Muslim dominated areas.
The last church they established now has 150 members. John and his family have moved on to a new area and the church there has already 72 members. He is being mightily used by God to reach people in places with very little Christian activity. It was this village that Torkild and the team were heading to, when they had the eerie experience in the guest house.
As they arrived at the village where they were to have the children’s crusade, they were in for a royal reception. The pastor and his wife and many of the church members met them on the outskirts of the village where they were singing and dancing, and waving some cut off branches. What a reception. The team was deeply moved. Many in the village came out of the huts to see what was happening No one was in doubt that something extraordinary was going to take place during that week.
Meetings in the afternoon and evening were all so well attended that Torkild thought there could not be many people left in the cottages. Children as well as adults were very hungry for the word of God. It was such a joy to teach them. On Sunday, seven new believers came to the service and in the afternoon two more people who wanted to become Christians, came to see the pastor. Many children were led in a prayer of salvation. The pastor was very encouraged by the large attendance. He believes in a great harvest and is already working on the follow-up.
Pioneering Pastor
Written 07.06.2015 19:23 under Archive
The last part of the distance was a small, red dirt road that twisted among the banana plantations. At the end of the very steep road was the house where they lived. House may be an exaggeration because Johnson and his uncle share a room of 7-8 m2. The room is at the end of a hen house and there is just one building. There is no ceiling in the room next to the hen house. The smell was tough and we thought, “How can they sleep in that stench?”
Johnson has no parents. When he was little his mother died and his father died in November of last year. Johnson is an only child and his uncle is the only relative left.
Besides these challenges, Johnson has a handicap. There was an accident in his home when he was little. The housemaid had put a pot on the fireplace and left it to go outside. Johnson just learned to crawl. He moved himself to the fireplace and crabbed the handle of the pot with both hands. On his left hand his little fingers melted away at the extreme heat and his right hand is very damaged as well.
Although he lost his fingers Johnson is a competent writer and has a beautiful handwriting. He retained his thumb and most of the index finger on his right hand so he can hold a pencil.
Johnson seems to be a nice boy and is a very good student. But after his father died there is no one to pay his tuition. Without school fees he cannot continue classes as the uncle can barely make ends meet. That was very evident when we visited their home.
We have met with Johnson and his uncle again to hear about Johnson’s wishes for the future. In faith we have sent him on to Secondary school. He will be 18 years in July and has two more years before he graduates. If anyone reading this would like to help support his education there is a need for DKK 6,000 per year for this.
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