Dear friends and family,

It’s hard to describe all the emotions we felt when we touched down in Gambia this past April. It has been 4 long years of waiting…for Sol’s healing, for the Lord’s timing and His release for us to return to Gambia, the place where our hearts feel at peace even amid so many needs, poverty, and spiritual darkness. It is the place of our calling, where life is so much harder, but our faith gets stronger!

The welcome we received from the students was all we needed, to know how much we are loved and were missed! Tears of joy and laughter, hugs, and rejoicing!

Our trip was very specific, to encourage the team on the ground, license Pastor Dan and Pastor Hope Emezie as the first Shared Blessings Credentialed pastors and to assess the situation on the ground and plan accordingly for the future.

Pastor Daniel and Hope Emezie

Pastor Bill and Grace Campbell from Life Bridge Church came with us for the first week of our trip, to support, help and guide us through the Licensing process and re-entry into the mission field.

During the Licensing Ceremony we celebrated and remembered God’s faithfulness over the years, our humble beginnings with a small pot of porridge, feeding kids under a tree, and we marveled at God’s faithfulness, His power that is at work in this nation and how far the Lord has brought us. When we started 22 years ago, we couldn’t have imagined that one day we would license pastors and plan to have a Bible School and plant churches. Pray for Pastor Dan and Hope as they carry out the vision of Shared Blessings and develop disciples and future leaders.

Easter Week Evangelism Outreach

The week before Easter we had 4 days of evangelism and sharing the Gospel, and many people came to hear the Good News, the message of Jesus’s death and resurrection. Pastor Paul is a dynamic preacher; it was refreshing to watch him and see his passion for the Lord and to see the lost saved. We found out that during a prayer meeting they hold at the school, 12 of our students were filled with the Holy Spirit! It was very exciting to see so many children attending and some of their parents are starting to attend too. A Muslim woman walked into the services to ask for prayer and the next day she came back and said her situation has changed since the prayer. Praise the Lord!

Everyone that attended the evangelism program went home with a box of food that we had sent in the container, provided by Gleanings for the Hungry, and people were blessed as they received food for their body and souls. The food is a soup mix of dried legumes and full of nutrition, easy to cook and give the desired flavor. We are so grateful to partner with this amazing ministry that provides food all over the world and look forward to do even more for Gambia and beyond.

Diminga’s new house

We shared about sister Diminga’s situation and the need to build her a new house. The day before Easter she was handed the key to her new house, as she cried and danced with joy and kept asking: “Is this really my house?”

During our trip we felt your prayers and witnessed day after day God’s power, provision, and protection over our lives. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your commitment to this ministry. We really cannot do what we do without your faithfulness in giving and prayer!

We look forward to continuing partnering with you to be Jesus to those in need, share the gospel of Salvation, develop leaders, and make disciples. Our vision for the future of the ministry is expanding as is our faith in God. We trust and count on Him to bring to pass everything that He has in plan for Gambia and the people of this nation.

We pray the Lord bless you and your families most abundantly for your love and support of His people.

Blessings and much love,

Sol and Manuela Bah