Dear family, friends and partners,

I (Sol) recently returned from a two week trip to Gambia, in obedience to the Holy Spirit’s prompting. I had no plan or agenda; I just knew I had to go. I was blessed beyond words to see how God is at work, and how the leaders on the ground are continuing the work in our absence. I hope you’ll be blessed to hear this too!

The school closed a week before my arrival, so the teachers and our children were not around. I met with Mr. Tamba and Mr. Parkinson a few times and I assisted them with some interviews for the new teacher that we still need.

Susan is doing a great job with the Sunday School, there are even more children coming. She went around the neighborhood and told other kids about the program, so she is busy! I asked Lamin Darbo to help her with the discipline and to be with her and even to listen to her teach; he can learn at the same time and she needs the help.

Discovery Bible Study (DBS) Group – Mr. Parkinson is doing a wonderful job and he has stepped up to the leader position we entrusted him with. He follows the DBS guidelines closely and it works out great. I had the opportunity to share with the group for two Sundays and I felt the Holy Spirit speaking through me, I was not the one doing the talking! They were so encouraged and challenged to live out their faith and be the light that Jesus called us to be. I am so impressed and excited about our small group, you can see God’s hand working in their lives and it puts their faith to action!

I have to tell you it was definitely a wonderful and different experience! Different because it was a short trip and I was focused and so open to the Holy Spirit to operate in and through me. Every morning I got up and prayed, “Holy Spirit, what do you have for me today?  Who do you want me to talk to or minister to?” And all I had to do was be obedient and follow.

The work is progressing in Gambia and it’s so encouraging to see how well the groups are doing in our absence. There are a few more small groups/home churches that they have started since we left in May and the leaders that we’ve been working with are taking to heart all the teaching.

• Pastor Swareh shared with me how much the leadership training helped him in being more structured and planned. He also learned to release and “let go of his people” so they can go and do what God is calling them to do.
• Pastor Francis has been called to Dasalame village for a few years now, so we’ve been challenging him to trust God for the provision and step out in faith. He is leaving his job at the end of this month and planning to move to Dasalame in September.
• Pastor Robert is continuing to pastor the church in Yuna village and he recently started a home group in Sifo village, with the intention to hand it over to Pastor Francis, when he moves to the Dasalame village (close to Sifo). With the money that was raised from two other churches, I was able to buy a motorcycle for Robert so he can travel more easily from village to village and minister. I believe with the new transportation, he will start going to other villages and the Lord will use him mightily!
• Andrew has been ministering and sharing the Gospel with the shopkeepers in our neighborhood and he has invited them to come to church many times, but no one came.  One man in the group asked him to start a Bible Study and said he would open up his house for the meeting place so they could invite other people to come. The group will be made up of Manjagos (nominal Christians) and Muslims, and Lamin Darbo is planning to attend too.

One thing that has been a confirmation to me is that small groups/home churches is the most safe and effective way to minister to Muslims.  Also it’s clear to me that people in Gambia are looking to us for direction, training and encouragement. It is humbling to see the position that God is placing us in here in Gambia and we know it’s not because of our ability or qualifications, but because He is the One doing the work through us!

Please continue to pray for us, for the spiritual leaders in Gambia, for the emerging leaders that are taking steps of faith to go out and start home churches in different villages.  God is clearly at work in this nation and we believe with all our hearts  that this is just the beginning of a great revival that is sweeping through the entire Muslim world!

Thank you for your partnership, prayers and support!  We cannot do what we do without you!

We look forward to seeing what God would do next, so we can be a part of it!

May the Lord bless you and keep you in His loving care,

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Sol and Manuela Bah