Dear family, friends and partners,

We returned from Gambia a few weeks ago to spend some time with our family and friends and to refresh and refill ourselves! It’s hard to believe it has already been four years since we left our previous jobs and decided to work fully in Gambia, ministering to Muslim people.

Over the years we have tried different ways and approaches to share the Gospel in a Muslim culture, and we’ve learned from our mistakes and successes, as well as from other missionaries, that ministering to Muslims requires patience and an understanding of their beliefs and culture. We are so grateful for the many tools and training classes that have helped us so much. We have been able to use these tools to train and equip other believers here in Gambia about how to minister to their Muslim neighbors. In the last two years, we have felt more and more led to focus on developing the leaders God brings to us and to work with the local church in The Gambia, encouraging unity and collaboration in the body of Christ.

As we’ve been faithful to follow God’s leading, He has been faithful to provide the tools and resources needed to fulfill His promptings. We started small groups of Discovery Bible Studies, monthly leadership meetings with pastors and leaders from different churches and leadership training sessions provided by pastors and leaders from the U.S. and around the world. We have had some amazing times of learning and encouraging each other. Our desire has always been to see indigenous people sent out to villages and to tribes that are not yet reached. As we were sharing and getting to know each leader, we met Pastor Robert Mendy, a young pastor with a heart on fire to reach the lost. Robert is from the Manjago tribe, a tribe that is supposed to be Catholic Christian but is so mixed up with witch craft and animal sacrifice, it is nowhere near representing Christ. He was born again some years ago, and has a heart for his village and tribe to know and serve the Lord. He started a church in his home village of Yuna with mainly women and children attending, and he travels to the village 3-4 times a week for Bible Studies and services. We visited the church on a couple different occasions, and it has been so encouraging to see what God is doing in Yuna! We found out that Robert was not getting paid and did not have a job, because he felt God was asking him to trust Him and to commit to full-time ministry. Shared Blessings is now partnering with Pastor Robert by providing monthly support so he can continue to minister to His people and grow the body of Christ in Yuna. The congregation built the church building they are in now with mud blocks and clay. Last year during the rainy season one wall fell down, and they have not been able to fix it due to lack of funds. The next rainy season is approaching in the next couple of months, so we decided to join in to help fix the wall and stucco the whole building with cement so the rain would not destroy their hard work. Thanks to your faithful giving and partnership, we were able to also help them put in the floor, doors and windows before the rain comes.

The harvest is plentiful and we are so excited to be able to send out the harvesters! Please pray for Pastor Robert as he continues to minister to the Manjagos and the Muslims in his village. He has been spending a lot of time talking with one Imam in Yuna, sharing the Gospel with him. The Imam told him one day – “you should come to my Mosque and tell my people all that you told me!” Now, that’s an invitation! Robert is a wise young man, and he is waiting for the right time, so please pray for him as He ministers to his people.

We also want to rejoice together with you for the privilege we had to baptize two former Muslims that gave their lives to the Lord. Our hearts are full of joy and we can only imagine how the angels in heaven rejoice and give praise to the Lord! Onyfe and Lamin are so committed to the Bible Studies and to learning from God’s word in any way they can.

It’s been an amazing season, and as our vision enlarges so do our needs. There are more opportunities to support and send out people to other villages, and we pray that God would give us wisdom and understanding about where He would want us to be involved.

The children at Emmanuel Mission Center also continue to grow, as we plant the seeds of the Gospel in their hearts. Our oldest children are now in grade 7 and at an age when they start to think more and decide what they will believe; what a privilege we have to impact their young lives. We had many deep conversations with our older students, presenting to them God’s story of love and redemption to a sinful world. We fervently pray and ask you to pray with us for our children and for God to send the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth to them. We so desperately want to see these young lives serve the Lord.

Thank you so much for partnering with us in reaching the lost! We cannot do what we do without your faithful prayers and support.

If you would like to hear more about the work in Gambia, we are available this summer to talk to you or visit your church to share and encourage your family.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Sol and Manuela Bah