Prayer Partner Letter

January 2015

Dear Prayer Partners,

Bryan and Libby serve in North Africa. They have been living in another part of Africa temporarily because of civil unrest in North Africa. Recently some God-led contacts have convinced them God is calling them back to the people group He has called them to serve—people who need Jesus, people who need the Bible translated into their own language. Here is their story in Libby’s own words:

We met a man named Hakim. Hakim is a member of the largest people group represented in the refugee camps where we work. He is one of only a few believers among his people, who are otherwise all followers of another major world religion, and he bears the marks on his body that show how his faith has been tested.

Hakim is trained in linguistics and theology. He is passionate about seeing the Bible translated into his language. When he met Bryan, Hakim said, “This is the time we have been waiting for. The time is now.”

A few weeks ago Bryan and our regional director carried out some basic translation training with Hakim and Ibrahim [a translator for another North African language] here in our little house. Around the dining room table these two men each translated the first words of Scripture ever in their languages. Last week, they got on a plane and flew back to the communities waiting for them in a refugee camp to prepare for the work ahead of them.

        In two days, we are following them. The timing is crazy. The country is practically in civil war and people are being born and growing old in a refugee camp in the middle of nowhere. As a family we are still reeling from the instability of this context and the steady stream of challenges it brings. No one knows what the future holds exactly. We continue to try and balance courageous faithfulness and cautious wisdom.

         We have set up a house in a safe place for the days that God tells us to take our family to a haven and enjoy peace while we continue working for his Kingdom there. When we go back to North Africa in two days we are mindful that it may only be for a season; and while we grieve this, we accept it.

         However, in the confusing mess of it all, we think Hakim is right. Somehow in His mind-boggling, painfully beautiful way, God does seem to have chosen this time to bring His Word to these people who have never heard it before. He is using His Spirit, His church, dreams, men like Hakim and Ibrahim and – we humbly pray and hope – people like us, and you, to do it. We too hear a voice saying “The time is now.”

Thank God for Hakim, Ibrahim, Bryan, Libby, and others who believe the time is now to reach out to refugees in a war-torn area with the good news of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

Pray for God to protect these courageous servants and give them wisdom as to when to stay and when to leave.

Pray that their ministry in the refugee camp will bear much fruit with people committing their lives to Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

Thank God for the prayer partners and financial partners who make it possible for Bryan, Libby and other courageous missionaries to remain on the field.

Thanks for your prayers,
Gerald Denny
Care Department Director
Pioneer Bible Translators