Take this Bible, learn from it......

“Who are my mother and my brothers?”, he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:33-34.

The above Scripture manifested itself in the life and death of Mba Yakubu. The late Yakubu became a Christian in his early fifties in Kayong, a traditional Dagomba village in the Yendi district. He was the only Christian in this close knit community of about 600 inhabitants. For 18 years he had to walk 32 km (one way) to a nearby village for a Church service each Sunday. He was despised, insulted, rejected and ridiculed by family, friends and the wider community. Last week the Lord called Yakubu to be with Him.

However, the whole village said they would have nothing to do with his body because he was a Christian. So, an SOS message was sent to us (35 miles away) informing us of his death and we immediately organised ourselves and went to bury him. On the day of the funeral about 100 believers spent the night in that remote village, dancing and singing to celebrate the life of the dedicated departed servant of Christ.

'dancing to celebrate the life of Mba Yakubu'

During the funeral service most of the people from the village came to satisfy their curiosity (of witnessing a Christian funeral for the first time) and we had the opportunity and privilege of presenting the Gospel to them. We also challenged them to love one another and to live in unity. Their astonishment was that for the sake of one man hundreds of people from all over the region had gathered – in Christ we who were far away from each other have become a family. It was a great testimony and witness of the brotherly love of the minority Christians in this part of our world.

'an offering taken during the funeral to be shared with the brothers and widow'

On his sick bed, Yakubu had called Abdulai, his brother's son and handed over his Bible to him and said, 'Take this Bible, learn from it and let your life be ruled by it'. Together with all the Church leaders we prayed and committed Abdulai to the Lord's care. The young man has since started fellowshipping with the Church of which the uncle was a member.

Yakubu with his life has sown a seed and we pray and wait for a bumper harvest.

PRAYER POINTS:

• Please pray for our health as we battle with malaria this month.

• Pray for the wife and family of the late Yakubu that the testimonies they have heard will propel them to faith in Jesus Christ.

• Pray for Abdulai that he will be committed to the way of the Bible and like Elijah and Elisha he will receive a double portion of his uncle’s spirit.

• Pray that the people in Kayong, who have shown interest in the life changing message of Jesus, will be brought to the light.