Note From The Board – Shyla Samson

My Sheep Know My Voice and They Follow Me

Last month Okongo and I visited with one of our leaders from a North African country. While we were with him, I enjoyed hearing parts of his story. I found myself mesmerized by how the Lord called *Ibrahim* into relationship with Himself. Before he had a relationship with Jesus, while attending the mosque and listening to the Islamic teachings, he would hear a ‘Voice’ that would tell him that different parts of the teachings were true, or not true or something he could take or leave as they were neutral. *Ibrahim* heard the ‘Voice’ within him but attributed it to his own intellect, at that time. Later on, through a series of events he was miraculously given a Bible which he had heard was a corrupted scripture and while reading in the book of Proverbs, he understood with clarity that this wisdom was not the wisdom of man but of God! *Ibrahim* was eager to learn more about this God and the Bible. During this time, he heard a ‘Voice,’ and the ‘Voice’ told him to go to a certain town where there was a church. (Keep in mind that churches are ‘underground’ where he lives and no one talks about the location of a church or even uses the word church in public because of the impending persecution.) *Ibrahim* followed the ‘Voice’ that led him to this particular remote town and when he arrived in the town he didn’t know where to go next. The ‘Voice’ specifically told him to go right, go left, until he came to the entrance of someone’s home compound. The ‘Voice’ told him to go inside. *Ibrahim* was deeply uncomfortable with this but opted to obey. Upon entering the compound, a man met him and asked him why he was there. Because the word ‘church’ is not used *Ibrahim* was struggling to express why he was there but after a bit of struggle he simply blurted out, “I am looking for a church.” The gentlemen who had approached him in this compound laughed out loud and told him- “This is the Church!”

*Ibrahim* spent the next 6 months learning about the Bible and God at this church. It was in this time period that he learned who Jesus was and what Jesus had done for him through His life, death on the cross and resurrection. *Ibrahim* believed and became a follower of Jesus!

I am amazed that our God is so good and gracious that He makes His Voice heard to those who will and do believe in what Jesus did for them at the Cross. God made His Voice known to *Ibrahim* as He led him to know who Jesus is and then led him to become a pastor and one of our leaders! This story highlights in my heart the passage in John 10:27 that says ‘My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.’ God made His Voice known to *Ibrahim* because he is a sheep that would belong to Him and would follow Him.

I am so thankful for all the ways God makes Himself known to us! I am thankful that Jesus came to gather all the sheep that belong to Him and that He will not leave even one behind. I am also thankful to be a part of a ministry that makes Jesus known in diverse and holistic ways- by teaching the Word in outreaches, by shepherding believers and non-believers through discipleship and training opportunities, by establishing churches where people can learn more about who Jesus is and experience community, or by receiving a tangible touch of Jesus through a physical need being met like water for a community, medical care or counsel.

We are thankful for your gifts toward Unite 4 Africa that miraculously can provide a bible to someone who never had one or to train and to empower leaders to reach the very unreached people. It is truly an honor to be a part of this ministry! I am so thankful for the thousands of leaders in our network who are each committed to making Jesus known as they walk in their individual gifts and call!

– Shyla Samson