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Voices from the Gambia

By Jim Entner

Evening. A piercing voice breaks the stillness, disturbing the solitude. The noise is startling at first, then distracting, as other voices chime in.

Is it an announcement? Some sort of singing? The loudness of the P.A. system makes it sound like it's right next to our compound, but it is actually coming from the village mosque over a kilometer away.

Map of The GambiaThe voices continue. Concentration grows difficult.

We ask the people around us, "What is happening?"

"Oh," they reply, "perhaps a 'teaching' for a special holy day, or maybe recitations for someone's marriage or death. It's in Arabic, so it is difficult to know what they are saying. Get used to it - it happens often."

We try to tune out the voices and go on with our activity, or try to sleep. But still, we can't help but wonder....


Five-thirty AM. The voice returns, though it is still dark.

"It's a call to prayer," we are eventually told -- the first of three over the next hour, each coming from a different mosque. We try to sleep, but can't help thinking: If they are praying, why aren't we - we who claim to know the Living God and call Him "Father"?


Early Sunday morning. Voices of children drift into the compound. They seem to be reciting verses and singing songs. What a beautiful sound! Is it a Sunday School class, we ask?

"Yes, in a way," we are told. "It's the boys and girls attending classes at the nearby Koranic School, going through their recitations and praises to Allah." We long to teach them about Jesus....


A weekday afternoon. We hear the sound of singing. We go outside in time to see a van-load of men passing by on the road, amplifying their songs as they drive through the town. "It's a men's retreat - a Muslim version of Promise Keepers," we are told. We pray, "May it someday be a Christian group."

Evangelism and training go on almost daily in our village here, but we are not a part of it. We are the "outsiders," the "unbelievers." How we wish this intensely religious atmosphere could be one of true worship - not only of God, but of His Son, the One Who came to be the Savior of the world, the One they do not know.

Pray with us as we trust the Lord together for His plan and purposes to be accomplished. Rejoice with us in a God Who is no respecter of persons and desires that "all men come to a knowledge of the Truth."

What are His desires for these people?
1. Growth of Believers

In this agricultural society, planting and weeding have become the major focus during these months of rain. Attendance at worship services and Bible studies has been sporadic. Threats toward believers have continued. Our men have been inconsistent; our women silent. Pray for renewed perseverance and courage to stand fast.

2. Salvation

In spite of the "talks" to put down Christianity, three new women are attending Bible studies. Some men continue to study the Word privately. Pray that their eyes would be opened.

3. Holy Living--Examples of Christ

We few missionaries are the "living word," representatives of Jesus in the flesh, almost the only Christians that they know. Pray that our lives may be different enough to cause them to "see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven" and to "ask the reason for the hope that is in us."

4. Peaceful Living

The price of basic commodities has skyrocketed in recent months, causing great difficulty for the people and unrest. Pray for stability of the economy that would benefit the people.