As you might know by now, the Mengen people know how to use social pressure to help get what they want. They have frequently threatened the believers and us missionaries in order to force us to comply with what they want.
On Easter Sunday, as you know, we had a great service with 20 believers taking part in reading through the story of Christ’s last days on earth. As we finished our service the local cult leader came threatening the believers. Eventually more unbelievers joined in and soon people were being attacked and property damaged. Later, rumours came to us that other villages were coming to attack the believers. Some village elders requested that the police be flown in to help sort out the problems. In the following days, the guys who caused the trouble hid out in the jungle; the police made every effort to find them but they were unable to. Our village grew quite empty during this time as many went and hid in the jungle or slept in their gardens for fear of further trouble.
We are happy to tell you that last Sunday the community came together as a whole, the culprits came out of the jungle and, with the help of the police, they held a village court and sought a resolution. It seems that the situation is resolved for now and it looks like things are getting back to normal.
It was good to see the Mengen church growing in this time. The church came together on Thursday night like never before. They sang, prayed and shared, encouraging their hearts in the Lord. It was amazing hearing even the unbelievers speaking amongst themselves about the joy and peace which are evident amongst the believers. One unbelieving man said, “It is not good that the believers are happy in this difficult time. How can they sing and eat and be happy? They must be sad and scared and hide.”
Praise the Lord that he has removed the fear and is giving us boldness!
Thanks for your prayers in this time,
Lourens for the Mengen Church.