GoodWORD Partnership

Ministry Update from Guinea, West Africa:

As part of the recent multi-faceted three weeks of ministry in Guinea and through the generosity of ministry partners, GoodWORD was able to facilitate the purchase of a key piece of equipment for a rural clinic operated by our partner Daniel and his wife Edwidge. (They also operate a school for 200 children and pastor a church congregation on the same property).

As a trained midwife Edwidge has for several years provided maternity services in the area surrounding the town of Kouriya east of the capital Conakry and has delivered about 25 babies so far in 2022. She considers this part of the ministry God has called her too as a witness of God as the author of life and as the creator who loves those he has created.

In order to diagnose some of the complicated cases that she deals with in a timely way she has needed an ultrasound machine to help her best facilitate a birth that is safe for baby and mother. In the absence of an ultrasound she has had to refer her patients to the nearest hospital several miles away which on at least one occasion resulted in the loss of a child.

Last Friday, coincidentally after Edwidge had been up all night attending a birth, we were able to dedicate a new ultrasound machine purchased for the clinic, the only one available to serve the people of Kouriya and surrounding villages.

Guinea Ministry Update:

When GoodWORD founder, Blair Carlson, was in Moscow preparing for a 1992 Mission at the Olympic Stadium a young university student from Congo (Brazzaville), Charles Koumba, showed up at the mission office volunteering to help in the preparations. Thirty years later Charles is part of the GWP team presently in Guinea to teach at the Evangelism Training Conference for church leaders being held in Conakry this week (see previous posts). Charles is accompanied by colleagues in ministry Evangelist Alphonse Boungou and musician evangelist Dhavant.

Charles returned to Congo (Brazzaville) from Russia in 1994 and has been active in evangelism and discipleship in the intervening years. He pastors a local church in Brazzaville.

In 2010 Blair and Charles renewed their friendship in Cape Town when Blair was directing the Lausanne III global congress on evangelism and Charles attended as a participant from Congo.

Subsequently over a three year period (2016-19) GoodWORD ministered with these men in three regions of Congo to train church leaders in evangelism and facilitate evangelistic outreaches. Now they are part of GoodWORD’s team to encourage the same among churches in Guinea through the conference. GoodWORD is delighted to be able to fulfill its purpose by facilitating this partnership of leaders among French-speaking African countries for the proclamation of the Gospel.

As we lament over the situation in Ukraine, where we have ministered and have many friends, we share some suggested prayers from our friend Pete Grieg with Tearfund UK:

Father God, King of all nations, we cry out to you now for the people of Ukraine. We ask you to rescue those who are vulnerable from the hands of their enemies that they may live without fear before you all their days [Luke 1:74-75].

Lord of lords and Prince of peace, our politicians are predicting the biggest war in Europe since 1945, and we simply cry out to you urgently to write another story in our time. Thwart the dark machinations of evil men. Give wisdom beyond human wisdom to peacemakers seeking an equitable and less violent way. May politicians exercise the wisdom from above, which is peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, and full of mercy [James 3:17].

Holy Spirit, we pray for the church in Ukraine, a nation in which 70% of the population call themselves Christian. Give our many brothers and sisters in that nation courage in this crisis that they may proclaim the good news of your kingdom, bind up broken hearts, and bring comfort to all who mourn. [Isaiah 61:1-2].

You, Lord, make wars cease to the end of the earth; you break bows, shatter spears, and burn shields with fire [Psalm 46:9]. And so, we ask you now to save the lives of many people in Ukraine. Make a peace that is strong and not weak. De-escalate this crisis. We hear of wars and rumors of wars (Matt. 24:6], but you Lord are our rock, our fortress and our deliverer. Our hope is in you. And so we address the nations now. In the name of Jesus, we say: “Be still and know God! He is exalted among the nations; he shall be exalted in the earth [Psalm 46:10].

Kyrie eleison – Lord have mercy.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace.
Amen

Today Blair and Roy connected via video with GWP's partners Charles and Alphonse in Congo-Brazzaville and Daniel in Guinea (Conakry) to discuss plans for an Evangelism Training Conference for Pastors and Church leaders in Guinea in April, conditions permitting. GWP has partnered with Congo for several events over the past five years and hope to use their experience to encourage Daniel and other leaders in the ministry in Guinea. Both countries are French-speaking which is a benefit to such a partnership. Thank you for your prayers