Friday, December 20, 2013

Bible Translator Shot To Death While Trying to Protect Family in War Torn Central Africa

Bible Translator Shot To Death While Trying to Protect Family in War Torn Central Africa - christiannews.net

Excerpt from this article:

"A Wycliffe Bible translator was gunned down last week during a deadly spate of violence in the Central African Republic. Elisee Zama was working with ACATBA (Association Centrafricaine pour la Traduction de la Bible et l’AlphabĂ©tisation), which is Wycliffe’s ministry partner in the Central African Republic (C.A.R.). As a part of the group, Zama was working 'to promote local language development, Bible translation, literacy and community development in the Central African Republic.'”
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One of the early church fathers, Tertullian, wrote that "The blood of martyrs is the seed of the church." Missionaries and Bible translators put themselves into harm's way for the cause of our Lord Jesus Christ. And when they die in the line of duty, it is a lost for those of us left behind, but it is a gain for the gospel.

My prayer is that someone reading this post right now might prayerfully consider whether God is calling them to the mission field in order to take up the work our dear brother Elisee Zama left behind! And if the Lord doesn't lead you to physically go to the mission field, perhaps you could still help out by donating to worthy missions, like Wycliffe Bible Translators. Our Lord Jesus says:

"And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his reward." - Matthew 10:42

From Greenland's Icy Mountains

1. From Greenland's icy mountains, from India's coral strand;
Where Afric's sunny fountains roll down their golden sand:
From many an ancient river, from many a palmy plain,
They call us to deliver their land from error's chain.

2. What though the spicy breezes blow soft o'er Ceylon's isle;
Though every prospect pleases, and only man is vile?
In vain with lavish kindness the gifts of God are strown;
The heathen in his blindness bows down to wood and stone.

3. Shall we, whose souls are lighted with wisdom from on high,
Shall we to those benighted the lamp of life deny?
Salvation! O salvation! The joyful sound proclaim,
Till earth's remotest nation has learned Messiah's Name.

4. Waft, waft, ye winds, His story, and you, ye waters, roll
Till, like a sea of glory, it spreads from pole to pole:
Till o'er our ransomed nature the Lamb for sinners slain,
Redeemer, King, Creator, in bliss returns to reign.
 
Recommended reading and viewing:
 
Please Don't Send me to Africa - You Tube video
Please Don't Send me to ... America (my post)
The Roman Road to Salvation(my post) 

How I Found Christ?

 How I Found Christ? by Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)