"And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die" (Revelation 12:11 NLT).

Our last newsletter was a time of celebration as we gathered in Senegal with all our leaders across Africa and Pakistan. It was a time of great refreshment as well as encouragement. We could see how the Lord was using T2S to take the Gospel across Africa and South Asia to the most difficult and dangerous places.

Our vision is to take the Tree of Life and make disciples in every nation on the continent of Africa and wherever the Lord may allow us to go. Not only that, but we aim to plant a church in every village. Our desire is to continue to train until there is no place left without the gospel. This is a big vision, but we serve a great and powerful God. This is His desire, so we join Him in His mission.

However, the enemy does not give ground without a fight. Within a month of our meeting persecution struck in Sierra Leone and the Central African Republic. Within these two countries we are seeing the Lord move and many are coming to Christ. In the Central African Republic jihadi terrorists attacked the new churches, burnt them down, and kidnapped many of the believers. In Sierra Leone animists, or idol worshipers, attacked in two different areas in the northern part of the country. Bringing people from different parts of the country to attack these two areas, they killed 6 believers and forced over 1,000 believers to flee into the bush to avoid the violence. The animists also kidnapped two groups of children belonging to Christian parents in both places.

We are so grateful to those who gave in order to get relief to those persecuted in both of these countries. They requested food, medicine and blankets, as it is rainy season, and we were able to meet those needs.

In Sierra Leone the believers were unable to get back to their homes for over a month, but they also tried desperately to get their children back unsuccessfully.  Below is the message sent by our leader in Sierra Leone, "So please continue to ask the brethren to continue to pray as the situation is still the same. Parents have not been able to get access to their children. For those in Kamakumba, we are hoping they will be released at the end of next month. Let us keep praying none of them will be killed. As for the 15 in the other village, the period for them to have been released is past. So, it has been concluded as they normally believe and say, they have been eaten by the gods of the secret society. This is really a horrible situation here brother." Child sacrifice is part of animistic worship in Sierra Leone. Those 15 children were sacrificed to the idols of the animists. It is hard for us here in the West to understand these things, but a way of life there.

Christ is the only thing that can change this. We are determined to get the gospel to every village in Sierra Leone. In the picture above is a master trainer with his motorcycle heading into the bush to take the Good News of Christ to those still in darkness in Sierra Leone. You can join us in taking the gospel to these places. It takes a little over $200 a month to send these men and their families into the harvest fields with the Good News of Christ. For $2,400 a year we can keep a national missionary in the field winning souls and planting churches in the darkest of places. Having lived on the field, I know how much it costs to keep a western missionary on the field for a year, and they will never be as effective as the national worker. Please continue to pray for these faithful national workers. If the Lord leads you to give, you can give by sending a check to Training2Send P.O. Box 1206 Verona, VA 24482 or give online at training2send.org. We want to thank all those who continue to partner with us until there is no place left where the gospel has not gone.