Max and Lisha Woodley Blog – June 9, 2021

We have been able to encourage the family of 14 who host the program, and support some of their needs, as they faithfully pour into these young children every week. Early Sunday mornings music from the radio we provided signals to the surrounding community that Sunday school is happening that day! It is fun for the children during worship time. Sometimes when it rains, the children crowd into the family’s tiny home to continue hearing the gospel stories. After being filled with worship, they come with a cup to receive juice, tea or a nutritious porridge. We hope to continue to support this program as it develops and grows. 

We are thankful to be a part of these ministries and help wherever we can. We are so pleased when God can use us, as in the case with a woman named Chantal.  

Chantal was orphaned at the age of 10. She ended up living with an auntie, but because their home was so overcrowded they were unable to cover her school fees. She ended up selling bananas and charcoal as a young girl to pay for her own school fees. She made it until 11th grade when she was struck with a horrible illness that took away her ability to walk. For two years she was sick and unable to study. 

After much prayer from her community, and her consistent faith in God that he would heal her, the miracle took place and she was able to walk again. Once she was healed she completed her schooling, but didn’t have the funds to continue into university as she desired and ended up in agriculture to survive. 

She married briefly and had a child, but when her husband abandoned her she devoted her life to the work of God through ministry. She said, ” I knew that God has done a great miracle in my life and therefore I wanted to give back and serve him. I only have peace when I work for Him and other jobs don’t give me this peace. I became a Sunday school teacher and a Bible teacher in Christian education at our church Macedonia. As I continued to devote myself to this type of service, I felt the desire to study theology.”

We connected through the Sunday school ministry and Chantal expressed her desire to study theology. We were able to offer her the opportunity to lead the youth Alpha program (including translating the program into the local language), which gave her a source of income to follow her dream to become a pastor. As a student pastor, she preached her first sermon on Sunday – a powerful message of the importance of a sincere prayer life. We are excited to see how God uses Chantal, not only in the Macedonia church, but in her whole community.