Mission

YOUTH & ADULT

2020 •QUARTER 3 • WEST-CENTRAL AFRICA DIVISION

AdventistMission.org

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 Contents
O n the Cover: Angelique Abeme prayed for six years for her estranged husband, Peter, to know
God in Gabon. Then something incredible happened. Story, page 10.

LIBERIA 18 Fasting for a Family | Aug. 22

4 A School for Liberia | July 4 20 Crawling Like a Baby | Aug. 29
6 Reading Made Easy | July 11
22 Odd Dreams and a Girl | Sept. 5
8 Long Road Back Home | July 18
24 Illiterate but Able to Read | Sept. 12
GABON
26 Murderous Mother | Sept. 19
10 Prayer Saves Marriage | July 25
12 Betting on Horses | Aug. 1 28 Thirteenth Sabbath: Free at Last | Sept. 26
14 Sweet, Gentle Voice | Aug. 8 30 Future Thirteenth Sabbath Projects

GUINEA 31 Leader’s Resources

16 Prayer and Persecution | Aug. 15 32 Map

= stories of special interest to teens

Yo u r O f f e r i n g s a t W o r k
Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division

Three years ago, the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering helped

build a Seventh-day Adventist high school in Gabon’s
capital, Libreville. The school, pictured under construction
in March 2019, was scheduled to open for 280 students
in October 2020. You can read stories from Gabon on © 2020 General Conference of
Seventh-day Adventists ® • All rights reserved
pages 10-15 and download the above photos and other 12501 Old Columbia Pike,
Thirteenth Sabbath project photos at: bit.ly/WAD-2020. Silver Spring, MD 20904-6601
1-800-648-5824 • AdventistMission.org

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 D e a r S a b b a t h S c h o o l L e a d e r, Andrew McChesney
Editor

This quarter we feature the West-Central we traveled together to the three countries.
Africa Division of Seventh-day Adventists, He noted that 75 percent of the Adventist
which is comprised of 22 countries: Benin, schools in the division are located
Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, in Ghana, where roughly half of the
Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, division’s 834,183 church members live.
Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, “The church is not strong in French-
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, speaking countries,” Alexis said. “We
Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, need to help them with schools and even
Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Its small clinics.”
headquarters is in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Guinea and Gabon are French-
The region is home to 436 million people, speaking countries, while Liberia and
including 834,183 Adventists. That’s a Nigeria speak English.
ratio of one Adventist for 523 people. The three Thirteenth Sabbath projects
The significant role that Seventh-day for this quarter are listed on this page.
Adventist education plays in spreading If you want to make your Sabbath
the gospel became abundantly clear as I School class come alive, we offer a
collected mission stories in three countries variety of photos, videos, and other
— Guinea and Liberia, which will receive materials to accompany each mission
part of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering story. More information is provided in
to open schools this quarter, and Gabon, the sidebar with each story. Download a
which received a Thirteenth Sabbath PDF of facts and activities at bit.ly/WAD-
offering to construct a school in 2017. facts. Also, follow us at facebook.com/
“Education is key to developing the missionquarterlies.
church in West Africa,” Alexis Kouadio, For photos of tourist sites and other
assistant Global Mission officer for the scenes from the featured countries, I
West-Central Africa Division, told me as recommend searching on a free photo bank
such as pixabay.com and unsplash.com.
Opportunities You also can download the PDF version
of the Children’s Mission magazine at
The Thirteenth Sabbath Offering
bit.ly/childrensmission and the youth
this quarter will help to:
and adult Mission magazine at bit.ly/
 Construct Kobaya Academy, a K-12 adultmission. Mission Spotlight videos are
school, in Conakry, Guinea available at bit.ly/missionspotlight.
AdventistMission.org

 Open an elementary school/center of If I can be of assistance, contact me at

influence in Buchanan, Liberia mcchesneya@gc.adventist.org.
 Establish a medical center in Abuja, Nigeria Thank you for encouraging others to be
mission-minded! 
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 A School for Liberia
LIBERIA | July 4
B . D a r l i n g t o n Te a h , 5 9
because we want to plant our farm, and we
want the farm to prosper.” When Mother
was pregnant, Father prayed, “O ancestors,
we have come to you to give our daughter
who is bearing a child.” When an illness
swept the village, he prayed, “O ancestors,
we have come to you because of the
sickness in our village.”
Every time, he sacrificed a chicken
and offered plates of white rice to the
ancestors. He left the plates and chicken
on the ground and returned home. Later,
he went back for the plates and, seeing
that the food was gone, believed that the
B . Darlington Teah grew up in a
Christian church where his father
was a deacon and his mother prayed for
ancestors had agreed to honor his prayers.
Darlington didn’t have any choice
ill members. about joining the secret society. He
Mother was very dedicated to the couldn’t say yes or no. But Mother had a
church, but Father was not so committed. say, and she bluntly refused. Whenever
He belonged to a secret society and, when Father prepared to go to the mountains,
Darlington was 7, he invited the boy to she took the boy to another village.
become a member. “I want him to become a Christian,” she
“Son, your great-grandfather and other told Father.
ancestors were members,” he said. “You Darlington attended Sunday School every
should join so you can replace me when week, but he didn’t understand the Bible.
I die.” When he was a young man, a Seventh-
Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division

But Darlington wasn’t interested in day Adventist evangelist came to the

joining the secret society. He knew that village and spoke about the seventh-
members worshipped dead ancestors in day Sabbath. Darlington read about the
the mountains of Liberia. Every so often, Sabbath in the Bible for the first time,
Father walked four hours from the village and he asked the Sunday pastor to explain
to the mountains to pray and make whether Saturday or Sunday was the
sacrifices to the ancestors. When it was correct day. The Sunday pastor could
time to plant crops, Father prayed, “O not show any Bible verses that supported
ancestors, we have come to you today Sunday worship.
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 “My son, the seventh day is the

L I B E R I A
Sabbath,” the pastor said. “We worship on Stor y Tips
Sunday to remember Christ’s resurrection.”
Darlington wanted to follow the Bible,  Watch Darlington on YouTube:
bit.ly/Darlington-Teah.
and he was baptized into the Adventist
Church. Father wasn’t pleased with  Download photos on Facebook
the decision because he knew that it (bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank
(bit.ly/school-for-liberia).
meant his son would never worship their
ancestors. Mother was happy that her son  Download photos of Thirteenth Sabbath
projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020.
loved God.
Darlington longed to become a pastor,
and he prayed about it constantly. The
Mission Post
Adventist Church didn’t have a seminary  The GC Daily Bulletin of Oct. 24, 1889,
in Liberia, so he would have to travel referred to “Bro. Gaston from Liberia,
who recently embraced the truth, and has
to Ghana or Nigeria to study theology. gone back to his country to sow the seeds
Knowing that his parents didn’t have of precious truth among his kindred.” In
money to help him, he worked hard reporting his 1892 visit to West Africa
to save money for tuition. Civil war at the January 1893 General Conference
Session, Lawrence C. Chadwick appealed
interrupted his efforts and, in the 1990s, for a missionary to be sent to open a
he entered politics and was elected to the mission “at or near the home of Brother
national parliament. Gaston” (GC Daily Bulletin 5:2, Jan.
He thought, “If I can’t save money 29, 1893). However, Liberia had to wait
another 33 years for the first official
to study theology abroad, I can at least Seventh-day Adventist missionaries.
establish an Adventist seminary in Liberia
so young people can study here.”  On April 30, 1930, the first four
Adventist converts were baptized at
A year after his election, he sponsored Seahn. Among them was Willie Helbig,
a bill creating the Adventist University of who later became the first Liberian
West Africa in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia. ordained minister.
After six years in parliament, he left  About 85.5 percent of Liberia’s
amid strong pressure to accept bribes population practices Christianity, and
and to join secret societies. He enrolled Muslims comprise 12.2 percent of the
population, mostly Malikite Sunni, with
in theology classes at the Adventist sizeable Shia and Ahmadiyya minorities.
University of West Africa.
Today, Darlington is a pastor and the
president of the South-East Liberia Mission,
which will receive part of this quarter’s Thank you for planning a generous
Thirteenth Sabbath Offering to construct a Thirteenth Sabbath Offering to construct
K-6 school in the city of Buchanan. an elementary school in Buchanan,
AdventistMission.org

“I am very thankful that the Lord Liberia, to replace a school destroyed in

has called me to work in His service in Liberia’s civil war.
preparing people for His soon coming,”
Darlington said.  By Andrew McChesney

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 Reading Made Easy
LIBERIA | July 11
S.E. Joe Seeyah, 66

JSeeyah,
oe Konyon Seeyah couldn’t read.
There were no schools in his village,
in Liberia. As a boy, he worked
“I can’t open the Bible and teach from
it,” he said.
Willie wasn’t worried. He invited Joe
on the family rice farm. When he grew and five other newly baptized church
older, he married and had nine children members to attend a Bible training school
and still worked on the farm. He had no in Dehyu. On the first day of classes, Joe
reason to read. looked at the other five men in Willie’s
One day, a Seventh-day Adventist classroom. None of them had gone to
evangelist, Willie Helbig, arrived in the school. None of them could read. He was
village. Joe was interested to learn from in good company.
the Bible, and he and other villagers asked Willie prayed and gave a new Bible to
the evangelist to study with them. Willie each man. Then he opened his own Bible
agreed and, a month later, all 50 adults in and showed the men how to find important
Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division

Seeyah and a neighboring village, Dehyu, verses. He read each verse out loud and
were baptized. explained the meaning of every word.
Willie, the first ordained Liberian pastor Joe prayed earnestly. He didn’t know
in the Adventist Church, told the new how he would remember all the verses. He
church members that it was their turn to wanted to speak to others about Jesus’ soon
spread the gospel message. Joe didn’t know coming, but he didn’t know how he would
what to think. He loved Jesus and wanted ever be able to do that.
to share the gospel. But he was 45 years old Every day, Joe and the other men met
and couldn’t read. with Willie to learn from the Bible. Every
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 day, Joe prayed for the Holy Spirit to bless

L I B E R I A
their classes. Stor y Tips
One day, as Willie guided the men
through important verses in the Bible, Joe  Know that Seeyah village is named after
Joe’s family.
noticed that he had no trouble finding the
verses on his own. As Willie read, he was  Watch Joe on YouTube: bit.ly/Joe-Seeyah.
able to follow along in his own Bible. He  Download photos on Facebook
looked over at his classmates. They also (bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank
were able to find the verses and to follow (bit.ly/reading-made-easy).
along. Joe and the other men stood up and  Download photos of Thirteenth Sabbath
began reading the Bible out loud to the projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020.
astonished evangelist.
Back at home, Joe tried to read a Fa s t Fa c t s
book other than the Bible, but he  The Society for the Colonization of Free
couldn’t understand a word. He found People of Color of America, commonly
another book, but he couldn’t read it known as the American Colonization
either. However, he was able to read Society, was a group established in the
United States in 1816 that supported
the Bible easily.
the migration of free African Americans
Joe went on to become head elder of to the continent of Africa. The society’s
the first Seventh-day Adventist church supporters included both religious and
established to serve Seeyah village political groups who opposed slavery, and
and several other villages in 1937. slave-owners who considered free blacks
to be a threat to the stability of the slave-
Although he never attended school, he holding system.
energetically taught and preached from
 Liberia is known for its detailed
the Bible at the new church, located in decorative masks, wood carvings of
the village of Newcess. He died in 2003 realistic human faces, and carved
around the age of 90. accessories, particularly combs, spoons
“It was the work of the Holy Spirit,” and forks. Liberian wood sculptures are
heavily influenced by ancient history,
said his son, S.E. Joe Seeyah, 66, who also
folklore, proverbs, spirituality, and rural
is a church elder. “It is the Holy Spirit life and show the artist’s attention to
who gives knowledge, and He wanted the detail and their connection to the people
Seventh-day Adventist message to come and objects sculpted.
to our region. He allowed my father to  The food of Liberia has been influenced
read the Bible.”  by contact, trade, and colonization from
the United States, especially foods from
the American South, interwoven with
Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth traditional West African foods. The
Sabbath Offering will help to construct diet consists largely of rice and other
a K-6 school in Buchanan, Liberia, to starches, tropical fruits, vegetables, and
replace a school destroyed in Liberia’s civil local fish and meat. Liberia also has a
AdventistMission.org

war several years ago. Buchanan is located baking tradition the settlers brought
from the United States that is unique in
near Seeyah village. West Africa.
By Andrew McChesney
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 Long Road Back Home
LIBERIA | July 18
Alphanso Peter Juah, 48

Atfledthecivil
age of 19, Alphanso Peter Juah
war in Liberia by boarding
For four years, he sold heroin, tricked
people out of money, and laundered
a train and traveling to Guinea. money. Seeking more opportunities, he
Little did he know that the trip would traveled to Tunisia and then to Jordan,
take him to eight countries and that he India, Thailand, and Indonesia. In each
would return home with an Indonesian country, he sold drugs, tricked people,
wife 14 years later. and laundered money, earning enough to
Times were tough when Alphanso live on and to move to the next place.
left in 1992, and he quickly abandoned He found money could buy anything,
the Seventh-day Adventist Church of including visas to pursue his travels.
his childhood. In Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta,
With the help of a humanitarian Alphanso began to think hard about
Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division

agency, he finished his studies in Guinea life. He remembered attending church

but then found himself homeless. He on Sabbaths. He felt bad because he
resorted to any scheme that he could knew that he wasn’t obeying God’s
think of to earn money. He sold heroin. commandments. One day, he spoke about
He tricked people out of money. He God while playing pool with a Spanish
laundered money. stranger. The stranger invited him to visit
After a year, he longed for new his church the next Sunday. The U.S.
opportunities, so he illegally bought a missionary who led the Sunday church
Guinean passport and moved to Senegal. listened to Alphanso’s story and offered
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 to help pay his house rent. In exchange,

L I B E R I A
Alphanso worked on the church grounds Stor y Tips
and managed its sound system.
Alphanso kept thinking about the  Pronounce Alphanso as: alf-ON-zo.
Sabbath. He found the address of an  Pronounce Wastinah as: was-TIN-ah.
Adventist church and began to attend
 Watch Alphanso on YouTube:
worship services every Sabbath while still bit.ly/Alphanso-Juah.
working at the other church on Sundays.
 Download photos on Facebook
With only a high-school education, he
(bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank
longed to study at a university, but no one (bit.ly/long-road-home).
seemed able to assist him. The Sunday
church didn’t help. The Adventists also  Download photos of Thirteenth Sabbath
projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020.
didn’t help, but they did reconnect him
with his parents in Liberia. He hadn’t Fa s t Fa c t s
spoken with them since fleeing Liberia.
Three years passed, and the Sunday  Monrovia is the capital and largest
church stopped supporting him. city of Liberia. The city is named
in honor of U.S. President James
Alphanso returned to selling drugs, Monroe, a prominent supporter of
tricking people, and laundering money. the colonization of Liberia and the
But something big happened in his life American Colonization Society. Along
around that time. He got married. While with Washington, it is one of two
national capitals to be named after a
working at the Sunday church, he had U.S. president.
fallen in love with Wastinah, a relative
of the missionary’s housekeeper.
After a while, Alphanso felt the Buchanan, and Wastinah sells rice, oil,
familiar desire for new opportunities and and other groceries from a roadside stall
moved to China. After four months, in front of their house. They have three
he sent for his wife. While in China, children ages 12, 8, and 5. Alphanso
readily shares his story about God’s grace
his thoughts returned to God, and he
in his life.
found an English-language Bible at
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning
a bookstore. One day, his eye fell on
of wisdom,” he said. “When I felt guilty,
Ecclesiastes 1:2, which reads, “Vanity of
the fear of the Lord emerged in my heart,
vanities, all is vanity.”
and He made me wise.” 
“My life is filled with vanity,” he
thought. “I need to go home to Africa.”
Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth
He and Wastinah flew to Liberia
Sabbath Offering will help to construct
in 2006. Back home, he had a tearful
a K-6 school in Buchanan, Liberia, to
reunion with his parents. He gave his replace a school destroyed in Liberia’s civil
AdventistMission.org

heart to Jesus and went to church every war. Alphanso hopes to send his children
Sabbath. Wastinah joined him and, after to the school.
some time, gave her heart to Jesus.
Today, Alphanso works as a logger in By Andrew McChesney

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 Prayer Saves Marriage
GABON | July 25
Angelique Abeme, 45

The pastor didn’t argue with her.

“What you have been told about Saturday
is the truth,” he said. “You have learned
the truth. Try the Adventist Church.”
Life grew more complicated after
Angelique was baptized. She asked Peter
to marry her but he refused. When she
asked him to leave the house, he moved
across the country to Port-Gentil, a city
250 miles (400 kilometers) to the south.
Angelique prayed every morning and
night that Peter would know Jesus.
“Lord, You have allowed me to know

AThengelique Abeme fell in love with

Peter when she was 15. He was 20.
couple moved in together and
the truth, and I wish that You would also
grant Peter an opportunity to know the
truth,” she prayed.
had two girls in Oyem, a city in northern She sent Bible studies to Peter by mail.
Gabon. Life was hard. Peter drank and In Port-Gentil, Peter ran into trouble.
smoked. Angelique loved him. An employer accused him of theft
When Angelique was 25, Seventh- and, even though Peter professed his
day Adventist neighbors invited her to innocence, he was imprisoned for three
evangelistic meetings. She had many months. In prison, he had a lot of time to
questions about the teaching that the think. He had nothing to do. So, when an
seventh day is the Sabbath, and she wasn’t Adventist chaplain offered Bible studies,
satisfied with the evangelist’s explanations. he readily accepted. Shortly before his
On the final Friday of the two-week release, he was baptized.
Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division

meetings, the evangelist suggested that she Angelique learned from a friend that
ask her own pastor about the Sabbath. She Peter was in prison, but she had no idea
determined to do just that. about the Bible studies. She continued to
Walking home that evening, she met pray for him every morning and evening.
her pastor on the road. “Lord, You have allowed me to know
“Pastor, is Sunday or Saturday the true the truth, and I wish that you would also
Sabbath?” she asked. “The Adventist grant Peter an opportunity to know the
Church says the Sabbath is on Saturday, truth,” she prayed.
according to the Bible.” After Peter was released, he called
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 At the camporee, Peter greeted
Stor y Tips Angelique with a big smile and a
warm hug. They had a warm two-hour
 Pronounce Angelique as: anzhel-EEK. conversation, and Peter left. Angelique
 Watch Angelique on YouTube: saw that his life really had changed. He
bit.ly/Angelique-Abeme. wasn’t smoking and drinking. He had a
sweet disposition.

G A B O N
 Download photos on Facebook
(bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank Peter returned for more conversations
(bit.ly/prayer-saves-marriage). during the camporee. After the camporee
 Download photos of Thirteenth Sabbath ended, Angelique stayed in Port-Gentil
projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. for another week to talk with Peter. That’s
when Peter proposed.
Mission Post “I love you,” he said. “I miss you, and I
want to get married.”
 The Gabon Mission was established “Yes, let’s get married!” Angelique
in 1975 and organized in 1978. Its
said happily.
headquarters is in the capital, Libreville.
That was eight years ago. Today, Peter
 The Adventist Church was officially serves as a church elder in Gabon’s
recognized by the government of Gabon
in 1981. capital, Libreville, and loves Jesus with all
his heart. Angelique couldn’t be happier.
 About 73 percent of the population During those dark days, she found hope
practice at least some elements of
Christianity; 12 percent practice Islam; in Matthew 6:33, where Jesus said, “But
10 percent practice traditional indigenous seek first the kingdom of God and His
religious beliefs exclusively; and 5 percent righteousness, and all these things shall be
practice no religion or are atheists. added to you.”
“Our first goal should be to seek the
Angelique to tell her about his new faith. kingdom of God,” Angelique said. “If
“Now I understand why you wanted me you are a believer but your spouse isn’t,
to move out,” he said. “I am so happy to keep praying because God can work a
be an Adventist.” miracle in the heart. After six years, God
Angelique was overjoyed. She still answered my prayers.” 
loved Peter. She changed her daily prayers
to ask that Peter’s life show the fruits of Three years ago, part of the Thirteenth
his faith. She wanted him to never drink Sabbath Offering helped construct a high
or smoke again. school for 280 students in Angelique’s
Peter called regularly to ask about hometown, Libreville, in Gabon. Thank
Angelique and their daughters. During one you for planning a big Thirteenth Sabbath
call, Angelique told Peter that she planned Offering this quarter to help build schools
AdventistMission.org

to take their younger daughter to a week-long in two other African countries, Guinea
Pathfinder camporee in Port-Gentil. Peter and and Liberia.
Angelique agreed to meet at the camporee.
It had been six years since they separated. By Andrew McChesney

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 GABON | August 1

Betting
on Horses
Christophe Minsta Mi-Owono, 44

H orseracing caught Christophe’s fancy

when he was 27.
Christophe’s father, a math teacher, had
and cautioned him against it.
Christophe didn’t want to listen to them.
“It’s a game where you can exercise your
become infatuated with betting on horses mind,” he said. “You have to know math in
while studying at a university in France. order to play.”
When he returned home, he found that
horseracing also had become a popular An Accident
pastime in Gabon. One Sunday morning, Christophe lost
But no one went to the tracks to bet. 3,000 francs on a horserace at a kiosk.
Instead, they went to roadside kiosks Returning home, he double-checked his
where they could bet on live races betting forms and realized that he had
televised from France. failed to bet on a certain horse. Seeing
Father took Christophe to the kiosks that he still had 2,000 francs, he went
to bet. back to the kiosk.
Christophe didn’t have a job, so Father As he stood outside the kiosk, filling out
Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division

gave him money so they could play the betting form, a car veered off the street
together. Soon Christophe was betting and struck him and two nearby women.
5,000 Central African francs, or U.S.$10, The driver didn’t stop and sped away.
every day on the horses. He neglected Kind strangers rushed Christophe and the
meals and sleep in order to try his luck on two women to the hospital. One woman
the horses. soon died. Minutes later, the other woman
Seventh-day Adventist friends in died. Christophe — lying in bed, his legs
Gabon’s capital, Libreville, noticed paralyzed and his blue T-shirt soaked in
Christophe’s fascination with gambling blood — feared that he would be next.
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 He began to pray.
“Lord, I understand,” he said. “You have Stor y Tips
told me many times to stop gambling, but
 Watch Christophe on YouTube:
I didn’t listen. Now I will listen.”
bit.ly/Christophe-Minsta.
He had no way to contact his family,
and he couldn’t move. Without any  Download photos on Facebook
(bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank
money, he received no medical care in the

G A B O N
(bit.ly/betting-on-horses).
hospital for two days. Finally, he managed
to pull himself out of bed and to crawl to  Download photos of Thirteenth Sabbath
projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020.
the street to hail a taxi. He spent his last
2,000 francs on the ride home.
Fa s t Fa c t s
Complete Recovery  The official name of the country is the
At home, a sister, who was a nurse, Gabonese Republic.
tended to him. He prayed for healing.
The official language is French.
“Lord, You spared me from death,” he
said. “If You protect me and help me walk Low population density, abundant
again, I will surrender my life to You and petroleum, and foreign private
investment have helped make Gabon
stop gambling.” one of the most prosperous countries
Three weeks later, he was able to walk. in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the third
He immediately gathered piles of old highest GDP per capita (after Equatorial
Guinea and Botswana) in the region.
betting forms and burned them in front of
his family. Local Gabonese cuisine is based on
staples of cassava, rice or manioc paste,
“I don’t care if I am rich or poor,”
fish that is found in plenty along the
he said. “I will serve God and never rivers and coastal belt, game meat from
gamble again.” antelopes, porcupine, wild boar, and
He never did gamble again. Today, snake, as well as tropical fruits like
bananas, pineapples, and sugarcane.
Christophe Minsta Mi-Owono is 44 and
works as a housepainter. Gabon is home to hundreds of dolomite
“It’s better to work for money than to and limestone caves With a large part
of Gabon hidden under natural forest
play in hope of easy money,” he said.  cover, many of these caves remain
unexplored. These caves, especially the
Three years ago, part of the Thirteenth Abanda caves, are home to the rare
Orange cave-inhabiting Crocodiles, a
Sabbath Offering helped construct a high cave crocodile only found in Gabon. The
school for 280 students in Christophe’s caves also hold hundreds of thousands
hometown, Libreville, in Gabon. Thank of bats. Gabon caves have a very rich
you for planning a big Thirteenth Sabbath underground biodiversity not found
anywhere else in the world.
Offering this quarter to help build schools
AdventistMission.org

in two other African countries, Guinea Gabon is home to 80 percent of Africa’s

and Liberia. baboon population.

By Andrew McChesney
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 GABON | August 8

Sweet,
Gentle Voice
Jean Obame-Efayong, 58

Jean went to the church for three nights

in a row to see whether Rosette really was
attending. He stood outside and watched.
On the fourth night, a young woman who
owned the church building demanded to
know what he was doing.
“Why are you coming and not
Jealousy changed the life of police
officer Jean Obame-Efayong.
entering?” she said. “Come in today or
don’t return again.”
Every night, his wife, Rosette, came Jean went in. The church was
home late in Libreville, capital of the interesting, and the church members
West African country of Gabon. Jean were friendly. When he had an out-of-
didn’t know what she was doing or where body experience — a not-unheard-of
she had been. His imagination ran wild, occurrence in traditional African religion
and he feared the worst. Finally he asked — the church members made him a
her directly. church leader. During the week, Jean
“I came from my sister’s house,” she said. worked as a police officer and, on the
The next night, he asked the weekends, he led the church.
same question. One day, Rosette abruptly stopped
“I came from my sister’s house,” she said. attending church services. Before Jean
She gave the same answer every night. could learn why, she unexpectedly died
Jean couldn’t believe that his wife was during childbirth. Grief-stricken, Jean
spending so much time at her sister’s reassessed his own commitment to the
house, so one morning he asked her to church and prayed.
Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division

take him to her sister’s house. “If this church isn’t the true church,
Rosette took him to a church with help me to leave easily,” he prayed.
a sign reading, “Eternal Life.” Jean was He never returned to the church, and
surprised to see a church when his wife he didn’t have any trouble.
had said she was at her sister’s house, but Three years later, Jean was walking
he was relieved that she was at church home one evening when he saw a huge
every night and not doing something else. tent pitched in a soccer field near his
The church taught a mix of Christianity house. He heard a sweet, gentle voice
and traditional African beliefs. speak to him.
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 “Sir, we came here for you,” the
voice said. Stor y Tips
Jean stopped and looked around to
see who was talking, but he didn’t see  Watch Jean on YouTube:
bit.ly/Jean-Obame-Efayong.
anybody. As he took a step forward, the
voice spoke again.  Download photos on Facebook
(bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank
“Sir, go inside and sit down to hear the

G A B O N
(bit.ly/sweet-gentle-voice).
gospel,” the voice said.
Jean entered the tent and sat in a chair  Download photos of Thirteenth Sabbath
projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020.
in the back.
It was the first night of a 10-day
evangelistic series. The Seventh-
Fa s t Fa c t s
day Adventist evangelist called for  Libreville is the capital and largest city of
repentance, and Jean wept as he listened. Gabon. The city is a port on the Komo
Jean came back the next night with a River, near the Gulf of Guinea, and a
trade center for a timber region.
paper and pen to take notes.
At the meetings, he felt an irresistible  The region was initially inhabited by the
urge to get baptized. At home, he felt an Pygmy peoples; later the people of the
Bantu tribes immigrated to the area.
irresistible urge to get baptized. He spoke
with the evangelist.  About 85 percent of Gabon is covered by
“I don’t know anything about your rainforests, 11 percent of which has been
dedicated for national parks, making
church, but I want to be baptized all the these some of the largest nature parks in
time,” he said. the world.
The evangelist smiled.
 Gabon comprises a largely young
“The Lord has revealed Himself to you,” population with 40 percent of the total
he said. “Come and be baptized.” population being below 15 years of age.
Jean was baptized. About 56 percent of the total population
Today, he is an active church member. is within the 15-64 age bracket. Less
than 4 percent of the population is above
Every day, he remembers the sweet, gentle 65 years.
voice that he heard as he passed the tent.
“The voice helped me to find the right  Mask making and ritual face paint are
important parts of Gabonese culture, and
path,” he said. “Jesus lives in my life.”  styles vary dramatically between groups.
The Gabonese people use masks to praise
Three years ago, part of the Thirteenth the ancestors and to mark important life
Sabbath Offering helped construct a events by signifying transformation. They
are part of funeral and agrarian rites, and
high school for 280 students in Jean’s Gabonese people use them to promote
hometown, Libreville, in Gabon. Thank fertility, provide spiritual protection and
you for planning a big Thirteenth Sabbath express cultural identity. Masks vary
Offering this quarter to help build schools in style and include geometric shapes,
AdventistMission.org

in two other African countries, Guinea stylized and exaggerated features and
realistically detailed faces.
and Liberia.
By Andrew McChesney

15

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 Prayer and Persecution
GUINEA | August 15
Maimouna Bangoura, 29

the Adventist visitor talking with my

husband on the porch. He asked Alpha if
he had any prayer requests.
“I need work,” said Alpha, an electrician
by training. “Also, when I earn money,
it goes too fast. And my wife is having a
difficult pregnancy. Please pray for her.”
Hearing those words, I marched outside
and told the Adventist something that
even my husband didn’t know. During my
last visit to the hospital, the physician had
told me that my baby was no longer alive.
The baby was in me but dead.

W hen the Seventh-day Adventist

showed up, my husband and I spoke
with him for a few minutes on the front
My husband was shocked at the news.
“Please pray for me,” I asked the Adventist.
He prayed, “If the baby is to come,
porch of our house in Conakry, Guinea. please Lord, give her the baby. But if not,
But then he handed me a pamphlet, Your will be done.”
and I saw the word “Jesus” in small letters When he finished, he picked up the
in the corner. Without even touching pamphlet from the porch and wrote his
the pamphlet, I told him to give it to my name, Tranqulle Fassinadouno, and cell
husband, Alpha. phone number on it. Handing it to Alpha,
The pamphlet was in French, which he said, kindly, “Maybe your wife will hold
Alpha doesn’t read, and he thrust it into onto this and even read it to you one day.”
my hands. As soon as he left, I tore up the pamphlet
“Read this to me,” he said. and threw it away. I liked his prayer, but I
Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division

I threw it to the ground. didn’t want any part of his Christianity.

“I’m not a Christian!” I said. “I can’t That night, I slept well for the first
touch something like this.” time in months. The pain and bleeding
I opened the door and went subsided. When I went to the hospital,
indoors. I didn’t want to hear about I learned that the physician had made a
Christianity. Moreover, it was time for mistake. I never had been pregnant.
my evening prayers. Then my young son Anthony fell ill. I
But I couldn’t pray. I was so upset that bought him medicine at the hospital, but
my mind couldn’t focus. I could hear nothing helped. I remembered how my
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 illness had gone away after Tranqulle prayed.
“Why did I throw away the pamphlet Stor y Tips
with his phone number?” I berated myself.
The next day, I was thinking about the  Ask a woman to share this
first-person account.
phone number when I heard a knock on
the door. It was Tranqulle.  Pronounce Maimouna as: MY-moon-a.
“I’m so glad that you’re here!” I cried.  Pronounce Tranqulle as: tran-KEEL.
“I was just wishing that I had your phone
number. Please pray for my sick son.”  Read Tranqulle’s side of the story
next week.
Tranqulle prayed, and my son recovered
that same afternoon.  Watch Maimouna on YouTube:
Alpha and I were amazed, but I still bit.ly/Maimouna-Bangoura.

GUINEA
didn’t want to go to church. However, I  Download photos on Facebook
kept remembering Tranqulle’s prayers, so (bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank
I decided to go to church after a month. (bit.ly/prayer-and-persecution).
I was deeply touched by the sermon and  Download photos of Thirteenth Sabbath
resolved to attend every Sabbath. projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020.
Alpha, however, only went for two
Sabbaths. He stopped going when friends Mission Post
warned him that he would lose his mind.
Alpha also didn’t want me to attend, but  The work in Guinea began in 1987,
when a lay couple from Europe quietly
I went without telling him. After a while, witnessed to their faith. In April 1992,
he noticed that I was leaving the house the first war refugees from Liberia
every Sabbath, and friends told him that arrived in Guinea, including a number of
they had seen me enter the church. Seventh-day Adventists and a licensed
pastor, W. Oloysius, who soon began
Alpha started beating me. Once he beat
witnessing for their faith.
me so badly that I had to go to the hospital.
But I kept going to church, I learned
in Sabbath School how to live better. Despite the persecution, I have peace
Tranqulle, who I learned is a Global of mind because I have Christ. Could you
Mission pioneer, gave me Bible studies. I please pray for me? With the Lord, victory
resolved to become a Christian when we is on our side. My husband will one day
read about the seventh-day Sabbath in become a Christian. 
the Ten Commandments.
Alpha still beats me. Every time I open Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth
my mouth to talk, he slaps me and refuses Sabbath Offering will help construct
to speak with me. We no longer share the Kobaya Academy, a K-12 school where
same bed, and he refuses to support our Maimouna’s sons and other children can
sons. I pray for him every day. study in Conakry, Guinea. Thank you
AdventistMission.org

One of my favorite Bible verses is John for remembering Maimouna and the
14:1, where Jesus says, “Let not your heart Adventist work in Guinea in your prayers.
be troubled; you believe in God, believe
also in Me.” By Maimouna Bangoura as told to Andrew McChesney
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 Fasting for a Family
GUINEA | August 22
Tr a n q u l l e F a s s i n a d o u n o , 3 4

“Here is some good news,” I said,

handing the pamphlet to Maimouna.
“This is the word of God.”
She glanced at the pamphlet and said,
“No, give it to my husband.”
“No, I can’t read it,” Alpha said. “Give
it to my wife.”
Turning to Maimouna, he said, “Read
this for me.”
She threw it to the ground and went
indoors for her evening prayers. I asked
Alpha whether he had any prayer requests
and, as we spoke, Maimouna returned with
a request for me to pray for her health.
T he house gate was open, so I walked
right into the yard. A man and
woman were chatting on the front porch,
I realized that no one wanted to read the
pamphlet because Jesus’ name was written
and two boys were playing nearby. in small text on the cover. For people of
“Good morning, brother and sister,” their non-Christian faith, it is a sin to even
I said, smiling. “My name is Tranqulle read something bearing Jesus’ name. Seeing
Fassinadouno. I’m very happy to meet you.” they were not interested, I left the house
I went over to the children. Seeing one but resolved to pray and fast for them. As
boy was of school age, I asked, “How is soon as I exited the gate, I wrote down
school? What did you learn today?” their names on a piece of paper and placed
The boy smiled and began reciting his it in my Bible. For three days, I didn’t eat
ABCs. “Your children are smart!” I told food or drink during daylight hours. In
Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division

the parents. the evening, I ate a light meal of bananas,

The parents relaxed when they saw that oranges, and rice porridge.
I appreciated their children. I asked for I didn’t have much time to pray for
their names. the couple during the day because I was
“My name is Maimouna Bangoura,” said busy giving Bible studies and making new
the woman. contacts as a Global Mission pioneer.
“I’m Alpha,” said her husband. So, I asked God to wake me up at night.
I pulled out a pamphlet called “God’s For three nights, God woke me up at
Love for Man.” midnight, 1 a.m., and 4 a.m.
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 “Thank you, God, for allowing me to
meet this family,” I prayed. “I want for Your Stor y Tips
will to be fulfilled with them. I want You to
 Ask a man to share this
visit them before these three days are up.” first-person account.
The three days ended on a Sabbath.
I decided to visit Alpha and Maimouna  Pronounce Tranqulle as: tran-KEEL.
after church services, and I prayed before  Pronounce Maimouna as: MY-moon-a
leaving the house, “I’m not trying to
 Read Maimouna’s side of the story
convert this family. It is the Holy Spirit last week.
who will convert them. Be with me as I
just visit them.”  Read more about Tranqulle next week.
During Sabbath School, I felt an urge to  Watch Tranqulle on YouTube:

GUINEA
visit the family immediately in case they bit.ly/Tranqulle-Fassinadouno.
weren’t home later in the day.  Download photos on Facebook
Maimouna greeted me enthusiastically (bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank
and said she had been healed after my (bit.ly/fasting-for-family).
prayer. She asked me to pray for her son,  Download photos of Thirteenth
who had fallen ill. I prayed. That evening, Sabbath projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020.
I returned to ask about him.
“He’s over there, playing with his
own and announced, “It’s Jesus and me
friends,” Maimouna said, pointing. “I’m so
forever.” She gave her heart to Him.
happy for what you have done.”
Alpha still beats her, but Maimouna has
I asked Maimouna to call the boy so we
found strength in Matthew 10:37, where
could pray together. Seeing Jesus’ hand in
Jesus says, “He who loves father or mother
the matter, I took the courage to mention
more than Me is not worthy of Me. And
Him by name.
he who loves son or daughter more than
“It is Jesus who healed your son,” I said.
Me is not worthy of Me. … He who finds
“So, we are going to pray in Jesus’ name.”
his life will lose it, and he who loses his
Bowing my head, I prayed, “Thank
life for My sake will find it.”
you, God, for You are worthy of honor
She and I fast and pray for Alpha.
and glory because it is through You that
I am so happy that she loves Jesus. Real
this miracle has happened. Thank you for
joy is being able to show the truth to
healing Anthony. In the name of Jesus of people and to see them embrace it. 
Nazareth, Amen.”
A month later, Alpha and Maimouna Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth
came to church. Alpha soon stopped Sabbath Offering will help construct
attending, and he beat his wife every Kobaya Academy, a much-needed K-12
evening for still going. That didn’t stop school in Conakry, Guinea. Thank you
AdventistMission.org

her, and she said to me, “Please teach me for remembering Tranqulle and all Global
the Bible. I want to know the Bible.” Mission pioneers in your prayers.
We began to study the Bible. After a
while, she began to read the Bible on her By Tranqulle Fassinadouno as told to Andrew McChesney

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 Crawling Like a Baby
GUINEA | August 29
O u m o u To u r e , 5 5

she climbed out of bed and crawled on her

hands and knees to the next room.
“Please, pray for me, too,” she pleaded.
The visitor, Tranqulle Fassinadouno, was
astonished to see the old woman crawling
on all fours. He didn’t pray.
Three days later, Oumou heard a knock
on the door and, a moment later, Tranqulle
was standing over her bed.
“Mama, I have come to pray,” he said.
Oumou was overjoyed.
Tranqulle opened his Bible and read
1 John 4:4, which says, “You are of God,
OHerumou Toure fell terribly ill after her
husband died.
knees swelled up, and she suffered
little children, and have overcome them,
because He who is in you is greater than he
who is in the world.”
serious pain. She could not sleep at night. Then he closed his eyes to pray.
She could not walk. Although she was old, “Lord, thank you for the life of your
she crawled like a baby in the family home daughter,” he said. “You allowed me to be
in Conakry, Guinea. here. You gave me courage to fast and pray
An elderly uncle, Amara, took her to for the past three days for her. Now I ask
various hospitals, but no physician could you to heal my sister Oumou in the name
help. He took her to witchdoctors, but none of Jesus.”
could help. She stayed in bed at the family That night, Oumou slept well for the
home, where she lived with her uncle, a first time in years. Her pain subsided.
Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division

younger sister, and a dozen other relatives. The next day, Tranqulle returned and
Four long years passed. For four years, prayed with her again. He prayed and
Oumou suffered. For four years, she fasted for Oumou for two weeks.
couldn’t walk. One day Oumou abruptly asked him,
One day, Oumou overheard her sister “Where is your church?”
talking with a visitor in another room. He told her the address of a Seventh-day
The visitor read from the Bible and prayed. Adventist church. It wasn’t far from her
Oumou wasn’t a Christian, but she wanted house, but she couldn’t walk. She asked
someone to pray for her. With great effort, for help. On Sabbath morning, Tranqulle
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 our holy book, you will no longer be part
Stor y Tips of our family.”
Oumou thought about her four-year
 Pronounce Oumou as: OO-moo.
illness and how she had been healed. She
 Pronounce Tranqulle as: tran-KEEL. lifted her eyes to heaven.
 Read more about Tranqulle last week. “I choose the Bible, that black book,”
she said.
 Watch Oumou on YouTube:
bit.ly/Oumou-Toure. Uncle Amara sneered at Oumou.
“Now that you have chosen the Bible,
 Download photos on Facebook
take it and preach to us,” he said.
(bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank
(bit.ly/crawling-like-baby). Tears formed in Oumou’s eyes. She
didn’t know how to read.

GUINEA
 Download photos of Thirteenth “You know that I cannot read,” she
Sabbath projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020.
said, weeping. “I never went to school.
Fa s t Fa c t s But the man who prayed for me read from
the Bible and I was healed. I believe the
 Guinea’s mineral wealth makes it power in the Bible can do more for me
potentially one of Africa’s richest
countries, but its people are among the and for you, too.”
poorest in West Africa. Uncle Amara angrily ordered family
members to pack Oumou’s belongings.
 Only 27 percent of adults in Guinea
can read. “You have become a Christian,” he said.
“Go to the Christians. We don’t want
anything more to do with you.”
carried Oumou to his motorcycle and
Oumou had no place to live, and she
drove her to church. He took her again
slept in various friends’ houses. It was
the next Sabbath, and the next. Every
difficult, but she refused to denounce
day, Oumou grew stronger. On the fourth
Jesus. When church members learned
Sabbath, she walked to church alone.
about her situation, they offered her a
Tranqulle was amazed to see Oumou
place to live on the church compound.
walking around at the church.
That’s where she lives today.
“This is a miracle of Jesus!” he exclaimed.
“I thank God for my new family,”
Oumou’s uncle and other family Oumou said. “I will be with the Lord
members were happy that she felt better, Jesus forever.” 
but they did not like seeing her go to
church. They weren’t Christians, and they Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth
felt that Oumou was being disrespectful of Sabbath Offering will help construct
their family’s religion. Uncle Amara called Kobaya Academy, a K-12 school in
a big family meeting. As a dozen family Conakry, Guinea, where the love of Jesus
AdventistMission.org

members watched, he held up a black Bible can be taught to many children from non-
and the family’s traditional holy book. Christian homes.
“Which book do you choose?” he asked
Oumou. “Remember, if you don’t choose By Andrew McChesney

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 Odd Dreams and a Girl
GUINEA | September 5
Maria, 29

on her mind when she fell asleep that

night. As she slept, she dreamed that two
small children were talking to her, but she
couldn’t understand what they were saying.
The next night, she saw the same
children again in a dream. But this time
she could understand them.
“The solution is not visiting the
witchdoctor,” one child said.
The next night, Maria dreamed again.
This time she heard a voice as she walked
on the street. The voice said, “The solution
is our Father and our Savior Jesus Christ.”

S ince the age of 2, Maria had

accompanied her mother to the
witchdoctor to obtain a blessing for the
When she awoke, she was puzzled
because she wasn’t a Christian. She
belonged to another major world religion.
family business in Guinea. “How could Jesus be the solution?”
The visits were part of life, and the she wondered.
blessings seemed to work. Mother became She told her mother about the three
a wealthy businesswoman with many shops nights of dreams.
across the West African country. She also “Why do we have to make a human
made her daughter rich. Maria owned a sacrifice?” she said.
house in a gated compound, two cars, and Mother didn’t like the dreams at all and
a big store selling stylish clothing and told Maria to buy a cow for a sacrifice.
handbags in Guinea’s capital, Conakry. Maria obeyed. As the witchdoctor prepared
The witchdoctor, however, caught to slaughter the cow, he assured her that
Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division

24-year-old Maria by surprise when she the dreams would stop.

visited him for a blessing in 2013. That night, Maria had another dream.
“If you want to be rich, you have to offer By the end of the week, Maria was
a human sacrifice,” he said. “The sacrifice exhausted from the nightly dreams and
must be an albino.” decided to go shopping. On Saturday
Maria had brought cows to the morning, she drove her car to the
witchdoctor to sacrifice but never a human compound gate and stopped for it to be
being. The thought of a human sacrifice opened. As she waited, a small girl darted
deeply disturbed her, and it weighed heavily into the compound and approached the car
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 could be of assistance.
Stor y Tips “This little girl asked me to come here,”
Maria said, motioning.
 Adventist Mission is not identifying
Maria by her real name to protect her But the girl was nowhere in sight.
safety. She is pictured in the photo. Maria looked out the gate and back into
the compound. No girl. She returned
 Read more about Maria next week.
the puzzled gaze of the kind woman and
 Download photos on Facebook suddenly felt a strong desire to tell her
(bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank
(bit.ly/maria-in-guinea).
about her dreams.
“Can I ask you a question?” she said.
 Download photos of Thirteenth
Sabbath projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020.
“Of course,” the woman said.
“I have had many dreams,” she said.

GUINEA
Mission Post “I have sacrificed a cow, but nothing has
stopped the dreams. I don’t know what
 The life expectancy in Guinea is
56 years.
to do.”
“Wait for me,” the woman said. “My
 The majority of Guineans work in the husband is a pastor. I will ask him for help.”
agriculture sector, which employs about
And that is how Maria, a non-Christian
75 percent of the country.
in a country where many people are
hostile to Christianity, learned about
Jesus. Today she is a Christian who loves
window. “Do you want to go to church?” Jesus with all her heart.
the girl asked. “My conversion to Christianity is a
Maria was surprised. miracle,” she said. “No one came to me
“I’m not a Christian,” she said. “Why with the Bible, and I didn’t read any
are you asking me to go to church? Who Christian books. It was a call from God.”
are you looking for?” Maria never saw the girl again. She is
“I want to go to church,” the girl said. convinced that the girl was an angel. 
Maria looked at the girl closely. She
wondered whether the girl was lost and The Seventh-day Adventist Church
seeking her parents. She didn’t know faces enormous challenges in spreading
about any churches in the neighborhood. the gospel in Guinea, where only 7
Seeming to read her thoughts, the girl percent of the population is Christian, and
said, “I know the way.” many people are hostile to Christianity.
Maria decided to help the girl find the Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath
church, and she got out of the car. After Offering will help construct Kobaya
a short walk, Maria and small girl reached Academy, a K-12 school in Conakry,
the gated headquarters of the Seventh-day Guinea, where the love of Jesus can
AdventistMission.org

Adventist Church in Guinea. A group be taught to many children from non-

of people were standing near a church Christian homes.
building inside the compound. One of
them, a woman, asked Maria whether she By Andrew McChesney
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 Illiterate but Able to Read
GUINEA | September 12
Maria, 29

“This is your Bible,” he said.

“What would I do with that Bible?” Maria
said. “I don’t even know how to read.”
Pastor Jacob asked whether anyone in
her family was literate, and she conceded
that she had a cousin who could read.
Jacob wrote Maria’s name inside the Bible.
“Take your Bible and go,” he said.
Maria was annoyed with Pastor
Jacob, and she left without even
saying goodbye. “Who do these people
think they are?” she thought as she
walked home. “They tell me to read

M aria wasn’t a Christian, but she

kept dreaming about Jesus. She
sacrificed a cow in hope that the
the Bible as if I don’t know God.”
At home, Mary placed the Bible in a
drawer and closed it. She wanted to relax.
dreams would end, but she was still Turning on the television to her favorite
disturbed every night for a week. channel, she saw a program about Jesus.
Then a stranger directed her to the office Click! She changed the channel. The
of Jacob Gbale, president of the Seventh- next channel also had a program about
day Adventist Church in Guinea. He Jesus. Click! Another program about Jesus.
worked just up the street from her luxurious Maria called her satellite television
house in Conakry, capital of Guinea. provider. “What is wrong with your
As Maria described her dreams, Pastor channels?” she demanded. “Every channel
Jacob began to smile. is Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.”
“Glory be to God!” he exclaimed. The male voice sounded puzzled.
Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division

Maria was shocked. She couldn’t “Everything is in order,” he said.

understand why he was so happy. “No, it’s not that!” Maria shouted.
“You don’t need to make any more “Come here and fix my TV.”
sacrifices,” Pastor Jacob said, lifting up A short time later, a man arrived and
Bible from his desk. “God is calling you.” flipped through the channels. Everything
“I think your God has made a mistake,” worked normally. Maria was speechless.
Maria said. “I have always belonged to my Maria went to bed, but she couldn’t
family’s religion.” stop thinking about Jesus. Then she
Jacob held out the Bible. remembered the Bible. The only way to
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 “You never went to school!” he
Stor y Tips sputtered. “How can you read?”
Yet he underlined the passage. Then he
 Adventist Mission is not identifying made Maria repeat it a dozen times so she
Maria by her real name to protect her
safety. The photo shows her hands. would remember it.
Hamadou is a pseudonym. That evening, Maria picked up the Bible
and found the Lord’s Prayer. Even though
 Pronounce Hamadou as: hama-DOO.
she had never learned to read, she found
 Pronounce Gbale as: g-ball-EE. that she was able to read it. She turned the
 Read more about Maria next week and
page and, to her surprise, realized that she
last week. could read other verses as well.
The next day, Maria couldn’t wait to
 Download photos on Facebook

GUINEA
(bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank talk to Hamadou.
(bit.ly/maria-in-guinea). “You laughed at me yesterday, so let me
 Download photos of Thirteenth show you that I can read,” she said.
Sabbath projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. “No way,” he said. “Not even in your
dreams can you read.”
Maria opened the Bible to a random
stop thinking about Jesus would be to read
page and read. Hamadou looked startled
it, she decided.
and then afraid.
In the morning, she asked her cousin
“How did you do that?” he asked.
to come over. “What is this?” she said,
“My cousin, that is human
holding out the Bible. “Tell me.”
intelligence,” Maria said with a smile. “If
Her cousin, Hamadou, had studied at a
you really believe that you are able to do
Christian school in Sierra Leone, and he
something, you can do it.”
recognized the Bible. “Who gave you that
From that moment, Maria read the Bible
Bible?” he said.
every day. She later realized that it was Jesus
“I received it from a pastor,” Maria said.
who had given her the ability to read the
“What do you want to do with it?”
Bible, and she gave her heart to Him. 
he said. “You don’t know how to read.”
“Look, you went to school,” she said.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church
“I want you to help me read this Bible.
faces enormous challenges in spreading
Teach me how to read.”
the gospel in Guinea, where only 7
Hamadou opened the Bible.
percent of the population is Christian and
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be many people are hostile to Christianity.
Your name,” he read. “Your kingdom Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath
come, Your will be done on earth as it is Offering will help construct Kobaya
in heaven.” Academy, a K–12 school in Conakry,
He read until he reached the end of the Guinea, where the love of Jesus can
AdventistMission.org

Lord’s Prayer. “Are you happy?” he asked. be taught to many children from non-
Maria asked him to underline the verses. Christian homes.
Hamadou laughed. He laughed so hard
that he cried. By Andrew McChesney
25

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 GUINEA | September 19

Murderous
Mother
Ma r i a , 2 9

who became a Christian.

“Mother, I am happy to work during
the week, but I can’t work on Saturdays
anymore,” she said.
From that day, Mother began to beat her.
“I would rather see you dead than to see
you dishonor us,” she said.

M other was furious when she learned When the beatings didn’t change
from cousin Hamadou that her Maria’s mind, Mother blocked her bank
daughter Maria had a Bible. account. Maria, who was used to living
Mother had raised Maria in a non- a luxurious lifestyle, expressed confusion
Christian world religion in the West when she lost access to her funds. Mother
African country of Guinea, and she didn’t blamed the problem on the Adventists.
want her to become a Christian. Mother “Those Christians have somehow
marched over to Maria’s house in Conakry. managed to steal your money,” she said.
“Where is your Bible?” she demanded. Maria wasn’t dissuaded from her convictions.
“It’s in my bedroom,” Maria said. “I have learned that when you have
Mother stormed into the bedroom. She problems you should pray and give them to
searched everywhere but couldn’t find it. “I Jesus,” she said.
didn’t see the Bible anywhere,” she said. The beatings continued. Then Mother
Maria looked into the bedroom. The called Maria’s husband, a polygamist who
Bible lay in plain sight on a table. lived with his other wife in Germany.
The next Sabbath, Maria went to the After the phone call, he gave Maria an
Seventh-day Adventist church for a ultimatum. “Choose between me and your
Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division

second visit. As a result, she skipped work God, Jesus,” he said.

at the big store that she owned. Mother “Let me ask you a question,” Maria said.
didn’t understand why she hadn’t worked. “Can you forsake your God because of me?”
“Where were you?” she asked. “No way,” he said.
“I was in church,” Maria replied. “Then why do you ask me to choose
Mother looked upset. Maria didn’t between you and my God, Jesus?” she said.
know that her family’s religion opposed After that, he refused to answer the
Christianity and even taught that it was phone when Maria called.
praiseworthy to kill a family member When Mother saw Maria still clung to
26

3Q20 AY.indd 26 5/16/19 1:25 PM

 her faith, she announced drastic steps.
“My daughter, since you don’t listen Stor y Tips
to me, I have to kill you,” she said.
A few days later, she came over to  Adventist Mission is not identifying
Maria by her real name to protect her
Maria’s house and prepared a favorite stew. safety. The photo shows her with Jacob
Unknown to Maria, the stew contained a Gbale, president of the Seventh-day
deadly poison. When the stew was ready, Adventist Church in Guinea. Hamadou
Mother asked Maria to carry the pot is a pseudonym.
to the table. Maria was hungry but she  Pronounce Hamadou as: hama-DOO.
wanted to take a bath first. She promised  Pronounce Gbale as: g-ball-EE.
to eat afterward, and Mother left.
As Maria bathed, a cat came out of  Read more about Maria next week and

GUINEA
last week.
nowhere and jumped onto the table,
knocking the pot to the floor. Maria didn’t  Download photos on Facebook
(bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank
own a cat. That night, Mother called to (bit.ly/maria-in-guinea).
inquire how Maria felt.
“I’m doing well, very well,” Maria said.  Download photos of Thirteenth
Sabbath projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020.
Mother’s astonishment was evident
over the phone.
A few days later, cousin Hamadou the house before remembering that she
poured the poison into Maria’s bottle of had forgotten her cell phone. She found
drinking water. After drinking, Maria bent Maria unconscious on the floor with the
over with a severe stomachache. syringe lying nearby. Knowing that Maria
Hamadou saw her agony and told her and Pastor Jacob were friends, and she
what he had done. called him for help. The pastor and two
“I’m so sorry,” he said. “The witchdoctor church elders brought Maria to church
asked me to put medicine into your headquarters and prayed for her. Maria
drinking water to purify your body.” vomited and recovered.
Immediately Maria called Jacob Gbale, Maria has no doubt that Jesus protects
president of the Seventh-day Adventist His children.
Church in Guinea, to pray for her. He came “He can solve a crisis because He knows
to her house and gave her five charcoal pills. crises before they happen,” she said.
Thirty minutes later, she vomited. “Psalm 68:20 says, ‘Our God is a God who
The witchdoctor called that evening to saves, from the Sovereign Lord comes
find out whether Maria was dead. He was escape from death.’” 
shocked to hear her answer the phone.
Mother enlisted another cousin to help. Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth
He arrived at Maria’s house with two Sabbath Offering will help construct
AdventistMission.org

friends and a poison-filled syringe. After Kobaya Academy, a K–12 school in

sending the housemaid on an errand, he Conakry, Guinea.
injected Maria in the left arm and fled.
The housemaid didn’t go far beyond By Andrew McChesney

27

3Q20 AY.indd 27 5/16/19 1:25 PM

 Free at Last
13 th SABBATH: GUINEA | Sept. 26

Maria, 29

The witchdoctor smiled grimly.

“Your mother told me that she has tried
and failed to kill you many times,” he said.
“But let me tell you that I have something
more powerful than your Jesus.”
He mixed a strange powder with water
and forced Maria to drink. Later he
rubbed a strange lotion on her body.
“Deny Jesus or die,” he said.
Maria refused.
“I will never deny Jesus,” she said.
Mother helped the witchdoctor with

M other took matters into her own

hands after failing to convince her
daughter Maria to renounce Christ.
his work. One day, she applied a strange
powder to Maria’s face. Sores broke out
on Maria’s skin and, the next day, she was
Mother slipped a sleeping pill into bleeding everywhere.
Maria’s drink at a restaurant. With the Maria’s son, Mark, didn’t understand
help of Maria’s younger sister, she carried what was happening to his mother. When
her unconscious daughter to the car and he saw his mother’s sore-covered face, he
drove her to their home village in Guinea. wept. But he remembered praying with his
Maria’s 5-year-old son, Mark, came along. mother every night before bed. He begged
Mother was a wealthy business owner, Maria’s younger sister, Hadja, to pray with
and the family compound in the village him. Hadja agreed but first made sure
contained a multistory mansion, a luxurious Mother was nowhere nearby.
guesthouse, and several other buildings. A “Jesus, please save Mommy,” Mark
high fence surrounded the property, and prayed. “Help her to get well.”
Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division

a watchman kept a close eye on the gate. Seven months passed.

Maria was locked in a bedroom. Maria grew so weak that she could
Mother had a nefarious plan. She had barely move. Her flesh smelled like it was
hired a Nigerian witchdoctor to change rotting. Hadja was afraid and called one of
Maria’s mind about Jesus. Maria’s Adventist friends.
“I will never deny Jesus, even if you “Maria is dying,” she said. “Please pray.”
kill me,” Maria said when she saw the The friend asked to speak with Maria,
witchdoctor. “I will worship Jesus, even if but Hadja explained that her sister was
I don’t go to church. Jesus is everywhere.” too weak. She snapped a photo of Maria
28

3Q20 AY.indd 28 5/16/19 1:25 PM

 on her cell phone. The Adventist friend executive secretary and treasurer of the
wept when he received it. Adventist Church in Guinea, carried her
“I see that your mother wants to kill back to the guest room to rest.
her,” he said. “I’ll ask all of the church As she slept, a green, yellow, and brown
members to pray.” snake slithered to her window and entered
Church members across Guinea prayed a hole in the wall, trying to find a way
for Maria. After a few days, the Adventist into the room. It was the snake from the
friend called Hadja. mango tree. A church member noticed
“I know it would be difficult for Maria the three-foot (one-meter) snake and
to travel, but can you help her escape?” he called for help.
said. “I will send money.” A crowd gathered outside the window,
Hadja promised to try. The Adventist trying to coax the snake out of the hole.

GUINEA
friend contacted Jacob Gbale, president Someone made a makeshift torch by
of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in placing a plastic bag doused in gasoline
Guinea, who sent money for the car fare on the end of a wooden stick and lighting
to Conakry, the capital. it. When he thrust the fiery stick into the
Hadja saw her chance on a Friday hole, the snake leaped out and tumbled,
morning while Mother was away on writhing, to the ground. Michel jumped
business. The witchdoctor left the on the snake, crushing its head instantly.
house on an errand, and Hadja sent the Hours later, Maria’s cell phone rang
watchman out to buy something at the with a call from an unknown number. She
store. Opening the gate of the compound, was afraid to answer, but the person kept
she hailed a passing car and paid the calling back.
driver to take Maria and Mark to the “If they keep calling you, it must be
church headquarters in Conakry. important,” a church friend said. “Answer it.”
As Maria and Mark traveled, a small The caller was Maria’s younger sister,
commotion erupted at the church’s Hadja. “I just wanted to tell you that you
headquarters. The church watchman have time to get well,” she said. “I know
spotted a green, yellow, and brown snake in that you will get well now.”
a mango tree by the front gate and called “Why do you say that?” Maria asked.
for help. But when other men arrived, the “Listen,” Hadja said. “Can you hear the
snake was nowhere to be found. sound of the ambulance?”
Later that day, Maria and her son “Ambulance? What happened?” Maria
arrived and were taken to a guest said. “Did something happen to Mother?”
bedroom. The exhausted mother slept. “No, not to Mother,” Hadja said. “The
The next morning, on Sabbath, witchdoctor from Nigeria. He fell from
church elders anointed Maria and prayed the second floor of our house. He struck
for her at the church located on the the ground headfirst and died instantly.
AdventistMission.org

compound. As they prayed, Maria fell to His skull was crushed.”

the floor unconscious. When she regained The next day, Maria’s sores began
consciousness, she was confused, and to disappear.
her body ached. Michel Guilavogui, the Maria has given up everything for Jesus
29

3Q20 AY.indd 29 5/16/19 1:25 PM

 — a luxurious home and successful shop,
two cars, and a comfortable life. Mother Stor y Tips
still wants to kill her, so she and Mark
 The narrator doesn’t need to memorize
are in hiding. But her love for Jesus is the story, but he or she should be
strong. She is praying about becoming a familiar enough with the material so as
missionary to her people. not to have to read it.
“I dream about seeing my people  Adventist Mission is not identifying
become Christian,” she said. “I want to Maria by her real name to protect her
talk to them about Jesus. I cannot keep safety. The photo shows her son, Mark.
Hadja is a pseudonym.
this truth to myself. I must share the good
news with my people.”   Pronounce Hadja as: ha-JA
 Pronounce Gbale as: g-ball-EE.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church  Read more about Maria last week.
faces enormous challenges in spreading
 Download photos on Facebook
the gospel in Guinea and other parts of
(bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank
the West-Central Africa Division. You (bit.ly/maria-in-guinea).
can help people like Maria and Mark by
 Download photos of Thirteenth
giving to the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering Sabbath projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020.
today. Part of the money will be used to
construct Kobaya Academy, a K–12 school for remembering Maria, Mark, and the
in Conakry, Guinea, where Maria would Adventist work in the West-Central Africa
like Mark to study one day. Your offering Division in your prayers.
will also help build a school in Liberia and
a medical center in Nigeria. Thank you By Andrew McChesney

Future Thir teenth Sabbath Projec ts

The Thirteenth Sabbath Offering in fourth quarter 2020 will help the Southern Asia
Division to construct the following projects in India:
 Boys’ dormitory, Garmar Academy, Savanagar Tamil churches in Karnataka state
Rajanagaram, Andhra Pradesh state  Two classrooms, Seventh-day Adventist
 Five classrooms, Flaiz Adventist College, English High School, Azam Nagar,
Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division

Rustumbada, Andhra Pradesh state Karnataka state

 Church building, Amritsar, Punjab state  Boys’ dormitory, E.D. Thomas Memorial
 Church building, Ranchi, Jharkhand state Higher Secondary School, Thanjavur,
 Dormitory, Seventh-day Adventist Tamil Nadu state
School, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh state  Labs and library, Thirumala Seventh-
 Second phase of school building at day Adventist Secondary School,
Roorkee Adventist College, Roorkee, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala state
Uttarakhand state  School building, Spicer Adventist
 New buildings for Central Kannada and University, Ahirewadi, Maharashtra state
30

3Q20 AY.indd 30 5/16/19 1:25 PM

 Mission
YOUTH & ADULT
L e a d e r ’s R e s o u r c e s

Be sure to download your free Mission Spotlight video, featuring E D I TO R I A L

video reports from around the West-Central Africa Division and ndrew McChesney Editor
A
Wendy Trim Editorial Assistant
beyond. Download or stream from the Adventist Mission website at Emily Harding Layout Editor
bit.ly/missionspotlight.
OFFICE OF ADVENTIST MISSION
Online Information Gary Krause Director
Following are sources of information that may be helpful in Rick Kajiura Communication Director
Homer Trecartin Global Mission Study
preparing for the mission segment of Sabbath School. For more Centers Director
Jeff Scoggins Program Director
information on the cultures and history of the countries featured in
this quarterly, visit: CO M M U N I C AT I O N T E A M
Andrew McChesney Editor, Mission
Websites Laurie Falvo Projects Manager
Kayla Ewert Projects Manager
Liberia: government website bit.ly/LibGovt Ricky Oliveras Video Producer
World Travel Guide bit.ly/WTGLiberia Earley Simon Video Producer
Donna Rodill Editorial Assistant
Gabon: government website bit.ly/GabGovt
Thanks to the following organizers and
Wanderlust bit.ly/WLGabon interpreters: Alexis Ebe (Gabon), Blozo Jacob
Guinea: government website bit.ly/RepGuiGovt Gbale (Guinea), James M. Golay (Liberia), Michel
Guilavogui (Guinea), Alexis Kouadio (WAD),
Lonely Planet bit.ly/LPGuinea Tony Ogouma (Gabon), Elie Weick-Dido (WAD).

Website: AdventistMission.org

Seventh-day Adventist Mission (ISSN 0190-4108) is produced and

West-Central Africa Division bit.ly/SDAWAD copyrighted © 2019 by the Office of Adventist
Mission, General Conference of Seventh-day
Adventists®, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver
Spring, MD 20904, U.S.A.
An offering goal device will help focus attention on world missions
Printed in U.S.A.
and increase weekly mission giving. Determine a goal for your class’s
Second Quarter 2020
weekly mission offering. Multiply it by 14, allowing a double goal for Volume 109, Number 3
the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering. ADVENTIST® and SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST®
are the registered trademarks of the General
Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®.
Remind your Sabbath School members that their regular weekly
Permission is granted to reproduce material
mission offerings will help the missionary work of the world church from this quarterly for use in local Sabbath
Schools and children’s ministries programs.
and that one quarter of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will go Permission to reproduce any portion of
directly to the projects in the West-Central Africa Division. On this material for sale, publication in another
periodical, or other commercial use must
the twelfth Sabbath, report on mission giving during the quarter. be authorized in writing by the editor at the
above address.
Encourage members to double or triple their normal mission giving on
Thirteenth Sabbath. Count the offering and record the amount given For subscription inquiries, e-mail Rebecca
AdventistMission.org

Hilde at rebecca.hilde@pacificpress.com or
at the end of Sabbath School. call 1-800-545-2449 or 1-208-465-2527 Annual
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Permission. All rights reserved.] above telephone numbers or e-mail address.

31

3Q20 AY.indd 31 5/16/19 1:25 PM

 Turkmenistan
Turkey

Malta Cyprus Syria

Lebanon Iran
Tunisia Afg
Israel
Morocco Iraq
Jordan

Kuwait

3Q20 AY.indd 32
Algeria
Western Sahara Libya Egypt Qatar
United Arab
Emirates
Saudi Arabia

Mauritania
Nouakchott
Mali Oman
Yemen
Niger Chad
Cape Verde Eritrea
Dakar Senegal
Niamey
Banjul Gambia
Bamako Burkina Faso
Bissau Djibouti
Guinea-Bissau Bobo-Dioulasso Nigeria Sudan
Guinea Benin N'Djamena
Conakry 1 Cote
Freetown Togo 3 Abuja
Sierra Leone d'Ivoire Porto Novo
South
Yamoussoukro Ghana
Monrovia Sudan
Accra Lome
Central African Republic Ethiopia Somalia
Liberia 2 Cameroon
Bangui
Yaounde
Uganda
Equatorial Guinea Kenya
Libreville Congo
São Tomé
and Príncipe Gabon Rwanda
Democratic Republic
Brazzaville of the Congo Burundi

Tanzania

Angola
W E S T- C E N T R A L A F R I C A D I V I S I O N PROJECTS
Malawi
Zambia
UNION CHURCHES COMPANIES MEMBERSHIP POPULATION 1 Construct Kobaya
Cameroon Union Mission 955 581 112,493 25,641,000 Academy, a K-12 school,
Central African Union Mission 137 96 14,285 28,913,000 in Conakry, Guinea
Namibia Zimbabwe Mauritius
Eastern Nigeria Union Conference 683 612 160,053 41,956,425 2 Open an elementary
Eastern Sahel Union Mission 199 346 27,297 86,871,000 school and urbanBotswana Mozambique
Northern Ghana Union Mission 902 1,092 198,887 15,073,782 center of influence in
Northern Nigeria Union Conference 234 403 45,612 97,075,650 Buchanan, Liberia
Southern Ghana Union Conference 927 1,244 166,768 14,390,218 Madagascar
West African Union Mission 131 208 34,842 24,458,000
3 Establish a medical
Swaziland
Western Nigeria Union Conference 297 473 57,691 56,842,925 center in Abuja, Nigeria
Lesotho
Western Sahel Union Mission 58 92 16,255 44,895,000
TOTAL 4,523 5,147 834,183 436,117,000 South Africa

5/16/19 1:25 PM