Fulani Believer's Conference

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of attending a conference - hosted by the Southern Baptist missionaries - for the Fulani believers of Western Niger. Aside from my tutor and 2-3 translators that I have met through various teams, this was to be the largest gathering of Christ followers that I would meet in my people group. It was encouraging to see that there are believers among them - small pockets from various villages where the SB missionaries and teams work . . . 3 believers in Sounga, 2 believers and 2 seekers from Doncandou, a few believers from Torodi where there is also an established church. In total, there were about 35-45 Fulani throughout the 4 days of the conference, as the population came and went. There were also 4-5 seekers who came to some of the sessions.

The conference also displayed the sobering statistics as to why the Fulani are considered least-reached peoples . . . I work among the Western Fulani of Niger - those who speak the Western Fulfulde dialect (there are 3 dialects in Niger). The population of the Western Niger Fulani is approximately 1.2 million people. About the size of Calgary - my home city. At first, I was thinking 'wow - 35 believers, that's great!'. And it is great. However, when I thought in terms of holding a believer's conference in Calgary . . . and only having 35 people show up. . .

The difference is staggering - even as a child, I remember attending various conferences and Easter services where thousands came - I remember when services moved from the Jubilee Auditorium to the Saddledome.

And my heart cries for the day when many will believe. Yet, during the conference, we also saw the reality of how long it takes one here to make a decision to follow Christ. My team held a medical clinic in a village 3 years ago, at the end of that time, one young man - the chief's son - told my colleague:

"Some people don't want to get dirty. But you people love and hug our children, even if you get dirty." He then picked up my water bottle and hugged and kissed it as a demonstration of our team's love to the village children! "You don't have big heads," he continued, "but you love the elders and little ones alike." Mark then switched topics and talked about having seen the Jesus film the previous evening. "You need to teach me more," he said, "so that when I understand I can follow Jesus. And then, when I understand, I will teach others, and many Fulani will follow Jesus. Right now I'm like a blind man," he continued. "A blind man can't see the road. But you will teach us and I will see and follow Jesus and lead others on his road too."

Fast forward to the week before the conference . . . one of the SB teams was in his village Sounga and the eve before the conference, this young man - Mark in Lisa's Friday Fotos - accepted Christ as his personal Saviour and began walking on our Father's path.

3 years

For this, my team continues each week to go to villages, walk among our friends, teach them about health, yes, but more importantly about how they too can follow Jesus.

The conference itself was meant to be a means of discipling the believers. Topics ranged from How to Stand Firm During Persecution (taught by a Fulani believer), to What Does it Mean When Jesus Comes Into my Heart, to Who is Jesus - Word of God. Throughout the sessions, different believer's shared their testimonies. There was a question and answer time where believer's and seekers could ask two Fulani pastors (those with Bible School training) their questions.

There were also separate women's sessions - for the 5 women who came. We discovered through the week that it was difficult for the women to sit through so many sessions of just teaching, so we changed up the style of sessions that we did with them. There are many reasons, culturally why this would be hard for the women. Though some may have attended school for a few years, they are not used to sitting and learning - their lives are filled with action that never ends all day. They start their mornings at sunrise, and their daily activities include: walking to the well to draw water (multiple times per day), cultivating the fields, possibly milking the cows, cooking 3 meals a day (the last of which is eaten well after sunset), pounding the millet to eat for the day ('she who does not pound, does not eat'). Beyond cultural hindrances are also the religious hindrances - in their [former] faith, woman follow their husbands. They are not permitted to ask questions and they gain entrance to heaven only through their husbands.

On the third day of the conference, for one of the women's session, we had Bible Story time! We were all asked to share our favourite Bible Story and why it was our favourite. One of the Fulani woman shared the story of Creation. One of the visiting SB team members from Texas shared the story of The Woman at the Well. I too was able to share a story - in Fulfulde!! - and I shared the story of Ruth. This has been my favourite story since I was a child. However, I wanted to bring out the idea that Ruth, a widow with no husband to follow, made a decision on her own (kanko e hoore makko - herself and her head) to follow God - and the part I love about this story is that it shows me each person can make their own decision to follow God.

I spent 2 nights at the compound, sleeping under the stars - except for half way through the second night when a huge wind storm whipped up, and we all went running for the buildings to sleep. It never rained above us, but the wind was incredible!

I spent many hours chatting with the women from various villages and was excited that they understood me! (Though, the dialect in Doncandou is slightly different, so the lady from Torodi had to help 'translate' some).

The part I enjoyed the most was the fellowship with Fulani believers, despite the language and culture barriers, we were together as one in our Lord!

Experience:

• 1 Bible story told in Fulfulde +
• 2 nights sleeping in the 'desert' +
• 6 good meals of rice and sauce +
• 7 times my mosquito net poles fell on me in the night +
• 22 hours of language practice +
• 75 worship songs sung in Fulfulde +
• innumerable particles of sand blasting my face during the wind storm =

1 priceless experience!