

Yet, even before they returned to the mission field last year, the Brandts found reasons aplenty to praise the Lord for His work in sub-Saharan Africa. “So blessed to be a part of this exciting day!” She finished her post with the Swahili phrase for “praise the Lord” – “Bwana asifiwe!” “The church is so encouraged and is already making plans to follow up with people, start discipleship groups and go out again to share,” Erin wrote in a Facebook post. After the training event, participants shared the gospel with 66 people, leading eight to faith in Christ. 17, he and his family also helped to train a Ugandan congregation in evangelism. Though they’re now in language school studying Swahili, Kody has already had the opportunity to preach. Previously members of Crossway Baptist Church, Springfield, the Brandts began serving in sub-Saharan Africa in 2011, returning in 2015 because of needs in the family.īut last October, Kody and Erin once again ventured to sub-Saharan Africa with the IMB, along with their two sons, Kaleb and Blake, and their daughter, Karli. John’s story is only one of the ways that the Brandts saw God at work during their years of service with the IMB. “He was a Muslim man who was helping me to more effectively communicate the gospel.” “It was incredible to see God at work in his life,” Kody said. Only later did John share, to Kody and Erin’s astonishment, that he showed the video to members of a Muslim village that was then inaccessible to the missionaries. Throughout Kody’s sermon, John held up his phone, recording the message. “He was like my African father, beaming with pride,” Kody recalled. On the day Kody preached this sermon, the Brandts were surprised when John and his Muslim family members arrived – having walked two-and-a-half hours to hear Kody preach. John also helped Kody prepare his first sermon in the language. He helped me prepare my testimony in the language.”
#Bwana asifiwe how to#
“I shared so many Bible stories with him, and he would give me pointers and tips on how to rephrase something to be more effective.

“John was really instrumental in helping me with the language,” Kody told The Pathway. We praise Him from a place of obedience and recognition of His goodness.UGANDA – During their early years as International Mission Board field workers in sub-Saharan Africa, Kody and Erin Brandt found immense help from a Muslim man named John. Obedience to the command to praise God was an act of declaring His nature, praising His goodness (Psalm 135:3), ascribing to Him greatness (Psalm 104:1), telling of His righteousness (Psalm 98:8-9), singing of His faithfulness (Psalm 89:1), and giving thanks for His strength (Psalm 59:16) and salvation (Psalm 18:46, 95:1). Obedience to this command to praise the Lord was a recognition that God, despite circumstances and conditions, was worthy of His people’s praise (Deuteronomy 10:21) and that He would not share His glory and praise with another (Isaiah 42:8). We are so happy to introduce to your our latest song featuring the one and only Moji Shortbabaa We pray this song speaks to you in whatever circumstance you. All people to whom God gave breath were to use it to praise Him (Psalm 150:6). In Scripture, God’s people are commanded to offer Him praise. It was such a joy to spend time with them today. The students and staff are doing great at Next Life Foundation in Mbuguni. In their worshipful dancing, exuberant singing, and sacrificial giving, these brothers and sisters reminded me that many times praising the Lord must happen from a place of obedience-not circumstance. Bwana Asifiwe This means Praise the Lord in swahili. I received my answer while sitting in a worship service at Redeemed Gospel Church in Korogocho. Living under the constant pitch of despondency, Bwana asifiwe? Surrounded by the dark shadows of squalor, poverty, and destitution, Bwana asifiwe? Living in the ubiquitous presence of systemic evil and limited options to escape it, Bwana asifiwe? I wondered, how could they praise God in such uninspiring and unfavorable conditions? “Bwana asifiwe!” is Swahili for Praise the Lord! As I traveled from the dry place of Tala to the slums of Kawangare to the densely populated and dangerous ghetto of Korogocho in Kenya, this is the way every believer greeted me.
