The Gambia
For several months Water of Life has been praying and pursuing the possibility of expanding our water and evangelism efforts into The Gambia, West Africa. The Gambia (yes, ‘The’ is part of the country’s official name) is the smallest country on the mainland of Africa (slightly smaller than the island of Jamaica), with an estimated population of 1.7 million people. Approximately 90 % of the country’s population are Muslim. Gambia was the setting for the book and TV series, Roots, and is known for its excellent music and significant tourism industry. Despite their slightly increased measures of development, the majority of Gambians do not have access to safe drinking water.
In Oct, an exploratory group went to view the current water situation, talk with local people and search for possible partnerships with those interested in spreading the Gospel. Although water work had been established in many areas, we found that the majority of pumps were broken, and that Gambians relied on hand-dug wells that are both unsafe to drink and unsafe for children that may fall into the well. It became obvious that there was a significant water need in Gambia – beginning with basic pump repair and rehabilitation. So simple.
As the group from Water of Life and Brevard Community Church from Brevard, NC met with local leaders and toured both the main city of Banjul, and the “Interior”, or jungle villages, it became clear that The Gambia also desperately needed the Gospel. There were few outside groups making impact for Christ in Gambia, and practically no indigenous groups sharing the Gospel. In one particular meeting it became apparent…they simply had never heard of Jesus Christ.
Indigenous: a native, or original inhabitant of a particular country or region; population groups with ancestral connections.
Water of Life’s method of evangelism hinges on indigenous believers discipling and training their own people. We have seen first hand the dramatic difference in how West Africans respond to their own people v/s the visiting or relocated ‘white man’. Although intentions are sincere, there tends to be a superficial desire to please visiting missionaries. The long-term results of these efforts are dead churches and unchanged lives. However, indigenous evangelism from men like Dennis Aggrey in Liberia, 
continues to produce fruit in West African communities. Hearts are open for the truth of the Gospel, and as the community grows, believers are rooted in both their culture and the word of God. Local churches are planting churches. The fire of evangelism is changing lives, improving the quality of communities, and bringing glory to God.
Peter Hansen joined the initial trip to capture the water need and current spiritual state of the country. Pete’s photos and video have been instrumental in documenting the progress of Water of Life in Liberia, and we wanted the opportunity to document activity in Gambia, from initial exposure to the desired growth and development that we pray will infiltrate this need country.
It’s not a ‘method’ among methods. It’s the Bible. It’s Acts. It’s Timothy.” - Peter Hansen
This week, plans were made for Water of Life’s first mission trip to The Gambia. In April 2010, we will be searching, evangelizing and rehabilitating four wells. Please pray with us, that we will be able to find local believers to partner with us for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray for the water ministry, as we assess the political environment and the best way to begin the work as a registered charity in The Gambia.
photos by Pete Hansen
