Bado's testimony;
I met missionary Keith Shumaker through a national pastor in March 2005. Bro. Shumaker wanted me to survey some land that he had bought for a church. After I finished surveying the land, the missionary talked to me about Jesus. He asked me if I went to church. I told him no and that my good works were sufficient to get me to heaven. He said that I did not convince him, and we went our separate ways.
About two months later, the missionary called me and told me that he had a problem with the land that I had surveyed. The government decided to take the land because Khadafi wanted it in order to build a hospital. The missionary asked me if I could help him find a solution to the problem. I was on my month of vacation so I had free time to help him. We went from office to office and finally found a solution, but the church had to move to a new site. When we had finished the work, I realized how much Bro. Shumaker loved me. With much compassion, he spoke with me about God. He told me things that I had never heard. He asked me if I knew that salvation was by the grace of God and that someone had paid for my sins. He said a person could not lose his salvation. At this moment, God opened up my heart to the gospel. I realized that I was a sinner. I confessed my sins and was saved this day. It was a great day for me.
I worked for the government until God spoke to my heart about my job situation. I could not serve Him and continue to work for the government. It is corrupt. In July 2006, I left my job with the government and became self-employed. Since that time I have been able to build my own house. My parents are very happy with me today because they think that my God is a God of love. Lots of my family members are ready to accept Christ. My current salary is higher than the one I received from the government. I thank God and Brother Keith Shumaker. To me Brother Shumaker is not a foreigner but a family member.
Bado Nebilma
Bado has been a great help and a blessing to the ministry. He has become not only a member of our church but also a great friend of mine and my family. Due to some marital problems he is not able to be a pastor, but he has devoted his life to serving God. He has greatly helped to advance the ministry in Burkina Faso.
I will never forget the day that Bado accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour. Bado had argued with me about salvation. He felt that his good works could get him to heaven. He was very unique is that he has always helped others. When people were in need, he helped them. He also created an organization to help children in need to go to school and to be able to have school supplies. He honestly felt that this would be good enough. I had invited him numerous times, but finally he came to church. After the message, I gave the invitation, asking for people to raise their hands if they wanted to be saved. He suddenly announced to the congregation that he had always put his faith in his works, but that he realized that his works couldn't save him, and that he was ready to trust Jesus to save him from his sins. As we baptists say, he got gloriously saved.
He has been very faithful to give his tithe and to support missions. I truly feel that God has blessed him because of his faithfulness to give. He is a businessman that is being used greatly of the Lord. He is very faithful to me, as his pastor, and to the church. |
