Joseph’s story in the Bible is largely filled with struggle, uncertainty, heartache, and pain. But it is also filled even more so with forgiveness, joy, and triumphancy in God’s glory. Musa, one of Equipping Leader International’s Timothys, is not far off from Joseph and his story (click here to read Part 1 of this series to learn more about the overlaps between Jospeh and Musa).
Musa’s story begins in Baiima, a small town in Sierra Leone where Islam is the main religion. There, his father was a leading elder in the town and committed to build a mosque. After surviving the civil war and living on the run in the bush, his father chose Musa to be trained as an Imam, someone who leads prayer and reads the Quran in Arabic during services in the mosque. So, Musa spent years learning Arabic and training for his upcoming role. But when the time came, he never led the daily prayers or gave a message.
Why? Well during the same time that he was preparing to enter his new role as Imam, the Lord starting visiting him in his dreams. In a repeated dream, Musa heard these words:
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
One night while he was having this dream, he called out, “JESUS.” His father woke up. So, Musa asked him about the meaning of the dream. His father told him to forget the dream, but Musa could not.
Musa secretly met with a pastor. The pastor told him that what he heard in his dream is in the Bible. John 14:6 is the verse that says. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
At home Musa’s father asked him where he had gone. After some attempts to avoid answering, Musa told his father that he met with a Christian pastor to try to understand what his dreams meant.
After learning where the words came from and more about the Lord, Musa gave his life to Christ.
Musa’s father reminded him that everyone in the family including his 19 brothers and sisters, his father’s five wives, his uncles, aunts and cousins were all Muslims. Musa persisted and insisted that he was a Christian now. Without hesitation, Musa’s father told him he could no longer live in Baiima and told him to leave.
So that’s what Musa did. He relocated to a nearby town, finished his high school courses, and preached in the streets. The Lord provided him with a place to stay, food, and the school’s principal paid Musa’s tuition. Then it was on to the African Bible College in Liberia paid for by a missionary who providently learned of Musa. There Musa double majored in theology and education. Throughout his travels and life’s changes, he never stopped thinking of his family and praying for his people. His efforts were not in vein.
His hometown of Baiima noticed all that he was doing. Despite their strong religious differences, they were impressed with Musa and asked him to return home to run for the highest elected position, Town Chief.
Musa ran and won. He is now the first Christian Town Chief in Baiima. Glory to God!
But Musa’s efforts do not stop with his new appointeeship. He is continuing to work with ELI to advance the Gospel in Seirra Leone and across the world.
Recently Musa partnered with another ELI teacher, Daniel Burrus, to train 12 certified course instructors along with 38 pastors and church leaders on the topic of evangelism in Kono. Afterwards, Musa continued teaching this evangelism course to 50 more pastors and church leaders. He even train 6 additional certified course instructors in Daru who will be sent out to teach pastors on evangelism to other pastors and church leaders.
Musa is also sharing his ministry in his hometown. He oversees a school there called The Way which now upwards of 300 children enrolled, many of them Muslim. The Muslim parents say that they do not care that their children will be memorizing scripture and hearing about Jesus every day. They tell Musa that they know his school is a good school. They want their children to be like him.
Musa’s prayer in the fall of last year was for God to provide school lunches 3 days a week. And through generosity of ELI supporters God has done just that! God has been providing through faithful donors and it is making a tremendous difference in the ability of the children to focus and learn. Many of the children are only getting one meal a day at home. For some, the school lunch is their only meal of the day. This is a simple bowl of rice with a little broth mixed in.
Food is scarce for many. In fact, the women who volunteer to help cook and distribute the school lunches say that they do not need to be paid since they will also have the benefit of a meal.
Musa is helping to physically and spiritually feed those around him both in and outside of school.
He is working with other villagers to teach them sustainable agriculture practices. He is already seeing dramatic results in both the crop yield and other wanting to learn from him.
Please join ELI in praying for Musa and his work. Please pray for his health and for God to continue to provide abundantly. Please pray for God to expand His reach through Musa by teaching even more pastors and church leaders.
Jealousy, greed, and turmoil separated Joseph from his family and his hometown after receiving a dream from the Lord. But despite it all, he remained focused on and praising God. The Lord rewarded him greatly. Just like Jospeh, Musa has endured great pain and overcome many obstacles. His heart is steadfast on the Lord. He is seeing the graces of God now but greater things are yet to come- just like in the life of Joseph!
