Beloved Jacob

I had a joyous moment today, having received a letter from my friend, Jacob...

He's a Christian who lives in a village in West Africa. Jacob and I have been corresponding for many years. But I was greatly concerned, not having heard from him in more than a year. Fortunately, his communication assured me all is well.

Jacob visits several prisons in his area as part of his outreach. The area he and his family live in can be very dangerous at times. Years ago, his church was burned in a suspicious after dark fire. His vehicle which had been parked alongside the building was destroyed too.

I responded to his letter immediately, and my reply will go out with tomorrow's mail. I urged Jacob never to quit serving the Lord, and that I would continue to pray for his family. I also reminded him of what an inspiration he's been. Jacob would often travel miles by foot or bicycle to visit other villages with the hope of sharing the gospel, or encouraging fellow Christians.

In the process of his travels, Jacob would face danger in that the roads between villages would often be deserted. Travelers could be subjected to being assaulted and robbed by so-called highwaymen. These outlaws would quickly escape capture by slipping across the border to the nearby country.

Please pray for Jacob.

D.B.