Responding as Jesus would

A drought in an east African country worsens. Its Prime Minister fears publicly that around 6.2million of his people are at risk of starvation. [Some details have been omitted for security reasons]


Poignant accounts of the strife reach us from our partners in the field. Of around 22,500 people in their region, half are suffering from malnutrition.

But in the face of seemingly insurmountable difficulties, Feba plays a vital role.

Our partners’ team leader said: “We feel the full responsibility to respond as Jesus would respond to these people. We also believe this to be a tremendous opportunity to solidify trust and belief in the truth as they watch God at work through his people helping them.”

Violence and encouragement
Five years ago, using short wave radio we prepared the ground for our partners’ work. We broadcast programmes to this Muslim nomadic area comprising oral art forms integral to the group’s culture, and Bible stories told chronologically.

Breakthroughs of interest and coming to faith are being seen, with a growth of more than 400 believers from only 20, five years ago. Our partners and their Christian worldview have been accepted and adopted into two clans. The response towards the ministry team is increasingly encouraging. Now a clan leader and an elder have both come to faith.

Through our radio programmes God has opened a door for our partners, the only non-governmental organisation in the area, to help start a mobile school and develop a camel watering project. Together with radio broadcasts on herd protection tips and community health guidance, help is at hand that is life-saving and quality-of-life enhancing.

‘But we are dying’
The team recently travelled to the area, transporting school materials and to officially open the new school building.  As the team arrived, people ran to the school site, thinking the truck brought food supplies. On realising there was no food, they asked politely: “We know you are working for us, and we appreciate school desks and other materials, but we are dying.  Will these desks help after we have died?”

With tears and heavy hearts, the team assured them of their continued prayers, help and support. 

Resolved in prayer, the team felt led to be first responders – and took money from their salaries to provide food for the clan urgently. By responding as Jesus would, the team are living and demonstrating our Lord’s love and his word.

Ministry of living water
Feba’s partners are also busy digging a well and developing a camel watering project. Camel health is vital for the survival of the nomadic people – camel milk being the staple in their diet. It has been two years without ‘useful’ rain in this East African county, grass has stopped growing and the camels’ existing watering creek has become poisonous with high levels of fluoride.

But as important clan elders come to faith, memorising and retelling the stories becoming familiar to them, our radio programmes and partners are there beside them - supplying the living water of God’s love to a dry and parched land.

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.  Luke:6:38