Story number 4 for 28 Feb 2001

(Mali)–We turn our attention next to a sub-Saharan country where it has been half a century since the Evangelical Baptist Mission took the Gospel in. The landlocked West African country of Mali, which shares borders with seven countries, has a population which exceeds seven million. EBM’s John Jackson says much has changed in Mali since they first had a vision to reach this desert people. “EBM pioneered the field, which is 95-percent Muslim. We had a tremendous time celebrating with our missionaries and with the national Christians there 50 years in Mali.” Jackson adds that aside from celebrating the work of the Gospel, they are making plans for their next 50 years of ministry there. “We’re looking toward establishing additional Bible institutes, secondly, we’re looking for compassion ministries to spearhead additional contacts deeper into the Malian bush, and then thirdly, we want to see camps to develop spiritual leaders.”