In the desert at night in northern Africa, small coal fires dot the darkness. These fires are vital to the nomadic way of life of many desert tribes, but they symbolize something greater to IMB missionaries Ernest and Elizabeth Melting.
“We want to see the light of the gospel spread across this desert, like the fires we see,” Ernest said.
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The people group the Meltings serve are spread across a region as big as the United States area east of the Mississippi River. That’s a large area to cover, but through years of prayer, learning and researching, Ernest and Elizabeth believe they’ve pinpointed the right location to make the gospel accessible to the people spread throughout this vast region.
Over the past 15 years, the Lord has provided them with opportunities — sometimes sporadic — to engage this particular people group in the most strategic manner possible.
“We want to be there,” Ernest said. “We want to be in the best location to reach all of them with the gospel.”
Their gospel encounters have often been brief, as is common among nomadic people groups, but both Ernest and Elizabeth said the people are drawn to the story of the Bible. They’ve often used a method of sharing the gospel that quickly traces sin and the need for redemption from Creation all the way through Christ.
“They love to hear the stories,” Elizabeth said. “Many times, they’ll fall in love with the idea of a Savior even in the brief story set we share.”
Ernest added, “We’ve seen them tear up when they hear that the people killed Jesus. It’s clear to them that He didn’t deserve to be killed.”
Discipleship process
The Meltings use a discipleship process that centers around a common tea ceremony, as well. Over the small coal fires, like those that dot the desert at night, they boil green tea leaves in a small pot, sweeten it with sugar, drink it and repeat the process two more times by pouring water over the same leaves in the pot. Then they often take one of the hot coals from the fire and share it with a neighbor who is starting a fire.
- Light the coals. — This represents when a person comes to faith.
- Pour water over the leaves. — This represents baptism.
- Fan the flame of the fire. — This represents prayer, reading the Word of God and gathering with a church.
- Sweeten the tea. — This represents forgiveness that believers receive from God and should offer to others.
- Pour and serve. — This represents sharing the Lord’s Supper and loving and serving others.
- Repeat steps 3-6. — This represents perseverance needed in the life of the believer.
- Share the coal. — This represents the Great Commission.
Pray with the Meltings that God would continue to move among this northern African people group. They believe He is ready to answer the prayers of His people on behalf of these people.
Ask God to open a way for them to be more present among the people. Living among them will be vital to reaching this matriarchal society, Elizabeth explained. “We have to be there to deepen relationships, but we believe that once the women come to faith, the families will be free to follow.”
The Meltings also ask churches to believe in God’s desire for people groups in northern Africa to have access to the gospel, to consider if He’s calling their church to send out people to reach these people groups and to pray accordingly.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Leslie Peacock Caldwell and originally published by the International Mission Board.
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