Facing Persecution, But She Has Peace

Bethany DuVal • Apr 15, 2021

What does a new Christian do when she has to choose between following Jesus and earning a living?

Harriet made her living as a religious teacher and healer in the town of Goz Beïda, Chad. Her beliefs were a blend of Islam and traditional folk religion.

Three or four evil spirits would regularly come to Harriet, providing undisclosed details: This person has this illness. This person’s brother has cursed them. This person needs this specific treatment. Harriet would then provide a traditional herbal remedy or potion to solve her clients’ problems.

And because she was well-versed in the Quran, she was qualified to instruct women in their faith.

When Harriet moved to Goz Beïda, she got to work.

A Missionary Community of Love

In Harriet’s culture, to be a Christian meant you were demon-possessed. But the Christians she met in Goz Beïda offered help, compassion, friendship and truth.

When she got sick, a Christian neighbor gave her funds for medicine.

A Chadian missionary couple brought food for Harriet’s family when she couldn’t afford any, and they hauled water for her too .

The missionary community in Goz Beïda is made up of both Chadians and westerners.

“There’s not that many of us and it’s a hard place to work,” says TEAM missionary Sam who serves in Goz Beïda with his wife, Katie. “So we might as well help one another.”

The Chadian missionaries who live in Goz Beïda are about 300 miles from home and face huge cultural differences. It’s been a difficult transition for them. But they know without a doubt that God wants them there, and they are committed to staying.

In Chad, Chadian missionaries work alongside British and North American workers to preach the Gospel.

In Chad, Chadian missionaries work alongside British and North American workers to preach the Gospel.

Sam, Katie and other TEAM workers focus on building relationships in town and the outlying villages. Their goal is not to reproduce a western style of Christianity but rather to serve alongside the local Chadian church.

Everyone shares a vision to see followers of Jesus in each ethnic group in their region. Each has resources to offer the other: cultural guidance, financial resources and encouragement.

They often visit neighboring villages together. And they meet and pray together.

So when one of the Chadian couples became friends with Harriet, the whole group started praying for her.

The Church in Chad needs more workers to make disciples among the least reached. Will you join this multinational effort to bring the Gospel to people like Harriet? Discover t he possibilities !

Following Jesus Leads to Extreme Anxiety

Then, one of the Chadian missionaries got the chance for a frank, open conversation with Harriet. The missionary was from a Muslim background , knew the Quran well and boldly confronted Harriet about her beliefs. It was a long and intense dialogue, but Harriet wasn’t offended. In fact, it was her turning point.

She had known Christians over many years, she told the missionary. She had already experienced the love of Jesus first-hand, in multiple ways, and she had seen the truth in their lives.

She was ready to follow Jesus.

Most of the evil spirits stopped coming to Harriet right away after her decision. But one continued to harass her, causing extreme anxiety.

She worried what might happen once her community found out about her decision . They might tie her up and try to perform an exorcism on her. They might beat her. They might stone her to death.

And she worried about the safety of her children.

Anxiety filled Harriet’s days. Sometimes she sunk into a depressive spiral and couldn’t speak. But the missionary group continued to pray for Harriet, and eventually, she came to a place of peace, despite the ongoing dangers she faced.

Outed — and Threatened

Harriet managed to keep her decision a secret for two months. Then one of her adult children outed her — and the cursing and threats immediately began.

Just a few days later, relatives abducted her and demanded that she return the family money they had given her (in their eyes, she was no longer family). And if she didn’t, they threatened to return and kidnap her.

Somehow Harriet managed to pay her relatives back.

Then, at a family member’s funeral, she came close to being forcibly separated from her children. Miraculously, she found a way to hide her kids and then escape with them.

Regularly Reading Scripture

As Harriet learned to follow Christ, the missionary group realized she needed someone to lead her in one-on-one discipleship. Katie stepped into the role.

Katie and Harriet now spend hours together each week reading Scripture , discussing what they’ve read and addressing any questions Harriet might have.

Harriet is one of many women across Chad who are learning how to follow Christ in the midst of persecution and rejection.

Harriet is one of many women across Chad who are learning how to follow Christ in the midst of persecution and rejection.

Harriet is still figuring out what it looks like to live in Goz Beïda as a follower of Jesus. It’s a difficult path.

She needs to find a way to support her family.

Harriet’s known in the marketplace. Many people refuse to trade with her because of her faith decision.

“How can you build a life as a Christian, a totally new life,” asks Sam, “where she cannot do what she did before?”

‘Jesus Wipes My Tears Away’

But Harriet has experienced the truth of Jesus’ love and His power to change her own heart, and she loves and worships and follows Him.

Evil spirits once came to Harriet with secrets. Today the Holy Spirit comes to Harriet with songs, like this one:

When I am in trouble, Jesus wipes my tears away;
When my children are in trouble, Jesus wipes my tears away;
When people come and curse me, Jesus wipes my tears away.

Whenever anxiety threatens to consume her, whenever she’s afraid for her life or her children’s lives, Harriet sings the songs that God gives her about the truth of who Jesus is .

Harriet has no easy answers going forward. But she has peace.

Editor’s Note: After this story was written, Harriet’s home was surrounded by a large group of people threatening to kill Harriet if she didn’t return to her former religion. Harriet went into hiding and has since fled Goz Beïda. Please lift up this dear sister in prayer.

How Can You Pray for Harriet and New Believers Like Her?

Pray for safety and faithful endurance amid threats.

Pray that ostracized believers will find reliable sources of income .

Pray for wisdom as new believers navigate opposition from their communities.

Pray that Harriet’s faith — and that of other believers — will continue to grow .

Pray that God will give peace to new believers in the midst of persecution.

By Suzanne Pearson 08 Mar, 2024
Through God-ordained partnerships and creative connections, TEAM worker Keith Moore sees the global Church advancing in amazing ways. In the global missions landscape, a phrase that comes up often is “from everywhere, to everywhere.” God is calling His global Church in literal new directions, as He raises up cross-cultural workers to be sent from places that were once on the receiving end of missions work. We call this movement “polycentric sending.” TEAM workers Dawn and Keith Moore have seen first-hand this transition taking place. Their story involves the unlikely but beautiful intersection of Charlotte, North Carolina; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; and Memphis, Tennessee...and beyond. The Path to Honduras Keith and Dawn joined TEAM in 1991 and served as church planters for nine years in Bogota, Colombia. After safety concerns precipitated their return to the States in 1999, they knew they wanted to continue serving in Latin America. The Moores felt called to Honduras but wanted to connect with a strong missional church to help send them. The Lord orchestrated a collaboration with Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. “Some people asked, ‘Why Honduras? Missionaries have been there for 100 years. It’s already reached,’” Keith says. “But there’s a whole section of Latin America that had not been reached - the upper crust.” Keith goes on to explain that he and Dawn felt called to reach college-educated professionals in Honduras – a ministry vision that resonated with the missional goals of Bellevue Baptist. Impact and Growth With the support of this new church partnership as well as another sending church in Birmingham, Alabama, the Moores embarked on their next adventure. Keith and Dawn started Impacto Honduras Church from scratch, and in less than 20 years, the church grew into four locations with 1600 total members. The Moores and other TEAM workers also created a “Bible school” type training program to help professionals who feel a call to ministry to make that transition. Throughout this period of explosive growth, church partnerships played an integral role. “It’s such a different vision when you have a church that says, ‘OK, this is our deal, we want to make this happen,’” Keith explains. “They helped us with everything. They took away every single obstacle to growth. Every time we needed something, they were there.” In 2017, the Moores once again found themselves on the verge of another decision. Was it time to leave Honduras? “I had no desire to leave,” Keith recalls. “People were coming to Christ every week! It was just so amazing.” However, back in the U.S., Keith and Dawn’s parents were in their 80s and would soon be in need of more care. “We realized that either we would leave in a crisis, or we would leave strategically,” says Keith. The couple began to implement a careful succession plan. By the time they left, the four churches were established with strong, Honduran leadership ready to carry on the work of the Gospel.
By Suzanne Pearson 23 Feb, 2024
Justin Burkholder, pictured here with his wife Jenny and their daughters Isabella, Olivia, and Zoey, has recently been named as TEAM’s next International Director. On February 19, 2024, with much excitement and gratitude to the Lord, TEAM announced that Justin Burkholder will become our organization’s new International Director, effective July 1, 2024. Justin, who is currently TEAM’s Executive Director of Global Ministry, will assume his new role upon the retirement of the current International Director, Dave Hall. ( Read the full press release here. ) We sat down recently with Justin to learn a little more about his background, his family, and the journey that has led him to TEAM. Q: Tell us a little bit about your “origin story” - Where did you grow up? What was your family like? A: I grew up in Mexico City as a missionary kid. My parents were focused on church planting. We were very close as a family. Both of my parents are still alive, and my dad serves as a pastor in southern Florida. I have one brother who is a pastor in Wisconsin, and the most special individual in my family is my sister, Amber. She was born with a very severe case of cerebral palsy and is entirely dependent on my mother...who is extraordinary! The three most impactful forces that have shaped who I am (outside of God’s grace) are growing up in Mexico, having parents who loved and planted churches, and sharing life with someone with a severe disability. My parents belonged at the time to a church and denomination that came with quite a bit of legalism and performance-oriented Christianity. Grace was a challenging concept to grasp. While I had an awareness of my sin and need for redemption, it wasn’t until I attended Moody Bible Institute that I began to grasp the fullness of God’s grace and His delight in His children. I have continued learning and trusting in the Gospel through formal education, like completing my M.Div., and through spiritual practices in community. Learning the Gospel and believing the Gospel has been a daily exercise. The Gospel is as beautiful and multi-faceted as a diamond! At an individual level, it is simple enough for us to live convinced that “Jesus loves me, this I know.” At a corporate level, it becomes the foundation that forms and informs our life as a spiritual family. At a cosmic level, it is redemption that reaches as far as the curse is found. It is hard to even grasp the multiplicity of goodness found in the Good News. Q: Share a little bit about your family life now. What does a typical day look like in the Burkholder household? A: My wife Jenny is my high-school sweetheart! She brings joy and kindness wherever she goes. She’s the best listener I’ve ever met, and we love spending time together. We have three daughters. Isabella is ten, Olivia is seven, and Zoey is four. Each of the girls is unique and has taught us a lot in our process of following Jesus together. We like to go out on walks and go to the park together. Once a month I try to get some alone time with each of my daughters which usually includes bowling or trampolines. A typical day in the Burkholder house starts around 5:00am. Because of traffic here in Guatemala City, we have to leave early for school. After school, the girls come home to different activities - sometimes swimming class, sometimes piano lessons. Four or five nights a week we have dinner together where we usually talk about our high and low moments of the day. On weekends, we enjoy time together, playing outside, or watching sports together. Go Cubs and Go Buckeyes! Q: What are your interests and hobbies? If you have the day off, what are you likely to be up to? A: I enjoy physical activity, running, strength-training and following sports. I also love music and, truth be told, am a bit snobby about my taste in music! I also am a very curious person and love reading just about anything that passes through my hands. A day off is usually an opportunity for time with family. Jenny and I like to cook something interesting together on our days off. Often there is time for some reading and watching some type of athletic event. Q: How did God lead you to TEAM? A: My wife and I were working in the Chicago suburbs. I was a youth pastor and she was a Spanish teacher. When we got married, we had already sensed God’s direction to serve cross-culturally, but it was a matter of discerning when and where. There was a driving desire in me to see a church deeply love the Scriptures and at the same time, be deeply engaged in loving and serving their city and the most vulnerable among them. As God directed our paths, we visited a variety of places and made some friends in Guatemala who opened up the path for us to serve here. While we were exploring, we knew that the International Director of an organization called TEAM happened to go to our church, so I decided I should probably invite him out for breakfast - his name was Charlie Davis. Charlie was extremely thoughtful, passionate about disciple-making, and very gracious in creating space for us as we stepped into this endeavor. Charlie connected me with Steve Dresselhaus, a fellow TEAM global worker who was at that time serving as the Senior Director for the Americas. I cannot express the debt that I owe Steve. He walked closely with me in the transition, encouraged courageous thinking about the church and her role in society, and blasted open the doors for us to serve in Guatemala. After meeting Steve, we spent some days praying about joining TEAM. One thing I will never forget – one night during the process, I found myself wide awake in the middle of the night. A peace like I have seldom experienced passed over me confirming that we should join TEAM. There is no doubt in my mind that God tied all of these pieces together to bring us into the TEAM family and community. Q: What roles have you held in TEAM? What have been the milestones in those roles? A: The most important role I have held in TEAM is that of a global worker. God in His grace has allowed us to help plant two churches here in Guatemala, serve in leadership development, counseling, and discipleship. Our greatest joy has been found walking with those who are learning to follow Christ more deeply. I served as the Ministry Area Leader in Guatemala from 2016 to 2019. We helped to establish and lead this ministry area as it grew from just four global workers to over 15. I then served as Senior Director for Mexico and Central America from 2019 to 2021, Regional Executive Director for the Americas in 2021 and 2022, and then transitioned to the role of Executive Director of Global Ministry which I’ll continue in until the end of June. Q: What do you love most about being a part of TEAM? Why TEAM rather than other organizations or job opportunities? A: The TEAM community is full of people who have faithfully served God’s mission and have given up a lot to do so. It is a privilege to know many of our global workers and be counted among them. I am also fascinated by the fact that TEAM has existed now for more than 130 years! There is something to be said about the resilience and faithfulness of an organization that has continued to impact the world for so long. The rest of our conversation with Justin will be coming soon on blog! We’ll hear more about how God called Justin to the role of International Director, and what Justin sees for the next chapter in TEAM’s work in the global Church.
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