Steve & Shawn

ALLEN

B.P. 85

Savalou, BeninWest Africa

Steve,Shawn,Clark,& Tori

CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIP Prayer Newsletter

February 1996

PERSEVERANCE + SACRIFICE = BLESSING

December 1993:

Papa sac staring at his wife and seven children. His heartwas hea\y because he could not dress them in newclothesfor the holidays. He could not even buy gifts for theyoungest because he was concerned about how theywouldfind enoughfood to make it until he was paid in January.

That night after the children were asleep, he spoke to hiswife about the situation. He made a respectable salary as aschoolteacher, so wherehad the moneygone? They beganto recount where it all went... in January, the baby wassick, so the diviner asked for food, cloth, and money, notto mention the medical bills. February brought an ancestorceremony requiringmore cloth, more money, and severalgoats. March and April were months of good sales at hiswife's tapioca stand, so there were spirits to thank with anexpensive ceremony. May, June, July brought minorsickness among the children ... and their listcontinuedwell into the night.

Before falling asleep, they talked of the newyear and theirhopes that finally theirgifts to thespirits will have paid off,and theywould find peace at last.

December 1994:This year, Papa was more than discouraged. He had givenmost of hissalary to the diviners lastyear in order to healand protect his family, yet his family had been sickagainthis year. Why had he given even more money this year toagain ensure their health and prosperity? Mama was sadbut tried to be cheerful for the children. But even the

children wereold enough to sense their parents' despair.Something had to change.

In the summer of 1994, Mireille, Papa's oldest daughter,had begun attending a small church with a few of herfriends. She even attended a week-long camp and hadlearned about a new God ~ one different than the

traditional spirits who seemed to only demand moneyorthings yet still left a void. Now, as the children conferredover what to do, it was Mireillewho spoke. She told of the

Papa and hisfamily (Mireille is ontheback row, far right.)-

peace shehad found and asked her siblings to at least giveit a try by attending a service with her.

Theywere skeptical bur ready for change. They followedher out on Sunday morning for the one-milewalk to thesmall room where the church met. They were warmlywelcomed and found the new ideas about this Godinteresting and appealing.

After several weeks, the pastorand his wife decided to visitthese children in their home. The visit went well and

endedwith the pastor inviting Papaand Mama to come toservices, with their children the following week.

Week followed week and led to months, and the wholefamily became more and more involved in the church.Papa was relieved to turn the diviners away and place hisfaith in God. Mama found that peaceand joy began toreplace thegloom and fear that dominated her life. And, ofcourse, the children were fascinated with the new wayofliving chat they learned about eachweek.

Papa checked his savings and was shocked by the sumhefound there. He had been putting away little by little eachmonth without paying much attention to the total. Hedecided to inviteall the leading church families to his housefor dinner. Once theyall arrived, he gave public testimonyto God's provision for him and his family. Then, for thefirst time in years, he bought his whole family new clothesand gifts for Christmas. His joyknew no bounds.

As Christmas passed, Papa called a family meeting. Heprayed with his wife and children and told them that hewanted to thank God for giving him this new life. To dothis, he was going to buy two bags of cement to donate tothe church building project. Mama was so touched that, outof her earnings from selling tapioca, she, too, bought twobags ofcement for the project. Then the children pooledtheir earnings from odd jobs and bought enough food tofeed the volunteer workers as they turned the cement intobricks. The next morning, they brought their gifts to Sundayservices and presented them to thechurch along with a skitthat toldof the way in which God had changed their lives.

Papa andfamily present theirpushcart ofcement tothe church leaders.

The Church buildingproject: a distant dream becomes reality.

Everyone at the service was touched, especially since thebuilding seemed a distant dream to most. Yet here was aman who believed it was a present reality. This was the firstmotion that started the building machine rolling. Withintwo weeks Papa was appointed treasurer of the project, andplanswere laid to raise neededfunds.

After much prayer and deliberation, it was decided that thechurch members would raise 250,000 CPA ($500) overthe next seven months toward the project. This sumamounted to over 30% of the total combined annualsalaries of every church member. It was a hugestep offaith. Plus, for those who were students or were withoutwork, they would donate 1,250 hours of labor toward theproject. Their laborwould be paid by the mission, not incash, but in materials and supplies for the project. Themission also decided to contribute, in a matching fundmanner, to the building fund itself.

Last Sunday, after extensive meetings with each churchmember, Papastood in the pulpit and called out the namesof the men and women who had pledged to the project.He announced how much theyhad eachpledged! Then heasked for anyother pledges. One after another, visitors andnon-members alike stood up and gave pledges. The totalamount pledged exceeded the goal!

As of today, over 100 hours ofwork have already been given,and theexcitement is contagious. The youth talk about theirparents coming, and the parents talk about the benefits forthegenerations to come. There is a spirit ofunity and ofpeace. The church is continuing to grow each week.

As missionaries, we know that this church would not behere if it had not been for you. Butwe would like forthem, the church members, to feel a part ofyou —theworldwide Christian body—in a more tangible way. Thus,weare proposing that you consider encouraging them inone or more of the following ways:

1.Send a photo anda letter ofencouragement. We willhang the photo on a special board at thechurch, translateand read the letter in a church service.

Steve and Shawn Allen

Christian Missionary FellowshipP.O. BOX 501020

INDIANAPOLIS. IN 46250-6020

Address Correction Requested

Steve, hisdad HaroldAllen, and a volunteer begin ivork on the church.

2. Commit to pray at a specific time and day over thenext seven months for this church. We will put your nameon a chart at the church, and you will be joined in prayerat your chosen time by a Beninoise brother or sister inChrist.

3. Sponsor the workers' meals for any number of days at$5 a day. This amount feeds five to sixworkersa day.

4. Sponsora worker for any number of days at $2 a day.This moneywill be used to buy supplies for the buildingnot actual wages for the worker.All the labor is volunteer.

5. Finally, help buy newbenches for this young,growing church as $6 a bench. Each bench seats fivepeople.

Please note that this is not a fund-raising project per se.Any funds raised are only intended to encourage theinitiative beingshown by this small but visionary localcongregation, not to replace it.

Thank you for being such an important part of thisexciting process ~ the birthing of a church.

Steve and Shawn Allen

Ed. Note: The Aliens are aware that much of their mailisn't getting to them. If you have not received an answer toyour letter, assume theydidn't get it.

Theyouth picnic.

Nonprorn Orginiution

U.S. Postage

Permit No. 2975

Indiatiapolis, Indian

Mission ServicesEditorial DeptP Q Box £A£7Knoxville, TN 37901—HAS?

1013-

Benin

Steve & Shawn

ALLEN

5348 North LesterIndianapolis, IN 46208

317-722-0473Steve, Clark,Shawn, & Tori

CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIP Prayer Newsletter

October 1996

After 14 moves in 9 years... the Aliens have finally"stopped moving (for now). New address:5348 North LesterIndianapolis, IN 46208New phone number: 317-722-0473Drop in anytime or at least call or write.

Meanwhile ... much has happened during this lastmove, but that is the end of the story ... let's start atthe beginning.

2000 years ago, Christ died for all people and left HisSpirit on earth to enablepeople to become more likeHim and to enable them to build His Church.

Eight years ago, Christ'sSpirit in us moved us tobecomeinvolved in taking Christ's Church to Benin,West Africa.

Four years ago, we began that job, which turned outto mean enabling our Beninoise brothers and sisters inChrist to build the Church among the Fon ofSavalou, Benin, rather than importing our version ofthe Church.

So, upon thefoundation of Christ, the rock, theChurch began. The plans were laid in Cotonou in1992 during a time of discipleship with two youngmen, TinTin and Emmanuel. Thefloorv^d^s pouredwhen TinTin moved to Savalou in October 1993 and

began his own discipleship group.

The bricks were formed in March 1994 when thisgroup began regular times of worship and Emmanuelopened a youth outreach center. Thepillars wereerected in March 1995 when the church began aregular schedule of prayer times and Biblestudy, aswell as holding a four-day evangelism rally.

George, short-term worker, helpingtoput the roofon the church.

The walls were built little by little as outreachcontinued, and thus the church grew.

The roof'wzs placed in February 1996 with theappointments of elders and the first multiple baptismservice.

Thefinishing touches were added when the churchsent eight youth to camp three summers in a row, sentfour men to layleader training seminars —two eachyear, and decided to send their lay minister to Bibleschool for further training.

The benches, otherfurnishings, and jidy were addedthrough the generosity of the Church around theworld uniting to enable this church to reach itspotential.

Two days before our departure from Savalou, thecongregation held a joint "Goodbye, Aliens" andchurch dedication ceremony that lasted all day. Therewere skits, songs, prayers, speeches, a huge feast —including the roasting of an entire cow over an openpit —and many tears. It was a simultaneouslygut-wrenchingly sad and a heart-burstingly joyful day.

"Goodbye, Alletis"partyand churchdedicationcelebration.

Steve infront ofthe "finishedproduct": the church.

Tori: bigsistertoall the village children.

As you can plainlysee, we DIDN'T PLANT a churchin Savalou Benin. We did enable a group of believersto become a haven of change, peace, and hope to acommunity in need. Then we enabled them to movequickly toward reaching beyond themselves to othercommunities in need. Ultimately, we hope theywillenable these newgroups of believers to continue thecycle and do the same.

Thank you for adding your prayers as the mortar inthis church-enabling process. Please praise God for allHe did in Benin in four short years.

Your continued prayers for the Savalou church leadersare essential:

• TinTin and Helen, who leave for Bible school inApril 1997.

• Emmanuel and Charlotte, who were marriedOctober 19.

• The elders and lay leaders: Papa Mireille, Anatole,Amede, Celestin, Cec^, Matthieu, Samuel.

These prayers will act as the hedges and fences ofsecurity around this learning and growing communityof Christ.

Steve and Shawn Allen

Clark soakingup a last bit ofBeninoise culture.

10/96

Steve and Shawn Allen

Christian Missionary FellowshipP.O. BOX 501020

INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46250-6020

AddressCorrection Requested

Mission Services

Editorial DeptP 0 Box £427

Knoxville, TN 37901—2427

Nonprofit Or^nitaiion

U.S.Postage

PAID

Permit No. 2975

Indianapolis, Indiana