I was scheduled to preach in the little town of Toucountouna, 25 km (15.5 miles) away from where we live. Before we left, the evangelist in charge of that group asked: “Could you visit Papa Ulrich after church?” Papa Ulrich had attended church for a while when the group started more than 10 years ago. At some point, he quit, but his children kept coming and are now faithful young church members. Whenever our evangelist goes to Toucountouna and has to spend the night, Papa Ulrich’s family hosts him. That is how he learned that Papa Ulrich was struggling with alcohol, like so many other people in this country.

On Sabbath, after church, we took the little path toward Papa Ulrich’s house. We found him resting in the living room. After some small talk, we told him how happy we would be if he came to church again. Looking at the ground, he said with a low voice: “I do not want to bring shame to the church.” I then summarized for him the sermon I had preached that day, talking about God’s unconditional love and grace. I assured him that nothing could ever stop God’s love for him. He buried his face in his hands. I could tell that he was touched. We prayed for him and his family and departed.

Please pray with us that Papa Ulrich would not listen to Satan’s voice, which is trying to tell him that he is rejected and unworthy of God’s love. Pray that he would experience God’s transforming and delivering power.

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