WILL YOU HOLD THE ROPES IN PRAYER?‏

Acts 9:25 - "Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket."

The words here speak about the persecution against Paul just after his conversion.  The anger against him was so heated and the danger was so intense, that the disciples helped Paul escape by putting him in a basket and letting him down the wall with a rope.  The analogy is evident: when we are in danger we need help; often the help comes as God's people act.  Things in Côte d'Ivoire are increasingly getting worse.  At this point you can't be there, but you can ''hold the ropes'' in prayer for saints you have never met who are seeing difficult times.  

The source of the problem is the results of the elections in November 2010.  The presidential incumbent, Mr. Laurent Gbagbo, who was reportedly defeated has yet to step down.  The president elect (which is a disputed issue), Mr. Alassane Ouattara, has been holed up in a hotel in the economic capital and has taken steps to assume the office. The international community and the UN have declared Mr. Ouattara the legal president. Both men have been setting up their governments.

There is increased fighting in different areas of the country, especially this past week. There  have been ethnic clashes in different areas and the situation does not look good. It has been reported that there are at least 30,000 refugees  who have entered Liberia and many more are displaced all over the country. Amnesty International reports that there are countless human rights abuses. The northern suburbs of the capitol, Abidjan, have been a real battleground this week, and missionary personnel of one orphanage had to evacuate.  Today, I spoke with a friend in Abidjan who verified that there are armed youth who are terrorizing the foreign African community.    

With the embargo of both ports, there is no import and export of anything.  Some of the stores have only enough food items to last roughly three months.  We were told the pharmacies are in the same condition.  No propane gas is being delivered to many towns (meaning no gas for cooking), and there is a shortage of gasoline as well.  In addition to all this, two weeks ago the banks in the country started closing one by one, and only a few are still opened. 

We are praying for the country.  Although some areas have been in crisis with the fighting, San Pedro, where our ministry has been, is calm at this moment. I was on the phone with several Ivorian believers today and people really don't know what is going to happen next. They are looking at a meltdown of the country going into civil war. They continue to pray that peace will prevail and be restored.  Our heart breaks, realizing that within a short time they may be suffering and lacking the basic needs of life.  PLEASE ''Hold the ropes''  for the dear saints, pastors, and bible institute teachers and students who love the Lord.

We are still in the US and were planning to return to the field at the end of April. Yesterday we talked to Pastor Harris, from our sending church. With the political situation as it is, he feels that it is best for us to wait until we can see more stability in the country. We agree. Although it saddens us to delay our “going home”, this will enable us to present our ministry in a few more churches. Please pray that God continues to guide and give us wisdom.

Thank You! We appreciate all you who support our ministry by prayer and by finances.

God Bless!  

Steve and Gayle King
Côte d'Ivoire
Baptist Mid-Missions