“See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”
Jeremiah 1:9-10
We, our Lord’s Church, have been appointed over nations and kingdoms to uproot, tear down, destroy and overthrow. West Africa is filled with strongholds of Satan that are thousands of years old. Specifically, Wordsower Africa works in the West African nations of Liberia, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone and Guinea. The main religions of this region are Islam and Animism. Animism, as practiced in West Africa, is a secretive demonic society. Often the society is called “The Devil and his Devil Dancers.” They are ruled by a demonic leader, most likely demon possessed, called the Devil. The Devil is the supreme authority. He robs, tortures and kills those who resist or oppose, and those he deems to have done wrong. His disciples are called Devil Dancers. There are numerous stories about the power of their witchcraft, curses and evil ways.
For over 15 years we have entered into these strongholds, most of which are churchless. Never have we entered an Animistic stronghold and not seen its foundation uprooted. Never have we entered one of these strongholds and not been able to evangelize, disciple and form a unity of believers! Within the Islamic tribes, that have been unreached for thousands of years, we have never entered one of their communities and not been able to evangelize, baptize and disciple new believers. Strongholds are uprooted and replaced with Christians and churches. “I appoint you over nations and kingdoms… to build and to plant.”
A Story of Uprooting and Planting
“I will go before you and will level the mountains;
I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.”
Isaiah 45:2
Pynes Town, a town of a few hundred, was one of the most powerful strongholds of Satan. It was the region of the demon possessed rebel fighter named General Butt Naked (Google him). My first time going into this region was on motorbike with a Liberian disciple on back. Our arrival created a stir because white men were seldom seen, and never had one arrived dirty driving a motorbike. Upon arriving, we started circulating throughout the town giving blue Gideon pocket Bibles to those able to read. As we were walking, we were approached by 3 men. They stayed close to us and made sure we had water, food and a sleeping place. They followed us everywhere, making sure all our needs were met.
The mission of WSA is to evangelize, disciple, train leaders and start churches. This process requires us to enter a community many times. Those who have made commitments of faith unto salvation are discipled. Among those disciples, we search for those who would be able to form and lead a church. Normally, these future leaders will live with us on one of our bases to attend our Bible institute and receive deeper training. Often the new church will outgrow their meeting place. We will then assist them with building a metal church roof on posts. The church will then complete the building by putting in the walls, doors, windows and benches.
We returned many times to the Pynes town region to train disciples. One day I asked these three men why they had come close and united with us so quickly. The answer one man gave was, “I had a dream that one day a white man would come and bring little blue Bibles and that we should follow him. We were looking and waiting for you to arrive.” Our Lord said in Exodus 23:20, “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.” All we have to do is show up. Our Lord has gone before us and prepared the place before we ever arrive. We go, knowing that it is not our ability, but it is our availability.
Once, when I entered Pynes town, I saw one of these 3 disciples being beaten. The Devil’s disciples tried dragging him into the rain forest. I got between them to stop the beating and demanded that they release him. Quickly, a large riotous crowd surrounded us. They brought us before their spiritual leader, called the Devil, the chief and the town elders. Jesus said, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils… On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time, you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Matthew 10:16-20. The scripture is true. I was given what to say, by our Lord, without any preparation or foreknowledge. I talked about their town and their desire for its development. The passion of every town is development! I used the analogy of a car with 4 tires. 4 good tires are necessary for a car to move forward. Towns, like cars with 4 good tires, will develop, will go forward. As a car can’t go forward with a flat tire, nor can a town go forward if it does not have these 4 essentials; a school, a clinic, freedom of religion, and government law instead of tribal law. If any one of these “tires” are flat the town will not develop or grow. They received the teaching and agreed that the town should have freedom of religion and government law. They agreed to allow us to start churches in their town!
Demons are ruled by fear and rule those they inhabit with fear. The Devil and his disciples are fierce, brutal and cruel warrior followers of Satan. They are armed with guns, machetes and whips. Once when I entered Pynes Town, their spiritual leader, called the Devil, and his disciples ran in terror into the rain forest and hid until I left. The demons knew that followers of Christ have the authority to cast them out of those they host, and they did not want to be cast out.
Another time, I entered Pynes Town and saw the spiritual leader, called the Devil, sitting by himself in the town. I sat with him and told him about Heaven and Hell. The town’s people knew I was speaking with him, and he knew they were aware of us discussing. Afterwards, he got up loudly laughing and ridiculing me. About 2 months later as I was driving a bike in our town, about 3 hours from Pynes Town, the Devil ran in front of me waving his arms for me to stop. I asked him why he was in town and why he was stopping me. He said that he wanted to hear more about Heaven and Hell. Shocked, I reminded him that he laughed at me when we discussed in Pynes Town. His answer was that he was laughing on the outside, not the inside. He has made a commitment of faith for salvation, attends church and has come to our base to get evangelism material.
Today, leaders that we have trained and assisted have two churches in Pynes town. The Devil and his Devil Dancers have dissipated. Another stronghold destroyed! “See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:9-10.
A Testimony from one of our Teams
(This testimony is original. It has been lightly edited)
“By the Grace of the Almighty God. Wordsower Grand Kru team conducted a three-day training in a remote town called Barkadu. There was true repentance of those who attended. Barkadu was established in 1936 and has never had a church. After the training we were able to baptize one soul, the first of its kind. Moreover, it’s so encouraging that former students that attended our Wordsower Bible Institute, in Zwedru, also taught in the three-day training. Truly the harvest is plentiful.
(The testimony continues a week later)
“Today marks the beginning of the newly established church in Barkadu! The people were surprised, this was the first time for an organized church service in the town. Before the service, we sent word to the town chief, a Muslim man, to inform him. He refused to respond to us. We met in an uncompleted school building. We saw the eagerness and the willingness from the few who turned out. They are hungry for the words of God. But, after the meeting the chief and elders refused to let us worship again in the building. We are praying to be granted permission to construct a church building. Keep us in your prayers.
(A few more days passed)
“Last night we received a call from the town that the chief and elders are willing to give land in the town for us to build a church house. We told the believers to cut sticks for the walls and that we would provide the metal roof. Barkadu used to be an unreached, churchless town that was 99% Muslim.”
“See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms
to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”
Jeremiah 1:9-10
Our mission to the lost requires sacrifice
The Fruit of our Sacrifice is disciples
The fruit of our sacrifice is baptisms
We baptized 149 this month
The fruit of our sacrifice is churches
This month we completed another church roof for a church we had started
Our on-site leaders and the donations of churches and individuals from abroad are bringing in a great harvest. We need the unity of us all, His Church, to accomplish our Lord’s command to reach the world. Thank you for your active love and faith. Thank you for sacrificing with us. We need additional monthly donors. Please pray about participating with us financially.
Participate with us in praise and prayer:
- Praise: We continue to advance into the strongholds of Satan without serious persecution.
- Pray: Against the plans and advancement of the jihadists.
- Pray: For increased donations so that we may continue to advance into unreached tribes.
- Pray: For our indigenous missionary teams, that they will continue to fearlessly, boldly and sacrificially advance the gospel.
- Pray: As we prepare to create and send another indigenous missionary team to the Muslim unreached tribes of Sierra Leone.
- Pray: For us we march into and live within the strongholds of Satan to, “snatch others from the fire and save them.” Jude 1:23.
- Pray: “Finally, our friends, pray for us that the Lord’s message may continue to spread rapidly and be received with honor, just as it was among you. Pray also that God will rescue us from wicked and evil people; for not everyone believes the message.” 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2.
Donations:
100% of all donations go to the mission. None is used for administration. Tax-deductible receipts will be sent each January.
Click Here to Donate Online (Hold down the Ctrl button with the curser on the icon then click)
Postal Donations:
Please make checks payable to the “Woodside Vision Foundation” designating “Wordsower
Africa” on the memo line of the check. Please include your name and address for the receipt, if
the information is not already on the check. Mail to:
Woodside Vision Foundation
6600 Rochester Road
Troy Michigan 48085
Please make checks payable to the “Woodside Vision Foundation” designating “Wordsower
Africa” on the memo line of the check. Please include your name and address for the receipt, if
the information is not already on the check. Mail to:
Woodside Vision Foundation
6600 Rochester Road
Troy Michigan 48085
If you have questions or problems with donations or want to contact me, Kim Smith, then email
me at kimlogansmith1957@gmail.com. I’m also available on the apps called WhatsApp, the
contact number is +231-8813-44417. My Signal app number is +231-7757-89662.
In August We Did:
4 – Countries (Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Liberia)
7 – Bases: 4 in Liberia, 1 in Sierra Leone, 1 in Ivory Coast, 1 in Guinea
21 – Total counties we ministered in
266 – Total communities/villages/towns/cities we ministered in
67 – Churches we visited and worked with
150 – Total mission trips
149 – Persons were baptized
958 – Public confessions of Christ and prayers for salvation
101- WBI attended Level 1 training in Sinje, Grand Cape Mount County, Liberia
49- WBI attended Level 1 training in Yandohun, Lofa County, Liberia
53- WBI attended Level 1 training in Bopolu, Gbarpolu County, Liberia
56- WBI attended Level 3 Blolequin, Ivory Coast
627 – Attended our 1-3 days workshops-training in locations.
7,888 – Viewed the Jesus Film, 35 locations and 47 times shown.
4 – Community Radio stations broadcasting on
31 – Dental patients, 28 teeth pulled.
34,700 – Press report, pages printed, 304 booklets made (English and French)
