This project funded the rebuilding of the family home of Pastor Joshua. His former home was completely destroyed by fire at the hands of the military. Pastor Joshua and his wife, Nu have five children.
A group of soldiers arrived at Pastor Joshua’s village. The village consists of around 30 houses and is located beside a main road. Once at the village, they sought out Pastor Joshua. Joshua was known by the military to be not only a Christian, but a pastor of a Pentecostal church of around 100 people; he was particularly targeted for his active Christian faith.
Once the military found Joshua, they forced him and his family from the home and then set fire to the house. The family watched on helplessly. The soldiers then confiscated some of the family’s personal items including phones. They then detained and questioned the family members. All were released after two days.
Once released, the family fled in fear, they went to a village in another area. Despite his fear, Joshua returned to care for his church members, eventually his family joined him, and they sheltered in the church.
With help from our VOM supporters, funds were provided to the family, they sought a piece of land and purchased it. The new home is in a safer location approximately 50km away from the village. He was not permitted to purchase land in the previous area – it’s too dangerous for him to live there anyway.
The house foundations were laid, and the house was built. The finished home is brick, it has four bedrooms plus a dining room and common room.
Pastor Joshua: “First of all, I would like to thank our God for His goodness in such a time like this. The difficulties that I faced, in the burning of my house by the military, meant that we were not allowed to live in the same location – they would chase us out. It was a very hard time for me and my family. I have lived in this village since 1981 and I got saved on 19 July 1987. I committed my life to serving the Lord in 2006 and I began serving the Lord as the pastor.
“After my house was burned by the military, the Lord spoke to me through Jeremiah 29:11. Reading the verse was the only word that comforted my heart, and that of my family.
“But as a believer, I knew that believers were praying for my family, as a minister, ministers were also praying and helping us in every possible way they could. Because we are not allowed to live in our village any more.
“Now because of the help of the believers from afar that I have never known, or I have never seen and because of Christ my Saviour, my Lord and the Lord I serve. Because we have the same God we serve the same God, and because of their love and offerings; now, we have a better house than that burnt down by the military coup. Now we have complete security, our house is built with bricks, and we are very far away from the main road.
“I want to thank God and I want to express my thanks to you who donated the funds for my family.”
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