August Update

Women on Missions’ August speaker, Cherry Faile, grew up in Africa as a missionary kid, the daughter of a medical missionary.  When she was sent to boarding school age 10, she truly felt that God was with her. As she grew up, she felt called to be a nurse and she trained as a midwife. She spent two years in Yemen as a missionary journeyman, and after a number of experiences, including working as a public health nurse in Ghana, the Lord led her to the Fulani people in Niger, which was the focus of her presentation to WOM on Aug. 11.
Cherry confessed that “All my life I don’t listen very well to God and He pushes me to where I need to be.”  She explained that she resisted going back to west Africa when she was appointed as a missionary because that is where she grew up.  But she learned of a hospital/medical school that needed a midwife and public health nurse, a position for which she was imminently qualified.
The Fulani people, who are farmers and cattle herders, are hated throughout Africa because of their violent history against women and children, Cherry related. They are credited with bringing Islam to west Africa where they enslaved non-Muslims.  “To be a Fulani is to be a Muslim,” Cherry quoted.  Fulanis who convert to Christianity are abandoned by their families, she noted.
Cherry had prayed that God would show her distinctly where He wanted her to serve, and He led her to a specific Fulani village.  She lived in that village in a house that the Fulani people built for her for two decades, with no electricity and no running water.  During her presentation Cherry shared several stories of how she was able to help the Fulani people with spiritual and physical needs and share the love of Jesus with many of them.
Two of her stories involved complicated deliveries of babies. For Fulani women, Cherry related that one of their biggest fears is to get pregnant, but at the same time one of their greatest desires is to have children.  The Fulani culture is a shame culture, she said:  to show fear or pain is shameful, and most women will not reveal their pregnancies until something goes wrong.
Another two stories involved people under the control of witch doctors, in spite of their Muslim beliefs.  Cherry said she knew God was always with her and she had no fear, even when dealing with obviously demon-possessed people.
While the Fulani village where she worked has been infiltrated by Islamic jihadists, she told the story of one man who was a Christian but had never been baptized because he didn’t want to put his wife’s life in danger.  He is now working as a chaplain at a hospital and his wife is still with him and is also a believer in Christ.
While Cherry has not been back to Niger in almost a year, she participates in a WhatsApp  ministry for cardiac and diabetic patients through a group of three Fulani men in the capital of Niger.
WOM Director Nancy Brock announced at the August meeting that registration for next summer’s girls’ missions camps at Camp Pinnacle in Clayton will begin next month.  WOM paid to send 24 girls to Georgia’s only church camp focusing on missions in 2025.

Coming in September

Next month Women on Mission will hear Byron Ethington share about what is going on today in Israel.   Also, WOM will be collecting diapers (all sizes) for the Women’s Enrichment Center at the Sept. 8 meeting.

In Israel, Bryon and his family focus on relational discipleship and evangelism in a culture where following Jesus is often difficult and isolating. With less than 2% of Israelis identifying as believers, their focus is to invest in the next generation through intensive discipleship, equipping young Israelis to understand their faith clearly and communicate it with confidence. The Ethingtons’ work centers on developing leaders within the believing community to strengthen and expand the impact of the gospel across Israel.  They have continued their work at a distance since moving back to Blue Ridge to provide live-in care for a family member battling dementia.

The Sept. 8 WOM meeting will be held in the Buchanan Hall at First Baptist Church.  A covered dish luncheon will begin at 11:30 followed by the speaker’s presentation at noon.

Ongoing Activities

WOM also supports Hope House of Union County by collecting personal hygiene items such as shampoo, body wash, deodorant, etc., which are distributed free of charge to Hope House clients. Through offerings collected monthly and budget funding from First Baptist, WOM are supporting the following ministries:

  • Cowboy Church of Jerusalem to purchase food and new boots.
  • Pure Love Pure Water for more filters to be sent to missionaries.
  • The Clarkston After-School Ministry, which provides a meal for the children and to purchase supplies for the children.