Story of Hope | Faithful Perseverance

Listener in Africa

Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.
Psalm 86:1-3

Each of the successful men who proposed marriage to 16-year-old Baya* were turned down by her mother, not because Mom was waiting for someone better to come along but because she didn't want her daughter’s life to turn out better than her own.

Like her mother, Baya had been raised in poverty, and now she found herself married to a simple and very poor man who abused her. Continuing the cycle of cruelty, the children she bore and raised to adulthood also turned on her. During a time of sickness, Baya’s family left her to care for herself with barely enough food to survive.

But she was not alone. For it was during those dark days that Baya began listening to Women of Hope programs and learned of God’s love and care for her. God reached down to deliver Baya from the oppression of her trials, and she responded with an unwavering faith in him.

The TWR Women of Hope team was astounded by the perseverance they saw in this woman who had been so mistreated. And their astonishment turned to joy when she recently shared that her husband had surrendered his life to Jesus and asked her forgiveness for his cruel behavior. Together they are now persevering in prayer for God’s love to penetrate the hearts of their other family members.

* Listener’s name has been changed to protect privacy.