GOSPEL OF JOHN MISSION, INC.

February 2020

“For the word of God is alive and active… Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight” Hebrews
4:12a and 13a

Dear Friends,

I heard last Sunday that Wycliffe Bible translators now believe that they will have a portion of the
Scripture translated into every native language by 2025. Smart software is helping linguists work with
native speakers and translate the Bible faster than we ever thought possible. Clearly the word of God
is alive and active and God has ways of using resources and people in ways that we couldn’t imagine
because God sees all of the connections and nothing is hidden from His sight. I want to share with you
in this newsletter one of the ways God has been using Gospel of John Mission that we would have
never planned or expected by sharing with you the story of Sherymoh Taalaibekova who is working in
our Children’s ministry this year.

Sherymoh on the left with her daughter and Julie Madari the leader of our children’s ministry at our
office in Moldova

Sherymoh is one of four ladies who are from predominantly Muslim countries, who are studying at a
Bible college in Moldova and who as part of their studies spent time working with our Children’s
ministry team as part of their practical training. The ladies are from Tajikistan, Kyrgystan and
Uzbaekistan and all plan to return to their home countries upon graduation and continue in Christian
ministry.
Sherymoh’s testimony is that she grew up in a Muslim home in Tajikistan and her Uncle was the local
Inman. Her older brother left home to study in a university and came back professing belief in Jesus and
his conversion to Christianity. This was very upsetting to her family and her Uncle threw her borther
out of the house and told him to never return. Sherymoh continued to have contact with him and
through him met other Christians. She was amazed at the joy they had and the view of God as someone
who loved her. Her understanding of God had only been as a judgmental figure who would punish you
for the wrong that you did. After a while she was converted as well. Things were also not easy for her
as faith in Christ resulted in losing relationships with her family. She also testified to general harsh
treatment including being imprisoned for her faith. She has had people she knows even stoned for their
testimony in Christ, but whatever the cost it was worth it for the Love that she found in Jesus!

Sherymoh was able to attend a university in Kazahkstan where she met her husband. They are now both
studying for the ministry in Moldova and plan to go back to Kazahkstan after graduation and work in
ministry. Sherymoh has been a very dedicated volunteer to our ministry over the last two years and this
year we added her to the staff where she is serving on a regular basis in after school clubs and with
disabled children. She has a real heart for special needs children because as poor as the conditions are
for the neglected in Moldova, she indicates that they are far worse where she comes from and her desire
is to start a similar ministry providing physical and spiritual care for special need children.

I have had the chance to spend time with Sherymoh and despite her small size she is a powerful woman
of God. It is truly amazing to hear her testimony in person and it is amazing for our ministry to have the
opportunity to train future leaders who are going to take the gospel to dangerous parts of the Muslim
world. Truly the word of God is alive and active and it is our joy to participate in what God is doing in
the world.

Sincerely yours,

Mark Ganaway
Gospel of John Board Member

Email: mark_ganaway@hotmail.com
Phone 817-507-8339