February 25, 2008 News bulletin: Missionaries’ home burns in West Africa

Pioneer Bible Translators has received word that one of our missionary families to West Africa, Yancy and Sherry Fariss, lost their village home to a fire earlier this week.

Everyone made it out of the house safely with only minor injuries to Yancy, the father, and Debra, the 7-month-old baby.

Yancy reported that the fire burned pretty much everything in the house. He thanks the Lord that their car, computer and language data were spared, along with some odds and ends that were close to the door.

The Fariss family reported that their African neighbors in the village where they work were a great blessing to them. Many cried for them and some even wailed and threw dirt in the air to show their pain.

Sherry said that the three older Fariss children cried, prayed and even praised God for His protection as the house burned. William, age 7, wrote a psalm while he watched the house burn about how God is with us even in devastation. The children are mourning, but they are also rejoicing that everyone is okay.

Sherry writes, “Yancy and I are thankful for the things we were able to save and regretful about our losses. But we pray that God somehow uses this loss for the growth of His Kingdom among the people of West Africa.”

In response to this devastating news, we are launching a campaign of kindness to rally around these wonderful servants of God. They need a village home and a place to work. Our prayer is that Christ’s church will rally around the Fariss family so they may continue in their work of helping the Bible-less peoples of West Africa come to know Jesus Christ!

If you are able to contribute to this campaign please click on the link to Pay Pal and designate your gift to the Fariss Ministry Relief Fund or write a check to Pioneer Bible Translators and send it to the Fariss’ forwarding agent:

Pioneer Bible Translators
c/o Francille Vesel
910 Harrison Street
Abilene, TX 79601

Since the house and items destroyed were ministry property, all contributions are tax deductible.

For Additional Information, contact Pioneer Bible Translator’s Emergency Response Coordinator, Gary Billingsley at:


(972) 708-7460.