Transforming Names: From Despair to Hope in Christ
Summary
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of traveling with friends to Sierra Leone, West Africa, where we visited a small village with a heavy history. This village, once named after a nearby river, had its identity changed after a madman, rejected and hungry, walked through cursing it with the word “Rofinca”—starvation. The people there, mostly Muslim, now lived under the shadow of this name, joking about it but also carrying its weight. As we gathered with the elders around a cooking fire, I was asked to pray for them. In that moment, I felt compelled to ask God for a new name for the village—one of love, unity, and blessing, instead of starvation and lack.
This experience was a vivid reminder of how names and words spoken over us can shape our identity and expectations. Sometimes, we inherit names or labels—spoken by others or whispered by the enemy—that define us by our wounds, failures, or circumstances. Yet, God is in the business of giving new names and rewriting stories. He invites us to believe that He can bring transformation even to the most desolate places, whether that’s a remote village in Africa or a broken part of our own hearts.
The work being done in Sierra Leone through local ministries is holistic—addressing both spiritual and practical needs. It’s not about outsiders coming in to “fix” things, but about empowering local believers to bring the gospel and tangible help to their own communities. The joy and hope on the faces of those we prayed for was a testament to the reality that God is at work, and that following Jesus means joining Him in what He’s already doing.
We all have our own “starvation villages”—places in our lives, families, or communities that seem barren or cursed. The challenge is to ask ourselves: What names or words have we accepted over these places? Do we believe God can do something new there? The invitation is to pray for freedom, to speak blessing, and to trust that God can bring light and life where there has only been darkness and despair.
Key Takeaways
- The names and words spoken over us—by others, by ourselves, or by the enemy—can deeply affect our sense of identity and possibility. But God has the power to give us a new name, one that reflects His love and purpose rather than our past or our pain. We are invited to reject false labels and receive the identity God offers. [02:25]
- Transformation often begins with prayer and a willingness to step into places that seem hopeless or forsaken. When we pray in faith, even over situations that appear unchangeable, we open the door for God to work in ways we could not imagine. Our prayers can be the catalyst for new beginnings. [03:52]
- God’s work in the world is holistic, addressing both spiritual and practical needs. True ministry empowers local people to be agents of change in their own communities, rather than relying on outsiders to bring solutions. This approach honors the dignity and calling of every believer. [06:22]
- Following Jesus is not a passive experience; it’s an invitation to join Him in what He is already doing. Sometimes this means stepping into uncomfortable or unfamiliar places, trusting that God is present and active even in the darkest corners. Our role is to listen, obey, and participate in His redemptive work. [11:56]
- Each of us has “villages” in our lives—areas that feel barren, cursed, or beyond hope. The challenge is to examine what we truly believe about God’s ability to bring change there. Will we continue to speak words of defeat, or will we dare to pray for a new name and a new story? [11:56]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Introduction to Sierra Leone Trip
[01:10] - Arriving at the Village with a Heavy History
[02:25] - The Power of Names and Words
[03:52] - Praying for a New Name
[05:00] - The Village’s Story: From River to Starvation
[06:22] - Holistic Ministry and Local Empowerment
[07:45] - The Reality of Spiritual and Physical Need
[09:10] - The Joy of Blessing Others
[10:30] - Following Jesus into Unlikely Places
[11:56] - Praying for Freedom and New Identity
[13:00] - Personal Reflection: Our Own “Starvation Villages”
[14:20] - The Invitation to Believe for Change
[15:00] - Closing and Challenge
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: “A New Name for the Village”
---
### Bible Reading
Isaiah 62:2-4 (ESV)
> The nations shall see your righteousness,
> and all the kings your glory,
> and you shall be called by a new name
> that the mouth of the Lord will give.
> You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,
> and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
> You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
> and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,
> but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
> and your land Married;
> for the Lord delights in you,
> and your land shall be married.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
> Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
---
### Observation Questions
1. In the story shared, what was the significance of the village’s name “Rofinca” and how did it affect the people’s identity? [[02:25]]
2. According to Isaiah 62, what does God promise to do with names and identities that have been marked by pain or shame?
3. What did the local ministry in Sierra Leone focus on, and how was their approach different from outsiders coming in to “fix” things? [[06:22]]
4. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, what does it mean to be a “new creation”? How does this connect to the idea of receiving a new name or identity?
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do names and words spoken over us have such a powerful impact on our sense of self and our expectations for the future? [[02:25]]
2. The sermon mentions “starvation villages” in our own lives—places that feel barren or cursed. What might these “villages” represent for people today? [[11:56]]
3. How does prayer play a role in opening up the possibility for transformation, both in the village in Sierra Leone and in our own lives? [[03:52]]
4. What does it look like to join God in what He is already doing, rather than trying to “fix” things on our own? [[06:22]]
---
### Application Questions
1. Can you identify a “starvation village” in your own life—a place, relationship, or situation that feels stuck, barren, or defined by negative words? What name or label have you accepted over that area? [[11:56]]
2. Are there words or labels—spoken by others, by yourself, or by the enemy—that you need to reject in order to receive the new identity God offers you? What would it look like to do that this week? [[02:25]]
3. The pastor prayed for a new name for the village, one of love, unity, and blessing. What is a specific prayer you could pray over your own “starvation village”? [[03:52]]
4. The ministry in Sierra Leone empowers local believers to be agents of change. In your own context, how can you support or empower others, rather than trying to be the “fixer”? [[06:22]]
5. Following Jesus sometimes means stepping into uncomfortable or unfamiliar places. Is there a situation or relationship where you sense God inviting you to trust Him and step out in faith? What is holding you back? [[10:30]]
6. When you think about the “names” or “stories” spoken over your family, workplace, or community, are there any you feel called to challenge or pray for God to rewrite? [[13:00]]
7. What is one practical step you can take this week to speak blessing and hope over a place or person that feels stuck in darkness or despair? [[14:20]]
---
Close in prayer, asking God to reveal any false names or labels you’ve accepted, and to give you faith to believe for new beginnings in the places that feel most hopeless.
Devotional
Day 1: God Can Give Us a New Name and Identity
In places and lives marked by pain, shame, or negative labels, God is able to bring transformation and bestow a new name that reflects His love and purpose. Even when a community or individual has been defined by hardship or a curse, God’s power is not limited—He can rewrite stories, bring hope, and speak blessing where there was once only brokenness. You are not bound by the names or words spoken over you by others or by the enemy; God desires to call you His beloved, to give you a new identity rooted in Christ. [03:52]
Isaiah 62:2 (ESV)
"The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give."
Reflection: What negative label or word have you carried that God wants to replace with His truth about your identity today?
Day 2: God’s Light Distinguishes His People from Darkness
There is a real distinction between the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness, and God’s presence brings clarity, hope, and transformation. When God’s people pray and invite His Spirit, He makes His presence known, setting apart His people and shining light into even the darkest places. This distinction is not just for faraway places but for every heart, family, and community that feels desolate or forsaken—God’s light can break through and make His glory obvious to all. [11:56]
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
Reflection: Where in your life or community do you need to invite God’s light to make a clear distinction from darkness?
Day 3: God Works Through Ordinary Acts of Prayer and Blessing
Simple acts of prayer and blessing, even in unlikely or resistant places, can open doors for God’s work and bring unexpected hope. When we step out in faith to pray for others, especially those who seem far from God or are weighed down by heavy histories, God can use those moments to gather people, change atmospheres, and begin new stories of grace. Never underestimate the power of praying over someone or a place, trusting that God hears and moves. [02:25]
James 5:16 (ESV)
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
Reflection: Who is one person or place you can pray a blessing over today, trusting God to work in ways you cannot see?
Day 4: Following Jesus Means Joining What He Is Already Doing
Discipleship is not about inventing new missions but about recognizing where Jesus is at work and choosing to join Him there. God invites us to participate in His ongoing story—sometimes in unexpected places or ways—by being present, attentive, and willing to step into what He is already doing. This means being open to new experiences, trusting God’s leading, and letting go of our own agendas to follow Christ’s example. [06:22]
John 12:26 (ESV)
"If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him."
Reflection: Where do you sense Jesus inviting you to join Him in His work this week, even if it feels outside your comfort zone?
Day 5: God’s Power Is Not Limited by Our Expectations or the Darkness
No place, person, or situation is too far gone or too dark for God to redeem and transform. Even when we look at a part of our heart, family, or community and think, “God couldn’t do anything there,” God’s power and love are greater than our doubts. He delights in bringing life to dry, desolate places and showing that no one and nowhere is truly God-forsaken. [11:56]
Ezekiel 37:3-5 (ESV)
"And he said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' And I answered, 'O Lord God, you know.' Then he said to me, 'Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.'"
Reflection: What is one “dry” or “God-forsaken” area in your life or world where you can ask God to bring new life and hope today?
Quotes
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