Rich’s marathon trip has begun!
We are unspeakably grateful to our donors for funding the four upcoming trainings and the Jinka conference. None of this ministry would happen without your sacrificial giving and your faithful prayers.
By December 3rd around 440 people in Ethiopia and India will be trained in new believer followup and 10,000 more will have been equipped to stand together in the true gospel!
The prosperity gospel has swallowed large portions of Ethiopia whole—overwhelming the local church with the sheer numbers of prosperity preachers—causing economic devastation and spiritual destruction. We are partnering with the largest denomination in Ethiopia to reorient the church to the true gospel: the good news of salvation through a healed relationship with God because of Jesus’ sacrifice—not through gifts to predatory prosperity preachers!
We are also excited about the possibility of exploring work in India (which has now overtaken China as the most populous nation on earth). India is our first stop! Rich is conducting a survey trip to see if the training is a good fit. He is partnering with two local organizations and will do an abbreviated training for 40 pastors. Please pray that everything goes smoothly!
After India, Rich will travel to Jimma with Eskinder and Desta for a week-long training of around 100 regional directors in the Kale Heywet denomination. Desta told us that the road is dangerous enough that they are considering flying from Addis—but they are not sure if it is possible. Please pray for safety on the road!
During the third week, the team will travel to Dubancho, Ethiopia to train another group of 100 pastors and leaders. There is a prison close by, where the little boy and his mother were healed through the prayers of our trainee last month. Rich is hoping to visit and pass along a gift of clothing and toys for the child and his mother.
Lastly, our team is planning to train 200 local leaders in Jinka ahead of the 10,000 person True Gospel Conference on the weekend. Our hope is that the Holy Spirit will spark a major renewal in the church and also bring many thousands to lasting faith in Him!
This trip will be grueling in many ways for our entire team, especially Rich! But we are filled with energy and hope as we consider what God may do. Please join us in praying for strength and protection for the entire team and that God will bring many into a lasting relationship with Him through faith in His son, Jesus! Thank you for going along with us on the journey in spirit through your prayers and faithful giving.
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“…we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.“ Colossians 1:4-6 (NIV)
