I always enjoy talking with people about the development of Bible Training Center that God put on my heart one year ago. It's been a crazy year. We started the school in May and have over 80 students enrolled and taking courses at the temporary location. God has moved people to give to this effort and over $100,000 has been raised in the US to cover costs of the temporary site and put towards the purchase of the permanent location.
Along the way I have met so many incredible people that have a passion for the people of Ethiopia as well as a heart for spreading the news of Jesus Christ. Just when I get discouraged and think, "How in the world are we going to come up with another $150,000 this year," God moves and puts someone in contact with me and reminds me that this is important work in building His kingdom. Just over the past couple of weeks, I have talked with new contacts from Washington, Colorado, Illinois and Texas. I have been introduced to new friends on Facebook that share God's heart for the plight of the evangelicals in Northern Ethiopia. My marketing team at work made personal donations to the project as a Christmas gift to me. We received a donation this week from a church in New York. God continues to move.
So many people have provided encouragement and reminded me that an evangelical Bible Training Center in Northern Ethiopia is not just another school - it is a miracle. Mekelle has been an Orthodox stronghold for thousands of years. There has never been an evangelical Bible Training Center until this past year. Mekelle had one mosque in 2009 and now there are 10. Muslim influence from Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia continue to push into Ethiopia from all sides. We have a unique opportunity to develop church leaders and a fire for Christ in a part of the world that desperately needs it.
I talked with Dr. John on the phone this week. Dr. John has lived in Mekelle for the past 5 years and there is no one is more passionate about finishing what God started to see the permanent location through to completion this year. We talked about the current financial picture - that we need $27,500 in the next month to meet the terms of the purchase agreement and move into our new home by the end of February. This is an immediate need and we're very much on the clock to make this happen.
I am writing today to ask you to consider giving to this project. If you don't have the means to give I'm asking that you help share our efforts with someone that might. At a minimum, I'm asking for you to pray that God will move people to help this effort. We need to find new circles of people and churches that can financially support this project in '15. Pray that this message finds them. I pray that it's you.
For more information on the project and how to donate find out more at www.harvestinethiopia.com
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| Students in the Temporary Bible Training Center in Mekelle |
Along the way I have met so many incredible people that have a passion for the people of Ethiopia as well as a heart for spreading the news of Jesus Christ. Just when I get discouraged and think, "How in the world are we going to come up with another $150,000 this year," God moves and puts someone in contact with me and reminds me that this is important work in building His kingdom. Just over the past couple of weeks, I have talked with new contacts from Washington, Colorado, Illinois and Texas. I have been introduced to new friends on Facebook that share God's heart for the plight of the evangelicals in Northern Ethiopia. My marketing team at work made personal donations to the project as a Christmas gift to me. We received a donation this week from a church in New York. God continues to move.
So many people have provided encouragement and reminded me that an evangelical Bible Training Center in Northern Ethiopia is not just another school - it is a miracle. Mekelle has been an Orthodox stronghold for thousands of years. There has never been an evangelical Bible Training Center until this past year. Mekelle had one mosque in 2009 and now there are 10. Muslim influence from Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia continue to push into Ethiopia from all sides. We have a unique opportunity to develop church leaders and a fire for Christ in a part of the world that desperately needs it.
I talked with Dr. John on the phone this week. Dr. John has lived in Mekelle for the past 5 years and there is no one is more passionate about finishing what God started to see the permanent location through to completion this year. We talked about the current financial picture - that we need $27,500 in the next month to meet the terms of the purchase agreement and move into our new home by the end of February. This is an immediate need and we're very much on the clock to make this happen.
I am writing today to ask you to consider giving to this project. If you don't have the means to give I'm asking that you help share our efforts with someone that might. At a minimum, I'm asking for you to pray that God will move people to help this effort. We need to find new circles of people and churches that can financially support this project in '15. Pray that this message finds them. I pray that it's you.
For more information on the project and how to donate find out more at www.harvestinethiopia.com
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