Psalm 19:7-11 reminds us: “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” 

This past week there was a celebration in Rwanda. After three years of diligent study of God’s Word and training by a faithful group from the US, fourteen master trainers graduated from Pathways. Throughout the three years, these fourteen had been faithful to pass each of the trainings on to others in their region, so skills in studying God’s Word and preaching it well could multiply throughout the country.

The network was coordinated by the president of the Evangelical Free Church of Rwanda, Esron Maniragaba, shown here with his wife Kezia and two of the key US trainers, Gary Bowman and Jon McKinney.

Pastor Gary shared, “These leaders are keeping their finger in the text as they study and teach God’s word with new power, clarity and relevancy. We have seen the changes from taking one verse on Sunday morning, reading it, then running off with their own stories and leaving God’s word in the dust. The pastors have shared with us their pleasure in studying whole passages and chapters and books of the bible for the first time, and how their village churches are enjoying this new feast in God’s word!”

This group is a great picture of what we are trying to do all over the continent of Africa and around the world, equipping untrained pastors to study and preach God’s Word well. Please join us in prayer as we try to work this year to launch networks in Kenya, Congo, Ethiopia, Zambia, Uganda, Liberia, Togo and graduate another group in Ghana.

Pressing on, Eric