Dear mission partners,

By God’s grace, and with his help getting through innumerable checks, requirements, and stations, I have just completed a noteworthy trip concluding our Pathways training in Togo and establishing the way toward launching a new network in Liberia.

In Lome, Togo, after five years and eleven training times together, with a delay of two years due to COVID, a network of nine pastors graduated from Pathways. Each of them not only completed all Pathways workshops, but they have each trained other preachers and pastors in each of those workshops. They are truly a testament to God’s faithfulness and their perseverance over the years, and it has been my joy to watch them grow in their handling of the Word and in their preaching skills.

 

 

At the graduation ceremony, Pastor Prosper declared, “We are here today witnessing our graduation from this training program of Pathways. The training is very good. It gives you a deep understanding (of God’s Word). You will no longer break your head preparing a sermon.” I’m thankful Pathways alleviates “broken heads.”

 

 

Here are some of their testimonies a few shared on video:

There were also other ministry opportunities sprinkled in:

In this final workshop, we spent three days reviewing Pathways principles, examining the book of Colossians, and then they each preached full messages on various portions through Colossians. In most cases, they did a fine job communicating the author’s intent in their preaching passage, and motivating others to apply that message in their lives. We ended the training with a sweet time in prayer together.

The next day after the training time, we gathered together with family members and had a fun and festive graduation where certificates of completion as Master Trainers were presented to them, as well as Crossway pastors library book sets given as a graduation gift. We were decked out in full garb, and many speeches were given, including a sermon I preached from Acts 20. It was a time of rejoicing for everyone, although a bit bittersweet since we do not know when we will see each other again. These men have become near and dear to my heart, and I truly thank God for each of them.

The next day, Sunday, as I prepared to fly to Liberia, I was invited to preach at a graduate’s church. The night before, I had been struck with malaria, but although I was weak, God was working in strength, and after the message about a third of the congregation came to the front for the first time to publicly profess faith in Christ instead of their works to save them. Praise to the Almighty!

Then it was off to Monrovia, Liberia where I met and stayed with James McCarthy, director of EFCWA and ReachAfrica, both organizations focused on mission work and church planting in West Africa and throughout the continent. It was a joy building relationships with James and his family, taking runs along the beach with a member of his church, meeting many other key leaders, casting vision for Pathways Bible training, and conducting a “Pre-Launch Vision Conference.” The pastors were truly encouraged by all they heard, and although heavy rains kept some away, others traveled for many hours to attend and have thoroughly embraced the vision of Pathway and see the need for it in their country. I will remain closely connected with James and his team and trust God’s timing and method for when and how to best launch Pathways in this new field.