Mission Updates

Teamwork

Holly and I have been greatly encouraged over the years by various teams who labor alongside us. For example, we have a vital team of prayer and financial supporters who give regularly and generously so we can do our work and who continue to lift us up before our Father. We also are part of a mission agency, ReachGlobal, and a large team in ReachGlobal called the Global Equipping Team. But the particular team we serve most closely with is our Pathways team. Each of us have a role in the team as we work together toward bringing training in how to study, understand, obey, and teach God’s Word well to pastors and ministry leaders around the world.

Teamwork

This past week, Holly and I were in Iowa for a training event we call “Spring Training.” All the members of our Pathways team gathered together along with many pastors who faithfully train globally with us. We reviewed healthy training practices, shared revisions in our curriculum, and joined our hearts together in prayer for the nations.

Holly leading the group in a prayer activity.

Following Spring Training, our Pathways team continued strategizing how to expand our work. Since each of us work in different parts of the world, it was sweet to all come together and praise God for the good work He is doing globally.

Our Pathways Bible Training team

One of the highlights for me was watching Holly shine in her new role as prayer coordinator for Pathways.

Holly guided us in creative ways to pray throughout our meetings.

In Ephesians 6:18, Paul calls us to “pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” This is one of Holly’s favorite verses because it suggests not only our frequency of prayer (at all times) and how to pray (in the Spirit) but also the type of prayer (with all prayer and supplication.) Holly led us in a variety of prayer activities that moved us forward in fulfilling our mission. It was so special seeing Holly’s passion for prayer manifest during the meetings.

Most of the nations where Pathways has trained, is training, or will soon launch trainings. Many nations have multiple locations for networks, like India which has about 40 networks currently.
Praying with pastors and team members who focus in Africa.

Another highlight was hearing from Randy Widbin that he is committing himself to work with me in training pastors in Africa. Randy has recently joined our Pathways team after retiring from decades of pastoral ministry. Randy is an answer to many years of prayer for a partner in Africa. He will be focused primarily in West Africa. Please pray for more “Randy’s” who will join our team!

Randy and his wife Nancy with Holly and me in Iowa

Following all these meetings, I continued to work with Steve and Mike to revise our curriculum. We were affirmed by all those present at the meetings that the curriculum revision work we are doing is needed, beneficial, and Spirit-led. To that end, we continue to pray and work.