Dear ministry partners,

I have just returned from another global training, but this time not on the continent of Africa. I was in Asia, helping some of our Pathways partners conduct a couple trainings in two different regions. Locations and names are withheld for security purposes, but thank you for your prayers as all went very well throughout the 16 day trip.

The first location was a network of about 16 pastors and ministry leaders who recently started the Pathways process. The coordinator is a graduate from Dallas Theological Seminary, and did a fabulous job organizing all the details and translating as my partner and I taught. Here are some of the testimonies participants shared:

Pastor “Gabriel” – “I used Pathways in my church to help my people observe the Word, understand the meaning, and apply it in their lives.”

 

Sister “Tabitha” – “The teachers I train have said that now they are able to understand the Word clearly.” This sister had prayed just months ago that God would send someone to teach her God’s Word, then a month later Pathways arrived.

Pastor “Ram” – “Pathways has helped me to understand the Word and teach it in a way I never could before. Now I am able to train other pastors.”

 

The network actively engaged in small group activities as well as practicing Pathways principles in presentation sessions.

One evening, a local Bible school was doing their graduation and I was asked to give the graduation sermon. Decked out in a warm, red velvet robe, the evening was a toasty 90 degrees (104 during the day!), but challenging the bachelors and masters level graduates from Acts 20 was a joy.

One unusual element was that national elections were happening when I was there, and also a very popular religious festival that drew in millions to the city. I visited the local enormous temple at one point, and as I walked through the structure I prayed for the diligent worshippers bowing with their faces to the ground before stone and wood idols. “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Cor. 4:4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I got up early one morning to go for a run and as I wove down streets, crowds of thousands of people got thicker and thicker until I could no longer run, then walk, then move. We were packed tighter than sardines, and I came to find out that the center of the religious festival was just a few blocks from my route. Fortunately I was taller than most locals so could see a bit above the crowd, but it still took me about 45 minutes to inch my way out of the massive throng.

This was the video view at 10pm out my hotel window:

Then at the second location, the network had progressed to workshop six, and we practiced Pathways principles in the book of Mark. It was a joy seeing them embrace the “Response to the Gospel” session our curriculum team had recently written.

I also taught at a young people’s gathering (15-25 yrs olds) and on Sunday morning in church.

The hospitality I experienced was truly remarkable. My hosts would not let me do anything, including put food on my own plate. They waited on my every need, a custom in that part of the country.

I was truly encouraged by the many ministry opportunities I engaged in, praying for struggling individuals, challenging pastors to preach the Word, partnering with ministry-minded brothers and sisters, and experiencing a very different part of the world than my typical Africa. Thank you for your prayers, friends.

PS – On the way home, I happened to sit next to a window and was struck by the austere but beautiful topography for hour after hour as we flew over Greenland and the northern regions.