Hello to all my family and friends! I’m excited to be writing this newsletter and to be sharing the incredibly exciting things that the Lord is doing in my life, post CSOM. I can attest that He has been faithful to continually show me my great need and desire for His constant presence. There have certainly been trials in this season, but I praise and thank Him for them, as they perpetually lead me to understand more and more just how sovereign God truly is. While in an abandoned tower on the Baja beach front, I felt the Lord give me a passage of Scripture to work through with Him. The passage, in Genesis 32, is where Jacob becomes Israel, and it has been an awesome reminder as of late. Just as he was given a limp, a thorn in the flesh, with which he had to walk for the rest of his life, that same blow brought him to the place of pure faith in God and God alone to fulfill the promise given to him by God. I pray to welcome the thorns in the flesh as they come, inasmuch as I cease from catching heels and instead have faith in God to fight my battles.

“How pleased would you and I be to go halting all our days with such a weakness as Jacob had, if we might also have the blessing that he thus won!”

– Spurgeon

IN THE NEAR FUTURE

Starting next month, I will be joining the Missions Training School (MTS) at CC Saving Grace. It can be thought of as a continuation of the training that started at the Calvary School of Missions, with a lot more opportunities to learn and serve in many aspects of ministry, and to connect with the body of the church. MTS will provide more classes, and even teaching opportunities, as well as opportunities for leaning into the Lord’s direction for my life in going about His work. In addition to starting MTS, I am also excited to be joining a team going to Japan for a vision tour in late January 2024! A vision tour to Indonesia is being planned as well, directly to follow the tour to Japan. These kinds of opportunities are an incredible gift from God, as we seek not only His heart but also His will for the unreached. More on both of these trips will be shared with you all in the coming weeks!

I don’t have a specific country, region, or people group on my heart, but rather I know that I want to be used to be a witness to Christ to the ends of the earth. With that in my heart, whether or not I feel called to a specific country upon stepping foot on the ground, I know that God is going to use these vision tours to teach me and show me so many things that I’ve yet to learn or even consider. The prayer is that He breaks our hearts with what breaks His, and leads us into fulfilling these words of Jesus; “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another,” (John 13:34).

IN THE MEANTIME

There is a ministry at CC Saving Grace called Convinced, led by Pastor Nick. Going every Thursday to either Fullerton JC or to Cal State Fullerton, he is looking to take the gospel to any and all on these campuses, and it is a work of the Holy Spirit. I had the honor of accompanying him this past week, and though I confess to having a fleshly spirit of timidity in these circumstances, I have complete faith that we receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon us to be witnesses to Christ (Acts 1:8). I’ve never felt such a calling to be bold in my faith here and now. It is one thing to look with excitement, fear, and faith in where God is leading me to spread the gospel throughout the world, but it is another thing to admit that He also has a mission field right before me, right here among the secular campuses of universities in Southern California. I share this in part to hopefully spark the same conviction that God has been speaking to me, but also so that you who read this hold me accountable! My spirit is surely willing, but my flesh is incredibly weak, so I beseech and ask that you beseech the Lord of the harvest to send workers into HIS harvest field (Matthew 9:37-38); where He guides, He provides. Engaging in discourse with these souls on these campuses is not man against man, or our values and beliefs against theirs; it is the God of the living universe reaching out to the lost whom He so loved, and, “… we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us;” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Thank you all for your prayers and support. I feel led to share one last thing, and I know it’s a truth that is for myself just as much as anyone else right now. Our service to the Kingdom of heaven is not accomplished in spite of undesirable circumstances or painful trials; rather, it should be elevated by such things, as God manifests His great strength in our great weakness.

PRAISE REPORTS

• The season that I have been called in to; immediate opportunities to share the gospel.
• The next steps that God has been faithful to provide.
• The unchanging truth that we can have peace in the midst of storms.

PRAYER REQUESTS

• For every student and staff member of MTS to be in prayer and to be prepared going into next month.
• For everyone going on the vision tours to Japan and Indonesia to trust in God’s timing and will throughout each respective process.
• For the hearts of any and all who we will encounter on the college campuses to be good and fertile ground, ready to receive the good news of Jesus Christ.

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭13

Beloved Brothers and Sisters,

I have been praying for you all. When I consider you all, I am filled with joy because you have come alongside me and I am extremely grateful!

Galilean Wedding

Have any of you watched the movie Before The Wrath? If you haven’t, I recommend you do. One of the guys who comes out in the movie taught our first block of class; Life of the Messiah, his name is Jay. When I heard he was teaching I was excited because I had seen the movie and knew who he was. He stayed with us for two weeks. His teaching through the gospels opened my eyes to view the Scripture in a way I always desired to but never knew how to. The last day he was here, he taught about the Galilean wedding. I wish I can go into detail about it but that would require a lot of writing. I will tell you what lit my face up.

I had already known about the Galilean wedding because of the movie, but in Jay’s teaching he elaborated in things the movie doesn’t talk about. One of those things was that at the time of betrothal the bridegroom gives the bride a gift. The gift can be jewelry, any gift that symbolizes she is married because for a year the bridegroom and bride are not together. He then shared Ephesians 1:13, he shared how in other scriptures Paul knew about the Galilean wedding because he spent time with the apostles. Well when he read Ephesians 1:13, I nearly jumped out of my seat and said “the Holy Spirit is our wedding ring” but I didn’t say anything, instead, my face said it all. It all clicked. This may not make sense if you didn’t know that at the Last Supper Jesus was referencing a Galilean wedding to his apostles who would have understood clearly what Jesus was talking about. Jesus gave you and I a wedding ring which is His Holy Spirit, we are His bride! We have said I do! He will come back for His bride! He is preparing a room for us (John 14:2)! Only our Papà in Heaven knows the time Jesus can come for His bride and I so eagerly wait to be united with my bridegroom!:)

Desires of My Heart

The Lord has placed desires in my heart that I am seeing being fulfilled here. Let me run you through a few of them. I always wanted to learn the Bible in its full context and the background of the text. What I mean by that is knowing the culture at that time, knowing the history of the time, being able to put myself in the character’s shoes, what they could have been thinking, their living situation and not using chapter breaks (which helps with context). All those things, I am learning here, it has blown my mind because I am seeing the scriptures from a simple way. Let me leave this nugget with you for the next time you’re studying the Bible; don’t ask why, ask what is it for:). Another desire I am seeing fulfilled was that I always wanted to memorize scripture but I wouldn’t keep myself accountable. For our group devotionals we have to memorize a scripture once a week and we have each other to keep ourselves accountable. I have challenged myself to memorize the book of 1 John. I have been wanting to memorize this book since summer and I am now getting to it. Another desire is evangelizing. We have been reading two books; Tactics and In the Footsteps of Prophesy. I have been learning a lot through these books in which I can apply when I evangelize.

I have never seen God’s will play out so clearly in my life and Him fulfilling the desires of my heart. As cheesy as this may sound the Lord makes me smile and giddy through all this. Not only is He my source of joy but He is my everything.

Update

I am at 70% in the goal of being able to visit the missions team after CBI Israel and my plane ticket to go back home. The ticket to fly to where the missions team is located is $300 and the plane ticket back home is $900. Please be praying for the Lord’s provision and wisdom if I should still visit the missions team.

*EXCITING NEWS*

In February of next year a group of us are planning on taking a vision tour to Bali and Jakarta Indonesia. If you recall a couple months ago I shared with you all, my heart for Bali. The importance of taking this vision tour is to know if this is a location God is calling me long term and I won’t know until I go check out the place.

In the first pic, behind us is a model of Jerusalem from the old days. The second pic, is of a septuagint Leviticus scroll which is part of the Dead Sea Scrolls that were found in Qumran in 1947. I was also able to see a replica of the Isaiah Scroll (the real copy is sealed and protected elsewhere). It was so neat to be able to see all that was found in Qumran. It’s crazy to consider that even with such evidence people still deny the Word or deny there is a God.

Biblical Dinner: I learned what it meant to be the guest of honor and all that it would entail. I learned the customs of those times and how some still practice it. This has opened my eyes to view the scripture in a detailed way. Now when I go back and read about when Jesus went to Matthew’s house or when he went to the Pharisees house or the Last Supper, I will have in mind what that would entail.

Praise Report

• Praise God I am in the Holy Land and I am learning so much
• Praise God He is fulfilling the desires of my heart
• Praise God for taking care of me

Prayer Request

• Pray for the vision tour to Bali and Jakarta
• Pray that in moments when I miss my church, my leadership, family & friends that the Lord would fill me
• Pray for open doors to share the gospel with the Jews

“ Follow Me, and I Will Make You Fishers of Men”

Fishers of Men in the Mountains

It is always exciting to share about what God is doing through our Bible College students. God had been raising up these young people so wonderfully that they are sold out for Jesus. They have been studying God’s Word. They are not only studying, they want live it out.

We opened up opportunities for all our students to serve in a remote area during their recent semester break. A couple of days later, some of the students came to my room and said, “Can we go to that village? God has been speaking to our hearts about those villages again and again.” So we sent them.

They stayed in that village for a month and shared the Gospel door-to-door. They made young friends and invited them to church and to have tea. They also encouraged the church youth and took them in different villages to share Christ. Now people they invited have started coming to the church. Even one famous witch doctor is now coming to church! To God be glory!

Fishers of Men in the Plains

Some Bible College students wanted to go to a flat area where the Gospel had not yet reached. It is so easy to physically reach people in the plains, but it is very hard to reach in their hearts. The people who live in the plains are very influenced by the Hindu religion. They are extremely hard-hearted towards the Gospel.

Some of our students went to the plains to share Christ. They kept on being persistent, believing that God can change hearts and that someday, in God’s timing, the the people they shared with will receive Christ. They went from village to village sharing the Gospel. They became light and salt in the mist of the Hindu people, though the people were close-minded toward the Gospel. We believe that what is done for Christ will never be in vain.

Fishers of Men and Women in the Capital

Together, the Bible college students and staff love to go to share Christ around the city. We go to the city, share Christ, and invite people to our Bible study. The students are learning to share Christ every time we go.

Some of the people have shown up at our Bible study. One man came to Bible study and the next week he brought his whole family. They all gave their lives to Jesus! OH ! What a joyful moment!

Now our students are more excited to go share Christ more–all around the city, highways and byways. They are sharing Christ with all of the drug addicted people, store keepers, ex-prisoners, policemen, shepherds, etc. Doing this makes them realize how privileged they are to know Christ and have relationships with the one true God.

Please pray for all our CBI students as they may grow more in His Grace and and in His Word….Amen.

Anand and Usha and Family

Dear Pastors, Leaders and Church Families!

  Greetings from our church to all of you! I hope you all are well by the grace of God. My wife, mom, dad and I are all well by the grace of God. We remain engaged in serving and praying to God day and night. I thank God that the people of our church are growing day by day in the Word of the Lord and in prayer. They are facing every kind of persecution with stability and determination. I am currently teaching from the book of Genesis during our Friday Bible study at my church. We recently finished Romans during Sunday fellowship, so I am now teaching from 1 Corinthians on Sundays. Throughout the week, in each village I go to for home church or Bible study, I repeat what I taught during that week’s Friday Bible study and also what I preached on Sunday.

The wife of the man who tore the Bibles and threw them into the river was baptized.

Thank God that He is helping the people of our church grow in His knowledge. Several months ago,, I shared about a man who became a believer and was baptized after tearing the Bibles and throwing them into the river. This time his wife accepted the Lord and was baptized. It had not rained much here for about 2 years and there were not any floods. But I thank God and you all for yours prayers–there was some rain here, which caused a flood. I was able to baptize her in the flood water!

This woman’s husband is a farmer. A few years ago, when we went to his village and distributed Bibles, he collected all of the Bibles and threw them into the river. But later, when we shared the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and came in prayer, he accepted Jesus. When we went to his house and started having fellowship there, the people of his village began to hate him and distanced themselves from his family, calling him a Muslim. The people of his village stopped talking to him. He used to work in the fields of the village people, but now the people of the village have sent him out of their fields also. Yet this brother’s family did not lose faith. He continued to encourage his wife to believe in Jesus and she too believed and was baptized this month. Thank God that now the whole family comes to Friday Bible study and is learning God’s Word.

Praise points:

1. Thank God another believer in our church was baptized this month.

2. Thanks be to the Lord for the rain, so the farmers could plant rice.

3. Thanks be to God for providing all of our needs.

4. Thank God for giving me good health despite the heat. He did not let me get any major disease.

5. Thank the Lord for strengthening the believers in faith and giving them the strength to face persecution.

6. Thank God that Pi* started attending church again after her family stopped her from coming last month.

Prayer Requests:

1. Please pray for the family of my friend a former Bible college student, H*, who went to be with the Lord last week. About 2 months ago, my wife and I went to meet him at his house. That same day, he found out that he had end-stage cancer.
2. Another brother (above) lives near our village. He has mouth cancer. His name is R*. He believes in God and has been baptized. Right now his condition is very critical. A few days ago he needed blood, so I and another friend of mine donated blood.
3. Please pray for those who are having difficulty in sending monthly support.
4. Please pray that God will increase our church in the knowledge and faith of His Word.
5. Please pray for our country. May God give goodwill and love to the people here. May God give peace so that people will quit fighting and spreading hatred in the name of spreading religion.
6. Please pray for R* who has been disabled for about 21 years and also for A* who has been mentally ill for almost 24 years. May God heal them both.
7. Please pray for the believer of our church whose name is Pu*. Her husband locked her in the house so that she cannot come to church. May God release her soon.
8. Please pray for it not so be so hot here. Because of the heat, my wife, my family and I got prickly heat. There are also frequent times of no electricity, due to which we are not able to sleep well at night. Also, because of the crowd, it is very hot in the church. May God give us quick relief from the heat.

Thank you for your prayers, support and Christian love and for sharing in the gospel.



God bless you and your family very much.

Pastor & Mrs. 11*

*Names and faces have been changed or omitted for security reasons.

Hi Friends and Family!!

Back in the States for a couple of months now. We haven’t been living in Southern California for long but already we have gained some amazing friends and love being a part of the church here. We’ve been opening up our house as often as possible to prayer groups, bible studies, and fellowship. We have been blessed by most of our family being nearby and living in the state. We would have never thought that possible, due to them living in multiple states before the move was even contemplated.

“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed,”

Psalm 127:3-5

The family has multiplied. We gained two new members in one month. The beginning of July we added sweet little Adeline Mae Crenshaw, in which we mentioned in the last update. She’s growing and developing into the sweetest granddaughter. In a beautiful wedding at the end of July, Jorden was added to the family. Jorden and Aleah are called to serve our Father in the Middle East.

Seeking and preparing for what the Lord has for us in world missions is our focus now. With that focus, we are going to be beginning the Missions Training School which starts in October. The training is a commitment of at least a year here in Souther California. As students we’ll be doing many things; here’s some highlights: we’ll be doing outreaches (inner-city, at college campuses, and neighborhoods), classes (on many subjects such as cross-cultural training, evangelism, and church planting), and teachings (we’ll be learning and practicing how to teach the Word of God). There will be more but this is a little bit of what will be happening this next year.

We are excited to be able to head down to Peru Sept. 23- Oct. 7th for the Church Planting Conference and classes at Calvary Bible Institute. We are going to be serving and assisting wherever the need is for this conference, that has grown to over 500 attendees from all over. The Whosoevers will be performing and many pastors will be speaking. Our desire is to make connections and learn from this conference the vision of planting churches and missions. Also, they’ll be sending out a few missionaries and a church plant to the Amazon. Another great blessing in going, is we are getting to see our youngest son, Joshua, who has been attending/living at the CBI Peru campus for the last two semesters. Please pray for our health, unity, and provisions still needed of all who attend.

Recently, we got to participate and be in support of our missionaries here are Saving Grace World Missions. The walk-a-thon was a big success. People came out to support and donate towards the Middle East, Pakistan, Uganda, India, and Nepal. Sven and I walked and raised what we could. Almost $180,000 was raised overall!! Praise the Lord!

The Lord willing, we are in the process of finalizing our plans to travel to Japan at the beginning of 2024. We are planning on going on a vision tour that a team from our church are going on but also leave a few weeks earlier to travel, just us, to pray over Japan and where the Lord would have us. We definitely have a leaning on where He is directing us to live but we will be asking for God to confirm to us our calling and direction in this. It will be our first big step in faith and in God confirming His calling to go there.

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”

Matthew 28:18-20

Sven’s Corner

As Carrie and I are back from Mexico now, I have had a good amount of time to reflect on all that the Lord did during that time and what it meant for our future. The Japan vision tour is approaching fast, and I am excited about all that the Lord may reveal on that trip. An eventual long-term move to a location in Japan is the goal of all of what we believe the Lord is preparing us for. Part of that is a church planting training in Peru. As I continue to surrender to the Lord daily: our plans, goals, ambitions, desires, even my very life. The real work the Lord is continuing to do is on the inside. Some things are easy, aren’t they? Providing we take God at His Word. For example, Matthew 28:18-20 is self-explanatory, the reason why Christians have such a hard time following the call of the Great Commission is because they think it is optional and/or are waiting for a specific call to go! Except, God already gave the call to go right? There, as His last command before He ascended. There are many words spoken by the Lord that are not hard to understand, just not popular in today’s Christian culture. Which does not have the Bible as the center authority within its theology or practices and it’s also accepting of the rewriting of Christianity. What saddens me the most is that because the Church is ignoring vast passages of the Word of God, the Church is missing out on what God has for her. The disdain for holding onto Eschatology is very prevalent also.  But I digress. As part of graduating from the School of Missions, we each were given a wonderful gift by the leadership. The two book series by Nik Ripken “The Insanity of God” and the follow-up book “The Insanity of Obedience”. Both were amazing gifts and life-changing. I have mentioned a few books here that I would love for you to read, please add these to your reading list.  

If you take the time to read about what is going on outside of the four walls of the USA or your own first-world country, I pray that you may be moved with compassion like Jesus is and see the plight of a world that has not had a chance to accept or reject Him. The devastation and hopelessness that people face in other countries apart from God. “The Insanity of God” is the kind of book that will open your heart to these things, if you allow the Lord to do so. The only reason why you would not be moved is if you have no heart for the lost at all, but of course, if you love the Lord that is impossible because Jesus loves all people, and He has a heart for all of them. As the true church of God, His Body, His Bride, we must have the heart that He has, how else can we say that we love Him?  Friends, we are told, not asked, if need be, to lay down our lives for our God. Yes, going on the mission field can be scary. Staying home can be scarier. Have the audacity to pray, “Lord am I called to stay?” The safest, best place for you and I to be is smack in the dead center will of God. No matter where on the planet God calls you to. In the meantime, as you pray over your own life and the availability you want to give to the Lord to use your life, please continue to pray for us as we prepare to go.

“Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.” 

Ephesians 4:12 NLT

The past month has been full and blessed and we look forward to a full and blessed October as well.

Equipping the Saints

I will be teaching another round of a two week intensive Christian Apologetics class at Cambodia Bible Institute from September 25 to October 6. Please pray for wisdom and strength for myself, the staff, and the students during this class.

I continue to preach at the international/interdenominational church around once a month to around 400 people from more than 30 nations. This church includes everyone from missionaries to non-Christians who are open to the Gospel. I also have started/am leading the men’s ministry there. Our first meeting was on October 9 and despite heavy rains and flooding, 13 men from 8 different nations attended and were blessed by the prayer, fellowship, and teaching. I continue to help with the ministry to the Chinese there and help lead a verse-by-verse Sunday School/Bible Study in English and Chinese with the Chinese pastor. Kayo also started and leads the women’s ministry there too.

I also have started to lead the devotions at Precious Women Organization about once a month. Kayo also leads the devotions there on a regular basis.

Building Up the Body

I have been volunteering as the English Editor for Light Times Magazine with Soksan and Linat since 2017. They are wonderful friends and Christian siblings. Now, I am excited that LAFH (Light Association for all Families Healthier-English translation of the official/registered organization name) is developing the organization behind the magazine.

You can see the vision and activities of the Light Association organization in the diagram above. One of the areas that I am most excited about is the Mental and Spiritual Wellness area. Mrs. Linat is a trained mental health counselor and trainer. I am a trained Christian apologist and I also have a testimony of how God has blessed, restored, and protected me through the past 20 years of mental health challenges. Even though we are now a small organization of only three people and limited resources, God has given us great impact, unity, and synergy together to minister to the mental and spiritual needs of a broad range of people-both Cambodians and expats. We may also be able to equip churches, families, and organizations in Cambodia to better minister to the spiritual and mental health needs of people who need help but are often marginalized for various reasons. For those of you that know my testimony in this area, this is truly a “Beauty for Ashes” opportunity!

In Christ’s Love,

Darryl, Kayo, and Benjamin

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:24-25

Dear Friends and Family,

Recently we have been blessed with fellowship, much needed fellowship. As full time missionaries, sometimes it can get lonely. As you minister to others and others come to you for discipleship and counsel sometimes you long for someone that you can share with and be encouraged by.

In Northern Uganda we have friends that we rarely get to see but when we do, it is always encouraging and seems as if no time has passed. Our fellowship is sweet because we are in similar situations with our marriages (multicultural) and our ministries. We all have churches and minister to people who are have spiritual and physical needs. Also our children are similar in age so there is fellowship in the struggles parents face as our kids face different adolescent issues. Recently we were able to meet in Kampala and catch up on all that’s been going on in our lives, the children were able to play and we had time to pray together.

Another great time of fellowship we had was with a small team from the USA. I know Heather and pastor Bond from my home church and they have served often in Africa and Asia. Their team was serving in a couple different areas around Uganda but they also were able to come and serve alongside us one weekend. Our common love for missions and raising up others to serve the Lord brought about great times of fellowship and prayer. Brian was able to enjoy pastoral encouragement spending time talking and listening to 2 other pastors. Pastor Bond shared with Arise Christian fellowship on Sunday. His message was called, “Saved life, Wasted Life” based on the story of Lot. It was something the congregation needed to hear and I believe something I had been praying about personally. While it is amazing to be saved, may we never forget to share that salvation with those around us. They also asked me to share my testimony and calling to Africa with their team. It always amazes me how far God has brought me and how I can so clearly see His hand in every step that has brought me to where I am, even in the most difficult steps.

Fellowship doesn’t always have to take place in person. We have been encouraged by those who send us notes, emails or give us a call. It is always a blessing to hear that someone is praying for you and the people you minister to. Fellowship is a two way street so we are also encouraged when we hear about other peoples’ ministries and are given the opportunity to pray for them. Recently one of the supporters for Arise Christian Fellowship reached out to us to ask the church to pray for their son who was ill. We shared with the church and everyone from the Sunday service to the Sunday school made it a mission to pray for them. Liana is still praying for him every night. We were able to send some of their prayers and words of encouragement back to the family. We pray their son is recovered and they have been blessed.

Having true fellowship with other believers is an amazing experience every Christian should be experiencing. As a missionary the hardest part of fellowship is saying goodbye when it is time to leave or to be left. It is always bittersweet. You mourn for the loss of specific fellowship but as you leave or send people off there is the excitement of, “what next Lord?” For the last year we have had the sweetest fellowship with Sasha and Sveta. They came from Russia to do pastoral training in South Sudan. Their time here was very fruitful and they blessed us personally with friendship. They became a part of the Arise Christian Fellowship Family as well as Calvary Chapel Cush in South Sudan. They touched so many lives with the love of Christ while they were here. This past month we had to say goodbye to them as they move on to the next mission God has for them. We know that wherever they end up will be blessed by having them.

We are thankful for the fellowship we have with all of you who are both far and near. We are thankful those of you who reach out to us through various means and pray for us. We are thankful for those who reach out to us to share what is happening in their lives and ministries and who ask us to pray for them.

In Him,

Brian, Jill, Luke, Laylee, and Liana

PRAYER REQUESTS

• We are so thankful for the many ways the Lord has blessed us and for everyone who supports us and the ministry in Uganda.
• Please pray for all the missionaries serving in Uganda. Pray that they have times of fellowship with one another and with those from their home churches.
• Pray for the teams that recently came through. Pray their time will continue to bear fruit even after they have gone.
• Pray for the upcoming teams that will be serving in South Sudan and in Uganda. Pray all the details will come together and they will be directed by the Lord
• Pray for Sasha, Sveta, and Taya as they prepare for the next mission God is calling them to.
• Pray for the Kanyike children to get called for their citizenship interview.
• Pray for Brian as he pastors and leads the ministry team at Arise Christian Fellowship.
• Please prayerfully consider becoming part of the Kanyike Family support team.

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

Proverbs 14:34

It has been two years since we started Yalwak Manyen (New Generation) Sports Academy, an after-school soccer outreach for kids in Adak village, where we used to live. What sprang up as a way to give kids the gospel, structure, and an outlet for energy continues to influence and impact families in the community.

We began this soccer ministry during the lockdowns when children of all ages were kept from school, the primary source of structure and discipline in their lives. The youth were becoming more restless and unruly, even to the point where young boys in our village were setting up roadblocks to stop motorcyclists to beat and rob them. God gave us the vision to start this soccer outreach, which almost immediately affected our community. Kids used to rush away from home to get into mischief with their friends; instead, they would stick around to fetch water, sweep the compound, or help dig in the garden. They used to come home whenever they pleased; now, they go home when their mothers asked. They had no outlet for energy and were becoming a nuisance to the whole community, but now they were becoming an honor to their families. But what was more instrumental in this change was hearing the gospel preached to them. They brought it home to their families, and people began to have hope again.

Now, after two years, the method hasn’t changed much. Coaches Kizito and Kenneth arrive to a horde of waiting children. They open the storage room door, and the kids quickly carry the box of uniforms, a sack of soccer balls, and stacks of cones out onto the field. They do warm-ups and exercise, practice different moves and techniques, and play mini-soccer matches, resulting in characteristic loud cheers when someone gets a goal. Then, Coach blows the whistle, and the kids swarm the field, competing to gather the cones and gear and huddle together to finish their time with devotions. Coach Kizito presents a Bible story, explains it, and asks questions. They memorize and review Bible verses and then pray together, heading home just as the evening sun begins to cast shades of gold on the grasses and trees.

We’ve seen many times how the child begins acting differently at home; the family is intrigued by this change and begins attending church. Over time, the whole family is changed, and even the fathers begin to taper off their drinking habits and take care of their families. The entire community notices this change, and it is a beautiful testimony to God’s love and ability to redeem. It’s hard to say exactly what things are a result of the soccer outreach or how far-reaching the message has been since only God can see the hearts. Between the soccer kids themselves and the coaches checking up on the families of each child and sharing the gospel during visits, we have some idea of the numbers. It has been reported that among 50 families whose children have participated in the football outreach over the two years, about 150 adults and children have either rededicated their lives to the Lord or have been saved for the first time. Out of the 56 children in the Little’s League, at least 50 profess to know Christ, and in the Youth League (ages 16-25), 6 out of the 14 have been saved.

We have hopes to further the stability of this program. By God’s grace, we were able to purchase five acres of land in the community, flatten it, and propagate grass for regulation-size soccer fields. We were also able to build a grass-roofed house for our head coach and his family to stay in while they maintain the property. We aim to develop the land further by creating a latrine, changing rooms, and a roofed area for shade and protection from the rain. We want to keep a good supply of equipment on hand, such as balls, cones, uniforms, and shoes. Most importantly, we hope to restart our Youth League, which had to be canceled due to a lack of equipment.

Praise God with us that:

• God has been moving through Yalwak Manyen in our community.
• Many souls have been added in our village.

Please join us in prayer that:

• God would raise a generation of strong believers in Adak Village.
• God would provide $500.00 a month to support this outreach.
• God would keep our coaches and their families healthy and strong for the work He has for them.

In Christ,

Matt & Noelle & Family

Thank you, prayer partners and financial supporters, for your continued prayers and support. I want to apologize for not connecting with you for so long. I was going through emotional pain. My younger sister, who was next to me, hanged herself to death. I was so close to her. This was a big shock for me and for my parents as well. Because of the sorrow, my parents became ill. My father (right) is still undergoing medical treatment. It was not easy for me to teach and preach the Word to the believers, when I myself was broken in my heart. Thanks be to God who has helped me to overcome this sorrow and take care of my parents.

Since my parents are not well, I have to take over all the family responsibilities. I am doing the farming since it is the rainy season (the time we grow rice).

The church members are doing well. Some church members are the only believers from their family. They are being pressured by their family members to not attend Sunday services. One of these is S*. He has stopped coming to church on Sundays, but goes with me to visit other believers’ families during the middle of the week. I am also evangelizing a family. None of them have yet put their faith in Jesus.

Prayer Requests:

1. Please pray for my parents to be healed.
2. Please pray for S* to stand firm in his faith and that his family members would also be saved.
3. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will help the family I am witnessing to trust Jesus for their salvation.
4. Please pray for me to grow in the Lord and do the ministry with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Co-workers in Christ,

Pastor 2*

*Names and Faces have been changed or omitted for security reasons.

“Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy Word.”

Psalms 119:114

Thanks to be God, He has brought wonderful students to our Calvary Bible Institute! This semester, God brought talented students to our CBI. When I see them, I rejoice in Christ because they are eager to learn the Word of God. Some of them are skilled in the field of music; they know how to play the guitar and how to write and sing songs. Some are skilled in playing sports as well. Many of them have a heart to serve the Lord, even though they do not know what will happen in the future. If we can train them well, I think we will be able to do a lot of work for the Lord in our country. When I see the students, I can tell that they are understanding everything I teach them. Their hearts want to know “Who is the Real Jesus?” One class of our dear students is going to graduate soon; pray that God will mightily use them and bring positive changes into the churches of our country.

This semester, I am teaching the Gospel of Mark and the Book of Acts. Our dear students are eager to learn about how to preach the Gospel to unreached people.

In our church, we already finished the book of Colossians. Now we are beginning the book of 1 Thessalonians. Our believers are learning and growing day by day.

My beautiful wife, Mahima’s sister’s daughter is also studying in our CBI. It was through this daughter that my wife and her whole family came to Christ. She came to CBI to study, and now she has also publicly showed that she is following Jesus. Now, she is a first semester student in our school. Before coming to CBI, she was planning to go to Japan. We talked with her and asked her to join CBI, and now she has joined us.

Our dear brother Harka already graduated from our Calvary Bible Institute. He is in the ministry now and is serving the Lord. He has had a difficult time, but he has been able to feed his family by working with making small furniture. He left his home area to do ministry in a new area. When Harka came to CBI, he knew the importance of study. After he graduated he joined a college in his area. He did a great job there and got good grades. Now, he also would like to get a bachelor’s degree someday, but is looking after his family and two small children. Pray for God’s will to be done in this. Harka is doing Gospel outreaches every month and visiting new areas.

My beautiful wife is also doing online Bible Study. She is now teaching the book of Revelation. She finished the book of Genesis and the book of Daniel. Pray that God will give us a baby. We have been married for 5 years. Pray that God will help us to do treatment, or that He will provide a nice job for my wife so that she can be busy during the day. May God provide for us and help us to have a baby who would also grow up to do God’s ministry.

We are ding Bible study in the leprosy colony. By the grace of God, everyone is growing in the Lord day by day. By His grace, we are doing this and feeding them with the Word.

Thank you so much for supporting us, praying for us and raising us up! God bless every entire family at Saving Grace World Missions!

Grace and peace,

Your faithful servants,

Rabi and Mahima