Hong and Esther Yang recently returned from spending three arduous weeks of teaching and preaching in Botswana and Zambia, Africa. The teaching involved the BA and MA degree levels.

Students, who were trained in over 100 hours, attended from nearly a dozen nations throughout Africa. Africa is experiencing a great revival, especially in the Muslim areas.

The Yangs also evangelized hundreds, including the many Chinese living in these African nations.

Five more mission trips for Hong and Esther are scheduled at the start of next year in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. Please keep the Yangs in your prayers for provision and safety.

Project #060-0036

The Zambian government in Africa has graciously embraced Emma’s Kids and has provided the school with seven teachers, whom the government will pay. Emma’s Kids currently has 300 children who are attending the academy.

The kids come from the poorest village in the area, as well as some of Emma’s Kids are their own who are committed to the ministry. The school houses 30 children for whom they are totally responsible—feeding, clothing, school fees. Emma’s Kids feeds other vulnerable children who do not live at the institution, but have limited resources. These children’s education is paid for those who go beyond grade seven. Most of Emma’s Kids are non-boarders, grades one through seven.

The Love, Hope, and Faith Medical Clinic is provided, too, and registered with the government. A nurse and a doctor are on call and treat the Emma’s Kids for free at the government hospital, or a private one if needed.

The farm continues to provide maize (corn) which really helps Emma’s Kids with their budget. Harvest International Church of God in the bush has a farm, as well that is run by the local pastor, and Emma’s Kids are involved there. God blessed them with the land which is over 1700 acres and MWOA helped build on it.

Ever faithful, God has allowed Church of God World Missions high priority status, including International Director Dr. David M. Griffis, in the government, and the ministry is protected.

Give to this project, #715-0116.

Missionaries Rodney and Carol Friend arrived in Zambia this past July, and experienced the busyness of getting settled in the first three weeks.

The Friends were warmly welcomed as the new directors by the Bethel Theological College faculty and staff. The third term begins in September, and the administrative offices and classrooms are currently being remodeled with new floor tiles and paint. The new dormitories are nearing completion on the first floor, anticipating it will house the students for the new term.

During their initial time in Zambia, Rodney and Carol visited two churches in Lusaka … one is Family Life Church of God pastored by Missionary Teresa Kimbrell, who is also a faculty member and financial manager at BTC. Rodney ministered in the service at Family Life. Holy Cross Church of God in the Bauleni area is led by Pastor John, and the Friends enjoyed meeting and worshipping with the congregation.

The Friends went to their neighboring nation of Zimbabwe with Field Director Peter Thomas and Dr. Israel Simbaya, BTC academic dean. The intent is to hopefully build ways to have students from Zimbabwe attend BTC. They met with Bishop Maushe, overseer of Zimbabwe who is also the education director.

Although other matters associated with settling into a new home and nation remain to be done, the Friends are thankful for God’s help in accomplishing tasks so far.

Rodney and Carol ask for continued prayer and support so that they can remain and be fruitful in Zambia!

Project #060-0016

Recently, in Kigali, Rwanda a team from RIO Central church, in East Tennessee, led by Pastor Tommy Roberts and Assistant Pastor Tony Simerly trained over 100 Church of God church planters from the countries of Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Many of these Pastors have seen their colleagues kidnapped, beaten and persecuted but they have soldiered on.

In the last 6 months with the Global Fire Advance and Harvesters Hub model church planting training, they have planted 183 churches.

It seems the STIFFER the resistance the greater the harvest.

Their faith and perseverance in the face of daunting odds sometimes almost makes you ashamed to complain or get tired. They definitely have something valuable and aren’t intimidated or reluctant to share it.

The same New Testament phenomenon being expressed in this training site is being replicated approximately 50 more times in 50 locations around the globe to the tune of around 6,000 new churches in the last year alone.

Africans, Asians, Latinos, Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists are being swept into the Kingdom in wholesale numbers. Trainers and students of the Church of God Global Fire Advance* are going into the highways and hedges seeking and searching for the lost.

We need partners, strategies and resources to continue this onslaught on the kingdom of darkness. We are pushing back the darkness now as we seek to Send the Light to the Cities and finish the great commitment.

–Ronnie Hepperly, Southeast Asia Regional Superintendent for Church of God World Missions

*Global Fire Advance is an extension of the Firewall Project AFRICA

At long last, the National Ministries Center of the Harvest Church of God in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is nearing completion.

The capital of Ethiopia, Addis Abbaba, is home to 10 million people. The ministry center will rise high, lifting the cross of Christ!

“Lifting the Cross, Raising the Children” was the theme of the 2011 YWEA of the young people in the U.S. and Canada when they raised nearly $700,000 for the project. The countless young people of the COG in Ethiopia will view the Center as a promise of an exciting future for “their” Church. The five-story center will also serve as a beacon of hope and grace with its tall white cross that seems to be reaching to the heavens.

The property was purchased and plans were drawn, and on November 8, 2015, the ground was broken. What a joyous day it was for the leaders and members of the Harvest Church. The structural part of the building is nearly complete and the finishing work has begun on the inside. The urgent need now is for an additional $95,000 to finish … a finish here will mean a “FINISH” toward the Great Commission!

To partner with the COG in Ethiopia, please use Project #020-8053. Your investment will enable the Harvest Church of God to reach many more thousands for Christ in Ethiopia.

Ministering to a pastoral couple is a bit challenging, but greatly needed. Although a pastoral couple is primarily called to the needs of others, they also need ministry. They too have felt needs. It is said that no one is above needing ministry. Like most ministers in certain fields, pastors and their wives are a unique category. Not only do they do life as a couple, parents, and members of an extended family, they also have the care of all of their constituents/members/congregation.

The temptation is to get “lost” in everyone else’s lives. Peoples’ “demands” can override the pastoral home. Meaning … when people are in the midst of crisis or exciting events, they only think of themselves—their here and now.

Some people never realize the pressures, stress, and so forth, that exists within the pastoral home/relationship. It is difficult and often unwise for a pastoral couple to talk about issues with others. For many, it has caused greater harm, because when people get upset with the pastoral couple they tell what they know; if they want them to leave, then they will be pressured with ultimatums or blackmailed.

How does one minister to those in the pastoral home? Simply by prayer, leadership of the Holy Spirit, being present for/with them, and building relationships with them. It takes people who understand, trust, and have created a “safe place” with full assurance that whatever is shared is confidential. Listening is key. Letting them share openly and honestly the good, the bad, and the ugly. Pray for them, encourage them in the Word, remind them God has not forgotten them and knows right where they are. Their labor is not in vain!

Many times, I have found just being present and listening to the pastoral couple/family really ministers to them. Those in the same shoes know best how to minister to those in like-minded professions. I have had the experience of sitting with pastoral families and listening to their stories, experiences, and life.  As they re-count their calling, meeting of spouses, children’s births, etc., there seems to be a reviving of purpose. For some, it is a reminding of Who called them and that they can carry on. One time, we did a Christmas lunch for some of the pastoral couples in Zambia. For many, “dating” their spouse is non-existent. It was so sweet to see the couples of all ages and years of marriage sitting together for a meal. Each was given a red rose. For most, it was their first date. Marriage traditions are different here than in the West.

Simple reminders of the greatest love ever is God’s love for us. This can be so renewing, refreshing, reviving, and refocusing. In ministering to the pastoral family, it really requires prayer, understanding, and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and His presence.

-Teresa Kimbrell is a career missionary working in Zambia, Africa.

Online support may be given by clicking this link: Project 065-0110

Many children’s lives have been changed for the good through a continual eight-year project that provides a well-balanced meal and an education in a small interior village in Lela, Kenya, Africa, where Dr. Kathy Swift lived and rendered missions work for several years prior to her marriage to Bishop Christian Swift, the regional superintendent of Western Europe.

Although Kathy now lives in Western Europe, the project daily operates through the efficient hands of dependable Kenyans who have embraced the vision as their own, along with Kathy and her ministries. Meals for over 1800 are provided every week in the small school of 600 students.

Amazingly, the Kenyan government chose this small school in the interior as a place to build a complete new complex for children ages 4 to 8. Why here? Because of the healthy atmosphere of education and the food provided by the eight-year feeding project!

The initial building built by donations in 2010 was an added room to cook—out of the hot equator sunshine and at other times, periods of heavy rain. The next building was erected all by hand … a beautiful sanctuary. The project now is drilling a well for the village.

Your donations and support impact lives through humanitarian needs, but more important, provides a means to share daily the love of Jesus.

Thank you for your partnership and support … Project #065-0855 (Kenya)