The SEED – December 2023
December 2023
“So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” – Luke 2:16-20
Year-End Message from Founder, Sammy Murimi
The Toposa Team has been very active this month; the Gospel of Christ has been spreading quickly! God has even touched the hearts of some of the witchdoctors in the area! The Team revisited 46 villages, teaching and encouraging the Champions as they lead Lighthouses. Since our October report, the Champions, Lighthouses, and Disciples that are making disciples of others have grown from 60 to 78 Champions, 60 to 78 Lighthouses, and 600 to 746 disciples, and they have expanded from 47 villages to 53! In 2024 the Team is looking to start Sunday worship services in the villages that have multiple Lighthouses.
The Team also visited 17 new villages, screened The Jesus Film, and shared the Gospel message. In November, 126 people accepted Christ, and because there was enough water, 34 believers were baptized! The Team distributed 62 Audio Bibles, 4 hard-copy Bibles, and 31 DMM signage bookmarks.
Each team member travels a minimum of 40 miles each day to visit a single village, and they visit multiple villages each week. The closest villages are 20 miles from the field operations base. The Team has reached the villages closest to them. They will be expanding their outreach next year, traveling to villages that are 35-45 miles away.
Continue to pray for the Team in Toposa, that they would remain bold in their faith and continue diligently with the effort to reach the unreached homesteads.
Champion Lomilo Alibino sharing the Gospel with his village under the coaching of Missionary Ewoton Akiroto (standing right)
MIssionaries Joseph Lotubae and Peter Eriku Ekuwom baptizing the new believers in Penypeny Village
Missionary Peter Eriku Ekuwom having morning devotions with the people in a village
The children singing and celebrating with their Sunday School teacher
The children enjoying some milk
Kalobeyei Coordinator, Wilson Lopunguryei, addressing the children
Construction of the 9th Sending Center is now underway in Lokiding Village, Kalobeyei Zone. The building will be completed by the end of December. Only 5 more to go!
The completed Sending Centers are marked in red.
At the end of November, a SHARE team traveled to Lokori Zone, the southern-most zone in Turkana, to plant a church in Nayanae Katon Village. The Team did homestead-to-homestead evangelism; screened The Jesus Film with 105 people attending; had 2 open-air meetings with about 75 people attending; and Bible teaching times with 50-80 people attending over the 2-day period. A total of 45 people accepted Christ, and 7 were baptized. Motivator David Ekaran will shepherd this new church. He ministers to four other churches in the area as well.
The entire Lokori Zone has only eight Motivators overseeing 15 churches and 61 Lighthouses! It has been difficult to do ministry in this zone due to security issues from raiding bandits, resulting in nil DMM training by the Lodwar staff. Despite these challenges, the 61 Champions are discipling 260 believers. SHARE plans to distribute Audio Bibles to the Champions soon. There are 16 unreached villages in this zone. These villages will be reached at the earliest time possible.
The Team of Staff and Motivators doing homestead-to-homestead evangelism
Motivator David Ekaran praying for the people who accepted Christ following the screening of The Jesus Film
Motivators David Ekaran & Robert Ekale baptizing believers
Motivator Robert Ekale sharing during an open-air meeting
The Gospel message continues to spread throughout Turkanaland. There are over 13,000 children attending Sunday School every week under the tutorage of 292 Sunday School teachers. That means each SS teacher is teaching an average of 44 students! Fifteen children accepted Christ in November.
Simon Ekiru Lokadio’s Testimony
“Praise God! My name is Simon Ekiru Lokadio. I am saved, Jesus Christ is my personal Savior. I thank God for salvation.
I come from Keereng’ Village near Lokwii. I usually teach people the Word of God, and many have heard the Gospel including men, women, youth, and children. We meet thrice a week; Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
The Word of God has been helpful to us, and we are going forward disseminating it to the various parts of Turkanaland, just as Christ said that whoever will believe in me should go and make disciples of others. People have come to Church in multitudes. They are very active in attending Lighthouse meetings, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
The Audio Bibles distributed to us are one of the tools for spreading the Word. We appreciate and acknowledge its effectiveness. Therefore, we urge for more. We enjoy listening to the Word of God in our own dialect because it is more comprehensible. Some people lack Audio Bibles, and that’s why there is an urge for more. We have realized that through spreading God’s Word, many Turkana residents will be empowered and can acquire knowledge. The Word of God is a necessity in our very lives. Thank you. God bless.”
PRAISES
PETITIONS
– That the Toposa Missionaries will remain bold in sharing the Gospel message
– Sammy
Thank you SO MUCH for your prayers and support!
