The SEED – February 2024
February 2024
“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:22&23
January was a very busy month for the Toposa Team. The Team revisited 41 villages to encourage the believers and mentor the Champions. They also did outreaches in 12 new villages, sharing the Gospel and screening The Jesus Film, with 68 people giving their lives to Christ. No baptisms were done this month.
The numbers of Champions has increased to 95 with over 900 disciples attending their Lighthouses! The Team is working with these disciples weekly, training them and encouraging them as they begin leading others to Christ. Another 34 Audio Bibles and 25 DMM Signage Bookmarks were distributed to believers.
Missionaries Alfred Morulem and James Lomudang coaching Champions as they lead their Lighthouse
Missionary James Lomudang leading morning devotions in a village
COMMISSIONING OF THE NYANG’ATOM TEAM
Finally! The commissioning ceremony for the Nyang’atom Missionary Team was held on January 26th, 2024, at Kibish Full Gospel Church in Turkanaland (see map). The Team is comprised of 2 Turkana-tribe SHARE Motivators and 13 Nyang’atom-tribe evangelists. The ceremony was facilitated by SHARE Staffers James Ewoi, Jackson Erus, Sarah Esekon, and Mary Esinyen. They were also flanked by government officials and other local leaders and pastors.
Top (L-R): Bekele Loubin Lukucho, Elias Echom Loutien, Gabriel Napeiwi Lochege, Ilikori Ekuwom Lokuja, Jeremiah Tebakol
Middle: Abdisa Ituk, Kennedy Egiron Lokiriama, Kula Mama Lokoel, Lochampa Namuya Lopiao, Lochin Ekeno Alemoe
Bottom: Loreng Achok Tikapel, Lucas Akidor Nakotoi, Michael Ekolor Ekuwom, Mitiko Tikapel Lokwaat, Samuel Lokiriama Esinyen
SHARE Staffer, James Ewoi, praying over and commissioning the Nyang’atom Missionary Team
The commissioned Nyang’atom Missionary Team with SHARE Staff at Kibish Full Gospel Church
This month, Next-Gen Coordinator, Mary Esinyen traveled to the Lomilmil Sending Center to check on students’ progress and encourage the teacher. There are approximately 170 children and youth attending classes Monday through Friday taught by Joseph Kotome. All of the children can recite the alphabet and count to 100. Some can even do math and read simple words. They primarily speak the Turkana language and a bit of Swahili, and they are also learning English! Lately, they have been learning about how in the beginning, God created everything; they even know how to retell this story! Some of the children have learned how to pray on their own.
Next-Gen Coordinator, Mary Esinyen, praying for the children at the Lomilmil Sending Center
Mary also traveled to the Lokiding Sending Center this month, along with a few other SHARE Staffers, to officially open the Center! Several Lokiding Village residents attended the opening, along with their children. Francis Naakalei Lochoton will be the teacher at this location with approximately 70 students attending already! SHARE supplied him with stationaries and teaching supplies. Desks will be delivered sometime in March.
SHARE Staffer, James Ewoi, addressing the Lokiding Community
Teacher, Francis, receiving teaching supplies from Mary
Construction at the 10th Sending Center in Kangagetei-beru has begun! Below is a photo of the construction, with Mary visiting to inspect.
The completed Sending Centers are marked in red.
In October, November, and December of 2023, the SHARE Team planted a new church in Kalinga Village, Kachoda Zone; Nayanae-Katon Village, Lokori Zone; and Nalemkais Village, Kalemng’orok Zone, respectively. Between January 22nd and 26th, the Team revisited these new churches for follow up. The Team was delighted to discover that the number of believers in all 3 churches has already increased. Two Lighthouses have formed – one in Kalinga Village and the other in Nalemkais Village – and they are doing well. In each church, leadership roles have been established so that the church can continue to thrive in absence of the Motivator.
In addition to following up with the newly planted churches, the Team was able to perform evangelistic activities in each village as well. In the 3 villages combined, a total of 207 attended open-air meetings, 302 attended The Jesus Film screenings, and 283 attended ministry teachings. As a result, another 63 villagers surrendered their lives to Christ! Pray with us that these new churches will continue to thrive and for the new believers to grow in their faith and become disciple-makers.
Motivator James Emoru praying for those who accepted Christ after screening The Jesus Film in Nalemkais Village
Men’s Ministry
The men of Turkana remain the most difficult age/gender group to reach with the Gospel. However, God continues to reveal Himself, by breaking down the barriers of traditional beliefs, like witchcraft and polygamy! For the past several months, we have steadily seen an increase in Church and Lighthouse attendance among the men. There are now over 1,000 men attending Lighthouses throughout Turkanaland. Turkana men have the utmost influence among their families and communities; so when just one Turkana man commits his life to the Lord, his entire family is likely to follow suit.
SHARE Staffer, Jacktan Kachi, sharing the Gospel with men in Nalemkais Village
Women’s Ministry
The women of Turkana continue to embrace the Gospel and are actively living out their faith in their communities. There are currently over 35,000 women attending Church throughout Turkanaland! Pray that these women would be Christ-like role models to their families and remain strong in their faith.
SHARE Staffer, Anna Karimojong, teaching the ‘3-Walks’ methodology to the women in Kalinga Village
Young Men’s Ministry
The young men of Turkana are beginning to embrace the Gospel in greater numbers. The number of young men attending Church in Turkanaland has increased to over 6,500. Pray for these young men as they are the disciple-makers of tomorrow, that they would remain strong in their faith and be bold in sharing with others.
SHARE Staffer, Simon Akuta, teaching the ‘3-Circles’ methodology to young men in Nayanae-Katon Village
Young Women’s Ministry
There are currently over 7,200 young women attending Church and 192 attending Lighthouses throughout Turkanaland. In January, 112 young women accepted Christ, and 64 were baptized! Pray for these young women that they would stay strong in their faith and be free from forced early marriages because of their stand for Christ.
SHARE Staffer, Anna Karimojong, observing a Champion explaining the ‘3-Walks’ methodology to young women in Nayanae-Katon Village
Children’s Ministry
Turkana children enjoy coming to Sunday School and hearing the Word of God. There are about 13,500 children attending Sunday School taught by 320 trained Sunday School teachers in all the SHARE churches throughout Turkanaland. Of the 320 teachers, 167 are enrolled in a Lighthouse, and 100 are Champions of their own Lighthouse! The teachers are passionate about helping children understand God’s Word. In January, 235 children accepted Christ as their Savior, and 160 were baptized.
SHARE Staffer, Peterson Lokabuk, sharing the Gospel with children in Kalinga Village
PRAISES
PETITIONS
– Safety and perseverance for the Missionaries in Toposaland and the Motivators in Turkanaland
– Peace in South Sudan during the election season
– Continued growth of Next-Gen children, construction of the remaining 5 Centers, and finding qualified teachers for each of the Centers
– Availability of clean water at all 10 DMM Centers and 14 Next-Gen Sending Centers
– Successful outreach and church plant in Lorugum at the end of February
– Peace between the Turkana and the Pokot tribes along the Kalemng’orok and Lokori Zones’ borders and in South Sudan
As believers in Christ, we find our ultimate wealth and peace beyond measure in Him. We lack nothing! We are fully satisfied with/in Him. While we faithfully steward the material and monetary resources He has entrusted to us, we are also mindful that earthly wealth is drifting. So, we learn and choose to store God-given wealth in heaven (Matt. 6:1-20) by investing in the lives of others (1 Cor. 10:24; Phil. 2:3,4). You are the poorest in heart and mind if earthly wealth is your security.
Thanks to your continued prayers and support, we are starting off strong in 2024! The remaining amount needed to meet the 1Q budget is $50,581. We humbly request your continued support. Thank you SO MUCH!
– Sammy
Thank you SO MUCH for your prayers and support!
