The SEED – June 2020 – Share International

The SEED – June 2020

Posted June 22, 2020

In The SEED Newsletters of 2020

JUNE 2020 EDITION

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.

2 Thess. 1:3

COVID-19 Update

As of June 22nd, sixteen coronavirus cases had been reported in Turkana – all cases are long distance truck drivers who were screened at the border of Kenya and South Sudan. Strict border restrictions and a 9pm – 4am curfew remain in place in Kenya. Even though most ministry activities remain on hold, our Zone leaders are keeping an eye on their villages as best as they can. Hunger is prevalent. Flooding has created sanitation problems. Due to inflation of prices, most people cannot afford sanitizers and face masks.

Our office in Lodwar writes, “Despite all the current troubles, we are encouraged by Psalm 46:1-3. ‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.’” Pray with us that the Lord will prevent the virus from spreading any further and allow ministry activities to safely resume.

People Continue to Come to Christ in Sopel Zone

My name is Alice Amaniman Lomaala. I am from Nagaetei Village in Sopel Zone.

God is the foundation of my wellbeing, even at such a time of COVID-19 restrictions by the government of Kenya. Though the world is in confusion, God is still my refuge. Though people are worried about this deadly disease, God has continued to be my help. I am able to hold small DMM cell-group prayer meetings in my village.

Many folks in my community are coming to the Lord Jesus Christ in spite of the threats of this coronavirus pandemic. God has kept on preserving the community. We have not witnessed any loss of life from this deadly disease.

The government of Kenya, through the ministry of health, has given us policies and guidelines such as no public gatherings, no open learning institutions, observe the social distance, and worshipping places are closed.

Despite of all the restrictions, I still hold small prayer group meetings with 3-4 of my neighbors. Using the “3-Stones” methodology, I share the Gospel and people give their lives to Christ.

This is my prayer: That we should not worry but have faith in the Lord that this pandemic would come to an end and things will normalize where we can go to worship places and continue with our daily activities.

Steps the Team Takes to Reach an Unreached Village

Have you ever wondered how the SHARE Leadership Team in Turkanaland decides which unreached village they should share the Gospel with and whether that village is ready to hear the Gospel? Do they just do this by trial and error, or do they have a strategy that they use?

Here is the answer:

When the SHARE Team starts the process of going into a previously unreached village to share the Gospel and plant a church, there are 5 key steps that they follow.

STEP 1:

An unreached village is identified by the SHARE Motivator (Missionary) in the area, the area chief and the village elders.
They look for a person of influence and peace in the village. (This might even be the area’s witchdoctor!)

STEP 2:

They survey the village in regards to population, existence of religions, point persons, access roads or paths, water points, suitable site for camping, and how to engage with the village elders.
Establish contact with the villagers through the elders.

STEP 3:

Plan for logistics for an evangelistic outreach.
The SHARE International Team of Evangelism (SITE) travels to the village and introduces themselves to the villagers.
They pitch their tents and settle in.
They begin homestead-to-homestead evangelism.
They invite the people to gather for prayer.
They divide into smaller groups of men, women, young men, young women, and children and begin teaching.
They screen The Jesus Film the first evening.
Immediately following the screening, they share the message of repentance and forgiveness, leading the people into a prayer of confession and new birth in Christ.

STEP 4:

The next day they offer baptism to those who accepted Christ.
The launch of the new church has begun!

STEP 5:

The next day the inauguration service of the church plant happens.
The church is then handed over to the local Motivator that serves that area. The Motivator begins to disciple the new believers, appoints small-group Champions who use Audio Bibles to disciple others. Multiplication of disciples begins!

DMM Center in Kachoda Zone

Construction began at the Kachoda DMM site on April 23rd and was completed on June 11th! The team faced the challenges of heavy rains, which slowed down construction; water shortage from the main source; resistance from some of the local residents, who demanded to be hired as casual workers; and long days of travel between Lodwar and Kachoda by the SHARE staff to supervise the project, including quite a few flat tires on the route.

We are thankful to God for the completion of this Training and Worship Center. We are thankful that building standards were not compromised and for the safety of the building crew. We are thankful that, after the building contractor – James Lengai – fell off the roof, was not badly injured and was able to return to work very quickly.

This building is ready for use as soon as the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Thank you to LakeView Church in Stoughton, WI for funding the project, and thank you to the Lodwar staff and the building crew! Praise the Lord!

The completed DMM Center in Kachoda Zone

The crew and some locals gather for prayer

and praise after completion of the building

The new restrooms

DMM Center in Kalemng’orok Zone

The Lord has provided land for the 7th DMM Center in Turkanaland! This 20-acre parcel will be the largest site that SHARE has been awarded so far. Construction will begin on the site once the official survey paperwork has been completed and the $35,000 needed for the project has been raised.

The SHARE Motivators in Kalemng’orok Zone received a film projector for screening The Jesus Film in this area.

Construction of the 6th DMM Center began on June 24th in Chokchok Zone. To date, $8,000 is still needed for this project. We believe God will provide soon, so the momentum to finish the remaining four Centers can continue unabated. Your support in this endeavor is greatly appreciated.

Marking boundaries of the new land in Kalemng’orok Zone

Blessing of Water in Sopel Zone

Sopel Zone now has plenty of water for domestic use from a borehole sunk at the DMM Center through a generous donation by LakeView Church of Stoughton, WI. In addition, SHARE’s staff and the Zone Monitors, Motivators, Champions, and local villagers initiated a tree-planting project at the Center in May to provide shade. They also started a garden for growing cowpeas and watermelons. The Sopel Adult Literacy teacher, along with the women leaders from the local church, will oversee the gardening project and encourage others in the community to start gardens as well.

Please pray for these Motivators in Kalemng’orok Zone:

Mariko Eyanae

Samwel Lomuria

James Eregae

With the restrictions of COVID-19 the Motivators are not permitted to travel or hold corporate worship services. When the restrictions are lifted we will begin adding more updates to their profiles. We invite you to read how God has been using them at this link – https://shareint.org/missionary-updates/ .

We also request you to consider sponsoring one or more of the 26 Motivators that are still without support at $2,400/year. You can sign up to support one here: https://s hareint.net/sponsor-a-missionary/ .

In our May SEED newsletter, we mentioned that the financial need for 2Q was $97,648. We are glad to report that God has provided those funds. Hallelujah! Thank you SO MUCH for your generous donations! We are confident in Him, that as we stay focused on His calling for this ministry, He will provide again and again. He abides faithful; and our commitment to Him and to you is that we will remain faithful to His calling.

As we enter the 3Q in July, we invite you again to stand with us in raising the $200,000 needed for that quarter. May the Lord be pleased to use us again to meet that need – that the Gospel may continue to spread – even with the ongoing threat of COVID-19 – to the remaining unreached villages in Turkanaland through our proven Disciple-Making Methodology. May God receive all the glory!