The SEED – September 2024
September 2024
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16
Check out our new map showing all 3 ministry locations!
Turkanaland, Kenya (since 1997)
Toposaland, South Sudan (since 2021)
Nyang’atomland, Ethiopia (since 2023)
In July, the Nyang’atom Missionary Team attended DMM/CPM Methodology Training at the SEND Center in Lodwar for 3 days. They were taught how to effectively replicate the methodology among the Nyang’atom people. The missionaries received 150 Audio Bibles and 45 DMM signage bookmarks to be distributed among believers.
The Team shared the Gospel in 15 villages in July, and a total of 34 people accepted Christ as Savior! The people have been receptive to the Gospel and are eager to learn more about Jesus. The Team’s plan is to revisit these villages every 2 weeks to minister to the people and begin teaching them how to share their faith with others.
Missionary Michael Ekolor sharing the Gospel in a previously unreached village
In July, the Toposa Missionary Team revisited 51 reached villages and reached 27 previously unreached villages! A total of 93 villagers accepted Christ as Savior, and 28 were baptized. The DMM approach continues to prove effective and the response to the Gospel positive. There are now 115 trained Champions throughout 77 villages who are teaching 1,047 disciples how to make disciples of others while they grow deeper in their personal relationship with the Lord! The DMM tools, especially the Audio Bibles, have been absolutely essential in the tremendous expansion of the Gospel in Toposaland!
Believers in Nalemsekon Village gathering for fellowship
Missionary Ekidor Ewoton baptizing believers in Nalemsekon Village
Worship session for children in Lotiyan Village
TRAILHEAD LOMILMIL SENDING CENTER
(Est. July 2022)
There are about 140 pupils attending classes Monday through Friday at the Trailhead Lomilmil Sending Center taught by Joseph Kotome. This center has been equipped with desks and learning supplies. Most of the children have learned how to read and can count all the way to 100! They recently memorized Psalm 119:11. They are also being taught how to tell their personal testimonies but are still a bit shy in doing so.
Next-Gen Coordinator, Mary Esinyen, sharing the Word of God with children at the Trailhead Lomilmil Sending Center
BURGESS NAKITOE-AKWAAN SENDING CENTER
(Est. June 2024)
Classes have not yet begun at the newly constructed Burgess Nakitoe-akwaan Sending Center. However, there will be about 120 children and youth in attendance once we find a qualified teacher. Next-Gen Coordinator, Mary, traveled to the center this month to visit with the area children. She shared the Gospel with the children and then distributed milk to them. The Nakitoe-akwaan community is so grateful for the new building, and the children are thrilled to begin attending classes as soon as a teacher is available!
The Burgess Nakitoe-Akwaan Sending Center
Children receiving milk at the Burgess Nakitoe-akwaan Sending Center
In late-August, the SHARE Team shared the Gospel in 4 villages in Kalobeyei Zone – Kopeto, Nakururum, Lomunyana-kirionok, and Natiira. The team visited homesteads in Kopeto Village praying over villagers and inviting them to learn about Jesus through open-air meetings and gender-age-appropriate ministry teachings. In addition, The Jesus Film was screened in all 4 villages with a total of 502 villagers in attendance!
During this 4-day outreach, a total of 121 people accepted Christ as Savior, and 61 were baptized! A new church was planted in Kopeto Village, where about 70 believers will attend. Motivator Dorcas Ekutan Maraka will oversee the church and begin training 10 new believers to become Champions using the DMM/CPM Methodology/Curriculum.
There are 19 SHARE Motivators and Evangelists overseeing 59 churches and 165 Lighthouses in Kalobeyei Zone, with 76 disciples learning how to make disciples of others. Through their ministry endeavor, a total of 358 were saved and 102 baptized in August alone (including those who were saved and baptized during the recent outreach)! There are 6 unreached villages remaining in the zone. The plan is to reach all of them by 2026.
SHARE Staffer, Jacktan Kachi, praying for a family during homestead-to-homestead evangelism
Motivator Nickleby Miramoe (left) and SHARE Staffer, Jackson Erus (right), baptizing believers in Lomunyana-kirionok Village
Jackson (third from left) worshipping with other men during an open-air meeting
Motivator Esther Ekiru teaching women the “3-Circles” of DMM methodology
PRAISES
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Many saved and baptized in Nyang’atomland, Toposaland, and Turkanaland in July and August
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Evident effectiveness of the contextualized DMM/CPM Curriculum used in teaching throughout Nyang’atomland, Toposaland, and Turkanaland
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Good rains in Nyang’atomland in July
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Completion of 12 of the 14 Sending Centers and for the many children attending classes at each
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Successful outreach and church plant in Kalobeyei Zone in August
PETITIONS
- Safety and perseverance for the Motivators/Missionaries in Turkanaland, Toposaland, and Nyang’atomland
- Continued growth of Next-Gen children, construction of the remaining 2 centers, finding qualified teachers, and providing food and water at each of the centers
- Successful outreach and church plant in Lokori Zone this month
- Peace between the Turkana and the Pokot tribes along the Kalemng’orok and Lokori Zones’ borders and in South Sudan
Determined to Stay Focused
“Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.’ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him” – Lk. 5:10-11.
“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing”– Jn. 21:3.
“For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth’” – Acts 13:47.
After 3½ years’ investment in His disciples during his earthly ministry, often using natural and/or material – water, fish, bread, boats, nets… (let alone multiple miracles) – at their disposal to convey eternal truth, at least 63% of the 11 disciples (post His resurrection) made the choice to abandon His call to fish for people and went back to their old trade – fishing for food! They chose to follow the de facto leader – Simon Peter – with very disappointing results – “…caught nothing”!
The Lord still invites His disciples to allow Him to use the natural and material possessions (Lk. 5:4) He has entrusted to them to “bring salvation to the ends of the earth” and to positively anticipate amazing results – “When they (with Christ Himself in the boat!) had done so, they caught such a large number of fish… the nets began to break.”
I invite you to continue allowing the Lord to use the natural and material resources He has allowed you to steward for Him to birth forth immortality in heaven in the lives of many in the “deep waters” of Turkanaland (Kenya), Toposaland (South Sudan), Nyang’atomland (Ethiopia), and other potential “regions beyond” (2 Cor. 10:16) where His servants are casting the “nets” that you are providing through your generous donations. Let’s determine to stay focused on fishing for people. And the Lord of the harvest will see to it that He provides us with the food we need for life – so we can “fish” for even more people! And the Lord of the harvest will see to it that He provides us with the food we need for life as well – “… come and have breakfast” (Jn. 21:12) – so we can have energy to “fish” for even more people!
How are you allowing Christ to use His material and natural resources He has invested in you to produce immortal investment – to bring salvation to the ends of the earth? How is your fishing expedition coming along?
– Sammy
Our remaining budget for 3Q is $97,569.
We humbly request your continued support.
Thank you SO MUCH!
Thank you SO MUCH for your prayers and support!
