August 2011

Dear Friends,

I am finally home after three weeks of outreach to Africa.  Wherever we went, the Lord sent those who desperately needed a heavenly touch and He poured out His grace on them.
 
Tears flowed even from the beginning of each of the conferences for the wives of Ethiopian evangelists.  As my teammate, Jaye Samson, embraced each conference participant (300 of them in all) right before the conferences would star, they began to sob and some wailed.  All three conferences in different cities of Ethiopia began with praise and worship.  The joy of the Lord filled each conference venue.  When I finished my last presentation entitled "The Mission of a Woman," one woman raised her hand and asked if we would allow her to pray for us.  With a quivering voice she prayed: "God, since it had been so hard to live as an evangelist, I was thinking of giving up the call.  Right then, you sent your servants here and touched our hearts.  Thank you for refreshing us at this critical time and showing us how we should serve you."  At that moment, I heard thunderous "Amens" in sobbing voices and I too was filled with emotion.    
 
Dr. Eyasu Ferenj, my coordinator, introduced me to an evangelist's wife and her 5 year old son.  Showing me his right arm, he said to me, "Recently this boy fell and broke his right arm.  The parents took him to a small country clinic where they fixed the arm, but he has been unable to move it since then.  Before it is too late, he needs to see a good doctor at a good hospital.  Can we as conference speakers collect money to provide the $200 this boy needs to have the proper surgery on his arm?  I cannot fathom allowing him to grow up without being able to use his right arm for the lack of $200."  Immediately, I gave the boy's mother $200 from the ministry budget you have provided me.  The boy's mother was overwhelmed by the Lord’s provision and your generosity and she asked me to convey her deep gratitude to you my DCMi supporters.
 
Last spring, I asked you to pray for the persecuted Christians of Ethiopia. Many of you sent them generous financial support.  Dr. Ferenj related to me the following amazing outcome of the persecution:  "As a result of the persecution, Ethiopian Christians across all denominations became one in feeding and taking care of the Christian refugees.  Out of rage, the Ethiopian central government arrested all the Muslims who participated in these hideous deeds and sentenced them to five to fifty-five years of imprisonment depending on the intensity of their involvement.  The government also ordered them to rebuild the churches and Christian houses they had burned down.  What is more amazing is that nine top Muslim leaders who allegedly ordered this evil scheme have recently died of drug overdoses.  Three weeks ago, a severe thunderstorm hit Ethiopia and 15 mosques were struck by lightning and burned to the ground.”

God gave us an abundant harvest of souls in Kenya.  At the five different satellite crusade sites, including mine, more than 600 people came forward to accept Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord.  At the Saba Saba festival with Wesley Paul, more than 1000 people made decisions for Christ.  After the first day of preaching, my crusade was almost cancelled because the Muslims of the town complained strongly to the police.  Thanks to the swift work of the crusade preparation committee, the police overruled the appeal and allowed me to go on publically preaching the gospel in the town square.  Every time I gave an invitation, many sick and demon-
possessed people came forward to receive prayer, not to mention those who made decisions for Christ.  My translator and I laid our hands on each one of these people, praying for God's healing and commanding demons to leave in the mighty name of Jesus.
 
Another unforgettable experience of Kenya was that after my crusade was over, the church council of this town gave me 2000 Kenyan Shillings (around $20) for my honorarium.  When I preach in North America, Europe and  Korea, churches give me honorariums; however, this was first honorarium I have ever received in the mission field.  I was so deeply touched not because they gave me money but because they were practicing our Lord's teaching of how to honor preachers in spite of their low economic standard. Thanking them for their thought-fulness, I commended them for practicing the teachings of the Bible.  I also asked them for their permission to use this gift for my Rwandan pastor's conference scheduled for the following week.  Joyfully concurring, the pastors of Kenya prayed with me for the churches and pastors of Gisenyi. The Church Council asked me to return to their town in the near future to  hold another Crusade in conjunction with a Pastor's Conference.  Would you please pray with me that our Master will send me back to Kenya in His time?

While I was preaching in Kenya, one Gisenyi pastor sent me an email not knowing I would soon arrive in Gisenyi.  It read, "Dear Teacher David and friend in Jesus Christ . . . when will you get back here in Rwanda?  We hope that God will offer another time to be together for study.  Better and blessing to get you in Rwanda, especially in Rubavu City.  We remember you and your constant love that you have showed us during all the time that we have spent together.  Especially we have to think about the teachings that you have proclaimed to us from different churches in our region.  They are singing for joy.  We do not have a reward or salary to pay you, unless to show you the churches in our region.  They are singing for joy.  We do not have a reward or salary to pay you, unless to show you the Lord God in our prayer.  I have learned much and better lesson from you.  Thank you for your kind patient and love.  Some people who were in your seminar included I and others enjoyed your teachings and they are making them in application. There is a deep animation. You are on our hearts . . . " (I purposely did not correct his English).  An email like this is a reminder to me that I am in the right place doing the right thing.  Thank you very much for your support.  

The pastors of Gisenyi, Rwanda were overjoyed to have me for another conference.   Instead of teaching the Bible as I usually do, the Rwandan pastors and I, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, created a transforma-tional leadership development curriculum  based on their particular needs.  Following the new curriculum we created, the pastors of Gisenyi will continue to meet in groups and to develop themselves daily as leaders even while I am away in the United States.   
 
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for partnering with me for world evangelization.  I planted, but you watered the ministry through your prayers and giving and the Lord gave us growth.  Therefore, let us give all the glory to our Master and continue to be faithful to His call.  
 
Kay thanks you also for your prayers for our family while I was away. We would truly love to hear from you.

In Christ, 

David & Kay