Work in Kenya: Jabez Missions

February and March have been busy months for us here in Kenya. Jenny recently initiated the women’s meetings and has spoken at two churches, plus began a weekly meeting at one of the rural primary schools. This study encourages girls and women to pursue a pathway to purpose for their lives.

The Sunday services at Springs of Faith recently saw five people saved. We later purchased 40 Bibles for church members who could not afford one. We were also recently guest speakers at Katiani Redeemed Gospel church. After Don delivered the message, the congregation separated into two groups. Don spoke to the men and boys on “Equal to the Task,” and Jenny spoke to women and girls on purpose.

We recently traveled to the large city of Nakuru. This trip had a two-fold purpose. We will be relocating to this area mid-April and are very excited about working with Church of God pastors in the region. During this time we met Pastor Paul, who is the district pastor, and four of the eight pastors under him. We were warmly welcomed and look forward to these new relationships. We also met Bishop Simon, the Regional Bishop in that area, and preached at his church in Molo. Two were saved, several received the Holy Spirit, and several received healings.

While in Molo, we were able to initiate a new woman’s program that means so much to Jenny. Two women (HIV positive) were given start-up money to begin a small business. Both women have four children to feed and educate. One is a widow whose husband infected her and then passed away. The other is a mother whose husband infected her and then left her for another woman. We will enlarge this program with the assistance of the pastors of our churches. Bishop Simon has a nursery school and feeding program for orphan and destitute children at his church and we want to become a partner with him in that endeavor.

So many of our churches were destroyed during the clashes of early 2008, and have never been rebuilt. This is really heartbreaking and we hope to be of some assistance in this area.

The second purpose for this trip was to find a house to live in after we relocate. We found a great place that is the same rent as the one we have in Machakos. It is located high in the hill region overlooking the city of Nakuru and Lake Nakuru game reserve. It is a very safe place and we thank God for directing us to it. We will make the move around April 21st.

Please know how important each of you are in the continuation of this ministry. There is so much more to tell, and God is just opening so many opportunities and venues.

~Don and Jenny Weaver
Jabez Missions-Kenya

Growth In India

The church in India has been growing at a rapid pace. There has been a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit in many areas unknown even to the majority of the Christian population. God has been working in remote and small congregations, too.

The church is pressing onward, sowing the Gospel in the dry region of Karnataka in the midst of intimidation. More churches have awakened to see the need of sending more missionaries to this region that is so desperate for the Gospel.

The increase in the number of attacks on churches in the last couple of months is witness to the spreading of the Gospel once again. Literally, many more militant groups indirectly backed by the present government have been formed to attack churches or wherever worship is in progress. Particularly, house churches and small congregations have been targeted.

Pray that we will be able to see more people gathered into His Kingdom.

~ Rev. Ebenezer A. George
Superintending Pastor
Full Gospel Church in India

Reaching The Unreached in Ethiopia

Within the last couple of years, interest for the work in Ethiopia has increased substantially, particularly through the Ethiopia Committee appointed by Douglas LeRoy, General Director of Church of God World Missions and the support by Hugh Carver of Men and Women of Action. It is inspiring to see how much the people of the Harvest Church of God in Ethiopia themselves are accomplishing for Christ despite their very limited material resources.

The work among the large people group of the Selale-Oromo, one hundred miles north of Addis Ababa, continues to make good progress. In the district town of Kuyu, the Harvest Church is developing a training center for reaching the Selale and other tribes of northern Ethiopia. A multipurpose building for a kindergarten and a church is presently under construction.

Hiruy Tsige, national overseer, recently reported how the Church is now reaching out to the Ghurage, another largely unreached ethnic group of 1.8 million people west of Addis Ababa, the capital city. The Ghurage are deeply involved with Islam. Nevertheless, soon after the Harvest Church of God rallied some 30 workers to plant new churches among them, a congregation of new believers was formed. In December, the government gave land for the first church to be built for the Ghurage people!

Brother Tsige also reported of evangelistic thrusts among other unreached people groups. Several vibrant churches have been established among the Kaffa, a pagan tribe of Western Ethiopia. Among the Sheka people, who live in the mountains near to the Kaffa, God has brought together two strong congregations. And now, the new believers from the Kaffa and Sheka churches are evangelizing their neighboring tribes, such as the Menjas and Mezengir! The Qebegna, a tribe totally sold out to Islam and very antagonistic to the Gospel is being reached. A first church and school is being built for this new work in a nearby town. Ethiopia has more than 80 distinct ethnic tribal groups!

When I was in Ethiopia a year ago, I had the privilege of visiting a number of families in a major slum area of Addis Ababa. It was moving to see the impoverished families respond with much gratitude to the ministry they receive from the Church. In many ways, Ethiopia’s capital has become a modern boom town, but it is still home to a vast number of poor people who are trying to eke out a living in the big city—women by washing clothes for thirty cents a day; men by breaking rocks with a hammer for two dollars a day, and others by begging or giving themselves to prostitution. However, God is using the Harvest Church of God to bring salvation and healing to these destitute but precious people.

~ Heinrich and Lisa Sherz
Missionaries to Ethiopia
Project Number 060-0040

Powerful Earthquake Hits Chile

Field Director of South America, Dr. David Ramirez, reports that a powerful earthquake 8.8, fifth strongest in history, has devastated Chile. Reports indicate it is worse than earlier thought. Over 700 are known dead.

Pastor Manuel Huerta can no longer live in Concepcion for lack of food and water and has relocated to Temuco.

The Villa Olimpica Church, first Church of God in Chile, has been declared a dangerous building and will have to be demolished.

Several church buildings have been damaged, but so far no reports of deaths among the church.

The overseers of Chile are investigating their area and are providing food and water to the needy.

A project number has been established for your gifts.

Chile Earthquake
Project Number 7650043

~ Douglas LeRoy
General Director