God at work in Asia

A man has a dream 20 years ago that leads him to Christ a few weeks ago. Watch the video of his testimony here:

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Then go here and read the rest of the stories, just scroll down.

Bishop from Sudan

Ali and I hosted Bishop Wilson Garang from Southern Sudan earlier this week. I'll use these next few posts to tell his story, and the stories he passed on to me. I'll leave his denomination nameless, many can figure it out. (It's not entirely fair to disparage this whole part of the church because of a few bad apples.) I will say that although he dresses like his denomination and structures some of his worship like them, he's totally disassociated with them now. Or, rather, they've disassociated themselves with him. He's committed to ministering to a certain state in Southern Sudan. When his denomination wanted to move him to a more resource-friendly area of the country, he refused, so they dropped him. Surely it wasn't quite that simple, but at a high level, it's the gist of things. He has a heart for his tribesmen in that part of Sudan, and with 3 million of them unchurched, he's almost unshakeable in his commitment.

During the last Sudanese war (not Darfur), he fled to Ethiopia where, in a refugee camp, he encountered and began to follow Jesus. I loved his description of learning how to go to church where the pastor had to ask him to stop spitting while he sat in church. When it was safe, he returned to Sudan and started a church under a tree with his three sisters and mother. His father remained an animist.

Today in that state there are 150 churches. Any wonder he wouldn't leave his diocese? Now he's trying to finish seminary (my stars, a non seminary trained man planted 150 churches, it can't be!) and return to the area where he can better train pastors and meet the huge physical needs of the people.

More VBS Pics

What a week. About 10 kids made professions for Christ and we began to get to know a few neighbors. Many seeds planted, now we have to fertilize, water, and keep praying for how and when to harvest.

Antonio in Ecuador

A brief diversion from VBS.

Dave Johnson, with our ministry, e3 Partners, sent this story from his recent trip to Ecuador.

"When Heather [pictured, right] came to the door of a home in the poor neighborhood called Laura Flores, Ecuador, she was met by a rather gruff man named Antonio. Upon hearing the Gospel Antonio described a dream to Heather where Jesus, dressed in white, was walking without his feet touching the ground. He asked Heather what it meant. Heather told him that she wasn’t sure about the dream, but went on to talk about the holiness of God and the perfect life of Christ. Antonio prayed to receive Christ, but Heather wondered if he really understood. The next day Heather went back to Antonio to begin the first discipleship lesson. Antonio then told Heather the rest of the dream…a dream that he had 30 years ago! In the dream a woman came to him and said the exact same things that Heather had spoken of the day before! He knew that she was sent from God."

Vacation Bible School

12 kiddos showed the first night (Monday) and tonight we had 26. We have to go and round up kids before each night, but we've been pretty happy with the turnout. Particularly since this is our first real event in the neighborhood. Enjoy the photos below.