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Change, Loss and New Beginnings

At age 58, soon to be 59, one would think I would be able to handle change, otherwise known as transition or limbo! Just look at my life’s statistics!

By age 35, I had moved 16 times in my life and everywhere I went, I brought my kid’s art creations, clothing which I deemed special and memorable toys and videos!
By age 37 I had lived in three countries and learned five languages.
By age 40 I had gone to nine different schools and studied 21 years—I should have more than a Bachelor’s degree!

Through each time of transition, I would get agitated and anxious. I just want to be settled down. Terry and I are quite content and settled where we are right now. What could be causing us to think of a move?

Loss

As God would have it, I am facing loss. I still am grappling with the diagnosis of eosinophilic asthma and as I sit alone with a mask on my face, not fearing the coronavirus, but pollen, my heart goes out to those who have had chronic conditions for years. This loss is a big one for me. I have been a nurse who cared for the sick. I am not used to being on the other side!

Terry and I have decided, for the betterment of my health, we will be needing to face more change, a move from Phoenix, which leads to loss once more. I don’t want to lose the proximity I have with my grandson! I have dreamt of taking him to the “Splishy-splash” and “Choo-choo”, the splash pad and train at our local park. I don’t want to lose the “Sam’s Club Dates” I have had with my daughter, Karen. I don’t want to lose the spontaneous talks in the driveway with our neighbors, Joe and Pam. I have loved opening our home to our friends from church each Sunday evening. I don’t want to say goodbye to our beautiful home which God has blessed us with to entertain house guests and housed the Global CHE Network office for the past ten years.

As I repeat “I don’t want” over and over, I know God has a plan. It just is hard when you cannot see it yet.

New Beginnings

How do you know God is working? When you see new beginnings. I have been working as a nurse these last 20 years. Because of my chronic breathing problems, I was just granted long term disability. This was never in my plan, but it has released me to be able to be with Terry and help him with communications. This is a blessing.

We came to Payson in February because I can breathe better outside of the Valley pollution and pollens. Terry and I have enjoyed walks by the city lake. We have formed many acquaintances, even a friendship or two, around this lake in the midst of Covid-19. God is opening up a new home for us directly across from the lake. I can see a smaller pond from my living room window with the ducks that our dogs, Mollie and Maisie, love to herd! This is a blessing.

Maneuvering through Change

So, I ask for prayer as we make this transition and a huge downsize. Remember all those kid’s creations I mentioned? Clothing, toys and artwork? They have been across the Pacific and back and they now are about to be discarded! Videos? They are ancient history…even DVDs! Terry and I were able to move frequently with ease as newlyweds, even with babies in tow. We never knew the challenge of moving with aching backs and respiratory issues! Gone are the days of youth!

Change, Loss, New Beginnings…very much a part of every person’s life. I am glad for the security of a loving husband by my side. I know that the God who led Abraham and the children of Israel in their wanderings can do the same for me!

A Prayer, A Chirp and A Question

Terry and I both grew up on opposite sides of Tucson, Arizona and led very different lives. As a child, Terry grew up, the oldest son of three boys in a home which taught him about Jesus since birth. His father was a pastor. He went to church each Sunday and grew up surrounded by loving Christian people who are his friends to this day. I grew up, the youngest of five children and by the time I was a little girl, our family stopped going to the Salvation Army. When my siblings left home, my parents had turned to drinking more and more. Most nights, we had people around our kitchen table, drinking. My father made good money as a construction worker, but it was used for alcohol. I spent my time outside and often hanging out at our neighbor’s house. On Sunday mornings, I would see a church bus going past our house and silently wished I could go see what church was like.

When I was just 12, my life changed dramatically and I was sent to live with my sister in California. I cringe to think about where I would be if I had not made that move. I was entering Jr. High and at that time and really was on my own.

During that first year in California, my life did a 180 degree turn! I suddenly was going to church, had responsibilities and accountability! But as I wrote earlier, this was a year of great positive change for me as Jesus entered my life in April of 1974. When Christ came into this young girl’s life, He changed me in so many ways. Rather than look for affection in any guy who might pass by, I learned to be purposeful in looking for someone to be my lifelong partner. I had read of the importance of making a list of what you would want in a husband. Those things which are non-negotioables should be understood BEFORE you ever meet the person. That way you can blow away all the chaff and be ready for Mr. Right, right?

Well, I made my list secretly and publicly declared myself a member of the “Old Maids ’til the Rapture Club”.

In the summer of 1975, I returned to Tucson to visit my parents who had since divorced. During my visit, I wanted to go to church, so my dad took me to the only church we were aware of besides Salvation Army–Bethel Baptist. Reverend McCorkle, my brother-in-law’s grandfather, planted that church while holding down a railroad job. At this time, Pastor Bob Dalrymple and his family had been at that church for nearly ten years. During the morning service, a high school girl reached out to me and invited me to the Youth “Sing and Sip” that night. Suprisingly, I accepted her invitation.

I remember, that night, seeing a young man leading the singing. He was ridiculously goofy. Sang the “Noah/Floody-Floody” song with his pants rolled up. Crowed like Peter Pan singing “Chirp Your Cares Away”! Neither of these skills were on “Jeannie’s List for a Life Partner”. However, what I saw was the love that this young man had for Jesus, his leadership abilities and his desire to serve the Lord. Sitting in a hard wooden seat that summer night, I prayed, “Lord, if I am ever to marry, I want to marry that guy.” I asked the friend who invited me about the goofy song leader. I learned he wanted to be a youth pastor and he had a girl friend.

I returned to California, never approaching that young man and went on with my life.

During my later high school years, God continued to do His work in my life. I went through a Navigator’s Discipleship series and spent a summer in Argentina assisting our missionaries with various projects. By the end of that summer, I decided I wanted to serve the Lord in missions. I am certain I could have had a full scholarship to Colorado State University, but I wanted to be closer to my parents, so chose to attend Southwestern College in Phoenix, Arizona.

During that first week, we had a night to welcome the Freshman Class. As a newby, I was part of a trio. (Terry usually inserts a bunch of hyperbole here, but I have to say, I did a better job singing than that crooner I had seen in Tucson!) When the evening was over, the Freshmen lined up and upper classmen were to come and welcome the youngsters to the college. I vividly recall a young man approaching me. I could not forget…it was the crooner…and I remembered my prayer! I thought, “I got to get rid of this guy. I want to go to the mission field and he wants to be a youth pastor. This is one of the non-negotiables on my list!” He came straight up to me and said, “Hi, my name is Terry Dalrymple. What do you want to do with your life?”

And I guess you will need to find out what the answer was! Did I give up my non-negotiables? Was this the beginning to the answer of my prayer? You may figure out the answers as we are going on 39 years this July? Last question. Should I dare let Terry finish the story?

HA!

Getting to know Terry and Jeannie

An interview with Terry and Jeannie

Terry and I were appointed to go the Philippines in July of 1984. (This number looks like it belongs in a history book!) Recently, Bethel Baptist Church in Tucson, Arizona sent a series of questions. Although the questions were pretty basic, it was fun to think back and relive where we have been, where we are now, and look to the future. Hope you learn more about us!

Why did you want to become a missionary?

Jeannie: This is a story which takes time! When I was 12 years old, I moved to California where I lived with Gary and Susie Williams for six years. Susie is my sister and I can look back now and say I am grateful for their love and care. When I first moved into their home…I was not so grateful!!! My life had turned upside down. During the first 12 years of my life, I never had to go to church. Suddenly, I was expected to attend church, do chores and even babysit!!! I was the youngest in my family and not used to this type of treatment!

However, God was working and by April of the following year, I had received Jesus as my Savior. I have many pleasant memories during that time. One which stands out was that first Christmas at Gary and Susie’s, I am sure they did not have 2 cents to rub together. Grandma Williams (Loretta) had come to visit us. She insisted that I call her “Grandma” which was very special. I never had grandparents. She also gave me a Christmas gift, a “tie-dye” purse, which I treasured. These memories and family loving on me during a difficult time in life, caused my faith to grow as they were Godly people themselves.

After I had received the Lord, I loved when missionaries would come to church. I would read their letters and look at their pictures in the church hallway. I had always enjoyed and had a propensity toward foreign languages, having studied French and Spanish. In my Junior year of High School, our youth pastor arranged for several students to go abroad for the summer to assist the missionaries. I went to Argentina and that solidified my desire to go into missionary service. I chose to go to Southwestern College in Phoenix to be an education major as I wanted to teach missionary children. It was there I met Terry “officially” (which is a whole different story). Our first date, we discussed missions and eventually went to the Philippines in 1986 with our two small children. You supported us from the start!

Terry: My story begins at Bethel where I grew up surrounded and loved by Christian people that taught in the ways of our Savior. After a short period of rebellion as an early teen, I yielded my heart to Christ on April 20, 1974 and was baptized. From that moment, I sensed that Jesus was calling me to follow Him, although I had no idea what that would mean. During my years at Bethel, I taught a Good News club with Child Evangelism Fellowship, started a Bible club and daily prayer meeting on my high school campus, served on a committee to help facilitate Sing-n-Sips in Tucson, picked up young people in the church van and brought them to church (days were different then), spent my summers serving at a Bible Camp in Show Low, and served as the State Youth President for the Arizona Baptist Convention. By the end of my high school years, I was convinced God was calling me into ministry.

The next transformative moment in my life came at the CBA National meetings in Colorado in 1977. A pastor from Brazil named Brother Fanini, pleaded for missionaries to come and help in the harvest. His invitation was simple – “If God were to call you as a missionary, would you go?” That seemed to me to be a call I could not resist. I went forward to say to God “Anywhere? Anytime! Anything!” My mother came up behind me, took Brother Fanini by the hand, and with tears streaming down her face said, “If God wants my son on the mission field I will go.”

God provided a scholarship to Southwestern College where I was discipled by the Missions Professor, Rev. Steve Sonmor, and sent to the Philippines where he had served before being forced to leave the field due to illness. I came back from the Philippines convinced that God was calling me to be a missionary.

I met Jeannie in 1979, married her in 1981, and arrived on the mission field in 1986 as church planting missionaries. Today I serve as founder and coordinator of the Global CHE Network with ministries in 134 countries mobilizing and equipping the church for transformational Gospel movements in a million villages. www.chenetwork.org.

Where are you a missionary?

Jeannie: During our time in the Philippines, nearly ten years, we learned two languages. We planted a church in the town of Iloilo City and we still have dear friends there to this day! While in Iloilo, we were confronted with poverty and illness, which however good intended the two of us were, we learned we could never solve the problem on our own.

We returned from the Philippines for home assignment and learned of a group called Medical Ambassadors. They too, had concerns for poverty alleviation while teaching the good news of Jesus. They were using a strategy called Community Health Evangelism–a strategy which addresses the needs of the whole person, physically and spiritually. We joined Medical Ambassadors and moved to Modesto, where we were based until 2009.

Terry has always been a visionary. Community Health Evangelism needed to be implemented by different mission organizations around the world. In 2009, he started the Global CHE Network which now works to assist over 900 organizations working in over 134 countries. I was recently at a doctor’s appointment, explaining what we do…he was astounded that this work is being done out of a small office in North Phoenix! God is VERY good!

We are now based in Phoenix in order to be near to Terry’s mom. Much travel is required. We are blessed to live in this time as communication takes place worldwide on a daily basis because technological advances. This week, Terry has an online meeting with 11 people from all over the world! This beats the days when we first moved to the Philippines and it would take 3 weeks for a card or letter to cross the Pacific!

Tell me about you and your family members…

Terry hit the big 60 this year! Thank you for all the cards and well wishes. In his spare time, while not leading the network, he has written a book and is currently working through the right publisher. He injured his back in May, which has been a “thorn in the flesh”, so he appreciates prayer.

Jeannie is working at Mayo Clinic part-time and works in the Global CHE office as Terry’s admin. She is loving this position as it has placed her in contact with international servants all over the world. She loves being at their service as it was her desire since she was in high school.

Our dogs: Mollie and Maisie, keep us on our toes and sit at our feet as we work in the office!

Our son, Tim and his wife Vanessa, currently live in Bend, Oregon. Tim is studying at Western Seminary for his Master of Divinity. He has the same teachers Terry did 30 plus years ago! Tim and Vanessa have three children: Jack, age 7, Finn, age 5 and Esther, age 1. We love getting to see them.

Our daughter, Karen and her husband, Joe, live just 25 minutes from us in Phoenix. Karen is blessed to be able to stay home with their sweet baby boy, Ian, who just turned one. Joe works in computers and is an editor.

Our daughter, Michelle and her husband, Cody, live in San Diego. When Michelle is not playing basketball or Cody riding his motorcycle, they like to camp with their two dogs, Waylon and Billie.

What exactly does your job entail?

Terry, as coordinator, of the network, casts vision and gives direction related to priorities in coordination with representatives throughout the world. At this time, they are working on the following priorities:

Strengthen member ministries, organizations and partnerships.
Facilitate prayer globally on behalf of the poor and the workers that serve them.
Facilitate training and monitoring for the next generation of leaders and measures to assure the quality of tour work.
Encourage formation of national coalitions with National strategies for expanding Community Health Evangelism in every country.
Intentionally seek out opportunities for CHE work among the unreached and unengaged peoples.
Research best practices and provide the network with tools and curricula for the continuing development of the CHE ministry
Assist governments worldwide in poverty alleviation and community health using CHE principles.

As you can imagine, these are goals to reach for and we need your prayer to accomplish them!

My job, in the network office, is to assist Terry, oversee other office staff, communications and prayer. I love working alongside Terry. I still work at Mayo, as a necessity for health insurance reasons.

What is something exciting you are currently working on?

You may have heard the term, “Million Village Challenge”. This is a goal to reach a million villages with the good news of Jesus by challenging nationals to adopt ten surrounding villages and bring CHE principles to these villages and bringing Christ. This is just one initiative which is ongoing at this time. We would ask for your prayer as nationals reach their neighboring villages.

I am working on improving our communications, to supporters and to network members. I have enjoyed renewing relationships and making new ones!

Christmas Lights & Coming Changes

Way back on Christmas eve in 1980, Terry Dalrymple proposed to me as we went through Winterhaven, a section of town in Tucson, Arizona where each home agrees to put up Christmas lights. We were both very young and had starry eyes which were twinkling faster than any of the lights which surrounded us that night–but this did not mean that we were jumping into things. We knew God had called us to serve together in missions. In fact, on our first date, we learned we had each spent serving on the mission field. I had been in Argentina and Terry in the Philippines.

Fast forward almost 40 years. We have spent nearly a decade in the Philippines, learning two languages and starting a church before we returned to the United States; and when we returned our roles changed dramatically. Terry began to serve as the Southeast Asia Director at Medical Ambassadors and I chose to return to school for a nursing degree. Today, by God’s grace, Terry has become a missions leader with a great understanding of Community Health Evangelism, while I have been blessed to work at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix.

Many nurses will tell you, “I always wanted to be a nurse since I was little” or “My mom, aunt, and grandmother were all nurses. It’s in the genes!” When I graduated from nursing school, I was asked to speak to the graduating class. I surprised them when I said, “I never wanted to be a nurse. I thought I could not deal with the blood or poking people!” Actually, nursing was a practical choice–It was a profession which could work well around my family. Given time, I was able to get over those fears. I had the hope that one day, when my children were grown, I could once more work beside Terry and use my nursing skills which I acquired. It’s been over a decade since our last child left home, yet until now, this dream has not become a reality.

Until now, I have been able to justify our differing roles as I see that serving patients in the hospital IS a service to Jesus—a real mission field. I have had many opportunities to minister to people when they were at a vulnerable time in their life. One big thing has been missing—Terry and I have been living parallel, supporting roles, but not working together as we had hoped and dreamed.

In May of this year, Terry had a great need for help in the Global CHE Network office. I told him that I would be happy to volunteer part time. During these seven months, I have found great delight working in the office (yes, I do get to see him out of the corner of my eye). I have loved writing to churches in the United States and co-workers around the world, building relationships and informing of needs. I have loved working behind the scenes, supporting Terry.

In September, I became very ill and have been off work at Mayo. Over these three months, I have learned that working next to Terry is exactly where I need to be. I would not have learned this had I not stepped out and volunteered to help.

For most of you, this is NOT a new story, as you have followed us and prayed for us since 1985 when we were first appointed to the Philippines. You may not know some of the details and may have thought that we were happy working “parallel”. I have to say, we were happy, but we will be even happier as in the near future I will be able to resign and work alongside Terry full time. Would you pray for us in this transition?

I started out talking about our engagement in Winterhaven. Terry took me there because he knew how much I loved Christmas lights. I no longer need to go to Christmas Tree Lane because of the number of lights Terry has placed on the outside of our own home to make me smile! (I tease and say our dogs must keep moving or they may be adorned with a string of lights!) He will occasionally come hobbling in due to his back problem and overexertion. I promptly scold him, but I know it won’t matter. His love for me and desire to bring joy to my heart cause him to sacrifice.

This Christmas, can you give a gift of sacrificial love to someone? It’s exactly what Jesus has done for each one of us!

Merry Christmas!

Jeannie

Luke 2:6,7 While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have the baby, and she gave birth to her first son. Because there were no rooms left in the inn, she wrapped the baby with pieces of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough.

The Life of the Wife…Continued

In the first episode, Terry was out of town and I was considering wearing a scorpion anklet for approximately 4 seconds. The saga continues as Terry left town on Tuesday…

On Thursday, two days later, I came home from work and the smoke detector was chirping. It just so happens, I have experience with smoke detectors as in October, I disabled one which was chirping outside my bedroom. That took a lot of doing since our ceilings are high, but with ladder and reacher in hand, I had yanked it apart. I knew I could handle this challenge! At least I thought so.

I climbed the ladder after my 14 hour nursing shift with ease and was able to stretch and pop the battery out without the assistance of a reacher! I climbed down, headed towards the kitchen and to my amazement, I heard a “chirp”! This was puzzling, but since this alarm was hard wired to the ceiling, I thought maybe I had to climb back up and replace the battery. Fortunately, I had not put the ladder away, so I climbed up and stretched AND stretched and finally, popped in a new battery and climbed back down the ladder with a sigh of relief. Finally–I could relax, but was once again bewildered by a loud “CHIRP”!

This again was puzzling, but I was thankful for modern technology, (not necessarily smoke detectors at this time), and googled “How to stop your smoke detector from chirping”.

I found a great video about how to disconnect the thing from the wiring; soooo, I proceeded back up the ladder, stretched AND stretched AND stretched and took the thing clear off! Just wires remained hanging from the ceiling!

I headed back toward the kitchen, but before I got there, AGAIN, I heard “CHIRP”!

Now I couldn’t believe it. I searched the Internet some more and finally decided to look up a handyman and messaged him. I was now at the mercy of the callback from the handy man! I went to bed in the bedroom farthest from the noise. Even so Mollie, Maisie and I were lulled to sleep by the not so sweet chirping of the alarm….

This morning, I turned on Christmas carols and pretended that the chirp was a sweet sounding triangle in a symphony. I had to use my imagination, but it was better than going nuts!

I ran errands in the morning, leaving Mollie and Maisie subject to the sound of chirping. When I returned in the afternoon, I had not heard anything from the handyman and the chirping continued. I started working on projects and soon the chirping kind of faded into the background. I went down the hallway and there was a sudden loud CHIRP, piercing my left ear, leaving it “ringing”! I turned and there was, at nose level, a carbon monoxide detector! I quickly grabbed it, yanked out the batteries and promptly stomped on it until it was dead! In our first episode with the scorpion, I had too much fear to stomp on the pest, but used a ceramic pot to smash it to smithereens. I had no fear today, however, but rage at this instrument of insanity!

All is well now. Heels up. Hallmark channel on. Hot tea on hand. Christmas tree is sparkling. Dogs snoozing.

Silence is golden!

The Life of the Wife: It Ain’t Always Easy!

Terry and I have served as missionaries since 1985. It seems like yesterday, yet it has been ages ago! When we first went to the Philippines, I served alongside him and cared for our children. For the last 22 years, he has traveled and I have stayed home. Inevitably, when Terry is gone, that’s when trouble happens!

This afternoon, I had great plans. After getting my housework done and working on my Bible study, I would spend time outside planting flowers, BBQing dinner and watch our “super moon ” rise with Mollie and Maisie, our two dogs and my constant companions.

Well, planting flowers took a while as I had to wet down and enrich the soil neglected by our hot summers. However, it got done. I was doing a final watering and rinsing of the porches when I felt something on my left ankle. Maisie was next to me, so I dismissed it as she was sniffing at my feet. I felt the tickle again and thought, hmmm…a dead leaf–then I did a double take, started leaping, dancing and shouting–YIKES! A giant yellow scorpion!!! (3 inches)

Granted, I know that the smaller ones are much worse than the larger ones, but it just isn’t my style to wear a scorpion anklet.

I was too chicken to step on him. I did think, ” Why, oh why do these things happen when Terry is away?” I did the best I could and picked up a heavy ceramic pot and used it to grind the scorpion into oblivion! (I hope).

If anyone would like to come and lift the pot to see if there are any remains, you are welcome to do so. I would even share my steak. I think I will pass on the “Super Moon” tonight just in case that yellow scorpion’s cousins are around.

I wonder if when I get to heaven, there will be rewards for missionary wives who have survived, fires, coups, rats , etc… while their husband was away. I can now add scorpion anklet to the list!

Collaboration in Korea

Recently, Hal and Lana Jones were joined with top leaders from Asia and Korea for a historic conference. The background of this conference reveals the amazing way the Lord blesses when His children work together!

Hal Jones explains, “One of our partners in disaster relief is the Binchae NGO of India and Korea. Over time, a relationship was developed with the leadership, and they learned of Community Health Evangelism. The leadership witnessed, firsthand, the tremendous faith of champions in rural Muslim areas in Chad. The leaders of this NGO caught the vision of the Million Village Challenge, using CHE for launching catalytic movements of transformation.”

“The Binchae NGO then hosted a conference in South Korea and the leadership spoke about the village in Chad which they were adopting to reach the Million Village Challenge! The leaders then encouraged all the Korean brothers and sisters planning to bring hope to North Korea~when the doors to North Korea open, employ the vision of CHE and Million Village Challenge!”

Hal Jones signs a working agreement with South Korean church leaders

“At the end of the day, the conference included in its statement of commitment the importance of cooperation in implementing CHE as a major strategy in poverty alleviation when the doors open up.”

Praise the Lord!

New Roads of Outreach to Those in Need

CHE Trainers Work Side by Side with the Community to Improve Roads

Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me.” There are many means of sharing the Good News of Jesus to others. The Community Health Evangelists working in community Rosario Perico found a unique way to work with leaders of and families of that region…through the repair of roads.

According to Juan Ramon Sandoval Turcios, CHE coordinator for El Salvador, everyone in the community is involved~from leaders to families~ in a road improvement project in Rosario Perico. The current roadway was high risk and needed attention. The project is ongoing and completion estimated by May of 2020. Pray for the completion of this roadway and for the national CHE team as they continue to work with the community, sharing the good new of Jesus.

Praising God for “new roads” of outreach to those in need!

Children’s CHE Leads to Life Transformation!

In 2012, Jo Kijabe did children’s CHE among the Maasai Community. Some of the main challenges the community was facing were early marriages, female genital mutilation, and high rate of girls dropping out of high school due to early pregnancies.

Some of the participants, after CHE training, started to reach out to the community, educating the people through what is known as a seed project. A seed project is a short project, done in a day which brings a community around a problem. This leads to collaboration and potential long term planning. In fact, this is now a program up to today!

Jo continues, “I praise God that a lot of transformation has taken place. I was there yesterday doing follow ups and strengthening the team.

We had 360 girls and every challenge had been reduced at a higher percentage. Praise the Lord!! In 2016 we had 16 girls dropping out school because of early pregnancies but this year they had only one case. The number of girls in school rose from 66 in 2012 to 380 students at the moment, 88 of them sitting for their national exams.

Many have given their lives to Christ and they were leading devotions and prayers during our meeting. It was awesome. The mothers and the daughters also had some time to connect and to share their hearts together.

God is good that we are beginning to see fruit of our labor and how the Holy Spirit is ministering and transforming lives. Let’s keep praying for this school even as we plan to begin the program in the next school.”

Let us count our blessings as we see the work which God is doing through Jo in lives of Maasai girls!

Something amazing just happened in Ethiopia

At a Community Health Evangelism (CHE) meeting on Friday evening here in Addis Ababa, I met with a small group of CHE leaders from around the country to briefly introduce them to the Million Village Challenge (MVC). The group of CHE leaders were joined by about 15 leaders from different ministries that came just to learn more about CHE.

A wave gathers in Ethiopia

The Million Village Challenge is a CHE Network initiative in partnership with a global body of evangelicals called Transform World 2020. The initiative is aimed at catalyzing transformational movements in a million poor villages. The goal is to bring villagers to Christ while lifting their communities out of cycles of poverty and disease.

I was not completely prepared for what would happen in our Friday meeting. God moved by his Spirit. Upon hearing the challenge, the entire group instantly and wholeheartedly embraced it and went to work figuring out what their contribution from Ethiopia would be. I watched in amazement. In a matter of hours, these leaders mapped out their existing work and identified strategic locations they wanted to begin work in each of Ethiopia’s 9 districts.

They set a goal of having transformational Gospel movements in 520 villages (52 clusters of 10) spread out throughout all of Ethiopia’s 9 districts. Individuals in the room wrote out their commitments on sticky notes and posted them on a hand drawn map in the middle of their circle on the floor. They then formed a national committee, and made plans to schedule the first phase of training for the leaders in the room that requested it.

The CHE Network Facilitator in Ethiopia, Melaku Affere, posts sticky notes on the map showing where they have existing work (blue and yellow). Leaders from various ministries in the room posted their commitments to start new work in red. By the end of the evening, the entire map was covered with sticky notes and 520 villages were targeted in 52 clusters.

Tomorrow I’m off to the Ivory Coast for another Million Village Challenge mobilization with several denominations. Pray with me that they will adopt another 520 villages!

November 2018 Prayer Letter