I just received word yesterday that the pastor who was arrested for human trafficking and in prison for two months, was just re-arrested after being set free last week. Apparently, the village headman in his village saw that he was released and reported it to the provincial authorities, bypassing the district authorities. They required him to be put back into prison and the money the police recieved to let him go to be returned. It appears that the provincial authorities were trying to clamp down on corruption, assuming that the pastor's release was the result of an illegal bribe. It is unclear if the provincial authorities are aware of his bogus arrest in the first place and the charges by which he was being held.
We are very sad about this. But please continue to pray for VK who is back in prison. Thank you.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Pastor Released!
I just found out yesterday that the pastor who was arrested in September has been released! Prasie God! A lot of people have been praying for him. Thank you, also, for praying for him. We pray more good news is on the way as 2010 approaches.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Some Cool Stuff
Hi everyone. Sorry to leave you hanging for so long. I've been doing some traveling and will be preoccupied with meetings and conventions for most of the rest of the year. Don't know if I'll get to blog much here. But for now, check out some cool stuff that is going on here.
Thanks,
Koffijah
Thanks,
Koffijah
Saturday, October 10, 2009
What did I learn?
The last couple days of CPM training were pretty intense as we had to draw up our own "Master Plan" based on CPM principles and present it to the whole group. So, I didn't blog the last couple days. But now we're finished. I presented my plan and had a very good response from those who listened. I hope they will pray for me and the work here in The Location.
What did I get from the training?
Besides a library of information and concepts to consider...
God really planned to have me here. There were about four major things that should have kept me from even attending in the first place. I can't go into all of them on here, but one of them was the fact that I had missed the deadline and all the slots were full. Still, one man in my agency kept praying and just a week before the training a spot opened up. I didn't really want to go at such a late date and so many responsibilities where I am at, but after talking with my wife we concluded that God must want me there. And now I can see way.
I have felt more like quitting the mission field in 2009 than I ever have since I came to work here nearly a decade ago. We have been hit with problem after problem after problem, and indeed were hit with yet another major problem just this past week. Yet, in the midst of all of this, God also did a miracle--our paperwork for an important enterprise here was approved last week after waiting for over three years. When I told some of our faithful supporters who had been praying for this for three years--they cried.
I feel that my heart has gotten off track in a lot of ways and this training helped me to get it back on track. I certainly have a much clearer focus on the mission that lies ahead. Along with that, I have regained a passion that I must have lost along the way. I have been pretty depressed at times feeling like I am not making any difference, that I'm wasting time, money and resources, and that I do not have what it takes to be an effective missionary. I have become stressed over too many things to do and little help to get it all done.
Mostly, I am convicted to pray, stay focused, believe that God WILL act and work through me, and obey him in everything. It is God who sustains us and empowers us.
What did I get from the training?
Besides a library of information and concepts to consider...
God really planned to have me here. There were about four major things that should have kept me from even attending in the first place. I can't go into all of them on here, but one of them was the fact that I had missed the deadline and all the slots were full. Still, one man in my agency kept praying and just a week before the training a spot opened up. I didn't really want to go at such a late date and so many responsibilities where I am at, but after talking with my wife we concluded that God must want me there. And now I can see way.
I have felt more like quitting the mission field in 2009 than I ever have since I came to work here nearly a decade ago. We have been hit with problem after problem after problem, and indeed were hit with yet another major problem just this past week. Yet, in the midst of all of this, God also did a miracle--our paperwork for an important enterprise here was approved last week after waiting for over three years. When I told some of our faithful supporters who had been praying for this for three years--they cried.
I feel that my heart has gotten off track in a lot of ways and this training helped me to get it back on track. I certainly have a much clearer focus on the mission that lies ahead. Along with that, I have regained a passion that I must have lost along the way. I have been pretty depressed at times feeling like I am not making any difference, that I'm wasting time, money and resources, and that I do not have what it takes to be an effective missionary. I have become stressed over too many things to do and little help to get it all done.
Mostly, I am convicted to pray, stay focused, believe that God WILL act and work through me, and obey him in everything. It is God who sustains us and empowers us.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Business and Missions
Four types of Business and Missions models:
Business As Missions—The business actually allows you to do ministry you couldn’t otherwise do. The business is successful and is a platform for successful ministry.
Business For Missions—The business helps to fund missions or gives you an entrance to do ministry, but the ministry doesn’t really flow out of the business.
Business as a Front For Missions—The business is not seriously undertaken to be active or profitable, but just provides a front in hostile locations to hide the work of ministry that you are actually focused on doing. The ministry has nothing to do with the business.
Business in Spite of Missions—The business is done well and may have some positive effects, but ministry is mostly left behind in order to focus on making the business work. (Missions as a Front For Business.)
I can live with one of the first two, but not with the last two.
Business As Missions—The business actually allows you to do ministry you couldn’t otherwise do. The business is successful and is a platform for successful ministry.
Business For Missions—The business helps to fund missions or gives you an entrance to do ministry, but the ministry doesn’t really flow out of the business.
Business as a Front For Missions—The business is not seriously undertaken to be active or profitable, but just provides a front in hostile locations to hide the work of ministry that you are actually focused on doing. The ministry has nothing to do with the business.
Business in Spite of Missions—The business is done well and may have some positive effects, but ministry is mostly left behind in order to focus on making the business work. (Missions as a Front For Business.)
I can live with one of the first two, but not with the last two.
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