Mission Ethiopia 2008

(This is the prayer letter that we sent out.)
Dear Family and Friends,
As many of you know, Gina and I are traveling half way around the world this summer to Ethiopia to serve with SIM (Serving in Mission). We promised to send you more information and so let us tell you a little about our Ethiopian brothers and sisters and a little about our needs and how you can be involved.

Ethiopia has a population of 75 million people and 10% consider themselves Evangelicals. The church has many who are willing to plant and pastor new churches. Yet, they desperately need clear biblical training to help the church grow and survive on the tumultuous African continent. An African pastor I once knew likened the African church to a starving boy on the roadside. If someone stopped and offered him food, would he scrutinize it? No, he would devour every morsel! This is one of the greatest obstacles to growth amongst the African church. They desperately need and desire clear biblical training.

Shortly after we finish our regular teaching duties in June, Gina and I will depart to Ethiopia for 6 weeks. Please be praying for the following ministries that we will be involved in:

• Michael will be teaching pastors the book of Romans at the Evangelical Theological College.
  
• Gina will be teaching children and young women at two different churches. They are planning on having 200-400 children in one VBS alone.
• Both of us will be involved in discipleship and teaching at the International Evangelical Church.Our group will take over the preaching and adult bible fellowship ministries at this 1400+ person church for the summer due to the fact that they are without a pastor.
  

We are excited about what God is going to do this summer.We hope that you will support us with your prayers and if possible your financial support. If you are not able to give, we understand and covet your prayers. If you are able to support us financially to help us cover the $7,600 cost of this mission trip, please make a check out to SIM International and send it to:

SIM USA
PO Box 7900
Charlotte, NC 28241.

Please put #030224/Makidon on the memo line. You can also visit www.simusa.org (https://apps.easydraft.com/Payment/SIM/) to make a donation online. All contributions are tax deductible.

We can’t wait to share with you the great things that God is doing half way around the world amongst our Ethiopian brothers and sisters in Christ. Our prayer is that the church will be strengthened and consequently many more will believe Jesus’ words, “He who believes in Me, has eternal life” (John 6:47).

In Christ,