05/03/24 Classes, Buildings, and Opposition
Every week is full of news and updates from Global Baptist Training Foundation. This week is no exception!
Rwanda
Fidele has a class of 73 pastors in Rwanda. This is a completely new class from the recent Rwandan graduates. A third class is planned in the next few weeks. Fidele had a revival break out among these pastors this week. In their course on Pastoral Administration, Fidele saw the pastors en masse begin to cry. They became convicted about the way they had been leading their churches, handling finances, etc. They had a prayer meeting to confess and ask God to help them lead well. See the videos of this class below!
Actually, Fidele was able to be in Rwanda for this class because of some opposition. He was denied entry into Botswana. The Botswana website indicated visa on arrival (when you land at the airport in that country) is available. Because he was coming from a class in Zimbabwe (rather than traveling directly from Rwanda), he was not able to enter Botswana. This is temporary. The class is being rescheduled in the coming weeks, but it does show how we face opposition.
Guinea
In Guinea, the building we are building with one of our partners has faced opposition in every imaginable form. Guinea is a military-run state, and no one remembers a Bible preaching church in this area in more than a generation. The most obvious opposition came less than a month ago when citizens in the area of the church build and new church plant took Philip, our East Africa Director who helped plant this church and is overseeing this building project, to court because he was infringing on the traditional values of their area. In answer to prayer, the lawsuit was tossed out. The building is now complete! Look for pictures soon!
Uganda
Finally, there is Naboth in Uganda. He is such an amazing servant of God, and we are privileged to have him begin serving as our East Africa Director, the post Fidele previously occupied before becoming our African Director. Naboth has started a great church in his home region. Rwanstinga Acts Bible Baptist Church has seen 150 people saved since January 1 this year. This past Sunday, they celebrated their first anniversary with 350 in attendance, 5 saved, and others baptized. They, too, face opposition from existing religious groups.
This church has a building going up quickly thanks to our faithful partner.
The truth is, we all know the source of all of this opposition, but God is faithful and His Word is powerful. Pastors are being trained, churches are being planted, a multitude are coming to faith in Christ and then being baptized and discipled through these churches. Isaiah 54:17 tells us that no weapon formed against us will prosper and that this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord!
Bruce and Grace Snavely
Global Baptist Training Foundation