09/22/23 A Very Busy Week!!
A lot is going on this week with Global Baptist Training Foundation. When we talk about intentional multiplication, this email will show you just how wide and quickly that multiplication is taking place with training, new trainers, church plants, and people coming to the Lord and being baptized.
LIBERIA
Bruce is in Liberia giving advanced training to 12 pastors (who have finished the entire GBTF curriculum) who want to be national trainers. That means they will take our GBTF-produced materials and train pastors all over West Africa. What a privilege to continue to see men surrender for this training ministry. Next week, Bruce will be in a different part of Liberia teaching 54 pastors their final courses and conducting yet another graduation ceremony.
On a more humorous (or maybe frightening) note, Bruce shot this picture going over 60 miles per hour!! Shortly after this, Pastor Togba’s car suffered a breakdown. Here is a picture and a video (at the end) with view of the repair “shop!”
UGANDA
Gilbert Okecha is continuing as a vibrant trainer for GBTF. This week, he has a class of 14 pastors. 3 others are sick and could not attend. Gilbert requested prayer for Dwoki Chaplain and Abraham Kiiza for illness and for Gongonyon who has a son who is very sick. Please join us in praying for these nationals that you are supporting!
GUINEA
We will allow our GBTF trained church planter, Pastor Aaron, to tell this first story:
“A new church plant in Guinea by the Liberty Baptist Church in Gbarnga, Liberia. A fellow attends our church who is from this town in Guinea and had asked us to start church in his home. We started by taking a team from the church to Guinea, after visit of our deacons from the church. We walked about 2hrs one way from where our vehicle stays and cross a river in an old canoe every time we go. The canoe leaks, and we have to bail water to keep it afloat. Graciously, there are now over 50 believers in this town with about 3500 inhabitants with our church plant the only church. And many more are very receptive to gospel. A family donated property for a construction of a church. Construction have started there. We met with the military head to that part of Guinea and were given full authority to preach any where in the region. Pictures show some of those things.”
We have a second church plant in Di Cecca with a building being funded by a partner. That building is going up rapidly after a LOT of opposition! We will keep you updated on this important church plant in Guinea! See the videos below for a view of the foundation of this building and a video of the people rejoicing over what God is doing. Apparently, they are also thanking all of those who have had a part in bringing this church to their area.
BURUNDI
Fidele is teaching a large group of pastors in Burundi this week and in another area of Burundi next week. He is also training Congo Jackson (see video below) who is becoming a full-time trainer for GBTF. Overall, there will be 150 graduate from our GBTF program within the next few months. Fidele says,
“You can’t understand what God is doing in different parts of Africa. These men promised to use this teaching for their church transformation. Africa is on fire of the Holy Spirit through GBTF. Hallelujah! Glory to Jesus the God of GBTF.”
Fidele felt a revival breaking out as the pastors realized how poorly they had administrated their churches. He also had two pastors come to him for prayer and repenting of treating their wives badly. We are thrilled to see God working in the hearts of these pastors coming to GBTF for training.
We hope this email encourages you as much as it does us! The model of training nationals to train nationals is the most Biblical model of worldwide evangelism (II Timothy 2:2). We are just thrilled to be part of this great work of God spreading all over Africa and other parts of the world as well. Visit www.globaltrain.org to give to support GBTF trainers!
Your fellow servants,
Bruce and Grace Snavely
Global Baptist Training Foundation