08/08/26 Rwanda Reflections and Forging Ahead

We have a few closing thoughts on our recent Rwanda trip.   First,  we were privileged to have 8 members of our family serving on mission!  Nothing could be more encouraging than to see our family with a heart for training nationals globally and the mission of GBTF!  Our daughter, two sons-in-law, and five grandchildren work hard and find ways to love people every day!  

Next, we loved serving alongside those who have become family.  Fidele Shinga, GBTF African Director, and his wife, Alice, named their fourth daughter “Snavely” in our honor.  What a humbling blessing.   In addition, Fidele and Alice’s two oldest daughters, Success and Successful, asked to have Bruce baptize them.  They both gave clear and confident testimony of having placed their faith in Christ and their desire to follow Him.  Another unforgettable lifetime memory.  

Rwanda holds so many memories for us over the past 15 years.  It is now the heart of what GBTF is seeing God do throughout Africa.  We are thrilled to report that our trainer who sold his goats to attend GBTF training has been blessed with 6 goats thanks to two GBTF donors!

In other news, South Africa Director, Brasswell Nkhonjera, has just completed a Global Baptist Training Foundation training class in southern Tanzania and another class in Mozambique.  During his time of training in Tanzania, Brasswell had the privilege of helping to ordain a new GBTF-trained pastor.   In all, about 50 certificates of completion were awarded for successfully completing classes toward graduation. 

Classes are ongoing now or beginning soon: 2 separate locations in Burundi, 3 separate locations in Kenya, a brand new class opening in Arusha, Tanzania, and another class in Western Rwanda.   Bruce will be doing West Africa Regional Training in Liberia in early September.  

In addition to these classes, GBTF graduation ceremonies will be held in Central African Republic, Western Uganda, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Masasi, Tanzania, Kyela, Southern Tanzania, and Zambia.  Well over 200 pastors and church leaders will receive GBTF diplomas certifying they have completed the entire course of study (16 total courses)!   This is all cause for great rejoicing. Look for updates from these classes and graduations soon.  

After a three year absence, we are thrilled to renew training in Togo, West Africa this fall.   It is also exciting to announce that GBTF will be opening four new countries with training classes this fall: Gambia, Senegal, Botswana, and Ivory Coast.   That will bring the total countries where GBTF is training nationals pastor and church leaders to 36!   

The future is bright. Your partnership will help finance each of these countries, classes, and graduations!   As we draw near the end of the year, we hope many of our partners will consider GBTF in your year-end giving.  The more we expand our borders, the greater the financial needs!   www.globaltrain.org

Videos:

Ordination in Tanzania

Singing and Rejoicing in Tanzania 

Bruce and Grace Snavely

Global Baptist Training Foundation