I really don’t know where to begin. Moses was speechless after coming face to face with God on Mt. Sinai. Perhaps he was awe laced with fear or maybe it was pure shock at being exposed to the fullness of God in such a personal way. Regardless, Moses was speechless.
For the first time in a long time I feel the same.
There is no way to adequately explain what took place at the training conference. We were humbled, awestruck; dumbfounded by the way God was working through all who assembled. Let’s just say God heard and answered all of your prayers and then some. A revival has been sparked among a large group of Ethiopian pastors and their wives. Simultaneously, a door has opened for our St. Matthew family that none of us ever dreamed or imagined.
Every year, two to three thousand Ethiopian evangelical pastors from all denominations assemble for a national conference. Key pastor leaders for the whole continent f Africa also attend. The conference ends with a National worship service that draws over 30,000 people. We have been extended a preliminary invitation to play a role in the training and the closing worship celebration.
Unbelievable! Humbling! Speechless!
Do you see how big our God is? He has chosen to use a little ol church in Burleson, TX to impact a whole nation and that nation’s continent for Christ. Will it come to fruition? Maybe ,maybe not, but regardless one small pebble cast into the waters has sent ripples across the entire ocean. And it all started with your decision to return Christmas to its original intent, the celebration of Jesus birthday.
Our team split up early this morning to double our efforts. Melissa, Caren Robertson and Alemayhu went to Gunchire to work on the plans for the library. Claudia, Leigh Ann, Genet and I remained in Hawassa to finish the conference. Tomorrow we will all meet in Weliso and worship in Gunchire on Sunday. Sunday afternoon we return to Addis to gear up for three more days of training.
Thank you for praying and encouraging us. We have felt the presence of God every step of the journey. Though we are having an incredible experience, we miss our church family and are eager to be reunited with you in worship on the first weekend of February. Hopefully our speech will soon return so we can better describe the miracles God has been performing the people called St. Matthew.
Peace,
Rick
