Equipping The Saints
Today was a day in which every part of our team played a major role in “equipping the saints,” both physically and spiritually. Physically, John was able to put the finishing touches on training the pastors, charging, and dispensing 21 solar systems to the pastors to provide electricity for their families. The Good Rain Project also purchased a 40 pound bag of rice, and a 22 pound bag of beans for each pastors family (61 total). This provides them with enough food for their family for 3 months. The joy they have over something that we would deem so basic, is very impactful to experience.
Christina was able to spend the day spiritually equipping 16 ladies at Aimee’s church in Kabuga. It sure sounds like she had an amazing day teaching and fellowshipping with the women there. Christina reminded the ladies that a Christian woman does not simply busy herself with the tasks of the day, but allows her newness in Christ to transform the way she serves in both the home and the church.
Neal and I had another great day teaching the pastors. Today we taught chapters 15-19, covering such great events as Jesus being the True Vine, the coming of the Holy Spirit, the High Priestly prayer, and the betrayal and crucifixion of Christ. The pastors were engaged and asked great questions. I know that Neal and I cannot help but be greatly humbled, convicted, challenged, and grateful when teaching such incredible portions of Scripture.
Finally, for the second year in row, my church’s contribution was to provide Study Bibles to the 12 pastors present that had not previously received them from the Good Rain Project. I was so impacted last year by the fact that these pastors are tasked with faithfully preaching the Word of God, but some have no resources to prepare with. Many of them have poor translations of the Scriptures with sections of the Bible missing from overuse. Though a Study Bible does not seem like much in terms of a theological library, it is a great first tool in aiding these pastors to become faithful proclaimers of God’s Word.
Shane Colwell
Study Bible Give Away...Like Gold!
Beans to go!
Remember the market well, the produce was just beautiful but flies everywhere. Glad Shane's church could provide study bibles for the pastors that had not yet received them. Glad the families got rice and beans they can add that to the crops they grow. Love and miss you all. Next year you need to have a class on how to blog to you guys. It's not the easiest thing to do.
ReplyDeleteThank you for all your diligent blogging it is such a great way to follow Good Rain.
ReplyDeleteI have 2 thoughts..... 1) how wonderful it is that Good Rain is a project that goes on and on for these years and many more to come. Our culture has a habit of helping by doing something nice for folks who need help yet we fall off the sled pretty quickly(at least I know I do). The Continued work of Good Rain is such a blessing to these Pastors and families and of course their Congregations as it keeps coming back year after year and doing this Kingdom work. It is such a concrete example of the marvelous, diligent love of the Father for His children. I will Reflect on this in my life here in Massachusetts.
2) Second thought. We need to invite Christina to come speak at a Men's Breakfast and share her thoughts about loving our wives as Christ loved the church. How about it?
Peace and grace to you all and safe travels ..... Hank Amabile