Thankful for 2020!
That is a statement few people have chosen to express as we look back on a very trying year. However, there are many things to be thankful as we reflect on the year. This is especially true when we consider how God has blessed and expanded His Voice’s discipleship training even in the midst of the global pandemic.
We started 2020 with an aggressive plan for continuing trainings and adding more trainers and training sites. Our partners were excited to move forward with our Foundation of Hope materials and hoped to introduce them to many more pastors and church leaders. With travel restrictions and lockdowns becoming a reality, our plan was put in jeopardy. But as usually happens, God had a different plan, and we were able to see the incredible fruit that resulted.
As the year ended, our partners in Kenya and Uganda have a total of five trainers teaching in many locations throughout those countries. They wasted no time rolling out the training once restrictions were lifted. Classes were held in the largest refugee camps in Uganda reaching many displaced churches and refugees. Rift Valley Hope was able to begin a new series with several churches in Mombasa, Kenya. The results of their labor have been staggering.
75 graduates from the Foundation of Hope discipleship series
Over 200 pastors and church leaders currently enrolled
50+ churches participating
19 East African tribes represented
Hundreds of bibles distributed with many of them going to students who have never had one
We also held our first class for a U.S. based church. Mission City Church in Tracy, California desired to roll out the curriculum with their leadership and began the training with 25 students last February. We are so blessed to be a part of their vision.
Once again, we want to thank you for your prayers and financial support for this critical portion of our ministry. May God bless you and your families throughout 2021.
Darrell Parrish
Director of Discipleship Training