himadmin – Harvesters

Pokot Outreach Ministries – South Sudan

Our ministry’s primary focus is bringing the good news to everyone through evangelism and church planting. Besides this, we also engage in community development activities such as education, health campaigns, and capacity building on social and economic matters.

In the ministry of preaching the gospel and church planting, we have missional leaders leading our missional hubs with evangelistic teams reaching a particular area of focus. For instance, the evangelism team of the main mission hub in Kapoeta ministers in the town’s outskirts, hospital, and prisons. The team conducted three house to house evangelism events in which over 50 households were reached. We also followed up with the Jesus film and other Bible videos, which was attended by hundreds of people (it is difficult to give a precise number because we normally conduct film ministry at night). We can confidently report that our main hub’s ministry impacted over 800 people in the past year.

The other mission hubs and village churches led by our missional leaders Nichodemus, Sam Etyang’, Eliya Lokuru, and Lopeyok also did marvelous work. Their village teams were able to do home to home evangelism, night fireplace evangelism, and water well evangelism (preaching to people who gather at water points). Open air preaching/crusades were done in Chukudum (among the Diding’a people), which over 400 people attended. Also, we normally use the Christmas celebration to make contact with many people in the village. Our ministry leaders, along with members of the village churches, organize for food and drinks on Christmas eve and/or day, which becomes an invite-a-friend event. Most of those who are invited are unbelievers, and they get an opportunity to hear about the greatest gift of a savior to the world. This is part of the year that we always look forward to because we make contact with many new people.

Another success in 2017 was the program in Nachilagur village. In this village, we implemented two of our major goals of ministry: church planting and education. We planted a church that is now meeting every Sunday at the Nachilagur primary school. The primary school was one of the many closed down schools in the state until our ministry revived operations. Both the school and the church program have given us contact with over 800 people in a village with a population of about 2,000. Over 500 hundred people, including children, teenagers, young adults, and parents are directly impacted by this twin program.

In 2017, our entire ministry made contact and shared the gospel with over 3,500 people, among whom over 250 came to faith.

This is Martha Lokwale – a woman who believes in God’s power and provision. She walks for over 21 kilometers to our mission home/hub in Kapoeta. She always longs for her people to know the Word. She has defied all odds in a society that gives the lowest regard to women. In this society where women are there to be seen and not to be heard, she has mustered the courage to share her testimony among her village members. Her changed life is the script that her own village reads as they listen to the good news we preach. She has earned respect and influence and has on several occasions brought women to visit our church in Kapoeta. Her hospitality and generosity show the spirit of resilience which rises above the shortcoming of droughts, diseases, and economic crisis that points that her anchor and faith is in Christ, the rock of ages. Whenever there is an outbreak of disease in her village, she takes the burden on herself and walks the full distance to share with us the prayer requests from her village. We normally respond by prayer and sending medical help to rescue the situation. Her faith fans mine into flames and has drawn my heart to dream for a health facility to help the many women she worries about in the village. She has faith that cholera that killed dozens in her village will not happen once they have a source of clean water. I see the spirit of God moving in this woman, and I can’t wait to see Martha’s prayers answered!

We praise God for the provision of the things we have been praying for: completion of the church construction, motorbikes for our two mission hubs and accompanying Jesus film systems. Pray that the use of these resources shall be effective in showing the love of Christ and preaching of the good news to the unreached.

We have a vision of planting 12 or more churches this year; at least three in each of our four mission hubs including Kapoeta, Riwotoo, Chukudum, and Lotien/Mogos. Please pray for our missional leaders Nichodemus, Sam, Eliya and Joseph as they lead their teams that they may be led by the Holy Spirit in rallying the troops to battle for the lost souls. We thank you for your prayers and support!

Sion Assembly Church – Ministry Update

Thank you for your support of our ministry. We have had an eventful year here in India with two new churches planted, the addition of new programs for assisting people affected by leprosy and AIDs, and the opening of a satellite campus of the North Carolina Theological Seminary (NCTS).

In September, we began training pastors, evangelists, and church leaders through NCTS. Almost 160 men and women from two different states travel to our facilities for two days twice a month to receive training that will culminate in a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies. Meals and lodging are provided during these intense training sessions. Some of our first class are pictured here. We ask that you pray for these servants and their families as they pursue God’s call on their lives.

Our children’s home is attached to our church building in Vellaturu. Our desire is to give abandoned and orphaned children a chance at life – both physical and spiritual. We embrace them with the love of Jesus! Not only do we provide their basic necessities of food, shelter, clothing, we also provide for their education. In 2017, we began holding classes on the roof of the children’s home. This year, we are planning to begin construction of a school building. We hope to provide an English speaking school for those in the children’s home, as well as children in the community.

We ask that you pray for the construction of the school. Also, please pray for Rufus, the son of Pastor Venket, who was recently diagnosed with leukemia.

Kerith Ministry Update

We celebrated ten years of ministry in 2017, and I am pleased to share with you how the Lord has blessed us this year. During the year, we held seven revival meetings, planted one new church, baptized 496 new believers, and held seven Gospel crusades where just over 1,700 people received Jesus Christ as their Savior!! We held our ninth annual believer’s conference, which attracted over 600 people, and held our fifth annual youth camp.

One of the Gospel crusades was held in the village of Kaboloi. The three-day crusade attracted thousands of people and over 600 gave their lives to Christ. As a result, we planted a new church there, and it is growing rapidly. Among the people saved at the crusade was a former witch doctor. He was so radically changed by the power of Jesus that he donated the land where the church is currently meeting! Church members (seen here dedicating the land) have worked together to put up a shelter for the meetings.

In June, the Lord blessed us with three hectares (approximately 7.5 acres) of land for farming, which has been a long-term ministry need. This allows us to grow food for the children living in our children’s home and also provides income through the sale of food to the community. We were also able to begin construction of a permanent school building. The building structure is almost complete, and soon we will begin work inside to finish the classrooms.

Serving in a Muslim community presents a challenge in finding a place to hold a fellowship. Over the last four years, we have been trusting God for a place in the middle of Pallisa where we can hold midday services. With much prayer, the Lord led us to an unfinished building right in the middle of our town. We contacted the owner, and he agreed to rent us the place for $450 per year. It has been three months since the fellowship started. Within a few weeks, the group grew to over 100 people! We meet every weekday for one and a half hours for prayer and studying the Word. Every Friday, we have a two hour prayer meeting aimed at praying that the Lord will save our town.

Since this fellowship started, there has been a lot of resistance, but the Lord has helped us to stand amidst it all. The Gospel is preached through our loud speakers and reaches most parts of the town. People can hear our message of hope even if they aren’t physically there. Two former Muslims, and six others, have given their lives to Jesus. This has also grown our church in the area of prayer and commitment to begin more fellowships, since the church is far from the center of town. Our future plan is to buy this property and set up a radio station, which will broadcast the Gospel in eastern Uganda and part of Kenya. We are experiencing revival in our community!

I ask that you pray for our team. Pray for more passion to serve and patience since our staff members are volunteers and don’t receive a monthly wage. I also ask that you pray for the Kerith primary school project that the Lord will give us the right staff and a good environment for our children to study. We are trusting that by the end of this year, the Lord will provide the required funds to complete the building. Finally, please pray for our pastors as they disciple our members and that this would be a year of growth and fruitfulness for the ministry.

Live With Passion

What is blue and white and running everywhere they go? It is probably a member of the Hope Water Project team. In late March, around 900 team members gathered at Kensington Church in Troy, Michigan, to kickoff the 2014 Detroit Free Press Marathon team. Excitement radiated through the crowd as we celebrated what God had done through the 2013 team and eagerly anticipated even greater things for 2014.

Last October was a momentous and exciting time as 1,100 Hope Water teammates and I ran in the Detroit Marathon. Most of us had never run a marathon before, but we all felt called to do something beyond ourselves for the sake of someone elsethe Pokot. More than $1 million was raised from our collective efforts, which translates into nearly 50,000 people that will receive clean water as they experience and learn about the love of Christ.

Another exciting initiative is Lines of Hope, the brainchild of Nick Flora in California. Nick was a member of a team that traveled to Pokot last summer. He returned motivated to do something for the children at POM’s children’s homes. What started with some Etch-A-Sketches that he had brought for the kids to play with evolved into Lines of Hope. Nick and a group of marketing professionals donated their time and talents to this campaign and raised over $25,000 to provide beds, shoes, and school supplies for the kids.

If you have read our newsletter over the last couple of years, you have probably seen the name, Jen Todd. Jen is a passionate entrepreneur with a deep desire to empower women and girls to live out their God-given purpose. Her passion has been contagious and now more than 600 American and Pokot women are prayer partners with each other, and more than 2,000 men, women, and youth have been educated on the consequences of FGM.

You might be wondering what all of these things have to do with each other. More important than the numbers and dollar figures is that each one of these initiatives happened when someone responded to the call of being the hands and feet of Christ for the benefit of someone else. They saw the least among us – the at-risk child, the battered woman, the thirsty family – and saw something more in them. They saw what God sees when He looks at each of us, someone who matters and is important in the His eyes.

The impact of these efforts is still taking place, but children are being given a chance to thrive, women are regaining their dignity, and thirst is being quenched- all in the name of Jesus.

You too can be part of what God is doing- not just in Pokot, but with any of our partners and even in your own community. Let God use your passion to make a difference for Him.

Hope Through Animals

My husband and I first visited the Pokot in 2004 on a medical mission trip and have been leading teams each fall ever since. What an amazing journey the Lord has given us – learning about the Pokot culture, their hearts, their needs, and sharing it with new teams each year. I realize now that this is what He had been preparing me for my whole life.

During my veterinary training, He led this suburban girl to pursue mixed animal medicine. He opened the doors for me to work in the summers on both goat and dairy cattle farms, and my first employment as a veterinarian was a practice that specialized in sheep and goat medicine. When I discovered POM had a goat project, I immediately felt called to it.

The Pokot view their livestock very highly. Animals provide meat and milk for the family and serve as currency. Prestige is based on the size of a man’s herd.

The goat project was started approximately 14 years ago as a way to introduce a goat breed that produced more milk and meat into the breeding program to improve upon the small Pokot goats. The people dedicated themselves to its success and benefited from improvements in the community health with a herd that had grown to 200.

We visited the project for the first time in 2009, and were told of its decline. It began when some goats became sick and died, while many were attacked by wild animals through the decaying wooden barn walls. They had no money to purchase medications or rebuild the barns. Water was not available, requiring them to walk half a day to the nearest river bed.

At the time of our visit, there were only about 30 goats left, but the people had not lost hope. They prepared a plan to fulfill their objective to make the project self-sustaining. They thanked us for not forgetting about them. Their faith is an inspiration to me, and I feel greatly blessed that the Lord chose to use me to help in rebuilding the project.

God is amazing, and we have been in awe watching His plan unfold as we visit the site each year. He has given provision to drill a bore-hole for water, to rebuild the barns with steel posts and wire fencing to prevent deterioration, to build a home and latrine for the manager, to provide a manager and have him receive training in animal health care, and to provide the donation of dewormers that has kept the remaining goats healthy.

We were privileged to be able to take part in the project dedication ceremony and hear of the great plans God has put in the hearts of the people for the future of the project. We were very honored that the community appointed us Pokot elders for our ten years of serving the Pokot and our commitment to the goat project . We are excited to see what God has planned for the future of the project and pray that we will be able to continue to play a part in returning it to its original success. Are you called to help others?

A Letter from Russia

We hope this letter directly from Russia touches you as it did us! Please pray for Zhanna, Max and his new friend! — Jeff & Joye

Dear Jeff, Joye,

Hello, I Hope you both are are doing well!!!

I am so thankful for all you do for the ministry and want to share a quick story about this boy Max again (he is on the left on this picture). He just continues to impress me. He is the boy who read the Bible every night for at least a year to his little friend Andrey who couldn’t read yet!

Now he called me asking to meet his new friend – a new boy in the orphanage whose mom is an alcoholic and dad is in prison. He ran away from his grandma and it ended up with the department of guardianship putting him in the orphanage. The poor boy is blaming himself for the whole thing. The poor guy cried sharing his story with me:(((((. Max takes his burdens for him and uplifts him as much as he can!! I am so thankful for his heart!!!!!!!! The name of the new boy is Rodion, please mention him in your prayers if you would please!!

Lots of love to you!!!

Zhanna

Ministry Update

It is a privilege for us to be a part of the great commission and equip a team of workers in Russia that are eager to reach out to the “least of these” in the orphanages and villages. We recently were able to sit down and talk with Zhanna’s daughter Alina about her work in the summer camps. We asked her what she thought was the best way to “connect” with the orphans that come each year. Her answer was “I just talk about Jesus!”. Someone once said “I am not sure of the question, but the answer is Jesus!” Please continue to pray that God would give our family wisdom as we seek to encourage and equip the National Church in Russia.

Philippians 3:14 — I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

HFL 2 Misha & Lena— Misha and Lena and their family have welcomed little Misha, 2 yrs old into their home. Misha has been hospitalized and in government care for the past few months. He was neglected by his alcoholic parents. Misha is excited to be in a home with many siblings and is doing great!
Misha & Lena are also excited about their outreach to the neighborhood through weekly Bible studies. One girl who lives in their neighborhood would steal things from the HFL kids when she would visit, but because of the unconditional love of the kids she recently brought everything she took back and asked for forgiveness. The light in this dark neighborhood is shining bright! Pray with us that God would use the seeds planted to reap a church.

Summer Camps— Things are gearing up for our annual summer camp! We would like to help 80 kids go to camp this year! We are also considering a trip to Russia this summer, please pray for all the details and for God’s confirmation. The picture is of Masha, she was led to the Lord by another orphan who went to camp and came back and shared Christ with Masha. She is one of many orphans Zhanna mentors. The picture was taken on one of her recent trips to the hospital for her diabetes treatment. We have provided her with a cell phone so that she can keep in touch with Zhanna.We also give her food and clothing. Masha is a girl full of faith and love for the Lord! She has “I Love Jesus” written on her head!

Closed doors reopen— Several years ago we had the privilege of hearing Anya from HFL1 home share the Christmas story in a government orphanage. when we left the director thanked us and invited us back. Then she reported our home to the officials saying the house parents were part of a cult. It created some minor problems. That director is now gone. There is a couple from a Russian church from Vladivostok going to this village as missionaries. Last fall they evangelized for three months, now they have a weekly Bible study. Zhanna took them to the orphanage and introduced them to the new director. Last fall we bought windows for this orphanage, and have worked to build a relationship with this director and the missionary couple now has open access to the orphanage kids and has been asked by the director to be the sports director for the orphanage! Some of the orphans are allowed to go to their Bible study and God is doing AMAZING things through them. Please continue to pray for this new ministry!

HFL1 Alexey and Lena— Alexey and Lena thank each of you who faithfully pray for their family. The children are getting into the teen years and of course face new challenges. All of them have been sick recently. They specifically ask for your prayers for the children that are in school, that God would protect them and give them knowledge.

News From Rwanda

Dear my brothers Praise Jesus, Am happy and so happy for miracle a have seen baptize have started with prayers from Monday up to Friday on one week so it’s amazing on that Friday those people who gone be in baptism they stand up them self to repent their sins without recommendation to ask GOD to forgave them the deferent sins it’s not easy to repent in many people the fornication sin but they did and in church or people they wise wiping for it so parents I was happy for that am telling you. We continue on Sunday when I was need to baptize people I fast prayed and haven open for as in prayer so I come down in water I was filling a happiness and I closed my eyes praying so I open and I call fast one to come to baptize him men know Ingabire Theophila she said Pastor fast lat me repent my sin and she repent all the people was dancing and me in Jordan I was filling the happiness cause the holy spirit of God was coming in Jordan. I thank you for your prayers you have prayed for as end many things you help as the aid ears you gave to as Pastor Mike it was surprise to them the gift and certificate it was nice. I walked with Athanasius in morning he was visited me we went in one place we have people we pray to gather the tribe called batwa there so happy for as end I have aid ear of to starting the church and they are so happy for it and am looking the supporters for them cause they are necked so they are kids they are so hang off they have not food so pray for me maybe in this time that we may go to pray with them they have sale near for them and it can cost 100.000fr money in one math so bat on Friday I were go in Uganda to pray with my Christian same of them, we will pray for it, and pray for as cause those tribe of batwa they are under of all poor in country they fill that they have not hope same of them many they are not pray bat those they arise and said we will so it makes Athanasius to be happy. Cause they was calling them the people who rafted behind. Pray for me on Sunday we have King’s table it’s fast time in my church to share the Christ is body so we were go in Uganda we back on Sunday morning to be in Service in church so after service we have on 16/09/2012 the conference at 14h at Karuruma place. Men it was good thing in God but devil tried to kill me in home. Know the car come from road three up of my gate and it fore in so God protected as with my kids that car destroyed only my gate my kids was at school so it were make them to pay that gate so pray for me I need to build my gate maybe God can make them to build the strong gate. So Athanasius comes to make me strong because I was weak in visiting me. My God bless you I love you Pastor Aphrodis MUTABARUKA SEIRA COMMUNITY CHURCH

A Safe Home for Lera

We arrived in Russia on Sunday the 20th. On the 18th the government had contacted Misha & Lena, the 2nd HFL parents and informed them of a 14 year old girl who had no place to live.

Lera’s Dad is in prison, and her mom is a alcoholic. She has been neglected and uncared for for years. She has smoked since she was 8 and has not been to school for years. She works in a cafe to survive.
In desperation and knowing the love of Misha & Lena the government officials bought her to the HFL home. She is now in their care and may possibly stay there. This choice was made by her. When the government officials asked her about her decision she told them that she looked into the eyes of Lena the house mother and knew she would not lie to her.

Joye and I were able to meet her and talk with her. As we sang Jesus loves me she began to become overwhelmed with emotion, and often leaves the room crying. Her heart is literally melting because of the love the parents and kids have given to her. Two of the younger girls have given her their bed and sleep on the couch for the time.

Please pray for this sweet girl, the house parents and wisdom for all as decisions are made. To see first hand the impact these parents are having on these children is a blessing! Their lives are being completely changed and the evidence of the Holy Spirit is very clear!

Pray specifically for Lera to be accepting to change, wisdom for the houseparents, and Gods leading concerning where she will live.

Thank you,

Jeff, Joye, Zhanna & the house parents

The Power of One

Greetings from South Carolina, and on behalf of our dear ministry friends in Vladivostok Russia. Joye & I are preparing for a trip to Russia in October. We look forward to ministering with the National team, visiting with the kids and planning for the future.

This year we are thankful to God to report that we (with your help) we were able to send 78 orphans to summer camp! For ten days these children had the opportunity to be around a group of believers that poured their time & energy into them. It is encouraging to see how these children change and show a sincere heart for God. Many of them are growing into strong Christians. They are all given a Bible that they take back to the orphanages with them. The director of one orphanage made the kids lock their Bibles up in the storage room, but the kids were determined and did get them back. They read them faithfully and are always glad when a mentor can visit them.

Does President Putins decision to ban adoptions to American couples affects our ministry in Russia? The answer is that it makes the need for HFL homes in Russia more of a need that ever before. The tragedy is that his decision has lasting implications on the orphans living in a government orphanage that are denied a chance to live with a family that is eager to love them as their own. These children will most likely spend their childhood and teen years living in an government orphanage with little chance of hearing the Gospel. Statistics show that 90% of them will be lost to drugs, suicide, and social isolation when they “graduate” from the system.

James tells us that true religion is to care for the orphans in their time of need. Now is their time of need! One Russian couple can make a significant difference in the life of a orphan. Just as the sponsors, donors, and prayer partners of the HFL ministry are making a significant difference. The Russian orphan is unlikely to be rescued by its government or an American couple. Their hope is a sovereign God who knows them by name!

We are asking you to join us in prayer for the Russian orphan. Pray that God would give us wisdom and direction as we equip Christian couples in Russia to care for these precious children. The impact of praying & supporting a Russian couple to reach orphans is the greatest method available! The fields are white unto harvest, and by Gods grace we are trusting that we will be able to reach many more for Christ.

Current needs — $3,000.00 for our trip in october. HFL Homes monthly support. A one time gift or a monthyl pledge would be greatly appreciated!