Just Over the Horizon

Just like when you can begin to see the sun rise and anticipate it’s dawning so are we anticipating God’s working in Arua and beyond.

This past week our team was able to meet with a Congolese man named Bokwa. (pictured above with Erica and I) He is a good friend of Jon Mayo’s (our field director) and a friend to World Gospel Mission over the years. We have been hoping he could be the kind of man who can really set up some pastor trainings for us in Congo. As we ate dinner together Bokwa shared his story of meeting Jesus and of how the Congo rebels had destroyed his home and murdered many of his family and friends. He also shared about his passion for ministry to train college age students to be pastors as well as knowing several others in Congo who wanted to be trained but had not been able to receive training due to the war that ended in 2004. “Now the door is open” said Bokwa. We made no formal plan other than to continue to pray about how the Lord might connect us and lead us to help train these pastors and students. There could potentially be as many as three cities for us to train people in. This would be a large step for us so we are moving forward slowly, but also want to move with God where He leads. This most likely will take several months to come about, because things in Africa just move slower than us westerners would like, but until then we are praying for God’s best and His guiding us into the right places for ministry. (Billy, Bokwa & John pictured above)


One place God has opened up for us this weekend is a town called Nebbi. This Saturday Billy and I will be driving about 1 hour from Arua to begin to teach some pastors who are wanting more training in the Bible and church planting. We are praying this will also become a training center for the ministry, but we still need to see where they are at theologically and Biblically. The potential seems very bright as there are around 8 pastors wanting to be trained with Africa Gospel Church. So we will walk in the Spirit and trust God to give us discerning hearts.

On a totally different note, this has been a crazy week as far as “normal life” goes. We have been to the airport 4 times and hospital twice. Our good friend Jeannie (pictured to the left with Erica) broke her arm while riding her bike on a rocky path here in town and one of the Coppedges guards (Christopher) has become very sick very suddenly. Both are doing better and recovering, but it has made life a lot more of an adventure especially with the power going out unexpectedly for around 35 hours. (It’s back up now, thank God!!)

Thanks for your continued prayers and know that Erica and I are thinking and praying for you all the time. Please pray specifically for safety as we travel and for Jesus to bring the right people to us to train to be pastors. We love you all!!!