We traveled north today and entered
a village on Sumatra and they were
drying their rice.

This was a special moment at the
close of our meeting today. These
are modern-day heroes who are
taking the good news to challenging
areas of Indonesia.

We finished up the teaching tonight
on the island of Sumatra. We
taught disciple-making principles to
workers and university students
during the last two evenings.

Bahir Dar, Ethiopia: Day 2

Greetings from the Bahir Dar team. Today the team split up into three groups and we went to three separate local churches. Kennon Vaughan, Matt Wukasch, and Kem Wilson each preached. Jess and I got to be in the group with Matt and our interpreter Andanet. The church we worshiped with this morning had a lot of children; I'm not sure if the children we were with were orphans or not, but it was clear they were living in poverty. I got to play soccer with the kids and ask them about what they want to do when grow up. We talked sports, the children sang us a song about how big Jesus' love is for us, and the Lord led our conversation to where I got to tell them about Noah and share the gospel with them. When we walked into the room where the Church body worships, I immediately realized it was unlike any other service I had been to. The people were all on their knees praying out to God; their desperation, sincerity, and passion was very evident. Their passion continued into their singing of song and worship to Jesus. Although I couldn't understand anything they said, now and again I could hear the words "Yesso Christo" and I knew they were singing songs to our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Although we have never met the people, do not speak the same language, and have different customs we were all bought by the blood of Jesus and are brothers and sisters in Jesus forever. It was amazing and gave me a glimpse of what heaven might be like. Matt then taught on Luke 5 where Jesus chooses some of his disciples. The spirit really moved through him as he taught the congregation. Pray that the people of the local body we were at would be stirred in their affections for Christ from the teaching and apply the truths Matt taught from the scriptures. Thank you for all your prayers for us. We love and miss you all.

- John Sarver

 

John Sarver, Jess Sarver, and Matt Wukasch with children from the Church

Bahir Dar, Ethiopia: Day 1

Bahir Dar is amazing! I was so blessed to spend the day in awe of the land. God also used that time to calm my anxious heart through His people. I have never experienced such worship before. There was singing and prayer to open and close the lessons Kennon and John taught. God used that experience to remind me that the blood of Jesus is the one thing that abolishes all differences between those in the body of Christ. How grateful I am for that! So regardless of how much I fear my speech will not translate or even that my Amharic hellos will come out funny, I rest in the fact that every difference mounts to nothing when the blood of Jesus was shed. As I listened to the lessons being taught it was amazing to look at my journal and the journal of my sister next to me and see a different language being written and to know both are about our God! God is showing me the beauty in our differences and the oneness of the blood! The image below is a small piece of the worship we experienced with our bothers and sisters in Bahir Dar. My prayer for myself and our team is that we will run to God in worship and praise Him for our bothers and sisters. Regardless of Satan's plan to divide us based on our difference, I pray that we will step into the unity that was made so by the blood of Jesus.

- Rose Logan

Worship at the conference

Bahir Dar, Ethiopia: Traveling

Friends and Family,

We are grateful for each of you, and have already felt your prayers. When we arrived to Addis (the Capitol of Ethiopia), we got to connect with the Frye family and the Ethiopian leaders. For those who don't know, the Frye's left Memphis two years ago in order to partner with the Church in Ethiopia. It was so encouraging to hear about what God has been doing in this country, among his people. We're still recovering from jet lag, but we're excited to begin the conference this afternoon! Kennon Vaughan will be teaching on the Great Commission, and Great Commission Lifestyle. And John Sarver will be teaching on Vision and Strategy.

Prayer Points:
1. Please pray for Kennon, John and the men and women who will be attending this conference.
2. Pray for energy because we still haven't had a normal night sleep.
3. Continued health
4. The Mekelle team, who is beginning their conference today as well.

Thank you for your prayers! We will be in contact again sometime soon :)

   

Downline Memphis heading to Ethiopia

 

Traveling in Addis Ababa together before heading to Bahir Dar and Mekelle

Bahir Dar ladies at dinner

More from Indonesia

Pepper teaching workers and students.

After a Q & A session on the Island of Sumatra.

Mark teaching Profiles of a Disciple from 2 Timothy 2.

Indonesia

Downline Global now has a team in Indonesia.

Indonesia team visiting Botanical Gardens in Bogor.

Group photo with pastors and field workers at the conclusion of our two day conference in Bogor.

Picture with some new acquaintances as we were visiting Botanical Gardens in Bogor.

Presidential Palace in Bogor.

Team outside the Presidential Palace in Bogor.