Dear Faithful TTC Partner,

Reaching Africa
Take The Challenge has entered into a strategic partnership with the Harvest-time Apostolic And Prophetic NETwork (HAAPNET) to raise up disciple-makers across 20 nations in Africa! They are shown in green, orange, and blue on this map.

Although the pandemic has recently kept Scott from traveling to these nations, TTC’s work is moving forward. Throughout this spring and summer Scott has been meeting weekly with a group of HAAPNET national leaders from southern and eastern Africa and training them in the process of raising disciple-makers. We are excited to announce that this month these leaders are branching out to open new Disciple-Makers groups in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Tanzania, and Kenya.

Just last week we heard of another exciting development. After being introduced to Scott’s “Disciple or Believer” message by one of our leaders, the general superintendent of a large denomination in Botswana has asked for assistance in introducing the DM process to churches in his nation as well. God is truly expanding our influence across the continent of Africa.

On the Road Again
Great news! Scott has been cleared to travel to Kenya August 4-24 to train and encourage pastors there in the process of raising disciple-makers. Due to the impact of the pandemic, his ministry will be limited to the Nairobi area during this trip, but thankfully we are beginning to see lasting fruit from Scott’s weekly investment into a group of pastors in the Nairobi region. He began meeting with these pastors online in April 2020 when the pandemic started, and they began training other local pastors after Scott’s November 2020 trip. Now they and those they are training are eager to invite their fellow pastors to share in this life-changing vision, and they’re anxious to be trained further on how to multiply disciples among their church members. Pastor Hellen recently said, “I’ve been doing ministry and crusades for many years now, but it’s only now that I feel I have found my calling [through raising disciple-makers].”

India Back Online

We’ve recently received good news from India too. After months of focusing on food distribution, Pastor Rajan was able to restart all seven of his monthly disciple-makers training groups.

Although India remains closed to foreigners, it is exciting to see our TTC disciple-makers on the ground continuing their efforts to spread the vision for raising disciple-makers to hundreds of pastors and leaders across southern India.

Our Current Prayer Requests:

1. The coronavirus pandemic to end.
2. God to very clearly and specifically lead the Kenyan pastors who are planning Scott’s upcoming meetings in the Nairobi area.
3. Health and protection for Scott and for all the pastors he’ll be interacting with during this trip.

We rely first on God himself and also on you, our faithful partners. As you pray for TTC and as you support this ministry, lives are changed. And God is working through those lives to change others and build his kingdom.

We appreciate you!

Blessings,
Scott and Patty Roberts and the TTC team

Dear Praying Friends,

Thank you for all your prayers and gifts that enable us to keep investing in pastors and leaders around the world!

Today’s TTC Prayer Requests:
1. An end to the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, and soon.
2. God to minister hope and healing to the people of India.
3. Good health, great strength, and godly wisdom for Pastor Rajan and his family as they make personal decisions and ministry plans.

Times and Seasons
Last month marked a significant milestone with two of Scott’s long-term DM groups “graduating” and being commissioned to carry forth the Lord’s work of raising disciple-makers. Scott’s India group, which began in December 2018, and his Filipino group, which began in March 2019, both held their final sessions.

International Travel Plans
Scott is especially eager to return to both Kenya, where our partnership with HAAPNET is “sitting on go” to train church leaders throughout East Africa, and to India, where Pastor Rajan is spearheading an ever-growing disciple-raising outreach. Scott is meeting regularly with our leaders in both those nations, and we’re encouraged to know that although he’s not currently able to travel physically, the work of God is going forth powerfully right now through the disciple-makers he’s been training. 

Lockdowns in India
Like many of you, we are closely following the situation in India. Last week brought new lockdowns there as new variant strains of COVID-19 devastate the nation. Churches are again closed because full lockdowns on Saturdays and Sundays now restrict all public gatherings.

Prior to those lockdowns, God had opened incredible doors for Pastor Rajan, our TTC coordinator in India, to pass on to others the training he has received from Scott. In February we had mentioned that he was leading five groups, but by late April that had grown to his leading eight monthly DM training groups! Pastor Rajan has been teaching an estimated 300 pastors and leaders in Trichy (far southern India) and the surrounding districts each month!

And the feedback from those who’ve been attending his sessions has been amazing. They’ve never heard the principles Pastor Rajan is sharing! Pastor Samuel from Perambular wrote, “We had an understanding that we have learnt many things from our Senior Pastor. When compared to this Discipleship training program, we got to know we have learnt nothing in our tenured ministry. From the past two sessions, whatever we have grasped, all of them were brand new concepts for us.”

Unfortunately, these meetings have been put on hold due to the recent surge in the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. Pastor Rajan told us that three pastors in his own area have succumbed to the virus in just the past week, including one pastor who was 47 years old and completely healthy; he died only three days after contracting the virus.

The situation there is dire and surely ripe for God’s supernatural intervention. The knowledge that hospitals are overflowing and don’t have oxygen for patients is producing fear among many people, including some in the church. Imagine how you would feel if you (or your family member) became critically ill and there was no place to go for medical care.

In difficult times, as always, we value your partnership with Take the Challenge, and we deeply appreciate your fervent prayers and faithful support as we work to raise up more disciple-makers!

Blessings,
Scott, Patty, and the TTC Team