Fun and looking forward!

by | Sep 18, 2024 | What's New

Dear All,

Wednesday’s Bottom Line:

Pastor Mark is on his way to Germany via Qatar, and Scott and the “Pillars” (James, Hellen, and HIllary) have enjoyed some R & R. Thursday they will do some planning on getting DM groups going for the 100+ people who’ve signed up, as well as longer-range ministry planning.

Wednesday’s Prayer Requests:

1. Safe, timely travel for Pastor Mark, sound sleep, effective teaching sessions, God to help him and the Ukrainians to connect easily with each other.  
2. “Iron sharpening iron” discussions among Scott and the Pillars concerning fulfilling current ministry needs and moving TTC forward in East Africa.
3. Scott’s travels home to go well (safety, sleep, connections made, luggage arriving with him) and a smooth “re-entry” to life at home together.  = )
Wednesday’s Details:

Scott, Mark, Hellen, James, and Hillary had a relaxing day on Wednesday. Scott’s goal was for them all to rest peacefully and have fun, and he thinks that goal was achieved.

You may know that Scott is a man on a mission; if he’s awake he’s doing something purposeful. Well, those three Pillars are similar. They each have much to do and are always busy working for God, people, the ministry, etc. This means that, unlike Scott, they don’t play games! But it sounds like the past few days together have changed that.

They laughed uncontrollably while playing Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza (a great party game!), and then they struggled while Mark and Scott tried to teach them to play Catan (a much more complicated game). Can those of you who have played Catan imagine teaching it to people who, culturally, just don’t play games?!? But those Kenyans were troopers and gave it their best shot.  = )

Catan players counterclockwise from Scott:
Joyce (Hillary’s wife), James, Hellen, Susan (James’ wife), Hillary
They all seemed to agree that this mission trip overall has just been phenomenal, and they are amazed at what God has done. Scott held a similar “retreat” in Nairobi a couple years ago, but that was mainly with people who had never been in DM groups. He said, “There has been a night and day difference between that retreat and this one, because this time everybody who came is actually leading a group. Some of these folks have been leading their groups more or less like a Bible study class, but now they realize that the priority MUST be on developing “family” relationships, not conveying academic doctrine.

“They came with lots of questions, and after the Q&A session (where I ended up crying) they truly understand what discipleship is really all about. And that it’s NOT about what’s in it for them. One man told me that now he is determined never to ask for money again!”  = )

In conclusion, Scott reiterated to me that they now have 100+ people signed up for DM groups, and we know from experience that in order to be effective, those groups need to start within 10 days of when the sign-ups occurred. So he asked us again to pray for the Pillars as they review all those application forms and figure out who to assign to which group led by whom meeting how, when, and where.

God surely hears our prayers and answers. Thanks for standing with us and continuing to PRAY as this great mission trip concludes!

Blessings,
Patty

What a finale!

by | Sep 17, 2024 | What's New

Dear All,

Tuesday’s Bottom Line:

God really touched hearts as the DM Retreat concluded on Tuesday. Pastor Mark heads to Germany on Wednesday for ministry to Ukrainian pastors, while Scott and the three Kenya leaders have a couple days together to debrief, relax, and play.

Tuesday’s Prayer Requests:

1. The Holy Spirit to guide the DM Retreat attendees as they continue to fulfill the specific assignments God has given them.
2. Safety for Pastor Mark as he travels, great translators as he teaches, divine connections with key people, and grace for his family at home in Missouri.
3. Scott, Hellen, Hillary, and James to be refreshed and encouraged as this mission trip concludes; their hearts even more firmly knit together for One Purpose.Tuesday’s Details:

Scott said, “It is finished! 51 pastors for 2 nights and 6 meals for $2991. $30/person per day. It was truly incredible.

“This morning they submitted their questions, and I spent over an hour responding. About half the questions were about them receiving financial support of some sort – money for photocopies, transport to lead DM groups, etc. I took them through Gal 6:2-5 about each one carrying his own load. Also to 1 Cor 8:1-8 about the Macedonian church.

“Then I said, ‘Silver and gold, I have none, but what I have, I give to you.’ Actually, I broke down in tears as I shared about all I had sacrificed to be there with them. God’s presence was so tangible. Many of the disciples were also moved to tears. Just such a great ending.”

And how we end matters more than how we begin, right?
51 pastors who are leading DM groups attended the DM Retreat. Of those 51, the people in this picture below received special recognition. Scott calls them “Disciples Indeed” because not only are they leading groups, their disciples are also leading groups.  = )
Disciples Indeed !In closing (as pastors say, ha!), shortly after he arrived in Kenya, Scott wanted to get a picture of a pineapple field. He tried one evening but it was too dark. Another time, a guard motioned him away, indicating that photography was not permitted. But as we all know, Scott is not one to give up easily. Today he sent us this photo of Pastor Mark. Maybe the guard was off duty…?
“Pineapple fields forever!”Scott said, “They harvest them by hand!” That seems pretty slow, very labor-intensive, and not terribly efficient. But isn’t that how God “harvests” us too? One individual, one heart, one disciple at a time. He has done his part. Now it’s up to each of us to do ours.

For something like the 22nd time, let me say it yet again: Thank you for PRAYING for all our TTC laborers out in the fields. God hears and you are making a difference!

Blessings,
Patty 

Such ENERGY!

by | Sep 16, 2024 | What's New

Dear All,

Monday’s Bottom Line:

The Disciple-Makers Retreat is in full swing, and it’s going so well!

Monday’s Prayer Requests:

1. The retreat delegates to leave on Tuesday afternoon with everything God wants them to have (information, skill, joy, goals, plans, new friends, etc.)
2. A super-productive and refreshing debrief time for Scott, Hillary, James, and Hellen on Wednesday and Thursday.
3. Scott to be Spirit-led, healthy, peaceful, and energetic as he finishes this week well. He will come home Friday night.  = )
Monday’s Details:

The DM retreat started at 6:00 PM Sunday (Kenya time). I don’t know how late it went, but it was after his midnight when Scott sent me these comments.

“Never before have I heard of a gathering of 50 disciple-makers, all of whom are leading others through the disciple-making process (i.e. leading disciple-making groups). It was certainly an historic day today! There is some amazing energy in the room. Lots of logistical challenges, but even more energy!

“These people are totally sold out. Hillary told the group tonight, ‘It’s in my blood!’ All of them are realizing that I am not the “vision-bearer” alone. No, they are all “vision-bearers.” They are all stewards of the mysteries of God (specifically, the mystery of the difference between a Believer and a Disciple). And that they must be found faithful.

“It is going amazingly and I expect even better things tomorrow (actually, that would be “today” looking at the time).”
Then on Monday, Hellen spoke to the group. I’m guessing she’s speaking in English with the interpreter translating into Swahili, or vice versa.
She must’ve said something really funny. I love to see all those smiles!
And Scott said, “It was another great day. Hillary’s sharing about Vision was the high point for me. He stressed that disciple-making is not Scott’s vision, but God’s vision and we need to embrace the vision if we are to see it bear fruit. If people continue to view it as Scott’s vision, they will not sacrifice and the fruit will be minimal.”

I hope you’re as excited as we are about the lasting impact God is enabling Scott and our team to have during this trip. Would you please take a moment again today to pray for them? Thank you!

Blessings,
Patty

First-ever retreat & Testimony time!

by | Sep 16, 2024 | What's New

Dear All,

Sunday’s Bottom Line:

The East Africa Disciple-Makers Retreat is currently underway, we will end today’s update with a wonderful testimony, and My Hero will be home Friday night.  = )

Sunday’s Prayer Requests:

1. This DM Leaders Retreat to be helpful, informative, relationship-building, spiritually meaningful, and FUN!
2. Scott and Pastor Mark to be energized and healthy throughout this week as they meet with many other disciple-makers.
3. The Holy Spirit to orchestrate divine connections among the current East African DM leaders, so that at the right time, God’s plans that we don’t yet know about will be able to happen.
Sunday’s Details:

I’m not sure how to adequately explain the potential impact of the retreat currently in progress. Close to 50 DM leaders have gathered in one place in one accord for a special time of fellowship, instruction, and mutual encouragement. They began at 6:00 PM Sunday (local time) and will continue all day Monday and until after lunch on Tuesday.

All these men and women are leading DM groups; some lead more than one group.

These people are related generationally. Scott discipled Hillary, James, and Hellen. Hillary, James, and Hellen each discipled 7-12 folks. Those 7-12 have discipled more, etc. Now numerous “generations” of leaders are gathered together to…

– Learn from those “ahead” of them,
– Hear fresh ideas for improving processes in the groups,
– Share what has worked well for them and what has not,
– Be taught by Scott and others, learning both current best practices and future goals,
– Be challenged to make any necessary “course corrections,”
– Be reminded that even when things are difficult and stressful, they are not alone, and
– Realize that they have friends who can truly empathize with what they’re going through and will pray for them and encourage them.

In short, this retreat is a really big, hairy, IMPORTANT deal!
Meanwhile, on Saturday, while Pastor Mark was presenting his Tentmaking and Ministry seminar in one city…

Pastor Mark Phillips teaching in Kitengala
… Scott was leading his final Better Together marriage seminar in another city. Here the Hero husband is thanking his wife for her life-giving words.

What a sweet couple!
Scott also sent the following testimony from Jane and Eliphath, a couple at one of his Better Together seminars a week or two ago.

“The Kagio BT [seminar] was the turning point for our marriage. We have been struggling with things in our marriage so much, but after the seminar, we went home and repented and forgave one another for a long time. If the seminar did not benefit anyone else, it was surely given for us. The work God did in our marriage cannot be measured.”

That’s what it’s all about for ministry marriages! Thank you for making this kind of change possible in the lives and marriages of pastors in Kenya and many other places. Scott and I (and our team and many couples you and I will never meet) really appreciate you!

Blessings,
Patty

Tentmaking and all about Abigail

by | Sep 13, 2024 | What's New

Dear All,

Thursday’s Bottom Line:

Pastor Mark made it to Nairobi and has led the first of his three “Tentmaking and Ministry” seminars. Scott’s back is somewhat better. He and Hellen have arrived in Naivasha where he will do a DM seminar and BT seminar on Friday and Saturday. Hellen’s true heart is revealed in the story below.

Thursday’s Prayer Requests:

1. Pastor Mark to connect well with the pastors in Juja, Kasarani, and Kitegala; his seminars to greatly encourage and challenge them. (This is Take the Challenge, after all.)
2. Scott’s next two seminars to be full of energy, information, and practical applications.
3. Continued healing for Scott’s back
4. God to prepare now the hearts of all the disciple-makers coming for the DM retreat Sunday through Tuesday.
Thursday’s Details:

Pastor Mark Phillips is a bi-vocational pastor serving a church in the southwest Missouri town of Pineville. Like the Apostle Paul, Mark not only works hard as a pastor, he also works hard at another job. He has earned the right to be heard as a “tentmaker” in ministry, and we are so blessed by his willingness to come to Kenya and share his wisdom with the pastors there in three different seminars. We expect to hear good reports from those attendees soon.

Hellen is one of our three Kenya national DM leaders, and I hope that from our recent updates, you’ve been able to appreciate the great groundwork she has laid for disciple-making in Busia, Kenya and Tororo, Uganda. Hellen also oversees TTC’s outreach into the Long’onot region (named for a volcano there) some three hours northwest of Nairobi. That’s where Scott is now, and he’ll be teaching in Naivasha, a growing city some 20 miles from the volcano.

Hellen, a single mom who is a pastor and who runs an elementary school that serves hundreds of students, has a missionary heart and is the one also spearheading TTC’s outreach to the Long’onot region. 

Scott said, “Hellen shared an amazing story with me. When I went to her house last week, there was a young girl there. You might remember all the floods they had in Kenya this spring. Some water was trapped behind a bridge and after some time, it broke through and created a torrent that swept away many homes.

“Hellen decided to take a team to go visit the flood victims. This happened in Long’onot where we held a DM seminar  last year. We have several DM groups in the area. While that team was visiting there, they met a grandmother who had been staying with her daughter and granddaughter. The grandmother had gotten up in the middle of the night to pray. She finished about 3 AM and was getting ready to sleep when she heard a loud noise.

“That noise was the flood. It swept the house away, and the grandmother lost consciousness. She awoke with her 9-year-old granddaughter on her shoulders. Those two were rescued, but the mother died.

“Immediately after the flood, the girl stayed with her aunt, but her aunt had her own children and could not even provide food for the girl. When the team from Hellen’s church came and the young girl saw Hellen, she immediately ran behind her and hid behind her. When Hellen got in the car, the girl ran to get in the car as well. 

“After praying about it, Hellen decided to take the girl in. She now lives at Hellen’s place and attends her school. Hellen plans to take her home to visit family for holidays, but will help her as long as she wants to stay. Her name is Abigail.”

Isn’t that a wonderful story?!? It’s one thing to have a heart for someone; it’s another thing to take the person to raise. What an example for all of us, and God bless Hellen. And Abigail!!! And Pastor Mark, and Scott, and all the pastors they are ministering to in five different seminars in four locations over these next three days!

And God bless YOU, as you continue to support all those folks with your prayers. = )

Patty

You’ve GOT to meet Mary!

by | Sep 13, 2024 | What's New

Dear All,

Friday’s Bottom Line:

Following Friday’s DM seminar in Naivasha, Scott sent us some powerful comments and stories from several attendees. And then Mary’s commitment… almost unimaginable. 

Friday’s Prayer Requests:

1. God to continue to move mightily in Pastor Mark’s seminars, Scott’s meetings, and their various church services this weekend.
2. Nothing to hinder the much-anticipated DM retreat Sunday-Tuesday; about 50 DM group leaders are expected to be there.
3. God to honor Mary’s (and others’) unwavering commitment to keep sharing Jesus’ method of raising disciple-makers, no matter what.Friday’s Details:

Today we have some brief stories about several people in Africa whose lives are being directly impacted by your prayers and support.  = )

First, let me rewind a bit to Scott’s and Hellen’s time back in Tororo, Uganda, where 8 new disciple-makers are now jumping in to help lead 50 new DM group members…

Scott said, “Remember this picture? Pastor Collins is in purple, next to Hellen.” 
Tororo DM leaders
“Pastor Collins is one of our two main DM leaders. On the way home from the seminar, I bought everyone a drink, and he got milk. He was so thankful. He said he wished he was in our family so he could have milk every day. I was really moved, understanding all his sacrifice for the DM movement, and yet, he does not have the money to buy milk.”Now here is a comment from Pastor Rogus, who attended today’s DM seminar in Naivasha: “What i have learned in Discipleship, I have never learn in my masters of divinity degree.”

Wow!

Then this man (below) said, “I was saved in 1978 and have always felt it is so I can go to heaven. But today, for the first time, I realized that I have been saved to bring another with me.”
He knows he’s been saved for a purpose
And then there’s Mary.

Scott said “Mary walked 90 minutes one way every week for 10 months to attend a DM group. Now she is leading a group in her hometown with 4 students.”
MaryWow.

Wow.

Wow. 

What determination! What an example! Would I do this? Would you? And don’t we all want to hug Mary’s neck and thank her for challenging us to do our part to make a difference in God’s kingdom?These are the kinds of people God is using Scott — and Mark, and Hellen, and James, and Hillary, and all their disciples — to reach. And one of the reasons they are able to do it is because you are faithfully praying and giving. Thank you!

Blessings,
Patty