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Dear Praying Friends of Take the Challenge,
Thank you so much for standing with us as we endeavor to raise up disciple-makers among the nations. We are excited to let you know that we held our second International Disciple-Makers Network fellowship meeting earlier this month. We currently have active Disciple-Maker groups in India, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and the Philippines. At least six of our Disciple-Makers are now spiritual grandparents as one or more of their disciples are now actively discipling others. May the number of disciple-makers multiply greatly around the world!
International Disciple-Makers Network Fellowship meeting
Stateside. We had a successful Raising Disciple-Makers seminar at Hope Community Church in Andover, KS last month. A couple dozen pastors, leaders, and believers attended the two-day training, and our host, Randy Moss, is close to beginning a follow-up DM group with those who attended. One leader who attended from the Joplin, MO area has already begun leading a DM group at his church and reported that there is a great hunger among those in his group to grow up into true disciples. Hooray!
India. Scott has been in communication with our team in India, working on his plans to return to their country very soon. After 18 months of not issuing tourist visas, the Indian government will begin to issue visas to tourists on November 15, 2021.
Just prior to one of their calls this week, Pastor Rajan was at the hospital praying for and encouraging a young pastor who had been beaten by the local authorities. His crime? He had been evangelizing in a neighboring village, and as a result he was arrested and beaten. This type of situation has greatly increased during all the pandemic-related lock-downs in India. The government there recently banned all large meetings on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. This means that churches and mosques are not able to meet on their worship days, Sundays and Fridays respectively. But on Tuesday, the Hindu worship day, there is no such restriction.
We praise God that Pastor Rajan has recently restarted his monthly disciple-makers training sessions. Last month he hosted 14 of these sessions in various districts in and around his home. Also, praise God that Pastor Benjamin and his wife Esther are both healed and have returned to their work. Thanks to all of you who prayed for them and/or contributed to their medical bills.
Pastor Benjamin and wife, Esther (daughter Mercy in foreground)
Africa. Plans are in the works for Scott to minister in Tanzania and Zimbabwe next month. He has been training pastors from these nations online for over six months now, and he is excited to be able to go, encourage, and equip pastors in those countries, and help them to establish more disciple-making churches in their areas.
Today’s Prayer Targets:
1. Healing for Pastor Adaikala Raj, who was beaten for preaching the gospel in south India.
2. God’s favor and direction regarding Scott’s Africa trip next month.
3. God to continue to increase the network of disciple-makers around the world.
Thank you for praying! As you stand with us in faith, we are diligently…
Planting Trees,
Scott, Patty, and the whole Take the Challenge team
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