Looking back at 2008

My sponsoring church recently asked me to list some of the highlights of this past year. Looking back it was so encouraging to me to see what all God has done and continues to do. All of this is large part to the amazing prayer support that we receive on a daily basis as so many people pour their hearts out to God asking for Kingdom Growth. God answers every time. Praise be to God in all things!

Watchi Harvest Ministry Highlights – 2008

1. The Baton of Leadership has been completely passed from the missionaries to Watchi leaders. Elders and leaders from over 35 churches across Watchi land are shepherding, leading and evangelizing by the power of the Holy Spirit without any foreign influence or financial assistance. 14 years (1994-2008) of missionary presence among the Watchi has been brought to a smooth end. The leaders are equipped and ready to continue on without full-time missionary presence.

2. This year, over 20 elders and leaders finished a four year discipleship/leadership training program called Train and Multiply. This program is designed to equip and empower present elders/leaders to mature and nurture their churches, mentor and train new leaders/evangelists and continue to plant new churches. Previously, 20 elders/leaders had completed the training making the total to 40+.

3. The second generation of leadership training is well under way as elders/leaders who finished Train and Multiply have begun to mentor and train others in the Lord’s work. As an example, Denni, a leader from the Sedome (Say-do-may) church is mentoring Nledzi (N-lay-gee) and Norbert (Nor-bear) to be leaders and church planters. Komlavi (Comb-la-vee) from the Batoe church is mentoring Luka (Lu-ka) from the Agodeke church to be a leader and church planter. Paul’s admonishment in 2 Tim. 2:2 for leaders to train leaders is a reality among the Watchi.

4. At present, at least three new church plants are in progress completely led by Watchi leaders. As an example, last year the Batoe (Ba-tway) church planted the Agodeke (Ago-day-kay) church without any assistance from missionaries. This year the Batoe church is helping the Agodeke church plant a new church in a nearby village of Lakata (La-ka-ta).

5. The Watchi Agricultural Ministry purchased a transport truck which has already helped Watchi farmers plant over 50,000 pineapple plants which will bring in over $10,000 to Watchi farmers in two years. These funds, provided through God’s blessings and the hard work of the Watchi Christians, will fund future ministry, church planting and benevolent projects in the years to come. This will help ensure that the Watchi churches will be able to continue to provide for their own ministry needs without dependence on foreign aid and funds. In addition, land has been found and funds provided to begin a “learning farm” where farmers from all over Watchi land can come to be trained in better agricultural methods as well learn how to plant and care for organic pineapples and soya beans. God is blessing numerous families and villages with better agricultural methods as well as sources of income. Furthermore, one new water well was finished in the village of Batoe (Ba-tway) which is providing clean water to over 600 people everyday.

6. The Crowson family has begun their transition from their ministry among the Watchi in Togo to their new life and ministry in Rwanda. Goodbyes are being said, blessings being offered, logistics taken care of all in preparation for their move in December. They have even begun to learn Kinyarwanda, the language they will use in Rwanda. (Just a side note….Christine has done a better job than I have learning Kinyarwanda so far. I will catch up when I get to Kigali…. ). The Crowson’s last Sunday in Watchiland is December 14th. After a few weeks of travel/rest they will arrive in Kigali, Rwanda December 28th.