Well, some write an annual Christmas letter … it looks like I’m writing an annual blog post! Much has happened in the last 12 months. Because it’s been a long time and there’s a lot here, you might want to get a cup of coffee, then enjoy. Following through with the four thrusts that emerged quite early in my time in Ethiopia, here’s the news (sections are clearly marked, if you want to come back later to finish).

Relating to Somali Christians: As per the nature of Somali interaction, there is still little structure guiding these activities; rather, one needs to stay in relationship with individual Somalis, and move with whatever opportunities arise. Previous contacts continue, and new ones have emerged.

Work with the young, well-educated man I have been “training in the ways of the Lord” continues to move forward, with the end of 2023 targeted for completion of our custom curriculum (and completing nearly three years of work). Clear fruit regularly manifests itself, confirming the veracity of what’s being done. The last two weeks, it was clear he had really thought about the block of scripture he had to memorize, as it was effectively and clearly being internalized. He also quoted and expounded on a memory verse from quite a while ago, that it’s clear he’s absorbing and retaining Scripture itself, and deeper than just being able to parrot it back. See photo of curriculum: “Where Are Your Stones?”

In December I was asked to resource a 5-day trauma seminar for persecuted Somali Christians. It was an incredible opportunity just to be with these men  - common, off-the-street people like anyone else, but who had been through life-jarring tests as Christians:

• Being called into Sharia (Islamic) court, and after not denouncing Christ three times, being divorced from his wife (I later asked, and his wife wants to be with him – they are agreed).

• Another man stood up and said “I’m messed up – I know I’m messed up (meaning mentally)!” It was an honest, responsible confession acknowledging his persecution induced struggles.

• On realizing that one of the men in the circle was Abdi Duale (who has an extended media outreach to Somalis), a man stood and said “Abdi Duale! You’re the man who brought me to the Lord!” He didn’t know he’d ever meet Abdi.

• After telling his story, another summed his up with “if I live, I live; and if I die, I die” (Phil. 1:21). He had reckoned with the realities of his life.

The resourcing? I was given unlimited time, so each day addressed an aspect of persecution, reviewed one or two of the spiritual weapons in Ephesians 6, and shared the story of a persecuted or martyred Christian (ran out of time to do everything). Topics included: the eternal perspective (the purpose of persecution), being deeply rooted in your own salvation (anchors to withstand persecution), preparing for persecution, withstanding persecution, and where is your “safe haven” (whether inner or outer - when needed, where do you “escape” to for safety?)? Several weeks ago I saw one of the men again, and he immediately spoke of the good Bible studies I had provided. Pray for these folks – they are carrying crosses much heavier than any of us, and with fewer resources to do so!

In April I was able to attend the Camel Milk Partnership (CMP) meetings (camel milk is a Somali delicacy) – this is a consortium of ministries reaching out to Somalis, to compare notes, consult, etc. Though there were “front line” ministries there (Open Doors, Voice of the Martyrs, others) it was an incredible time to watch the Somalis who were present. There truly is hope that slowly, gradually, the Lord is raising up leadership from within their indigenous ranks, and they are recognizing this. Also, I was clearly the oldest person there, and was also the one with the longest Somalia experience (even longer than any of the Somalis). Twice during open mic times I addressed the full group, to give perspective of where things have come from, and that despite the harsh realities of Christianity in Somalia, progress is happening. It was truly a gift to be there, and to be able to contribute! The moderator, a Somali himself, also took the occasion to thank the era of “big time” missions that I was a part of as a child and youth, that “we wouldn’t be where we are without it, and we’re building on their shoulders.”

The Logos Project (Bible study software): Logos activities in Ethiopia have pretty well ground to a halt: at one institution they are stuck with technology issues, there just haven’t been new initiatives, and I’ve been holding off on another major, potential outreach until the security environment there improves (it’s in northern Ethiopia, where the war had been). I was able to provide Logos for another Somali though, who is highly involved in outreach – that was a bright spot (also got to meet his family at CMP – neat!).

There has been a real breakthrough in Kenya though, and in the next several months demand could far outstrip the capacity or funds to deliver. In November I did eight installations at Mennonite Anabaptist Theological College in Migori. Of note is that what had previously been a very short training session (20 minutes) was expanded to 3 hours. Though very polite and saying “Yes, yes,” that they understood, I was noticing real gaps in the recipient’s computer and theological backgrounds to really engage the software. At one point, in a relaxed conversation with a highly placed churchman, I gently asked “Have you ever heard of Strong’s Concordance?” There was silence and a blank look, and then he slowly shook his head “no.” This is pointing to a real need for basic Bible study training, and the training has since been expanded to a full day to meet some of these needs.

I returned to Kenya in Feb./Mar. for 19 days of high intensity Logos and other relating at Migori, Kisumu and Eldoret, for 13 new installations, all with full day trainings. The folks at Migori, who were getting it for the second time, said the expanded training was much clearer. The expanded session includes significant lab work, during which I can directly observe how they are doing or where they are stumbling, and calibrating my teaching in real time.

It was clear before even getting to Migori the first time that computer functionality was very low, that I asked them to provide a competent computer tech, at Project expense, to cut through any hardware deficiencies and connectivity issues. This was an incredible godsend, so is standard practice going forward.

It looks like I will be back in Kenya in August, at each of the previous sites and Kericho, if not Nairobi as well. One of the senior, no nonsense pastors who received Logos in February, on seeing what it was very directly confronted me: “Are you ready for the ‘fire’ you’ve lit?” (meaning that demand that would pour in), and that next time he would bring 30 pastors (I had been working in groups of 6-10). Oh! I said we can’t process that many in one group, but in planning for August it looks like he will have 15 pastors ready to go.

The future??

1. The seminary in northern Ethiopia is a major objective, and can hopefully be engaged for a visit in the fall. Installations will focus on senior leaders, unless they defer to junior men.

2. The Kenya trip in August.

3. Incorporation as a 501c3 organization in the US (while I’m home this summer).

4. There have been “nibbles” from other places as well: Uganda and South Africa in particular, and if the Kenyan brothers talk to their Tanzanian relatives right across the border, Tanzania as well. Time will tell …

Master’s Degree in Apologetics and Polemics to Islam: This continues to be a very informative activity and exercise, and takes considerable chunks of time. Courses in the last 12 months have included “Intro to Islam in the 21st Century” and “Assessment of Muhammad.” The most interesting part has been the encounter with the Insider Movement, a thrust within Christian missions which obscures or removes many of the Christian tenants that Islam finds objectionable, attempting to “straddle the divide” with Islam. Though attractive on the surface and the need to be context aware is legitimate, it also “throws the baby out with the bathwater,” and so is not acceptable to historic, orthodox Christianity.

A major paper addressing the issue of “What entails authentic, genuine saving faith?” Another paper looks at Islam’s assertion that the angel Gabriel was the one who revealed the Qur’an to Muhammad, and compares the Islamic and Biblical accounts of who “Gabriel” is (they are the same in name only). Some of the materials I’ve written have been or will be published - your prayers that they will have the utmost clarity and that they will be well received would be most appreciated. (I’ve also been encouraged to publish more extensively). The other class was “Islamic Christology,” which looked at how Islam sees the Trinity and Christ’s divinity, and which also necessitates a strong understanding of what Christianity understands these to be. (If you have interest in the manuscripts, please be in touch privately/directly.)

My course work is taking longer than expected – partly because I’m taking time to really investigate what’s being taught – that graduation will likely not be until August, 2024.

Miscellaneous: The marriage counseling situations which have spontaneously arisen? In each case I have been very careful to recognize where cultural differences or my singleness may be a limitation, and have brought in mature or older Christians or couples (if some not already involved). In all cases serious engagement has been with the husbands  - contact with their wives is incidental (if that), and is under their full purview. Unfortunately, two of these marriages have ended in failure (in one case, remarriage, even though the first wife wanted restoration) … and that in the same day!

Recently there had been a serious breakthrough with one husband, but it seems he saw the strong medicine he would have needed to take to rectify his marriage, and so turned away from several opportunities to do so (it seems God’s grace was indeed there, that we had brought the needed clarity to the situation, provided concrete steps forward, and had provided a protected arena for him to work in). He also has a calling to bring “street women” out of that life and establish them on a healthy path (and it seems the Lord has given a significant measure of blessing to this initiative). I met one of these young ladies, I believe in her early 20’s, and whose past life had 200 men(!). As I silently watched her over an hour or two, I was genuinely impressed by her pure, quiet, and beautifully submitted spirit – Christ’s work in her was more than evident! … Obviously, this brother’s situation has high stakes. May God grant mercy and redemption to all  - the couples/individuals mentioned, and to those intervening as well!

Recently, I’ve been put in touch with two high school sisters who are orphans, and though I may not see the whole picture yet, it seems they are looking as much to me as anyone to work out their difficult situation (housing and support). I have a high regard for their attitudes toward life, especially despite the trauma they’ve been through, but time will tell where this will go.

The requests for financial assistance come frequently, and vary from outright begging (even from those with significant positions in life), to the most wholesome, conscientious, respectful and discreet requests. May God grant the wisdom of Solomon to sort through these! In one case (which is institutional), I have given some assistance, but have finally come down saying that if something is available locally, it needs to be locally funded; but if specialized and unavailable in-country (i.e. the Logos software), then I will consider further. In one instance a young lady was so discreet that there was no way I could say “No,” and under the later direct supervision of her church leadership, I have helped her in her charity outreach of providing clothes and food to the poor. On doing an “assessment tour” to determine who should be helped, she noticed that all the poorest of the poor had significant land, so is looking to help them start farming, and then to market their produce as well. Time will tell, but this looks like an initiative which is on a strong footing. … If anyone wants to contribute to the welfare of these last two cases (the orphans and the “charity lady”) or the Somali supports or The Logos Project, please be in touch.

May God give grace to each of you in whatever your affairs may be!

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Then I saw a great white throne and him who sat upon it; from his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.  And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband;  and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them;  he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.”

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.  And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.  By its light shall the nations walk; and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it,  and its gates shall never be shut by day—and there shall be no night there;  they shall bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.

Then he showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb  through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.  There shall no more be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall worship him;  they shall see his face, and his name shall be on their foreheads.  And night shall be no more; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Rev. 20:11; 21:1-4,22 - 22:5

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A song: There Shall Be Showers of Blessing

What a blessing - such open-throated praise from persecuted Indian Christians!