Jerry Hogg and I just returned from our excursion to Botswana (pictured here - what a tough life I have!). The travel back and forth is exhausting, but the blessings of meeting with Dennis Malepa (Dean of ACTS - the African Center for Theological Studies), the ACTS Board, and the students in Botswana are tremendous. Rather than asking the churches in America for money, the Board of ACTS has purchased, with funds donated by Christians in Botswana an area for a farm (to allow our students to work and learn skills to be self-supporting and autonomous), a site in Botswana for the permanent school and they have even begun doing some building and improvements!  How refreshing it is to see our African Brethren stepping forward in faith this way!  They are also considering sending a graduate of ACTS named Ananias Moses to SIBI in Lubbock to begin preparations for him teaching at the school and ultimately leading ACTS. They aren't asking for your support, they are investing in this themselves, and ask for your prayers for this young man.  May God give all of our schools such vision!

Our recent graduates are all preaching in congregations and finding success in ministry.  They are impacting their world for Jesus in this highly muslim area. I thank God for the opportunity to witness wha God is doing in this ministry training school.  Jerry and I were blessed to teach class again (we did the same thing 2 years ago), and we were both encouraged.

We are instituting vocational training in Malawi and other schools, have great programs in place in Ethiopia, Zambia, and other African schools and are making a difference in the lives of our preachers, congregations and communities. Our goal to create autonomous, self-supporting ministers and congregations is well under way, and God is blessing our efforts.

In a few hours I will teach a short class on evangelism at Southern Africa Bible College, have another meeting with leaders here, and then head to airport for a couple of days of air travel. Blech. Unfortunately, this is a necessary part of participating in this incredible work. It's worth it.  I look forward to seeing Bren and the boys, getting back to teaching and ministering at Sunset, picking up my studies at LCU, and getting back to "normal" (at least as normal as I get).

I would like to ask you to pray for my mentor and predecesser in this work. Truman Scott is undergoing some serious health issues right now and is in need of our prayers. The school in Botswana, as well as many other efforts in international ministry training, would probably never occurred or been delayed if God was not using Truman in such a mighty way. My heart hurts for Truman, Fern and their whole family, as well as the congregation where he serves as a Shepherd. The Sunset family also hurts.  Truman has served us often and has inspired and taught us all.  I selfishly hope and pray for many more years to come. 

In Him,

Chris