Thank you for all the prayers as we planned a mission journey to Reunion to train as many children’s workers as possible. This was a get-to-know-you and connecting trip with the IPHC National Leader for Rodriques, Rev. Ricardo Mercure, and our host, Pastor of IPHC in Reunion, Rev. Jean-Claude Aragot. Once I arrived in Reunion, an island in the Indian Ocean and under the ownership of France, I realized nothing on this island appeared to me as an African country, being in the region of Southern Africa. It felt like being in Europe, France specifically. My French was tested indeed, and I had to brush up more to understand the people and communicate. Reunion has a population of 896,175, and only 50,000 people are Evangelical Christians. The small groups of churches are scattered, but hopefully, the churches, with their children’s ministry workers, will plan to come together to be trained in child evangelism. In the future, we aim to link the churches with Soekie Krog to make a kids' worship video to encourage children to raise praises on the island.
In Reunion, we met a Gospel artist, Vanessa Elizeon, an event planner who hosts many media platforms to connect with the Christian community and Reunion Fraternal. She also provided accommodation for us and hosted all our meetings. She will host the future training and can make a venue available to host 500 people. Thank God for all of this!
Meeting gospel artist Vanessa Elizeon and local pastors in Reunion.
Thank you for praying for resources. Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) developed 12 Devotional Booklets. These booklets were distributed in all 14 countries to help parents lead children in family devotional time. Malawi requested translation of these booklets in Chichewa. Celebrate this with me, as CEF agreed on this project! This is so exciting to have this great tool to reach more families and disciple children in Malawi. To crown the excitement, I am now close to the CEF office in Cape Town, South Africa, where I can observe the process and see it all happen. Knowing that all 12 devotional books are being translated for use as a resource in Malawi is a highlight for me. It is an answer to prayer!
Devotional booklets being translated into Chichewa for families in Malawi.
Praise, in the blue dress, has returned to ministry and teaching.
Thank you for praying for the development of children’s workers. I want to share with you my joy in one worker, Praise Sikwese Khumalo. I met her at the Guthrie Bible Training Centre many years ago. She was crying from hopelessness on the steps of the chapel. I took her home and found that she was the answer to my prayer, as I had asked the Lord to send me an interpreter. In the meantime, she was supported in finishing high school, attending Guthrie Bible Training Center, and earning her biblical knowledge certificate and child evangelism training certificate. She attended the Children’s Ministry Institute and earned her diploma in children’s ministry. Praise later got married and had a child, but her daughter suffered a brain injury after being dropped by another child. Praise faced more hardships when she learned of her husband’s unfaithfulness in marriage, and then her daughter was taken advantage of at the age of 14 by a farm worker.
Praise and I spent many hours praying through her struggling days. She eventually found encouragement in my words and returned to teaching and ministry to give her purpose again. Join me in thanking God for her recovery through her storms. The years of investment and sown seeds will produce a victorious, refined vessel for God. She is ready to impact her area in the Northern part of Malawi. Praise has laid her burdens before the Lord and trusts Him to work the good in all situations. Let’s agree with her and see God’s glory in her life as she serves.
Currently, I am serving as a facilitator for two online courses running twice a year. The School of Missions Advocacy (SOMA) started in early September with 100 students and will end in December. The University of the Nations accredits this course. Learn more about the program at globalcastresources.com/training. The course challenges students to take their place in the Great Commission and to mobilize missions in their home, church, community, and nation.
The NEXT STEP course begins October 15. It targets trainees aged 16 years and up who want to learn about God’s Mission and how to take the first steps in mission work. Learn more at courses.disciplemakersincrease.org/p/next-steps.
Then, every third Saturday, families and children worldwide meet on Zoom to pray for unreached people groups. If you’d like to join, read more about it and send me an email for your family/group to participate. You can watch the last recorded participation from September 20 by visiting the Children In Mission Network on YouTube: @childreninmission1792.
The next Global Day of Children and Families Praying is on October 18. See the flyer for more details.
Pray for the next missions journeys. I am currently recovering from a knee injury and caring for my daughter after her heart surgery, but ministry continues. In my absence, Soekie, our musician, and her daughter will be traveling to Musina in October and Namibia in November to record a Kids' Prayer Album. Also, pray with me for plans coming together to train in Lesotho from February 19 through March 2. I also plan to travel to Reunion in March and Zanzibar in August.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support in raising Great Commissioners.
Althea Meyer
