{"id":6246,"date":"2024-07-24T13:27:42","date_gmt":"2024-07-24T18:27:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/?p=6246"},"modified":"2024-07-24T13:40:30","modified_gmt":"2024-07-24T18:40:30","slug":"wooten-newsletter-july-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wooten-newsletter-july-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Wooten Newsletter: July 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Wooten's Window<\/h2>\n

Greetings to everyone from a cool, July morning here in Nairobi. In Kenya, we are in our winter, so our days are getting cooler. Not quite cold, but very cool temperatures. I am writing to you from a small Caf\u00e9 sipping on a very nice coffee and thinking about how good God has been to Sharon and me over the years. We have a wonderful family that we miss most of the time but are so thankful for God\u2019s blessings on their lives. We have the most faithful friends and supporters who have stood with us for many years to do this work. On August 20th, Sharon and I will have been married for 41 years, been in ministry for 41+ years and will have been serving in missions for 25 years. Many of you have partnered with us for much of this time, and we are thankful beyond what words could ever tell. We pray often that God will bless you with the same kindness you have blessed us with, and that it will be poured out on you in good measure, pressed down, and running over. Thanks for praying for Kenya in the past few weeks. We have had some political unrest, but we are well, and I have not heard any news of loss from our churches.<\/p>\n

We have been extremely busy since I wrote my last newsletter and wanted to give you an update. I do encourage you, if you are not a friend on Facebook, please look for us there. I\u2019m listed as Ron Wooten and Sharon is listed as Sharon L. Wooten. We try not to over post, but we do try to keep you up to date with what is happening.<\/p>\n

In April, we had great Easter Celebrations in our International Church here in Nairobi, and God really blessed us over the entire weekend. We received many reports from other churches in our region of a sweet outpouring of God\u2019s Spirit and heard testimonies of many people coming to Christ. The week after Easter, we had two teams arrive in Kenya. One team came to help Water for Nations, an IPHC Well Drilling Ministry. They had raised funds to dig a well and came to do ministry at an IPHC church in rural Kenya. The second team came through Kenya in route to our work in South Sudan with Hope4Sudan (H4S). We helped to plan and organize the H4S team on the ground in Nairobi, and it was such a joy to have both teams. They both really poured out their hearts to help our people in Kenya and South Sudan. Lives were touched for eternity, and in very tangible ways with eyeglasses, water, medicine, clothing, food, and many other things. While the teams were here, Sharon and I also conducted two Great Commission Equipping Conferences (GCEC). One was at our Kenya HQ in Nairobi, and the other was in Maua, Meru area in central Kenya. Both seminars had over 50 participants, and we trained the GCEC Phase Two training in both of these meetings.<\/p>\n

\"Ron<\/a>

Ron teaching during a GCEC in Nairobi.<\/p><\/div>\n

There were three more of these conferences and two Women\u2019s Conferences that we could not attend. Sharon and I both taught lessons and Sharon preached a powerful message at one of the conferences, and afterwards, Pastors prayed at the altar for the longest time. To close April out, I (Ron) traveled to Rwanda for five days of meetings and planning for our General Conference that is to be held in August. This meeting went well, and we hope the plans made will push through and that God will help us have peaceful elections for new leaders.<\/p>\n

\"Prayer<\/a>

Prayer time following Sharon's sermon at the Pastors' Conference.<\/p><\/div>\n

We launched the month of May with an East and Sub-Saharan Regional Meeting that included leaders from eight of our nine countries. We had at least one leader represented from every country and most countries had three. These leaders represented Uganda, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan. Our only country not represented was Egypt. It was an awesome time together and I received so many heartfelt thanks from our leaders. After the meeting was over, they were already asking when we can do the next one. I am also appreciative that most of our missionary staff in Kenya made an effort to attend these meetings. The teaching which covered two Phases of GCEC training was great.<\/p>\n

\"Leaders<\/a>

Leaders at the GCEC.<\/p><\/div>\n

We also got to hear devotions and reports from all the different countries. Personally, this was my favorite part. The leaders gave testimonies of miracles, salvations, and new church plants. Our undercover Kenyan missionary who goes in and out of Somalia, gave a report that really touched all our leaders\u2019 hearts. When all the 2023 statistical reports came in, we saw a phenomenal growth with 208 new churches and 70,686 new members. As they say in Kenya, \"Utukufu Wote Kwa Mungu\" (All the Glory to God). But I personally want to give a great thank you to all our leaders in our region for working so hard and taking the Great Commission as a personal call in their lives. We had one week to rest and catch up on the endless paperwork, and then I traveled to Egypt to meet with our churches in the Egyptian city of Assiut.<\/p>\n

The journey to get to our churches is a bit rough, but when I arrived safely after an overnight flight, a day to sleep in Cairo, and a six-hour bus ride, it was well worth it. Our leader, Rev. Emil Said, had invited me to a special service where the church was ordaining four young pastors. In the past year we have seen two of our older Egyptian pastors pass away and the church has been praying for young men to be raised up. This was such a special service, and I was so happy to attend. The sanctuary of the church was packed, and many others were standing in hallways and seated in overflow rooms. There was anointed worship, several of our Pastors shared special messages about the men being ordained, and then we had the service and prayed for the blessing of ordination over the men. What a beautiful time of prayer and seeing these young men accepted by the older men and the congregations. They had asked me to preach, and I spoke about David\u2019s anointing by Samuel and the waiting and trusting God for almost 15 years, until he became King. After this, the people gave gifts, hugged them and shook their hands, gave them Clerical Robes, and there was a lot of rejoicing.<\/p>\n

\"Pastor's<\/a>

Pastor's Dedicated in Egypt.<\/p><\/div>\n

We spent the following day on the road visiting the remaining churches I had not visited on my last trip. I was overwhelmed by how our people have built buildings and ministries under so much oppression and persecution. God is Good. On Sunday, we had services and I traveled overnight to Cairo to fly back home.<\/p>\n

\"Children<\/a>

Children in Egyptian church's Kids Church.<\/p><\/div>\n

Sharon and I cannot thank you enough for how you have partnered with us through your prayers, support, and friendship over the years. We cannot do what we do without the 100s of financial supporters we have, and more people than we could count who pray for us. We are blessed and favored to be able to represent you in this beautiful place God has called us to serve. Thank you, thank you, thank You!!!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Wooten’s Window Greetings to everyone from a cool, July morning here in Nairobi. In Kenya, we are in our winter, so our days are getting cooler. Not quite cold,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":5360,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[29,1,4],"tags":[531,309,308,369,117],"class_list":{"0":"post-6246","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-missionary-newsletters","8":"category-uncategorized","9":"category-world-missions","10":"tag-531","11":"tag-july","12":"tag-newsletter","13":"tag-ron-and-sharon-wooten","14":"tag-wooten","15":"entry"},"title_es":"Bolet\u00edn de Bamba: febrero de 2020","content_es":"

\u00a1Saludos cordiales desde Jap\u00f3n en el nombre de nuestro Salvador, Jesucristo! <\/h2>

Con el comienzo de un nuevo a\u00f1o, tendemos a reflexionar sobre el a\u00f1o pasado. Podemos ver a Dios trabajando de muchas maneras diferentes, y sabemos que son sus oraciones fieles y su apoyo las que est\u00e1n teniendo un impacto en la vida de los japoneses. \u00a1Estamos muy honrados y bendecidos de que trabajes con nosotros para ser las manos y los pies de Dios para compartir su amor en todo Jap\u00f3n! <\/p>

\"Amigos<\/a> <\/p>

Al final del a\u00f1o, realizamos varios eventos de divulgaci\u00f3n para celebrar el nacimiento de Jes\u00fas y compartir el verdadero significado de la Navidad. Tuvimos varios eventos en nuestra iglesia y en nuestra escuela de ingl\u00e9s, donde cantamos canciones navide\u00f1as, jugamos juegos e hicimos una artesan\u00eda de \u00e1rboles de Navidad. Fue una bendici\u00f3n ver a nuestros hijos, as\u00ed como a los j\u00f3venes de nuestra iglesia, coordinar algunos de los eventos. Compartimos con los ni\u00f1os y sus familias que la raz\u00f3n por la que celebramos la Navidad es por el maravilloso regalo que Dios nos dio al enviar a Su hijo a la tierra para vivir entre nosotros. Jes\u00fas es el regalo de amor de Dios para nosotros, y todo lo que tenemos que hacer es aceptar su regalo. Hab\u00eda varios ni\u00f1os y sus padres que nunca antes hab\u00edan ido a la iglesia y que nunca antes hab\u00edan o\u00eddo hablar de Jes\u00fas. Una madre y sus tres hijos vinieron a nuestra escuela dominical el domingo siguiente y han venido varias veces desde entonces. Est\u00e1n experimentando muchas dificultades en su familia en este momento. Oren con nosotros para que las historias y los sermones que hayan escuchado crezcan en sus corazones y se sientan atra\u00eddos por Dios, quien es el \u00fanico que puede traer la verdadera paz y unidad. <\/p>

\"Amigos<\/a> <\/p>

En nuestras clases de conversaci\u00f3n en ingl\u00e9s, hemos estado leyendo un sencillo libro de cuentos b\u00edblicos para ni\u00f1os. Hemos tenido varios ni\u00f1os y sus madres vienen a observar las clases para ver si les gustar\u00eda unirse. Una ni\u00f1a le coment\u00f3 a su madre cu\u00e1nto le encanta escuchar las historias y quer\u00eda volver para poder terminarlas. Otra madre coment\u00f3 lo diferentes que eran nuestras clases de otras clases de ingl\u00e9s que ella hab\u00eda observado. Ella sinti\u00f3 que no solo ense\u00f1amos a los ni\u00f1os habilidades de ingl\u00e9s, sino que tambi\u00e9n nos preocupamos de ense\u00f1ar y entrenar a todo el ni\u00f1o mental, emocional y espiritualmente. Oren con nosotros para que los ni\u00f1os y sus padres contin\u00faen sintiendo y viendo la diferencia que Dios hace en la vida de las personas que le pertenecen. <\/p>

\"Amigos<\/a> <\/p>

Est\u00e1bamos muy agradecidos de que Justin pudiera regresar a casa para las vacaciones de Navidad. Le est\u00e1 yendo bien en Liberty University y est\u00e1 creciendo acad\u00e9micamente y espiritualmente. \u00c9l es un l\u00edder de grupo peque\u00f1o para los chicos de su sal\u00f3n. Fue dif\u00edcil decir adi\u00f3s al final de su descanso, pero sabemos que Dios se est\u00e1 moviendo y trabajando en su vida, y estamos entusiasmados por lo que Dios tiene reservado este semestre. <\/p>

\u00a1Gracias nuevamente por su colaboraci\u00f3n! \u00a1Eres un est\u00edmulo y una bendici\u00f3n para nosotros y para los japoneses! <\/p>

Tus misioneros a Jap\u00f3n, <\/p>

Hiro, Eryn, Justin, Axe, Hunter y Olivia Bamba<\/strong><\/em> <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","author_name":"Ron & Sharon Wooten","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/RonSharonWooten.jpeg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pb62Ar-1CK","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6246","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6246"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6246\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5360"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6246"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6246"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6246"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}