{"id":6619,"date":"2025-02-18T17:36:29","date_gmt":"2025-02-18T23:36:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/?p=6619"},"modified":"2025-02-18T17:36:30","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T23:36:30","slug":"mcclerkin-newsletter-february-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/mcclerkin-newsletter-february-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"McClerkin Newsletter: February 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF MINISTRY<\/strong><\/p>\n

As many of you know, I have been serving as an IPHC missionary in Africa for several years. Most of that service has been in South Sudan, but it included a stint in Mozambique to oversee a major building project. I came on my first trip to South Sudan in 2007, and I was forever changed. I went home, gave up my secular job, and moved halfway around the world to serve in South Sudan, initially as a missionary with Hope4Sudan.<\/p>\n

I went to South Africa about two years later to attend a missions training called SAFARI (Semester Abroad For A Radial Impact). While there, two major things happened that shaped my future life and ministry. I officially joined IPHC World Missions Ministries (WMM), and I met my future wife, Latoya. We got married in 2011 and by 2012, we arrived in South Sudan to serve together.<\/p>\n

We are now a family of four (shown below) and I have been traveling back and forth between Kapoeta, South Sudan, and Eldoret, Kenya, where my family needed to live for various reasons. As of a few months ago, my job description expanded, and we are now all living in Eldoret, Kenya. I\u2019m still traveling back and forth and working to oversee the various ministries in both countries.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

My role in Eldoret is to serve as Facilities Director of the East Africa Bible College (EABC) where I oversee all the buildings and grounds. Additionally, I oversee and hire support staff for the facilities and schedule the school\u2019s events and retreats. One of the most challenging roles is to generate support and income for EABC for special projects and monthly operating expenses.<\/p>\n

East Africa Bible College serves as a valuable training facility for both Kenya and South Sudan as well as other East African nations. Last year, we opened an extension Bible school on the Kapoeta Compound. Keeping this school on strong footing is essential to our ministry in both locations.<\/p>\n

Latoya has developed and oversees the Bloom Ministry for special needs children in Eldoret. She bravely ventured into the pig-farming adventure to help fund Bloom. She and that ministry continue to thrive. The family is definitely benefiting from us all being together under one roof.<\/p>\n

If you could become a monthly EABC supporter, please visit https:\/\/give.iphc.org\/project\/east-africa-bible-college. To make your gift a recurring gift, enter an amount, click \u201cGive,\" then click inside the recurring option. We are grateful for all gifts whether big or small!<\/p>\n

COMPASS LEADERSHIP TRAINING HELD AT EABC<\/strong><\/p>\n

Compass is a Kenyan-based ministry established by Hope4Sudan to help our students who ended up in Kenya to continue their secondary education. Some of them started attending EABC to earn college-level credit and the ministry has taken off from that time on. I have traveled back and forth to attend many of those events over the years.<\/p>\n

The Compass Ministry in Kenya has been evolving and growing continually. In late January, we wrapped up a full week of training leaders who will implement our Compass Ministry Leadership Program (CMLP). This means we now have a full curriculum program. We are grateful to Coach Isaiah (white t-shirt with orange graphic) for a wonderful job! These pictures document the highlights.<\/p>\n

\"Compass<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

BACK IN SESSION WITH RENOVATIONS UNDERWAY<\/strong><\/p>\n

School is in back in session at East Africa Bible School (EABC) in Eldoret, Kenya. We were honored to have our IPHC Regional Director, Rev. Ron Wooten, visit and lead the first chapel service of this term. Our session started with eight students.<\/p>\n

We have now started renovation projects, such as the one shown here, on the campus. We want to thank the IPHC Spirit Life Conference for giving funds to help with this need. We also want to thank\u00a0IPHC World Missions for approving EABC as one of the Antioch Grant recipients recently. These grants were awarded on a need-basis application process from funds received from the 2024 Global Outreach Offering. If you gave to the GO Offering, thank you! We will still have other renovation project needs as well as the need for monthly support for EABC.<\/p>\n

\"EABC<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Class<\/a><\/p>\n

THEN & NOW-MEMORIES TO LAST<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you are on Facebook, you know that sometimes it brings up memories from years ago. The two feeding pictures on this page are prime examples of the memories that are part of my history in South Sudan. One photo (green H4S shirt) was taken about 17 years ago when we did a feeding outreach at our compound in Naakwa, South Sudan. The other picture was a more recent feeding opportunity at our Kapoeta compound.<\/p>\n

By the grace of God, I am still serving. My territory has expanded, and the job description is changing, but God is still directing! Keep\u00a0this newsletter handy to remind you to pray for us throughout this transition process. I think you\u2019ll agree\u00a0that change can be scary, but as I have learned in my many years in Africa, if things are NOT changing, you just might be stuck in a rut!<\/p>\n

\"Greg<\/a>

Greg about 17 years ago at the compound in Naakwa, South Sudan.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

This picture is\u00a0a more recent feeding opportunity at our Kapoeta compound.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF MINISTRY As many of you know, I have been serving as an IPHC missionary in Africa for several years. Most of that service has been in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":6620,"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":[94,571,75,570,308,572],"class_list":{"0":"post-6619","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-east-africa-bible-college","11":"tag-february-2025","12":"tag-kenya","13":"tag-mcclerkin","14":"tag-newsletter","15":"tag-south-sudan","16":"entry"},"title_es":"Bolet\u00edn Gonzales: marzo 2020","content_es":"

Queridos y queridos socios y amigos: <\/p>

Estamos muy agradecidos con Dios por permitirnos continuar sirvi\u00e9ndole con usted, nuestros fieles socios y amigos de los Estados Unidos. Tambi\u00e9n estamos agradecidos al Reverendo Russell Board y al Director Nacional Dr. Wallapa Wisawasukmongchol. Ahora tenemos m\u00e1s de 19 a\u00f1os en el campo, y nos sentimos honrados de poder ver el poderoso movimiento de Dios al llevar la vida de las personas de la oscuridad a una luz maravillosa. Por su gracia y poder, el n\u00famero de iglesias aument\u00f3 a 81 de 75 en 2018, con cerca de 5,000 miembros de 4,500 a fines de diciembre de 2019. <\/p>

El programa de discipulado, a trav\u00e9s del Seminario Teol\u00f3gico de Tailandia (TTS) y el Centro de Capacitaci\u00f3n B\u00edblica del Mekong (MBTC), incluye las Conferencias Anuales de IPHC \/ ACA y una variedad de capacitaciones impartidas por iglesias individuales para equipar a los santos. Este programa est\u00e1 dando muchos frutos en la expansi\u00f3n del reino de Dios en Tailandia y en los pa\u00edses vecinos. Hubo siete graduados en MBTC en Mae Sai el 1 de febrero de 2020, para el programa de dos a\u00f1os. Esperamos que un total de 230 estudiantes en TTS se grad\u00faen (diplomas, licenciaturas, maestr\u00edas y grados dcotroales en el ministerio) en noviembre de este a\u00f1o. La construcci\u00f3n del edificio MBTC est\u00e1 progresando, y la construcci\u00f3n principal del edificio TTS en Petchabun est\u00e1 a punto de comenzar. \u00a1Gracias, IPHC WMM, socios y amigos, por sus continuas oraciones y apoyo inquebrantable! <\/p>

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<\/p>

\u00a1Alabado sea el Se\u00f1or! La celebraci\u00f3n del 18 aniversario de la Iglesia Pantamit Don Muang (la primera iglesia de IPHC en Tailandia) el 19 de enero de 2020, fue incre\u00edble. Asistieron m\u00e1s de 120 personas en presencia de Dios y disfrutamos de la celebraci\u00f3n de adoraci\u00f3n en la ma\u00f1ana. Tuvimos un gran almuerzo juntos y lo seguimos con un alegre momento de comuni\u00f3n por la tarde. Agradecemos a Dios por bendecir continuamente los ministerios de nuestros ni\u00f1os, j\u00f3venes, hombres y mujeres. Tambi\u00e9n le agradecemos por enviarnos l\u00edderes y trabajadores fieles para ayudarnos a cumplir el ministerio que el Se\u00f1or nos ha confiado que hagamos como pastor de la iglesia y como misioneros junto con Jiep. Agradecemos a Dios por bendecir el a\u00f1o 2019, y creemos que lo mejor est\u00e1 por venir este a\u00f1o. <\/p>

Pasamos un tiempo maravilloso celebrando la Navidad en nuestra iglesia en Don Muang el 22 de diciembre de 2019, la Iglesia Khon Suey con la tribu Akha en Chiang Rai el 31 de diciembre, y en la casa del Dr. Wallapa con pastores y l\u00edderes de la ACA el 10 de enero de 2020. Est\u00e1bamos abrumados de alegr\u00eda al ver la gloria de Dios manifestada en medio de nosotros. \u00a1Aleluya! De hecho, \u00e9l es la \u00fanica raz\u00f3n de este gran evento. <\/p>

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Nuestro equipo de 20 personas de Bangkok tuvo el honor de interpretar dos bailes y cuatro canciones con una multitud de m\u00e1s de 1,000 personas como p\u00fablico, incluidos el gobernador, el vicegobernador y el director del Departamento de Desarrollo Social y Bienestar durante la celebraci\u00f3n del "Festival del Tamarindo". en la provincia de Petchabun el 26 de enero. Fue una actuaci\u00f3n tan excelente que el gobernador y otros funcionarios del gobierno subieron al escenario despu\u00e9s y mostraron un gran aprecio por nuestra presencia y plena cooperaci\u00f3n con el programa gubernamental en el desarrollo comunitario. Agradecemos a Dios por tener una relaci\u00f3n armoniosa con el gobierno tailand\u00e9s, lo que nos ayuda a expandir el reino de Dios en Tailandia de manera legal y efectiva. <\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>

Que el Se\u00f1or los bendiga rica y abundantemente a todos. <\/p>

Tus colaboradores en Cristo,
Hermano Albert y hermana Jiep Gonzales <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","author_name":"Gregory & Latoya McClerkin","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/McClerkin-e1739815006519.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pb62Ar-1IL","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6619","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=6619"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6619\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6620"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6619"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6619"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6619"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}