SOS GRADUATION - July 25, 2008

Thank you, thank you Jesus!

EMI Staff & volunteers celebrate our 10th International School of Service graduating class:

>  Gade Chew  (Thailand-2nd from left/front)

>  Rev. Obed Ochwanyi  (Kenya-4th from left/back)

>  Brother Martin Odindo (Kenya -6th from left/front)

>  Christabel Seow  (Malaysia-4th from left/front)

>  Yee Hwa Soon  (Malaysia-5th from left/front)

After 7 days of in-depth training in eight EMI courses, our five guests graduated to EMI family status!   We celebrated with worship and praise. 

><>  Praises

It is the Lord's answer to my prayer, and it is way beyond what I expected. Our Lord is good.

Yee Hwa Soon

The Lord challenged my false belief and give me assurance and peace.  Actually seeing how the skills are being applied during prayer time is something that I can emulate.

Christabel Seow

The Lord showed me what issues I need him to work on and how to be transformed from inside to outside.  He comforted me and was with me.

Gade Chew

By equipping me with life skills of listening, speaking the truth in love and renewing my mind, a fresh breath of God's direction came over my family, social and spiritual services.

Brother Martin Odindo

The Lord met me with more openness of the heart, which has always been unusual for me.  This training will enable me to train more people in my area of jurisdiction. It will also bring more family relationships in perspective.

Rev. Obed Ochwanyi

><>  Worship

in Mandarin:   Gan Xie Gan Xie Jesus (3x), Xai Wo Xin.  

in Thai: Kob kun , kob kun Pra-Jao (3x), You-ni-Jai.

in Kiswahili:   A sante sana Jesus (3x),  moyoni.

in English:   Thank you, thank you Jesus (3x),  in my heart.

><>   HELP  <><

People have asked how they can support this part of EMI's ministry to the church world-wide.

The cost of SOS training is underwritten by donors; students pay nothing to EMI.

Any donated amount is helpful.

You can call 513-742-1100  or  donate on our web site:   www.equippingministries.org

And you can pray!

Thank you for joining us through this blog.

God bless you, too!

Pam Ping

Global Training Manager

Equipping Ministries Int'l

Cincinnati, Ohio   USA

pping@equippingministries.org

SOS: Vision for Malaysia-- Jesus Bridges

Yee Hwa Soon & Christabel (Moong Lan Seow)

Divine Appointments.

Are you also amazed by God's mysterious ways for connecting the Body of Christ?

In the case of July School of Service, Malaysian guests Yee Hwa Soon and Christabel Seow, connection to EMI came through Dr. Jay Diller, Soon's professor at Faith Seminary in Tacoma, WA.  Jay has been an EMI certified trainer since the "early days" in Lancaster, PA almost 15 years ago.  He has been integrating EMI training into his seminary courses, and is spearheading a vision for an EMI training network in the Northwest. 

What brought Soon and Christabel all the way to Cincinnati?

Soon explains:  "God answered my prayers through this week of EMI training beyond anything I could have imagined. I strongly believe that as God's chosen people, we are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We are to bear with each other, to forgive as the Lord has forgiven us.   I also believe that much of the above has been taught cognitively, but the skill is lacking to live out the Christlike life in church, at home, and in the world.  Not being equipped with systematic processes and effective tools means we will never be able to journey the one-foot path from our head to our heart.  Praise God, I have walked that path this week in Cincinnati!

Living a life called by God requires us to manifest our love for Him in relationships with people.  The caring community EMI is committed to is something I am willing to give my life for.  God is calling me to be a bridge builder, a peace-maker between man and God, man and man, and between churches--both Chinese and English speaking.   

Christabel, who describes herself as Soon's cheerleader, explains, "Our calling has always been a bridge.  Through our hospitality ministry, we intentionally create the environment for different groups to get together.  And we have a special passion to be the bridge between the English speaking churches and Chinese speaking churches.  We see the Body of Christ being strengthened through the spirit of cooperation.  What we have learned fuels our passion and desire to take the Chinese church with us -- moving higher, pressing forward..."

The Lord opened an unexpected door to Soon, the invitation to complete his MDiv in Tacoma.

Please join us in offering them the following prayer support:

><>  Continuing transformation and accountability to the application of the skills in our life and ministry.

><>  Financial support needed for this unexpected extra year of schooling in the USA.

><>  Openings in the Chinese churches of USA and Malaysia to our vision for equipping.

Christabel offers this scripture as they continue to surrender to the Lord and walk by faith:

I Corinthians 2:9--"No eye has seen, nor ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him."

 

   

  

God uses EMI to Help Kenya "Pull Together"

  Rev. Obed Ochwanyi

Brother Martin Odindo    

It's amazing how God works!

A divine appointment at a Christmas party in Cincinnati 8 years ago became an answer to prayer for Rev. Obed Ochwanyi.  As a Church of God bishop responsible for 200 congregations throughout Kenya, Obed immediately made plans to bring an EMI trainer to Nairobi for 31 of his English speaking pastors and leaders.  Four years later, he has sent 3 of his key trainers to Cincinnati for School of Service training.  [John Achar and Walter Liatema: March 2006]

Rev. Obed Ochwanyi shares. . .

"The main need for all Kenyans is to come together to love and understand one another.  To help one another.  When people learn how to listen and to appreciate each other, they can "harambee" ["pull together" in Kiswahili].  Then they can share the same destiny.

The LISTENING course is very helpful to us, not only in Kenya but also in Tanzania, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia--because it teaches us how to listen to and understand each other -- and then to work together as men and women of God.

My vision is to have almost everybody in the 200 churches I oversee, not just the privileged few, learn these skills for life.  We are working to translate the material into Kiswahili, and also to have enough teachers and facilitators to be able to bring the training for over 300 people, both in English and Kiswahili.   I can see the promise of John 10:10 for the people of Kenya:  'He came that they might have life and have it more abundantly." 

Brother Martin Odindo says. . .

"I came to EMI training at a time when I really needed it.  This one week has changed my way of thinking and planning.  It has helped me to accept my gift as a teacher as it is very clear to me now.  I have learned to be more of a listener than a speaker.  I was speaking the truth in anger not love.  And I have renewed my mind to be free of past influences and have a fresh direction for my ministry, my family and my social life.

My dream is to support Bishop Ochwanyi's vision for training every person.  We want to intensify training in rural communities.  I want to apply the system I saw at EMI of lead teachers and coteachers, facilitators and apprentice facilitators--to multiply training.

Prayer requests:  

><>  Pray that the suspicion people have for a new things will be overcome by God's grace and truth for them.  We are claiming the interest of the people for this training and the changes it will bring to their lives.   

><>  Pray for provision of volunteers and for Martin's work to translate materials into Kiswahili.  

><>  We are also praying for ability to duplicate course materials, as we are limited in the villages to using blackboards or poster paper in remote villages.

The scripture Brother Martin felt God gave him this week is from Jeremiah 3:14-15...

"Return faithless people declares the Lord. For I am your husband. I will choose you one from a town and two from a clan and bring you to Zion. Then I'll give you a shepherd after my own heart who will lead you with knowledge and understanding."

   

SOS: "DRESSED UP" TO EQUIP IN THAILAND

It has begun!

EMI's International School of Service (SOS) kicked into high gear Friday morning!

Our international guests from Kenya, Malaysia and Thailand arrived excited to see what the Lord has for them. On the weekend they took Guiding Life-changing Small Groups and Listening for Heaven's Sake.  Each day this week they are learning a new course, so far Speaking the Truth in Love and Renewing the Mind.

It is always a delight to our staff and volunteers to hear from our guests how the Lord is meeting prayers they have prayed. . .and also about the surprises He brings that we didn't know enough to pray for!

I thought you'd like to hear what God is doing directly from them.  Today I'm happy to introduce you to Gade Chew.

><>   ><>   ><>   My name is Phuttharak Chewchengsanti, or "Gade," and I come from Thailand.  I grew up in a Chinese and Thai community, so they have a special place in my heart.  I came from a devoted Buddhist Chinese family; we worshipped ancestors.  I became a Christian late in my teens.  My family did not accept me.  I left home and my heart was broken and hurt.  God has called me to study counseling and has provided for me through many people to study in the USA. 

I have just completed my Master of Arts in counseling psychology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago. God has laid upon my heart to bring the teachings I have learned back to my own country to start counseling ministry with YWAM Thailand and teaching at the seminary in evenings.  I have seen so many lives torn apart and unable to be repaired.

I have been praying for six months about how I can train people in very practical ways. Then God brought a divine appointment conversation with a friend who reminded me of the EMI course I took with YWAM in Kona, Hawaii several years before.   Then I checked out EMI's web site and contacted EMI.  God has senses of humor and plan more than I can imagine.   The Seminar was only 8 days away!  I plan to have only one class because that is all I can afford.  

I learned that for internationals EMI has School of Service that teaches 8 courses in one week for no cost to me.  I felt grateful and appreciate this effective training and material that is very easy for people to follow and understand.  As I look back, I can see many reasons why the Lord order my steps in this pattern.  The United States has many riches and gifts that can help unite the Body of Christ internationally.  I would like to take the MA from TEDS and EMI material and give my people hope and freedom in Christ.

Before I came to EMI I felt I am wearing the shirt and pant, but did not have enough training to equip others.  Now after EMI training, I felt like God has put a suit on me!"  <><   <><

Gade is a delightful young lady with a wonderful sense of humor.  She was thrilled to learn we have 4 certified trainers in India...a "neighboring" nation.   They will be a wonderful resource to help her get started in Thailand.  

We are blessed and privileged to support the dream God has given her through donors underwriting her training costs and volunteers providing housing and training.   

God is good!

EMI: In the Beginning of SOS: July 15, 2008

Abe & Catalina

Ethiopia

Jonas & Eleonore

  The Congo

The Lord said, "Make a way for those I have given a hunger and a thirst."

A FEW YEARS AGO, EMI's staff sensed God's leading in our monthly "Listening to God" time. As an international training ministry, we had sent trainers to places like Russia, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Ukraine, Cuba, India, Australia, Kenya and Korea since 1989 -- we already had passion to "equip the saints for ministry" in the USA and abroad.

I don't know if you are aware of this, but training in the USA has seen a steady decline in this decade.   "Busyness" seems to be the culprit.  

Our sense was the Lord saying -- Don't fret over convincing people who don't know they are hungry.  Your banquet table is set.  Serve those who are clamoring for what you have on your menu...many are overseas.  Many are poor. Make a way for them.

SOON AFTER we had confirmation.     Twice.  

A couple from India, Prem and Lilian, and then a Youth With A Mission team from Ukraine, Vicky and Natasha, asked if we would give them as much EMI training as we could cram into the 2 weeks they were in Cincinnati.   The cost of their journey to the USA was underwritten by an EMI trainer.   

So EMI's International School of Service officially started in 2005 as we taught these four trainers 10 of EMI's leadership development & healthy relationship/ministry skill courses. We also had the luxury of offering them each an evening of personal prayer ministry. 

What a rich and blessed time with the Lord for all of us!  

SO FAR:  Through the support of donors, EMI's SOS has trained 28 pastors, lay leaders and missionaries who have come from (or were going to) India, Ukraine, Germany, Kenya, Cameroon, China, Taiwan, Ethiopia, The Congo, United Arab Emirates and Holland.  Once they arrive in Cincinnati, we give them their training at no cost to them.  Only God would come up with an idea like that! 

On average, we receive a half dozen email inquiries daily for training from pastors overseas.

Many are responsible for a growing network of churches.  Pastors struggle (as they do here) to manage difficult daily interactions.  Some head up seminaries; they seek practical training tools for life and ministry.  Others are lay leaders in new church plants; they need help with skill training for small group leaders. Others seek outreach ideas that work in post-Christian environments.  

AS A RESULT of nine SOS sessions,  we have seen 

><> new pastoral training centers established in India, 

><> missionaries equipped to offer tools for health & healing to missionary teams in China, Taiwan, Ukraine, Ethiopia and Germany, 

><> church staff and nationals implementing regular training in Taiwan, Kenya, UAE and Amsterdam,

><> and new excitement for doing outreach in the name of Jesus around the world. 

God amazes us with His working in our midst!  

We at EMI believe this training not only draws people higher up and deeper into their walk with the Lord, it also ignites transformation, healing and unity among the saints who now have learned more practical ways to walk in the fruit of the Spirit, to be transformed into the image of Christ. . .to be Jesus with skin on to others.  

We want to see the church become irresistible!

 Y THIS THURSDAY, our SOS guests from Kenya, Malaysia, Thailand and Zimbabwe will meet their housing volunteers.  They have dreams of growing healthy churches in war torn nations, shoring up flagging faith, bridging peace and unity in cross cultural cities & churches, and establishing counseling centers and orphanages.  

Friday and Saturday they will gain a foundation of EMI skills in Guiding Small Groups and Listening for Heaven's Sake at LIFE Seminar weekend with 50 others from around the USA.  Each day the following week they will build on that foundation with a new EMI course, and end with personal prayer time on their final evening.

May the Lord accomplish His purposes in and through His people!

INVITATION:  I thought you would enjoy sharing in what the Lord does in our midst all week!

I will ask our guests to submit their experiences in future blog postings.

And we invite you to join us by praying that "His will be done. . ."

His grace abounds!

Pam Ping, 

Global Training Manager, Equipping Ministries Int'l, Cincinnati, OH

P.S.  I'm having trouble posting photos . . .if anyone can enlighten me on how this works, I'd appreciate your input!!