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!!