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."

   

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!!