Drs. Steve and Vickie returned home safely from Africa Bible college outreach this past Saturday, despite delays while traveling through the Middle East.  Your prayers made such a difference, even in travel, as we left Qatar the day the conflict began between Israel and Iran even while countries were closing their airspace.  Below are some praise reports and prayer requests:

1) Praise Report and Prayer Request: God continued to orchestrate divine appointments during our time in Africa.  While in Cape Town, we met with the pastor who oversees all of the Assemblies of God churches in South Africa. Unfortunately, they lost their South Africa university after fifty years of operation!  They are interested in a partnership to help equip their pastors, as well as assisting them in curriculum development.  This is a tremendous open door and we are in dialogue about the practical steps to implement supporting them as they equip their pastors. Please join us in praying for wisdom in working together!

2) Praise Report and Prayer Request: Another remarkable divine appointment was our meeting with the African Director for John Maxwell’s Equip Leadership Ministry and African Director for Haggai International.  This meeting was extremely favorable, and we are moving the partnership forward to further equip already identified leaders on the African continent through these ministries.  As we speak, our information is being distributed in Angola, a nation we have not had any outreach in to date.  Please pray for the relationship to continue to strengthen and further doors to open!

3) Prayer Request: Information was shared with us regarding potential legislation in South Africa.  The legislation seeks to increase government control over churches through requiring pastors to hold bachelor’s degrees that can only be earned through accredited South African universities.  This legislation would cause substantial harm, as many pastors have earned their degrees from non-South African universities, as well as non-accredited South African colleges.  We are working on clarification now, but would really appreciate your prayers for South Africa Bible colleges and churches, and for wisdom as we determine whether we need to seek South African accreditation in addition to our U.S. accreditation so that our South African students don’t wind up with a degree from us that still puts them at risk of church closure.

4) Praise Report and Prayer Request: We met with many potential Fully Equipped students who would love to enroll. We are so blessed by their passion for becoming more fully equipped for ministry and selfless service despite the hardships they endure.  In some instances, the 50% tuition scholarship we automatically offer to African students is enough to help them move forward, while in other instances, they simply don’t have the financial resources, even with the greatly reduced tuition.  We are out of scholarship funds, and unable to award any additional scholarships at this time.  If you are able to help provide scholarships, we would greatly appreciate it.  If so, please go HERE to sponsor a student or students.  Please do pray with us for the resources to scholarship more students, like Pastor Geofrey, an Africa Bible college student in rural Uganda.  We need to equip as well as keep African church doors open through high quality, theologically strong bachelor’s degrees is more urgent than ever.

There are so many more details, and we will continue to share as the fruit from the seeds sown during our Africa Bible college outreach continues to come to unfold. I hope you will take a few moments to watch Ugandan Pastor Mafabi’s testimonial HERE (top of the page) about how the courses at Fully Equipped Bible Institute are impacting his understanding of God’s Word and his church in Uganda.  It’s why we do what we do and it is such a blessing to hear him articulate it!

 Africa is the world’s last Christian continent and is a high-stakes spiritual battleground.  People are coming to faith by the thousands while the enemy prowls around closing the doors of the churches where they need to be rooted and grounded in faith.  Radical Islamists are growing in number and power, persecuting and even murdering Christians, while secularist China penetrates and buys off vulnerable African nations. The eternal stakes are higher than ever and you have joined in the battle for God’s people and His Church!  Thank you – and please keep praying!