Back in America
It will be a surprise to hear that we are now on American soil instead of Ukrainian soil! On our way to Ukraine, we got news that one of our rentals had a major issue with the roof and A/C unit, causing water to enter the house. The estimate we got to fix it was over $15,000, and the workers were booked out for two to three weeks. Water from the heavy rains was entering the house, and mold would begin to grow if not addressed immediately. So when we landed in Barcelona, Spain, we were going to continue the journey to Romania, then drive into Ukraine. But instead, we got on a plane back to Redding, California. We’ve been working hard (mostly Brian) and are almost done with the repairs now.
Interestingly, we are also now receiving news from our friends in Ukraine that their “safe” city and other areas in the “safe” western side of the country are now being bombed. Please keep our missionary friends, John and Tawnya Lynch and family, in your prayers. Last night, a bomb landed just 7 minutes' walking distance from their house. Today, they have been huddling in their hallway till the bombs stop. We had planned three schools together – in the cities of Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, and Kharkiv. Tawnya just reported that Kyiv just got bombed heavily last night as well - many died. We grieve with our brothers and sisters in Ukraine - we’ve been there before and know many of them. God is doing a mighty work in spite of the evil works of the enemy. MANY are coming to Christ. Please keep these new believers in your prayers, as well as those God is calling to start new churches. Brian found a round-trip ticket for the same price as a one-way ticket from Barcelona to San Francisco, back to Barcelona, on October 7th. (For some reason, that date was cheap!) Please keep our team and us in Ukraine in prayer as we adjust to the changes and possibly make a plan for October together.
Mozambican News
We’re excited to share with you an additional discipleship program we’re doing in Mozambique! As you know, we have been sending out seminar teaching teams with our booklets for many years, bringing together churches and leaders throughout 7 provinces for encouragement and strengthening. Lately, we’ve felt led to take this wider and deeper by encouraging all the district pastors to organize small group fellowships in their churches. In these groups, they will use our newly revised booklets, which now include discussion questions at the end of each chapter. This concept is new to them, so please pray with us that the Holy Spirit will help them experience beautiful, meaningful fellowship and growth as they discuss and apply the content in these discipleship booklets together.
This undertaking is huge, and not everyone will take hold of it, but we want to give an example by showing you what God is doing in the district of Molumbu, Zambezia province. Last month, Pastor Samuel worked with the pastors there to form small groups and gather all the leaders for a training session on our Foundations 1A booklet. Zambezia has 22 districts, one of which is Molumbo. In Molumbo, there are 28 churches, with a total of 396 small groups, each approximately 10 people. Yesterday I spoke with Pastor Samuel about how these groups were doing. He said they are active and gathering every Saturday, and some are also using the books for evangelism! We know the Word of God is powerful and doesn’t return void. Please pray with us that these seeds fall on fertile soil and future leaders continue to form and rise up as the Kingdom of God grows in Mozambique.
Ministry Through Writing
Interestingly, God has been leading us more and more toward reaching people through writing. We are still open to going through any doors he opens for us to travel and teach, but at the same time, we are very focused on a collection of books we (mostly Brian) have written and are in the process of writing. Soon we will have Transforming Lives Publishing up and running, which will include all our written discipleship materials, Brian’s novels (2 more soon to be released), a biography of Lorena’s missionary grandparents with thought-provoking devotionals, a practical and unique study on the Kingdom of God, a booklet for overburdened pastors, and more.
Sometimes these writings open up even more doors. Two nights ago, Brian taught in a Zoom meeting with several hundred pastors in India. Due to increasing persecution, pastors in the rural areas no longer have the luxury of safely gathering together in large groups. Though it’s illegal, persecution in these areas is not monitored by the government. Yet 70% of the population lives outside the big cities. A few months ago, we visited many churches and were welcomed into a new and thriving online fellowship of pastors. It was the leader of this group of over 700 pastors who asked Brian to teach on the main message of his new book,
Sometimes these writings open up even more doors. Two nights ago, Brian taught in a Zoom meeting with several hundred pastors in India. Due to increasing persecution, pastors in the rural areas no longer have the luxury of safely gathering together in large groups. Though it’s illegal, persecution in these areas is not monitored by the government. Yet 70% of the population lives outside the big cities. A few months ago, we visited many churches and were welcomed into a new and thriving online fellowship of pastors. It was the leader of this group of over 700 pastors who asked Brian to teach on the main message of his new book, The Burden God Never Asked You to Carry. The discussion time after he shared revealed how ingrained the teaching had become for these pastors on thinking their value to God and others depended on how hard they worked – tirelessly 7 days a week, often on the phone with their church members till midnight, solving everyone’s problems… Please pray with us that God’s grace and truth will bring refreshing transformation to these overworked and burdened pastors.
We are blessed to be in America for now – enjoying our kids and grandchildren while we continue our ministry online and with writing. They are all doing well – praise the Lord!
Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
Many Blessings,
Lorena and Brian
