Sunday, November 19, 2023

Ruth Veltkamp, a missionary in Africa, was stuck. She was experiencing tremendous resistance to the Gospel among the Muslims with whom she worked. So she prayed: “God, break this impasse. Do something to teach them that Christianity is superior.” God answered by giving the religious leaders, one after the other, dreams and visions. One leader, Ara, was a devout priest. He came to Ruth, asking her to explain a troubling vision. “In my dream, I see an ugly figure next to me, ready to tie me up with heavy chains. But on a hill farther away, I see a white-robed person tending sheep. That person calls to me. He calls my name three times!” Ruth was delighted. She showed Ara the verse from John 10, explaining that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who calls his sheep by name. Pleased to find the explanation for his vision in the Bible, Ara became a follower of Jesus and founded eight churches. When the Good Shepherd calls you by name, He is calling to your spirit, to the essence of who you are.

After Haggai, I understand the idea to reach the New Generation with a fresh and powerful message of the Gospel and also train local leaders to do the same. Local Haggai people are training our leaders and inspiring them to do the same. Today we are planting three local churches and this year we will reach 4,000 souls in our locations and want to plant four churches with 200 members by 2025.