Lion on the Front Lines
If you are subscribed to our newsletter or follow us on Twitter or Facebook, you’ll know that we currently have a team in Ethiopia. The team has been sending back their reports and you can now read them here:
The Lion’s Cause
If you’re on our mailing list, follow us on Twitter, or like our Facebook page, you might’ve seen a bit of activity regarding Team Anbassa. So what is it? Team Anbassa (you can find the origin of the name here) is a crazy group of guys riding 306 miles from Monroe, WA to Post Falls, ID between July 9th and 13th. Why? To help a disabled young woman in Ethiopia live her life a little easier. Tsehaynesh Digo is a young woman living in Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia. When she was a child, she contracted polio. This left her without the use of her legs, forcing her to crawl through the dirt using her hands. Despite this, she always has a smile. Through the years we’ve gotten to know her and help her with her condition. Through the help of one of our partners, she is now able to walk. Right now, she needs a handicap accessible bathroom, kitchen, and a hand peddle bike to get to market (and you can read more here).
Team Anbassa’s goal is $6000. This will cover the building and shipping the bike, building the kitchen, building the bathroom, and all of the associated costs. But they can’t do it without you!
How can you help? Donate! Sponsor! Pray!
In Which a Witch Doctor Goes to Church
“Today we took Gopeeleo to church for the first time.
He arrived before the sun was up and was waiting at our gate dressed in his new clothes. I had told our guard to let him in when he arrived, and there he stood with a big smile on his face.
We still had an hour before we were to leave, so we invited him to have breakfast with us. I don’t think that he’s ever been in a firengee’s house before (“firengee” means white foreigner, which is what all white people are called whether you’ve been in Ethiopia five days or 50 years). His eyes were wide with wonder as he glanced about our house and watched me cook (I realize it is a great wonder to see me cook…Ha!) When we ate he had a hard time navigating the fork (people eat with their hands here), so Mark and I put our forks down and ate our eggs and toast with our hands.
Then a beggar woman came to walk with us to church. One of our neighbors had taken her in, and had brought her to us for help. She only believes in the power of Mary, but we’ve already had some good talks about Jesus. So here she comes with no shoes, dressed in rags with a huge goiter (from lack of iodine) on her neck, and next to her stands our former witchdoctor in his new clothes! We must have been quite a sight walking down the road.
Gopeeleo was struggling bravely to walk in his new shoes (he kept insisting that they fit fine, but they’re really a couple of sizes too big). He was having such a hard time walking that Mark finally ran back to get our motorcycle and give him a ride to church.
So Mark and Gopeeleo got there a little earlier than the rest of us, and Mark said that the people were singing when they arrived. Gopeeleo just joined right in, raising his hands in worship and praising his new Lord and Savior.
At the end of the service Gopeeleo went up to the front of the church to testify of his salvation (Mark and I went up with him), and the people began rejoicing with us! As the oldest of the elders slowly walked forward to pray for him, the whole congregation got on their faces to pray. The elder took his shoes off and prayed half an hour for Gopeeleo, and then he tenderly held Gopeeleo in his arms and thanked God for his salvation.
I sat in stillness awe watching these two men who were once opposing forces, but now have become brothers in Christ. Many people came up and hugged Gopeeleo, and I know he was touched by the acceptance and love of all the people that day.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers. This journey in Ethiopia is arduous, exciting, exhausting, joyous, frightening and hopeful—all at the same time. I’m praising God with you…and for you.
Sidney”
Dear friends, please keep Mark and Sidney and the person-to-person ministry God has called them into in your prayers. They are on the front lines against the strongholds of darkness that have long held the remote parts of Africa enchained.
Also, as read the changes in Gopeeleo’s life, we can learn some universal truths sharing the love and good news of Jesus.
1. We can make Christ available. Offer his hope to those WE are in contact with and let them decide.
So often we keep our mouths shut tight and don’t even make an offer of this good hope we have in Jesus.
2. Be generous.
Mark and Sidney have generously reclothed this witch doctor, they have given their time and money to walk him through the doorway into victory. They share meals and the good food of the word of God.
3.Be flexible.
We like it when the Holy Spirit moves in our time-frame, but this doesn’t always happen! God knows who he is going to bring and when he’s going to bring them to our doorstep or in our path. Be willing to trust that God knows who is responding to the Holy Spirit’s leading. We can “put down our forks” and we can let the unexpected visitor come along. It’s a privilege to participate.
4. Be willing to step out.
Mark and Sidney began this journey several years ago when they volunteered for a short time at the Soddo Christian hospital. They took a step in faith to serve. Then they came home and waited. They are in Soddo now because they walked in faith, then waited for leading and walked in faith again.
We can pause and pray for the Launders. We can also pray that we might be listening, too for God’s call in our own lives.
Where is God calling you today?
When a Witch Doctor Meets Jesus
Mark and Sidney Launder are living and ministering in a poor neighborhood in Soddo Ethiopia. This story, shared by Sidney displays the personal God who loves us all and graciously transforms us.
The story of Gopeeleo is one of magnificent change and a stunning picture of what it means to be a new creation in Jesus Christ.
It was 10 years ago that Gopeeleo came to this same compound where Mark and I now live. He came with a two-foot machete in his hand, walked up to our pastor friend, Tesfi, and said, “Why did you bring Jesus to this place? I keep hearing Jesus in my ears—I am going to kill you!”
The night before Gopeeleo’s visit, Tesfi had been praying and asking God to touch the people on this hill—Tesfi lived here for seven years amongst the thieves and drunks. Although Gopeeeleo had once lived in town, he moved out here to Otonna to get away from some evangelists that had moved into his old neighborhood. Ha! I smiled as he recounted the last time he stood on this same ground, despising even the Name of Jesus.
Now that same angry man is a believer, and he’s laid his machete down.
Gopeeleo arrived at our home with the sunrise. 6:30 a.m.
His eyes grew big as he came into our garden to be greeted by our dikdik, Tazo (smallest member of the antelope family). Gopeeleo stared in amazement and couldn’t believe Tazo was so friendly (dikdiks are usually eaten by Ethiopians whenever they can catch them). I told him Tazo was our dog, which made him smile. Tesfi, the praying pastor, was also with us as we sat down to talk about Gopeeleo’s new life in Christ.
Gopeeleo was so anxious to tell us how different he feels, evidenced by his sparkling eyes and the peace we now felt in his presence. We prayed over him as he stretched out his hands, sang songs to God and proclaimed his love for Jesus.
He is going to church with us tomorrow, and told us he wants to be clean physically as well as spiritually. He had already cut off his long grey dreadlocks (symbolic of his old craft) and asked for a razor to shave off his beard. Then Tesfi and I cut off his leather necklace (which was a symbol of worship to Mary). When he took off his purple turban (symbolic witchdoctor hat), Mark gave him the wool cap he wore on his climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Gopeeleo was delighted to have this.
These gestures were all physical aspects of repentance for him. He no longer wanted to be known by his old clothes or appearance. So later that day, Tesfi and I went to the open air market and bought him two pairs of pants, two shirts, a coat, some socks and shoes. His face lit up when he tried on his new clothes! He said “I feel like I have had a new birth…much better than the first one! Bravo! Bravo!” He is so excited about going to church with us tomorrow.
This is a new beginning for him in every way. As of today, he is done with selling tobacco, alcohol and “traditional medicine” (witchcraft) as well. He told us he does not want to make God angry, because God might pick him up and throw him across a field. I cringed inwardly, as I knew this had happened to him before when he was serving demonic spirits. It will take time for Gopeeleo to learn the love and gentleness of the one true God. This will all be a process.
Now he is wondering how he will provide for his family. He accepted Christ knowing that he would have no means to take care of them for awhile, but Mark and I have a couple of ideas for new work. If we can purchase a few donkeys for him, he can haul water (which is at a premium right now). It costs about $80 to a $100 per donkey.
Pray and ask the Lord if you would want to help him in this way. The day he gave his heart to Jesus, he told us how the demons were angry at him and killed his only donkey. His journey towards God has been full of intense spiritual battles.
The neighbors have been finding out that Gopeeleo has given his heart to Christ, and they are rejoicing! Some fall to the ground in thanksgiving. It is amazing to watch their responses. We will write you again soon and share about his first time at church.
Well dear friends, I cannot thank you enough for all your prayers God is FAITHFUL!
Amen and Amen.
Lovingly,
Mark & Sidney Launder
When a Witch Doctor Meets Jesus
Mark and Sidney Launder are living and ministering in a poor neighborhood in Soddo Ethiopia. This story, shared by Sidney displays the personal God who loves us all and graciously transforms us.
The story of Gopeeleo is one of magnificent change and a stunning picture of what it means to be a new creation in Jesus Christ.
It was 10 years ago that Gopeeleo came to this same compound where Mark and I now live. He came with a two-foot machete in his hand, walked up to our pastor friend, Tesfi, and said, “Why did you bring Jesus to this place? I keep hearing Jesus in my ears—I am going to kill you!”
The night before Gopeeleo’s visit, Tesfi had been praying and asking God to touch the people on this hill—Tesfi lived here for seven years amongst the thieves and drunks. Although Gopeeeleo had once lived in town, he moved out here to Otonna to get away from some evangelists that had moved into his old neighborhood. Ha! I smiled as he recounted the last time he stood on this same ground, despising even the Name of Jesus.
Now that same angry man is a believer, and he’s laid his machete down.
Gopeeleo arrived at our home with the sunrise. 6:30 a.m.
His eyes grew big as he came into our garden to be greeted by our dikdik, Tazo (smallest member of the antelope family). Gopeeleo stared in amazement and couldn’t believe Tazo was so friendly (dikdiks are usually eaten by Ethiopians whenever they can catch them). I told him Tazo was our dog, which made him smile. Tesfi, the praying pastor, was also with us as we sat down to talk about Gopeeleo’s new life in Christ.
Gopeeleo was so anxious to tell us how different he feels, evidenced by his sparkling eyes and the peace we now felt in his presence. We prayed over him as he stretched out his hands, sang songs to God and proclaimed his love for Jesus.
He is going to church with us tomorrow, and told us he wants to be clean physically as well as spiritually. He had already cut off his long grey dreadlocks (symbolic of his old craft) and asked for a razor to shave off his beard. Then Tesfi and I cut off his leather necklace (which was a symbol of worship to Mary). When he took off his purple turban (symbolic witchdoctor hat), Mark gave him the wool cap he wore on his climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Gopeeleo was delighted to have this.
These gestures were all physical aspects of repentance for him. He no longer wanted to be known by his old clothes or appearance. So later that day, Tesfi and I went to the open air market and bought him two pairs of pants, two shirts, a coat, some socks and shoes. His face lit up when he tried on his new clothes! He said “I feel like I have had a new birth…much better than the first one! Bravo! Bravo!” He is so excited about going to church with us tomorrow.
This is a new beginning for him in every way. As of today, he is done with selling tobacco, alcohol and “traditional medicine” (witchcraft) as well. He told us he does not want to make God angry, because God might pick him up and throw him across a field. I cringed inwardly, as I knew this had happened to him before when he was serving demonic spirits. It will take time for Gopeeleo to learn the love and gentleness of the one true God. This will all be a process.
Now he is wondering how he will provide for his family. He accepted Christ knowing that he would have no means to take care of them for awhile, but Mark and I have a couple of ideas for new work. If we can purchase a few donkeys for him, he can haul water (which is at a premium right now). It costs about $80 to a $100 per donkey.
Pray and ask the Lord if you would want to help him in this way. The day he gave his heart to Jesus, he told us how the demons were angry at him and killed his only donkey. His journey towards God has been full of intense spiritual battles.
The neighbors have been finding out that Gopeeleo has given his heart to Christ, and they are rejoicing! Some fall to the ground in thanksgiving. It is amazing to watch their responses. We will write you again soon and share about his first time at church.
Well dear friends, I cannot thank you enough for all your prayers God is FAITHFUL!
Amen and Amen.
Lovingly,
Mark & Sidney Launder
Music: the International Language of Worship
As the first choir made its way slowly up on to the platform I wondered to myself what the music of the church in Ethiopia would be like. I have the privilege to travel to multiple African countries every year and have experienced the wonder of African worship from large cement block churches in cities to mud-walled, thatched roof village churches. In each setting and in each country I have found the heart of worship to be expressed in ways that so clearly reflect the dynamic uniqueness of the people and their culture.
The keyboard player started the background rhythm and when he struck the first cord I knew that we were in for a real treat! Young Ethiopian choir members were soon singing with all their might in the language of their heart. Their faces expressed their joy in loving and serving Jesus. The sheer volume of their singing along with the choreographed swaying and movements showed the enthusiasm for which they worshiped. Soon the entire congregation was singing along with them. Hundreds and hundreds of voices lifting praise to the Savior in a language that I couldn’t understand. However, I didn’t need to be able to speak the language to know the love and joy that was driving their worship of the Lord that I too love and serve.
Kevin Compelien, Africa International Leader - EFCA ReachGlobal
A Light on The Hill {A letter from Sidney}
Please thank EVERYONE who is praying for us. Your prayers are more vital than ever to us here in Ethiopia. I must say that it has felt a bit grim these past couple of days. We were able to fill up our water tanks using donkeys carrying water from the river (they strap 4 old plastic cooking oil jugs on the donkey’s backs and haul them to our house). We are not sure how long we can depend on this source as everyone is trying to get donkey water. Of course, the price went sky high. We were on an absolute ration of water, not taking showers or even flushing the toilet but once a day.
But PRAISE GOD the government brought in an emergency generator for the two hospitals in town as one had to close their doors. The Soddo Christian Hospital remained open as they have a huge generator and two good wells. The only problem is that the fuel to run the generators is very difficult to get and very expensive.
As soon as the fire stopped we sent our guy down to get petrol for our generator. So we are limiting the use of our generator, using it just enough so the fridge doesn’t get warm. But yesterday with this emergency generator coming they are only giving power to the hospitals and we happen to be on the same line….so PRAISE GOD we got some power for a few hours yesterday which also allowed us to get some water.
I cannot tell you how what a blessing that was. Everyone hollering with praise and tears. I just dropped to my knees, weeping and thanking God for His goodness to us. This is a temporary fix, so PLEASE KEEP PRAYING that the government thinks the power plant is important enough to fix in a timely fashion. It’s Africa…so one never knows what will happen.
I feel like I’ve been on the front lines for a long time, and everyday has such major demands. I have people at my gate daily asking for help. I feel spent and keep pressing on, but sometimes I’m just worn out. Please pray for my stamina. I love it here and am witnessing GOD doing amazing things, but it’s a hard life.
We showed the Jesus Film last night under the broken power poles on top of the hill in front of our house. We were the only light on the hill (using our generator), sharing with the Ethiopians that Jesus is REAL LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
Hundreds came, and you should have heard the cries of the people as they watched Jesus being crucified. They wailed beating their chests…their crying went on for at least 15 minutes. But the cheers at His resurrection were so loud and joyful. Many are giving their hearts to the Lord weekly as we show a Jesus film every Friday night.
We sing ”YES….JESUS LOVES ME…..YES JESUS LOVES ME ….YES JESUS LOVES ME, THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO” each time before we start the movie. I am so blessed as I hear the kids across the way singing it to themselves throughout the week, and when they’re playing together I hear them singing it over and over.
Since we have been showing the films more and more people come to our gate…the lame…the blind…the sick and the dying. The needs are endless.
Love and thanks,
Sidney Launder
Untitled: A Light on the Hill {A letter from Sidney}
Please thank EVERYONE who is praying for us. Your prayers are more vital than ever to us here in Ethiopia. I must say that it has felt a bit grim these past couple of days. We were able to fill up our water tanks using donkeys carrying water from the river (they strap 4 old plastic cooking oil…
Praying For Power in Soddo … And Using Generators to Share Jesus
{This letter came from a friend of ours who supports our ministry partners in Ethiopia, Mark & Sidney Launder. They come from up here in the the Northwest, but they’ve recently relocated to Soddo to live with and reach with Jesus’ love the needy and oppressed in their community. Soddo’s main power plant underwent an explosion and destructive fire this week. Here’s what Sidney has to share.}
One of the things that Sidney & Mark Launder are involved with is witnessing to the local Ethiopian people through their “Jesus Film Ministry”. They have acquired a projection system that can be run off of power from their home, and on Friday nights the past few weeks have been showing Campus Crusade’s Jesus Film (translated into Amharic) to all comers. They hang a white sheet in a tree by their home to project the film onto and invite the neighbors - last Friday they had over 150 in attendance. Sidney is working with local pastors who issue an “altar call” after showing the film - last week 20 people gave their lives to Jesus.
The entire area continues to be blacked out by the destruction of the Soddo power plant. Only those who have access to a generator (such as the Soddo Christian Hospital) are able to have any light at night. The Launders have a small generator, big enough to run a few lights and a couple small appliances, but as fuel sources are extremely tight they are limiting its use to a few hours a day. There also is a critical water shortage throughout the whole area as there is no power to run the pumps that move the water through the local water system.
Here’s an excerpt from an email Sidney sent me last night:
“I am not sure how long we will be able to stay here, until they get this fixed. We did Donkey water yesterday and they are saying that the source is drying up. We have 2 full tanks. Which in normal use is just 3 to 4 days worth at best. …Rationing I don’t know. People are really sad about this. I went down to the power plant with Gold and I preached for a while to the people about bending their knees to God and repenting and having a relationship with him, as there are many people there staring at the charred remains. We will be the only light on the Ottano hill tonight as we will be using our precious fuel to show the Jesus Film right under the power lines….how about that…Showing them the real Light of the World. Pray.”
(“Donkey Water” is water hauled from a local polluted river or town water taps in jugs on the back of donkeys and as demand increases, so does the price).
PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR PRAYERS -
Pray for:
- Many to come to know Jesus as Lord in the midst of this severe trial.
- The showing of the Jesus Film to bring many into relationship with Christ. Sidney is showing the film on Friday night, which is 8AM-10AM Friday morning (today) in Spokane.
- Wisdom for Sidney, Josh & Lindsey Roe and other local missionaries as to how best minister to the people
- Protection and Provision for basic needs (water/fuel/food) for the Launders and Roes, and for all the Ethiopia people affected by this disaster.
And remember, we know a God more powerful than disaster, more illuminating than electricity. Remember to pray for his Spirit to woo the souls of the lost in Ethiopia and that they might respond to the God of all Power who died to save them and lives to make them free.
Isaiah 51:15-16
For I am the LORD your God,
who stirs up the sea, causing its waves to roar.
My name is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
And I have put my words in your mouth
and hidden you safely in my hand.
I stretched out the sky like a canopy
and laid the foundations of the earth.
Church Planter Chronicles
Happy New Year!
I have goose bumps bigger than ever! I just finished reading one of the many stories we will share with you in the months to come about N.C.F’s church planters.
Listen to this young man’s own words. Tell me if you don’t get goose bumps?
From Regella we were invited where I am serving in to 400 KM distance to the house of woman witchdoctor. This woman has been opposing the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ that nobody has to listen and go the Christian families of communities. She has been known as a qualified trainer for young witch doctors. A married couple who lived with her for a long time have a daughter whose name is Astoria. In the meantime Astoria has been sick and couldn’t be able to be healed. This daughter has been taken to many with doctors to be healed, but there was no help to the girl at all. After her father and mother spent a lot of money for their daughter, they came to discuss with each other saying ” we’ve done our best to restore our daughters health in spending a lot of money, but no help has come. It is better if we could invite these Christian preachers* to come to our home and pray to their God if he could help our daughter If their God help our daughter and get to be healed we well let our daughter to believe their God and we will believe too” So then they called us to their home and told us every thing in details. Then we shared the Lord Jesus Christ to them and told them how Jesus gave His life to them and to all man kind to save from eternal death to eternal life. Then we prayed for a sick daughter asking the kindness mercy, and compassion of the Lord. We prayed as Jesus prayed at the tomb of Lazarus the day he raised him. We prayed, Lord please let us not to be a shamed, that we are here by Your Holy name. would you please honor your great name. Please heal this girl for the sake of your name. The father , the mother and their daughter all received the Lord as their personal savior. Praise God a sick girl whom her family were waiting her death has received a complete healing for the Lord on that same week of their salvation.
The story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead is one of my personal favorites. To see this Church Planter refer to the power that was present when Lazarus was raised from the dead to him calling upon the same Jesus for this little girl. Ohhhh the POWER of God. Doesn’t it make you thrilled this is the same God you serve? We are on God’s team beloved and our days are short. I thank you for your faithfulness in supporting these men and their families. Many of them continue to face very difficult circumstances yet they are thankful to be sent. Bless them! Would you remember them in your prayer this week as we continue to walk by faith.
May I ask you to join me? 15 of these men asked specifically for prayer for more soldiers to come to the frontline. Currently, N.C.F. has 60 men ready to go but the finances are preventing them. Please pray that God would raise the funds to release these willing men to go.
May God Bless you richly in the months to come!
Teresa Laher
N.C.F. Volunteer
Source: newcovenantfoundation.org
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