From the Lion's Mouth

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

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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

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

CP Newsletter

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

Why Are You Here? A Question in Pictures

“I met a woman in a rural area during our sixth or seventh day. She was just one of many people along the roadside where I was shooting photographs, but I remember her because of the question she had for me. Why are you here?

I’m still trying to answer that question. I challenge you to do the same.”

Every tourist takes pictures.

Whenever we see new sights, different people or intriguing landscapes, we pull out the camera and snap a photo.

Upon returning home, we ask ourselves, “Now why did I take twenty pictures of that tree?” We realize, in the midst of adventure, we got carried away. The best ones go in the photo album or scrapbook.

For Jim Van Gundy, some of his best shots went on display at ClearStory Gallery, a gallery located in Life Center Church in Spokane.

Jim travelled to Ethiopia with NCF in the fall of 2010. A professional advertising photographer by trade, Jim knew he’d naturally fall into the role of team photographer, but what he’d capture on film was as unknown to him as the country he was visiting.

The idea of traveling to Ethiopia was an adventurous one, and Jim personally defines adventure as, “the result of poor planning” that “promises the unexpected”. Jim wasn’t sure what the expectations were of him as a professional photographer on a Vision Trip with NCF. At first he felt some pressure, but decided to refocus the lens of his heart on the idea that this would be an opportunity to see how God wanted to use him and what God was going to do.

It seems that God provided some spectacular picture-perfect moments for Jim. Later, when approached by ClearStory to “look for threads” in his pictures for a possible gallery installation, Jim realized he had enough to construct an entire “blanket.”

The show is simply entitled: Why Are You Here?

Through compelling images and dimensional full-wall collage elements, Jim draws the viewer into the conversation and gently, but pointedly, asks the same. Why are we here? Why are they there? Why do we converge and share this world? What else do we share?

Jim doesn’t have the answers, but the questions lead on and the participants in the art end up feeling something like Jim did when he went to Ethiopia.

Jim opens this dialogue with a journal entry:

Saturday, November 6 late afternoon — We are finally somewhere over Africa and the little cards they gave us for customs ask for a reason for m visit to Ethiopia. I don’t have an anwer. And if I did, it wouldn’t fit into one of these boxes I could check.

The answers aren’t always tidy, or multiple choice or true or false. When dealing with poverty and culture and people, things get messy and multi-layered, and new questions rise to the surface and demand attention.

And that’s what this show does. It raises questions and leaves space for the answers.

It does what good art, and valuable people and big problems do: Posits the question and waits… for you to respond, to act and to interact.

Why Are You Here? will be on display for a little while longer at ClearStory Gallery. Part of Jim’s collage-style photo display will be available to see at The Service Station, in north Spokane. The Service Station supports NCF by exclusively serving Dominion Trading Coffee.

Interested in knowing more about NCF? [click here]

Fall 2011 Trip - Team on the Ground in Ethiopia

The Trip

(Friday 10/28 to Saturday 10/29)

Harry Amend

As the team gathered at the Spokane Airport, it was cool to see the two types of anticipation and adrenaline. The rookies’ anticipation of their first trip to Africa with the excitement of the unknown and the veterans eager to get back to Ethiopia and a ministry they love.

We immediately began the adventures of the Dan and the magical boarding pass and tripod case. The adventure lasted until we arrived in Addis when both Dan and “the case” arrived safely on the same flight.

Many of us were greeted going through security by a body scanner who asked us if we were missionaries and thanked us “for all we are doing.” He also said that though he can’t go with us, “we will all be together some day.”

A young lady security guard took one look at Josh and his Grandma Molly and decided that she needed to bypass the main line and go directly through to the screeners. Four of us were quite happy to join her family and skip the line. As we found our seats for the Seattle to Amsterdam leg, we learned that our careful seat selection efforts had become random and most teammates got to sit with new friends on the trip. No matter how you cut it, or how much food they bring, 9+ hours is a long flight.

On the Amsterdam-Khartoum leg (6+hours), I made a new friend with a 70-year-old Lithuanian lady psychiatrist who was headed to the African backcountry to “observe the tribes.” Her parents were lost during the Holocaust and she escaped to the U.S. “by private means” and worked in Boston for 40+ years. Never married, she now travels the world.

Things went smoothly during customs at Addis, in fact the customs worker directed our entire team to bypass the luggage search and x-ray lines! There was much rejoicing as when we met our African teammates as well as other team-members and Buck Frymier, our director of the Health Initiative for NCF.

We agreed in prayer as Mike prayed we arrived at King’s Hotel: we are all thanking the Lord for our safe travels and for the challenges that He will place before us during these next two weeks.

Team member Rachel with our Administrative Manager for Ethiopian Affairs (our Main Man on the Ground)

Please continue to pray. Today it is off to Church, then some relaxing and getting used to the the 10 hour time difference. Others of us get to start meetings.
Mike and Craig already conducted an hour long meeting last night with a Christian coffee grower in Djimma. It’s coffee harvest season here in Ethiopia.

Water in Soddo…Tears of Joy and Sorrow

Please click the link to the Bowers’ blog to read the full text:

http://thebowersinafrica.wordpress.com

The pipes have water in them today! This is the 2nd day that Soddo Orphans has water after moving in 11 weeks ago!! We all rejoice – we allow the children to just wash and play a little bit before lunch! They love every drop and I delight in the joy of the few extra drops that bring such tremendous fun! We fill every possible hollow container – unsure when the next water would be available!

: Our malnourished little one receives a good wash before she is taken to the hospital – but she did not enjoy the touch – her body is aching – she simply tolerated the moment – the staff stands strong and encourages her, plays and love on her….. but inside, we are all weeping……

Source: thebowersinafrica.wordpress.com

Now This is Ethiopia! Trip Report from Dilla, Ethiopia

Church Planting - A professionally organized and geographically strategic ministry

- Kevin Cole

It is clear that Ethiopia is a key player on the African Continent in many ways. Geographically Ethiopia is a crossroads. Politically it is the center of the African Union. Militarily it is a major player in the region. Religiously there are many forces at work pushing and pulling the people in different directions. Muslim influence from the nearby Middle East at odds with the strong Christian influences. The good news is the spreading of the gospel across the continent is being facilitated by a professional, organized, educated and committed church planting mission of the Ethiopian Kale Heywot Church. One cannot help but be impressed at the level of commitment when a church in a third world country is supporting and sending out missionaries to the surrounding region. These missionaries are called church planters. They are well trained, married, committed men and women who suffer hardships and persecution and see miracles we in the western world have a hard time getting our arms around. Besides the 60 or so church planters supported by the local church there are others being supported by people and churches from other countries such as the USA. New Covenant foundation for instance has made a three-year commitment to support church planters. More support is needed. There are about 60 families who are trained and waiting for support so they can be sent. Another 350 are currently going through training. The cost to support a family runs around $150 per month. The money is used for food, housing, medical support, and a small pension fund. My hope and prayer is that Christians who read this will see the importance of this ministry for the spreading of the good news of Jesus Christ to a region of the world that desperately needs the hope that Jesus offers.

February 25, 2011

-Carrie Cole

We went to the Kale Heywot church compound in Dilla and met Werku, a leader of the Christians in the area. As we walked along the building, there was an awful smell that made some of us feel sick at the thought of going inside. We were led to the front where seats were saved for us. There were probably a couple of thousand church leaders gathered for the conference and a large choir sat on the stage. The pastor was talking to the people in Amharic about CHE and the importance of caring for the whole person. The choir sang and the building was filled with the most amazing sounds of praise to God, then all the people sang as they poured to the front to place their offering on a table in the front of the church. All thoughts of my personal discomforts faded as I was drawn into worship of our Savior with our Ethiopian brothers and sisters in Christ. Werku introduced us and we each shared with the people, they love to hear about us and how we serve the same God they serve in our homes on the other side of the world. Werku closed by singing Mike’s favorite Ethiopian praise song. It was beautiful and I could have stayed and praised God with these people for hours. As our traveling partner Zele said, “Now this is Ethiopia.”

A Taste of Life in Soddo

-Kristi Burns

Friends,

Staying with the Bowers is very eye-opening. Life in Ethiopia is filled with challenge. There is still no rain and water supplies are drying up everywhere. We finally have water coming into the orphanage again by donkey. Thank you Lord! Last night I worshiped at the Bower’s home with the missionaries working at Soddo Christian Hospital. They sing praise songs and then have been following the sermons of David Platt who wrote the book Radical. He has been preaching on Galations. Last night was on chapter 5 and 6 and very good. Life here is hard. The Bowers also have a friend, who is a surgeon. He and another surgeon took out a four foot stick that was lodged in a 7 year old boy’s leg last night. He will be okay but it was a gruesome surgery.

The big crisis right now is the orphanage. Last night eight of the older children who we believed were ready for court dates and adoption, were sent back to Soddo because certain paperwork could not be provided that the international courts now require. They will probably be here for 2 months. Since they departed from Soddo to Addis the orphanage has filled up with more babies and toddlers so it is at capacity and now…..8 more children. We don’t have even mattresses for them to sleep on. Today, Stephne will hold a staff meeting. She tries very hard to have the Ethiopians who are employed at the orphanage serve as the problem solvers….but it is hard, very hard. The Ethiopian culture is not geared toward problem solving. So pray for mattresses. Please pray for paperwork necessary to get the children back to Addis to come together and overall pray for the crisis in Ethiopian adoptions right now. The head of Christian World Adoption is trying to work with the state department who will in turn work with the Ethiopian government. Thousands of children and their future parents are currently in limbo until the Ethiopian Federal government completes a country wide inspection of all orphanages….and that is just one of the problems. The orphanage in Soddo under CCC is a model orphanage but they still have to go through inspection.

On another note, life here is hard. You can feel the heaviness of spiritual warfare. Sidney Launder is getting over malaria (she and her husband Mark are the people overseeing the building project for Wolaitta Village) and two days ago, Sidney scalded her foot. They are having huge water problems at their house and need a well that will likely cost $35,000 because they are on a hill. I have been helping them think through their fundraising needs. I’ve also been able to help the Bowers sort through who will assist them in raising the needed support for the Wolaitta Village Managers home and for the completion of the entire Wolaitta Village project.

I took a tuk-tuk (like a taxi) by myself from the Bowers to the Launders two days ago and walked up a huge hill to their home for a visit and dinner and then I took the tuk-tuk home again in the dark back to the Soddo Christian Hospital grounds. You simply have to trust God for all things here. The driver was a Christian who spoke some English. So please keep praying. I am not joining the rest of the group at Sabana Lodge. I will be returning to Addis on Wednesday. We fly home on Thursday. Pray for wisdom. I am helping with daily life; homeschooling for Carmen Bower; fundraising for multiple families and projects; spiritual encouragement and help at the orphanage…….there is simply so much to do.