Sherbo (August 2012)
“I have been planning to plant a new church at Nyandehun Sow-Ngutti for some time now but have yet been able to do so,” said Pastor Mustapha Coomber of the New Apostolic Church in Mokamatipa village. “Nyandehun Sow-Ngutti is a remote area which is difficult to travel to but the people there need Christ. I have received requests from several people who live there asking me to come and establish a new Christian church in their area. I believe this is God’s appointed time for us to go and work together in this church planting effort,” he added.
Six people from his church were trained by the JESUS Film Church Planting Strategy team resulting in a new church plant in Nyandehun Sow-Ngutti.
Like Pastor Coomber, Pastor Raymond B. Keikura of Gbangbatoke Junction expressed a desire to plant a church where there was none. “I want to plant a church in the village of Sembehunwo since there is no church there. I believe this is a good opportunity for us to go and plant a new church using the church planting strategy to help us succeed,” he commented. Indeed, they were able to plant a church in Sembehunwo.
Pastor Peter Sam of Gandorhun Village had been trying to plant churches with little success. He was very grateful for being contacted for this strategy. “We thank God because He sent you to our aid when no one else would come. For me, you are an indication that God has turned His face towards us this time. There are many communities around here requesting for churches. I believe your training and materials will help us accomplish much more for the Lord,” he told the church planting team.
One of those who received training was Mohamed Will who wanted to become an evangelist. “I was very excited when my pastor told me about the new church planting strategy complete with training and materials. Now that I have gone through the action group training, I feel better prepared to go out into the surrounding villages to tell others about the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ,” he said.
James Yambawo, Mohamed’s fellow trainee, said the training stirred within him a desire to become a pastor seeking to help others learn about Jesus and how they can live in the power of the Holy Spirit. “The training provided a strong foundation on which I can now build my pastoral ministry,” added James.
Christopher B. Davies was not initially excited about the training. “I was not sure how I would be able to fit this training into my busy life. I was not happy about being asked to do more than I was already doing,” he confessed. “But having completed the training I must confess this was a great investment of my time. I am now considering the possibility of becoming a pastor.”
Other villages where action groups planted churches in the first half of this year were Modango, Korttuwabu, Jormma, and Wacumbehun.
