joelmccalljer

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE TEMPLE STEPS IN JERUSALEM

Luke 2:4-7 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Here I stood on the actual steps of the original Temple entrance, while facing  towards Bethlehem, I am still struck by the reality that Jesus came to us many years ago.  And He still continues with us as Emmanuel. Over these very hills God set in motion the beginning of our redemption.

It is because of His Coming that I celebrate with you this Christmas.  May you have a splendid time with friends and family as you celebrate Him.

jmdecaaLOOKING TO THE NEW YEAR

  • Multiple Rwanda Trips are coming soon.  Many pastors will be taught on a deeper level through Certified Course Instructor Trainings, they will become Teachers of Teachers. More Large Group pastors conferences are being planned in Rwanda, DRC and Jinja, Uganda.

Three weeks in Uganda was a tremendous display of the power of the Word of God to impact leaders.  We taught Ephesians in three conferences.  I want to highlight one of these conferences in Jinja at Good Shepherds Fold.  Once again, pastors came from the Islands of Lake Victoria and through out the region. Here are two emails I recently received that give testimony from those who were there to learn:

"It's again another good opportunity for us to live up to today. God has done great things through the training which we had in Gsf Jinja,after I came back from training, I decided to put what I learnt into practice. I was requested by the women's department to share with them the book of Ephesians, and I shared with them like we were doing Bible study,Haaaaa!!!!!!!,do you know what  happened, God gave me favour to share the book of Ephesians very very well until their spiritual eyes were open. Most of them who were women leaders fall down on their knees that they were been preaching very very wrong sermons.
  So as we talk now, I'm not permanent in one place,most of the church leaders are now inviting me to their near by churches to go and teach the church leaders about how to teach the congregation in away that they can understand the Bible well.
  So I have received a call from one of the pastors from jinja who was with us in the training at Gsf that they are requesting me to go and teach the church leaders on how to make a church work plan.
  So our trainings are bearing fruits.
  So Joel please it's my humble request to you I always love to be in the trainings you always organise because I have seen how they have helped me birth physically and also spiritually, socially.
  So let's remain with the same love,whenever there is any training, please update me also so that we can join our hands together and we release people from ignorance of the word of God in Jesus name.
Your friend, David"

From Corinne, a staff person at GSF:
“Good morning! The GSF staff recently did an outreach in a fishing village along Lake Victoria and delivered goods that the GSF staff had personally donated. Part of the outreach was also sharing the gospel, so they planned ahead and asked local pastors from the area to be there. 27 people came to know Jesus Christ, and every new believer was connected with a local church through the pastors in attendance. Amazing!
  Why am I sharing this? The pastor in the fishing village who helped the GSF staff coordinate this outreach attended the ELI conference. Actually, the ELI conference is how he got networked with GSF. He expressed that he is SO thankful for the ELI conference, and although this year was his first, he's already looking forward to the next. Loyce (you may remember her - she chaired the committee that coordinated the conference at GSF) is excited because he is an enthusiastic and well-networked pastor, so she believes he can use his influence to bring more pastors from his area next year.
  I just wanted to encourage you that your teaching and ministry here has many ripple effects!
Corinne”

Through your financial and prayer partnership this year, you can see glimpses of how God is using you in a distant place.  Thank you so much!  Christ is glorified in this.

PLEASE PRAY FOR...
Certified Instructor Training for these leaders of leaders
Team Instructional preparations
The Lord to prepare the hearts of the pastors
Funding necessary for the two weeks in East Africa: $2900.00

Joel and Sarah McCall
ELI