RWANDA CCI
 
I will be leaving with Dave Forbes on Thursday, May 4.  We will teach Certified Course Instructor Training for two weeks to a combined total of 48 pastors (24 at each CCI location involving the DR Congo and Rwanda.  These top leaders will be studying an in-depth five day course on "Doctrine of God."  Every pastor will explore Who God is and what His redemptive Plan involves.  I anticipate a dramatic response.  Especially if you join with us in prayer!

Since the deadline of the new Rwandan laws concerning pastors arrives on Aug 31, the uncertainty of how this will be applied to over 20,000 pastors and churches leaves an uncertainty about the freedoms of the churches going forward. 

This course was chosen to prepare the leaders and their churches to facilitate a clear understanding and encouragement in times of upheaval for the Rwandan body of Christ. As the law states, pastors will be removed who have not secured an accredited degree.  As it stands, pastors will no longer be allowed to preach in their churches without a state qualified degree. This has not been a reachable goal given the widespread poverty and lack of qualified schools for Biblical studies.

Since there is much uncertainty about how quickly and how stringently these new laws will be applied, Dave and I are laboring to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.  Over 10 years have  been invested in these pastors and we are trusting God to protect and produce fruit no matter how tough it will be.  You can only imagine what we would do here in America if over half the leadership of churches were no longer able to minister from the pulpit.

Please pray for wisdom and discernment as we are there for the two weeks. 

The Lord through an unexpected source graciously provided $7500 to purchase 500 Study Bibles. Indeed, Christ loves His Bride!  He moved a person's heart to meet a resource need at such a critical time. This provision will enhance the effectiveness of our instruction.  Theophile is purchasing some of these Bibles right now to be distributed where he is teaching one of our courses in another country. I praise God for the multiplication that is already at work.  I am sitting here right now with tears in my eyes over the Father's gracious provision for these 500 brothers and sisters.
 
UPCOMING UGANDA CCI
 
After returning on May 20, two and a half weeks later I will be leaving again to join Landon Roland at Good Shepherd's Fold in Jinja, Uganda for another week of CCI training with pastors.  This will be a third course which is covering "Biblical Theology" on an overview of God's Great Redemptive plan from Genesis to Revelation. 

We have been training these pastors first by laying the foundation to understand the Bible and how to interpret it (Bible Study Methods). 

JUST RETURNED FROM ISRAEL

From April 1-11 Nathan McCall (my son) and I did a study tour with 24 on the Geography, history and archaeology of Israel.  I taught 3 classes in preparation for the trip involving presentations, homework, and map studies. We reviewed biblical history and then it was time to see the Biblical locations!

Of course, it took prayer. A few days before our departure there were riots in Israel over a controversial law, the airport was closed to incoming flights the week we were to depart.  But we prayed, pressed ahead and God reopened the airport.  While there, rocket attacks took place in the north and south the day after we left the Lebanese border. All went well for us in spite of these events.  God kept us safe during the final week of Passover/Easter. While in Jerusalem we had a small worship over Easter, and finished  the week visiting Biblical sites all the way to the Dead Sea region.

Reading Scripture and praying together was a powerful experience of learning and fellow-shipping with the Lord and each other.  Those who went will be using that knowledge in their ministries here at home.  It was a pleasure to join together with my brothers and sisters in such a unique place.
 
I am praising God for you.  Because of your faithful prayers and support I am seeing the Lord multiply impact continually.  God bless you!

Joel McCall
Equipping Leaders International