There is a saying, “when God closes a door, he opens a
window.” Sometimes the window he opens
is rather unexpected. Such is the case
for me this summer.
A few weeks ago the missions committee chairman at the church
we are attending, Community Evangelical Free Church (CEFC) in Elverson, PA,
asked me to consider joining a team of Bible teachers for a training seminar
for Ugandan pastors. After praying and
thinking about this with Priscilla, I agreed.
God has opened a window for service in his kingdom.
Along with two other team members, I will be teaching Ugandan
pastors from the Scriptures, specifically Romans 10-16 (a previous training
seminar was on Romans 1-9). We will be working through the ministry of Equipping
Leaders International, Inc. (ELI). ELI holds training seminars for
pastors in various parts of the developing world. Their mission is simple – “To glorify
God by developing strategic Christian leaders inside and outside the
institutional church, to lead biblical reformation in their cultures, and to
replicate that leadership.” Joel McCall, a former pastor at CEFC and
is now a missionary with ELI, will be leading our team in Uganda.
At this point that is about all I know. Over the next few weeks I will be meeting
with Joel McCall to learn more. For now,
I would like to ask for your partnership in this endeavor.
First, please join me in prayer for this. “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who
build it labor in vain” (Ps. 127:1).
Pray according to God’s promise that his Word will not return empty (Is.
55:11). Pray that all the pieces that
have to fall into place for that Word to go out will do so: for me,
preparations, travel, etc.; the same from the side of seminar participants,
most of whom sacrifice much more than I ever will to come to the seminar.
Second, please consider supporting this financially. My cost for this trip will be $4,500.00, but
a large portion of that funds the pastors we will be serving. The conference is
free for them; otherwise they would not be able to attend. Your support
therefore not only helps me, but helps make further training possible for Ugandan
pastors.
If you would be willing to partner with me in this, please
reply to this to let me know—and I will add your name to an email address list
for future updates. You may send your
financial contribution to: CEFC, 52 S.
Brick Lane, Elverson, PA 19520. Write “ELI-Uganda” on the memo line,
or include a note that your gift is intended for “Wendell Stoltzfus’ Uganda
mission trip.” All gifts are
tax-deductible
Thank you very much for considering sharing this open window
with me!
Under the mercy,
Wendell
