Equipped to Thrive: How ICT is Strengthening Missionaries in Hard Places
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
We often share stories of God’s amazing work, but sometimes God calls us to persevere through slow fruit and challenging circumstances. Even as C. and his family live and work in the difficult Horn of Africa region, his time as an ICT learner has been a huge blessing.
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“The context we live in is a closed environment which means a lot of activity is monitored and restricted,” C. describes. “This discourages people from sharing the faith openly. Those who have believed also have a hard time trusting each other and meeting freely for fellowship due to persecution.” How can God encourage His servants ministering amid such difficulty?
“ICT addresses a lot of the issues that come up in our daily life and work, from personal relationships with God to our relationships with people.”
As ICT connects our learners ministering across the world and they learn from each other, “it’s always encouraging hearing both successes and challenges others are facing and the transitions they go through and to know God is at work.” C. also appreciates how the teachers “have made their lives an open book that we can all read and learn from,” which likewise spurs the learners to “share our stories and lives knowing there is genuine care.” Additionally, the courses C. has taken “have been very beneficial and sharpened our work… ICT addresses a lot of the issues that come up in our daily life and work, from personal relationships with God to our relationships with people. My engagement with the people that ask us questions about faith has been different and the attitude towards the host community has changed for the better.” Between classes and relationships with faculty and fellow-learners, ICT has hugely blessed C., shaping and sharpening his walk of faith and work.
Though “religion has veiled many and keeps them from seeing and believing in the truth,” may we pray for C. and others “for wisdom and boldness and creativity” in their restrictive context, and “that the Holy Spirit would bring conviction to the hearts of people to see the way, the truth, and the light.”
Please pray!
Pray for strength and encouragement for C. and his family in this difficult context. May they learn the local language well and have more conversations about the Way.
May communities of faith be established in the Horn of Africa and wherever our students serve, growing in faith and fellowship. May they be bold and committed in their walk of faith to attract many to the Way, especially families and relational circles.
May “the fellowship of the Holy Spirit” (2 Cor. 13:14) continue to be a sweet encouragement for those in ICT, strengthening students, faculty, and staff alike.
Pray for wisdom and the Holy Spirit’s leading for faculty and staff as we develop content and community, building ICT’s program for much fruit, blessing, and transformation.
For God’s presence, peace, provision, protection, wisdom, health, strength, joy, and blessing for all in ICT. May God’s power, glory, and grace be over us all.
Thank you for joining us as God builds the Institute for Community Transformation and through us furthers flourishing communities, marked by His shalom, among all peoples!
