Davis & Charis Lacey - Autumn Ridge Community Church - Ellijay, GA
Partnership Updates:
In 2021, Autumn Ridge. Community Church celebrated many ministry highlights, including 4 new professions of faith and baptisms! They now average over 100 in attendance every Sunday morning and have 4 consistent and stable Missional Communities - a grace in the aftermath of a global pandemic. This fall, they ordained their first internally-called Elder, a specific answer to prayer!
Prayer Requests:
* Pray that the Lord will grant Pastor Davis wisdom, stamina, and joy. Pray that he will be equipped and encouraged for the work to which God has called him. Pray for leaders to be raised up and to take initiative within the church.
*Pray that Autumn Ridge Community Church would exhibit the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace and that their members will live "on mission", growing in confidence to share the gospel and make disciples.
*Pray that the Lord will continue to provide for the church's financial needs.
Kenneth & Beatrice Kabagambe - Noah's Arc/Joy Christian School - Kaihura, Uganda
Partnership Updates:
*Last year, Emmaus continued our partnership with Noah's Arc Children's Home to support the care and discipleship of orphans and vulnerable children in the Kaihura community. We raised funds to complete the construction of a new school, dormitory, and water well. We also supported the staff and children of Noah's Arc with ongoing monthly sponsorships to provide for basic needs and care.
*This year, Emmaus began a partnership with Global Training Network to launch a new seminary program for pastors in Kaihura and the surrounding community. The 3-year program will invest in theological education and practical ministry training for 20 students, bringing vital education to pastors, in an effort to strengthen the health of churches in this region.
*Bibles! In partnership with the local churches of Kaihura, this year we purchased Bibles for an additional 1,000 families in the community. The Bible are being distributed through local pastors to the families of their churches, coming alongside the ministry of the local church to enrich and strengthen the discipleship of the community. All together, a total of 2,500 Bibles have been donated to the families of Kaihura.
Prayer Requests:
*Pray for the Word of God to be treasured, studied, and obeyed in the lives of the families who have received Bibles.
*Pray for the pastors walking through the seminary program. Ask God to make them humble, teachable, and studious as they devote themselves to the teaching.
*Pray for the children and staff at Noah's Arc. Ask God to continue to care and provide for all of their needs, especially in the midst of the pandemic shutdowns.
*For each child to know and love Jesus!
Jeremiah & Alex Klinect - Greater Europe Mission - Hungary
Partnership Updates:
The Klinect family arrived in Budapest in early September 2020 and are busy adjusting to a new country, culture, and language while beginning the difficult task of building new relationships. Since their arrival in Hungary, they have been immersed in training and being mentored, in addition to presenting and attending Educational Conferences. Alex's primary focus is serving the parents of young children, ages 0-5, while Jeremiah's focus is on special needs and reading assessments. They have also begun language learning through both formal language classes and informal language helpers.
Prayer Requests:
*Pray for Alex, Jeremiah, and their son, Hudson, as they transition into a new culture and language. Pray for them as they build relationships with their fellow ministry partners, as well as all of the families they will be serving.
*Praise for their own home that they moved into in November 2020!
*Praise that they have received their residency permits!
Las Brisas, Guatemala
Partnership Updates:
*Throughout 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic offered a variety of challenges and opportunities for the ministry of Casa de Libertad in Guatemala City. Due to strict government-enforced lockdowns, most churches were unable to gather for worship - leading to many difficulties for the young church plant still being established in Las Brisas.
Nonetheless, in the time of great need, Pastor Omar and his core team were able to mobilize some incredible local ministry to the hurting families of Guatemala City. They mobilized donations for hundreds of pounds of fresh produce and groceries to families in need, made and distributed masks, and provided medicines and hygiene products to the community.
In the success of this work, the elders of Casa de Libertad have prayerfully decided to redirect Pastor Omar away from the church plant in Las Brisas to ongoing local community ministry efforts in the entire city through the missions efforts of their main campus. While the core team will remain intact, it will transition to a community group rather than a plant. In light of these developments, the partnership to establish the new church plant with Pastor Omar has officially come to a close in Las Brisas.