“Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by.’”
Dear Friend of Empower,
I am so grateful to God for you! In a year unlike any other, you’ve continued to pray for and generously support Empower’s work. Thank you!
At this time of year, we usually send you a newsletter full of Empower’s adventures. For the last few years, squeezing our news into four pages has been a challenge.
Alas, we do not have that problem this year. However, we still have very good news to share with you.
Back in April, the Reverend Canon Jovahn Turyamureeba at Bishop Barham University College, one of Empower’s very first partners in Uganda, shared Isaiah 26:20 with me and wrote about the lockdown, “God wants us to slow down and listen to Him more.”
So while we waited for the fury to pass by, Empower’s international leaders found creative ways to help people in their countries listen to God during lockdown.
In Uganda, African Program Director Pastor Frank Tweheyo began a weekly radio show in April, teaching New Man, New Woman, New Life. Everyone listens to the radio in Uganda, so Pastor Frank is reaching tens if not hundreds of thousands of people weekly. Everywhere he goes now, people come up to express their gratitude for the life-changing message he brings them through the airwaves.
Here are just a few examples of the way this radio ministry has changed lives:
–James, who lives close to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale mountains, is a constant listener. He has learned that God did not intend for man to rule over women, that culture has penetrated the bible-believing Christians so much so that they read the bible with lenses of culture. He is glad for the redemption brought about by Jesus Christ.
–Daffin, from Kabale town, is so glad to have been listening in all the time we are on air. She is learning to value herself as a woman, knowing that her dignity is not determined by how many cows she can be bought with but by who she is in Christ Jesus.
–Mourine , also from Kabale town, would like to buy 50 CD’s so that we can upload the messages on and distribute to the people. We are glad for such enthusiasm.
–Listeners call or text questions and prayer requests to Frank regularly.
In India, Koki and Johnny Desai have been leading the New Man, New Woman trainings via Zoom.
In Malawi, Pastor Arnold Phiri tells us that during lockdown, people had “much time” together to explore the biblical insights they had received from Empower trainings. Because of your partnership, these brothers and sisters had printed study guides to pour over and learn from. They rejoice as they learn about the beauty that God intends for us, and are grateful to you for providing the books and the training.
In Kenya, in our last program before the lockdowns began, 40 key leaders participated in the Master Class for New Man, New Woman at St. Paul’s University. At the suggestion of Empower/Kenya president Dr. Zablon Mutongu, Empower had the study guide made into an e-book accessible on smartphones, enabling Master Class graduates to lead studies even without access to a printed version of the material.
Africa is opening up again, and as it happens….
Pastor Frank, Empower/Uganda President Joyce Ouko, and Dr. Zablon greeted me last week with an explosion of requests for support for in-person programs in the next few months – including in Burundi, where we have not been able to go since 2015.
In addition to plans for some future in-person trainings, Frank is looking at continuing to grow the radio ministry. He’s currently negotiating to put a program on a station run by the Diocese of Kigezi Anglican Church. However, the cost is 500,000 Ugandan shillings (about $135 USD) per 30 minute weekly program. “This program would be more impactful since it has even a wider listenership and a wider coverage in terms of geographical area,” Frank reports.
Since we Americans will not be traveling for a while, we rejoice that God has raised up these amazing people, fully competent to carry out the work. Several years ago, Empower set the goal that the NMNW program in Africa would be African-led by 2020. We did not anticipate that the realization of that goal would happen in the way it has, but it has happened.
However, this transition from Americans “doing for” our partners, to empowering our partners to take ownership themselves, poses a new set of financial challenges. As able, creative, and enthusiastic as our international partners are, and as cost-effective as their innovations may be, they still need our financial support. Your partnership remains essential as we move forward.
We know that there is a big difference between supporting the work of the people you know, and championing that of far-away people you may never meet. Nonetheless, you remain a critical part of changing lives throughout the world. We hope that you will continue – and maybe even consider expanding – your partnership. You can do that today by visiting our secure giving page here.
We pray that fury has and will continue to pass you by. We yearn to see you, Africa, and India again. In the meantime, we know that God is at work. Thank you for being part of this mighty endeavor.
With prayers that you have a wonderful Christmas and a New Year more exciting but less furious than the last,
Carrie Miles
P.S. Thank you again for your prayers and financial support. To make Empower a part of your year-end giving, click here.