What a Week It’s Been

David Bahn-Reflections Podcast

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. ³ At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— ⁴ that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

⁵ Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. ⁶ Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. –Colossians 4:2-6 [ESV]

 

More than 100 pastors and spouses are attending year two of PLI International training. Our focus is Leading Change for the Sake of Christ’s Mission. Here’s our most recent email about this trip. Thanks to Diane for putting most of this together. She’s a great partner in mission! We celebrated her birthday here complete with a birthday cake that they provided, and some joyous singing of Happy Birthday. I have videos that I will post when we are able to get a better internet connection.

Here’s our update:

Praise the Lord! Amen! . . . It is with those words that many of the people here begin a conversation or when they stand up to read scripture. So it seemed appropriate to begin this note to you as well.

We have finished day 3 of the 4 day PLI Conference and they have been very full days indeed! The people are highly engaged in the learning. Having some times for men and women separately has also helped the women be more open in sharing some of their stories. They will often take a short break to stretch and to sing. Oh, the singing! What beautiful songs and harmonies! We love it!

The pastors are hungry to learn. They listen carefully and ask very good questions. Bishop Andrew Gulle of the East of Lake Victoria Diocese attends all the the sessions and occasionally adds a word of encouragement and insight to the pastors. He is a gracious and humble leader.

Yesterday Diane and I led a session on marriage and to see and hear the couples discussing afterwards was such a blessing. They were to have had music for a short time of dancing last night, but we on the teaching team were so tired that we went back to the hotel before that happened.

Some of the women shared with Diane yesterday that marrying a pastor caused them to lose friends or family connections. One woman gave up her tribal religion to follow Jesus. Also, Tanzania is a very poor country and that causes hardship for pastors’ families as well as their congregations. And yet the Tanzanian Lutheran Church may be larger than the LCMS, I believe.

Thank you again for your prayers. It means a lot to us and to them! May God bless each of you this day and may he help you all be a light for Jesus!