In this season of celebrating the birth of the baby
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| Murray,Miriam Burt & their girls |
Jesus we recognize that His birth means the possibility of a new start for all of us. As we rejoice in God as Emmanuel we also anticipate new starts in 2014.
Church Plant The Burts (pictured) from New Zealand will be sent our from our church to plant on the other side of Nairobi. Murray works for the refugee program with the UN and also has a degree in Theology. We anticipate sending up to seventy-five people with this international church plant.
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| Doug with Robert and Samuel |
December courses The first two weeks of this December, Vineyard School of Ministry held two courses - Understanding Mission: Christianity and Islam in Africa and Church & Spirit Brewed in an Africa Pot. For new student Robert (pictured) this was a new start. A former street kid and drug user this was like a new birth. He now works in the church led by Pastor Samuel (pictured) and has new hope.
Another new student was Maureen (pictured) who both leads worship and writes worship songs for the Vinyard in Kitale near Lake Victoria. Initially quite shy, Maureen warmed up enough to lead worship before class one day.
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| Maureen, Dorcas, and Sarah |
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| John fisher (second from the right) and some students |
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| Doug with potential Ugandan students |
Coming from Capetown South Africa to teach a course was Vineyard Pastor John Fisher, who at seventy-five has just completed his PhD!
Uganda Satellite Campus
We are birthing a new campus! In January we will launch a satellite campus in Kampala, Uganda. As the Vineyard in Uganda is young, we hope through developing leaders that we can forge a common identity based on Scripture and a strong bond that learning in community affords. The Vineyard in Uganda is lead by Pastor Edward Ssemango.
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| Pastor Edward Ssemango & his wife |
All three of
these new starts represent prayer requests:
Please pray
for:
ü VSMAfrica’s Kenya campus, as we take
on new students that we would also be able to identify new teachers.
ü The launch of the satellite campus in
Kampala – the teachers, students, venue, and finances involved.
ü Murray and Miriam Burt and their team
as they plant an international church.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Sue and Doug
