Just this last month we had our Sovereign Grace Key Global Leaders Retreat in Sydney, Australia, and what a wonderful time it was! Thank you so m much for your prayers. As we gathered together from June 9th-12th, coming together in representation of six different continents, the Lord met with us in wonderful ways!!
You can hear all about it on Mark Prater’s podcast… How good the Lord was to us in this time!
An update from Jim Donohue, Pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church, PA, USA, and Director of Evangelism for Sovereign Grace Churches…
A big reason why we're so eagerly seeking to plant churches is to see lost men and women come to know the forgiveness of their sins that can only be found in Jesus Christ.
This last September, we planted a church in rural Indiana with 22 people. In their launch they took their community groups through the Proclaim Course (https://proclaimcourse.org/) to motivate and equip their people in evangelism. And they just finished running their third Bridge Course (https://bridgecourse.org/), a course we designed to tell people about the good news of Jesus Christ, and their church now has more than 70 people attending each Sunday!
We also launched our first Bridge Course in London last month and are working on translating the course into 3 more languages bringing the total number up to 10. Another exciting development is that we’ve modified our web site so that it can be viewed entirely in Spanish and we are working on doing the same thing in Chinese and other languages.
We have seen the power of God transforming so many lives in recent months. Here’s a story that displays the incredible power of the gospel to redeem and restore. It’s from a woman named Julia. Her brother invited her atheist father to Bridge and he got saved a few years ago. And through their combined witness, God saved Julia in a dramatic way. Here is some of her story…
“I’d spent the better part of the last decade willfully rejecting God. I mutilated God’s character and began a journey of self-discovery that I thought would lead to my deliverance but in fact promised to separate me from my Creator. In early May of 2016, I stepped boldly out of the closet, clothed in my new queer identity, and I leapt into the world’s embrace. I finally internalized the one lie that had haunted me from childhood: God does not love me. And I thought, if God could reject me, that means, I could reject Him too…right? Years went by as I convinced myself I didn’t need His love, that I didn’t even want it. And yet, I searched for it with a screaming soul as I looked to others for the satisfaction that only God could give. I expected fulfillment from my relationships, but they left me hollow and increasingly desperate, until I became an open wound of unhealed hurts, unable to make it through a single day without breaking down and lashing out. The pressure was building, and I was scared that it would culminate in an irreversible act of self-injurious behavior. I had lost hope, resigned to the belief that this was just how it was, how it would always be.
It was here, in the bottleneck of my distress, that my Father in Heaven offered me salvation through the patient persistence of my father and brother here on earth. It was early one morning when my brother Antonio again asked if he could read to me from the Psalms, and by God’s Grace alone, this time, I listened. Our Dad joined, and four hours went by in which they testified and tenderly answered my questions. That same night, I invited Jesus into my life as my Treasure, Friend, Savior, and God. I wept with shame for my sins against Him, horror-struck by every rejection I had denied Him with. I looked upon the cross with new eyes, recognizing my sins hanging from our Creator as ribbons of flesh, and I wanted to look away, unable to bear the enormity of His suffering, but I’d soon learn at Bridge that this was how it had to be…decided before the beginning, outside of time and space: the solemn agreement. A selfless plan to save our wretched souls baked inside the most magnificent love story ever told, written to us as an invitation, while we were dead in our sin.
On May 11th, 2024, almost 8 years to the day since I’d come out and traded God’s love for the fleeting promises of this world, Jesus, our Lord, called me by name, saying “you are mine.” On that day, He delivered me, and a peace settled into my bones, making a home for itself among the weeds.”
You can find the rest of Julia’s story here. Praise God for how he is using our churches to reach the lost. God is doing a great work. And we have the privilege of joining him in the unstoppable spread of the gospel.
An update from Michael Granger, Senior Pastor of Trinity Fellowship Church in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia…
Sunday 31st May was marked by praise and celebration as Trinity Fellowship ordained its third pastor!
Yeabtsega has been with us almost from the very beginning of our church plant. He completed our first academic year of the Trinity Fellowship Pastors College, went through our pastoral residency, and faithfully endured our ordination assessment process with joy and excellence. More importantly, our church has already been relating to him as one of their pastors for several years. He has become a dear friend, trusted counsellor, and a faithful co-laborer to me!
Most importantly, however, Yeabtsega is married to Kimia. And honestly, we would probably hire the brother just for his wife. He seriously married up!
In Ephesians 4, Paul writes that when Christ ascended, he gave gifts to his church. In context, those gifts come in the form of pastors and teachers. Yeabtsega is an Ephesians 4 gift to Trinity Fellowship, and we thank God for him!
And a much-needed gift he is! Within the next month, Trinity Fellowship will likely reach nearly 220 members, with approximately 20 more already signed up for the next intake. In the coming days we’re also preparing to baptize 22 new individuals into the life of our church. We praise God, I praise God for providing Yeabtsega as the Lord continues to dwell amongst us.
And while we’re counting our blessings, last Sunday Pastor Amanuel completed his first solo sermon series. Since February, most of our Sundays have been spent listening to him preach through Paul’s epistle to Titus. We have been so served as he grows in preaching God’s Word.
Also, this past week, I had the privilege of lecturing at the Trinity Fellowship Pastors College alongside Brian Kiama, the first commissioned church planter sent out from Trinity Fellowship. Brian flew back from Nairobi to co-teach our course on church planting
In 2 Timothy 2:2 Paul writes, “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” The Lord has so richly provided a theological training for me at Castleview, SGCL, the Pastors College, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and now Union School of Theology. We therefore have a responsibility to invest in the next generation of pastors and church planters, which it’s a joy to do!
Over the course of 25 lecture hours, we taught on both the theology and the practicals of church planting, including how the necessity of Scripture necessitates church planting, identifying a church plant location, building a team, leadership vision, raising support, launching a church, and faithfully shepherding it over time.
Our current Pastors College academic calendar runs from September 2025 to September 2026 and consists of 42 block course classes under the leadership of our dean Josh Pannell. Following graduation, I plan to invite several of the graduates into a one-year pastoral residency. During that year, these men will take on a number of the responsibilities of pastoral ministry while continuing to be trained, evaluated, encouraged, and discipled before potentially entering ordained ministry.
Please pray for James 1 wisdom as we prepare for this next residency cohort, and pray that the Lord would continue to raise up faithful workers for his harvest.
An update from Riley Spring, Lead Pastor of Sovereign Grace Parramatta (Sydney, Australia) and National Leader for Sovereign Grace Churches Australia…
It’s not every year you get to have a ‘Pastor’s Conference’ like experience in your own church for a day! But this year Sovereign Grace Churches Australia had the privilege of having not only the Leadership Team (Mark Prater, Jeff Purswell, Jared Mellinger, Jon Payne and our very own Dave Taylor) but also the Global Leaders all with us for our combined church conference, ‘Together 2026’!
It was an incredible day as we gathered with over 400 people from our two churches, Sovereign Grace Church Wahroonga and Sovereign Grace Church Parramatta, under the banner of Spurgeon’s famous line, ‘The Church, the Dearest Place on Earth.’
We had three powerful sessions with Jeff, Jon and Jared preaching for us around this theme, you can listen to their messages here. We also had a chance for each of the Global Leaders who were here for the Global Leaders Retreat to briefly share about their region of the world where the Lord is at work through Sovereign Grace (Mexico, Europe, Philippines, Africa, and the US).
Our people were freshly stirred with a vision for God’s passionate and particular love for his people. His plan that has been in place before the beginning of the world which has now been revealed, that God will gather all the world under one head, under Christ (Eph 1). The Lord helped us see that what is taking place in very ordinary ways Sunday to Sunday is anything but ordinary! As Jesus walks amongst his lampstands (Rev 1), as we partake in the Heavenly gathering (Heb 12), we anticipate the glorious reunion of the Bride and her Husband.
The implication is well summarised by Stott, “‘If the church is central to God’s purpose as seen in both history and the gospel it must surely also be central to our lives. How can we take lightly what God takes so seriously, how dare we push to the circumference what God has placed at the center?’ (John Stott).
It was a pure joy for me to see our churches here interacting with the Leadership Team and the Global Leaders. It was a joy to be able to publicly thank Mark Prater on behalf of SG Australia for his contribution, service, and sacrifice for us here and for all of Sovereign Grace. And it was a joy for this Aussie, to be able to host these dear brothers here in Sydney, to show them our city, to invite them into our story, and for them to revisit old friends and make new ones.
It’s significant for us as we build Sovereign Grace Churches here in Australia that we build relationally together. We are not just an institution, a network, or a co-op, but a family! And so it’s very fitting that our two churches would come together for the day to worship, to pray, to sit under God’s word, to meet with our friends, to connect with our broader SGC Leaders and Partners….and to eat lots of Lebanese Chicken together! A taste of heaven.
We very much feel the smile of the Lord on us and the words of Deuteronomy 7:6:
“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has
chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”
Please pray for Sovereign Grace Churches here in Australia, that we would be able to grow in love for the Lord and each other, that we would make many new disciples, and that the Lord would raise up future Pastors and Planters to take the gospel further across this great land!
An update from Carlos Contreras, National Leader of Sovereign Grace Churches, Mexico….
This past May, we gathered in Guadalajara as Elders of Gracia Soberana México for our National Council of Elders and annual pastoral retreat. These meetings have become a highlight of our year, and this year was no exception.
The Council of Elders was a clear testimony of God’s goodness toward our Nation as we celebrated His continued strengthening of our family of churches, even through seasons of growth and challenge. I had the privilege of sharing an update on the state of our union, reminding us of God’s abundant faithfulness. Despite changing circumstances across several of our churches, He has allowed us to grow and solidify as a Nation, with a vision to serve not only Mexico but the world.
The Council approved the creation of a new East-Central region and confirmed Kike Villegas as Regional Leader. We also celebrated the ordination of Emmanuel Alfonzo, lead pastor of Vida Abundante in Moroleón, Michoacán — making it the seventh church officially partnered with our denomination.
We were encouraged by Alex Anchondo, who shared his experiences from joining the SG team that went to Pakistan January, reminding us of the unstoppable, transforming power of the Gospel — a power at work there and equally capable of transforming our own cities and nation. Antonio Díaz, pastor of our sister church in Mexico City, also shared how our national family served churches in Cuba last October by sending him and Edgar Flores to teach, encourage, and deliver much-needed medicines and resources.
I was grateful to report on the blessing of hosting the recording of the new Gracia Soberana Música album at our church — the first GSM album written entirely by Latin American songwriters. I also shared a preview of our upcoming Fieles a Su Llamado conference this August, where we will partner with Bob Kauflin and WorshipGod to host our largest event to date, with 850 expected attendees, gathering to reflect on the priorities of our Sunday worship gatherings.
Finally, Mark Prater joined us and shared his vision for the future of Sovereign Grace Churches, exhorting us to become “a multi-generational, theologically faithful, Spirit-empowered, global family of churches who together advance the gospel of Jesus Christ for the glory of God.”
Following the Council, we held our annual pastoral retreat — a time strategically important for the development of Gracia Soberana México. These retreats are marked by fellowship in the gospel, pastoral encouragement, and opportunities for the Mexican Leadership Team to cast vision for our family of churches. This year’s theme was Pastoral Ministry in the Fear of God.
We heard powerful messages from our National Leadership Team on our calling to be pastors governed by the fear of the Lord, in light of Christ’s sobering charge to care for His church. Mark Prater spoke on the necessity of hard conversations in leadership. I shared on the fear of the Lord as the motivation and fuel for our love for Christ and His church. Hellman Avila, pastor from our El Paso church, taught on the importance of pastors recognizing their dependence on the Holy Spirit. Manolo Quintal, pastor in Silao Guanajuato and National Leadership Team member, exhorted us on pastoral ministry empowered and motivated by grace. Finally, Abelardo Muñoz, also part of the SGC Executive Committee, reminded us of the dangers of pastoral ministry, calling us to prioritize the care of our own souls and to continually return to the gospel in awe of God’s grace.
I am deeply grateful for the rich fellowship we enjoy — not only nationally but globally. This was evident throughout our retreat, in our times of ministry and prayer, shared meals, and joyful fellowship. Having been part of Sovereign Grace Churches for four decades, I rejoice to see how its values and virtues are increasingly evident in the lives of our leaders and churches in Mexico.
Thank you, Sovereign Grace, for your legacy, your continued help, and your faithful support!
Matthew 28.18-20,
‘And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
The great commission that we have been given as Christians is far bigger than we could have ever asked or imagined... But how wonderful, comforting and inspiring it is to know that the One who has called us, is always with us, even to the end of the age. What a mission changing reality this is!!
With that in mind, here are a few ways that you can be praying for our wider mission in the month ahead…
Please pray for the Pastors College graduating class of 2026, students and their families from 2 different nations who having moved to Louisville, KY for the past 10 months, now head home to make a difference in their local churches. Please pray for a smooth transition back home and for faithful and fruitful days ahead for each of these graduates.
Please pray for Doug Hayes as he heads to Ndola, Zambia, to break ground on the new Lighthouse Christian School’s Secondary School campus, June 4th-10th. In addition, please pray for the missions teams from Covenant of Grace (Akron OH), June 13th-20th; Risen Hope (Summerville, SC), June 20th-27th; and Cornerstone (Knoxville, TN), June 27th-July 4th; as they head to Rancho 3M, Mexico.
Please pray for the Ripple Women’s Conference, 13th June, run by SGC Philippines in Manila, Philippines. Please pray that it’ll be a big blessing to all the ladies that are coming along to it from 7 different Churches in Manila. That they’d be strengthened in biblical womanhood and that as an outreach, many women would come to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour as a result.
Please pray for Solomon Chala, a graduate of the Trinity Fellowship Pastors College in Ethiopia, and Amanuel Yehualashet, pastor of Trinity Fellowship Church, Addis Ababa, as they lead a Marriage Retreat, June 16th-23rd, for pastors & wives in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and sow into the leaders and dear brothers and sisters we relate to there.
Please pray for the Sovereign Grace Key Global Leaders Retreat in Sydney, Australia, June 9th-12th, asking God to equip and strengthen our global leaders from around the world relationally and theologically, so they can better serve the Churches and endevours in their respective regions. Please also pray for the Leadership Team’s Strategic Planning Retreat that follows this time, June 15th-17th, asking God to grant wisdom and discernment for decisions that best serve our family of churches.
Please pray that God would continue to provide financially for Sovereign Grace Churches so that we can continue to fund the many gospel opportunities that He is giving us throughout the world.
… It’s a big world out there, so how good it is to know that He will always be with us, both now and to the end of the age!!
An update from Amanuel Yehuwalashet, pastor at Trinity Fellowship, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia…
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! – Psalm 133:1
What a gift this was.
From March 23 to 29, 2026, pastors representing four nations (Ethiopia, Kenya, Zambia, and Namibia) gathered in Addis Ababa for the first Sovereign Grace Churches Africa Pastors Retreat. Though some of us had never met before and came from very different contexts, no one felt like a stranger from the very first moment of fellowship.
Why was that? I believe one of the main reasons we felt this way is because we share something deeper than geography. Every man in that room had passed through the same process of pastoral formation in our churches. We had received the same theological training. We embraced the same theological convictions. We have the same commitment to gospel-centered ministry. And these shared foundations produced aligned theological and practical convictions, which shaped how we think and relate to one another. We didn't have to explain our polity or defend our values. By God’s grace, we already shared them. What a kindness from the Lord.
As it was our first retreat together, our primary goal was to get to know one another and enjoy meaningful fellowship together. And that is exactly what God gave us. In fact, He gave us more than we expected.
Each day brought a focused session:
Michel Granger (Trinity Fellowship Addis Ababa, Senior Pastor) opened with "The Pastor and Gospel-Centeredness," reminding us what must define us, both as men and as churches. I loved this.
Josh Pannell (Trinity Fellowship Addis Ababa, Pastors’ College Dean) followed with "The Pastor and Theological Unity," showing why theological unity is critical for our present and future. So important.
Then I, Amanuel Yehualashet (Trinity Fellowship Addis Ababa, Pastor), taught on "The Pastor and Godliness," explaining why personal godliness is essential for longevity and faithfulness in ministry.
After that, Yeabtsega (Trinity Fellowship Addis Ababa, to be ordained on May 31) taught on "The Pastor and Encouragement," reminding us that we must first be recipients of God's encouragement before we can give it to our people.
Finally, Mark Prater (SGC, Executive Director) taught on "The Pastor and Partnership," showing how we need one another across nations, not just across the street.
While the teaching was excellent, what I treasured most was the fruit that followed -- the rich discussion, intentional encouragement, shared prayer, meals together, laughter, and honest discussion about the joy and challenges of pastoral ministry and life.
To God be the glory!
This was our first retreat. I pray that it will not be our last. And I pray that you, our dear readers, will pray for your brothers in Africa. Pray that God would continue to strengthen pastors, to raise up faithful pastors, plant healthy churches, and advance the gospel throughout the continent of Africa.
Fabrizio Rodulfo leads Gracia Soberana Música and was recently involved with a new album recording in Mexico. Knowing how important our music is for our wider mission, he shares this update…
This past April, we had the joy of recording a live Spanish-language album with Gracia Soberana Música at Iglesia Gracia Soberana in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, under the leadership of Pastor Carlos Contreras. Over two evenings—April 16 and 17—we gathered with around 450–600 people each night to worship, sing, and celebrate God’s grace together as we recorded De Muerte a Vida: Canciones del Libro de Efesios (“From Death to Life: Songs from the Book of Ephesians”).
This project has been several years in the making. In 2023, we held our first songwriting retreat in Guadalajara, followed by a second retreat in Louisville in early 2025. During those retreats, songwriters from Sovereign Grace churches and like-minded friends wrote nearly 80 original Spanish songs together. After much prayer, collaboration, and review, we selected 12 songs for this album.
Every song on the project was written entirely in Spanish and rooted in the book of Ephesians. As we studied Paul’s letter, we wanted to write songs that highlighted the centrality of the gospel, our identity in Christ, and how the gospel shapes our life together as the people of God. One meaningful aspect of the project is that all the songs were intentionally written in the plural, focusing not only on personal faith but also on our shared life as the church.
The recording itself was especially meaningful because it brought together people and churches from across different regions. Musicians and singers from Sovereign Grace churches in Costa Rica, Tampa, Louisville, and Ciudad Juárez participated in the band and team. Our dear friends Jonathan and Sarah Jerez, along with David and Karen from Monterrey, contributed not only vocally, but also significantly through songwriting and collaboration throughout the process. The church choir from Ciudad Juárez also joined the recording, adding depth and congregational strength to the singing.
For many of us, these nights felt historic. This was the first fully Spanish and fully live album recorded in this church, a church that has played such an important role in the history of Sovereign Grace Churches in Mexico. Seeing hundreds of believers singing these new songs together reminded us again of the beauty of the gospel and the unity we share in Christ across nations, cultures, and churches.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who prayed, wrote, served, sang, organized, mixed cables, welcomed guests, and helped make these nights possible. So many people contributed behind the scenes to create an environment where the church could sing boldly and joyfully.
Lord willing, the album will be released next year. Our prayer is that these songs would strengthen our churches and serve the global Spanish-speaking church by grounding believers in the gospel and in the promises of God for all who are in Christ.
An update from Marty Machowski, Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, and Key Leader into South Korea…
My wife Lois and I enjoyed the privilege of visiting Lord’s Grace Church in South Korea in late March. Songhwan (Lead Pastor of Lord’s Grace Church) and Miran arranged for my wife and I to enjoy the first few days exploring Seoraksan National Park in Northeastern South Korea. Lois and I shared a home with Songhwan and Miran which afforded the time of fellowship where we were able to share our blessings and personal challenges and build relationally and strengthen our friendship.
The 48 foot tall bronze Buddha statue in the center of Seoraksan National Park accentuates Korea’s need for the gospel to penetrate their nation. It was sad to see the memorials people made by stacking rocks and the prayer cards left to this dead idol.
The four of us took the cable car up the mountain where we hiked to the top. The majesty of God’s creation from the peak dwarfed the Buddha barely visible below, like powerless ants compared to the vast creative majesty of our God. While the clouds and smoggy air muted the landscape for most of our visit the clouds parted for our hike up the mountain and blue skies marked our assent. The yet snow dusted mountains burst steep out of the sea and served as a God blessed backdrop to our photo.
Blessed by a gift from a family at Lord’s Grace Church, the four of us enjoyed a special dinner on the coast. We dined on an all-you-can-eat crab feast in the shadow of the crabbing boats as they unloaded their fresh catch nearby. True to form Songhwan and Miran peppered us with questions to learn as much as they could to learn and grow. Their humility marked our discussions.
Lois and I will never forget our time with Songhwan and Miran in Korea and the partnership that is forged by these visits. We are grateful for the Northeast Region and Covenant Fellowship who contributed to the cost of our flight and hotel.
Lord’s Grace Church has three pastoral interns working through the Sovereign Grace Ordination process. Shawn Woo from Trinity Cambridge Church is working to translate the exams for these men. So far all three have passed their Bible knowledge exam.
I was able to have an important meeting with the deacons and interns of the church who have served faithfully at Songhwan’s side. We discussed the changes that will take place as the interns pass their exams and are ordained, giving them a plurality of elders. We talked about the adjustment that will be for the deacons who may be less involved with certain decisions than before. The deacons were all quick to affirm the changes and demonstrated humility in offering their support and joy for the coming plurality.
The Spirit of God met us in the family seminar we held where I spoke on gospel hope for family trials. We all face trials as part of the faith maturing process the Lord takes us through. Still, we can fall prey to the lie that trials are bad and or the result of our failures as parents. The discussions and times of prayer after the sessions ministered to all. Folks were able to share honestly about the trials they are facing in their families and with their children.
Lord’s Grace Church is growing under Songhwan’s leadership. They have a goal of planting another church in the coming years and are saving money to cover the large deposit renting a facility will require. To rent a church space would need close to a $100,000 U.S. Dollar equivalent deposit.
In addition to saving for a future church plant Lord’s Grace Church was able to secure a loan to cover the deposit on a large expansion into the floor above them. The added floor provides needed classrooms for children and meetings and the large rooftop area provides a space for the church to meet for barbecues in the warmer weather.
We left our trip to South Korea encouraged for all the Lord is doing there and grateful for the friendship we have with Songhwan and Miran. Please pray for their elder candidates, and that the Lord will provide financially to save the funds needed to cover the deposit for rent for a future church plant.
An update from Norman Pedd, Lead Pastor of Iglesia Evangélica Gracia Soberana de Santander, a Church Plant & SGC Candidate Church in Santander, Spain…
Cantabria is a region in north-central Spain. Its main city is Santander. Santander itself isn't very well-known, but the bank founded there is, which is perhaps why it's more widely recognized. It is in this part of Spain that, by the grace of God, we are currently planting Iglesia Evangélica Gracia Soberana de Santander.
Two years ago, we began meetings in a garage in the town of Renedo de Piélagos, about 20 km from Santander. It was a good time during which we were able to form a small group, which now numbers almost 20 people. However, the owner of that garage didn't want to address some issues we needed to move forward, so we prayed that the Lord would open doors for us, and a door opened in Santander. We have now been holding meetings in this new location for a month. It's quite accessible, as the main bus and train lines pass nearby, and we are across the street from Cantabria's main hospital.
This is a new challenge for us as a church, and we are also seeing new people approach us, asking about the church.
Last Wednesday at the meeting, a man approached us saying that he had learned about the Gospel through a ministry that helped him when he was released from prison, but he hadn't attended church for years. When he passed by and saw the church's brochure in the building, he felt as if God had said to him, "Since you don't go to church, I brought one to you." It was encouraging to hear this, and we pray that it will be so, that we can bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to many more people in Santander. We know and hear of many people that claim themselves believers but don't belong to any local church. We pray the Lord uses us to be a reminder and a church that calls many back to the Lord.
This year we are preaching from the Gospel of Matthew, and we pray that the Holy Spirit will help us grow and mould us more to see and resemble Christ.
We are still finishing preparing the building, but we are taking it little by little as we are able, and we are very grateful to God for the door that has been opened to us. We are also finalizing the church registration with the government. We thank God that we are almost there; apparently, the hardest part is over, we just need a few more documents.
We are very grateful to Sovereign Grace Churches and the friendship we have with the churches in SGC Europe, to receive a message of other pastors and their churches telling us they are praying for us. It is so encouraging. And through the leadership of Ed O’Mara, we have been so blessed by the time and advice he has given us during this time. We know that God, in His Providence, brought about this friendship, and without it, we don't believe this church planting would have been possible.
Please pray for us if you can…
Pray that we may reach more people with the Gospel in this city.
Pray that we may complete the church paperwork.
Pray for growth and maturity in the church members.
Pray for financial provision for the church.
Pray that the Word of God may spread and be glorified.
Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
Our desire is to begin offering the Spanish "Bridge" courses this summer, starting on some Saturdays each month.
We also want to distribute leaflets with a Gospel message and invite more people from the surrounding area.
We hope to complete the pastoral ordination process for me this year.
…And we desire that God be glorified in every gathering.
An update from Ed O’Mara, Lead Pastor of Chiesa Grazia Sovrana di Torino, Italy and SGC Area Leader for Europe…
Ministry in Belarus comes with distinct challenges. The church operates under a highly restrictive and difficult governmental landscape. These oppressive conditions have isolated local churches, hindering their maturity and making interconnected fellowship tough to sustain. Yet, in the midst of these hardships, God’s grace is strikingly on display. The local Baptist Union has made some inroads in leadership training, and through this training network Kyle Huber (Lead Pastor of Greentree Church, Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey), began building gospel-bridges to Belarus years ago. I am so grateful to God for Kyle's years of labour and the relational equity he has built. Thanks to his faithful, long-term relational investment, Sovereign Grace is not entering as strangers, but as friends. Today, there is a growing group of local pastors who are interested in our shared values and family of churches and curious to explore future steps.
Kyle and I spent the majority of our time in the capital city of Minsk, with Valery and Irina Beza. Minsk bears the distinct marks of a cold and former Soviet imprint, yet Valery and Irina carry themselves with grace and humility that stands out as light in this city. Valery is a remarkably faithful pastor who has caught the vision of SGC culture, doctrine, and values. He desires to see our family of churches partner together with many Belarussian churches as he himself has benefitted from our growing relationship. Valery introduced us to many of the pastors with whom he relates in and around the area. We also spent time connecting with leaders at the Baptist Union Seminary to ensure we are building our efforts on a foundation of trust, clarity, and mutual respect in Belarus, which is a key step when working in a new country like Belarus.
From Minsk, we traveled to Brest, on the border with Poland in the west of Belarus. We joined the Sunday meeting of a local church pastored by Igor Kanyuchko. There we worshipped together, celebrated the installation of new leaders, and both Kyle and I had the privilege of preaching the Word. Over the days in Belarus, we met with around 25 different pastors and leaders to share the heart behind Sovereign Grace, extend care, and enjoy fellowship. Throughout this trip, we were witnesses to God at work among emerging leaders who desire to see gospel-centered, healthy churches in their country.
While we fully expect things to move slowly and deliberately, it is clear that Valery is a central leader and that he carries a high degree of respect among his peers. He has a clear alignment with SGC and, as we look to the future, we were able to put a plan in place for our next steps. Valery is currently bringing together a small group of interested pastors with whom we can work. I will begin meeting with these men regularly via Zoom as we study our Statement of Faith and Book of Church Order and evaluate theological and practical compatibility.
As we move through that process our hope is that some of these brothers will take the step toward formal candidate status and then move toward ordination and partnership. As such, Kyle will continue investing relationally and serving the local seminary through teaching, while I focus on guiding these pastors through the SGC candidacy and partnership process.
Being among these brothers and sisters reminded me of the privilege it is to serve in our family of churches and to invite others to consider joining in partnership for the sake of Christ. Please continue to pray for Sovereign Grace Europe, for Valery and Irina, and for the pastors of Belarus as they proclaim Christ crucified to the glory of the Lord!
An update from Jeffrey T. Jo, National Leader for SGC Philippines…
In our Sovereign Grace Churches ordination guide, it states that, “The ordination process for the churches of Sovereign Grace is intended to protect the integrity of our doctrinal commitments and values, to guard against being hasty in the laying on of hands (1 Tim 5:22), and to ensure that called and qualified men are filling our pulpits, leading our church plants, and pastoring our churches. All current elders in the churches of Sovereign Grace have a vested interest in the quality of our future elders. The theological maturity and biblical fidelity of our pastors is fundamental to the health of our union of churches.” (p2) This is the essential reason why it is necessary for men, who desire to be pastors/elders of a local church, to go through the process of ordination. The candidate’s doctrine, character and fitness in ministry will be grounded and refined in this ordination process.
God has been so kind to our churches here in the Philippines. He has raised up 19 men who will go through this ordination process. Eleven of these men are already pastors with their own local churches while the other eight have been elders of their local churches, serving alongside their lead pastors but with a heart also to plant churches of their own in the near future.
With this large number of men, I must confess that it’s an exciting year for us but it’s a challenging one as well. Exciting because they know the significance of the said process as they prepare to serve their local churches, or to be sent out as church planters. It is also exciting for us because God is allowing us to have a glimpse of His plan for Sovereign Grace Churches Philippines. On the other hand, it is also a challenging task to oversee these 19 men and to make sure they are encouraged and inspired to finish ‘the race’. In light of all these challenges, it is a non-negotiable task to make sure that they heartfully understand their reading assignments, their required papers and why they need to go through the four sets of exams, namely:
Bible knowledge exam
Theology part 1 exam
Theology part 2 exam
Oral exam
These men love the gospel, their families and their local churches and they know that they need to go through this communal process which will lead to the public confirmation of their ministry call by the church. To ensure this, we’ve assigned 3 ordained men to serve as ‘advisers’ for the 10 candidates from Mindanao, and another 3 for the 9 candidates from Luzon. The advisers will serve as encouragers and prayer partners of the candidates, moreover, they will also act as ‘translators’ of English language to their own native tongue. We thank the Lord as well for the supportive heart of Chris Oswald of SG USA and some ordained pastors from SG Australia who will serve with us in the ordination committee led by Dave Taylor. Indeed, this displays our extra-local church partnership in our family of churches.
I would like to ask you brothers and sisters to pray with us for our 19 candidates that, though most of them have local churches to oversee and families to care for, may depend on the grace of God to sustain them in this process. It’s been my hope to see SG pastors here in our region serve their churches with theological soundness, humility, integrity and accountability. I am confident that God is faithful to complete what He has begun in our region, to the praise of His glorious grace!
In a recent quarterly prayer update, Mark Prater writes,
‘The author of Hebrews reminds us of the access we have to God because of the finished work of our great high priest, Jesus Christ. He writes, "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16). Because of Jesus, we can actually enter the throne room of God when we pray. In his commentary, Matthew Harmon says this, "Prayer is one of God’s greatest gifts to His people. Who are we to enter the very throne room of the God of the universe? Yet because of the work of Christ we are able to do so.” Prayer is a gift from God because when we pray, we enter the very throne room of God because of Christ, and God leans in to hear our prayers.’
Friends, how incredible is that! As we pray, we are able to enter into the very throne room of God, who will hear and answer our requests according to His good will. What a wonder! So with that in mind, here’s some requests you could take in on our behalf over this next month…
Please pray for our current US Pastors College class, who will graduate on May 30th, asking God to give them grace for their transition back home, and to use their training to serve their church in any way that is needed.
Please pray for the 19 brothers in the Philippines who are beginning the 10 month ordination track this month. They represent the many candidate churches that have been pursuing Sovereign Grace for some time. Please pray for them and for all those in the Philippines, Australia and US involved in the SGC Adhoc Philippines Ordination Committee, serving in this important and strategic endeavour.
Please pray for Juan Solano, a Sovereign Grace ordained elder from San Jose, Costa Rica, and his family who were commissioned to Lebanon to reach Muslims with the gospel a year ago. Pray for their ongoing protection and safety during the military engagement in the Middle East. Pray also that Juanjo can plant a Sovereign Grace church sometime in the next few years and eventually equip and ordain Lebanese pastors to lead the church.
Please pray for Carlos Contreras, Sr. Pastor of Iglesia Gracia Soberana in Juárez, Mexico, and National Leader of SGC Mexico, and he leads the Mexico National Assembly of Elders meeting, May 11th-14th, in Guadalajara, Mexico asking God to empower his leadership, and to give the pastors in Mexico wisdom for the decisions they will make to serve the churches in their nation.
Please pray for Joel Shorey, our Director of Church Planting, as he heads to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to teach at the Trinity Fellowship Pastors College, 24th-31st May on Church Planting. Please pray this is a wonderful time for each of the nine PC students and that they’ll be encouraged and strengthened for the days ahead.
Please pray that wherever we find ourselves in the world, that God would give the members of Sovereign Grace Churches a renewed desire, and opportunities to share the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ with the unbelievers in our communities, colleges and workplaces.
Please pray that God would continue to provide financially for Sovereign Grace Churches so that we can continue to fund the gospel opportunities that He is giving us throughout the world. And also, for wisdom for the various Global Development Fund Committees that will begin to gather this month to discuss the many global opportunities in the financial year ahead.
… As we approach Him in these things, may His grace abound!
The NE Region of the United States recently gathered together as a region to run through the Antioch Project together and i went exceptionally well! Here’s a comment from Joel Shorey, our Director of Church Planting…
The US Northeast region had our National Church Planting Group in for their regional assembly in order to attend the Antioch Project together.
Many thanks to Ricky Alcantar and Mike Seaver for helping me lead through this. It was a WONDERFUL time of fellowship, of having their hearts stirred towards mission, and of praying for hours together to the Lord of the harvest.
They even had some friendly competition! (congrats to our Executive Director Mark Prater for taking home the trophy!)
if you’d like to hear more about this fantastic time together, then listen in as Ben Kreps interviews Mark and the Antioch Team on the Mark Prater Podcast. So good!!
An update from Joselo Mercado, Lead Pastor of Iglesia Gracia Soberana de Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA, and SGC Key Leader for our work in LATAM…
I recently had the joy of traveling to Colombia for several days of ministry, fellowship, and encouragement alongside dear brothers serving the Lord. This trip included time in Apartadó, Sincelejo, and Barranquilla, and it was deeply encouraging to witness what God is doing through local churches and church planting efforts in these regions. Throughout the trip, I was especially grateful to serve together with Jacobis Aldana, Ángel, and other pastors and leaders who are laboring faithfully for the advance of the gospel.
Our first stop was Apartadó, a growing city in the northwest corner of Colombia. Apartadó is especially significant because it serves as a gateway to the Darién Gap, a region known not only for its geographic importance but also for the many human needs that surround it. The city itself is growing, and with that growth comes many opportunities for gospel ministry. We spent a day there with Pastor Brayan, and it was a very meaningful time.
The church in Apartadó is about seven years old, and it is encouraging to see that it is growing steadily. Even in the short time we had there, it was evident that the Lord is building his church. One of the greatest blessings of that visit was being able to encourage Pastor Brayan personally. Pastoral ministry can often feel lonely, especially in younger churches or in places where leaders carry many burdens. It was a privilege to listen, to pray, and to strengthen his hands in the work.
In addition to spending time with Pastor Brayan, we were also able to meet with ten of his leaders. This was a particularly valuable time because our conversation centered on adoption and walking together. These discussions were important not only because of the practical implications for partnership, but because they reflected a shared desire for healthy church life, sound doctrine, and meaningful accountability. It was encouraging to see the seriousness with which these leaders are thinking about the future of the church and the possibility of deeper relationships within a broader family of churches. There was openness, humility, and a genuine desire to grow in wisdom and faithfulness.
From Apartadó, we traveled to Sincelejo, the capital city of Sucre. This part of the trip was also especially meaningful because Sincelejo is where Ángel planted the first Sovereign Grace Churches church in Colombia about two years ago. It was a joy to see firsthand what the Lord has been doing there in such a relatively short period of time. The church is growing, and there is a clear sense of excitement and gratitude among the people.
One of the most encouraging aspects of our time in Sincelejo was seeing how much the congregation was looking forward to Ángel’s ordination. There was real joy among the members, not merely because of the event itself, but because of what it represented: the Lord’s faithfulness over time, the maturing of a local church, and the public recognition of a man who has served and labored among them. Ordination services can sometimes feel formal or procedural, but in Sincelejo there was a warmth and anticipation that made it clear this was a moment of genuine thanksgiving to God.
On Wednesday, we held a workshop on crisis and the gospel. This was an especially important time because crisis often reveals what we truly believe and where we instinctively turn for hope. The workshop gave us opportunity to reflect on how the gospel not only saves sinners but also sustains believers in seasons of suffering, confusion, pressure, and weakness. We sought to show that the gospel is not merely the entry point into the Christian life; it is the foundation for endurance, wisdom, humility, and hope in the midst of crisis. The interaction was encouraging, and it was clear that this was a topic of real relevance to those present.
On Thursday, we spent time with Ángel, Jacobis, and also the two pastors from Barranquilla, Alejo and Rodolfo. That day included good conversation, mutual encouragement, and time to think together about ministry, pastoral faithfulness, and the needs of the churches. We also had lunch with leaders, which provided another opportunity to strengthen relationships and reflect on the work the Lord is doing in the region. Shared meals in these kinds of trips are often more significant than they may appear at first glance. Around the table, trust deepens, burdens are shared, and vision is reinforced.
Later that same day, we had the ordination service. It was a beautiful time and a reminder that ordination is not simply about recognizing giftedness, but about affirming character, doctrine, calling, and proven service. It is one of the ways the church publicly acknowledges the grace of God at work in a man’s life and ministry. The service was marked by joy, seriousness, and gratitude to the Lord.
On Friday, we traveled to Barranquilla, where Bob Wright and his son-in-law Tercer joined us. Their presence added to the sense of partnership and shared mission that marked the whole trip. In Barranquilla we had another wonderful ordination service, this time for Ángel and Rodolfo. It was deeply encouraging to witness these moments and to see local churches strengthened through the recognition of faithful men set apart for pastoral ministry.
The ordination service in Barranquilla was especially meaningful because it reflected both the local and broader dimensions of church life. On the one hand, these were men known and loved by the congregations they serve. On the other hand, the presence of pastors and leaders from different cities highlighted the blessing of walking together in shared doctrine, mutual support, and gospel partnership. That kind of unity is not automatic; it is something the Lord gives and something that must be cultivated carefully over time.
Looking back on the entire trip, I am deeply grateful. It was encouraging to see churches growing, pastors being strengthened, leaders asking good questions, and congregations rejoicing in the faithfulness of God. From Apartadó to Sincelejo to Barranquilla, the Lord gave us tangible reminders that he is at work in Colombia. He is raising up leaders, establishing churches, deepening partnerships, and giving his people joy in the gospel.
I was also reminded again that ministry trips like this are not only about events, workshops, or meetings. They are about encouraging men on the field, building trust, strengthening churches, and helping foster long-term faithfulness. Our day in Apartadó with Pastor Brayan and his leaders was important. Our time in Sincelejo with Ángel and the growing church there was important. The workshop on crisis and the gospel was important. The fellowship with Alejo, Rodolfo, Bob Wright, Tercer, and others was important. And certainly, the ordination services were important. But taken together, these moments tell a larger story: God is building his church, and it is a privilege to walk alongside brothers who are giving themselves to that work.
Please continue praying for Pastor Brayan in Apartadó, for Ángel and the church in Sincelejo, for Alejo and Rodolfo in Barranquilla, and for all the leaders involved. Pray that the Lord would keep these men humble, faithful, courageous, and full of love for Christ and his people. Pray also that the churches would continue to grow not only numerically, but in sound doctrine, holiness, unity, and mission. This trip left me thankful, strengthened, and hopeful for what the Lord will continue to do in Colombia.
An update from Mark Prater, Executive Director of Sovereign Grace Churches…
As Sovereign Grace Churches expands globally, we see the need to establish strategic centers throughout the world that provide theological training to equip men for pastoral ministry and that can serve as a mission base from which we send pastors to plant new churches. Over the past 6 years, God has used the leadership of Michael Granger, Sr. Pastor of Trinity Fellowship, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Josh Pannell, Dean of the Trinity Fellowship Pastors College to establish a strategic center for Sovereign Grace on the continent of Africa. Since 2022, the Trinity Fellowship Pastors College has equipped and graduated 21 men (11 in 2022, and 10 in 2024), ordained 4 pastors (1 from Kenya, 3 from Ethiopia), planted a church in Nairobi, Kenya, and started a third PC class (2026).
I had the privilege of being in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 23-April 2, 2026, to teach two courses to our 2026 Trinity Fellowship Pastors College class, one on pneumatology, and one on continuationism. The class has 9 men from 3 different nations; 1 from Pakistan, 3 from Kenya, and 5 from Ethiopia. Because these men come from different church backgrounds, some Pentecostal, some Orthodox (Ethiopian Coptic), some cessationist, they had good questions regarding our pneumatology and continuationist convictions.
After every teaching session, we had good, even lively discussion that helped them fortify their theological convictions in these two important areas. The men in this class not only asked good theological questions, but they also asked good methodological questions especially as it relates to the use of the spiritual gifts in the local church. They wanted to know how the gifts could be used in a way that honors Scripture, serves the church, and brings glory to Christ. Their questions were answered, and again their convictions were solidified not only by our discussion, but through a time of ministry for them.
Four members of my church, Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, PA, joined me in Addis Ababa the weekend after I taught pneumatology, and before I taught continuationism giving us an opportunity to pray for each of the men in the class. They were not only encouraged, but they saw how the gifts can be used to serve others and glorify God. In other words, they saw our theological convictions put into practice in a way that removed skepticism, answered their questions, and built their faith. One of the married PC students told me that his wife was reluctant to come to the ministry time on Saturday because of some bad experiences from her Pentecostal past. As we prayed for this couple, she was in tears and later told her husband that she was not only encouraged, but she also wants to pursue her gifts to serve the church.
After spending two weeks with these 9 students, I found it hard to leave. I told them I would miss them, and I still do because I grew to appreciate and love these men for many reasons. They are sincere, godly men who want to be theologically and pastorally equipped to serve Christ and His church. They are also all younger men (everybody is younger than me these days!), and therefore, represent the future for Sovereign Grace in East Africa and beyond. After being with Michael Granger, Josh Pannell, recently ordained Ethiopian pastors (Amanuel Yehuwalashet and Yeabtsega Hailie), and the 9 Pastors College students, I flew home with great hope for our future because of the godly men who are devoted to advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ on the continent of Africa for the glory of God alone.
An update from Ed O’Mara, Lead Pastor of Chiesa Grazia Sovrana di Torino, Italy and SGC Area Leader for Europe…
Acts 28:12 says “Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days.” It seems like a fairly minor contribution in Paul’s journey from Malta to Rome. Church tradition tells us that during the three days in which Paul was in Siracusa, he preached the gospel in a catacomb under what is now Saint John’s Church. These are not merely historical tidbits. The preaching of the gospel formed and strengthened the Christian community in this once-pagan part of Sicily. In Sovereign Grace, our heartbeat is to seek churches formed and strengthened through the apostolic preaching of the cross and to do so in every nation and city to which the Lord directs us.
In light of this, it was a particular blessing for the SG European Pastors to gather in Sicily, where Paul once laid foundations on which we continue to build as elders in Sovereign Grace. Though the SG European Area is nascent and forming, the Lord is doing good things among us. Our annual retreat occurred from 17-21 March and 17 men joined together in Viagrande, Sicily (about 80 km north of Siracusa) to study eldership and partnership. Pastors and pastoral candidates came from Ireland, Wales, England, Spain, Italy, and Belarus. We were hosted by Grazia e Verità, which is an SG candidate church led by Giuseppe Fortuna. Dave Taylor, our friend and SGC Director of Global Strategy & Development, joined us to lead much of the teaching.
We are deeply grateful that God is solidifying our commitment to SG partnership and because of the high value we place on pastoral ministry, we decided to focus our time on the nuts and bolts of our ecclesiastical union. We focused on the role and office of elders, the importance of plurality and team ministry, the commission to raise future elders, and the shape of our partnership. Through the teachings and subsequent discussions, we were sharpened and encouraged, and those exploring next steps toward SG partnership were helped to understand how we function together as a family of churches.
Of course, no visit to Sicily would be complete without experiencing Sicilian hospitality, which means Sicilian food! We were very well fed and in fact one of the highlights was joining together with Grazia e Verità for an evening service. The ladies of the church provided a full-spread of local specialties. The real blessing, though, was that the local church members and our SG Europe pastors were able to get to know each other. In moments like these we see that partnership is not mere association, but a relational reality! It is good to be part of a family like ours!
Similarly, we made sure to have time to relate together as pastors, both over meals and breaks and through exploring various places of local importance. We had the opportunity to take a drive up Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano. We also visited the city of Siracusa where we toured the catacomb in which Paul preached the gospel, saw the port in which his ship docked, and visited other ancient Siracusan sites. This was topped with a seemingly-unending Sicilian meal and lots of great conversations and fellowship. Again, as wonderful as it was to have the opportunity to visit these locations and eat great food, being together and strengthening our relationships and our partnership was the real highlight and value of the retreat!
Moving forward, we are seeking to continue to grow the SG Europe Area into an identifiable group who are committed to working together in meaningful partnership. We are continuing to work with churches interested in joining SG in Europe, and we are regularly meeting through zoom calls to strengthen one another in the pastoral task and in our partnership. This will be an ongoing work, but it is well worth it because partnership matters and is valuable. As we identify, strengthen, and form elders who are committed to preaching the gospel and building churches and partnership on that preaching, we are confident that the Lord will use these few days in Sicily to contribute to the testimony of His glory in Europe.
C.H. Spurgeon writes,
‘For we must steadfastly set our faces, if by any means we may save some, resolving that whatever happens, we will leave no stone unturned to effect the salvation of those around us.’
That’s our eager desire in Sovereign Grace Churches, to ‘leave no stone unturned to effect the salvation of those around us’, and that’s the very reason that we seek to plant and strengthen churches.
This video highlights the efforts of one of our local churches, Cross of Grace Church in Santa Ana, CA. As a city with one of the largest Hispanic populations in the U.S., mission is inherently cross-cultural. In this video, you will hear stories of how God is working through the bold efforts of one small local church, for which we give thanks.
May this be one of many missional effort stories, as we seek to leave ‘no stone unturned’.
Psalm 121.1-2 says, ‘I lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.'
As we pray, that’s who's listening and that’s who we get to come to! The LORD, the maker of heaven and earth. The One who was and is and is to come, who will not let our foot be moved, who is our shade at our right hand, and who neither slumbers nor sleeps. The LORD is the One who will help us and so as we pray, what a privilege and what an opportunity this really is!!
So, with that in mind, here are some ways that you can be praying for all things Global Missions in the month ahead…
Please pray that wherever we find ourselves in this big world, that God would give the members of Sovereign Grace Churches a renewed desire, and opportunities to share the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ with the unbelievers in our communities, colleges and workplaces. With Easter this weekend, may we seize this moment in our nations and neighbourhoods to make much of Jesus.
Please pray for the many Bridge Courses that will be starting after Easter. Such wonderful opportunities for people to explore faith in Christ. Please pray that many would be invited, many would come, and many would come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
Please pray for the 14 brothers in the Philippines who are beginning the 12 month ordination track. It’s so important that we strengthen the work there in this way, and with so many brothers having either been through the Philippines Pastors Institute or had in-house training in Manila, this is an exciting development for them. Please pray that grace would abound as they work through this season as a cohort.
Please pray for the Antioch Retreat, April 24-25th, for the US NE Region. Please pray that the Lord would use it to give pastoral teams a common vision and unity in the area of mission, and that He’d use it to build up and encourage any pastors or teams that feel weary or weak in this area of mission. This will be the biggest group yet for the Antioch Team, and so please pray it’s a wonderful time for everyone involved.
Please continue to pray for our SGC Commissioned Pastor in Lebanon, Juan Solano, and his family. Since the war broke out things have escalated a great deal in Beirut, with evacuation orders in place. Juan and his family are safe, but let’s please be praying for them, for favour as they seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those around them, and for wisdom as to what to do next in the days ahead.
… Thank you so much for praying. May His grace abound to us all!
An update from Jeffrey Jo, Lead Pastor of CCSGM in Manila, and National Leader for SGC Philippines…
"For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God". 1 Thessalonians 1:9
It was more than 15 years ago when the Lord opened the door for us to reach the Manobo tribe on the mountain of Cabangahan, Surigao del Su, Mindanao, Philippines. I can still remember hiking for 7 hours, and crossing through a river. With jungle bolos in our hands, we paved the way in the forest for an easier path to reach this warrior tribe. In a very miraculous way, the tribe welcomed us and welcomed the gospel of Christ that we preached to them. We stayed with them for the next 5 days, patiently teaching them how the resurrected Christ broke the walls of hostility.
“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.” Ephesians 2:14-16.
Such message of love, justice, mercy and reconciliation with God through the finished work of Christ brought peace among the warring tribes in their region.
After a year of monthly visits, we were able to raise up a pastor, Rolando Agyang, and some men who served as elders in the first local church in their tribal community. But as we trained them to do works of the ministry, we were also planting churches among the Manobo tribes in the other mountains, in places like Pantukan, Gacub and Nangka. As our “base church”, we also planted a church in Gamuton, in a downtown area in Carascal, Surigao del Sur, whom the late Oscar Tagyam stood as the lead pastor. He himself was a former Manobo tribal leader in that region.
Rolando Agyang passed away in March 26, 2023 but the work of the Lord continues. God has been so kind to call to ministry one of Rolando’s sons, Lewes. Lewes was a maritime engineer with big dreams for his future, and yet when he heeded God’s call on his life, he gave up his dream and pursued serving the Lord and His church. Lewes is one of the PPI (Philippine Pastors Institute) graduates of our Foundational Theology course, and he is presently one of the PPI students in our Pastoral Theology course.
Today, the church is growing through the kindness of God in Lewes’ leadership. He is now raising 3 more elders as he pursues exercising plurality of leadership, which is one SGC’s seven-shared values. Lewes is also one of 14 candidates who will go through SGC’s ordination process this year.
Every time I think and pray for them, I cannot hold back my joy for God’s kindness and mercy towards them. Formerly these people worshipped stones, trees and stars but now they worship the Creator, the One and only true God as they continue to grow in the faithful teaching of God’s word.
The apostle John saw these things taking place and penned it this way:
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Revelation 7:9-12
May we all say “Amen” as we consider all that the Lord has done.
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