Dear Family & Friends:                                                                Sept. 19, 2011
 

After such an exciting end to the Cape Town conference Janice and I did not expect our third one to reach such a level, but God far exceeded our minds to foresee a huge blessing of a different manner. Six nations were to be in attendance, but many of the pastors were late due to bus breakdowns, visa delays, and a minor wreck. Two of the pastors didn't even arrive until the conference was over. Our first lady Crio pastor was robbed at the Zimbabwe border while the other ran into visa issues. Janice and I had to change our hotel after two nights as they didn't take credit cards, had no shower and were at the end of a very bumpy road at the edge of town. The conference venue was a recently planted church in Lusaka which is right in the middle of a slum area they call a "shanty compound". The electrical power was intermittent and affected the use of the PA system. I was getting to be very frustrated when Janice reminded me we had left modern South Africa and were back in the "real Africa!"

 

So the conference didn't really get going until the middle of the second day and then it really took off with 40 pastors present. Janice led a ladies' session each afternoon and on the final night of the meetings she had 88 children! Wed. evening I shared my "Eyes of Jesus" message and a strong spiritual tone began to develop. Then Thurs. Am two Crio native pastors delivered exciting and inspirational messages (Africans are very good preachers!). I then did the final two sessions on our discipleship/missional strategy and teachings. At three PM we had an ordination service for 14 pastors who had previously graduated from Crio Bible Colleges over the past year confirming our vision of training up native pastors to plant churches is bearing fruit.

 

That evening evangelist Kenneth Magwinzi, who is like an "Oral Roberts" of Africa, preached a rousing faith-building message. He has a 2,000 seat tent and travels from town to town holding crusades with many miracles manifesting. Crio bought him a large truck three years ago to transport the tent, and this year helped to purchase a van for his team. One of the local church member's husband was saved and delivered of an alcohol habit, which pleased Janice as they had just prayed for him earlier in their ladies' meeting. After visiting with several pastors we made it back to the hotel at 10PM after 12 straight hours of meetings!!

 

On Fri. morning we traveled outside of the metro area to visit a village church which was very exciting and a fitting end to our two weeks in Africa. This church is manifesting many signs of revival as they have been meeting in their tent daily for over three years now. Then one Fri. a month they unite with their two branch churches and have an all night prayer meeting with 1-2,000 in attendance. This group was very responsive to my message on Philemon and how true discipleship saved the life of Paul's helper, Onesimus. We then prayed individually for all 125 present.

 

On the way back to the hotel we stopped at a small game park and saw many animals to photograph. There was a nearby botanical park as well and we enjoyed seeing it too. We spent the evening visiting again with more of our lead pastors before beginning to pack for an early morning flight home.

Thank you all so much for your prayers and support of our ministry. This trip took us to new levels of understanding it is just as important to "be" the church by going into the community regularly as to "have" church. As an example we have committed to start a K-3 Christian school in the church building to serve the community as a witness to Him. We continue to add pastors, but we are applying the same leadership materials we teach on to maintain our growth without confusion.

 

Through His matchless Word, Ron and Janice

 

P.S.: There are 8 million orphans in Africa mainly due to the AIDS crisis, and many of them go to bed hungry and are not in school. Jer. 5:28 compels us to share with you this need. Crio cares for 300 orphans on a daily basis now, but we still have many on waiting lists. For only $30/mo. you can provide funds for school and food and we can provide you a face, a name and an email address that will result in a "spiritual adoption" of one (or more) of His kids into your family. We have learned that we can't meet every need in Africa, but if every American Christian would skip a lunch once a week this is possible to do this for no extra cost and lives would be changed and God's heart would be pleased. Let us know if you would be interested in helping us to alleviate this crisis.
 

 

Leadership Conferences

2011 Crio Conference in Zambia