Dear Friends
Thank you for your prayerful support of the work of Langham Preaching around the world. There is so much for which to be thankful as God does his work among us and through us. Here is one example from Femi Adeleye , our Director for Africa, based in Accra, Ghana.
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Gal 3:27-29)
The world we live in often uses difference as a tool of division and conflicts. A couple of weeks ago I was asked to preach on the Church as the body of Christ, with a focus on the unity and diversity of the body. As I reflected on difference and diversity in terms of nationality, race, or ethnicity—and various other identities that have been made one in Christ—I couldn’t help but think of how God turns all of these into blessings for greater purposes. This continues to be part of the ethos of our preaching movements across the world. One of the blessings of being part of the body of Christ is the interdependence and mutual support for one another. As 1 Cor 12:26 puts it, ‘if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.’
As we serve with people saved by grace under the Lordship of Christ, our preaching movements consist of people from diverse ethnicities and races, diverse denominational backgrounds and church traditions, diverse generations and languages in diverse geographical contexts—and with men and women involved as both participants and facilitators. As we serve, our prayer is that the Langham ministry will continue to have an influence in strengthening the unity of the body of Christ in various contexts of the world.
Please pray for the work in various places around the world…
Egypt: Give thanks for the foundation that was laid during the COVID years. They are now in a rhythm of two training weeks each year, together with a number of active preaching clubs. Earlier in July, there were 28 participants in a Level One seminar, together with 41 in a Level Three. The key facilitators are Youssef Samir (regional coordinator, MENA region) and Jan Emil, with Maggy Samir coordinating the administrative team. As Maggy writes, ‘We are thankful to our Lord for this opportunity to serve all the participants in this learning journey. We can see God’s presence and guidance in everything.’ Pray also for the plans, beginning to emerge, for spreading the work more widely across the MENA region.
Philippines: A Level Two seminar, with 45 participants expected, is planned for this week in Mindanao—with Johan Sinday, Bong Gumanit, Iljo de Keijzer, Rene Futalan and Phil Nicholson as the facilitators. Iljo asks us to pray that the coaching of new facilitators will be effective.
Kenya: Also happening through the week is a Level Two seminar in Katani. They are expecting 20 participants, with Nduhiu Nyoike and Ignatius Maimbu as the facilitators. We are asked to pray for God’s presence to be among them, as they live and learn together.
Fiji: A Level One seminar is happening this week for 40 students at the South Pacific Bible College—with a Level Two in the following week. Students come to this college from across the South Pacific, so it is a strategic community—with its principal, Seru Rokosawa, a faithful supporter of the Langham work. Please keep the facilitating team in your prayers during this busy time: Peter Shultz, Taniela Qeleni, Etuate Vakarorogo, Chris Krishna, Ateca Rabukawaqa and Tukana Nakesu.
Thank-you for your faithfulness in this ministry of prayer.
The Langham Preaching Team