It's Pioneer Time in Harar!

Ethiopia, Wednesday September 2nd 2009

It is September in Harar, Ethiopia. The streets look like they usually do, the weather is the same, but there is excitement in the air, there is something special going on. Both the disciples and the team are full of expectation. There is something exciting going to happen. It is another big step in the history of Harar Church of Joy. It is of Jesus, it is a pioneer project, it's new and it's happening now. In a little more than a week the first class of Harar Church of Joy Discipleship Training School will start! A school with a vision to train disciples in the Word of God, prayer, street evangelizing etc and to help them into what God has called them to do. One person that is looking very much forward to this is our own pastor and dean for the Discipleship Training School, Samuel Strandberg. This is something he has been carrying in his heart for a very long time.

Samuel says:
-I really believe in this Discipleship Training School! It feels like I will explode if we don't start soon. This school is something that is very close to God's heart. We can read in the Bible about how Jesus took care of His disciples, taught them, shared life with them and challenged them. That is exactly what He has called us to do. I am dreaming about one day seeing those that will go to this school, pass us as better evangelists, church planters and discipleship trainers, that is our goal.

The Discipleship Training School is starting now in the beginning of September and graduates in the middle of December. This first class will have 12 students, from newly saved to those saved 1 year ago or more. They are construction workers, teachers, couples with small children, guards, young and old. A group of regular people, ready to give all their life to Jesus and with a desire to come out and learn how to share their faith and be a part of seeing the Horn of Africa changed.

-We will pray a lot together. Make the students understand the importance of prayer and the closeness with Jesus that is so important. Without prayer we cannot grow as Jesus disciples. To become strong we need to pray and live in the word of God. Mission and evangelization is obviously something that will also appear often on the schedule. Practicing how to share their teastimony, how to pray a salvation prayer with someone, baptize, pray with people to healing. When the students graduate in 3 months, I think we will have a group of disciples that are stronger and more full of faith, ready to take more responsibility in Harar Church of Joy and in their turn start to practice out in the streets. It's all about multiplication, to give what we have received.

The excitement and expectation is total. Is there anything more beautiful than to see people give themselves to Jesus, dreaming of being a part of building the kingdom of God? As missionaries we can do nothing but enjoy and through tears of joy see how God is restoring a people group that in the eyes of the world is without hope. But the last word has not been said, we are seeing the start of a changed Harar. God has a plan for the Oromo, Afar, Somali, Adheri and all the other people groups on the Horn of Africa!

For the sake of the unreached!

Maja Larsson
Mission SOS
Horn of Africa