Samuel, what is happening?

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Ethiopia, Tuesday December 30th 2008

Samuel and Jamal

Samuel, base leader on the Horn of Africa, can you tell us what is
happening at the base right now?

-It is a very exciting time at the base right now. We have just moved into a new team house, and with that there has been a lot of practical work. It is a great house and I think we will like it here. Because of this move we lost our church assembly hall, so we are praying to God for a new permanent church in a good area where we can reach lots of people and people groups. The coming meetings will be held in our living room at the team house; it will be very crowded but also a lot of fun when 30 people try to squeeze in there. We have also come to a point where we are training a lot of disciples, 26 people have been baptized and we are teaching and praying with them. During the weeks we also meet people in the 4 house churches we have with our new believers.

What does the near future look like?

-The near future will be a lot about putting the new missionaries, coming in January, into the work.
The search for a new church building will continue. We are also looking at the possibilities to register an organization down here, so that we can work wider and get more openings in the city for the gospel!
This spring we will also work effectively with outreaches, street evangelization at strategic places in the city, so that as many people as possible will get to hear the message of Jesus.

"Harar Church of Joy" is the name of the church; why?

-Isn't this a great name? God spoke to us that we would come with joy to this city. There is so much darkness and depression and we know that God is mighty to break this.
Just as Philip preached when he came to a city in Samaria that we can read in Acts 8, we want to preach. He was preaching Jesus to the people, signs and wonders happened and people where saved.
I am convinced that we can and will do the same thing in Harar that he did in Samaria! We are preaching Christ and joy will break out! We have already seen many examples of how people have received this joy from heaven.
A couple of weeks ago at a meeting we call "Miracle Night", we were praying for a man who had just been saved, that he would receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. I could see that he was trying to hold something in. After the meeting he took me aside and asked if you could get very happy when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.
He was worried the he would disturb my sermon if he would have laughed like he felt like doing. I showed him in the Bible that one of the things the Holy Spirit gives is joy!

What needs do you have at the base now, is there anything our friends in Sweden and other areas of the world can help you with and pray for?

-They can absolutely help us and pray for us, their prayers are carrying our work.
Help us to pray for strong and devoted disciples. A part of our vision is to start a pioneer bible school. We want to pray with Oromo, Somali and Adheri people to salvation this spring and the start up a bible school with these people. I dream of daily meeting a wild hungry pioneer class that you can pray with and train to be missionaries.
Pray also that we will get a good car to the work here on "the horn". We have been in Harar for five months and we already see the need of a good car. We want to be able to bring people to the meetings, transport sound equipment and visit disciples, and in the long run be able to have house churches in other cities nearby.

Finally, is there anything that you want to say to the people reading this?

-God bless you and I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
If you are close to Harar give us a call, we love having guests.

Mission SOS
Horn of Africa