2024 Q3 Report

The quarter, 1,656 Disciple-Making trainings were held with 20,631 participants. 1,096 new house fellowships (churches) were started and 3,012 new believers were baptized. The Jesus Film was shown 117 times in different locations to over 2,800 people. The Mobile Medical Camps served 6,092 patients and 10 new schools were started. Work is underway to expand their reach to serving 2,000 brick kilns in the next 12 months.

“My name is Ajmal, and I come from a Hindu family. Two years ago, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Since then, my journey has been filled with challenges. My family initially rejected my faith, but by God’s grace, I remained firm. A year ago, God performed a miracle, and my entire family accepted Jesus as their Savior. Recently, my brother passed away. Traditionally, we would have cremated him according to Hindu customs, but as Christians, we chose to bury him. This was the first time someone was buried in our Hindu community. This decision caused anger and resentment from our extended family and community. Already upset with us for converting to Christianity, this burial deepened their hostility, and as a result, we were expelled from the community. Though we are now isolated and rejected by those around us, we are strong in our faith and trust in God’s plan. We believe He will work in their hearts just as He did in ours. I ask for your prayers for strength, courage, and that God’s love may soften the hearts of those who oppose us.” —Ajmal

Due to severe flooding, construction was limited and work has shifted to promoting hygiene and sanitation training in communities that can be accessed. Last quarter, 4,292 people received training in safe sanitation with 131 families constructing their own household toilet. 1,057 students received training through health and hygiene promotions at schools. Additionally, 23 pastors and local evangelists actively served alongside the WASH activities last quarter.

Intense flooding has affected the most vulnerable populations all across the Sahel region. In Chad, many have lost livelihoods, homes, and even loved ones. It is not uncommon to hear of homes collapsing and wiping out entire families. Dourbali was hit hard this year, but it gave our local partners the opportunity to show the love of Jesus in a new tangible way. Thanks to generous donors, Neverthirst was able to donate some emergency supplies to help those who had lost everything. As almost no other organizations were helping in the area, it attracted a lot of attention, and it was even on national news. We are thankful for this opportunity to show love in a difficult time.

This quarter, Seed Effect staff started 127 new savings groups and continued to serve existing members across 8 branches in northern Uganda. As of September 2024, 86% of the annual target for number of members was achieved. Additionally, Seed Effect conducted trainings in Plan for a Better Business and Agriculture. Additionally, they are exploring the Introduction of Kobo-collect tools to collect and analyze baseline data for both conventional and conservation agriculture. This tool shall improve data quality and ease the data analysis process for quality reporting and decision-making.

The Lacwec Miyo Seed Effect Group is in its second cycle and has saved a total of 13 million UGX ($3500) this year. They planted a 2-acre group garden with soybeans, and they bought one goat for each member. The group has dreams to rear chickens together and to ensure they can provide support to individual members for all their household to grow. They said, “No NGO has done what Seed Effect has done in our lives. Glory to God!”

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Last quarter, Water for Good completed 16 new waterpoints and began drilling on 10 more, expanding the reach of their nationwide water utility system. Additionally, their teams conducted 1,272 maintenance visits, ensuring safe and reliable water for thousands of people. This progress is encouraging, but they remain focused on their goal to provide 75% of Region 2’s population—that’s 670,000 people—with safe water by 2027. So far, they have increased access to safe water from 10% to 38.1% in four years.

Luisiana Gbanzani, a 13-year-old girl from Berberati, was born with a physical disability affecting her back. She faces many challenges, but one of the biggest was the long, exhausting trips to collect unsafe water from the Diffolo spring. Her spinal condition made it particularly painful and difficult to carry heavy containers of water. As a result, she often missed school and fell behind in her studies.

When Water for Good installed a new waterpoint near her home, Luisiana’s life transformed. Now, she has easy access to safe water, saving her time, energy and protecting her from unnecessary pain. This has allowed her to focus on her education and has improved her school performance. “My school results have improved, and I’m scoring better marks than ever before,” Luisiana says. With improved health and a renewed focus on her studies, she’s excited to see what the future brings.

This quarter, New Generation's national partner conducted catalyst trainings for 90 new catalysts. Coaching Trips were conducted monthly in most states of NW and NE regions including four Business for Movements trainings. The Ending Scripture Poverty project advanced to now having translations among 52 languages, with all 52 having completed at least the first story set of 25 passages, 36 completing the 2nd scripture set and 34 having finished the third.

Four months ago, while prayer walking and shepherding his goats, Mohan passed by Meer village and met Shamsher. During their chat, he shared how Jesus had changed his life. Shamsher wanted to know more and invited Mohan to his home. Mohan began visiting weekly to tell God’s stories. A discovery group started with Mohan sharing and praying with the fellowship. Last month, three people in the group were baptized and a home church started. It has been encouraging to Mohan and his team to witness 70 home churches start in the last three and half years.

Similarly, PN was prayer walking in one northern state. He met with a group of construction workers and engaged them in casual conversations. He found, like his own situation before meeting Jesus, they were economically weak and facing many problems. PN shared how Jesus answered his prayers and how he became a disciple of Jesus. The workers gladly asked PN to visit their homes, share about Jesus and pray for them. As PN told the full gospel story, they experienced peace in their hearts and will soon start a new house church.

This quarter, TEA held 18 trainings with 360 church planting coordinators across four countries on disciple making and church planting methods. By equipping coordinators with essential theological and income generation training, they shift the perspective of ministry from dependence to independence. As a result, they had 2,578 people come to faith and 335 new churches be planted in previously unreached communities. They request your prayers for boldness and perseverance, as well as peace in Bangladesh.

After facing personal family issues, Mr. Sanat (above) was introduced to the Gospel by some of the coordinators being trained by TEA. After embracing a new life in Christ and being discipled by these coordinators, Sanat and his wife now host a thriving church in their house where he equips others to lead Bible studies in their own homes with their own neighbors.