CHRISTIAN STUDENTS’ DISCIPLESHIP PROGRAM

ETHIOPIA

African Enterprise is passionately pursuing the objective of preparing the heart of the next generation for the Lord and building “Tomorrow’s Church”.

The churches in Ethiopia bring the gospel to many children through big evangelistic efforts. Yet, as in the physical world many are not properly taken care of (not discipled). AEE is determined to stand in the gap.

The nationwide biblical training program that started in 2003 has two major components: discipleship and leadership development. The program’s key goal is to reach out to and disciple all Christian students in each city throughout Ethiopia over a duration of five years.

The discipleship program is done in partnership with the church. The students are taught in classes (on church premises) with the aid of well written text books. It is an age graded, curriculum based and well structured biblical discipleship and spiritual empowerment program. The courses range from understanding basic Christianity to evangelism, Christian ethics and
transformational servant leadership. It primarily focuses on the next-generation, Christian students of grade 5 and upwards to high school and university. The training is conducted by pastors and ministers in each locality.

In 2008 alone some 13,780 students were discipled in 188 cities. The testimony of church leaders and students affirm the biblical soundness of the program. A female high school student said, “I never thought of abortion as unbiblical. I have watched many films where it happens and considered it a proper and modern way of living. But now I have learnt through the discipleship program that abortion is not God honouring”.

LILONGWE, MALAWI

Poverty in Malawi is widespread, deep and severe. Educational and health services are few and of low standard, unemployment is high and the infrastructure is very inadequate.

Due to extreme poverty in the rural areas, many are forced to migrate to the capital, Lilongwe. In the capital, prostitutes, single mothers and widows are assessed as among the most vulnerable. On observing the predicament of many of the women in her country, Rachel Lungu (pictured right), the wife of African Enterprise’s International Team Leader, was filled with compassion and reflected on how she could help them. In 2006 she secured some funds from Christian donors and opened a tailoring school for street women in the garage of her private residence. This was expanded in 2007 when funds became available from AE Australia to train 30 women in tailoring each year which enables them to generate income and become self-reliant.

The training program, which commences the day with bible study, includes tuition on how to design, cut and sew both children’s and ladies clothing. AE Malawi provides free use of sewing machines and materials. The finished items are then sold, and the profits are utilised for materials and equipment.

The course, which takes a year to complete, has catered for 60 women to date. Many of them have subsequently started their own small dress making businesses. Nearly all of the trainees have testified that, as a consequence of the bible studies, their relationship with God has grown.

MICHAEL CASSIDY RECEIVES

PEACEMAKER AWARD

African Enterprise Founder, Michael Cassidy, received the Peacemaker Award from Christians for Peace in Africa (CPA), an organisation dedicated to promoting the biblical values of peace, reconciliation and hope across the continent. Pastor Thomas-René Kitutu (pictured with Michael), CPA Founder and CEO, presented the award to Michael at the AE Centre in Pietermaritzburg on 26th March, 2009. He said that Michael’s peace-making efforts both here in South Africa and across the wider continent, were very much appreciated and had borne much fruit, particularly in his home country of the DRC. He said that CPA wanted to bestow the award on Michael in recognition and appreciation of his faithful stewardship and commitment to see Africa transformed by the message of the Gospel and the power of the ultimate Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.

In accepting the award, Michael paid tribute to the African Enterprise team which hasworked alongside him to promote peace and bring reconciliation in many countriesand conflict situations across Africa.

OVERFLOWING WITH

GOD'S BLESSINGS!  

  a word of encouragement from Stephen Lungu

 Dear beloved in the Lord,

Once again I would like to share with you heart to heart. I have always wondered why God blessed Abraham with such great blessings in Genesis 12. The simple answer is that Abraham found favour in the eyes of God.

We know of course that God’s favour is a result of His abundant grace to those who do not deserve it. This is not always easy to understand, but we are so thankful that through God’s goodness and wisdom we too can experience His favour as His children. We also know that when God favours us, the blessings flow through us to others.

This is clearly illustrated when God blesses Abraham. The blessings God showered on Abraham were not to remain on him only, but these blessings were to be given or extended to others. “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:2)

God’s promise to bless Abraham in this way amazes me. God is not stingy with His blessing, only reserving it for one individual. He extends it to generations to come. Abraham, when he was called by God, obeyed God, trusting that what God said was true. Abraham was called by God to leave his country and Lot his nephew followed him. All the blessings that were
showered upon Abraham overflowed to Lot. As long as Lot remained with Abraham, there was protection and blessings from God.

We know that God doesn’t need to give us promises like He gave to Abraham to make us a blessing to others. There are a few examples in the Bible of people who were a great blessing to others even though they had very little. A widow blessed the prophet Elijah with the little she had and was in return blessed double by the Lord. It was not easy for her to bless Elijah, but she trusted that sharing with this man of God was more important than her own needs.

Much later, Jesus was approached by his disciples who brought a little boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish. They wanted to know how Jesus was going to feed so many people (John 6:9). What looked like a small gift in the hands of a little boy actually blessed five thousand people.

African Enterprise has been blessed by many wonderful people like you who prayed faithfully and gave sacrificially to this great ministry for the salvation of many souls. You really do not know how grateful we are in AE ministry for having you extend your blessings, whether you think they are big or small, to AE. A blessing is a blessing when it is given from the heart and with the love of Jesus. Thank you a million times for standing with us in this world economic
recession.

Be assured your gifts are not in vain.

Stephen Lungu

International Team Leader