Mission Reports

Sign Up
Login

Login
Catch the Fire Network
You can log into all our sites with the same details, we'll keep your profile and history secure, we promise.

User Name:
Password:

Remember Login
Register
Forgot Password ?
Give
Contact Us
Our Network ↓

Missions

Ghana and Ethiopia 2009

Thank you to all of you who are World Changer Partners and/or who helped provide the finances for our Ghana and Ethiopia missions trips! We had two fabulous events back to back in mid October. In both nations we did the one week International Leaders School of Ministry (ILSOM)

The first event was in Ghana was attended by about 500 pastors and leaders in the day sessions and up to 1000 in the evenings. Instead of doing a 5-day school, we were able to cover the topics in 4 days by adding evening sessions. There were 20 of us on the team, most from Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship, a couple from British Columbia, Canada and the rest from the UK. Several of our team have also written reports which you can also see; but the overall feeling was that we had an absolutely great time!

Our team got along famously and other than most folks knowing John Arnott and myself, many had not met each other before. Our hotel was brand new and other than meals taking a couple hours to arrive, our stay was great. The venue and staff of the host church were amazing. The host church has a new 1500 seat auditorium with lots of windows that allowed a breeze to flow through the building. Good thing as it was hot! The host pastor, Dr Anthony Cudjoe, had been to Toronto so he set the tone for the other pastors to receive. He was one of the first up for ministry at each session.

Our team had a day to relax on each side of the school. On the first day in Ghana, most went to a nearby resort where they spent time on the beach and saw a giant sea turtle. The last day was spent north of Accra at a beautiful lake where the team got to act like tourists.

The impact in churches was immediate. One pastor who looked down upon the manifestations preached at his church following the school and when he prayed for people, they did the very things he had judged. Funny how that happens! On day 2 of the school one pastor shared with a team member how he had not hugged his wife nor said he loved her in 20 years. He was prayed for and when he got home that night, his wife hugged him. They reconciled and she came with him the next day!

I had the privilege of leaving the team to head home while I flew to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A smaller team of 8 arrived on the Saturday and Sunday and we had an outstanding 5 day school with about 250 pastors. Many of the pastors spent up to 3 days traveling on busses to attend the school. The out of town pastors stayed in dorms that our missions offering covered. About 125 of them drove, walked or bused in each day from Addis Ababa.

Ghana’s school was amazing, but in my mind the Ethiopia school went even further. Almost all of the 250 who came to this school were senior leaders in their churches, cities, etc. We had the cream of the crop attend and for Ethiopia this was a miracle as there is a lot of political stuff that inhibits unity of the church. Our host committee of 7 men and women went out on a big limb to facilitate this school, even to the point that some of them almost lost their accreditation.

Transformation is a wonderful thing to see. The faces of the pastors tell the story as their hearts catch the revelations that the ILSOM teaching brings. For many, the teachings are not new, but they have never seen the depths that an encounter with Father, listening to Jesus via journaling, soaking, and inner healing will bring.

The Ethiopian's are a very proud people. Their nation has never been colonized and while they have had many nations attempt to rule them, they continue to survive and push through. To see these leaders cry for up to 30 minutes when they finally meet their heavenly Father is an amazing sight!

Three of the members on our Ethiopia team were born in the nation and the school look them past their wildest expectations. They were amazing at how deep the pastors allowed the Spirit of God to come and touch them.

One of the highlights for me was to have a 45 minute audience with the Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church. This man leads over 50 million people. He was funny, instructive and talked about the Holy Spirit before he even knew who we really where. Most of our team were able to take part in this meeting; two stayed back to lead the sessions as our meeting was during school hours.

Thank you for all of your interest in these missions trips! For those of you who gave to help cover the costs of providing meals and accommodation, bless you. What you sowed into, will become a harvest for you at some point!

Can I encourage you to consider joining one of our missions trips in 2010. Very shortly we will be posting some of the options for you and I know that one will be right for you!

Blessings

Steve Long
Vice President Catch the Fire Ministries