Because

April 2022 Newsletter

Leaders from over 100 different churches gathered for the leadership seminar we have been organizing these past months, it was life-changing for many.

Whenever I geve my children chores, they have historically been reticent to complete them with joy. They might get them done, but usually not without the odd *sigh* or rolling eyes. When they behaved that way when doing normal household chores, it made treating them to something afterwards a chore for us as parents. We didn’t feel like rewarding negative attitudes. They learned quite quickly the way to an ice cream or movie (or both sometimes) meant keeping a smile on their faces while finishing up their chores.

 

Deut. 28:47,48 “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all these things, therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you.”

 

The answers to our questions are sometimes much simpler than we realize. It might be that the reason our prayers are going unanswered has more to do with our attitudes than anything else. He’s not forcing us to serve Him – He simply wants our hearts to be willing. 

Paul not only taught most of the sessions at the seminar, he also graciously ministered during our Sunday services (Jamie translated on Sundays for him). We are so very grateful for his and Debbie’s hearts to serve throughout their time with us in Burundi. 

Church Leadership Seminar 2022

We have long been preparing for our first-ever Leadership Seminar (for pastors and church leaders) and had no idea what the response would be from those we had invited. Obviously, we hoped for the best but in the back of our minds…we did wonder!

 

Wonder no longer! The seminar was extremely well attended. The first day, we had 327 in attendance, on day two, there were 510 and on the last day we had 480. Our thanks goes to Paul and Debbie Troquille, their home church Life United and others who helped make this seminar happen. In fact, the response was so positive that we hope to bring pastors and leaders together on a yearly basis.

One of the most powerful sessions was one that brought us all to a place of praying for one another, the sound of prayer filled the building.

Leadership Training

The seminar has also served as a launch pad for our Leadership Training that will occur in 3-4 week modules throughout the course of the year. Paul and Debbie are returning to teach the first module that will take place this coming June. We have had more than 200 express interest (the class will likely not exceed 100). We appreciate your prayers while we work out the details as they unfold..

 

For years we have prayed for help with leadership training – and God has sent an answer. We are grateful and joyful! Thank you all for standing with us,

Jamie, Lea and Andreya 

Online: Africa & Beyond

Email: JLPeters@africa-and-beyond.net

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