Global Reach Updates - May/June 2024

Thank you for partnering with our friends and fields in Global Reach. The following are a few updates from some of our Global Reach fields. Please continue to pray for our leaders and believers as they serve God and share the Good News with seekers.

Haiti

The country continues to be locked down and gang activity is rampant. The national news continues to report on the dismal situation as people lack food and water in many places. Locals report that the government is still nonexistent, and the gangs rule. The hospital continues to hunker down and function for true emergency cases when safe. The limited staff are trying to function with very few resources and no fuel for generators. That means no surgeries are possible. There is no traffic and patients are rarely even able to get to the hospital. Recently the hospital came under gunfire and one person inside was wounded. The hospital is no longer able to make payroll. All are struggling, and hospital and medical staff must be released due to financial hardship caused by civil unrest and corruption.

In spite of the darkness of the situation, there remain rays of light from time to time. Some of the churches continue to meet when safe (fewer attendees) but most of the schools are suspended due to safety concerns and lack of resources. The PT school at the Frecyneau campus was able to have a graduation ceremony in late March. A church meeting and the PT school graduation are pictured below. Please keep praying for God to be their provision and to end this war-like situation.

Kenya

A new school was built with funds from the sale of the old school in Kagio. The government required more space for the children to play and since no lot was available for purchase next to the school grounds, the property was sold. The new school has several classrooms, a latrine, an office, and a kitchen. Two of our Churches of God congregations are independently partnering with the school to provide teachers for 2024.

India

CGGC Executive Director Lance Finley and a team from Eastern Region Grand Point Church (Pastor Lawrence & Penny Metzler and Pastors Doug & Cressa Coldsmith) visited our India and Bangladesh Missions in February. They visited some new areas in south central India where Pastor Phillip and his wife, Rosey, serve. They fellowshipped with an evening roof top Bible study group.

In March, 11 people pictured below were welcomed in as new friends/family of the fellowship. We can praise God for their souls. The team also spent some time teaching in north and central West Bengal.

Be in prayer for some crucial projects in the developmental stages for our medical and educational departments of our India Mission.

Bangladesh

The Grand Point team along with Lance Finley also visited various ministries of the Bangladesh Mission. They spent time teaching the Hostel boys and girls some action songs as well as the children in our new child development centers. Please pray for the children who are enrolled in the hostels. There are many new children. Most are from our churches, and they are also from poorer families. The children (and the Grand Point team) enjoyed this time together as pictured below.

CGGC Global Reach Director Travis Helm was able to visit a new ministry area in southwest Bangladesh in collaboration with a government official. This area is an extreme area of poverty where many struggle to receive even basic life needs. Below are some photos of new area in southwest Bangladesh.

Pastor Rob Guy and his wife Michelle McFeaters were able to visit the Bangladesh Mission in February to help with various administrative tasks. This included Michelle conducting an internal financial audit of all departments of the Mission. This will help the Mission consolidate their record keeping and enhance the Mission’s relationship and reputation with the government and within the general population of Bangladesh. It will also help us create a Mission website within Bangladesh. Pictured below are Rob and Michelle visiting the Hostel children and the staff at Khanjanpur clinic.

Mexico

Latino Ministries Director Victor Montalvo and Global Reach Director Travis Helm visited a new area in Mexico as it pertains to Global Reach. It is located in the mountainous areas in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. Dave Odegard and Kevin & Kelly King joined this trip. We spent time with eight pastors and visited four churches. CGGC Global Reach is working with two of these churches, through years of relationship with Victor, to start a CGGC conference. Legal registration has been submitted so pray that the conference is official before the end of 2024. The team agreed that these pastors are very serious about evangelism, church planting, and discipling. The following pictures are from this March visit.

Please remember to keep Haiti in your daily prayers. Our Asia fields continue to face various challenges of resistance as it becomes increasingly hard to share the Good News. God is faithful.