Dear Friends and Family,
Down below you will find the 3rd and final part of my September prayer letter. The photos are missing down below but if you pull up the attached prayer letter you will see the two photos of the ten targeted population centers and Sadock recently teaching the Kinyarwanda BI. He has 12 students. Kinyarwanda along with French and English are the languages of Rwanda. We have men that will be ready to minister in English in three of the targeted areas by the end of this year. Several of those in the Kinyarwanda BI are already helping Sadock minister in the Bible Studies in four of the targeted centers. Thank you for your prayers and support.
September, 2018 part 3
Dear Friends and Family,
A couple months ago people started telling me about thousands of churches being closed in Rwanda. Even our Berea Baptist Church in Butare would be closed due to not having a building that met the government’s standards. The Holy Spirit led me to look at a map of Rwanda and identify ten population centers that would be good locations for new churches preaching and practicing the Word of God. He impressed upon me that if we added ten new churches strategically located to the one in Huye, those eleven churches could reach Rwanda with the truth of God. A key to succeeding would be to build Acts 1:8 churches from the beginning.
This idea became a burden, and the burden developed into a plan with a strategy. God used His Word to give me further direction and peace about what was on my mind and in my heart. The main passage the Holy Spirit used was Nehemiah chapters 1-6. As I saw how Nehemiah responded to what he had heard about Jerusalem, I needed to respond to what I had heard about Rwanda. The Lord gave more scriptures and absolute peace that I ought to pursue the burden and plan He had put in my heart. He was working, and I needed to go to Rwanda to share with Sadock and Ignace.
Ten population centers in Rwanda Sadock teaching the Kinyarwanda BI
My co laborer for many years, Larry Nelson, and I traveled to Rwanda and spent quality time with both Sadock and Ignace. We traveled to four of the centers we are targeting for churches. I ministered in two Bible studies and bought land in two centers for new church buildings. God was putting together a team to reach a country with His truth that could set men and women free from religion, ritual and sin.
If we are going to fulfill the command of Jesus and reach the world, we must extend our ministry through faithful men that have been reached and are preaching the truth, planting churches, riding circuits and teaching other faithful men. The Holy Spirit has shown me that I am to work with Sadock and Ignace in reaching their country. My major task is to help them with funds to buy land and build buildings in ten targeted centers. Their major task is to train other faithful men for leadership and service. Second Corinthians 9:8 tells me that God will enable us to do this good work. We need $15,000 for each of nine locations to buy land and build buildings. We need $50,000 for land and building in the capital city of Kigali which will be for a new church, BI, and radio station. Victory Baptist Church in Milton, Florida, in 10 minutes, raised enough money to build the first building in Ruhengeri. A second church in Texas heard about what God was doing and gave a check for $16,700 to buy land in Kigali. I believe that within eight to ten years there will be eleven Acts 1:8 churches fulfilling Jesus words.
Please pray faithfully for laborers and resources to reach the country of Rwanda. If you would like to hear more or know more please contact me at eaostark@gmail.com.
Your missionaries to East Africa – Tony and Kathy