As we run full speed into another year, it is a privilege to be God’s servants and your representatives in East Africa.
In January, God blessed, as several new churches committed to support our church-planting work in prayer and finances. Praise the Lord!! With these new commitments, our monthly support is at a level that we are preparing for imminent departure for full-time ministry in East Africa. While much has been accomplished, we are very excited and energetically preparing to build upon those things when we return. Our sending church, First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana, is having its annual missions conference in late March, and we are honored to be a part of this special time. We couldn’t be more excited, as we are tying up loose ends in preparation to leave the USA in late spring, just after our third grandchild is due to be born. Doctor’s visits, dental work, material needs to take with us, etc. are consuming much of our time, as well as goodbyes to friends and family. We are pushing hard towards 100% of our needed support all the while.
Allow me to briefly review some amazing things God has done through us thus far:
1. God has blessed with several churches planted; some are meeting in homes, some have grown and moved into rented buildings, and one is in a tent!
2. God has blessed with hundreds saved in evangelistic meetings!
3. God has helped us to disciple several pastors and teach them about soul winning and church planting, and they have gone on to see many saved and some second-generation churches birthed.
4. Hundreds of Bibles have been distributed to those who cannot acquire a copy of God’s Word on their own.
Moving forward, upon long-term arrival, God has appointed a big task; yet He has prepared a path so we can move quickly, working with a network of national men and indigenous churches to multiply these young church plants, reaching those who currently have no access to the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus!
While we are trusting in God’s timing, our hearts’ desire is to get to the field as soon as possible. Ten to fifteen new supporting churches would allow us to make our departure goal of this spring. Would you take a moment and pray that God would meet this need in a timely manner with us? “Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.” (Philippians 4:17)
To our co-laborers in God’s service, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for helping us follow our calling and for partnering together with us in obedience to the Great Commission!
Your servant for lost souls across East Africa,
Andy Richey
