Thank you for praying for our D4D Trip to Santa Cruz and Cochabamba, Bolivia from November 13 – 24, 2025! It was a great trip, and I want to share one Saturday morning with you.

 Would you like to meet a “ripe,” ready, eager-to-learn whole life discipleship team? Just as a mango matures to the place it is “ripe” and ready to pick and eat, so a team can be “ripe” and eager to learn. I’m going to share from our three-hour visit to the Cochabamba team.

 What makes this team ripe?

• They are organized and used our time together well.
• They know their lessons, and instead of only studying the first required eight-lessons have gone much further than we expected. We love their initiative!
• They shared how their current lesson of Resource Mapping had taught them about their local community including which languages their neighbors speak.
• They are using the lessons, like “Seven minutes with God” on how to organize a quick daily devotional study with their families. One man lives in a home with 12 people, and his grandkids ask him, “When are we doing our Seven Minutes with God today?”
• They are an eight-person team and have five small groups in their homes where they are facilitating the lessons with their families and some neighbors. We haven’t yet asked them to do this! They are taking the initiative!
• We came ready for a devotional study, but they had one already prepared!
• We tested their level of teaching in an adult learning style where facilitators ask questions to guide the group, instead of the prevalent rote-memory education system including preaching and most teaching they are used to. They have room to grow in this area, and now that they know what we are looking for I’m expecting to see some growth. We will also do a full workshop in Adult Learning and Bible Telling next year.
• We got in one lesson on making Personal Development Plans so they can better apply lessons they are learning to their lives. Their level of participation in this lesson shows that Antonio has been using adult learning methods and they are eager to participate.

I have coached some good teams, and Gary Hipp has coached even more. We both felt that this is the ripest team we have ever encountered this early in the process. This was Rodiz Chambi’s first coaching trip, and he said, “Now I know what a ‘ripe’ team looks and feels like!” I am excited to coach this team along with Rodiz and Pablo, giving them an excellent example as they help us coach other teams in the Santa Cruz area. By God’s grace, their eagerness to learn, along with the transformation we will be seeing in their lives, families, church and community will be a valuable foundation to grow a whole-life, disciple-making movement on!

Back Row left to right: Marcario Salva, Rodiz Chambi (coaching with Gary Hipp and David Thomas) Pablo, Rolando Vasquez. Front left to right Veronica, Isidora Chipana (Marcario’s wife), Pascuala Aruquipa, Bernardo Mendoza, and kneeling on the floor Pastor Antonio Mamani (D4D Team leader). They belong to the “Iglesia Vida Para Todos,” a Friends church in Cochabamba.

I included this picture here with their names because some of you like to pray for these people by name. Your prayers make a difference! Thank you in advance for investing prayer in their lives. It is my privilege to coach this group, and to focus your intercession in the place where it is going to have a great impact. Thank you for joining us in prayer!

The Lord bless you!
David Thomas

Planting whole-life, disciple-making movements

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. Psalm 67:1-2

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David Thomas | Whole Life Discipleship

Deep in the hills of northern Thailand, in the small Red Lahu village of JaSoPa, transformation is quietly unfolding. Located 1.5 hours from Chiang Rai, this isolated village of 16 families is experiencing the profound impact of discipleship, faith, and sustainable development.

This journey began when Yosapa, working with The Way Foundation (TWF), connected with MoPa, a passionate church planter. MoPa completed Bible training through TWF’s Pastor Evangelist Training and felt called to bring the gospel to JaSoPa. He and his wife, Eme, traveled by scooter to the village, building relationships and leading Bible studies. Over time, families began responding to the message of Christ. What started with the wives eventually led to husbands coming to faith and making public testimonies of baptism. With the village headman’s approval, a church was built.

For eight years, the Discipling for Development (D4D) team, including Scott Purser and David Thomas, has partnered with TWF to equip them to guide a community through sustainable, holistic transformation. They are currently coaching Yosapa and Mana TWF’s D4D team as they disciple couples in JaSoPa. The process is intentional and relational, proceeding at the pace of those being mentored. Over the last year, they have led discussions on biblical marriage and will soon move into lessons on financial stewardship, income generation, and addiction—issues deeply relevant to JaSoPa’s reality.

JaSoPa’s history is complex. The village was originally founded as an outpost from Myanmar into Thailand. Young men in the village supported their families by making just two trips a year across the border. Discipleship in JaSoPa is not just about faith—it’s about breaking cycles of poverty and addiction.

Lebo and Abo were among the first to embrace Christianity. Initially, Abo’s understanding of faith was superficial—he became a Christian because foreigners had provided resources. Both men struggled with addiction and often engaged in violence. Abo, known for his temper, has started to be calm and learn things like treasuring his wife. His wife, in turn, has grown in self-control and learned to use kind words. Villagers are noticing these changes, watching as transformation takes root.

Lebo was raised in a Buddhist temple. Even after accepting Christ, his addictions continued. When confronted by neighbors, he realized that his witness was compromised, and he finally committed to sobriety. Now, he and his wife are building a future. They have expanded their home, started farming dry hill rice and corn, and are growing 500 coffee plants as a long-term investment.

These changes are not just personal; they are communal. The villagers are beginning to see a new way of life—one where faith is not just a label but a transformation of the heart and home. As our D4D leaders continue to walk alongside these families, it is hoped that JaSoPa will become a model for other Lahu communities across northern Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, and beyond.

Join us in praying, “Your Kingdom come, your will be done in JaSoPa, as it is in heaven.”

Download this month’s prayer letter here…

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The post Join Me in Prayer for My Trip to Thailand- September 2023 first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

David at home in La Paz, celebrating the sun shining on Mount Illimani after days of his mountain being hidden in the clouds!

Cochabamba, Bolivia | August 15- September 3, 2023

PURPOSES FOR THIS TRIP:

This trip is based in Cochabamba, Bolivia with a comfortable altitude of 8,000 feet. Our purpose is to facilitate two excellent five-day D4D (Discipling for Development) Foundations Seminars. The first week will focus on Food for the Hungry – Bolivia including the organization’s leaders and three-four local practitioner dream-team implementers. The second week will focus on two-thirds participants from Compassion International – Bolivia along with some local pastors and leaders from a few interested church groups (mostly from La Paz and Santa Cruz), including two Friends groups. Our D4D Foundations Seminar introduces participants to the biblical basis, empowerment perspective, and an overview of some basic development tools, along with our D4D approach to whole-life discipleship and community transformation. This introduction will allow us a common language and basis on which to continue building. We will also be in dialogue with our local partners setting the stage for the ongoing coaching needed for their organizations’ transformation in the next few years.

PRAISES AND PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Praise God for this amazing opportunity to work with two well-known and successful Christian development organizations, Food for the Hungry International-Bolivia, and Compassion International-Bolivia. These two groups rose to the surface out of our exploratory and vision-casting trips this last year. They both express a dissatisfaction with the results they are seeing as they work with local churches and communities across the country. These churches are not gaining a strong enough sense of ownership and empowerment in effectively reaching out to their own communities long-term after their partnership with these development organizations ends. They are inviting us to walk alongside them in the process of improving their organizations and methodologies to more effectively see the kingdom of God expand through their work throughout Bolivia. What a privilege!
• Join me in praying/declaring Isaiah 61:1-4 and Ephesians 2:10 over them and over all of us over these next three weeks! Jesus wants to shine his light brightly through them, through the many churches and denominations they work with in Bolivia, and especially through Christ’s bride, his body, and his church spread throughout Bolivia! Christ/we/they are anointed by Holy Spirit to declare the good news, to proclaim freedom, to set captives free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor (Jubilee) to push back the darkness, to comfort those who morn, to see people and their communities flourish with beauty instead of ashes, joy instead of mourning, and praise instead of heaviness, they will be oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord, for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins, and the places long devastated! These organizations and the churches they represent are the Almighty’s masterpiece, his amazing poem being written new (made new) in Christ Jesus, that they move into doing the good works planned long ago for them to do, walking with Holy Spirit the paths he’s prepared for them. I’m praying this over everyone individually to become all God has created them to be, and also over these organizations and the churches they influence. It is amazing to be offered the privilege of walking this path with them for the next few years!
• Pray for our Navigator facilitators coming from Mexico and Chile, to catch on quickly and enjoy the facilitation process, and to also learn from D4D and to catch a vision for how our whole-life discipleship could benefit the Navigators working across Latin America. Here is our team on this trip!
  • Gary and Merri Lee Hipp (American missionaries who coached our Rwanda D4D team. They are an amazing team who have led D4D for many years. Gary is our team leader. They are learning Spanish, but won’t facilitate very many lessons).
  • David Thomas (Evangelical Friends Missionary blessed to partner with Navigators D4D in this new work in Bolivia. Also, a former missionary kid to/from Bolivia)
  • Judy Camp (American Navigator ministry with Hispanic ladies in Los Angeles for many years)
  • Bruce Hook (American Navigator working with American Navigator missionaries and Latin American Navigators in member care)
  • Sergio and Mónica are with Latin American Navigators working in Mexico.
  • Marcia and Carlos are with Latin American Navigators in Chile.
  • Ninfa Apaza is a Bolivian leader with Compassion Bolivia, who will facilitate for the first time with us.
• Pray for God’s favor, blessing, and grace to rest on us! Pray for wisdom and the Holy Spirit’s insight as we walk alongside these organizations. Pray for health, strength, energy, excellent Spanish, and excellent communication with all those participating in our two, five-day seminars. Pray for safety in travel for all those coming a day’s drive from La Paz and Santa Cruz. Pray for the health of everyone during the two weeks of seminars. Pray for me. I have a strong sense of confidence going into this assignment. I am learning to be continually centered, grounded, and rooted in Christ’s love. I know that I am his “beloved ‘huios’ (son, heir, family representative), that Papa is pleased with me, (that he trusts me), that his delight rests on me.” (Luke 3:22) Pray for these truths to be deeply rooted in me, in who I am.
• Pray also for me to be continually aware of Holy Spirit’s presence and nudging, to find a good rhythm of rest alongside the times of intense focus in facilitating and listening to others facilitate. Pray for growth in my emotional intelligence and awareness of everything and everyone around me. Pray for God’s favor to rest on me!

Thank you in advance for partnering with us in prayer for this trip!

David Thomas

The post Join Me in Prayer for My Trip to Bolivia- August 2023 first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Thank you so much for supporting me and our team in prayer!

This has been a very good trip.

• Our five facilitators besides myself did a great job in their first experience facilitating these three workshops with our Discipling for Development (D4D) lessons.
• Our six hour facilitation in La Paz on Saturday was the best and had excellent participation. Santa Cruz was the second best, and we did well for our first seminar in Cochabamba. We found that people are not able to get to a 6:00pm week-day meeting on time, so we lost an hour of time for our two workshops in Cochabamba and Santa Cruz.
• It was great to have participants ask us good questions and show lots of interest. We have several church groups interested in our coaching, including Friends churches. They would like us to help coach their missionaries working with the Chimani people in the jungles. There were also some people with the Assemblies of God, and a Friends church in two of the cities who would like to disciple their communities holistically. A YWAM leader in Santa Cruz also showed interest.
• A few leaders of large denominations are not as interested as D4D does not offer money or projects for the development branch of their church denomination structure. Also the holistic approach doesn’t fit their spiritual discipleship vs physical development paradigms. This is good, because we need those people who really want our coaching.

• Of special note was the interest of two Christian NGOs, Food for the Hungry – Bolivia, and Compassion International – Bolivia. Both have had successful ministries, and they both feel they have not yet experienced the wholistic, empowering community transformation they have wanted to see. They are encouraged by Discipling for Development’s experience, and want us to train their leaders and staff, and enter a long-term, five-year coaching relationship! We have not worked with these groups in this way before, because they bring in outside money and projects in the communities which often results in dependency. We are being attentive to what God is doing. Back in 2007 God led the Navigator D4D team to begin coaching their first church group (Evangelical Friends Church of Rwanda) because God was clearly leading, and everyone on their team including Debby Thomas and Augustin Simparinka were so hungry, ripe, and ready for D4D coaching! That was a worthwhile investment! May the Lord lead us well now!
• It was a pleasure for me to be a part of this team. Judy took the finances, Gary did the overall leadership, Merry Lee organized the devotionals, Cintia took care of us in La Paz, Rodiz in Santa Cruz, and Henry Nogales in Cochabamba. Merry Lee coached one facilitation team and Gary in the other. As the main D4D mentor with Spanish I was able to focus on the key parts I had. Stefanie Chambi became my right-hand person as she clearly understands D4D and is able to clearly communicate as well.
• Gary was able to recover from an intestinal problem, and Judy as well from a cold that turned into bronchitis. Thank you for praying for our health!

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

Thank you very much for surrounding me and my team with your effective prayer!

David Thomas

The post David Thomas Post- Bolivia Trip Prayer Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Thank you to all of you who were praying for me! This was a wonderful and blessed trip! Here are some things I am thankful for and some things to pray for going forward.

I thankful for:

• Stefanie, Cintia, and Anahi studying the ten-month online Discipling for Development course offered by our Atlanta, Georgia D4D team! The call of God into missions on these three (in difficult access countries in Asia and Africa). I want them to have the tools and understanding of planting whole-life discipleship movements as they go out.
• Stefanie Chambi’s excellent Spanish to English translation skills and her willingness to help us translate the D4D material into Spanish
• God’s clear movement towards INELA becoming a missions sending denomination.
• Participating with a great team from the United States, with Roy Lujan, Maria and Edwin Giron, Dan Cammack and Ken Comfort. I am also thankful for Elisabeth and Timoteo Choque hosting us in La Paz.
• High interest coming out of the six- hour foundations vision casting workshop in Santa Cruz. Lots of questions about how to apply this. Stefanie understanding some of D4D and helping me as scribe to capture all the participants ideas was really helpful.
• High participation in this workshop. Appreciation for a very different style of adult learning than they are used to.
• A clear understanding that the gospel really does touch all of life, not just our spiritual lives. And an understanding that we need to disciple and minister accordingly.
• I’ve got the freedom to communicate and facilitate well in Spanish! I’ve also got all these friendships and connections that might lead to the Navigators being able to start their own interdenominational D4D ministry in Latin America, starting in Bolivia!
• A clear connection with David Tintaya, his family, and his CCA church which might become our first D4D team.
• CCA already has a clear mission “Communion, Community, Commission” and all happens in the context of creation (the environment around us). CCA already has participated in some great community outreach activities and is even recognized by the Santa Cruz mayor for this work.
• They are beginning to understand the value of empowerment, not just doing things for the poor, or giving them things, but instead walking with them and working through the barriers they face together.
• I am thankful for family friends like Umberto Gutierrez, with whom I have an instant connection and freedom to talk about anything!
• I am thankful for Illimani showing it’s face from Timoteo Choque’s house and also for getting a left-hand side window flying from La Paz to Santa Cruz with another perfect view of Illimani!

• I am thankful for an amptapi Aymara community meal on the floor of Villa Alicia, for avas, chuños, tuntas, various potatoes, sweet cooking bananas, aji and strips of fried, salty, country cheese!
• As far as food I’m also thankful for having my all time favorite meal three times in a row, lunch, supper, and next day lunch. Never can get too much of good Sajta de Pollo! I also enjoyed eating: Papas a la Huancaina, Anticuchos (beef heart skewers), salteñas, chicken foot soup, ‘french-fry soup’ chicken broth with sémola, umintas, and various delicious empanadas, and hot api (sweet purple corn drink).
• I’m thankful for people praying for me when my stomachache, head ache and altitude all left me miserable and unable to focus the day before my talk at the INELA friends church yearly meeting. I’m thankful people’s prayers helped me break through that barrier allowing me to give my talk, which was facilitating the testimonies of Latin Americans involved in mobilizing their churches into missions.

• Opportunity to stand in the place my Dad stood in when he looked over the City of La Paz during the first few weeks he was there in 1972. It was here when he recognized the place of his dream with Jesus, as an eight year old child, walking hand in hand on a road where a great city opened up below him on the right side of the road! Umberto and I prayed from that place connecting the blessings of the past with the blessings of now and on into the future. Agreement in prayer between the generations is powerful!
• Opportunity to celebrate 50-year anniversary of the Hal and Nancy, David and Kristin Thomas family coming to Bolivia on the 20th of January 1972!

Bless you!

David Thomas

The post End of Trip Prayer Update from David Thomas first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

I am currently in Bolivia, participating in a Luke 10 Vision Trip! I would love for your prayer as I travel this month. Please also join me in praying for Jan Cammack who is participating in a Future Missionary Training Trip in Rwanda.

Bolivia Trip

Purpose of Trip:

Invite INELA to join us in exploring possible new mission fields through our EFM Luke 10 initiative. Encourage INELA leaders to join God on his mission and to mobilize their congregations for missions. For me personally, plant seeds of empowering, whole life discipleship among pastors and YM leaders in La Paz through a couple 1.5-hour workshops, and with leaders in the CCA church in Santa Cruz through a seven-hour workshop and Sunday morning service. Build relationships.

 Praises:

• Three young ladies (Stefanie Chambi, Cintia Huayhua and Anahi Tintaya) are taking the Navigators 10-month, online Discipling for Development training starting this January. Pray for them to engage deeply with God’s Word, and with principles and practices of whole-life discipleship that they can apply to their missionary work wherever God sends them for their whole lives.
• I especially appreciate a growing friendship with David Tintaya and with Rodiz and Stefanie Chambi. We have been meeting since the summer looking at how to influence INELA towards missions and whole-life discipleship.

Prayer requests:

• Pray for great connections with friends and leaders and for sensitivity to God-appointments, and what he is doing in each person.
• Pray for health and strength in the high altitude and that we would not get any stomach bugs. Pray also for protection from COVID-19.
• Pray for God’s blessing over whole-life discipleship seeds planted, that they would grow and bear fruit in the right people, and especially in the CCA church.
• Pray for my ease in Spanish, for clear thinking and communication and for excellent facilitation of the seminars and classes I’m teaching.

Jan Cammack’s Rwanda Trip

Purpose of Trip:

Invite Rwanda and Burundi yearly meetings to join us in EFM’s new vision of establishing 5 new fields with 10 new households by the end of 2025. We currently have 10 possible new mission fields and we are hoping Rwanda will join us in the South Sudan/Ethiopia venture and Burundi in the Tanzania exploration. This is also a time for Jan and Emmy to explore more their sense of call possibly to this region.

Praises:

• God is still in the business of calling people into cross-cultural missions. We have over 100 people on a list of prospective future missionaries. Thank God for Jan and Emmy exploring this call on this trip.
• I am especially grateful for godly leaders we have in both the Burundi and Rwanda yearly meetings, and I am grateful for Brad Carpenter and his focus to equip Rwandan’s going into cross-cultural ministry outside of their countries. I’m also grateful for Matt Macy and his EFM leadership and passion for missions. Also, Kevin Hoppock has given the EFM board valuable leadership and support over the years. This is a group God is moving in & bringing together.

Prayer requests:

• Pray for blessing on Jan and Emmy and the families they will be visiting at the beginning of the trip. They get to stay with some of my very good friends and experience their lives.
• Pray for safety in all their travels, and for health, including protection from COVID-19.
• Pray for God’s blessing and guidance on all leaders involved in the two days of meetings in both Rwanda and Burundi. Pray for them to catch and own a missionary sending vision.
• Pray for wisdom, blessing and encouragement for Matt, Kevin as they meet with leaders involved in the Rwandan Pastors Development Fund focused on small businesses.

The post David Thomas January Prayer Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

David Thomas/EFM Discipulado de Vida Integral

¡Es tiempo de la cosecha, celebremos!

“No se amolden al mundo actual, sino sean transformados mediante la renovación de su mente. Así podrán comprobar cuál es la voluntad de Dios, buena, agradable y perfecta“. Romanos 12: 2

El pastor Tertullien, nuestro líder de Disciplina para el Desarrollo (D4D) en Ruanda, dijo: “¡Dígale a Debby y a nuestros entrenadores de Navigator que es hora de cosechar los resultados de todas las semillas que sembraron en los últimos años!” La carta de Tertullien continúa de la siguiente manera:

Alabamos a Dios porque muchos de nuestros líderes de D4D lo están haciendo bien. Los líderes de nuestra iglesia nacional tienen buenos testimonios de la aplicación de los principios de D4D en sus vidas. Por ejemplo, están construyendo sus propias casas e incluso poniendo en marcha planes pastorales de jubilación (algo que ha sido una necesidad durante mucho tiempo). Vemos que D4D ha impactado a la Iglesia Evangélica Amigos de Ruanda en su conjunto. Los que están siendo mentoreados también demuestran una transformación más integral que la vista en años pasados.

Nos estamos expandiendo cruzando las fronteras denominacionales aquí en Ruanda, asesorando a líderes en el Congo y Burundi, y esperamos enviar a nuestros propios misioneros a otros países. Agradecemos a Dios por los nuevos líderes que continuarán el trabajo con D4D a medida que continuamos expandiéndonos. ¡Es seguro que el reino de Dios viene a África! ¡Tenemos una herramienta!

A pesar de que COVID-19 ha sido un desafío, se ha convertido en una oportunidad para usar el “proceso de resolución de problemas” de D4D y descubrir diferentes formas de hacer las cosas, para expandir nuestro entendimiento y para continuar con la evangelización y el discipulado.

Cuando visitamos recientemente nuestras comunidades D4D, vimos la diferencia que marca nuestra forma de pensar. ¡Las personas con las que estamos trabajando han progresado! La educación familiar tiene más propósito y es más eficaz. Los logros del Plan de desarrollo personal son más exitosos. Vemos a Dios obrando incluso en las dificultades.

Después de compartir los textos de Tertullien con mi esposa Debby, ella dijo: “Confrontamos las barreras de la dependencia, la mentalidad de pobreza, tantas necesidades insatisfechas de nuestros pastores y sus familias, así como la pobreza general de nuestros creyentes. ¡Alabamos a Dios porque nos dio la idea de superar esas barreras! ” Tertullien continúo diciendo:

Celebramos la transformación integral de los pastores, saliendo de la dependencia. Nuestros testimonios harán que llores de felicidad. Recogerás tus semillas sembradas. Hemos visto que eran profetas y ahora se cumplen sus mensajes proféticos.

¿Cómo? En la vida de nuestros pastores y la vida de nuestros cristianos. En la transformación de varias comunidades como Musovu y Kirambo. Nuestra denominación de las Iglesias Amigos ahora es independiente. Nuestra nueva estructura de liderazgo, nuestra toma de decisiones, nuestra Junta Anual y el liderazgo de la iglesia local, todos son autosuficientes en todos los sentidos.

¡Nuestra forma de pensar ha cambiado totalmente!

Lee mas…

The post Carta de Oración Diciembre 2021 first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

It’s Harvest Time, Let’s Celebrate!  

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

Pastor Tertullien, our Discipling for Development (D4D) leader in Rwanda, said, “Tell Debby and our Navigator coaches that it’s time to reap the results of all the seeds you’ve sown in past years!” Tertullien’s letter goes on, as follows:

We are praising God that many of our D4D leaders are doing well. Our national church leaders have good testimonies from applying D4D principles in their lives. For example, they are building their own homes, and even putting in place pastoral retirement plans (something that has long been a need). We see that D4D has impacted the Evangelical Friends Church of Rwanda as a whole. Our mentees also demonstrate more holistic transformation than seen in past years.

We are expanding by crossing denominational lines here in Rwanda, mentoring leaders in Congo and Burundi, and we hope to send our own missionaries to other countries. We thank God for new leaders who will continue the work with D4D as we continue expanding. For sure the kingdom of God is coming in Africa! We have a tool!

Even though COVID-19 has been challenging, it has become an opportunity to use the D4D “problem solving process” and to discover different ways of doing things, to expand our understanding, and to continue to do evangelism and discipleship.

When we recently visited our D4D communities, we saw the difference our way of thinking makes. The people we are working with have progressed! Family education is more purposeful and effective. Personal Development Plan achievements are more successful. We see God at work even in the difficulties.

After sharing Tertullien’s texts with my wife Debby, she said, “We confronted the barriers of dependency, poverty mindset, so many unmet needs of our pastors and their families, as well as the overall poverty of our believers. We praise God that he gave the insight to overcome those barriers!” Tertullien goes on to say:

We celebrate pastors’ holistic transformation, moving out of dependency. Our testimonies will make your tears for happiness. You will harvest your seeds sown. We have seen that you were prophets, and your prophetic messages are now fulfilled.

How? In the lives of our pastors and the lives of our Christians. In the transformation of various communities like Musovu and Kirambo. Our Friends Church denomination is now independent. Our new leadership structure, our decision making, our yearly meeting and local church leadership – all are self-supporting in every way.

Our mind set has totally changed!

Click here to download full prayer letter…

The post December 2021 Prayer Letter first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

I want to let you know how we are doing as well as give you some highlights from our work in Thailand, Rwanda, DR Congo, and some encouraging news from Cambodia.

First, from our family, here are some pictures of us celebrating our youngest daughter Alandra’s senior prom party. She is 18 and a 2020 high school graduate. We dressed up, danced, walked to the park, and took lots of pictures. It was really fun to celebrate her in this way!

I’ve also enjoyed some gardening with Gwen. I have a wonderful family and it has been a gift to spend this focused time with them! Gwen just finished her Junior year of Nursing at George Fox University. Debby is thriving in her work as a leadership and management professor in the College of Business at GFU, as well as head Leadership Coach (facilitator) for the Professional Development Academy. Aren is working in a biofuel engineering job in Bend, Oregon. Breanna graduates from GFU as a Doctor of Physical Therapy!

As I report on these communities in different countries and different situations, let me give you a framework to think about appropriate ways to partner with friends in these countries.

1. Relief: saving lives, urgent, immediate, temporary help in response to a devastating event, outside funding, and direction.
2. Rehabilitation: restoring and rebuilding what has been lost, largely directed and funded by outsiders, intermediate term.
3. Development: empowered communities moving beyond the status quo toward God-centered wholistic improvement. Long-term. The people of a community direct the process (with Discipling for Development we mentor communities in this process).[i]

Thailand-Lahu, May 2020

Chiang Rai, Thailand, The Way Foundation working with the Lahu people:

Our team is doing well. Chiang Rai started social distancing early and kept the Coronavirus from spreading. For many hill tribe peoples including the Lahu, living secluded in their villages is not a problem. They had a good rice harvest last November, and the bountiful forests are close by. April is Thailand’s New Year, and so it is always a slower month. Village chiefs are also careful to quarantine anyone coming back to their village from the outside.

Rwanda, Africa, Discipling for Development through the Friends churches and beyond:

I’m impressed with our Northern Regional leader, Gerard, and his encouragement of all the leaders in his region, among many of whom are our D4D leaders. He has assigned each leader to give an encouraging devotional for every day of the month on their WhatsApp group. Our Rwanda D4D leader, Tertullien, has developed some great goals for our D4D leaders to focus on discipling their families using all the D4D training they have received during this time they are at home with their families. Tertullien says they will finish this quarantine time with more experience in discipling and over 100 more people discipled using our D4D lessons.

Many in Rwanda are hungry and some organizations are doing relief work. Tertullien and team are working on a “Rehabilitation” plan to help people in our small groups to get back on their feet economically.

Uvira, DR Congo, Discipling for Development team with their Friends churches:

Devastating floods ripped through Uvira the weekend of the 16^th, 17^th, and 19^th of April resulting in two neighborhoods wiped out, many homes destroyed, many people displaced, and many people killed and or missing. It is still the rainy season and they have had some more floods. All roads from within Congo and from Burundi were destroyed with four major bridges washed out. The local UN Pakistani troops worked tirelessly with local leaders rescuing people and trying to save the town from further destruction. Our Friends church leaders on the ground Lusungu and Manasseh have been involved with rescuing people, identifying bodies, housing refugees in believers’ homes and in schools, etc. EFM raised some funds and was able to help with a small food distribution our leaders carried out. The Mayor is presenting his plan for rehabilitating Uvira this coming Monday. We are praying we can find a useful project that EFM, CEEACO can partner in that will benefit the town of Uvira and build relationships. Two months ago the Mayor hosted our three main D4D leaders from Rwanda who did a three-day vision casting workshop. The Mayor is a Christian man who wants to see his town of Uvira develop in an empowering, non-dependent way. He has invited our D4D team to mentor his town through this process. Pray we can steward this opportunity, these relationships, and this present crisis well.

Stung Treng, Cambodia (northern province, on the Laos border), Scott Sward a Friends missionary partnering with YWAM (Youth With A Mission).

Even though this is not a D4D ministry project yet, Scott’s work is so encouraging I want you to know about it. I visited his team in February and am hoping to partner with them soon using D4D to help them disciple the Kavet people. In late March and early April Scott said, “Christians in the province of Stung Treng joined together to educate the public about COVID-19, distributing more than 10,000 leaflets.” Last week Scott wrote, “These last two weeks I’ve had the chance to be part of an amazing team that has assisted the Provincial Health Department of Stung Treng in educating village chiefs and police officers about COVID-19. Tomorrow the adventure continues.” I love the way they are coming together as Christians to help their government in a tangible, needed way working together for the kingdom goal of protecting Cambodians from COVID-19. They are empowering leaders and building important relationships throughout the province. I can’t wait to see what further blessing comes out of their being faithful to steward well these opportunities!

God is on the move during this unprecedented time in history. Instead of a crown (corona) of death we will see Jesus’ crown of life. We have been focused on the exponential curves of infections and deaths from the coronavirus in countries throughout the earth, but instead I believe God will bring an exponential growth of people coming to faith in Jesus, of disciple-making movements and churches multiplying and thriving throughout the earth. Almost the whole earth has heard of the Coronavirus by now, but there are still areas and even whole people groups who do not know the good news that their Creator loves them, that Jesus lived and died and lives now to save us and to reconcile us back to right relationship with God, with each other, and with the world around us. Jesus says in John 10:10, “the thief comes to kill, steal and destroy (COVID-19), but I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly!” The promise I keep praying as a “now” promise, not just a future promise is Habakkuk 2:14: “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”

I would love to know how you are doing during this crisis time. Write me a note if you would like.

I am grateful for the privilege of partnering with you and working with all these wonderful people.

David Thomas

[i] (D4D Lesson also borrowed from “When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty without Hurting the Poor…and Yourself” by Corbett and Fikkert

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