24 in 24: Ways 14 & 13
We are cruising right along in our 24 WAYS LINKS is giving GOOD NEWS across the world as we are trusting God to raise $24,000 for 2024 by the end of the year. Today, I am excited to share with you a little about #14 - Africa and #13 - South/Southeast Asia.
If you missed #'s 15-24, click here to catch up.
#14 - Africa
Africa is where Links began, and it continues to be a huge heartbeat of our work in the nations. From Leadership Training to Micro-Enterprise Development, we have a long history of creating potential across the continent of Africa. We already shared about Sam Walker and his leadership of Links Africa out of Kenya, but our partners span dozens of countries across Africa.
My first international mission trip was to Uganda and Rwanda, and I am forever changed because of my experiences there. Holly and I recently read an incredible book called "How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind" which reveals how as soon as Christianity spread after Jesus' ascension, Africa was in the middle of the action. Much of what we experience today as Christians actually came from Africa. In a shocking reversal, many reports say the United States receives more missionaries from Africa than we are sending to Africa.
Africa is still a huge priority as we invest in people with Good News projects that allow them to reach their full Gospel potential to impact the communities where they live as well as the surrounding areas (or across the seas) where they are sent.
#13 - South and Southeast Asia
Some of the most humbling work we do is in South and Southeast Asia. In recent months, persecution has continued to grow, and many of our partners and friends live in the reality that their spreading of the Good News could in fact cost them their lives. Our calls with them always leave us broken and grateful (1) for the freedoms we have in so many places to share Good News openly and (2) that we get to work with such courageous people who both challenge us and allow us to have an impact on places where Christianity is so desperately needed.
In these places, we are seeing unbelievable Gospel movement through projects as simple as clean water, education, and women's empowerment.
We have also added negotiating the release of slaves who have been forced into slave labor. Every day we are grateful that the Lord has allowed us to work in these difficult places, and that the opportunities and invitations to do more are growing all the time.
To be honest, it is often overwhelming to think about what we would like to do in light of the resources we have to work with. The needs are vast. The projects are working, and every dollar we raise allows us to continue to be a part of reaching the unreached in Africa and Asia. Your generosity is making that happen, and we are grateful for your participation, prayers, and ongoing support.
