After a few weeks of praying and processing, I’ve accepted the invitation to head to Zambia, Africa to spend two weeks working with my good friend George Palo (a pastor from Ndola, Zambia).
George will be leading me and two other pastors as we visit his country and meet and encourage the pastors there and see first hand the desperate poverty of this beautiful country. We are hopeful that this trip will begin a long-term relationship between the Zambia churches that George is affiliated with and my church network (Ecclesia).
Zambia, like most African countries, is in desperate times. I’ll be writing more about this country in the weeks ahead but one example is that of the approximately 11 million residents of this country, 10% of them are street children with no parents.
How can you partner with this trip?
Mainly, I need to raise about $4500 in three weeks. You can give online directly to The Well today via PayPal below:
Or, if you would rather send money the old fashioned way you may send it to:
The Well
1631 Loretta Ave
Feasterville, PA 19053
Write “Zambia 2008” on the memo line of the check
If you are willing to pray along with my trip, please leave a comment below and I’ll add you to an e-mail list I’ll use when I leave.
Below is the letter I sent out to my friends and family:
Dear Friend,
I am writing to you today to invite you to share with me as I embark on an exciting mission project in the Republic of Zambia. Over the next few weeks, my goal is to raise $4500 and at least 30 prayer partners.
Pastor George Palo, our friend and primary contact in Zambia, recently told me that “the future of the African church depends on the American church. But, the future of the American church depends on the African church.” This is because the African church is growing so fast that it is lacking the depth that our Western churches have. Of course, the American church is in decline and we need to be encouraged and challenged by the vibrancy of the African church.
With this in mind, our goal will be to encourage the pastors there by speaking and talking with many pastors and leadership teams. We will also be exploring the possibility of a helpful, generous and long-term relationship between our two networks of churches. We will also spend some time learning and witnessing first hand the desperate poverty of this beautiful country and how we can bring tangible, long-term help in the future.
You can share with me in this mission by generously giving towards this $3500 goal and by praying with me from June 15-27. Your financial gifts may be made out to “The Well” (this is the name of my church). In the memo line of your check, please write “Zambia 2008.”
I want to thank you from the bottom of my hear for your generosity and partnership in this exciting mission. I am truly humbled that God has called our small team of pastors to be part of His work in Zambia.
For the Sake of the Kingdom,
Todd Hiestand