Refugee Ministry

Gambella is a remote Ethiopian town near the Sudan border. It is an ideal location for the refugee ministry because it is near to both the refugee camps in Ethiopia and also the pastors living in South Sudan. We held our first training program there September 2007 and returned again in February of this year. The significance of this training session of 38 men and 7 women is that we told them that we were unable to pay all of their expenses. They had the option to cut the conference short or exercise faith that God would supply their needs. They chose the latter. They trusted God to supply their need and insisted on staying for the entire conference. It was a great nine days. Rex Switzer, Frank Auterson, and Gerwin Alconera made up the team, and we saw God do some amazing things as well. We were unable to arrange a place to stay before we arrived, but on arrival, we were told that the World Food Program had a guesthouse with air-conditioned rooms. These were probably the only air-conditioned rooms in the town where the temperatures rose to 113 degrees Fahrenheit. There were three saved and five baptized.

Rex and Frank are returning to Gambella in September for another training session. Please pray that God will use them in preparing men for the ministry in Sudan.

Ministry in Addis Ababa

In March of this year, I was able to finalize the transfer of my responsibilities to Rex Switzer. He will serve as the new country director for the BBF in Ethiopia, but of course, his greatest burden is to establish a new church in the capitol city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. They have located a large compound in the heart of the city that will serve as a base for their ministry. This will serve as their home and also a place for services, classrooms for the Bible Institute, and also for the Manna ministry. They have had many expenses in preparing the house and the outside buildings for use. If you are able to send an offering to the Switzers to help ease the financial burden they are under, it will be greatly appreciated.

Retirement Ministry

We are still in close contact with the ministry in Ethiopia and miss it very much, but are busy serving the Lord. I am teaching the Senior Adults at Grace Baptist Church in Princeton, NC and assisting with the visitation. Glenda plays the organ, but she tires easily and has to limit her activities. We were blessed to have our family together in July. Kathi and her family have moved here from Colorado, and Ron and his family came from Norway for a five-week visit. The eight grandchildren enjoyed being together and many wonderful memories were made during that time.

I would like to thank all of our churches that have continued our support. We appreciate it so much. If you have any extra funds for the ministry in Ethiopia, please designate them as such, and they will be forwarded to both the refugee ministry and the Addis ministry. Thank you again for your prayers!

 
Gene & Glenda Worley