Hope for the Horn
April 27, 2025 from 5:00 - 7:00pm CDT
Join us to hear from a national leader from the Horn of Africa as he shares insights from 25 years of partnership, discipleship, and movement in hard-to-reach places. Discover ways to support and engage in this impactful work.
25 Years of Apostolic Partnership and Eldership
As we shared a meal, B reflected on the principles he has discovered over the years—many of which we’ve discussed and lived out together in our journey.
One of the key lessons we’ve learned is related to calling. Too often, people from the West arrive with a belief that they are called cross-culturally without first living out their calling in their own communities. True obedience begins in our Oikos—our network of relationships. As Paul wrote:
“Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.” (1 Cor. 7:20)
This principle, though written in the context of marriage, speaks directly to the importance of living out our faith here before ever being sent there. Ignoring this has led to many problems created by well-meaning outsiders.
The Beginning: A Shared Vision
In 1999, Kelli and I led a training, sharing our experience of disciple-making from our home and how we had seen a church of churches multiply in Houston. This resonated deeply with a group of Elders that B & A had been praying with in their home.
These men and women had all been part of the underground church during communist rule. By the early ’90s, they were worshiping freely, yet they sensed something was missing. After our training, they put these principles into practice, and within a short time, they multiplied to over 300 house churches—meeting from home to home while gathering as larger communities across the city. Today, these Elders continue to multiply.
Our conviction remains: You must obey here, in your network of relationships, before going there. This is how the Gospel spreads here, there, and everywhere.
Leadership, Maturity, and the Work of the Spirit
One of the greatest challenges we’ve observed is the overvaluation of education above obedience and maturity. Many churches have prioritized degrees over discipleship, producing leaders with knowledge but lacking character and competency. Yet, the Holy Spirit is our true teacher, and God is not a stepfather—He speaks directly to His children. The priesthood is deeply connected to fatherhood. When we listen and obey, we learn to join Him in His work, and He releases authority to His children.
Beyond just devotional moments, we’ve learned to cultivate an awareness of God’s presence in everything we do. A quiet time is valuable, but the deeper invitation is to walk in His ever-present resurrection life, gifted to us by the Father through Jesus Christ.
The Multiplication of the Work
By 2020-2021, we were actively working in 12 key areas, each experiencing multiplication. Some networks grew to over 350 churches, and one region saw the development of 1,000 leaders.
Today, this has expanded to 35 regions, with 2,000-2,500 churches—and that’s a conservative estimate. As leadership matures, we’ve also multiplied businesses to help sustain the work. The Bajaj (rickshaw taxis) continue to be a catalyst for financial support in several areas. In the coming months, we expect to purchase another, furthering sustainability. Profits from these Bajajs have even birthed new businesses, a testimony to the power of Kingdom economics.
Kingdom Ecosystems: Permeating Every Sphere
A critical part of this movement has been fostering Kingdom Ecosystems—seeing the Gospel take root in every sphere of society. Soccer has served as our entrance strategy, opening doors into unexpected arenas of influence. Through these pathways, the Kingdom continues to expand, transforming communities from the inside out.
A Legacy of Multiplication
Looking back on 25 years, we see a simple yet profound truth: obedience to Jesus always leads to multiplication. What started with a few faithful leaders has now become a multiplying movement that spans cities, regions, and nations. The work continues—not because of any strategy, but because of the Spirit’s power and the faithfulness of those who listen and obey.
And we’re just getting started.
⸻
#lightindarkness
#PrayForTheHorn
#HereThereEverywhere
#OneMovement
