New Training Opportunities Brewing… in the Middle East!
Breaking New Ground in the Middle East!?!
I'm not at liberty to share most of the country names, but I've recently made contact with three different leaders in the Middle East. These guys are having a big impact on some very closed Middle Eastern nations. I already had a trip calendared for 2025 to Kurdistan, but I am now working on these fresh pioneering opportunities, so pray with me!
There are GREAT numbers of people choosing Jesus every day in some places in the Mid-East! As a result of what God is doing there, I'm planning, dreaming, and praying that God will open a door for me to pioneer new works in the region. There are pastors and house church leaders in deep need of training in ministry skills, theological understanding, and the Bible itself. I want to be part of what the Spirit is doing there! I covet your prayers for guidance and wisdom.
Note: If you interact with me on social media, do not use places, names or travel dates regarding ministry in the Middle East. This is certainly a less secure region and names / dates / places could create real and significant dangers, especially to the local pastors and believers.
Trip Reports… from our Last Two Trips
BURUNDI
Burundi training in May was a grand-slam success! We had 56 pastors from several denominations and 18 different churches in the region. As you might remember, this was a test-case to see if we’ll launch new training to this, the poorest country per capita on the planet. The students were deeply engaged, profoundly appreciative, and truly loving.
We now have incredible local ministry partners in Burundi. They have gigantic vision for their country and the desire to expand trainings throughout the nation! But that’s not all regarding multiplication; not only did we train these 56 men and women, but we formally asked the students to train a minimum of three to five others before we return. I’m impressed, the majority of these students are meeting in small groups working through how they will train others in what they learned. It's exciting to see what the expansion is looking like.
With the help of some talented friends, we built a new structured follow-up for each student with a local Coach and a Multiplication Group to assist them with training others, to bring accountability, and to encourage them until the next training. But, there’s MORE (you get the ginsu knives, too!)… Pray for us, as we begin to look for another key location in Burundi to launch a second training program cycle for even more pastors, hopefully in the Spring.
See more photos from this trip in Photos From The Road - Burundi 2023
RWANDA I
After leaving Burundi in May, I flew north to Rwanda where we drove 3 hours into the north and trained 16 amazing pastors. Most of these shepherds are from the Democratic Republic of Congo and living as refugees in the local refugee camp. These heroes are incredibly impoverished but doing their best to teach, train, and pastor churches in and around the refugee camp in very difficult circumstances.
I taught a class on personal evangelism to equip them to train their flocks to reach their neighbors for Christ. It was well received, needed, and put into practice; I could tell that these were new concepts to the pastors. Pray for these pastors, and also for the ladies from the camp who lead women's ministries.
See more photos from this trip in Photos From The Road - Rwanda 1 2023
BACK TO AFRICA… in Five Weeks
I'll be returning to serve the refugee pastors in Gatsibo, Rwanda, where I’ll train these leaders for another week August 14-16. I’ll be teaching a brand new course on the theology of the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts. I’m excited to be leading these workshops with my old friend, Andy Wolf. Aug 21-25 we’ll train a second group of pastors in Bihembe, Rwanda, in the mountains east of the capital city of Kigali.
Trip Dates: I fly out from LAX August 10th and minister until August 25th; I fly out the middle of the night on the 25th and will HOPEFULLY arrive home the 26th (see prayer requests for why “hopefully”).
LOCALLY SPEAKING…
On a local front, I had the opportunity to preach at H2o Church in Huntington Beach in June. Please continue to pray for full healing for their young pastor Nate Dorman, who just underwent his sixth brain surgery in two years. It was a pleasure and a privilege to help out as he recovers. Thanks for making ministry like this possible with your support, my friends!
I'm also excited that I'll be preaching at Bay Hills Church in Richmond, California on July 23rd. I'll be focused on helping their church get a fresh view of what it is that God is doing in World Mission, and I’ll give the challenge to be initiating globally in even greater ways, both individually and corporately.
YOU CAN HELP…
Pray!
Your prayers are not only the fuel of our ministry but they are also the shield of protection and precursor to blessing!
MotoPrayer: I'll be on our annual sacred cycle trip with my buddy Alan Coleman. Please pray for our safety, rest, and refreshment as we roll out into the extreme heat on our annual Tour to Nowhere. Trip dates: July 9th-17th.
ArabPrayer: Lift up the new work that I dream will begin in the Middle East; it will impact large numbers of people living in the dark, and populate the Kingdom.
AfriPrayer: Please pray for Rwanda II in August - all the normal stuff, sleep, luggage upon arrival, health, stamina, safety for my family and the home, Kingdom impact, and multiplication of leaders.
BurialPrayer: Please intercede as I officiate at a memorial service for a musician friend, here in town, on August 12th. Many of my old music associates will be there and it's a beautiful opportunity to share The Hope.
AirPrayer: Please ask Jesus for a personal flight favor… that I make my tight connection in Istanbul on the way home from Rwanda, they changed my flight and now I have less than 1 hour to make my second flight. Uh oh. I’d hate to be stuck in Turkey until the next flight, the following day …(again). Lol!
InspirPrayer: Finally, pray for inspiration as I author a new curriculum on the theology of the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts. It's a huge topic and I want the Spirit to lead me clearly in the preparation of what He wants taught.
Financially
Your continued financial support is changing the world!
Financial support can be sent directly online at:
This site is entirely safe and secure and makes it quick and simple to support our ministry financially.
For those who prefer to mail paper checks, the GTN mailing address is:
Global Training Network
PO Box 6507
Peoria, AZ 85385
Checks need to be made out to Global Training Network, not to me personally.
In the memo, it’s vital to include my name & account number for support to make it to my personal account:
Chuckk Gerwig, ACCOUNT NUMBER #50322
Thank You…
My deep gratitude is infused in this newsletter. Your partnership in ministry is truly impacting Majority World leaders, their disciples and their flocks in Africa, Asia, and with His leading, soon in the Middle East!
-Chuckk (but you can call me Jackk)
