March 2022 Newlsletter

Hello friends,

Do you have a Bible? 

I am training three Kenyan pastors via an online platform for the last two months in disciple-making principles and practices. Recently, we discussed the availability of Bibles in appropriate languages in Kenya. They told me that Bibles in Swahili, which is the most common language in Kenya, and English are available, but the cost is prohibitive for people whose livelihood is subsistence farming. I asked these pastors how many of the people in the congregations they serve own a Bible, and they said, “Very few.” 

I am training these pastors to do Discovery Bible Study, but one of the challenges is few people in their reach have a bible. Would you join us by contributing to a project we have started to buy Bibles for Africans? I plan to travel to Kenya in July to connect with these pastors, and I would love to send funds to enable them to buy Bibles for their believers. To contribute, you can give here.


Do you have a calling? 

And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." (Luke 10:2 ESV)

One of the key values of Converge is the fact that we are God-dependent. This includes the work of the Lord to call workers into His harvest. There are several personnel needs within each of our initiatives. Is the Lord of the harvest leading you to explore a two-to-three-week vision trip to one of our initiatives? Perhaps you have been sensing the tug of the Holy Spirit to serve in one of our missional initiatives for two years or longer. What are you waiting for? Why not check out what is happening within Converge or another mission agency that preaches Christ alone as the way, the truth, and the life? I invite you to join me and many of our global workers who are leading initiatives around the world this summer for the REACH Conference at Mission Hills Church, Littleton, Colorado June 21 to 23. Check out the details on the Converge website.


Do you have a few minutes? 
If so, then could you join us in thanksgiving and petitions? 


We are thankful for:
• Lisa’s recovery from her cancer flare up in October (The new regimen seems to be helping her a lot!);
• The opportunity to be involved in the lives of several leaders in Africa via online platforms;
• Our son Stephen graduating from Western Seminary in April with his MA in Counseling;
• The 32 global workers we have the pleasure of working with in the Africa Region;
• Our member care team who help us take good care of our global workers;
• The US-based leadership team we serve with;
• All our faithful prayers and givers who make it possible to continue doing what we do full-time.

We are praying for:
• Wisdom as we plan the next several months with a busy travel schedule;
• The Lord’s faithful provision to cover travel costs;
• Growth of those African leaders I am training and coaching;
• The salvation of family members who don’t know Jesus yet;
• 30 more global workers in Africa by the end of 2026;
• Identifying other least-reached and unreached people groups in Africa whom we can reach with the Gospel;
• Receptivity to the Gospel on the part of resistant people groups whom some of our global workers are trying to reach.


Thank you for your ongoing partnership in this ministry to equip leaders for the growing Church in Africa. Your partnership means more than words can tell.

Online gifts may still be made by giving here, or you can give by check to: Converge, PO Box 772802, Detroit, MI 48277-2802.

Thank you!

Jim and Lisa Black