Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Middle East Update

I was telling Marty Caldwell, one of the vice presidents of Young Life, about our ministry not too long ago. He was very interested! I described our plan to host no more than 20 Arab women with leader-ship potential in Turkey. “A safe place and good choice of location,” he said. We’ll meet twice a year for three years in order to help them discover their value and purpose and teach them how to impact their world, and develop deep relationships with us and others. He said “That’s a great plan! It is Jesus’ way: smaller, deeper and longer.”

It’s exciting to know that with God’s help, our goals and plans are indeed being realized: build relationships, provide education, and open the door to transformation to women in oppressed regions of the world. We are thrilled! And this is only the beginning. Can you imagine the impact when we do this over and over again with more trainers and more groups? The thought inspires me to keep moving forward.
The team that took part in the May GTIW launch in Turkey called it a “holy time” and all are eager to go back. One said, “The team really jelled and there was mutual love, respect and help.” Another said, “I love the women already and can’t wait to go back!” The GTIW training team is a strong, seasoned, gifted group of trainers who have accepted this assignment as coming from God. So yes, we are going back! Our second session will meet in early October.

A special time of prayer with the women in Turkey
And what about our first attendees, (who come from all over the Middle East)? Some of their comments say it all:
Magda: “The only thing I am sure about is that I’m not here by accident.”
Mira: “I was really dry and empty before coming. Now I feel my emptiness is gone. I have felt loved and cared for.”
Virginia: “I feel a transformation in my life.”
Hanan: “This was a blessing. I am starting to train 3 potential leaders. I realize this training is something that I can take back to them. I felt commissioned by God through the foot washing. The Lord confirmed why I am here!”

You may be aware of the political struggles going on in Egypt. The courageous Egyptian women (there were 5 of them) came at a great price, as there was gunfire outside their doors just before they came. But God provided safety for them and their families. Several of the women are from Muslim backgrounds and risk social, emotional, and physical persecution, even death for their faith in Christ.
Consult any source. Women are still some of the most exploited people on earth. Yet when you lead a woman to Christ, you effectively win her entire family—for she holds the key to heart and home. In addition to her family, all of the women in the program serve in other positions of influence as well. They come from a wide array of roles, such as speakers, ministry leaders, and pastor’s wives. These Magdas, Miras and Hanans, are going to be used by God to win others to Him in Jordan, Egypt, Iraq and beyond. Imagine the possibilities when they embrace their full value and purpose!
So why am I writing to you? We need your help to continue to realize our God-given dream of helping women become effective influencers for Christ!We need your prayers. Lots of them! For the enemy does not want us to make inroads into this dark part of the world.

 And we need your financial gifts. Our attendees can’t afford to attend this training without your aid. We assist them by providing scholarships that are sent to us by you, for them.


With your generous support, the Global Training Institute for Women can continue this great work that offers so much potential for bringing hope and meaning to women throughout one of the most violent, oppressed, and conflict-ridden areas of the world. Your support offers a practical means – through the courage and faith of these women – for sowing the seeds that may ultimately transform that region with the love and peace of Jesus Christ.

Your generous gift of $100, 200 or 300 a month, or a onetime gift, will provide help and hope to women who desperately need it. If you will send a contribution now, we can ensure that these precious women have the opportunity to continue to grow in their identity and the purpose for which God designed them!
Thank you! Thank you for praying, for giving and for sharing the vision to reach out across the world to lift women up with a message of hope that inspires and equips them to be all that God created them to be.
In Him who is able to do above all that we ask or think,

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