THRIVE Spring Summer 2023

thrive-magazine.ca
thrive / 13
ERING
ORKERS
by Richard Flemming
found myself in the overwhelming chaos of this large African
city, I found this aspect of it all rather comforting. Serving in that
context as a missionary, it certainly didn’t take me long to understand
that I would be building on the work of others who had
spent their lives laying the foundations for what was to come.
I realize however, that it’s not like that for all missionaries.
Unlike in the Democratic Republic of Congo where a solid foundation
had been laid and others continue to build upon it, many
Fellowship International missionary personnel serve in places
where the Gospel has never been heard and where, in some
cases, the Gospel is received with disdain. And so while some
labour as pioneers laying the foundation for others to follow,
some serve where others have gone before them. Regardless,
our missionaries are raising up quality national workers whom
the Lord is using to advance His cause among the peoples of the
world.
We have the privilege today to serve alongside and facilitate the
equipping and developing of national workers who are leading
the charge to see the nations discipled in Christ.
Fellowship International is endeavoring to raise $60,000
through the Empowering the Nations appeal to meet the training
and resourcing needs of key national workers, particularly
in Western Africa, MENA (Middle East and North Africa),
Indonesia, and Colombia. It will largely be through these gifted
servants, and those they reach, that the task of impacting these
nations for Christ will be accomplished. They are culturally, linguistically,
and geographically close to large groups of people
who are in search of Truth. It’s our role and privilege to help
enable and empower them in this great work!
How did Gord’s story end? Hearing the urgency in the man’s
voice, Gord quickly went and got Mr. Dolby. “You have to leave
now,” the man said to him, “the soldiers are coming to kill you.”
Gord remembers how his parents and the other missionaries
quickly left the house, got into their packed vehicles, and took
off in a race to the Angola border. It would take them two stressfilled
days, as they drove through villages where people would
throw rocks at their cars as they passed by. In that region of the
Congo, they were the last of the missionaries to make it out.
While this group of Canadian missionaries would never return,
they left behind a solid foundation upon which Congolese believers
would continue the work. And that’s what missionaries
are to do!
Please join us in praying for Fellowship International missionaries
as they take every opportunity to build — or to build upon
— a solid foundation through the discipling and equipping
of national believers who are leading the charge. Also, please
prayerfully consider how God would have you partner with us
through the Empowering the Nations appeal.
— Richard Flemming is a Fellowship International missionary,
and Eastern Coordinator.