Thursday, August 16, 2007
ACFAR: Bringing Biblical Discernment to Africa
I know that I have been away from my blog for a while. Much has happened in my life over the last several months. I plan on giving a more thorough update tomorrow. Nevertheless, I wanted to let you know about my family's future now that I have finished seminary.
Our desire is to serve the Lord by bringing biblical discernment to Africa. Ever since I returned from Uganda in January, I knew that my family needed to return. Now we have officially begun the process to make this a reality.
Below is a letter that I sent out today along with a family prayer card (do you know how hard it is for a family of six to have a good photo?!?) and a commitment card. If you or anyone you know would like to receive a copy, I'd be more than happy to send you one. Just e-mail me and let me know.
I pray that God will unite many of us together with a common vision of helping believers in Uganda with biblical discernment, defending the faith, and countering the cults. May Christ bless our efforts!
Dear Believer in Christ,
Imagine waking up one morning and discovering there was nothing in your language to help you respond to the errors of the cultists coming constantly to your door—no tracts on Jehovah’s Witnesses, no books to counter Mormonism, not even one countercult organization you could turn to for assistance. This may be an imaginary problem here in America, but it’s all too real for pastors and lay Christians across Africa. Yet by God’s grace, we can change this!
My local church is preparing to send me as a missionary with CFAR, the Centers for Apologetics Research. CFAR is a unique international network of evangelical cult research and education agencies whose main goal is to equip Christians in the developing world for biblical discernment, the defense of the faith, and cult evangelism.
You and I can make a lasting difference in Africa! God has opened the door to establish the Africa Center for Apologetics Research, a partnership between CFAR and the Kampala Evangelical School of Theology (KEST). Because they share this vision, KEST has asked me to chair a new department of apologetics, from which I can train African church leaders and organize conferences on cults and biblical discernment. Additionally, this Center will become a regional research and training hub for equipping Christians to defend their faith.
It seems the Lord has uniquely equipped me for such a work as this. As a former Mormon, I know what it’s like to be in a cult, and God has given me a strong, continuing love and concern for cult members. And through my studies at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, He’s given me the tools to defend Christ’s gospel against cultists and equip other Christians to do so.
To embark on this ambitious task, our family will need to raise $6,000 per month to live and minister full time in Kampala. While this amount is more than I anticipated, extensive interviews with missionaries and nationals in Uganda confirmed that it reflects what a missionary family of six will need.
You are very important to me. You can count on my prayers, and in the weeks and months ahead I’ll keep you informed. May God use us both to make a difference for Christ in Africa!
Because of His grace,
John Divito, East Africa Director
The Centers for Apologetics Research (CFAR)
e-mail: divito@thecenters.org
P.S. In case you’re wondering—individuals and churches who want to financially support our family’s ministry in Africa may begin now, because funds will accrue toward our considerable travel and outgoing needs, enabling us to reach the field sooner. We hope to move to Uganda and begin our work just as quickly as our Savior allows!
Our desire is to serve the Lord by bringing biblical discernment to Africa. Ever since I returned from Uganda in January, I knew that my family needed to return. Now we have officially begun the process to make this a reality.
Below is a letter that I sent out today along with a family prayer card (do you know how hard it is for a family of six to have a good photo?!?) and a commitment card. If you or anyone you know would like to receive a copy, I'd be more than happy to send you one. Just e-mail me and let me know.
I pray that God will unite many of us together with a common vision of helping believers in Uganda with biblical discernment, defending the faith, and countering the cults. May Christ bless our efforts!
Dear Believer in Christ,
Imagine waking up one morning and discovering there was nothing in your language to help you respond to the errors of the cultists coming constantly to your door—no tracts on Jehovah’s Witnesses, no books to counter Mormonism, not even one countercult organization you could turn to for assistance. This may be an imaginary problem here in America, but it’s all too real for pastors and lay Christians across Africa. Yet by God’s grace, we can change this!
My local church is preparing to send me as a missionary with CFAR, the Centers for Apologetics Research. CFAR is a unique international network of evangelical cult research and education agencies whose main goal is to equip Christians in the developing world for biblical discernment, the defense of the faith, and cult evangelism.You and I can make a lasting difference in Africa! God has opened the door to establish the Africa Center for Apologetics Research, a partnership between CFAR and the Kampala Evangelical School of Theology (KEST). Because they share this vision, KEST has asked me to chair a new department of apologetics, from which I can train African church leaders and organize conferences on cults and biblical discernment. Additionally, this Center will become a regional research and training hub for equipping Christians to defend their faith.
It seems the Lord has uniquely equipped me for such a work as this. As a former Mormon, I know what it’s like to be in a cult, and God has given me a strong, continuing love and concern for cult members. And through my studies at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, He’s given me the tools to defend Christ’s gospel against cultists and equip other Christians to do so.
To embark on this ambitious task, our family will need to raise $6,000 per month to live and minister full time in Kampala. While this amount is more than I anticipated, extensive interviews with missionaries and nationals in Uganda confirmed that it reflects what a missionary family of six will need.
You are very important to me. You can count on my prayers, and in the weeks and months ahead I’ll keep you informed. May God use us both to make a difference for Christ in Africa!
Because of His grace,
John Divito, East Africa Director
The Centers for Apologetics Research (CFAR)
e-mail: divito@thecenters.org
P.S. In case you’re wondering—individuals and churches who want to financially support our family’s ministry in Africa may begin now, because funds will accrue toward our considerable travel and outgoing needs, enabling us to reach the field sooner. We hope to move to Uganda and begin our work just as quickly as our Savior allows!
Labels: ACFAR, Personal Ministry
Name:
2 Comments:
John—
I'm afraid I don't have the ability to support you financially, but if there is any other way in which I can help, including in prayer, please drop me line.
Regards,
Dominic Bnonn Tennant
Bnonn,
I understand, and thank you for your interest in praying for my family! I'll be sure to add you to my prayer e-mail list.
Post a Comment
<< Home