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Reaching Out To Hurting People
Our outreach to hurting people began living in the wilds of Africa and eventually settled us in Maun. Because of our love for these people, and because we understood the heart issues of those living in the bush, we began regular mission teams back into the bush to reach out to these un-reached ethnic groups. Together with Batswana church workers, the outreach expeditions ministered the love of Jesus and provided dynamic Gospel presentations, films, Bibles and Gospel literature in native languages, and ministry reflecting clear demonstrations of God’s love and power.
In cooperation with the Botswana Ministry of Health, we also led excursions of medical mission teams that conducted clinics and provided medicine and treatment among some of Africa's most difficult areas to reach. These outreaches soon grew and expanded. We began partnerships and provided training to other interested ministries such as Teen Mania, YWAM, Thrive Africa, Word to Africa and many others as well as church groups. In so doing, doors of opportunity were opened for hundreds of North American youth and adults to experience the joy of bringing hope and demonstrating God's love in practical ways to the people of this region.
Reaching Out To Children
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We realized the enormous opportunity to impact this area by touching the lives of children. Ngamiland Christian Academy, now Okavango International School (OIS), was soon birthed. OIS is one of the first Christian institutions in Botswana providing a kindergarten-high school curriculum. The efforts have resulted in hundreds of area children being ministered to and blessed through the love of the Lord and OIS’s fine academic program. Reaching these precious children is reaching a future generation. However, the impact is also being felt among the families and within the villages the students come from. There are a growing number of extremely needy students for whom we seek sponsors so that they can be educated at OIS. The goal of OIS is to academically and spiritually equip the students. This equipping is designed to aid them in successfully meeting the challenge of higher education while becoming valuable, Godly leaders and citizens whose character training is based on sound Biblical standards.
Reaching Out To The Village Of Maun
The Maun Village Church has filled a distinct need. As it has grown, the Village Church has served to become a key part of the infrastructure for believers in this area. Because Maun is a crossroads location for people traveling to the Delta, the church has touched the lives of people representing as many as seventeen different nations. People from all walks of life attend regular multi-lingual services where they are taught simple life-changing Biblical truths that lift, encourage and set people free to find true success in life.
Children age 3 - 12 are ministered to through the Village Church Children’s Ministry and the youth through a culturally relevant outreach called "Power House Youth ." Visit the Branch Village Churches planted through outreach teams!
Transition Into Fullness As The Lord Brings Beauty From Ashes
While reaching out, revival began breaking out on a number of fronts. Excitement was in the air. God was indeed moving. Then came a vicious attack in the form of a fire that destroyed our residence, office, all our records, ministry support tools and all our worldly possessions. However, this setback was temporary as local believers and supporters around the globe began to rally in prayer and volunteering their time, energy and resources. By their support and the grace of God, the tide began to turn.
The time of rebuilding gave way to a time of transition. This time of transition then became a time of renewal and pressing into the Lord, that in turn became the catalyst for God unfolding and revealing an even larger, more strategic vision than ever before. It was from the ashes of that July 1997 fire that God brought forth the vision for Love Botswana's Regional Launch Center. A launch center – that would serve strategically as a catalyst in sending hope and healing to Botswana and to its neighboring nations by training and sending African nationals from and to central and southern Africa.
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