October 2010 Newsletter

Dear friend,

Kristina and I are writing to share what God has been doing in our lives recently, and to invite you to partner with us as we seek to fulfill the Great Commission.

I have been seeking to follow God’s call on my life for many years.  I entered university with the intention of learning a vocation that I could use as a cross-cultural “tent-making” missionary.  Yet God lead me to pursue higher Christian education so that I could teach the Bible to others.  In June 2009 I graduated with a Ph.D. from London School of Theology (UK).  I was ordained by Calvary Baptist Church, a member of the Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches, in November 2009.

In April 2010, Kristina and I were accepted as associates with Serving In Mission (SIM).  Through SIM we have received invitations to teach at both the Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology (EGST) in Addis Ababa and the Theological College of Central Africa (TCCA) in Ndola, Zambia. There is a great need for leadership training in many areas of the world, and Africa is no exception.  In fact, Operation World identifies leadership training as the “critical bottleneck” in Africa.  Millions of people have become Christians in both Ethiopia and Zambia in recent years, yet there remains a lack of pastors and other leaders who can disciple new believers.

Kristina and I plan to travel to Ethiopia and Zambia from October 30 to November 14 to visit both schools.  We will spend the first week of November in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at EGST, and the second week in Ndola, Zambia at TCCA.  The purpose of this trip is to meet the people at these schools and to explore the communities where we would be living.  Should God lead us to serve in either of these places we hope to move as a soon as possible thereafter.

It is our desire to follow God wherever He leads, and we anticipate moving to either Ethiopia or Zambia in the near future. Yet we cannot do this on our own.  As part of the body of Christ we are dependent on others.  Therefore, we are asking you to partner with us to help accomplish our goal of moving to Africa to train pastors and other church leaders.

Prayer is the most important way you can partner with us.  If you plan to pray for us please let us know so that we can be praying for you as well.  Please pray that God will:

  • protect us as we travel in November
  • bless our time in Africa
  • watch over our children while we are away (only Kristina and I will be making this first trip)
  • show us where He wants us to serve
  • provide for our needs as we prepare to move

Thank you for your desire to partner with us.  By supporting us you will be helping to train a new generation of church leaders.  In doing so you will touch not only our lives and theirs, but also the many to whom they will minister.

Warmly in Christ,

Tim and Kristina

P. S.  If you’d like more background information about the need for leadership training, the work of EGST and TCCA, or our latest news items and prayer requests please visit our website at ww.timothychurchill.com/SIM (username tim, password kristina).