ADVENTURE
Jerry and Maxine Share Eritrean Saga
Massawa, Eritrea Port
Expanded Worship Center
Full Gospel Church of Eritrea
Asmara FGCE Choir
Leading worship in new tent
Close Link
“A large tent with a seating capacity of 1,500 will be a great help to the Full Gospel Church of Eritrea” was my appeal to Africa Regional Director Don Corbin. I suggested, “It will give an emerging church an opportunity for rapid growth and permit the budding of a mission-national church relationship.”
Don was in favor of nurturing a link with the Eritrean church. In typical administrative form he asked, “What kind of funding will be needed?”
I had researched the project and gave him the figure of $9,000 for the tent, plus shipping. We both agreed that the project should be a partnership venture with each party providing 50% of the purchase price and the mission covering the shipping.
Immediately I placed a call to Kuflu Meskel in Asmara, Eritrea. After presenting the idea of a tent for a place of worship and explaining the cost factor to their church, I asked if they would be interested. He responded, “Give us two weeks to pray about it and we will have an answer for you.”
Two weeks later, I placed a call to Eritrea. Kuflu answered, “We have prayed and feel it would please the Lord to accept your offer. When can you send the tent?” “When I receive $4,500 from you, I will initiate the order” I explained.
Imagine my surprise when Kuflu said they had already collected the dollars from the congregation and were sending the amount with a visiting Eritrean American who would send me a check within a week.
The missions’ share of the money was raised in deputation services over the next month. The tent was purchased, transported to New Orleans for shipment and arrived in the port of Massawa, Eritrea just six weeks after agreeing on the project. The entire endeavor was truly a miracle!
The Eritrean brethren watched a video on how to erect the tent and launched their first Sunday of worship with near 500 in attendance. The number of worshippers doubled within a few short weeks. A close link between national church, mission and missionary was established.