The East Central Africa Division is a vast and beautiful territory. Despite the many challenges, the Seventh-day Adventist Church continues to grow here. With more than 3 million members in 11 countries this region has yet a great many to reach for Jesus.
Africa--beautiful landscapes, with unique cultures and teeming with history. Home to more than 1 billion people, the African continent is rich with mission opportunities. Here you find some of the most picturesque scenery on earth as well as loving people who are full of joy.
Unfortunately, this beauty has been marred time and again by war and violence. [pause] Despite the problems, there are more than 7-million Seventh-day Adventists and 3 world division offices here.
One of the divisions is the East Central Africa division and this is our focus this quarter. [SHOW MAP] This territory is made up of 11 countries and more than 11-thousand churches. Four of the countries are in the 10/40 window--a region considered to be the most unreached area of the world.
In countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Eritrea, Rwanda and Somalia war and violence have taken a heavy toll, impacting thousands of lives. In Rwanda, tribal genocide affected church members, left buildings in ruin and scattered families. But the resilience of this faithful people is helping to make strides towards a strong church.
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The church in Rwanda has more than half a million members and is well respected in the community. Rwandans are required to perform community service on the last Saturday of each month, but the government makes an exception for Adventist members, to perform these duties on Sunday instead, to accommodate Sabbath-observance.
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In the country of South Sudan, there has also been war and sadly, fighting is still going on. But in spite of these problems, God is working here. There are 59 Adventist churches, with approximately 24-thousand members. And more and more people are becoming Adventists every year in South Sudan. This Sabbath, church members from all over Juba are joining together in worship. They celebrate growth in their territory. God is richly blessing the dedicated work of this faithful family.
Juba is the capital city where Adventists operate a school, a clinic and among other entities an Adventist radio station. There are approximately 900 students at the school here but not enough classrooms to accommodate them. Students sit tightly together as they share a desk and some have to sit on the floor as they write with notebooks on their laps.
The children pay little attention to these inconveniences. They are eager to learn and are very respectful towards their teachers and faculty.
[SOT - students getting up and greeting principal]
There are many plans for growth in the East Central Africa Division. Please pray for local leadership and for church members as they are actively involved in reaching their world for Jesus.
