Building His church
“…and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
– Matthew 16:18 (ESV)
By Gary Fallesen
Founding president, Climbing For Christ
Pastor Duncan Nyozani sold his car for US$2,000 so he could buy a plot of land and be able to put the first thousand dollars toward the building of a new Searchlight Ministries church in southern Malawi.
“We need US$24,000,” said the long-time Climbing For Christ member and ministry partner. “This is a huge sum of money to raise, but we believe God is able to meet this need. We want a miracle.”
Duncan’s church plant has grown to 600 people in just a few months. It has outgrown the secondary school classroom where we met last month during Mission: Malawi 2016.
Duncan, right, leading his church in – and outside – of a classroom. (Photo by Gary Fallesen)
Climbing For Christ has been blessed to build eight churches in four countries (Haiti, Nepal, Mozambique and Peru) during the past decade. We have funded our fourth Nepal church build, which is under construction now in the village of Simikot in the Far West district of Humla, and God has given us the opportunity to help in three other locations.
Additionally, Climbing For Christ relief and recovery funds helped rebuild at least four churches in the aftermath of the devastating April 25, 2015 earthquake in Nepal.
Pastor Harka, left, and workers last week building “on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20) for the church at Simikot. (Photo provided by Megh Gurung)
Bill Hybels was closing the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit in suburban Chicago in August 2012, talking – as he often does – about how the local church is the hope of the world.
He quoted Matthew 16:18 and talked about how Jesus is building His church and protecting His church.
As Hybels talked that day I felt God speaking to my heart: “Build the church and build churches.” That is what Climbing For Christ is about – building (enlarging) the body of Christ and constructing structures in which this body of believers will worship and glorify our Great God!
In addition to building in Simikot, Nepal, we are praying for churches at:
- Kambona, Malawi – Duncan’s new church will need US$24,000 to complete.
- Dharmashala, Nepal – This growing body of believers in the Mid-West district of Rolpa needs $5,000 for the purchase of land and an estimated $12,000-$13,000 to put up a church building.
- Tacadang, Philippines – Pastor Henry showed our Mission: Philippines 2016 team the new church he is building, adjoining the old United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP). He started this structure in 2010 and asked C4C Philippines for help in 2013. The church, home to about 15 families, remains unfinished.
Megh Gurung of Climbing For Christ, above center, worshiping with the church at Dharmashala on Mission: Nepal 2013. Below, Pastor Henry in front of his unfinished UCCP structure in Tacadang. (Photos by Gary Fallesen)
We ask that you, first, pray for the church. Lift our brothers and sisters in Christ in Haiti, Nepal, Mozambique, Peru, Malawi, and the Philippines. Pray that they may be blessed with houses of worship, and those houses would be built on the Rock.
Secondly, as you pray, if the Spirit moves you, please support the building of these churches with a financial gift to Climbing For Christ. Send your donation to Climbing For Christ c/o “Building His Church” at P.O. Box 16290, Rochester, NY 14616-0290 USA. Or CLICK HERE to give via PayPal and email info@ClimbingForChrist.org to alert us to your donation.
In Canada, please make cheques payable to The Great Commission Foundation, and on the memo line add Climbing For Christ CANADA c/o “Building His Church.” Mail your support to: The Great Commission Foundation, #3 – 1335 Trans Canada Way SE, Medicine Hat, AB T1B 1J1. Or give online at http://tgcfcanada.org/donate. Mark your contribution: “Climbing For Christ CANADA c/o Building His Church.”
PHOTO GALLERY
God has used Climbing For Christ to build the church at (click on the photos below to view the gallery)…
1. Gentilhomme, Haiti, built in 2006
2. Malasi, Haiti in 2010
3. Thoman, Haiti in 2010
4. Dapcha, Nepal in 2011
5. Korchabang, Nepal in 2012
6. Milatu, Mozambique in 2013
7. Kathmandu, Nepal in 2014
8. Chalhua, Peru in 2015
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