Greetings From Africa!

An update from Josh Pannell, Pastors College graduate, and Missionary to Ethiopia, Africa…

Greetings from Africa!

Just four weeks ago my family moved from the US to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to work alongside the Grangers at Trinity Fellowship. In all the ups and down of this transition, we’re glad to say that we’re more aware of grace than anything else: God’s grace in calling us to Ethiopia, God’s grace in providing the funds we need, God’s grace in settling us into our new home and new rhythm of life, and God’s grace in sustaining us through it all. “Hasn’t God been kind” is the chorus of our home.

For over a decade, my wife and I have desired to help with church planting, and it’s been a dream of mine to help train and equip pastors. While we’ve never been sure where the Lord would place us, we’ve always hoped it would be Africa. God used our time at Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville both to affirm these desires through our pastors and to introduce us to Michael and Kenean Granger, dear friends who have now become ministry partners. God has given us strong desires to come alongside the Grangers, and he’s given Michael and me the same vision for church planting and theological education in Africa.

After two years of prayer and counsel, we’ve committed to two years in Addis Ababa. We trust that God will use this time to confirm in our hearts a long-term call to labor for his kingdom in Ethiopia. We’re following the path the Lord has laid before us, knowing that he will continue to provide the grace and wisdom with every step.

Leaving behind our friends, family, church, and culture has been difficult. We’ve shed many tears and said too many goodbyes. But in all this God has shown us more clearly what it means that he is our dwelling place (Psalm 90:1), and we have experienced more keenly the unshakable joy that is ours in Christ (Psalm 16:11). Perhaps the greatest blessing in all this has been the gift of a wife and daughter who are wholeheartedly enthusiastic about this move. I don’t drag a family kicking and screaming behind me; I lead a family who is running with me and cheering me on. Even in the difficulties, they are unshaken, and their faith serves as a model for me to imitate. What a kind gift from God.

My and Michael’s dream for Trinity Fellowship Church is simple and the same: we want it to be a gospel-centered church that plants gospel-centered churches, and we want to equip Ethiopians to pastor these church. Michael’s giftings are in church planting and pastoral ministry. My giftings are in teaching and theological education. Our prayer is that God would use these complementary giftings to build a network of strongly gospel-centered churches in Ethiopia. To our joy, God is answering these prayers quicker than we dreamed, and Michael and I have already begun laying the foundation for a future pastors college here in Addis.

As I reflect on all God is doing in my family and in Trinity Fellowship, I’m so grateful for our partnership with Sovereign Grace Churches that has made this possible. You’ve trained us, counseled us, and directed us. We’ve felt your support, your enthusiasm, and your encouragement every step of the way.

God is on the move here in Addis, and he is using your gifts and your prays to accomplish great things for his kingdom. Thank you so much for partnering with us in the gospel.

With gratefulness, Josh Pannell