God's Faithful Provision For Global Opportunities

An update from Mark Prater, Executive Director of Sovereign Grace Churches…

There are several things happening throughout the world in Sovereign Grace right now that can only be explained by what the Psalmist writes in Psalm 118, “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” (Psalm 118:3) 

Let me tell you what the Lord is doing. First, there are at least 75 churches outside of the United States who are pursuing partnership with Sovereign Grace Churches, and in addition 4 of our 6 church plants are occurring outside of the U.S. Second, God is giving us experienced, wise, strategic leaders that will help us steward the God-given opportunities He is giving us. Third, God is also giving us people who are giving generously to financially support our global expansion. In other words, God is faithfully providing for the God-given opportunities to partner with churches globally through the sacrificial giving of faithful saints, most of whom are members of Sovereign Grace churches.

As I have interacted with the generous folks God has given us, there is a common refrain that I hear again and again. They say to me, “I want to see Sovereign Grace expand throughout the world because of how I have benefitted from being in a gospel-centered Sovereign Grace church.” Frankly, it’s humbling to hear their desire to see Sovereign Grace expand in different parts of the world. 

As I have talked and prayed with these generous people about the best way to financially support what God is doing in Sovereign Grace, they have helped me to create 3 development funds; a “Latin America Development Fund,” an “Africa Development Fund,” and an “Asia Development Fund.” Each of these funds contain defined general categories for how the money given will be used. Categories like, establishing and supporting Pastors Colleges, resource development, church plant funding, pastoral equipping, and care, etc.

Within the last several months, monies from the Latin America Development Fund were used for an “Emerging Nations Leaders Retreat” in Guadalajara, Mexico where we strategically invested into 22 pastors from Mexico and South America, many of whom are pursuing partnership with Sovereign Grace. This retreat would not have happened without the people who gave generously to this fund. Money from this fund was also used to help pastors from Mexico and Central America attend the Fieles Conference, a Spanish speaking Sovereign Grace Pastors & Wives conference, led by Carlos Contreras in Juarez, Mexico. Because the Latin America Fund exists these pastors and wives were cared for, and equipped to go back home and serve their churches.

Likewise in Africa, it’s amazing to see all that God is doing in there, so launching the Africa Development Fund couldn’t be more timely. Monies from this fund are being used right now to establish our Ethiopia Pastors College that is based at Trinity Fellowship in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Without this fund, we couldn’t start this college that will theologically equip pastors who will plant or pastor churches in nations throughout East Africa. Additionally, money from this fund is being used to equip pastors in West Africa through the work being done in our Liberian Pastors College, and to financially support several church planting opportunities in West Africa.

I’ve given you just a glimpse of what the Lord is doing in our small family of churches, and it is marvelous, isn’t it? As I pray about our future, I believe that there is so much more good gospel work that He has for us to do throughout the world. Therefore, would you pray, and would you consider giving to one of these 3 development funds for the purpose of financially supporting all that He is doing in Sovereign Grace? As the Lord’s good gospel work continues, may it remain marvelous in our eyes.