Exciting Weeks Ahead for KCC's International Ministry

The next few weeks are going to be a busy and exciting time for the international ministry of KCC. We’re sending three teams to serve across two African nations and northwest Bulgaria. 

Aimé Gotte is leading a team on behalf of CRY to Madagascar, including Simeon Kent, Ettie Robins, Emma Jackson, and Natalie Smyth. They’ll be visiting a wonderful CRY project called Le Triomphe, a children’s home located just outside the capital city.

The purpose of their visit is to:

• Encourage the dedicated local team,
• Run Kids Club activities for the children,
• Deliver devotions and training sessions for both children and staff.

Many of the children at the orphanage have never had the opportunity to explore the natural beauty of their own country. To change that, CRY has hired a large bus to take all the children and staff on an overnight trip to one of Madagascar’s stunning national parks. This will be a special chance for them to witness God’s creation first-hand and make unforgettable memories together.

On Sunday evening, I will be flying to Tanzania with Martin Fakley and Andrew Hill. It will be a packed itinerary—seven flights in six days—with time split between:

• Mbeya, in the southwest near the Zambian border,
• Arusha, in the north near the Kenyan border.

Our focus will be on teaching and equipping church leaders and visiting a CRY pre-school project among the Maasai people. We’ll be working closely with Jonathan Kyando and Webster Kapaliswa, who together lead a network of around 200 churches across Tanzania.

You might remember Jonathan and Webster from their visit to Catalyst Festival with us last August, and their presence at one of our Sunday meetings.

Later in May, I’ll be taking a team of nine young adults in their 20s to northwest Bulgaria—a region I’ve visited nearly 40 times over the last 18 years. This area remains the poorest region in Bulgaria, and one of the poorest in the entire EU.

Over the past 25 years, Georgi Zafirov and his wife Galia have planted around 15 churches across this region. For the past eight years, they’ve been based in Vratsa. Georgi, a man of deep faith, great energy, and passion, has become a dear friend. Many of you will remember him preaching at KCC—in German, with the help of an excellent translator!

During our long weekend in Bulgaria, we’ll be:

• Preaching in churches,
• Doing street outreach and evangelism,
• Supporting a new church plant,
• Spending time with the vibrant youth group in Vratsa.