Believers met for worship services under this tree near our Doro base.

Sudanese church leaders came to our missionaries at Abwong base and asked for money so that they could build a church. This may sound wonderful to you—"Great, they want to build a church!" Then why did the missionaries (who happen to be Ethiopian) say NO?

Like Peter who said in Acts 3:6, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you," the Ethiopian missionaries responded, "We have no money for this, but instead let us come teach you about giving."

For three Sundays, the missionaries shared the biblical principles of giving and tithing. The Sudanese believers immediately started to give, either money or "gifts in kind." Some gave a sheep or a goat (to be sold in the marketplace) and some of the little children even gave two chickens.

	This church building now stands on the same site ... not funded by SIM but through the giving of Sudanese!

The missionaries had hoped enough money would be collected for believers to erect a bamboo and grass-roof church. But they were in for a shock. By the third Sunday, enough had been given to pay for a TIN-roof church! Believers from other places heard what happened and have asked for this same teaching.

There are so many excellent lessons in this story! One lesson is the self-respect and pride of "ownership" that results from community effort instead of hand-outs. Another is the unique contribution that African missionaries make in dealing with other Africans. Sudanese realize that Ethiopians do not come from a "rich" nation; this gave the Ethiopian missionaries greater credibility (than a missionary from the west) in teaching about
sacrificial giving. How many more lessons can you
think of from this story?