Work is starting in the Horn of Africa.
In the Horn of Africa, the OM team, in partnership with colleagues from OM in Africa, are in the beginning stages of entering ministry.
With a focus on Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia, the team is working with local partners to train groups of young believers, meet more potential local partners and help OM's first same- and far-culture workers in the region.
OM team member Hibo* said, "Local partners have introduced us to many who could take part in leading this initiative, including one of the first PhDs from among the national Christian leaders in the region. We are finding many like-minded potential ministry partners, including a national believer who has joined our company and is training a group of local leaders.
"We’ve learnt a lot about the opportunities and obstacles facing young Christians in the region and pray God can use the resources and abilities He has given us to continue this work."
New partners bring new opportunities
While there are numerous people groups in the Horn of Africa, through prayer, the team narrowed down their focus to the Somali people group. Somalis, one of the least-reached groups in the region, live in all four countries of the Horn — and OM now has many local partners and potential partners living nearby, giving the team access they previously did not have.
"We have lots of dreams for 2025," said Hibo. "Our hope is for a new couple on our team to get established in the region and learn Somali. We recently found a local Somali partner who will serve with us to start a discipleship training school.
"We want to see continued training of groups of local believers in discipleship and leadership, and for more workers to join the field from same, near and far cultures. We are planning to help facilitate a discipleship training school this summer for local believers.
"We have a small team at the moment but we would like to be able to offer short-term ministry opportunities once we are more established. There is a lot to learn, including the Somali language and culture, and we are asking God to continue to open doors and make connections that can lead to deep relationships. Our prayer is that God will bring much fruit from his ministry!"
Pray that God will give us wisdom as we partner with local ministries in the region, for discernment in knowing where to invest our time, ministry and resources.
Praise God for leading us to a local partner who has joined us and who will help lead a training school in the Horn for local believers. There is so much that needs to go into planning this, so please pray for wisdom, protection and provision.
Pray for an encouraging start for our colleagues who are learning Somali and adjusting to life and ministry in the Horn of Africa.
Pray for finances as we seek to train more local believers in leadership and discipleship.
*name changed