Pull the Net Testimony

The pastors of Pull the Net studied the first half of the Entrepreneurship Series several months back and this week the Surprised by Hope team joined these pastors in learning the second half of that series. Eager as ever, they were highly attentive and many were keenly understanding of the concepts. As evidence of the understanding from the previous sessions, the group testified that the teaching works by together starting a poultry project that would provide for their financial needs as pastors. The project is relatively new, but they already have 300 chickens growing, growing, growing in preparation for being roasted, boiled, and fried.

I'm so proud of their efforts and their eager learning. As we taught the second portion of the entrepreneurship series we used this poultry project as our example, along with a few individual pastor projects, so that the group would have solid ideas for who their target market is, how to market their product, and how to gain competitive advantage. I love when we can use specific projects to address questions in detail so that they are helped in a way that requires as little transfer as possible.

Pray for these pastors as they learn to care for these chickens so that they remain healthy and multiply. Pray that they would continue thinking big in how they approach their business and that the Lord would have favor on them in all their dealings. Pray for the lady who offered their chicken house free of charge. Pray that her small shop would be blessed such that she would never demand an unreasonable fee for that house but that instead she would accept the blessing of the Lord as her reward.

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Pastors Pull the Net

The date finally arrived when I would spend two full days with 25 of the many pastors who comprise Pull the Net. Men and women filled the narrow wooden benches at the small church in Buwenge and were ready with their pens and paper. These pastors have arranged themselves into a group called Pull the Net and desire to develop their congregations and their communities both economically and spiritually. But they also realize that they cannot be effective servants and pastors if they too are suffering economically.

The value of teaching pastors cannot be over stated. Not only are these pastors better equipped to establish and grow businesses to support their families, they’ve also gained the skills needed to grow their churches and to assist their congregation and communities to grow. Further, they are at least refreshed about the biblical basis of business and why they can be successful. Of course the knowledge from just two sessions doesn’t stick completely, but with Pr Fred and Alone in the area there’ll be lots of support and encouragement. I’m excited to see what God does with all they’ve absorbed.

So thankful to have the chance to develop and deepen relationships with pastors. Our impact can be exponential!

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Pull the Net

Seated on several benches outside a small church in Buwenge town, more than 15 pastors waited for my arrival. These pastors formally organized themselves under the name Pull the Net for the purpose of improving entrepreneurial opportunities in their churches and communities. They invited me to meet with them and talk about how we might work together. My sense that God has led me to focus more on development for pastors was reinforced by this invitation and by this great group of leaders. All we need to do now is plan the dates and the event. Please pray that pastors from far and wide would come for the ministry teaching and that every one of them would see God moving in this neat group of leaders.

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