As we enter into the season of Yahweh’s fall feasts, it is on my heart to share about two ministries my family and I are excited about. I am inspired to see how Yah is moving in different parts of the world, and I feel these ministries are doing work worthy of support.
Fellowship In Faith Ministries
While our family was attending a 7th-Day Baptist church years ago, a man named Michael Deering gave a presentation about a ministry serving indigenous congregations in the slums of Andhra Pradesh, India. India is about 80% Hindu, 14% Muslim, and only 2% Christian. Hostility toward Christians is common in many parts of India where radical Hinduism is prevalent. Because of the Hindu religion’s caste system, widows and orphans are relegated to an “untouchables” class and discarded as worthless.
In the midst of an idolatrous land, the Gampala Family Ministry preaches the Good News of Yeshua Messiah, despite anti-conversion laws which make such preaching illegal. The Gampalas choose to serve God rather than men, so they press on despite the risks to their own safety. Fields are white for harvest, and many among the poor are receptive to the Gospel. In addition to preaching, teaching, and discipleship, the Gampalas provide food and shelter for over 30 widows, relying on support from Christian brethren around the world. The Gampalas honor the 7th-day Sabbath and observe the biblical appointed times. While on a mission trip to serve the Gampala congregations in 2010, Michael Deering was touched by the devotion and plight of the brethren there. He began Fellowship In Faith Ministries to provide a conduit of support the Gampalas’ efforts.
Imagine hearing of Yahweh’s love for the first time after only knowing the darkness and superstition of Hinduism. Make no mistake — life in India does not get easier for “untouchables” who convert to Christianity, as such a conversion places them even lower on the societal hierarchy. Those who trust Yeshua in India do so at their own risk, looking to a greater reward.
If you would like to learn more, I invite to check out the links below, where you will find much more information, photos, and videos.
The Binji Cooperative
While attending the HRN Revive conference last month, my family and I met a woman named Eleanor Wyatt and learned about her ministry, The Binji Cooperative. Through Facebook, Eleanor’s son had connected with a Christian man from Uganda, Africa named Musumba in 2018. Shortly thereafter, Eleanor began to study the Bible remotely with Musumba’s family and share about the Torah, 7th-day Sabbath, and biblical appointed times. In 2019, Eleanor spent four weeks in Uganda, ministering alongside Musumba’s family. While there, she met many Messianic pastors and learned of a great need to help widows and abandoned families. Many Ugandan women receive poor treatment from their husbands, leaving mothers and children abandoned and struggling for survival.
Eleanor was inspired to help the Ugandans, and the Binji Ministries were launched. “Binji” is the Lugandan word for “abundance.” In John 10:10, Yeshua said, “I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly.” The Binji Cooperative, led by Eleanor, is an America-based ministry which supports The Binji Development Initiative, the Uganda-based ministry led by Musumba. The ministries provide encouragement, discipleship, education, and assistance with medical care, food, and shelter for widows, fatherless children, and abandoned families. They provide teaching on marriage, parenting, finances and marketable skills from a Biblical worldview, helping Ugandans rebuild their lives on a solid foundation.
An incredible door has been opened for the Gospel. Just since January of this year, the Binji ministries have witnessed over 150 Ugandans, many of them former Muslims, come to faith in Yeshua. Amazingly, the local Muslim leadership has shown respect for Eleanor, as they cannot deny people’s lives are being changed for the better. Eleanor and Musumba work tirelessly to help the Ugandan people. Eleanor currently spends about half the year in Uganda and the other half in America. There are many financial needs including medical care, child sponsorship for schooling, sponsorship of widows and families for food and shelter, automotive expenses for travel among villages, and international travel expenses for Eleanor.
If you are interested in learning more, I invite you to check out the links below. If you would like to receive a monthly newsletter for regular updates, you can reach out to Binji@protonmail.com.
“Let No One Come Empty-Handed”
Deuteronomy 16:16,17
Three times in a year all your males shall appear before YHWH your God in the place which He chooses, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread and at the Feast of Weeks and at the Feast of Booths, and they shall not appear before YHWH empty-handed. 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of YHWH your God which He has given you.
As we approach the Feast of Booths, I encourage all of us to consider what we can contribute to the body of Messiah. Yahweh’s feasts are intended to be a time of generosity, where no one comes empty-handed. The Scriptures command us to give liberally to our brothers in need (Deuteronomy 15:7-11) and to show special care for widows, orphans, and strangers (Deuteronomy 14:29).
Whether in India, Uganda, or our local communities, there are a host of opportunities to give of our time and resources. Let us come before Him with open hands and joyful hearts!
James 1:27
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Deuteronomy 16:13-15
You shall celebrate the Feast of Booths seven days after you have gathered in from your threshing floor and your wine vat; 14 and you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your towns. 15 Seven days you shall celebrate a feast to the Lord your God in the place which the Lord chooses, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful.
(Bible passages NASB 1995; Hebrew transl. added.)
Thanks for putting this out there, Jonathan. 👍👍✨
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