We uplift and empower national pastors in difficult countries, places that are plagued with poverty, ridicule, oppression, persecution, and in many cases the real threat of death. It's not easy to be a Christian in these countries and even harder to be a pastor. At Praise International we understand the plight of pastors. We want to be their biggest encouragement, their lifeline. Being a pastors in these countries is often thankless and extremely difficult. These pastors' example of courage and faithfulness in the face of innumerable obstacles gives a whole new meaning to the term suffering. They often feel alone in their struggles. It's easy to get discouraged, to wonder if they're getting anywhere. They are, after all, human. They need encouragement too. That's what we want to do at Praise.

Praise's first way of encouraging national pastors is by finding Christians who are willing to sponsor a national pastor with a donation of $40/month. These pastors are isolated in jungles and in the backcountry. Many of them have little to no salary! They must provide for their families.

Secondly, we also encourage them by funding special projects for them. It may be digging a well in Mali, purchasing a motorcycle in Ivory Coast, a bike for Cuban pastors, or buying them a cow. Whatever the need of our pastors might be, if it is important, but the cost is totally unaffordable, our generous ministry partners rise to the occasion.

Thirdly, we encourage indigenous pastors by visiting them, cheering them on face-to-face! This means so much to them. Praise is not merely "dollar$ $ign$" in their eyes, we are brothers and sisters in Christ who understand their relentless devotion to the Lord, who honor them for their faithful and selfless service. We care enough to come see them, to bless them. We come "bearing gifts." We want them to feel special. We want to treat them in ways that they have never been treated, in ways that they could never afford to treat themselves. In many of the countries where we work, we have bought the pastors a brand new, very nice Study Bible. The pastor's most important task is preaching and teaching the Word of God. Praise wants to facilitate this ministry. So far we have provided nice Study Bibles for 55 pastors in an unnamed country, 200 pastors in Guinea and 500 pastors in Ivory Coast! And we plan to provide a beautiful Bible for our Romanian pastors in November.

In his last words before ascending, Jesus spoke to the disciples with all authority, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to everyone everywhere!" Everyone everywhere needs Jesus! The national pastors whom we sponsor are going from village to village, preaching the Good News. As we lift up and empower national pastors, Praise becomes a catalyst for accomplishing that "great commission."

On November 5 to 16, we are going on a Pastor Encouragement Trip in Romania. My wife, Kandee, and I will be going, accompanied by Nathan Pickens, previous Youth and Worship Pastor at my church, and his son, Jackson. While we are there, we will travel across Romania, visiting and encouraging as many pastors as we possible! We will preach and teach and personally minister to the needs of the pastors and their wives. We are being pastors to the pastors. (Even a pastor needs a pastor, right?) Will you pray that we can truly be a blessing to every pastor we meet? Will you pray that our encouragement trip bears much fruit? In some situations we will participate with them in their outreach ministries.

Romania has more gypsies than any other country of the world. They are more appropriately called the Romani people. There are as many as 1.85 million Romani's in Romania! Sadly, many Romanians look down on the Romani's. They are often treated poorly. But the Romani people need the Lord too. If Jesus were physically on the earth like in the New Testament, he would be come to them, love and accept them, provide for their needs and preach the Good News to them. Praise International has sponsored several Romani pastors who evangelize Romani villages. The last times we went to Romania, we helped a Romani pastor in his outreach to two Romani villages. (See in the above photo.) He and other Christians go to a central location in the villages, children and youth flock to see them. They tell them about Jesus. They always distribute food and clothing, every week. Please pray for our Romani pastors in their evangelism and church planting among the Romani people.

The cost of discipleship. It costs to evangelism, to go there and encourage them. But because the value of each human soul, created in God's image, it is worth the cost. The Lord does not want anybody to be lost, but He wants all people to repent and be saved. (1 Peter 3:9) Being a catalyst for Romanian pastors is worth it because they are faithfully preaching the gospel to people for whom Jesus Christ died. "You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9) Aren't you glad Jesus-Christ thought that it was worth it, for him to die on the cross, becoming poor that we might become spiritually rich in Him? What is the worth of a human soul?

Would you consider a donation towards our Romanian Pastor Encouragement Trip? It will cost about $10,000. If God has enabled you to participate in our Encouragement Trip in this way, would you be willing make a donation today?

We want to thank you in advance for your prayers and support.

Uplift and Empower Romanian Pastors!

What is the worth of a human soul?