Tim and Beth H. (Africa) have been implementing the DMM (Disciple-Making Movement) since 2018. Disciple-Making Movements spread the gospel by making disciples who get to know  God and quickly make other disciples, who then repeat the process. A key feature of the DMM is a "Discovery Group", which is basically a group of people who read the Bible and discover for themselves what it means by asking questions like these: What does this teach us about God? What does this teach us about people? If this is from God, what should we do/obey in response? Who should we share this with? 

            Since 2019, Tim and Beth have seen a seemingly-unending series of problems, pain, and struggles. For example, every member of their family faced serious, often life-threatening illness; the people involved in the Discovery Groups began suffering sickness, family problems, strokes, lost pregnancies, and death; and all the Discovery Group leaders stopped leading their groups for various reasons. We can only conclude that this is real spiritual warfare.

           How do you fight a spiritual battle? With spiritual weapons of the Word of God and prayer! Tim and Beth have a mighty prayer army. Now in 2023, they report that the "tide" seems to be turning: Discovery Groups are starting up again and are meeting more consistently; family problems are being resolved; stroke victims are recovering. 

            Whether at home or in another country, sharing the Good News of Jesus is ALWAYS a spiritual battle! We are invading enemy territory, and the enemy is Satan. Please keep Tim, Beth, and all GLO missionaries in your prayers! 

  You can learn more about DMM here.

Yes, GLO has missionaries in Venezuela, one of the most troubled countries in the world! Rev. David Ernst (Venezuela) summarized the current conditions: "According to a report by the Wilson Center, more than 82 percent of people in Venezuela have incomes below the poverty line and 53 percent live in extreme poverty. More than 78 percent of households experience food insecurity. In addition, according to the Global Hunger Index, more than 23 percent of Venezuelans suffer from high levels of malnutrition, the highest in South America."

            Global Lutheran Outreach has been spearheading humanitarian assistance to Venezuela since 2017 through the GLO Venezuela Relief Project. Operating in coordination with the Confessional Lutheran Church of Chile, medicines are purchased in Chile and volunteers collate the orders and prepare each shipment according to lists of needed prepared by participating Lutheran congregations in Venezuela. During the initial years (2017-2020), many pharmaceutical companies had ceased operations in Venezuela, and local pharmacies had bare shelves. Today, medicine may be once again available but at high prices and in dollars! 

Rev. Ernst reports that "Venezuela’s restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid are higher than in Haiti, Syria, Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Afghanistan. So GLO’s success in placing these medications in the hands of our people is quite an accomplishment!" A typical shipment will benefit over 800 patients with a months' supply of up to three medications per patient. There are 22 congregations in Venezuela that participate in the program.