The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.  2 Timothy 2:2

Dear Family and Friends,

Thank you for your response to our last Pastor Training newsletter and for sharing in our excitement of welcoming baby Brody into our family! It is such a joyous season of life.

Rwanda Bound!
We booked our tickets! In about five weeks our family of 9 will depart Sarasota, FL on October 8th and land in Kigali after about 24 hours of travel! We are really looking forward to getting back to Rwanda, to our home there, and to the pastors and friends we have missed.

We do have two pressing fundraising needs, and we would love your partnership in them!
Travel back to Rwanda. $6,700 for nine one way tickets. $800 has been given, so $5,900 to go.
Link: GIVE TOWARD BANNICK TRAVEL EXPENSES  (https://us.list-manage.com/3JxMqkreuvl?e=faabd7d0ee&c2id=58785dacf52fa58c33b9729ddbaf8461)  (note: travel)

Fall Pastor Training. $2,500 for the summer + October and November conferences (schedule below). $300 has been given, so $2,200 to go.
Link: GIVE TOWARD PASTOR TRAINING (https://us.list-manage.com/xZ66nq1Rei5?e=faabd7d0ee&c2id=58785dacf52fa58c33b9729ddbaf8461)

Thank you so much for your prayerful consideration!


Hear From the Pastors:
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Before we share the fall schedule, we want you to hear from the pastors themselves. These are their own words from the May and June trainings in Bihembe, translated from Kinyarwanda:
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I am so thankful for this training. I have been serving in the church for many years, yet I had misunderstanding about God's forgiveness. I believed that God's forgiveness only applied to me after I confessed each of my sins. I also thought that I could not enter heaven unless I died immediately after confessing all my sins. This week, however, I came to the understanding that I have complete forgiveness in Christ because of His atoning sacrifice. I now know that my acceptance before God rests on what Christ has done, not on my ability to confess every sin. I rejoice in the truth that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” and that includes me. I also gained greater confidence in God's love for me. I now feel secure in knowing that because I have believed in Jesus Christ, I am no longer under condemnation. My salvation is secure, and this truth has brought me great peace and assurance.
— Didace

This training helped me understand what justification means. Before, I did not really understand what it meant to be justified. Now I know that justification means being declared righteous before God. I used to think that I had to convince God that I was a good person by my good deeds. But I now understand that it is God's work, not my good works, that makes me righteous before Him. Realizing this has brought great joy to my heart because I had been living as if I were carrying a heavy burden. Through His atoning work, Jesus has justified me completely and forever.
— Drocelle

I learned a lot this week through this wonderful course (Marriage and Family), and it was a great blessing for me to be here. One truth that deeply touched me is that men and women have equal value before God. This has changed the way I view and relate to women, including my wife. I also learned that women often process their thoughts while they are talking, and that this can be different from the way men think. Understanding this has helped me change the way I listen to and understand my wife. I did not realize before that she may be thinking through things as she speaks. Another truth that impacted me deeply is that God has forgiven all my sins, past, present, and future, through Christ. This truth touched my heart greatly and has brought me a deeper joy and peace in my relationship with God.
— Egide

Thank you for being a part of this impact for Christ!


Pastor Training: Fall
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October
Group #1: October 12th-16th
- Pastor Bob Edmondson: TLT: Teaching the Christian Faith
- Pastor John Gillespie: Systematic Theology 3
Group #2:  October 19th-23rd
- Pastor Bob Edmondson: TLT: From Harm to Harmony
- Pastor John Gillespie: Romans, Part 1

November
Group #1: November 9th-13th
- Pastor Ben Wong: Disciple Making, Part 1
- Pastor Steve Pettit: the Gospel of John

Would you pray with us?
* For safe travel on October 8th — about 24 hours with all nine of us, including a newborn (and 2 year old!)
* For Pastor Bob and wife Eileen, Pastor John and wife Tessa, Pastor Ben and Pastor Steve as they prepare and travel
* For both Bihembe groups as they finish this year's courses
* For our family as we settle back into life in Kigali

Thank you so much for your prayerful consideration and for partnering with us to continue to train and disciple pastors and leaders in Rwanda!

In Christ,
Chad, Kortney, Olive, Heidi, Elin, David, Gavin, May and Brody

November 2021 Bihembe Training