Armenia
(MNN) — Evangelist Sammy Tippit is in Armenia to
launch a training series among the Armenian believers.
Given the context, there are some security concerns, but he
says the materials will also be helpful for the church in the nearby Islamic republics. "We're going to release an initiative:
'Praying For Your Family,' which we have done in Brazil,
here in the United States, Iran and other
places. I'm going to be speaking to
pastors and leaders from around the country about 'Praying For Your Family.'"
STM is in partnership with "The
Brotherhood," a renewal movement within the Apostolic (Orthodox) Church of Armenia. This group will be running the grassroots part of the program. (They've previously published two of Tippit's
books, The Prayer Factor and Fire in Your Heart.)
The goal with this initiative is to try to help people learn
how to pray effectively and Biblically for their families.
Many are responding to the Gospel throughout the region, and
that's why Christian leaders have asked STM to provide leadership training.
They desperately need people to lead small Bible study groups. This training could play a role in one of the
most strategic times of training leaders in the Islamic world.
Tippit says, "I believe that this will result in many
family members coming to Christ and many families growing closer to one
another. That will be the first thing that we will do."
Then he's speaking to a conference of church leaders about "8 truths to live or die by," a topic that's recently been close to his heart.
"I have just been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Of course, anytime you
get that kind of a diagnosis, it causes you to reflect deeply on the things
which are really important. So I just thought it would be appropriate at this
time to speak about the things that are the most important in
ministry."
The Armenia
trip will be his last overseas before his prostate cancer surgery. Tippit
explains, in his blog, that his schedule remains busy right up until his
surgery is scheduled. "I will also speak at the Global Day of Prayer in San Antonio, Texas,
at the end of May. I preach in June in Florida
and also at the Sunday morning worship service at the Southern Baptist
Convention in San Antonio. Then we launch Praying
for Your Family in Canada
right before I have my surgery."
He plans on recuperating for two months before getting back
into the "swing of things." Pray that
the surgery goes well and that Tippit heals quickly. Pray, too, that Tex will continue to experience the peace of
God.
