Gospel Growth

Thursday, Jan 19

TODAY’S READING: Isaiah 42

DEVOTIONAL: “GOSPEL GROWTH IN TOGO"
by Erin Bird

Several years ago, I received an email from a pastor friend who mentioned a gal from his church headed to the mission field. He not only vouched for her, but asked if I would meet with her to consider having our one-year-old church plant become a financial partner.

While I was very impressed by this young woman, unfortunately, we couldn’t get it in our budget that year (Riverwood was still 75% supported by outside donors). But 7 years later, our Missions Decisions Team decided to begin financially and prayerfully supporting that same gal.

Her name: Azlyn McCarthy. And her place of ministry: Togo.

But what led the Missions Decisions Team to say “yes” to financially supporting Azlyn wasn’t her cool first name, nor her fascinating location. It was the uniqueness of her ministry. As we considered “ends of the earth” Gospel Growth, we were looking for ministries that were going to places and people others weren’t going to. Azlyn’s ministry was one of the most unique we encountered. She is helping spearhead a gospel-centered church planting movement among the 40,000 deaf people of Togo as part of the 6 Degree Initiative (6degreeinitiative.org).

Azlyn’s ministry focus would explain why her favorite passage in Scripture is Proverbs 31:8-9.

“Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

So let’s join together to pray for Azlyn…

PRAYER:
Father, right now we pray for:
  • Azlyn’s physical, emotional, and spiritual safety
  • Azlyn’s coworker, Mawussé, as he leads their efforts
  • For unity among the 6˚ Initiative team, especially as they transition to a new key leader
  • For people within the deaf community to find and follow Jesus
Feel free to open your Notes app to write down a thought or two from today's reading or write out your own prayer.

IF YOU HAVE MORE TIME:
Send Azlyn an email letting her know you prayed for her today. Azlyn’s email is [email protected].
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