2021 | THE YEAR THAT WAS

The National Pioneers Initiative (NPI) partners with local churches and pioneers to impact nations for Christ through conventional and digital evangelism and discipleship, resulting in the establishment of sustainable, locally-run churches.

One NPI project operates in crisis-torn Venezuela. CV’s on-the-ground pioneer and project leader there, had the following to say about 2021:

More than ever we have placed our hope in God and persevered in faith, believing that he remains in control of everything. Through him, we have found courage, strength, peace, provision, and care.

We started the year with the opening of three more churches but by February, due to tightening COVID restrictions and the crippling prices of petrol, we were stopped in our tracks, unable to travel as planned. We were also affected by the imprisonment of one of our missionaries who was arrested for using a home-made fuel in his vehicle.

March marked a year of social quarantine, but also the month where COVID related deaths reached their highest. While restrictions eased for a short time, they were once again tightened, banning all gatherings at places of worship. However, in the small window before the quarantine took effect once again, we were able to open two more churches.

Hospitals here have collapsed. A lack of oxygen has seen the public health system send people home, untreated. The socio-economic crisis worsens with one third of the population unable to foresee how they will put food on the table in the coming months.

Gasoline shortage continues and the scarcity of diesel, used for the transportation of cargo including food and medicines, is further aggravating the problem of hyperinflation. The lack of these resources hinders access not only to food but to the availability of electricity and water.

We were able to open another church in April and perform several baptisms, one of which was for my son; it was a very special moment for us. We also had the opportunity to carry out some social work to share both food and our faith in God. While we haven’t been able to meet the needs of everyone, we have helped and brought comfort to some of this nation’s most vulnerable.

The month of June saw us complete another stage of the NPI project where we were able to hand over one of the churches to local successors (three couples who had been working alongside us), who will continue to create disciples. We were grateful for the reopening of state borders this month as it allowed us to gather with these three couples to share in communion.

August brought with it some extreme wet weather in parts of the country leaving many people missing presumed dead. Floods destroyed thousands of homes and left a large part of the country without electricity, water or telecommunications. In addition to the chronic shortage of fuel, the humanitarian situation worsened again after an earthquake that measured a magnitude of 4.9.

By October we had opened another church, the 41st of the project, and it was beautiful to see the joy and gratitude the congregation felt toward God and CV for this great blessing! Despite the difficulties in accessing materials for the building of these churches, the anticipation of each opening remained high with local Christians and their friends pitching in with labour, in all weather conditions.

With COVID restrictions easing this month we were able to attend two local conventions that brought renewal and encouragement to church goers  and pioneers alike. And we ended the year on a high, able to take the Word and prayer to school locations that were being used as vaccination points. 

We praise him who has taken care of us amid this adversity, and strengthened us with hope in his power. We believe he will continue to guard and bless us to prosperity.

Interested in applying NPI principles to support your own mission work? Download our free Insights Report ⇒ The NPI Story: Principles for Large-Scale Mission Work.

РЕАЛИЗУЙТЕ СВОЁ ВИДЕНИЕ.

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