“One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him …” // LUKE 17:15-16
This week we take a moment to turn around, look back, and thank God for the ways he’s blessed TOLI’s ministry this year. There are too many to count, but here are the top 10!
10. BRAVE ENTREPRENEURS. Despite tough economic conditions worldwide, TOLI entrepreneurs showed courage and creativity. Like Japhet in Kenya, who despite inflation expanded his business from a small shop to include goats and chickens — and now he's dreaming and saving for a cow.
9. A GROWING TEAM. This year, we added 12 new field staffers and a third full-time US team member, expanding our paid staff to 46. We are grateful for the rich talent God has sent our way.
8. GENEROUS SUPPORTERS. Your prayers, support, and gifts are wind in our sails! A special thanks to TOLI Sustainers, who underwrite our overhead costs; Monthly Investors, who give steadily all year long; and Venture Teams, who come alongside newly launched TOLI Sites with funding and prayers.
7. SERVANT LEADERSHIP. Our new collaboration with DAI is helping us equip and empower our growing global staff through Servant Leadership workshops. We give thanks to God for connecting our ministries exactly when we needed it most.
6. UNITY IN PRAYER. Our first “Global Day of Prayer and Fasting” in October was a powerful experience, connecting everyone in the TOLI family to each other and the Lord.
5. DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION. Ok, this one’s nerdy, but we’ve prayed about this idea for years and it’s finally coming to fruition. We’re so thankful to have begun working with Impact Atlas to design a digital case management system to track client transformation. Social Workers will soon be able to use a simple app to quickly collect all the details they need about every client, in real time, even in the remotest locations. Rollout is set for next year. Stay tuned!
4. GOD'S INTERVENTION. We’ve seen God’s hand at work in countless ways this year, but we’re particularly grateful for how he intervened this fall, when TOLI Founder Emad Yassa discovered a heart blockage just one day before flying to Ethiopia and Kenya. We thank God for his restored health.
"I missed everyone so much, but it was an amazing time.
I feel like God was telling me to rest with him and enjoy him. I was able to pray for the conference and everyone by name."// EMAD YASSA
3. New life in Christ. New businesses are powerful, but new life in Christ is priceless! We give glory to God for the many clients and family members who began following Jesus for the first time this year. And we give thanks to our local leaders who share their lives and share Jesus with joy, faith, and authenticity every day.
2. Joyful reunions. We are still glowing from this year’s three Regional Conferences that convened in Managua, Cairo, and Chuka, Kenya, gathering more than 100 TOLI leaders from six different countries. The laughter, worship, friendships, learning, and love shared filled our cups and renewed our spirits. Thank you, Lord, for togetherness.
1. Enduring hope. We work in tough places. Places where obstacles seem too high, where wars grind on, where safety nets don’t exist. And yet somehow, hope still lives. We give thanks to the God of hope – the ‘lifter of heads” – who speaks and sustains and saves. We give thanks that he never stops working, never stops pursuing, never stops inviting us to be with him. May you too feel the solid assurance of God’s enduring hope this Thanksgiving. Praise be to God.
“Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” // LUKE 17:19