Catastrophe in the end of 2025

A flash flood that surprised in seconds

In December, we reported on how flash floods caused by heavy rains and a tropical cyclone swept away areas in Aceh province. The almost tsunami-like flood swept away entire villages.

The press reported that the death toll would exceed a thousand. Usually, aid organizations focus on such natural disasters, but…

One thing made it personal for us: The flood hit the areas of pioneers who have been sent from the school over the years.

We had supported them in their work with the unreached people groups in areas and many of them were already managing on their own. Then the flood hit!

It is clear that after such devastation, we did not want to leave them stranded, but wanted to help them start anew in their work areas. They are our sisters and brothers (Mt.12:49-50).

 

A MOMENT OF GRATITUDE: The Lord protected all the pioneers!

According to recent reports, there were 25 pioneers & five established churches in need of relief help.

Pr. Shierley Siwi organised a first relief team for nine days in the midst of the devastation and reported on it after returning before Christmas.

I want to thank God for the support that came through GNN. It means a lot to the pioneers who survived the devastation. They are all safe now, but many lost everything.

Homes and prayer rooms were also partially damaged. Pastors, who had left the school in previous years, and their church congregation also suffered from the devastation.

It touched my heart to see how our pioneers, despite all the challenges, have remained faithful to where they had been sent from the school over the years.

After planting new churches, they have continued there, never leaving their place. Many of the members of the congregations had also lost everything. We helped them too!

A pioneer couple who had just started working with a small child escaped with only the clothes they wore. We rented them a place to stay for the night. We also provided cutlery and other necessities.”

 

Shierley Siwi

 

Thank you all for your supports and prayers in this blessed work!

Brief Look into Asia 2025

Indonesia (April-May)

First, a team building week in Jakarta for 19 UPG pioneers who have been working in their areas for years.

After Sunday services, we moved to the familiar Sumatra Bible School. Days begin there at 4 a.m. with prayer time. After morning activities, classes begin at 7 a.m. During the day, there are lectures for the 1st and 2nd year students. Afterwards there is an evening service.

Over the course of two weeks, Pr. Kimmo and I each had 20 sessions. The disciplined training has later been seen to our advantage in field conditions.

From the May graduation ceremony, 26 pioneers were sent to plant churches in ‘dark’ communities and 13 others among the UPG tribes. GNN has been sending regular so-called ‘start-up’ support for 1-2 years to pioneers (840€/year).

Most supporters pay 70€/month. Over 80% of those who leave succeed in their destinations!

 

Would you like to become a supporter?

Reference: 3117

 

East Malaysia and Vietnam (October)

Our two-week mission first focused on the island of Borneo, which is larger than Finland, in East Malaysia. There, 25 young employees participated in a training week.

We continued to Vietnam, where 25 pastors and evangelists participated in the training in HCM City (Saigon), the furthest coming from 1,000 km north.

The purpose of the trainings is to awaken local churches and workers to the responsibility of evangelising their unread people groups (UPG).There are 700 of such groups in south-east Asia!

 

Arto Sädeaho

Brief Look into East Africa 2025

Tanzania

In Arusha, our GNN team gave a week of advanced training to 52 pastors gathered from different provinces of the country. According to them, 3000 copies of the Sunday school manual called Mwanga (Light) were distributed. We had ordered a copy to be distributed to 2800 workers trained in the previous 22 regional seminars.

We challenged them from now on to be responsible for the rest of the seminars in the country. GNN would only support Pr. Francis, who coordinates the events and holds the training materials they received from us.

In May-July, Pr. Francis first traveled among the Maasai nomads, then he organized a children’s ministry training week for pastors in the Kilimanjaro region. Soon after, the children’s ministry in the congregations began to show growth.

Children’s ministry is key to homes and new tribes!

A children’s conference was held in Kigoma, a heavily Muslim area, for 2,500 children. It was broadcast nationwide on TV.

– The coordinator was a pastor who had been inspired by the GNN 2022 mission course.

The seminar, led by the Tanzanian GNN team, Pr. Francis, led to a children’s camp in Bunju before school started and another one in December.

West-Uganda

In Mubende, further training for pastors in areas of UPG work* and a follow-up seminar for young workers. Inspired young Dr. Jordan organised a campaign targeting students at Kampala University.

(*UPG = Unreached  People Groups)

In the same week, we participated in radio programs that we have supported for years. Bishop John reported 461 conversions recorded during 2025. The broadcasts reach 30 million people in East Africa. After each broadcast, the studio receives about 25 calls a week, many of them Muslims. Those who convert are directed to local churches.

We also supported Bishop John’s conference series in the Karamodja and Northeastern Uganda regions.