SOWERS International Newsletter May 2026 (Central and East Africa)

Greetings to you all.

Autumn is here and I just love all the magnificent colours of the trees that adorn the streets. It is a reminder of the beauty and magnificence of our God who 'has made all things for His pleasure'. I do trust that you can take time out to appreciate and enjoy all the works He has made. There is also, wonderful beauty in seeing God at work in transforming peoples` lives through His love and the Gospel of His Son.

Recent Events

Ethiopia

Reporting on his recent trip to Ethiopia Emmanuel writes. “The door to Ethiopia is now wide open. The feasibility study confirmed that the SOWERS program is highly suitable for Ethiopia. We verified that the sketch board system works effectively with the Amharic script and received a very warm welcome from local church leaders. A major highlight was the eagerness of pastors to start Level 1 and 2 training. Seeing their excitement as we discussed translating materials into Oromo and Somali showed that there is a great hunger for these tools. The presence of my wife, Udiness, was a significant blessing. She built deep personal connections with the families of local leaders, which is essential for long-term ministry partnerships in this culture.

My return visit in June will allow face-to-face meetings with key church leaders representing several denominations, to identify key people. Also, by leading a workshop at the Christian Brethren International Conference, I will address the need for a formal platform to promote SOWERS to a wider audience. This promotion is vital for securing the long-term “member support” and the backing required to grow the work from a pilot project into a self-sustaining national program”. 

Zimbabwe

Edmond writes,” The Glendale Sowers outreach that we conducted in the first quarter was one of its own kind. When we arrived at the place where we were to conduct the outreach, at the Glendale Shopping Centre, it was almost like nobody would come to hear the sketch-board message. The area, on this day, had no people around, but to my surprise, after we pitched the sketch board people came in their numbers to hear the Word of God. Some young men remained standing attentively like uniformed policeman on parade, listening to an important announcement from their commander. We spoke about Jesus as the only way to God. People responded to the invitation and gave their lives to Christ. We give glory and honour to Jesus”.

MZ gives testimony that on a late Saturday afternoon, at Zava corner shops in Chiredzi Zimbabwe, you could see people just scattered around minding their own business; some sitting under a shade tree drinking liquor, some selling vegetables, and others selling clothes just to mention a few. A sketch board was strategically erected quietly. A sudden loud announcement interrupted people and momentarily brought all activities to a halt. You could see curious faces searching for answers, and to their bewilderment they saw a man painting. Some people could not keep themselves in suspense and in the process they became interested. That’s the magic of the sketch board! A message of repentance and God`s love was powerfully preached and 9 people gave their lives to Christ, 17 others were counselled and 50 people heard the Gospel. 

Zambia

For many years Kinda, a 30-year-old man, in Zambia, was going through difficulties in his life. They caused him to lose his children, and out of his desperation, he sought help from witchdoctors, but nothing improved. Then he came across the SOWERS open-air meeting and heard the Gospel. He gave his life to Jesus and now he is a changed person and he is living a happy life.

In Eastern Zambia the number of people attending churches has increased through SOWERS evangelism. Like Kachewele Pentecostal Holiness church whose number was between 15 to 20 and now it has reached 50 to 70 members, and this church is in a village, deep in a rural area. In door-to-door evangelism a man who was very sick was encountered. He was prayed for and he was healed of his sickness.

Prayer and Praise Points

1) Local leaders to be raised up in Botswana
2) Wisdom and discernment for Emmanuel when he goes back to Ethiopia in June
3) Bertie and Dan - potential leaders in Namibia
4) Funding to increase to meet the challenges
5) Senior Sowers and their families
6) Project funding

Thank you so much for your support and prayers for me, my family and the Sowers.

Yours in His love
Selwyn Sexton