Posts tagged advancing the gospel
Ethiopia Pastors College: Inaugural Class

Please pray for Trinity Fellowship Pastors College in Ethiopia and for Josh Pannell, Dean of the College, as they begin their first year.

From Josh Pannell:

“Michael and I have long prayed that Trinity Fellowship would be a training ground for the next generation of Ethiopian pastors. And to our joy, God is answering those prayers, and he’s doing it much quicker than we expected. He’s brought to our church many men who show giftings and qualifications for elders. After 20 months of praying, fasting, and seeking counsel, we’ve decided to establish a pastors college as a ministry of Trinity Fellowship. Similar to the SGPC in Louisville, the Trinity Fellowship Pastors College will seek to train future pastors in both “life and doctrine” (1 Tim 4:16). 

Over a 12 month period, each student will complete 40 one-week block courses covering topics of both theological and practical ministry. God has given us professors from the US, Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia who will travel to Addis to teach these classes. We’ve also established a partnership with Union School of Theology in Wales which will allow our graduates to receive accredited diplomas as well as credits towards an MTh from Union upon graduation. 

As Addis Ababa is a very international city, we’re glad that TFPC’s first class will host students from 5 different countries. Many of them are men Michael has been building relationships with for several years. If I were to speak of all the qualifications of these men, this email would easily double in length. Let it suffice for me to tell you a story of just two men: Brian and Mohammed.”


Dave Taylor is Director of Emerging Nations for Sovereign Grace Churches and serves as the lead pastor of Sovereign Grace Church, Sydney, Australia.

Josh Pannell is the Dean of the Ethiopian Pastors College and serves as a pastor at Trinity Fellowship in Addis Ababa.

The full post Launching Our Ethiopian Pastors College originally appeared on the Emerging Nations blog on July 6, 2021. Emerging Nations exists to serve the pioneering work of Sovereign Grace Churches around the world.

Reaching The Unreached in SE Asia

Not all of the pioneering work of Sovereign Grace Churches can be reported openly and easily. For some their work is in countries “closed” to the Gospel and so the reporting of such has to be discreet, as is the case with the following update from our team leader in Thailand, SE Asia.

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:14-15a).

Paul’s words still ring true in unreached places in the 10-40 window like Thailand. This Buddhist majority country of 69 million where worship of idols and spirits is the norm, has an enormous need for the gospel and laborers.


Dave Taylor is Director of Emerging Nations for Sovereign Grace Churches and serves as the lead pastor of Sovereign Grace Church, Sydney. He resides in Australia with his wife Emma and their five children.

The full post Reaching The Unreached in SE Asia originally appeared on the Emerging Nations blog on May 5, 2021. Emerging Nations exists to serve the pioneering work of Sovereign Grace Churches around the world.

Moving Forward in Australia

An update from Riley Spring, Lead Pastor of Sovereign Grace Church, Parramatta, Australia…

It is a such joy to report on some of the key developments that are happening here as we seek to move forward in Sovereign Grace Churches Australia. The Lord continues to be so good us, and so here are some headlines for you:

Pastoral Internships, Leadership Bootcamp, Three partnership opportunities, Podcast Launch


Dave Taylor is Director of Emerging Nations for Sovereign Grace Churches and serves as the lead pastor of Sovereign Grace Church, Sydney. He resides in Australia with his wife Emma and their five children.

The full post Moving Forward in Australia originally appeared on the Emerging Nations blog on April 1, 2021. Emerging Nations exists to serve the pioneering work of Sovereign Grace Churches around the world.