Week of Prayer 
-Day 8-

Hat tricks and corner kicks were part of Gabriel’s journey to Jesus.

Gabriel and his friends were looking for a place to play soccer. A missionary serving in his hometown opened her yard and offered to sponsor their soccer team — with one condition: every other week the team would study the Bible with her.

The boys excitedly agreed. Through those Bible studies, Gabriel learned about God’s great love for him. He became a Christian through this community outreach and soon answered a clear calling to dedicate his life to ministry.
Now, Gabriel serves as a director of a local ministry in his country.

“The burdens of the people here resonated with me,” Gabriel said. “I knew I wanted to be part of their journey toward hope and faith.”

International Mission Board missionary Matt Clay serves people groups in the Horn of Africa. Matt and Gabriel are close friends and work together to form strategies that extend the gospel and make disciples. Matt shared training materials about moving from evangelism to discipleship and then forming healthy churches and leaders. Gabriel incorporated the training into his ministry philosophy.

Pray the Lord continues to give Gabriel direction as he plans and dreams about how to invest in local leaders.

Matt and Gabriel spend intentional time in the Word and in their community. They call it “With Me” time — drawn from Mark 3:14, when Jesus appointed the twelve so that they might be with Him and then be sent out.

When Gabriel and Matt meet, they sometimes talk through ministry strategies; other times they simply enjoy one another’s company. They also practice this model of discipleship by always bringing someone along with them into ministry settings, multiplying their impact as they go.

At the end of each year, Matt and Gabriel sit down to celebrate and record ministry activities and accomplishments. People Gabriel has discipled are now serving in other areas and reaching new communities with the gospel.

“I’ve witnessed incredible transformation in individuals and communities,” Gabriel said. “People are coming to faith by hearing Bible stories, and there’s a growing hunger for God’s Word.”

Ask God to empower more local believers and send more workers to the unreached in this region.

Gabriel said his partnership with Matt and the IMB has been invaluable.

“Their support has provided mentorship, prayer, resources, and training that have equipped me and my team for effective ministry,” Gabriel said. “I deeply appreciate the collaborative spirit and the shared commitment to spreading the gospel, which has strengthened my work.”

That partnership goes both ways. Matt emphasized how invaluable Gabriel is — noting his wisdom and the way his language and heritage uniquely serve the mission.

“We’re all better together,” Matt said.

Thank God for missionaries like Matt and Gretchen Clay who serve among the peoples of the Horn of Africa.

Will you prayerfully consider helping Monticello Baptist Church reach our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal of $8,500?

Your gift will join thousands of others from Southern Baptist churches across the nation as we pursue a collective goal of $210 million. Every dollar you give goes directly to support International Mission Board missionaries serving around the world.

Just select the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® fund to make your gift today!