FRONT-LINE REPORT: The International Bible Institute 2023
In 2023, the Lord en- abled PFC to start three new International Bible Institutes (IBI). The IBI is a Bible College inside of a prison and is just for inmates. We were able to open two in Ethiopia and one in Pakistan. This is no small feat. A lot of prayer and planning goes into successfully launching an IBI. To God be all the glory!
IBI graduation at Dilla prison in Ethiopia.
The purpose of an IBI is to disciple an inmate starting with the basics of the faith, and four years and one hundred forty six lessons later, the planting of an inmate church inside that prison. Imagine for a moment the amount of work this takes, particularly when this is happening in a third world country where both economics and government restrictions can be roadblocks. These are the three men who work under the PFC banner in facilitating these new Bible Colleges behind bars. Pastor Sebsibe Wolasso joined with PFC in August of 2021. He already had a thriving ministry in Dilla prison Ethiopia. He wanted to take his ministry to the next step and soon realized that would be the initiation of an IBI in Dilla prison. He was successful in opening that IBI in February 2023. It is thriving and he is making solid inmate disciples for Christ. He is also, working as our Church Planter in Ethiopia. Pastor Safdar Choudhry already had a ministry working with inmates charged with blasphemy in Pakistan, when he joined PFC in 2017. As he was working with the blasphemy inmates, he was also trying to find a way to disciple them and other inmates that he was allowed to reach in Adyala Rawalpindi prison. There are many restrictions that he must navigate. However, we were able to adjust our IBI program to fit what was allowed in Pakistan and it successfully started in March 2023. Who would have ever thought that God would open the doors to prisons where we are not even allowed to visit? Pastor Tadele Asefa is our National Director for PFC in Ethiopia. Once he completed the work with Pastor Sebsibe in opening the first IBI in Ethiopia in Dilla prison, he didn’t want to stop there. His next effort was to establish an IBI in Adama prison. He has been a tireless advocate for IBIs in Ethiopia. Tadele is very good at administration and knows how to work within the government framework for getting permits and approval. His heart for the prisoners of Ethiopia is huge and he never stops working to help them hear the Word of God. His IBI started in November 2023. PFC now has five International Bible Institutes operating and is poised to open several more in 2024. Email Greg Von Tobel for information about sponsoring an IBI school. gvt@pfcom.org
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