Your Support is Bearing Fruit Across Nations

Empower Dreams partners are seeing lives transformed—from massive Jesus Film gatherings in Sudan to sustainable hope in Uganda’s Katanga Ghetto. Here’s how God is moving through Empower Dreams, thanks to your generosity.

A Heartfelt Thank You

Dear friends,

On behalf of everyone at Empower Dreams, thank you. Your prayers, fasting, and generous giving fuel Gospel breakthroughs around the world. Every gift, big or small, equips local leaders to share Christ’s love in powerful, tangible ways.

This past week alone, we witnessed the ripple effect of your faithfulness. Let’s celebrate what God is doing together.

A Powerful Week of Ministry in Africa

The Jesus Film: Audiences of 1,000+ and Counting

Your generous gifts through Empower Dreams equip our partners with powerful Gospel tools. God works through this Empower Dreams equipment as Pastor Ibrahim’s team hosts Jesus Film showings for over 1,000 people at a time—and the response overwhelms us.

“Large numbers are committing to relationships with Jesus,” Paul reported after visiting the field. “I’m so thankful to see these fruitful examples of how our funding is being used.”

Hearts open. Lives surrender. People invite Jesus to reign as Lord and commit to long-term discipleship. These are not mere events; they are powerful moves of God. Empower Dreams stands honored and blessed to partner in what He is doing in East Africa.

Pastor Ibrahim is pictured with Empower Dreams Jesus Film, and Turtle Box equipment.

Hope Rising in the Katanga Ghetto

Meet Wilson Namuwoza, our cherished partner in Uganda, and Ruth, a radiant woman of faith in the heart of Katanga Ghetto.

Ruth welcomes 17 souls—including three tiny infants—into her patchwork home no bigger than a large closet. Among them, several mothers fight to escape prostitution while scraping together meals for their children.

Yet God weaves beauty from brokenness.

A New Venture: Handmade Notebooks, Sustainable Futures

Ruth now teaches these women to craft and sell handmade notebooks. What started as a spark of hope becomes a thriving small business.

In the photo below, Wilson hands Ruth a microfinance loan to launch this venture. Every notebook sold means:

• Food on the table

• Children getting an education

• Dignity restored

• A future beyond survival

Join us in praying that this business succeeds financially and opens doors to redemption, healing, and lasting change.

Wilson Namuwoza (right) presents Ruth with a microfinance loan to grow her notebook-making ministry in Katanga Ghetto.

On the Ground: How We Stay Connected

At Empower Dreams, we visit our partners regularly to:

• See firsthand how God changes lives through your support

• Encourage and strengthen our partners

• Listen for what the Lord reveals about the future of their ministries

These visits ensure every resource is prayerfully and wisely invested.

Here’s the best part: Our Board of Directors personally covers all administrative expenses. That means 100% of your donation goes directly to ministry work—no overhead, no waste.

Paul (volunteer chairman and CEO) pictured with Empower Dreams partners and their families.

You’re Invited: Become a Monthly Giver

Your one-time gift makes an impact. Monthly partnership multiplies it.

When you give consistently, local leaders plan boldly, train teams, and reach more communities—without wondering if the next need will be met.

Let’s Keep Praying

• For Pastor Ibrahim’s team as they follow up with new believers

• For Ruth and the women in Katanga—wisdom, provision, and open hearts

• For every partner: strength, protection, and Holy Spirit boldness

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” — Matthew 9:37–38

With deep gratitude,

Paul Staudacher

Chairman & CEO (Volunteer)

"...We've NEVER seen revival happen this fast"

Last year, Empower Dreams partnered with Pastor Ibrahim to launch famine relief in Thobo, a region of South Sudan. This was effort that not only brought food and medicine but also opened hearts to Jesus in a way Pastor Ibrahim had never seen before. In our last report, we celebrated as 50 Muslims accepted Christ, and the Safaya Church grew by over 900 new believers.

Now, that spark has become a WILDFIRE of revival.

On Pastor Ibrahim’s most recent visit, he shared, “In eight years of ministry to the Nuba region, I’ve never seen this kind of revival happen this fast or at this scale.” Dozens more Muslims have since come to faith, churches continue to multiply, and discipleship groups are springing up across the Thobo area.

Above: Digging baptismal for new believers

What began as famine relief has become a movement of spiritual renewal. Families who once lined up for food are now gathering for worship. The same homes that stored grain are now hosting prayer meetings. God is showing that physical hunger and spiritual hunger are deeply connected, and He is satisfying both.

More than 5,000 people have now watched the Jesus Filmacross Thobo County, with over 900 new believers in one church area alone, and more than 1,500 souls coming to Christ throughout the entire region.

Yet challenges remain. Even after a good harvest this year, the region continues to receive hundreds of IDPs, many still facing hunger and hardship.

Pastor Ibrahim and his team are responding not just with compassion, but with vision. Together with Empower Dreams and GNAC (Greater Nuba Action Coalition), we are evaluating another short term relief program. If you would like to hear more, please reach out.

This movement is the direct fruit of your prayers, generosity, and obedience. What began with relief has become revival, and what’s happening in Thobo today will transform the Nuba region long term.

To God be the glory.

Bold Steps in Serbia: Roma Leaders Trained to Share Christ

From February 28 to March 2, gospel momentum stirred in Boijnik, Serbia. Empower Dreams supported a gospel training led by disciple-maker Kevin Weigelt and his Romanian teammate Stefan. Around 50 Roma believers gathered; seven of them pastors representing ten churches from Serbia and North Macedonia.

One of the most humbling moments was training Pastor Salim Alijevic Lesckovac, who leads Serbia’s largest church with over 750 Roma members. The team cast vision for disciple-making movements and equipped participants to boldly reach the lost and begin to disciple new believers.

Though many had never shared the gospel with strangers before, that changed on the final day. Seven teams were sent into the streets for a prayer walk, coached and accompanied by Kevin and Stefan. The result? Twenty gospel conversations, seven people received prayer, and two gave their lives to Christ.

The simple methods that were taught during the training have lead to increased boldness and ongoing fruit! The attendees of the gospel training have not stopped sharing the good news of Jesus which has resulted in many new disciples and 11 people who recently obeyed Jesus in baptism. (See picture below)

Pastor Danijel Reckovic, the hosts and organizer of the training, said: 

“Thanks to you, we have experienced a great blessing.”

Plans are underway for a second-level discipleship training this fall, with continued prayer and discernment.

Empower Dreams celebrates this moment not only as a training event, but as the beginning of a movement; bold Roma believers stepping out in faith to transform their communities for Jesus. Thank you to all who pray and give to make moments like this possible. Attached below is a video of the new believers worshipping together!

To God be the glory.

Spring 2025 Thobo Update

Seek first the Kingdom

Our partner in South Asia recently shared a powerful story from the field. One of the local leaders was struggling financially and had run out of options to provide food for his household.

Each day, the husband walked from village to village selling Bibles without much success. His wife kept praying that their family—herself, her husband, and their young son—would stay strong and not go hungry.

On the sixth day without food, the family traveled to a nearby village to share the Gospel. As they passed through, one home caught the wife’s eye. She stopped and asked if she could speak with the people inside. The man at the door told her no, as they were just about to leave; but she gently insisted, saying she only wanted to offer a quick prayer.

Reluctantly, they agreed. But as soon as she began to pray, a young boy in the back of the house began to cry...loudly enough for everyone to hear. Shocked, the family rushed to him and asked what was wrong. After a long pause, the boy shared that if the visitors hadn’t come, he wouldn’t be alive. He confessed that he had planned to take his life that very day.

The entire household wept at the news and thanked the woman for her prayer. They begged the visiting family to stay for lunch. At first, she declined and told them of her commitment to praying for others; but after much insistence, they agreed to join the meal.

As they ate, the mother watched her son joyfully enjoying the food, grateful for his full stomach, but silently worried about where their next meal would come from. She hoped he would eat as much as he could, knowing there was no food waiting at home.

When it came time to leave, the host family came out with a large bag of rice, flour, onions, potatoes, oil: everything a family might need. They offered it as a gift of gratitude. The woman hesitated, saying, “You don’t need to give us all this! And besides, how could we carry something so heavy such a long way home?”

But the host family insisted,

and even offered to personally drive them and the supplies back.

They praised God for His provision and for the miracle He had worked in more than one life that day. In that moment, the woman made a commitment: no matter what happens, she will never stop sharing the Good News.

We are honored to support and empower faithful followers of Jesus like her.

Jen

From Bamboo to Blessing: How God Used Empower Dreams to Build a Refuge for South Asia’s Leaders

In 2023, on my visit to our local leaders in South Asia, I heard about their vision for having a space to house their leaders: leaders that needed training, persecuted leaders that needed respite, and leaders that simply needed a "vacation" with their families. After all, this is one of the main reasons they chose to relocate from Delhi to a village in Northeast India: space to minister to their leaders holistically. South Asia is a highly volatile and hard part of the world to be a follower of Jesus, but it is also one of the most strategic in terms of reaching the unreached.

Their solution? Temporary bamboo housing.

While I admired their creativity and resourcefulness (this setup is common for the area they live in), I knew these leaders deserved more. I raised funds for some basic things: beds, simple furniture, and rugs, to make the space functional. And it was used during my time there, with joy. When spending time together is the priority, you will not hear complaints about accommodations; but to be honest, the space looked like it could blow over with the first big storm.

And it did, a year later.

The roofs came off, and that was the end of that.

But as we walked up the stairs, I was reminded that the vision was not complete. I had to put on shoes as we navigated rough surfaces and nails. And all I could think about were the leaders I knew and stories that have been shared of people that would be welcomed, encouraged, and revitalized as this space was complete. I knew it would be put to good use immediately, and I was right.

In the Fall of 2024, Empower Dreams funded the build out of the last 2 floors, and I'm happy to report that they are complete, sans the ceiling in one room. As I envisioned, way before the space was complete they went ahead and hosted a group of brand new leaders from the jungle area for training. I was so impressed by their willingness to use the space "as is" before it was complete. They don't have some of the same hang ups as we do when we host friends.

Many thanks to Empower Dreams for believing in this vision and the fruit of encouragement, support, and care that will be facilitated through this simple structure. I'm envisioning not only replenished souls, but more unreached people groups ministered to with the good news of the Gospel message. To God be the glory!

- Jen

Our 2024 Year-End Report

2024 Year-End

Dear Empower Dreams Family,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! As we approach the close of the year, we thank the Lord for your incredible generosity and prayer. Because of you, God is doing amazing things through Empower Dreams as we continue our global ministries to the unreached.

Stay tuned for our year-end report on the 20+ projects we funded this year! You’ve played a meaningful role in this work, and we want you to know: You were made for more, come join us and see. If you’re contemplating year-end giving, we invite you to partner with us again as we prepare for even greater impact in the year ahead. 

Muslims Embracing Jesus | Thobo Famine Relief

Above: Pastor Ibrahim with Empower Dreams Projector

Muslims Embracing Jesus | Thobo Famine Relief

Empower Dreams supporters, the Lord is working in powerful ways in Thobo, thanks to your faithfulness. Through your generosity, we’ve been able to partner with Pastor Ibrahim Allail Jelly, bringing both relief and the Gospel to those in need. This report highlights the awe-inspiring ways God has moved, showing why your past and future involvement is so vital.

A Miraculous Harvest: 50 Muslims Accept Christ

In Pastor Ibrahim’s first trip back to the Thobo area since Empower Dreams’ relief efforts, the impact was immediate and miraculous. Fifty Muslims responded to the good news of Jesus Christ and have now committed to being discipled as Christ followers. This incredible outpouring of the Holy Spirit is just the beginning of what we believe will be a historic movement in the region. Hearts are wide open to Jesus in Thobo, and we’re witnessing a transformation like never before.

Explosive Growth at Safaya Church

Since the relief funded by Empower Dreams supporters, Safaya Church has seen unprecedented growth. Attendance has soared from just 150 to an astounding 692 members in a matter of weeks. This rapid expansion is a direct result of the relief efforts, as people have been touched not only by the physical aid but by the spiritual care that followed.

Above: Al-Gadariff revival crusade; “Life is better with Jesus”

Three New Churches Born from Relief Distribution

The Lord continues to use the relief efforts to plant the seeds of new churches. As a direct result of the distribution, three new church branches have been established. These churches are now thriving hubs for discipleship and worship, bringing the light of the Gospel into communities that were once unreached.

Raising Up New Leaders

The Lord is also raising up new leaders to shepherd these new believers and churches. Three new leaders are currently under development, ensuring that this movement is sustainable and continues to grow. Through Empower Dreams' partnership with Hope of Nations, we are helping to equip and encourage these future leaders for ministry.

Empower Dreams: Partnering in Historic Transformation

As we look to the future, Empower Dreams is committed to walking alongside Pastor Ibrahim as the Lord continues to move in Thobo and beyond. This region of the Nuba Mountains is experiencing an unprecedented transformation for Jesus, and Empower Dreams supporters are at the heart of this historic moment.

Through your prayers, your time, and your financial support, you’ve helped open the door to this incredible work. The Lord responded to your faithfulness, and the result is nothing short of miraculous. But the work is far from over.

We invite you to continue supporting Empower Dreams as we witness God’s hand at work in Thobo. Together, we can be part of this awe-inspiring movement and help ensure that this transformation reaches every heart in the region.

The Lord is continuing to do AMAZING things in Thobo! Watch the newest video on the progress.

Bringing Hope to the Katcha in Sudan

Donate

Northern Peru Discipleship News

Your willingness to give and pray has been mightily used by the Lord. Ricky and Carol Hendon's granddaughters are thrilled that your generosity has made Camp Yuri easily accessible for the youth of Peru, enabling them to be discipled and loved. This accessibility will also allow for greater ministry capacity and results. Hope you're as excited as we are.

Lord using you in Southeast Asia

Over the past several years, Empower Dreams have been partnering in Southeast Asia discipling and making movements in highly sensitive areas, that prevent us from being able to use names and cities.  Courageous new believers have been banished from villages for not renouncing Jesus. Some people have been hospitalized from beatings for following Christ. Other believers have had homes destroyed and identification cards confiscated to prevent them from working and traveling, and yet they continue to follow the Lord and share the good news of the Lord’s saving grace.

New Improved Quality Materials:

We thank the Lord for him using your finances to fund new higher quality disciple materials. Your generosity is making infrastructure (books and videos) to large people group’s heart language accessible. They are designed to take someone from not knowing the name of Jesus to being a reproducing leader. The job has always been to train the folks as quality pastors. Your finances (this summer) have helped once again fund new pastor training, development, and encouragement! This pastoral training will be an ongoing effort in this Southeast Asia region.

The Lord is using your prayer and generous giving to see people continuously be discipled and saved! The best is yet to come!  Please keep praying.

Powerful Catalysts To Reach The Unreached

Kris Watson and I were grateful to participate in the Global Alliance for Church Multiplication (GACX) 2023 conference. Organizations from around the world came together again, to further and explore the powerful benefits of partnering to pursue bold visions and to share discoveries and best practices to reach the last people groups.  “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.”  Proverbs 11:14

Whenever I get a chance to get to know the organizations strategizing and cooperating to love, reach, and disciple the world’s people groups, I’m so impressed and encouraged.  Organizations full of smart, faith filled, and fearless people.  The Lord’s A-team is at work.  What can you do?  Don’t be caught on the sidelines. You were made for more.  Come join us and see. www.empowerdreams.org or info@empowerdreams.org.

Historic Recording and Movies Press Release

Empower Dreams Partners with Faith Comes By Hearing in Historic Recording

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Faith Comes By Hearing (FCBH) in partnership with funding from Empower Dreams recently produced an Audio New Testament recording and Gospel Films of the Books of Mark and Luke for a North African people group. (For security reasons, the language, people group and country cannot be revealed.) The historic recording in this highly remote area marks the first time these people have heard the entire New Testament or watched God’s Word in their own heart language.

Jonathan Huguenin, Vice President of Global Partnerships and Language Recording for Faith Comes By Hearing, expressed gratefulness for Empower Dreams and their shared mission. “Organizations working together by combining their strengths is becoming the norm in Christendom,” Huguenin said. “We are so thankful to be partnering with Empower Dreams to serve language communities living in sensitive parts of the world.”

Empower Dreams Board Member Kris Watson says the recordings align with Empower Dreams focus on unreached and often oral people groups. “History shows that having resources in the heart language is often the single most important tool in helping people come to faith,” Watson said.  

Empower Dreams and Faith Comes By Hearing also trained and equipped a local team to begin reaching this indigenous group with God’s Word in their heart language. You can watch an English language sample of the Gospel Film of the Book of Mark. (https://live.bible.is/bible/ENGESV/MRK/2?audio_type=audio_drama ) You can listen to an English language sample of a recording in the Book of Luke. ( https://live.bible.is/bible/ENGESV/LUK/4?audio_type=audio_drama )

FCBH and Empower Dreams thank the Lord for their supporters that helped make this possible and look forward with hope to fruitful harvests.                                                                          

                                                                           ###

ABOUT FAITH COMES BY HEARING

Faith Comes By Hearing (FCBH), founded in 1972, is a worldwide ministry working with partners to provide  Audio Bibles and Gospel Films in the languages of the world. Our Vision 2033 goal: In the next ten years, we will work alongside partners to record and freely provide God’s Word in every language that needs it. For more information about Faith Comes By Hearing, visit faithcomesbyhearing.com. 

Contact: Deana Day, Communications Coordinator, 505-881-3321 ext 1624, 479-644-2756 (mobile), dday@fcbhmail.org

ABOUT EMPOWER DREAMS

Empower Dreams, founded in 2011, comes alongside of a few select ministry partners that have a track record of fruit and God has called them to that next layer of growth and that growth requires funding.  Empower Dreams trusts the Lord to raise the funds for that growth. Since about 2020, the Lord has increased the focus on discipleship and evangelism infrastructure and often to oral people groups. For more information about Empower Dreams, visit EmpowerDreams.org.

Contact: Paul Staudacher, info@EmpowerDreams.org

Katcha People Sudan Update

There are important answered prayers to report as Ibrahim and his family have a temporary SAFE home in Uganda and the Katcha audio and video equipment is still safe at the church in Juba that hosted everyone.

However, there is still a communications blackout for most in Sudan, so Ibrahim has a very tough time knowing where or how his leaders are doing.

There is continued chaos and destruction on many fronts in Sudan.

We all have more questions than answers right now.

With the war, we just don’t know what’s next.

Please pray for protection and guidance for our Katcha champions, the persecuted church in Sudan, and that this will all lead to redemption and beauty in His kingdom for the Katcha People.

First Ever Bible Katcha Rollout Training - Despite a WAR

Hello dear friends of Empower Dreams! I have some exciting news to share with you about the early May training we conducted to reach the Katcha people of Sudan and South Sudan. You may remember that the Katcha are an unreached people group living in the Nuba Mountains and in area refugee camps. They have never heard the gospel in their own language, but thanks to your prayers and support, we are one step closer to changing that!

Here are some highlights from the training:

We praise God for His protection and provision for all the families of those who participated in the training. They had to flee from the violence in Khartoum, but they are now safe and settled in new locations. Please continue to pray for peace and direction for them and their congregations.

The thank the Lord for the great leadership of Ken Smith in coordinating the training.

We thank God for healing Pastor Ibrahim from malaria. He is one of our key leaders who has a heart for the Katcha. He is facing many challenges, such as traveling long distances to reach remote areas while keeping his family safe. Please pray for God to guide him and give him wisdom and strength.

We are grateful for the team of Sudanese ministers who came to learn how to share the gospel with the Katcha using Proclaimer audio Bible devices. They were very enthusiastic and eager to learn. They also received practical training on how to use the audio Bibles. These devices will enable them to play the Bible in the Katcha language and create listening groups for discipleship.

The “listening group” training conducted by Christine from Faith Comes by Hearing was received with excitement and enthusiasm.

Those who were advocates of church planting/Discipleship Making Methodologies(DMM) said repeatedly that this kind of system was the best “discipleship” tool they had ever been exposed to! Those who knew the Katcha people predicted this would make a huge difference in the spiritual lives of the Katcha.

Unfortunately, most of the Katcha champions who were supposed to attend the training could not make it because of the Sudanese war violence. In fact, Pastor Ibrahim’s wife and children were trapped in Sudan during the training. Yassir was one Katcha minister that was able to join. He is a brave young man who has a passion for his people. He took all the equipment with him and he is planning to go to the refugee camps and eventually to the Nuba Mountains to share the gospel with the Katcha using best practices ‘Listening Groups.’ Please pray for his safety and success.

We are amazed by what God did during this training despite all the challenges faced: the loud rain on tin roofs, the war violence, malaria, and wondering if their wives and children were safe. He showed us His power and grace in many ways. We are confident that He will continue to work in and through us as we go to reach the Katcha with His love. 

Thank you so much for your faithful partnership with us. Your prayers and donations make a huge difference in advancing God's kingdom among the unreached. Please keep praying for the Katcha people. We believe that God is preparing their hearts to receive Him and that soon they will join us in praising His name!

 The best is coming and hopefully soon.

We are so thankful for you and we love you.

Your partner,  

   The team at Empower Dreams 

Brent and Kris share the exciting refined focus for the future

Christmas and the amazing future