Ministry Newsletter

Dear Friends of the Mordecai Project:

Two years ago this month I was on a trip to El Salvador, and I had no idea all international travel would abruptly stop in March 2020. I can’t believe I haven’t been able to visit our overseas ministry partners in almost two years! This makes me sad, and yet I’m so grateful for God’s faithfulness during the pandemic. Our work has expanded in all of our locations, and people have been giving to sustain and strengthen these outreaches. We are so grateful!

Lamentations 3:23 says God’s compassion is “new every morning.” Even though the world has been in turmoil, God’s faithfulness abounds. The sun still rises every day, the birds still sing, God still sends rain and harvest, and the Holy Spirit is still working in our hearts. And the Word of God has been proclaimed through all of the compassion projects we are sponsoring around the world.

Below you can see a lot of smiles at our recent Christmas party in Pakistan. For the past three years we have been discipling a group of marginalized women there. We are now ready to build the women’s empowerment center on land that was donated by a church. We already have digital sewing machines, and the women have been making tote bags and other handicrafts. For Christmas we gave them groceries, clothes and presents to make them feel valued.

As you can see below, we also gave new winter coats to the children of these women. It gets very cold in Pakistan in the winter, and the kids were so happy to have these sharp looking jackets. The bright colors reflect the joy that is in the hearts of the women and kids in this village. They are very grateful for The Mordecai Project and our generous donors.

Each woman who has been attending our sewing classes and discipleship groups was given special gifts of food and clothes. The woman on the left, in the photo below, is Esther Saleem, the wife of our director, Susheel. Esther has been teaching the women from the Scriptures, and she is growing so much as a leader as she invests her life in these precious women.

Meanwhile in Rwentobo, Uganda, we were able to purchase sewing machines for a group of women who struggle as single mothers. They are now being discipled by Connie Birungi. Another young leader named Apophia Biryomumeisho is training the ladies in life skills and tailoring. We expect all of these women to be able to start their own businesses soon so they can feed their families.

Below you can see some of the sewing machines we purchased for the training program in Rwentobo. This month we sent the funds to rent a building for a year, where we will house the sewing classes. In that center we will also provide counseling for women who have suffered domestic abuse, and we will house women who are in special need of protection from violent husbands or partners.

Meanwhile in El Salvador (below), our director Maribel de la Rosa has been discipling and training a group of underprivileged women in various skills. They meet for Bible study and also learn how to start their own businesses.

El Salvador is listed as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for women by the United Nations. But The Mordecai Project is helping to create a net of support for some of the most vulnerable women who are in poverty. Below you can see some of the clothing the women made after a training session on the tie-dyeing process.

In India, we are still working to finish Mordecai House, our new home for girls. Please pray that construction can be completed in 2022. During the holidays we hosted a special Christmas party for the girls, and we gave them new dresses, shoes, hygiene products and other gifts. Some of these girls were abandoned by their parents because of the dowry system. (Many parents don’t want girls because they have to pay so much to a future husband when she reaches a marriageable age.) We are so glad we can bring the joy of Jesus into their lives. We are especially grateful for our local directors, Raja and Padma Undurthi.

Below you can see the graduation ceremony for women who completed our tailoring school in Masindi, Uganda. Our donors provided the funds to purchases foot-powered sewing machines for these women, and now they will start their own businesses. We are grateful for our directors there, Robert and Doreen Kaahwa. Please agree with us that we can raise the needed funds to build a shelter for the women. We have already established a pig farm and a vegetable farm to help the women financially.

In December we sold many of our Pakistani tote bags to women in the United States. You can see one of our donors, Ann Bartlett from North Carolina, with the two bags she bought. All the proceeds went right back to provide a living wage for the Pakistani women. If you would like to sell some of these bags in your church to help our women’s outreach, please contact me. I have about 75 bags in stock and I can ship some to you. They retail for $45 but you can also sell one in an auction to raise more money!

Even though my travel in 2021 was limited to the United States (I preached in 18 states), I have been able to do overseas ministry by Zoom. Below you can see an advertisement for a remote training conference I did in December for Russian pastors. There were leaders in this event from all over the former Soviet Union including Siberia and Georgia. These pastors were hungry for the message of discipleship, which has been lacking there.

I am thrilled to announce that my new book, Follow Me: Make Disciples the Way Jesus Did, is officially released! I believe this book will help churches develop a culture of discipleship so we can reach the next generation. If you’d like a signed copy, you can e-mail me at james.lee.grady1976@gmail.comand I’ll send details about how to pay. The books are $15 plus $3 shipping. You can also buy it from Amazon or ChristianBook, or order it from your local bookstore.

Something very sad happened at the end of 2021—I lost one of my best friends, James Graham (in photo below). James has been a close friend for 17 years, and he served on the board of The Mordecai Project. He was also at the very first Bold Venture men’s retreat in 2010, and he provided so much counsel, support and encouragement to me during many spiritual battles. I need your prayers because I can’t replace a friend like James. Please also pray for his wife, Sharlene, and their five adult children as they grieve. James died in late November and I preached at his funeral in Alabama on December 11.

Deborah and I want to wish you and your family a very Happy 2022. Below you can see some of the Grady clan when we gathered for Christmas this year at our house in Georgia. Unfortunately two of our daughters were not able to be with us because of the spike in COVID infections. We pray you stay safe and healthy in this New Year!Deborah and I want to wish you and your family a very Happy 2022. Below you can see some of the Grady clan when we gathered for Christmas this year at our house in Georgia. Unfortunately two of our daughters were not able to be with us because of the spike in COVID infections. We pray you stay safe and healthy in this New Year!

We love you and thank God for your prayers and financial support. We could not do this without your partnership. To give to our overseas work, just hit the “Donate” button below and follow the prompts. To give by check, mail it to The Mordecai Project, P.O. Box 2781, LaGrange, GA 30241.

Lee and Deborah Grady

The Mordecai Project
P.O. Box 2781
LaGrange, GA 30241