Family On A Mission

02/08/2025

Stephen made it back safely to Tanzania on Wednesday of this week ♥️

He will join the Prism Team and a group from the US for an evangelistic trip to the Datooga region.

Overall, Stephen will be in TZ around 6-8 weeks. Please be in PRAYER for him and the team as they prep for ministry next week, and for other projects taking place in the near future.

•••

One specific GIVING request:
We are working to help secure funding for the Community Health Worker project for 2025.
$6,000 will cover the annual support and supplies for 80 community health workers.
An immediate gift of $1,000 is needed for the first quarter.

You can view the attached photos to see how CHWs are working in their villages and making an impact, including two examples from this week!

We don’t want that work to stop!
Please consider donating if you can, and be in prayer with us that the need will be met quickly 🙌🏽

Thanks for your support and prayers!

https://www.cogwm.org/shop/griffin

02/02/2025

Stephen took a quick trip last week to Ohio COG Prayer Conference and was able to share about some upcoming projects in Tanzania 🌍

We’re continually grateful for ministers and partners who are committed to reaching beyond their cities to the ends of the earth, and for the platform to be able to share how God is moving across the world ♥️

•••

Stephen leaves out Tuesday and heads to Tanzania for another eight week stretch. Please be in prayer for safe travels + a fruitful time of work and ministry.

Thanks for your support + prayers!

11/30/2024

Yesterday was a good day ♥️

Grimy bucket water —> Filtered safe drinkable water
🙌🏽🌍💧

11/18/2024

Greetings from the Sonjo!
An update from Stephen 🌍💧♥️

11/09/2024

This past week Stephen got his permit card, a Tanzanian ID.
He is officially a resident! 🥳

Additionally, he got his TIN number, a tax id that allows him to do business, like being able to register our vehicle officially and purchase local insurance for it.

He also took our vehicle and had the few needed repairs taken care of, so it will be ready for its first trip to the Sonjo next week!

We’re so grateful for little steps that have been a long time coming! 🙌🏽

Thank you for your continued prayers and support! ♥️

10/15/2024

Update: Stephen has safely landed in TZ and made it to our home in Moshi ♥️

It’s about 10 PM East African Time so he’s going to try his best and sleep off the jet lag 😆

If you have his cell number and try to reach out, starting tomorrow he will be back on iCloud messages only, FB messenger or WhatsApp.

If you would like to reach out and have trouble, just shoot me (Ashley) a message and I will talk you through the best way to contact him ☺️

Thanks for your prayers!

10/14/2024

Departure Day ✈️

Stephen’s plane takes off in about an hour for the first leg of his trip to Tanzania and he will arrive at Kilimanjaro airport by around lunch, our time, tomorrow.

He has a few days to get settled before taking off with the team to the Datooga area for an evangelism trip, followed by a water project in the Sonjo, followed by a community health worker training in the same area.

He definitely has a productive 7-8 weeks ahead 🙌🏽

Please be in prayer for him: safe travels, easy customs navigation, no sickness, and luggage arrival. And for the teams ministering as well!

Also be praying for the kids and me. We’re so excited for Stephen, and all he’s getting to be a part of, but we will miss him terribly (as you may have noticed in my stories 😭).

Can’t wait to share more with you as the weeks progress!
Thank you all for your prayers and support this year! 🙏🏽🌍♥️

09/26/2024

Hi all 👋🏽

Today I am 8 weeks post-op from knee surgery.

To say that this year has taken unexpected twists and turns would be a massive understatement.

Delayed visas, fractured ribs, and knee surgery was not on our 2024 bingo card 😉

A repeated phrase in our family has been, God knows, He sees, and He’s with us in the middle. Not just on the other side waiting.

It’s been a strange season, with many ups and downs. Many unforgettable moments and moments we’d prefer to forget 😆

But I’m here today to share the latest update and a prayer request.

Given the circumstances with my knee: more damage than initially anticipated, unexpected and extended physical therapy, and the fact that I continue to recover at a slower pace than I’d prefer… the kids and I will not be returning to TZ until next year.

It actually makes my stomach hurt to type that, or say it out loud, however we know this is the right decision for my body.
To take it slow, and do it right.
To take the pressure off and give myself time.

Stephen was cleared for travel back mid-August (after his fractured ribs situation), and is out on the road as we speak, promoting the ministry that continues to happen in Tanzania through the non-profit we work with.

However, the MAJOR update and PRAYER request, is that Stephen will be traveling to Tanzania in October for an extended time.

He will join the Prism team and help with a short term group arriving mid-October + they will travel to the Datooga region for several days of ministry.

After the US team departs, he will travel with the Prism team to another area for a water filter installation project, followed by a community health clinic training.

It will be a jam packed time of ministry and work + then he will come back to the states for us to be together for the holidays ♥️

Our final GOAL is to depart to Tanzania as a healed/whole family of 6 people + 1 doggie sometime in January 🙏🏽

Thank you for your love, prayers + support as we have navigated this year.

~Ashley

07/10/2024

We’re at Church of God General Assembly this week!

If you’re here, come see us in the exhibit hall! 🥳

06/24/2024

Just another little life update! 🥳💖🙌🏽

Visas are approved + the Griffin Fam will officially be heading back to Tanzania in July!

In a few weeks, Stephen + I will travel to Indianapolis for COG General Assembly, and after that we will get our bags packed and ready to go! 🎉

Thanks for all of your prayers + support! Keep ‘em coming! 🙏🏽

06/11/2024

Sunday we had a great day at Bedico Church of God! Pastor Derrick and Stacey and Bedico have partnered with our family since we met last year at campmeeting.

We knew next time we came through LA we wanted to stop by to say thank you and give an update from our time of ministry last year.

Thank you again Bedico for your hospitality and loving our family well!

We also had an amazing week at campmeeting catching up with old friends and meeting new ones! The Lord really moved in all of the services and I know we walked away encouraged, refreshed and with a charge to go forward 👏🏽

Stephen received his COG Ordained Bishop’s license in a commissioning service on Friday. We are so grateful to have been surrounded by great friends and even family during those moments ♥️

Louisiana feels like a piece of home every time we go ✨ We can’t wait to see you guys again soon!

06/09/2024

We’ve had a great week at campmeeting!

This morning we’ll be at Bedico Church of God to share a few minutes about what’s happening in Tanzania! 🌍💧♥️

SPECIAL, SPECIAL ANNOUNCMENT!!!
THIS SUNDAY, June 9th -10:30am
We will have the Griffin Family with us in service!!
They are the Church of God World Missions Family to Tanzania, Africa. During our service they will be sharing about this Mission Field.
Make your plans to join us and let's bless this with a special love offering as they plan to be back on the Mission Field in the near future.
Come worship the Lord with us!!!
Reminder: No Bible Study Wednesday Night - Join us at Camp Meeting!!!