FESTIVAL OF TENT SPEAKERS
Ed Skipper
Ed was born in Astoria, Oregon in 1956 and moved to the Dalles in 1961 where he graduated from high school in 1974. He was raised in a Catholic home. His father’s death when Ed was fourteen brought a time of turmoil and searching. He became an atheist and sought meaning in life through New Age religions, encounter groups, philosophy, psychology and involvement in radical politics.
He came to Christ in the early '80s at which time he also met his wife Char. They married in 1982. Ed taught elementary school for nine years before entering Christian ministry. He served as pastor of the Springfield Free Methodist Church for ten years and as pastor of the Lebanon Free Methodist Church for eleven years. Throughout his Christian walk, Ed has been passionate about Jesus, the Bible, prayer, revival and working together with other local pastors. Letting Christ be the center of life and of church has been his focus.
Early in 2006, Ed experienced a filling of the Holy Spirit that resulted in greater boldness and accelerated spiritual growth that continues to this day. God has specifically called him to pray and to preach. In July of 2009, he resigned from his church to make himself available to serve the greater Christian body by encouraging believers to pursue revival and to make a full surrender to the Lord.
Ed and Char have three daughters-two of which are married and they have six grandchildren.
Ibrahim & Diane Omondi
Ibrahim and Diane Omondi give oversight to churches and ministries in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They also give leadership to DOVE Missions Africa which supports Kenyan and Ugandan missionaries serving among unreached people groups. The Omondi’s direct Springs of Africa, a non-profit organization focusing on micro-finance, environmental projects and various education initiatives.
Ibrahim, a trained journalist and natural visionary, continues to dream about expansion and new territories. The most compelling vision is to establish a center for prayer and leadership training that will impact transformation in Africa from being a continent of dependence and poverty to one of self-sustenance and hope. Ibrahim served as General Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya for several years and was also a delegate to the National Constitutional Congress that worked on re-writing Kenya’s constitution. Ibrahim networks with intercessory groups and has led March for Jesus as well as other National Prayer Day events in Nairobi.
The Omondis’ property in the Nairobi outskirts provides a home for their family and includes a guest house which is used for refreshment and training for missionaries, churches and Christian organizations. Diane trains early childhood teachers and has written curriculum books for young children. She also enjoys teaching the Bible, leading worship, administrative work, handling accounts, and editing.
Ibrahim (a native Kenyan) and Diane (American) are the parents of four children: three sons and a daughter. Ibrahim and Diane enjoy relaxing together by their fireplace, watching a good movie, going for walks, and being with their family.
"because the Lord your God will bless you..."
Leviticus 23:35