October 15, 2008
The Thai-Cambodia border closed after a skirmish between Thai and Cambodian troops, impacting the city of Poipet, where Alliance workers serve. The two countries have been at odds over whether territory near an ancient temple forms part of Thailand or Cambodia. Poipet is 250 kilometers away from where the skirmish took place.
Alliance workers in Poipet reported that Thai officials told Khmer workers in Thailand to return to Cambodia. “The border closed at about 3 pm, and many Khmers were still stuck in Thailand,” said Alliance missionaries who serve in the border town of Poipet. “Though there was no sound of gunfire, the entire town was in a state of confusion. People were flooding out of Poipet! The only main road in [the city] was completely packed with motorbikes, cars, and other [vehicles].”
“When all this started, we were about seven kilometers away from home, driving from Ang Salaa Village,” said our workers. “We got home to find church families sitting by our porch, waiting and hoping that we would have answers for their worried hearts.” Although our workers prepared to evacuate if necessary, “by the look of the situation, we might be safer to remain in one place,” they said. “Many have left or are leaving Poipet, but many more still remain.”
“We do not have missionaries directly near the areas of the actual fighting,” said an Alliance spokesperson in Cambodia. “However, all areas along the Cambodian/Thai border are tense. At this point, we can continue on in life and ministry as normal.” C&MA missionaries in Poipet report that all was quiet at night following the skirmish.
Many needy families, whose lives depend on their daily income, were in a state of panic as the markets closed, meaning no more jobs and no food. “Our biggest fear right now is not about the potential for war but about the sudden lack of basic food sources. The price of gasoline and food, when still available, is double if not more,” said Alliance workers. “There is a greater chance for looting, robberies, accidents, and more.” Pray for Alliance workers and their national church partners as they reach out to those affected by the turmoil.
October 14, 2008
Northwestern District celebrated another church-planting launch this month. North Star Church in Hibbing, Minnesota launched on October 5, 2008—things went really well! They had 75 in attendance with two adult salvations and two adult rededications. Church-planting Pastor Tim Maki is preaching through 1 John, and his series is called the The God Journey.
“Life is a Journey in which we walk together. This is how we were made. Not to be isolated and alone, but together—experiencing the journey. As the North Star is that constant that has been used for centuries as a guide, Jesus Christ is our spiritual North Star, that constant, that leads us and is with us on the Journey. While following Jesus Christ, we at North Star Church are becoming a spiritual family that will walk together through life. We call this The God Journey and we welcome you to join us.”
Their hope was for 100 people, but as one of their 21-year olds said, “Ya, but we prayed back in April for 70-75 for our critical mass number and God did it.” Their worship team has really come together in the last month, and their Children’s Celebration and Nursery are top notch. Thanks for praying. All glory goes to God!
Northwestern district also celebrated their newest “developed” transition out of church-plant status on September 14, 2008. Under the leadership of Pastor Keith Pugalisi, 36 charter members (pictured above) of New Song Alliance Church took this step. Following the official meeting, more than 130 people congregated for worship and celebration’among the crowd was former Alliance missionary and Crown College faculty, Bill Conley. New Song was birthed by Rev. Randy Junker and the Grand Rapids Alliance Church as part of their vision to be more effective in reaching the 20-somethings of this northern Minnesota community—truly the fruit of a generous “churches planting churches” philosophy.
During a special Children’s Day service at an Alliance church plant in Brazil, several children raised their hands to accept Jesus as Savior. The outreach featured a puppet show, children’s songs, and a story about Amy Carmichael, the late missionary to India who opened an orphanage.
“Our church is a church plant so we don’t have lots of people yet,” said C&MA missionary Diane Renick. “We usually have about 10 children each Sunday, and for this event 23 children came. Several came from the neighborhood where we had handed out 350 invitations.” One mother who came with her son said she loved the service and would return next week.
October 10, 2008
Earlier this week, Berlin International Church (BIC) facilities were robbed during a puzzling daytime theft. A church assistant was working on BIC’s laptop computer on the fourth floor where the congregation meets. The doors were locked, and she left the computer to go to another area for a few minutes. “When she returned, the laptop was missing, along with her wallet and all her money,” said missionary Jerry Kragt. “This robbery is of special concern, since we don’t know how someone gained access to the building. We are thankful to God that [our colleague] was not hurt, as she was completely alone when this happened.” Police are investigating.
“The theft of the laptop is a great loss because all of BIC’s worship songs for projection were installed on it,” said Kragt. “Pray for the Lord’s protection over our facilities here in Berlin. Since December when there were signs of a forced entry, we have been taking extra care to make sure everything is locked and bolted.” In July, one of BIC’s key children’s ministry leaders was praying in an adjoining room and returned to find his wallet stolen from his jacket hanging on a chair. “These incidents are discouraging for those who are committing themselves to serving in the church. Pray that God would graciously protect BIC’s facilities from further thefts and encourage those who have suffered losses while doing the Lord’s work.”
October 8, 2008
In what doctors are calling a miraculous answer to prayer, the daughter of Rev. Humberto Guzman, Colombia C&MA church president, was healed of complete paralysis following a car accident. Leidy, who ministers to more than 300 university students, was paralyzed from the neck down, having broken the fourth vertebrae of her neck. The Alliance family prayed for Leidy, and she has regained feeling. She was released from the hospital October 6 and must wear a neck brace. “The doctors consider this a miracle and a direct answer to prayer,” said a spokesperson for the C&MA’s International Ministries. “Praise the Lord!”
Victor, a church planter with the Evangelical and Christian Missionary Union (ECMU), The Alliance’s primary partner in Russia, initiated an outreach to the people of South Ossetia, an area between Russia and Georgia that was at the forefront of a recent violent conflict. Alliance worker Steve Lovell had worked with Victor to help establish the ECMU ministry in Anapa, Russia, near Krasnodar where Lovell serves. “One of the ways I helped him,” said Lovell, “was to hold an English club once a month.”
The outreach to South Ossetia was the brainchild of Victor and his congregation in Anapa, where some of the refugees had fled from the conflict after their homes were damaged or destroyed. “Many of them ended up in Anapa because there are many resorts there with room to house them,” said Lovell. “Victor and the members of his church met some of the physical needs and provided encouragement and counseling when appropriate. They had many opportunities to share the gospel.”
Wanting to impact more people with the love of Christ, Victor traveled more than 600 miles into South Ossetia with his wife, as well as a pastor and an evangelist with the ECMU. The group brought school supplies to the families of the refugees that they had met in Anapa and invited them to an independent church; the ECMU is exploring the possibility of partnering with this existing church to plant other churches. “Many of them came,” Lovell said. “Victor also explored the possibility of helping the young church with further church plants.”
October 7, 2008
Thieves broke into the home of John and Hoiling Chan, C&MA national church partners in Berlin, Germany, the night of October 5. “They took some money, documents, a television, and most importantly their two computers,” said Alliance missionary Calvin Lai. Even the Chans’ updated backup hard drive was taken.
“The police were notified, but we think it may not be easy to retrieve the stolen items,” said Lai. “Please pray that John and Hoiling may have peace in their hearts and find a way to get back their lost data in their computers. Also, pray that Satan’s scheme will not succeed in disrupting their studies and their ministry with a short-term team from New York this week.”
October 6, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NYACK, New York – On October 10, 2008, Nyack College will commemorate the 40th anniversary of Nyack alumni who were martyred during the Vietnam War. The event will take place during the college’s annual Homecoming weekend.
The alumni who lost their lives in 1968 while serving as missionaries with The Christian and Missionary Alliance were Leon Griswold (’19), Nathan Robert Ziemer (’41), Carl Edward Thompson (’45) and Ruth Stebbins Thompson (’46), Ruth Wilting (’48), Carolyn Griswold (’49), and Betty Ann Olsen (’62). Two other alumni, Dr. Ardel Vietti (’48) and Archie Mitchell (’44), who were lost in 1962, will be honored as well. Relatives of the fallen men and women will attend the tribute.
The keynote speaker for the Founder’s Day Chapel, Friday, October 10 at 10 a.m. in Pardington Hall on the Rockland campus, will be U.S. Navy Rear Admiral R. Timothy Ziemer (’65), the U.S. malaria coordinator appointed by President George W. Bush. In addition, Dr. Tom Stebbins, global ambassador for Evangelism Explosion, will speak at the Alumni Homecoming banquet at 6:30 p.m. in Boon Campus Center. Admiral Ziemer’s father and Dr. Stebbins’ sister, Ruth Stebbins Thompson, were killed during the Tet Offensive, a countrywide North Vietnamese military campaign designed to topple the South Vietnamese government in a single blow.
These courageous disciples fully embraced the words of Christ in Matthew 16:24: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
To view the biographies of the Vietnam martyrs, visit our history section.
The Alliance is a fellowship of Christ followers joined together in local churches, dedicated to fulfilling Christ’s command to make disciples of all nations. The Alliance has a thoroughly evangelical doctrinal statement and encourages believers from diverse backgrounds and theological traditions to unite to complete Christ’s Great Commission.
CONTACT:
Nyack College Alumni Office
One South Blvd, Nyack, NY 10960-3698
Phone: 845-675-4589
Peter Burgo
The Christian and Missionary Alliance
Phone: 719-265-2007
E-mail: burgop@cmalliance.org
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October 1, 2008
When a very powerful village chief died in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, his funeral was preceded by days of festivities and official greetings by delegations from all over the city. The man held the title of “Chief of Traditional Customs” among the Bobo people, who were covered in leaves and bushes, wearing masks and carrying sticks and whips. “Kiersten was shopping with [our girls] in town when they saw more than 10 masks,” says her husband, Alliance missionary Toby Hull. “The fear is tangible, and the darkness is palpable. The masks are physical representations of evil, spiritual powers. People on the street fled into doorways and shops as masked mourners passed with their whips.”
Whether in the crowded streets of Bobo-Dioulasso or in remote “bush” villages, Hull and his colleague Kevin Oberg venture into areas unknown to the modern world to proclaim the good news of Jesus. And their message is being well received.
Evangelistic campaigns have yielded many new believers. From Siri to Bangaso, Katana to Temetemeso, the Kenedougou region is experiencing a great movement of the Holy Spirit. Hull and Oberg have witnessed the younger brother of a village chief commit his life to the Lord, seen the first females in a village trust in Christ, and experienced the euphoria of hundreds of cheering children surround their vehicle, welcoming them to their village.
Recently, a short-term missions team from Salem Alliance Church in Oregon experienced life on the mission field with the Obergs and the Hulls. “The Salem youth team’s visit was a great success!” Hull says. The team painted and delivered benches to nine village churches and participated in a Bible Club for local children. “More than 800 children attended the event.”
“I remember the last day of the VBS when we pulled up,” says team member Daniel McConville. “There were probably more than 100 children dancing in circles and singing songs because they saw our van; that was one of the greatest moments of my life. I can’t wait until God sends me back.”
When Hull went to greet the family of the deceased chief, he was shown a picture of the dead body and then asked to pay money as a gift to the family for having shown him the picture. A highly revered fetish practitioner, the tribal leader had instilled fear and awe in the people.
“Although this chief was very powerful in his life, in his death he has nothing but eternal destruction,” says Hull, who, along with Oberg, mentors national pastors and disciples believers. “So many people in Bobo-Dioulasso are lost in this same darkness that deceives them. Pray with us that many people will come to know Jesus in this city and will be saved from the enemy of their souls.”
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Brenda Boston, Alliance missionary to Paraguay
Last February, Cesar was baptized at our church in San Lorenzo. He works as a panadero, baking bread in a grocery store just a block from the church.
Two years ago, Cesar was an angry, selfish man. He abandoned his wife and two sons to go work in Argentina, and he never sent them any money. Finding herself in a financial crisis, his wife left their sons with her mother and went to work in Spain. Many Paraguayans immigrate to other countries to find work because of the lack of jobs here.
When Cesar reached the end of himself, he returned to Paraguay and found work at a bakery. He began taking steps to reconcile with his wife and children but was unsure how to go about it.
One day when he went to call his wife in Spain, he mentioned to the woman who ran the phone service that he was praying and trying to get right with God. This woman immediately closed her store and took Cesar to meet one of our pastors who owns a small cafeteria in the market of San Lorenzo. The pastor spoke to Cesar and invited him to church on Sunday.
That Sunday Cesar accepted Christ. He faithfully attended discipleship classes and was baptized. Now Cesar is a powerful witness. Recently, his sons have started coming to church. A fellow baker accompanies Cesar, and other friends show up also. Cesar is a changed man, and his friends are noticing. This angry man now spreads love everywhere he goes thanks to what Christ has done in his life.
Cesar desires to be reconciled with his wife and family. Pray with us that Cesar and his family will find peace and unity as they experience God’s transforming power in their lives.
Donate now to support the work of Alliance churches and missionaries around the world.
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