December 5, 2008
I know it’s strange. I know it’s unreasonable and crazy and foolish. I know. But I’ve often been troubled by my perfect childhood . . . there it is. As I’ve grown up and listened to the stories and testimonies of those for whom life has been hard, there’ve been many fleeting moments where I felt cheated of a background that may have lent itself to a more fruitful ministry, especially in a place like Weaverville. “If I’d had it rough like that guy, I’d have had a better chance to share the gospel with him,” goes the thought. “He’d listen to me because he’d recognize I understand his pain. Then he’d wonder why I was different.” I’ve often asked God why I’ve had such a sheltered life. How does a sheltered life find any common ground to offer the meaningful hope of the gospel to broken lives, to haunted lives?
One of these broken lives came into my office today. I can immediately see he’s one of those men I can’t hope to relate to. He’s a Vietnam vet. There are a lot of helicopters in Trinity County, and as he sits in my office armchair where I seat my guests to put them at ease, he looks anything but. He tells me that whenever a helicopter flies overhead, he flinches. He has to fight the urge to hide.
His neck and back have been shattered. I can’t keep track of how many surgeries he tells me he’s had. He won’t take the pain medication because it makes him mean, and he’s tired of being mean. “I can’t see their faces,” he says quietly, “but I killed a lot of people in Vietnam. It’s a hard thing to feel worthy of love.”
He’s been through a divorce . . . he caught his wife cheating on him. Trust no longer comes easy, he tells me. I sit in the much-less comfortable seat opposite the man and pray furiously. If I pretend to understand, he’ll know me for the sham I am. I feel like he can see right through me, and I haven’t even said a word. I’m still thinking of something to say when this unlikely messenger from God settles my long silent question. “I know I’m a lot older than you,” he observes with a wry smile, “and I know I’ve seen a lot more in this world. I’ve been through a lot that you haven’t. But I’m here because I know you’ve seen what life is supposed to look like, and I don’t know where to start. I’m hoping you can help me get started on the right track.”
The common ground we shared was grace! The grace of God saved us both. The grace of God granted me a healthy history and heritage that seems to draw broken people to me. And the grace of God brought us together in that office meeting so I could keep pointing a broken life to Him for healing. We’re scheduled to begin working through the “Starting Point” class together next week. Thank you, God, for my sheltered life.
Please continue to pray for me, my family and your Outpost brothers and sisters as we lean heavily on God for His guidance every day.
Surrounded By Grace,
Josh, Outpost – Weaverville CA
By Bill Malick
Barack Obama is elected president. Pelosi and Reid are calling the shots in the legislative branch. Gays are marching in the streets across California. AIG, many banks, and car makers have their hands out for cash as the U.S. walks an economic tightrope. Then there are the people in your churches in default or foreclosure, resulting in shortages in giving. Many local churches beg the question, “What does God mean by this?”
In November at our district superintendent Fall Leadership Conference, a team of us asked the “What does God mean by this?” question. No, we don’t have the perfect answer but here is a quick list of what we do know. Look over the list and give us your feedback.
- Radical multiplication will not happen primarily from paid professionals.
- We believe that success in our churches must be measured by reducing “lostness” in the communities we serve.
- The C&MA cannot do this alone—we must partner with others.
- We need to lean hard on the job training for ministry leadership
- Identifying and developing leaders becomes our #1 priority.
- We must return to the original C&MA core DNA.
- We must see adding holistic/soul-winning disciples as THE priority.
- Developing organic ministries is a must BUT accountability will be critical to sustainability.
Dwight Smith (Dwight will be our speaker at General Council for our Church Planting and Health Directors Breakfast on May 27th) identifies six threshold behaviors that must be instilled into the genetic code of our churches:
- People growing in their relationship with Christ
- People telling their grace story on a regular basis
- People knowing their spiritual gifts and employing them both inside and outside the church
- People living in a way that exhibits the fruit of the Spirit
- People obediently living a God-directed standard of Biblical stewardship
- People accepting responsibility/accountability for reaching lost people around them.
There is so much more to talk about, but enough for now. I need your feedback! Jon Rich and I are digging deeper into all of this along with Dwight Smith and will be opening up discussion as we gather several times with all of you in 2009.
At Dakar Academy (DA) in Senegal, West Africa, student missionary kids (MKs) spent Thanksgiving weekend in remote villages, presenting the gospel in word and deed. Split into teams, MKs “were able to minister to more than 1,800 people through drama, children’s Bible clubs, a medical team, and evening evangelism campaigns,” said Evan Evans, dorm staff administrator and DA chaplain.
A medical team, assisted by MKs, provided healing care to 260 people. Additionally, two churches were painted, roof trusses were built and placed, 23 benches were built, and an area was cleared and leveled and goals installed for a soccer field. “We initiated the soccer field with a game on Saturday afternoon between the DA boys and the village soccer team,” said Evans. “At half time, we were able to present the gospel. We left uniforms and two soccer balls for the village soccer team.”
A couple of MK teams steadily filtered and hauled water to keep the group hydrated throughout the weekend. “You can imagine how much water a group of 120 people can go through in such a dry and dusty area,” Evans said.
Although the students were met with some resistance in a few villages, they were able to present the gospel in six villages during the course of the weekend. “What a great opportunity for our MKs,” said Evans.
December 4, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - On November 14, 2008, Alliance Radio in Hong Kong, a ministry of The Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA), celebrated its 30th anniversary. “Throughout all these years, our gospel radio has become a vital spiritual mentor for many followers [of Jesus], especially those in remote areas,” said Lillian Lau, executive director for Alliance Radio.
After China was closed to active Christian ministry, The Alliance began preparing gospel messages to be aired over the facilities of Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC) in Manila. “These broadcasts started humbly, with a few hours of programming that have significantly increased in number of hours and variety of programs,” said Anthony Bollback, former C&MA missionary to Hong Kong. “As a result, those programs have enabled faithful pastors and Bible seminary students to be spiritual mentors to thousands upon thousands of new believers.”
“During the 1980s, our recording studio headed into its golden age,” said Lau. “More and more Chinese people were seeking truth, and gospel radio became their close friend.” Several preachers regularly recorded their sermons in the studio, including Rev. Phillip Teng. “I personally feel that gospel radio is our top priority in ministry,” said Teng. “Broadcasting is the best medium to preach to more than 1 billion nationals without time, space, or [personnel] restrictions. The relevance and effectiveness of gospel radio can be witnessed by all.”
The Alliance is a fellowship of evangelical believers joined together in local churches, dedicated to fulfilling Christ’s command to make disciples of all nations. The Alliance maintains a “big tent” stance in reference to many doctrinal matters, encouraging believers of diverse backgrounds and theological traditions to unite in order to know and exalt Jesus Christ and to complete His Great Commission.
CONTACT:
Jim Malone, Assistant Vice President for International Ministries
The Christian and Missionary Alliance
Phone: 719-265-2031
E-mail: malonej@cmalliance.org
# # #
By Andrew Schaeffer, serving Burkina Faso
Whenever we find evidence of termites here, we groan. In just a few days they can eat through trees, furniture, and even stored Bible translations.
Yet as destructive as they can be, termites will never cease to amaze me.
Here in West Africa, termite colonies build incredibly tall and durable homes that last for years. These mounds, or termitaries, can reach a height of 30 feet, as tall as a three-story home.
How do these tiny insects build such huge mounds? According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the termite colony is “a highly organized unit, with division of labor among its members differentiated by structure, function and behavior . . . Termites work in large numbers—as many as 4,000 have been counted in one cubic foot of wood.”
Model for Ministry
This summer our family was able to spend a weekend with my sister, Jessica, who is a nurse anesthetist at the Koutiala Hospital for Women and Children in Mali.
Before leaving, we visited the hospital, which was like a termite colony crawling with activity. It was overwhelming to see so many pregnant women and new mothers! Around 150 babies are born at that hospital every month, and it is hard to imagine how much work it is to care for so many patients.
Personally, I wonder how Jessica and her colleagues survive. But I know that, like a termite colony, they have divided the labor according to each one’s gifting and ability. As each worker does his or her part, somehow the job gets done. Together, they are working to build a great hospital.
In Proverbs 6:6-8 we read,“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.”
Dear friend, consider the ant—in this case, the termite!—as we work to build Christ’s Kingdom around the world.
Learn More
Watch a short video the Schaeffer’s posted on YouTube about their recent outreach to widows in Burkina.
How You Can Help
The Schaeffers request prayer for the quick completion of the new classroom building under construction at Bethel Middle School in Dedougou.
By Amy Nehlsen
Our lives are filled with choices. We have to make them every day. What will I eat for lunch? What should I wear to work or school? Do I have time to share a cup of coffee with a friend? Can I really afford to buy this with the economy the way it is?
For many young women in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, the choices are even more difficult: should I buy food for myself or the medicine to treat my malaria? Should I beg on the corner today or sell my body for $1?
This may seem melodramatic, but it is a reality that many young girls face each day. With little or no education—only 21 percent of Burkina Faso’s women are literate—many are abandoned by their families and must fend for themselves. Their options are few.
Recognizing the need to rescue the next generation of women from certain spiritual and most likely physical death, the Alliance Women of the Burkina national church had a vision to reach them. In fall 2006, Nyagali Traoré, the ministry’s president, and I toured Alliance churches in the United States for three weeks, sharing our dream and vision to establish a home where young women with little hope for the future could receive both biblical and vocational training.
Today, the dream is a reality. In November 2008, the Dorcas House welcomed 15 young women, ages 15–25. They will live at Dorcas House and receive biblical, literacy, and vocational training. Residents will learn to sew, make soap, knit and crochet as well as learn skills in animal husbandry, gardening, hair-styling, and more.
At age 18, Elizabeti is on her own. She was raised by her single mom, who later remarried. After the death of Elizabeti’s step-father, her mom also became very ill and died in 2005, leaving her with a little brother to care for. Because Elizabeti had lived in a village, she did not attend school.
I first met Elizabeti in Côte d’Ivoire when her mother attended our Alliance church and became my language helper. As a single mom, she was happy for the job and came regularly with Elizabeti, who became my daughter’s playmate when the girls were two years old. Since 2005, Elizabeti has worked as a servant girl for an African family. She has not attended school and has been trapped in a very bad situation, not knowing how to get out of it.
Elizabeti came back into my life this past summer, and I was so excited to offer her the opportunity of Dorcas House. I began to imagine her in a place where she could receive spiritual formation, memorize the Word of God, and sing and pray with other girls. I could picture her participating in every occasion to learn new skills and activities. That is now becoming a reality.
Pray for Elizabeti and 14 other young women who will call Dorcas House their home. Pray for unity among house residents who come from varied backgrounds and bring with them the emotional and spiritual baggage of lives lived in desperation with no hope.
Pray for good health for the girls and for the staff. Pray that God will provide operating funds and that His hand of blessing will be on Dorcas House.
Donate now to support the work of Alliance churches and missionaries around the world.
December 3, 2008
“All of our mission personnel are safe, and the unrest has not personally affected any of our workers,” said Steve Strong, C&MA field director for Thailand. Strong was referring to anti-government protests at Bangkok airports that had stranded thousands of travelers and paralyzed the country.
The demonstrations ended December 3 after the Constitution Court dissolved Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat’s ruling party, effectively ending his government. According to The Nation, Thailand’s business news daily, “the eight-day siege has caused incalculable damage to the country and the economy.”
Though no Alliance missionaries were in danger during the protests, “the airport closures have had some impact on our mission here in Thailand,” said Strong. Mission-related travel was disrupted, and a short-term medical team was unable to return to the United States as scheduled.
Also, a short-term volunteer from Canada was forced to return home from Singapore without being able to enter Thailand. Rev. Doug Welbourn of the Mendham Hills Chapel C&MA Church in New Jersey, who had spoken at the Chaengwattana Community (Alliance) Church retreat before the airports were taken over by protesters, had to take a 12-hour van ride in order to get on a new flight out of the country.
“Our Bangkok missionaries met for prayer on Monday afternoon, and we prayed for the airport to be reopened soon,” said Strong. “Within a few hours of our prayer meeting, the People’s Alliance for Democracy announced that it was ending its siege of the Bangkok Airport and would be returning to their homes. Praise God for this quick answer to our prayers!”
December 2, 2008
“Abraham became verbally abusive and began exhibiting frequent convulsive, emotional outbursts last spring,” says Kevin Oberg, Alliance missionary to Burkina Faso. Although his family had taken the 16-year-old to a medical clinic several times and had tried traditional animistic healing methods, none of the treatments had had any effect.
Desperate, the family approached Pastor Samuel, a local Alliance minister, to ask for prayer for the troubled youth last April. Since they didn’t know how to handle the teenager’s frequent outbursts and bizarre behavior, they also requested that Abraham live with the minister’s family. Pastor Samuel agreed.
Healing Begins
Immediately after he moved in with Pastor Samuel, Abraham began to show marked improvement; so much so, he moved home to live with his family in June.
When he contracted a stomach ailment, the teenager became more ill when his parents took him to the village witchdoctor for treatment. Abraham began exhibiting the same behaviors he had prior to moving in with the pastor and receiving prayer.
Once again, Abraham’s parents brought their son to Pastor Samuel, who received him back into his home and promised to pray for the youth. “Pastor Samuel also shared the message of salvation with the extended family,” says Oberg. As a result, Abraham, his parents, and his five younger brothers have since made decisions to follow Christ.
All of the family members now attend church regularly, and Abraham’s father often testifies to how good God has been to them.
Abraham continues to live with Pastor Samuel and his family. “Though the teenager still struggles with mental health issues,” says Oberg, “I can’t believe the improvement in Abraham since I met him last June.”
Please pray. Abraham is not out of the woods yet; he still struggles with mental health issues, and he needs prayer for complete and total healing.
Learn more about our Alliance work in Burkina Faso.
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