February 24, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Alliance launched a multipurpose ministry center, including a student outreach, in Ulaanbaatar, the cultural hub of Mongolia. The grand opening of the Grain of Wheat Student Center took place on February 16, 2009.
Each year, 250,000 students pour into Ulaanbaatar from across the country to attend university. “The center is located in the heart of the city, close to several major universities,” says Bernie Anderson, who serves with The Alliance in Mongolia. “The center exists for the benefit of students who come to the city to study.”
Many students enter the university dormitory system, which consists of up to 10 students sharing one room with no furniture. “They have no quiet place of their own to study,” says Anderson. “There is no place in the city to simply ‘hang out,’ with the exception of the abundant number of bars and pubs. Alcoholism is a huge problem in Mongolia, and much of the time it begins with university students.”
The Grain of Wheat Student Center will help meet some of these needs, providing a warm and inviting environment for students to gather. It will feature a library and eventually computers for research, a quiet study area, and a coffee shop. Students will be able to attend English and vocational classes as well as movie and music nights.
The Alliance ministry team in Mongolia believes that the best way to build relationships with the people of Ulaanbaatar is to have a visible presence in the city. Dennis Maves, field director for Mongolia, says, “Our first priority is to establish a beachhead in this strategic city by purchasing a permanent location for a multipurpose ministry center that will serve as a tactical hub for student outreach and outreach into communities throughout the city.”
The Alliance is a fellowship of evangelical believers joined together in local churches, dedicated to caring about the whole person and meeting people’s needs. 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 share the love of Jesus Christ through tangible acts of compassion.
CONTACT:
Jim Malone, Assistant Vice President for International Ministries
The Christian and Missionary Alliance
Phone: 719-265-2031
E-mail: malonej@cmalliance.org
# # #
An Alliance outreach center in Ulaanbaatar (UB), Mongolia’s capital, is poised to reach thousands of university students with the love of Jesus. The grand opening of the Grain of Wheat Student Center took place on February 16, 2009.
Each year, 250,000 students pour into UB, the cultural hub of Mongolia from across the country. “The center is located in the heart of the city, close to several major universities,” says Bernie Anderson, who serves with The Alliance in Mongolia. “It exists for the benefit of students who come to the city to study.” Alliance workers hope to share the love of Jesus with the students through tangible acts of compassion.
A Strategic Beachhead
When they arrive in UB, many students enter the university dormitory system, which consists of up to 10 students sharing one room with no furniture. “They have no quiet place of their own to study,” says Anderson.
In addition, there is no place in the city to simply hang out with friends, with the exception of numerous bars and pubs. “Alcoholism is a huge problem in Mongolia, and much of the time it begins with university students,” Anderson adds.
The Grain of Wheat Student Center will help meet some of these needs, providing a warm and inviting environment for students to gather. It will feature a library and eventually computers for research, a quiet study area, and a coffee shop. Students will be able to attend English and vocational classes as well as movie and music nights.
The Alliance ministry team in Mongolia believes that the best way to build relationships with the people of UB is to have a visible presence in the city. Dennis Maves, field director for Mongolia, says, “Our first priority is to establish a beachhead in this strategic city by purchasing a permanent location for a multipurpose ministry center that will serve as a tactical hub for student outreach and outreach into communities throughout the city.”
“We’re excited and grateful to God for His help, direction, and wisdom,” says Anderson. “We’re [also] grateful for all of the support, prayers, and gifts that we have received from our partners!”
What You Can Do
Pray that many students will respond to God’s love through this cutting-edge outreach that meets the needs of the whole person. Pray also for His protection for staff members who work at the center and for ongoing provision of financial needs.
February 19, 2009
“Team members came back pretty excited about their experience,” an Alliance worker in the Balkans reported recently. She was referring to a men’s team from a Kosovo church plant that had conducted its first missions trip to the city of Bitola, southwestern Macedonia, in December.
A number of Albanians live in Bitola (”Manistir” in Albanian), and the outreach was planned to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Albanian alphabet.
“Albanian Chirstam Chiriasi was deeply involved in the formation of the country’s written language so his countrymen could read and know God’s Word,” said an Alliance worker in Macedonia.
“Though he is a hero in Albanian culture, this man’s Christian roots have been forgotten. Our goal for the outreach during the anniversary celebrations in Bitola was to remind resident Albanians that their roots are Christian in origin and godly in nature.”
Outreach Blessings
Praise God that many on the Kosovo team were able to share the gospel. Team members were blessed in their personal lives as well, even as they proved a blessing to nonbelievers.
One team member who shared his testimony told an Alliance worker serving in Kosovo that “his legs were shaking and he had to hold onto the podium, but the Lord helped him speak!” Another man led an older gentleman in prayer to accept the Lord and was able to give him a Bible.
A timid member of the team was asked to pray for the group on the first night. “This left quite an impression on him, and now he is less afraid to pray out loud in church meetings,” the worker in Kosovo added.
One team member was reportedly so fired up about witnessing during the outreach that he hasn’t stopped since. He witnesses to all of his friends and brings them to church. One of his friends has since become a believer and is now attending the men’s discipleship group in Kosovo.
“The joy of sharing their faith and seeing the great needs around them proved to be a great growing experience for these men,” the worker in Kosovo concluded.
More Good News
Exciting news has since come in from Macedonia as well.
“The grand-nephew of Chirstam Chiriasi is now visiting our church after meeting us at his uncle’s grave during the Albanian language anniversary celebration,” reported an Alliance worker from Bitola.
“He’s also bringing a neighbor to our church. This man has two girls attending my Sunday school class, and they are eating up every word!” the worker continued.
“I tell them about God and his love for them-it’s the first time they are hearing it! Their mother is attending women’s weekly Bible study and finding things in God’s Word that she didn’t know existed. Last week she said to me, ‘This book is really helpful for life!’
“It is so rewarding to give her healing words from God’s Word,” the worker concluded.
What You Can Do
Praise God for the exciting results from the Balkan outreach. Alliance workers in Macedonia also ask for us to pray for the establishment of the Evangelical Church in Bitola. Pray that God will lead Albanians there to this new Christian fellowship.
February 17, 2009
Daniel and Vera Kuranji, who serve with the Canadian Alliance, are no strangers to hopelessness. Experiencing God’s faithfulness when their infant son was healed of cancer, the couple returned to their Serbian homeland on the verge of the Balkan war in 1989.
Refreshed by God’s powerful grace and provision, they established a humanitarian aid organization. It has since grown exponentially, encompassing Serbia’s physically and spiritually bereft, including Amela.*
Tragic Beginnings
“There’s no delicate way to describe it: her childhood was ‘hell on earth,’” says Vera. “Last year, though, God revealed his mercy and love to this gentle 14-year-old. We share her story to reveal His love and goodness in the face of untold misery.”
Amela’s childhood was spent with her mentally ill mother and three younger sisters in a small, dilapidated cottage outside Novi Sad. The house had no electricity or indoor plumbing, and food was scarce; additionally, Amela’s stepfather was an alcoholic.
A thin, quiet girl, Amela had great difficulty making eye contact. “During the two years we visited the home, she never smiled, and we saw no changes in the family,” Vera adds.
Abuse
“My husband, Danny, and I had deep compassion for these four sweet girls . . . sometimes we felt helpless, aware that a food parcel, some warm clothes, or kind words were not enough to make any radical changes in their situation.”
One day, the Kuranjis were horrified to learn that Amela’s stepfather had been sexually abusing her for several years. The girl’s aunt, a devout Christian who attends the Kuranjis’ church, took the girl in. Almost immediately, Amela began attending church and making friends.
New Life
Upon accepting Christ as her Savior and experiencing His compassion, she began to smile. “Amela is now surrounded with people who love and respect her,” Vera concluded. “Though she continues to face the challenges of living in poverty, God has moved Amela from the Kingdom of darkness into to the Kingdom of Light.”
*Name has been changed for the protection of privacy.
What You Can Do
In your prayers, thank the Lord for the Kuranjis’ hope-filled ministry and Amela’s salvation. Pray for this wounded teenager’s continued healing and depth of relationship with Christ.
By Dr. Tim and Dr. Huyen Bartholomew
Editor’s note: The Bartholomews are Alliance Compassion and Mercy Associates (CAMA) workers, assisting with the PAACS (Pan African Academy of Christian Surgeons) program in L’hopital Protestante de Ngaoundere, Cameroon. Edited excerpts from their recent newsletter illustrate the couple’s life-changing ministry.
Though PAACS officially began January 1, we’ve been operating on patients since early October-the needs are so great. Recently, we’ve seen patients from great distances.
One young woman with whom we’ve spent a lot of time-Mariama*-is a Chadian refugee. Suffering with a jaw tumor (ameloblastoma) for some 10 years, she had concealed it well with a scarf. A United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees group brought her to the hospital.
After two trips to the operating room, and several weeks in the hospital, we were able to remove and reconstruct her jaw. We have a dental clinic here that also constructed a free denture for her, which really made her happy. (See big smile in the accompanying photo.) It would’ve been great to be in her village the day she arrived home.
Aminatou* is also from Chad. She was shot in the face with an AK-47. Her jaw was locked shut because the bone and muscle were destroyed. We did have several opportunities to share the gospel message with her. Though she is of the majority religion in Chad, she was amazingly interested in what we had to say. She’s called us a few times since going home, and we hope to see her again.
These patients are two examples of people we’ve been able to help because of those who’ve graciously supported our work. We are grateful to be able to show Christ’s love without being restricted by the almighty franc.
*Names have been changed for the protection of privacy.
What You Can Do
Praise God for the opportunities to minister God’s love to refugees in Cameroon. The Bartholomews also request prayer for the Lord’s help to exhibit his love in a difficult hospital work environment.
By Peggy Drake, serving in Burkina Faso
Editor’s note: Peggy Drake helped to initiate Project Life, a clinic and pharmacy providing affordable treatment to the ill and dying in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. She describes a moving birthday encounter with a forlorn runaway and her newborn baby.
It was the morning of my 57th birthday. I was in the clinic with a patient when all of a sudden I heard our pharmacy worker, Jeannine, calling me to come quickly.
A young girl (we’ll call her Jasmine) was lying on the street outside, weeping uncontrollably. A tiny baby was strapped to her back.
When I bent down and began speaking to Jasmine in her tribal language, she looked up at me with surprise, and her tears slowly began to subside. After we walked to one of the clinic exam rooms, she began telling me her tragic story:
Jasmine had become involved with a classmate who abandoned her when she became pregnant with his child. Once her baby girl was born, her parents threw her out of the house.
“A Place Where People Care”
For some 40 days and nights since, Jasmine had been on the run, staying in different homes as she worked her way to the city. She’d heard that there was a place in our part of town where people cared and might help her. If she could just find that place!
The night before we met, Jasmine had slept on the dusty street, trying to keep herself and her baby girl warm. She had wanted to place the baby under a bush by the side of the road that night and walk away, but for some reason she didn’t.
Jasmine explained that she loved the baby but did not want it anymore; she wanted to go back to school and to her parent’s home. I was filled with compassion as I looked at this mother and her baby, and I asked if I could tell her a story. She agreed.
Choosing Life
I began to share with her what had happened 57 years ago-that very morning. A woman gave birth to a baby with no left hand. Because she did not want to keep the baby, it was taken straight to an orphanage.
I then told her that baby was me! She looked at me and said, “No, that cannot be!” I said, “Yes, it is true.”
I explained to her that like the woman who gave me life, she had made some right choices. She had not tried to abort the baby; she had not left it to die.
We talked about God and what He might accomplish through her baby. Jasmine smiled for the first time when I said, “Maybe she will be the first woman prime minister in Burkina!”
God’s Grace
By the end of the morning, we all decided that Jasmine would be taken back to her village. The wife of her village’s elected mayor even volunteered that she would care for her and the baby.
I told her that we would see each other soon and that the team at the clinic would pray for her. I told her that we would talk more about the Lord Jesus and His grace in our lives. She liked that idea very much.
As she left I said, “Your baby does not yet have a name but I shall call her Grace.” She smiled as she turned to leave. As I walked back into the clinic, I began humming that classic hymn, “Grace, grace, God’s grace.”
What You Can Do
In your prayers, thank the Lord for Peggy Drake’s encounter with Jasmine and baby Grace. Pray for this young woman’s salvation and for the Lord to protect and sustain her and her new baby.
By Deanna Harrison, serving in Cote d’Ivoire
I have a confession that is difficult for me to make.
The other day I walked into a room to find a recently widowed pastor’s wife who was inconsolable. She had thrown herself on the floor and was tossing and turning, crying and wailing. Other mourners had begun to gather, and many were weeping.
After a few minutes I began to cry too.
Fearful Tears
I am embarrassed to admit that I was not crying for this bereaved young woman. I was crying for me; I was crying because I didn’t know what to do in this culture.
I have had a long missionary career in two African countries, as well as a 10-year term in France. My husband Randy and I moved to Cote d’Ivoire in 2004 to support the biblical leadership training offered at the West Africa Alliance Seminary (FATEAC) in Abidjan.
Because of civil war, we were evacuated several months after our arrival. We just moved back this past year to Abidjan, so I still feel pretty ignorant about the right way to do things here.
With this grieving widow, I didn’t feel like an experienced missionary bringing God’s comfort. I felt like a teenager on a short-term missions trip, lost in a brand new situation.
I was desperately afraid of doing the wrong thing. Here was a precious young pastor’s wife mourning the recent loss of her husband, and all I could do was cry for me!
A Miracle
And then a miracle happened. My Ivorian friend, Bernadette Kouakou, caught my eye and gestured for me to join her on the floor beside the crying woman. When I sat down next to my grieving sister, put my arms around her, and looked her full in the face, all of my self-pity evaporated.
I realized I didn’t care if I was acting like the experienced missionary. I didn’t care if I was doing the culturally appropriate thing. I didn’t care what the others thought of me. All I could do was feel the pain of this suffering woman. I was not only crying for her; I was crying with her.
Despite the differences in our nationalities, cultures, and generations, I was able to identify with this woman’s pain. Perhaps I didn’t know how to express it correctly in this new cultural setting, but the Lord knew my heart and heard my prayers on her behalf.
Hopefully my presence was a comfort to her. I know she, Suzanne, would appreciate your prayers too.
Workers Needed!
Randy and I later talked with the church president who told us more about the young pastor who had died. He had been in charge of 16 congregations!
Each of these small churches has a lay preacher. But this precious young pastor was the only one in that district qualified to perform communions, baptisms, weddings, funerals, and other pastoral duties.
As we spoke with the church president, he expressed his concern about who would fill the gap after this young man’s passing. I trust you can see from this why we are so convinced of the great need for Bible training in Africa.
“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Luke 10:2a).
What You Can Do
Pray for God’s healing comfort to envelop recently widowed Suzanne. Continue to pray for the increase of quality Bible training across Africa to fully equip church leaders.
By Harry and Jane Landaw, serving in Japan
Exposed to strong radiation during the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, Wakana still remembers the bright light of the bomb that hit her town when she was a small child.
Sudden poverty and permanent sickness began to shape a changed life for Wakana. Physical weaknesses resulting from the blast remained a lifelong battle.
Searching for Peace
In time, Wakana became a wealthy woman. Married to a top executive for a major car company, she gained a strong command of the English language and enjoyed talking to foreigners. Gunilla, a Swedish member of the Yachiyo Alliance Church, reached out to Wakana.
We first met Wakana at a Christmas party at Gunilla’s home while we were leading the church. With true openness and acceptance, Wakana wanted to become friends with us Americans. A bond immediately emerged. It seemed natural to invite her to church that day. And she came-the very next Sunday. It was the beginning of Wakana’s journey with Jesus.
Searching for peace and hope, Wakana determined to learn more about the God written about in the Bible. Every Sunday she attended church and faithfully participated in Bible study on Wednesday. The beautiful light of Jesus had begun to penetrate her hungry heart.
It was a day of rejoicing when Wakana asked Harry if she could accept Jesus. She prayed a prayer of forgiveness. It took time, but she grew strong in her faith. We were on home assignment, having just finished a fall missions tour, when we received a phone call. “I’m going to be baptized at Christmas!” Wakana exclaimed. We cried together with joy.
Wakana’s husband did not join her in coming to church or in studying God’s Word-until he was diagnosed with lung cancer. His life suddenly had a note of finality written on it.
A Faithful Witness
During his long hospitalization, Wakana’s husband listened to her as she witnessed to him, along with the church family and Richard and Janice Kropp, international workers serving with The Alliance at Yachiyo. They held worship services in his room, singing praises and reading from the Word.
His heart began to open, and he would repeat “Amen” at the end of the believers’ prayers. During his last days on earth, he gave his heart to Jesus.
Testifying that her husband had accepted Jesus before he died, Wakana stood before some of Japan’s highest executives in her husband’s car company. She told them that his last words were, “Jesus, Jesus.”
When Harry preached recently at the Yachiyo Church, we hugged Wakana, who was in attendance. It was evident that she was growing weaker, but she said, “I just wanted to come and hear the Word from your sermon today!” It was her turn to read the Scripture during the service. With power, she read from John 6. It brought tears to our eyes.
After the service, Wakana graciously approached two new women and welcomed them to church. Although she bears the physical effects of radiation yet today, it is the true radiance of Jesus Christ that sets her apart. Her life goes on as she daily lives out the fragrance of her Lord and Savior.
Pray for Pastor Akira Minamitani, who now pastors the Yachiyo Church and faithfully shepherds the flock of which Wakana is a member.
What You Can Do
Praise God for Wakana’s vibrant testimony and for her husband’s salvation. Pray that his former colleagues will respond in faith to Christ’s message of hope.
February 13, 2009
Mrs. Esther E. Kowles, retired missionary to China, Taiwan and the Philippines, entered into the presence of the Lord on Tuesday, February 10, 2009. She was 91. Esther served as a missionary with The Christian and Missionary Alliance for 42 years.
In 1938 at the age of 20, Esther Kirchmeyer accepted Christ and soon after attended Buffalo Bible College. In July 1941, Esther married Raymond Kowles, who was home from China on his first furlough. When World War II began, Raymond and Esther remained in the United States and completed studies at Nyack College from 1941 to 1945. In 1945 Raymond was asked to accompany a special post-war party to China for rehabilitation of the mission station properties. Esther and two of their children joined him soon after. They enjoyed fruitful ministry until the country was overtaken by the Communist regime in 1949.
The Kowles were relocated to the Philippines in 1950 where their service included evangelism among the Yakan tribe on Basilan Island, production of the first Yakan hymnal and the Gospel of Mark, and supervision of the Manila field office and guest home. While in Manila, they organized and built the first church in the northern Philippines. One of their greatest joys was to hear one of the old men remark at their farewell, “Because you have been here, we have seen God.”
In 1970 they were transferred to Taiwan to work among the Chinese. Esther served as librarian at the Bethany School in Taipei. Raymond served as Board representative of the Taiwan field until his death in 1973. Two years later Esther returned to the ministry in the Philippines and was involved in general station work, Bible studies, and church planting in Manila. She also served as school librarian at Faith Academy, worked in the Manila guest home, and continued in various ministries among the Yakan people. She retired from International Ministries in 1984.
Mrs. Kowles is survived by her four children: Miss Ruth Kowles, Mr. Robert Kowles, Mrs. Elizabeth DeMaggio and Mr. Timothy Kowles; 13 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2009, at Community Bible Church in Valley Cottage, New York. Rev. Bryan Burrell will officiate the service.
By Steve Clouser, serving in Burkina Faso
Mr. Traoré joined Debbi’s (Clouser) English class in November at The Family Life Center in the Ouaga 2000 neighborhood. He and his wife, both bankers, were raised in another religion but said they’ve been “looking for something more.”
One night Debbi asked if she could pray for her students at the end of class, as they had been discussing several problems that some of them had. The following class period, Mr. Traoré asked her if she would please pray at the end of every class.
Won By Love
We invited the Traorés to our Christmas outreach dinner. They told us they were very attracted to the families in our cell group because of the love we showed to one another and to them. They said we seemed like a big happy family. We told them we would be starting Sunday morning services on February 1, and they said they would love to join us.
Though our center has been running only since last summer, we are finding that love in action at Family Life Center is proving to be a magnet in attracting people like the Traorés to Jesus Christ.
Mr. Traoré attended the service last Sunday at our brand new church (only our second service). He stood up, introduced himself, and explained how he had been attracted to our center and our new church. We are waiting for the opportunity to introduce him to a personal relationship with Christ!
Regular youth activities have begun, and young people in this neighborhood are anxious to have relationships with us and to hear of Christ’s love.
What you can do…
Pray that Mr. Traore and his wife will know Jesus as their personal Savior. Pray that God will continue to empower the Clousers for His glory!
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