April 29, 2010
By David and Christine Manfred, serving in Cambodia (on home assignment)
In the somewhat obscure Old Testament Book of Habakkuk, we see one of the most beautiful descriptions of faith recorded in Scripture: ”Though the fig tree does not bud and there are not grapes on the vines, though the olive tree fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will be joyful in God my Savior” (3:17-18).
Even when we don’t see it or feel it, God is still at work and is worthy of our praise. In fact, it is precisely when we don’t see—yet believe—that we have demonstrated true faith in its purest form. Hebrews reminds us that faith is the “assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1, emphasis added).
A Quiet Miracle
As we have spoken this year to many people in the United States about Cambodia, we have been reminded that God was at work in that land in countless ways. The land infamous for the Killing Fields continues to experience a rich harvest as the number of Christians in the country has increased a hundredfold over the past 30 years.
From the perspective of time, we can now see that God was powerfully at work in Cambodia, even when it seemed like He was nowhere to be seen.
The same is true for us today as well. God is at work even when we don’t see it. Some may call this blind faith, and indeed it would be—except for the historicity of Jesus’ Resurrection. That Easter message means that even in the midst of deepest darkness and loss, we are assured that light and life will come.
The Call of God
Even when it seems there is no plan or there is a bad plan . . . God is still at work. His call to us is to trust. Trust like a child. For those whose faith is in Christ, no matter how bad the storm, the message of the Resurrection is that we will be okay . . . indeed, far better than just okay.
Such is our hope . . . and such is the hope that is drawing many Cambodians to Jesus and transforming them through faith in Him.
Learn More
Check out our work in Cambodia.
For more about Alliance ministry in Cambodia, watch the inspiring video “Against All Odds” [duration, 2:31].
What You Can Do
Give to Alliance Great Commission Ministries to help bring Christ’s love to lost people in Cambodia and around the world.
April 23, 2010
By Ruth Davis and Jo Kiel, serving in Brazil
Editor’s Note: Jo Kiel, an Alliance international worker in Brazil, has developed an evangelistic tool in which she demonstrates the use of colors to accentuate outer beauty while introducing women to Jesus, who can make them beautiful on the inside. Recently, Jo and her colleague, Ruth Davis, hosted eight color seminars in São Paulo, where they shared the message of Christ with women from all walks of life. Read about how God is using this dynamic ministry to reach many for His Kingdom.
We want to thank all our friends who prayed for us as we organized eight color events in the past week. Throughout the week, we felt God’s presence and are grateful for your partnership in ministry. In total, 240 women attended, and 51 circled vases on their information sheets, indicating that they wanted to give their hearts to Jesus-to let Him clean up their lives and give them a new flower arrangement.
One presentation, held in a hotel during an afternoon tea, was sponsored by members of a prayer group from a Nazarene church who had prayed and fasted for weeks prior to the event. The results were clearly orchestrated by God. With 70 women present-some bejeweled as they advertised for a jewelry store-it was a tea fit for a queen, with roses at each place setting. We could sense God’s Spirit moving as Jo explained the gospel message. The presence of the Lord was so evident in the place that she had trouble presenting the good news without crying.
A Spiritual Adventure
We developed a tradition of giving a pink women’s devotional Bible during a drawing at the conclusion of each event. The recipients always seem to be handpicked by God, just as we pray they will be. On Saturday in a private home in Alphaville, one young woman was chosen from 20 names to receive the Bible. She told us she had just started going to church with her boyfriend, and it was wonderful to receive the Scriptures.
The young woman brought her mother to the Wednesday event at the church she is attending. That night 70 women attended, and her mother’s name was drawn to receive the pink Bible. Mother and daughter can now read God’s Word and seem to be embarking on a spiritual adventure together.
“The Event of the Year”
Initially, our goal was to reach professional women in Alphaville. But we also accepted an invitation from Baptist missionary friends to present the workshop at a church in a poverty-stricken neighborhood sandwiched between a bar and a bus stop. The women were so grateful that we came, calling it “the event of the year.” They could not afford anything like this, and no one they knew would be willing to travel there for free. Jo said, “If you can afford to buy only one outfit, at least you want to have the right color.” Likewise, all women need Jesus, and if you call on only one name, that better be Jesus.
This outreach also resonates with women who have gone through chemotherapy. One woman came forward at our last event in Alphaville, broken and crying, touched by the message after having survived cancer.
We continue to be amazed by the way God puts all the details together and how we see Him operating in each one of these opportunities. Thanks for praying!
Learn More
Watch a video of Jo Kiel expressing her heart for the women of Brazil.
Check out our Alliance work in Brazil.
What You Can Do
Pray that the women who made decisions for Jesus during this outreach will grow strong in their faith and make disciples within their circles of influence.
Give to Alliance Great Commission Ministries to help bring Christ’s message of redemption to lost people in Brazil and around the world.
By Suresh Dongerdive
Editor’s Note: Suresh Dongerdive pastors New Life India (Alliance) Church, ministering among a large Hindu population in the Atlanta suburb of Lilburn. Suresh was raised in India in a Christian home; his grandparents were converted to Christianity through the Church of the Nazarene in the1890s. Suresh’s wife and her parents were members of an Alliance church, and his wife was studying in an Alliance Christian boarding school when the couple met.
When we moved to Atlanta in 2000, we were introduced to an Alliance pastor through my wife’s hairdresser. Local Hindus were getting ready to build the largest temple outside of India that year, and we had been asking God to open a door for us to reach these people. God answered our prayers through the Alliance pastor, and we were able to plant a church under the umbrella of The Christian and Missionary Alliance.
At the inaugural service in 2002, Dr. Ravi Zacharias spoke to more than 500 people, six of whom made decisions to follow Christ.
Reaching Hindus
We started the Indian ministry because many Hindus were settling down in Gwinnett County because of the new temple. Currently, there are more than 35,000 Indians living in this county. There is also a large Pakistani population that we are trying to reach as well.
India Life Church meets in the Lilburn Alliance Church and has had nearly 50 people attending at one time. Recently, though, many Hindus have left the Atlanta area because of the economic crisis, in search of jobs in other large cities. This has caused our attendance to dwindle.
One True God
A few years ago, we held an international Christmas celebration, which was attended by many people, including Mr. Ashok Goel, a software engineer, and his wife. The couple gave us their contact information, and we visited them occasionally. Last year, he had some problems and called to ask us to pray for him. Our God answered our prayers, and Mr. Ashok accepted Jesus. He began attending our Wednesday prayer time, where we meet together with Lilburn Alliance church members. Mr. Ashok gave his testimony to the congregation, declaring how he has found everything he needs in Jesus.
At our 2009 Christmas celebration, 20 Hindus joined us to sing and play t Indian musical instruments. One Hindu woman gave her heart to the Lord. We praise God for all that He is doing through this annual outreach.
We have found an avenue for community outreach through local motels. Hindu motel owners have asked for our help to put Bibles in their motel rooms. Our vision is to lift Jesus up in Atlanta and to let Hindus know that there is no other god but Jesus-that He is the true God, the living God (Jeremiah 10:10)-and bring them to the knowledge of His saving grace.
Wait on the Lord
India/Pakistani ministry is a slow process; it takes time to reach these people with Christ’s message of salvation. We are seeking God’s guidance again for the establishment of an Internet café, where Indians and Pakistanis can come to enjoy coffee or tea, see the JESUS film, and read books by Christian writers. God has brought us this far. We trust Him to expand our ministry to reach more Hindus through New Life India.
April 21, 2010
By Raymond Ebbett, serving in Spain
Europe was reminded this past week that science and technology have very real limitations. One volcano with an impossible-to-pronounce name (Eyjafjallajoekull) trumped 65,000 airline flights . . . just like that. People throughout the world were stranded in one place or another, unable to get home or to their planned destinations.
In France, Alliance worker Marcia Berry is unable to attend her father’s April 22 memorial service due to the closure of airports because of volcanic ash. Marcia, who had already made airline reservations to spend Mother’s Day with her parents, says, “As I have shared the situation with people here in Toulouse, I have so clearly realized God’s hand on the timing of arriving home. It will be hard to miss [the memorial], but it will be even more important to spend the following two weeks with my mother.”
Several other Alliance people were affected by the volcano ash and were forced to change their plans, trusting God’s sovereignty.
With all the earthquakes and natural disasters of recent months, we have been reminded that life is fragile. I don’t pretend to know all that God wants to tell us, but certainly these events should get our attention and help us to recognize our need for Him.
Thank you for praying for our workers and churches during this time.
Learn More
Read about Alliance ministries in Europe.
What You Can Do
Pray for Alliance workers in the United States and overseas.
You can impact your world for Christ when you give to Alliance Great Commission Ministries.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) of the United States is pleased to announce that Rev. Rosilio Román has been appointed to serve as assistant vice president for Multicultural Ministries and Church Multiplication.
“As our congregations are becoming more culturally diverse, so must our national leadership,” said Rev. John Soper, vice president for Church Ministries of the U.S. C&MA. “Ethnic people currently represent about one-third of the population of the United States, and that same percentage is held within the upper leadership of Church Ministries.”
Rev. Román brings more than 25 years of experience to his role at the National Office, having begun his ministry career as a chaplain candidate in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. From 1987 to 1995, he was senior pastor of The Christian and Missionary Alliance Church of Manati-Pueblo in Manati, Puerto Rico, where he led the congregation in a successful church-planting project. He served as church development director as well as district superintendent of the Puerto Rico District of the C&MA.
As national director of U.S.-Hispanic ministries for the Bible League, Rev. Román was responsible for general oversight of Scripture placement programs across the United States, focusing on reaching the U.S. Hispanic population. In this role, he was responsible for opening new regional offices and providing ongoing support to regional teams. In 2009, he assumed the position of senior ministry director of the Bible League’s Latin America and South Asia Ministries.
Rev. Román is a graduate of Alliance Theological Seminary in Nyack, New York. His responsibilities at the National Office include direct oversight of geographical districts within the U.S. C&MA.
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 has a thoroughly evangelical doctrinal statement and encourages believers from diverse backgrounds and theological traditions to unite to complete Christ’s Great Commission.
CONTACT:
Rev. John Soper, Vice President for Church Ministries
The Christian and Missionary Alliance
Ph: 719-265-2042
www.cmalliance.org
# # #
April 16, 2010
“The greatest evangelical window currently available is among young children,” researcher George Barna says. “The research is very clear: if Jesus is not already part of their lives by the time they leave junior high school, the chances of them accepting Him as their Lord and Savior [are] very slim (6 percent, to be exact).” *
The Alliance has always been committed to reaching children and youth with the good news of Jesus. From West Africa to Southeast Asia to Latin America, our international workers are involved in Awana clubs, vacation Bible schools, backyard Bible clubs, camping ministries, Sunday school classes, and more.
The following excerpts are adapted from prayer letters written by Alliance workers who were involved in recent children’s outreaches.
Our March 29–April 2 vacation Bible school (VBS) went well, with an average of 13 children attending each day. After learning the meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection, all of them raised their hands to indicate that they were ready to put their faith in Christ. Several of the children had already prayed to receive Jesus at our Christmas outreach and previous VBS, but there were 10 first-time commitments.
The exciting thing to us is that most of the children can walk to church. They are our neighbors, and their parents are pleased to allow them to come. Pray as we continue to follow-up with these children and their families.
—Ed and Sue Danneker, serving in Thailand
We praise God that our two Awana children’s ministries are going very well! Over the past month, we have seen the Saturday morning group grow to 27 in attendance, and we anticipate that many more children in the neighborhood will come.
God is at work in the lives of these children. The Saturday afternoon group is up to 11 children in attendance and going well. Please pray for growth as we reach the neighborhood near our church building. Also, pray for God’s anointing and empowerment for those who lead this ministry.
—Bob and Joy Brougher, serving in Paraguay
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14).
* Source: Barna, George: Re-Churching the Unchurched. Ventura, CA: Issachar Resources, 2000. Quoted by White Hutchinson Leisure & Learning Group: http://www.whitehutchinson.com/religiousfacilities/childrenministry.shtml
Learn More
Check out Alliance resources for kids.
Check out Alliance work in Thailand and Paraguay.
For more on Alliance children’s ministry, read the article “Little Kids, Big Calling.”
What You Can Do
Invest in Alliance Great Commission Ministries. In doing so, you partner in strategic missions work and church-planting efforts around the world, including Thailand and Paraguay.
April 15, 2010
By Shelly Kragt, serving in Germany
“I feel like I’m standing on the edge of a cliff. I want to jump, but I’m scared,” Petra* said to me with tears and uncertainty. We were sitting at her kitchen table drinking tea about three years ago after I had once again had an opportunity to share the gospel with her.
I had known Petra for three years by that point. We had had many good times together, and I had won her trust as a friend. Because we had developed such a close friendship, my heart ached for her to share my faith, but I knew I couldn’t push her off that cliff. Just as I felt the Spirit of God was going to do it, her baby cried from the other room, and the moment was over.
Pedaling home on my bike later, I cried out to God for him to take my life and save hers. How long would I have to wait for her to take the step and fall into the arms of God who is waiting for her on the other side of her imaginary cliff?
God Erased
Petra grew up in East Germany. From Petra, as well as others whom I have gotten to know from the former communist sector of Germany, I learned that God was basically erased from society. Evolution was so engrained in the minds of the students that to believe in creation was unheard of. Because no one talked about God, people from the East have little or no religious background. Another friend of mine said, she feels dumb when people start talking “Bible language” because she has absolutely no background or frame of reference.
Sharing the gospel in a land where a knowledge of God was almost completely eradicated from the culture takes time. This is a place of sowing and sowing some more. Petra had a negative view of Christians, as do many others because of how the communist government portrayed them. Her mind and heart were not going to be changed overnight, but God continued wooing her to Himself.
What Does God’s Love Look Like?
After getting to know East Germans, I realize that it isn’t my role to argue with them about topics such as evolution versus creation. What they need is someone to show them what it looks like to be loved by God and to talk in words they can understand about His saving grace. There is also an openness to read the Bible because they are curious. Unfortunately, they are open to all forms of religion that have flooded in since the Berlin Wall fell. Many of them, including Petra, are deceived by Eastern religious thought and horoscopes.
Other Side of the Mountain
A few days ago, I was sitting again in Petra’s apartment enjoying a cup of tea and her friendship, when the conversation turned once again to spiritual things. This time the cliff wasn’t threatening. The tears still came, but they were tears of joy as Petra took the leap of faith and landed safe and secure in the arms of almighty God-six long years after I first met her. It was worth the wait!
*Name changed
Learn More
Read about other outreaches in Berlin, Germany.
What You Can Do
Please consider your role in helping to support Alliance Great Commission Ministries. It is through this central fund that we are able to minister in Germany and around the world.
April 14, 2010
This week is Songkran, which is the Thai New Year. During this time, the Thai typically return home to their villages to celebrate with their families by having the world’s largest water fight. The streets are lined with people carrying buckets of water and water guns to splash drivers in pick-up trucks and on motorcycles. It is a festive time but also a dangerous time. Many people get drunk, resulting in accidents.
Please pray that Thai believers will stay strong in Christ despite the temptations around them. Also, pray for safety for the Thai people.
As a new year begins, TEAM Isaan, an outreach to the Isaan people of northeast Thailand, will start the year by holding its annual International Day of Prayer (IDOP) for the Isaan. Please join the Alliance family on April 18 (or some other convenient day for you) in lifting up the Isaan people to God in prayer.
Let’s pray that this will be a year during which many more Isaan people come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Learn More
Click here to watch a video or download prayer resources.
(Note: clicking on the above link will take you off of the C&MA Web site.)
Check out Alliance work in Thailand.
Thanks for holding us up in prayer,
TEAM Isaan
By Todd Adams, serving in Indonesia
Fifty-six years ago, a seaplane named “The Gospel Messenger” landed on the Baliem River in New Guinea (now Papua, Indonesia), bringing the first Alliance missionaries to this valley that had been previously untouched by any Christian witness. Today, pockets of people around the mountain edges love and serve the Lord.
God has redeemed many souls here. On April 6, 2010, more than 300 people gathered under the pine trees to commemorate the entry of the gospel into this region that had once been dubbed “Shangri La.” As we celebrate the life-changing power of the Lord Jesus, we continue to pray that God will bring restoration to our troubled churches here. Praise God—a new group from Tulem just returned to the GKII (the Alliance national church in Indonesia).
“If My People Pray . . .”
Pray with us that God will continue to do a mighty work in the lives of people here. Many second- and third-generation children have not experienced Jesus in a life-giving way. Pray for the outpouring of God’s Spirit on this island.
Many churches are facing serious inner struggles. I believe that if His people would humble themselves and seek Him again, Papua would be changed. I believe if Christians were living under the anointing of God, people of other faiths would see the legitimacy of the gospel, and many would turn to Him. Pray for repentance, unity, and revival.
What You Can Do
Give to Alliance Great Commission Ministries to help bring the life-changing power of the gospel to lost people in Indonesia and around the world.
Learn More
Check out our work in Indonesia.
April 13, 2010
By Jane and Harry Landaw, serving in Japan (on home assignment)
Thank you for praying with us these past 10 weeks as we began our spring Missions Conference tour. We spent three weeks in 25 Alliance churches in Florida as Harry was in southwest Florida and Jane was in northeast Florida. From there we continued on to Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas to minister in 14 churches. We also had the joy of participating in the MidAmerica District Conference.
Praying, Giving, Going, Sending
Commitment to the Great Commission and world evangelism were displayed at each of the Missions Conferences as church families creatively planned mission-focused opportunities for everyone from children to adults to participate in the theme of “Open Doors.” It was 10 weeks filled with seeing young people commit their lives to serving the Lord, growing partnerships to pray for the darkness to be pushed back in Japan, and churches reporting increased giving to the Great Commission Fund in spite of depressed economic conditions.
From Beaches to Blizzards
We thank the Lord for this tour that took us from Florida’s beaches to Iowa’s blizzards. Each state has its own unique beauty, and we enjoyed both seasons. God was so faithful to answer prayer and give us safety in the thousands of miles we traveled. He also gave us many new contacts and friendships that continue to encourage and bless us. Thank you to each of the churches for your incredible preparations, care, and the hospitality you extended to us.
Our return date to Japan is June 30. We appreciate prayer as we prepare for our departure.
What You Can Do
Praise the Lord for the faithful commitment to missions that is being demonstrated at C&MA Missions Conferences across the United States. Pray that God will give all Alliances churches a heart for the nations—that Alliance people will be involved in missions by praying, giving, going, and sending.
Lift up the needs of Alliance international workers, pastors, and leaders in the USA and around the world by participating in the Alliance World Week of Prayer.
Invest in Alliance Great Commission Ministries. In doing so, you partner in strategic missions work and church-planting efforts around the world, including Japan.
Learn More
Check out Alliance missions resources.
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