January 19, 2012
By Teresa Bill, serving in the Republic of the Congo
It was a typical children’s club at our home in Ollombo—under the carport that has expanded into a youth shelter. Lekonga, 10, who never misses club, came to me at the end of a meeting in May 2010 in tears. God had been convicting him of his disobedience to his mother, he said, and he asked for prayer.
I have found that when the children ask for prayer, they are really asking for help. (It’s an opportunity to counsel them and talk about real problems; it also gives them the opportunity to confess their sins to God.) So I directed Lekonga to a young man who is our neighbor and recently became a follower of Jesus. Since he speaks the local Lingala language (and I am still learning!), I asked him to counsel and pray with the child.
Victory!
After nearly three years of doing children’s outreach here, it was the first time one of the kids had come to us for spiritual help—a breakthrough for this community that is shrouded in animistic, superstitious beliefs.
For example, we tried to learn and spell each child’s name last year, but then they refused to attend because they thought we would curse them if we knew their names. (Often the children give other names, rather than their own.) One neighborhood family even forbade their children to attend—because white people eat children!
Despite these cultural challenges, club is the highlight of the week for the children. (We began with 25 attending; today we average 90.) Each Wednesday, an announcement is made to the neighborhood on a loud speaker. Celestin and Jeanne Mayala, our Congolese colleagues, help with the meetings, in which we sing, sing, and sing Bible songs in French and Lingala. Our lessons and teachings, such as showing courtesy and respect for others, are all biblically based.
Also, the children earn awards for memorizing verses and the names of the New Testament books. We received a shipment of Gideon New Testaments, which the children can earn by memorizing verses.
Coloring Is a Highpoint
Even the young children learn Bible verses. (Some of the very young confuse my last name, “Bill”, with Bible, so they call me Madame Bible. I love that!) But the highlight of the meeting is coloring a picture of a Bible story; the children had never had the opportunity to color until they attended our meetings!
Steven loves club, but he must bring his fussy baby brother, which is common in this community where children are responsible for their younger siblings. (We are prepared with a blanket that lies on the floor for the nappers and babies.) One day recently, Steven said that he hadn’t heard the announcement the previous week, so he had missed the meeting! He was so sad.
We reminded him that we meet every Wednesday from 3–6 p.m., without fail, unless there is a big rain. We even meet in the extreme heat and humidity (100 F!).
Some local officials have visited our children’s meeting because they’d received good reports about our teaching. God has blessed our group. We account our success to the Lord, who has enabled us to be faithful each week, and to sharing good Bible teaching in a fun atmosphere with leaders who are good Christian models. Most important, we communicate God’s love to love-starved children.
Transformation
As for Lekonga, his life has changed since that spring day. He is happier than he used to be, and his parents say he is less difficult and more obedient. A bright student, he reads and understands French and is a joy to have in club where he actively listens and answers questions. “I like club,” he says. “It is fun and interesting and challenges me!”
Because of your prayerful support of the Great Commission Fund, children like Lekonga have the opportunity to hear and respond to the good news of Jesus Christ at the weekly children’s meeting in Ollombo, Congo.
What You Can Do
Give to the Great Commission Fund—partner with Alliance workers like Teresa Bill to share Jesus with children and families alike, who are all in need of the life-changing good news.
Pray for Alliance workers around the world.
Be sure to check out alife‘s January 15 issue that includes more stories about the powerful, Kingdom-expanding impact of children’s ministries.
December 20, 2011
By Dave Bill, serving in the Republic of the Congo
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: . . . the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Marivia, 18, is a baby. That is, he’s a brand new Jesus follower. He’s also our neighbor here in Ollombo, Congo, whom we’ve been privileged to witness God transform.
“Before I received Christ,” he explains, “I used to steal money from my mother’s purse so I could go to the movies. If she didn’t give me the money, I’d fight with her. I also used to get into street fights easily.”
Our national colleague, Celestin, has the gift of evangelism, and soon after he joined us here in Ollombo, he began talking to Marivia (pronounced “Mar-e-vee-ah”) about the Lord.
“Celestin’s presentation to me of God’s Word helped me to realize that even if I die, my spirit will be with Christ,” Marivia recalls. “After I accepted Christ, I was really ashamed of how I used to act.”
Soon after his conversion, Marivia began taking discipleship classes from my wife, Teresa. “She helped me become firm in my faith and to resist the world and my old life,” says the 18-year-old, noting that the “weapons of our warfare” (Ephesians 6:10–18) assist him to avoid temptation.
New Beginnings
After his conversion, Marivia also began taking literacy classes from Teresa. (Talk about starting a new life—not only spiritually, but educationally as well!) “I never liked going to school,” he admits. “Even though I somehow made it to sixth grade, I never could read or write.”
It’s possible to stay in school here even if you can’t read or write, because a classroom sometimes holds more than 100 students—and just one teacher. This is the educational system in rural Congo, where a school room is a dirt shack!
Humility Equals Growth
Just the other day, Marivia announced that he was going to use most of the meager funds he has collected doing odd jobs for us and enroll in a private school where he can better learn to read and write. Imagine—an 18-year-old entering primary school!
While I was writing this article, Marivia arrived back from his first day at school, excited to talk about what he had learned.
“I’m excited about learning again!” he exclaims. “I now realize that it’s not a very easy future without the ability to read and write.”
We know it takes being humble like a child to enter the Kingdom of God, but I’m reminded by Marivia’s journey that to progress in the Christian life, we need to remain humble. That’s how God gives us grace to grow not only spiritually, but in every way!
What You Can Do
Praise God for Marivia’s new life in Christ; pray for his continued spiritual and educational progress. Join in praying for Alliance workers around the world.
Donate to the Great Commission Fund—partner in Living the Call together with Alliance workers like the Bills.
Learn more about our work in Congo.
November 16, 2011
Former Gangster Introduces Ex-Con to the Light
By Mark Edwards, serving in Taiwan
I didn’t think it likely that Jonathan would ever follow Christ! Entrenched in a mixture of Buddhist and Taiwanese folk religion beliefs from an early age, the 30-something car mechanic was involved in a motorcycle accident that left him hospitalized in a coma—and also resulted in the death of the man he had hit.
The police deemed Jonathan to be at fault. Unable to pay the heavy fine to the victim’s family, he chose a six-month prison sentence instead. It was after Jonathan was released, in spring 2010, that Taiwan team leader Don Kramer introduced me to him.
The very next week, I arranged for Jonathan to meet Peter, an intern from the Taiwan Alliance Theological College who was working with us on weekends. Previously, Peter had been a gangster involved in drugs. He had served a short prison sentence prior to coming to know Christ through Operation Dawn, a gospel-based drug rehabilitation program. Partly because of their shared background, Peter and Jonathan got along well together. Peter visited Jonathan almost every weekend for a year; I also visited him, on weekends and during the week.
Before the motorcycle accident, Jonathan had been involved in a bad car accident when he was 19. As he lay there on the ground, he had what he could only describe later as an “out of body” experience, in which he was looking down at himself from above. Because of his car accidents and his time in prison, Jonathan was now more open than the average person in our community to talk with our team about issues of faith. Nonetheless, in every conversation the focus quickly moved off of Jesus and onto Jonathan’s own accomplishments, abilities, good deeds, qualifications, and wisdom. Much to his credit, Peter never gave up on Jonathan—visiting, calling on the phone, and encouraging him to come every Sunday morning to our informal meeting.
A String of “Coincidences”
During summer 2010, while Peter was away on a summer missions trip, I hosted a short-term team from an Alliance church in northern Taiwan. One day I brought the pastor’s wife over to visit Jonathan. She told him that he was a “child of God.” She also counseled him to watch the Christian TV cable station to learn more about Christianity.
Just as she said this, I made a passing reference that our Bible student intern was away on a short-term trip. At that exact moment, Jonathan flipped the TV channel over to the Christian station. The person who appeared on the screen was none other than Peter, our Bible school intern! The station had put together a short program that shared how he and another person had turned from drugs to follow Jesus Christ.
The following week I visited Jonathan again. We laughed about how the previous week Peter had suddenly appeared on the TV precisely when we had been talking about him. At that moment, Jonathan flipped the channel to the local cable channel (not the Christian station), only to see a “Say No to Drugs” documentary featuring—you guessed it—our intern! Jonathan had the same experience a total of three times during that one-week period. God’s timing was impeccable.
No Longer Omnipotent
Jonathan’s attendance at meetings became more regular as we slowly made our way through the Book of Mark. Along the way, however, there were some serious theological misunderstandings. While the concept of “sin” had slowly sunk in, for a few weeks Jonathan mistakenly took the earlier admonition from the pastor’s wife that he was a “child of God” to mean that he himself was omnipotent!
A few weeks later, the Lord set the record straight: Jonathan was involved in yet another accident. Swerving to miss an old man who had pulled his scooter out onto the road without looking, Jonathan intentionally drove his car into a field. The car, a Mercedes belonging to Jonathan’s brother, rolled over and over again as it crashed through the field. The car was totaled. A building in the farmer’s field was also badly damaged. However, Jonathan himself emerged with only a few minor cuts and bruises on his arms. Most importantly, he no longer thought of himself as being omnipotent!
There were other semi-miraculous happenings that occurred along the way, and Jonathan decided soon after that he wanted to follow Jesus. I spent eight weeks helping Jonathan prepare for baptism. We baptized him on September 4.
Over the year and a half that Jonathan has been coming to our small group, Jonathan’s wife, sister, her husband and their three children, mother-in-law, and, more recently, Jonathan’s father and another relation have come to the group once or twice to check us out. In spite of their curiosity, they have yet to be drawn by the Holy Spirit to know God personally. Jonathan’s father and family members continue to be involved in temple activities, parades in the community and elsewhere that honor other gods, and the I-Kuan Tao “Pervasive Truth” religion, which incorporates elements from Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism.
Please pray for the seed of the gospel to take root in the hearts of Jonathan’s father and other family members. Pray also that the Holy Spirit would empower Jonathan daily to continue following Jesus—and Jesus alone. Pray, too, that God will bless Jonathan’s business so that he will be able to support his family as a faithful follower of Christ.
What You Can Do
Give to the Great Commission Fund. In doing so, you partner with Alliance workers, like Mark Edwards, who are lighting the way for people trapped in spiritual darkness.
Pray for Alliance workers around the world.
Check out how your church can begin a Ministry Partnership with overseas Alliance workers.
By Alan Lee, San Jose Christian Alliance Church pastor, serving on a short-term missions trip to flood-ravaged Cambodia.
As the plane was preparing to land in Phnom Penh International Airport, I peeked outside the window to see the flooding firsthand. What I witnessed was truly unbelievable—acre after acre of rice fields and houses literally submerged in the flood along the riverbank, reminding me of the scenes of devastation in New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina. The Cambodia flooding was severe—the worst in 10 years. Many lives were lost. Others lost their homes, rice harvests, and livelihoods.
With the help of the Khmer Evangelical Church (C&MA national church in Cambodia) and Alliance international workers Rev. Joe and Kay Kong, our team of seven was honored to participate in the flood relief work. Through the generosity of one couple, we purchased 11,000 pounds (about 5.5 tons) of rice to be delivered to two devastated areas.
A Disturbing View
On the first day after our arrival, we headed north to Kompong Chhnang province, where the flooding was severe. The trip was long and tedious. We had to drive from Phnom Penh to a river dock to take a boat to one of the remote villages. As we were approaching the dock, we saw that the floodwater was everywhere. Roads were submerged; buses, cars, motorcycles, and boats were floating on the streets! Many businesses were boarded up or had used two-foot high cement walls in a futile attempt to hold back raging waters. Children were going to school in boats. We witnessed a little girl (with IV still administered) heading home from a hospital in a boat! Living conditions were indeed harsh and tough!
Before we got on the boat, we had to walk barefoot in the water, not knowing that the roads were littered with sharp objects. One member, who was carrying his wife, was wearing slippers borrowed from a local pastor. As he stepped out of the water, he discovered that the base of one slipper was literally “chopped” off, yet he was unhurt. It was indeed divine protection from our Lord.
Familiar Territory
The boat ride was cool and sweet. We sang praises along the way, and our spirits were lifted. We saw many houses submerged in water along the river bank. After we docked, we drove a “tuk-tuk” (a converted motorcycle with passenger seats) to our final destination. When we saw a C&MA church sign hung between two trees, our hearts were so moved with praises and thanksgiving to God. In this remote village in Cambodia, there stood a C&MA church that glorified the Lord. It made us all very proud to be part of The Alliance!
The “church” was an empty lot with a canopy on top. Cambodian brothers and sisters, who have suffered much, welcomed us with such joy, warmth, and love. After singing songs with them, we gave rice to the villagers who had lost almost everything. Our hearts were warmed to see the smiles on their faces. They displayed much faith and joy in the midst of suffering and pain, and they even treated us to a “gourmet” lunch of fish and chicken. We were so impressed with their love and hospitality.
No Marginal Worship
On the second day, we headed south to the Svay Rieng province. We had to cross the Mekong River to another flood devastated area. The scene was pretty much the same. People’s lives were severely affected by the floodwater. We were told that many Vietnamese people live along the river bank. They are the disenfranchised people without any legal rights, living in the poorest slums in Cambodia. One Vietnamese church was completely flooded, yet church members continued to gather in boats tied together while the pastor stood in one of the boats, preaching to them! We were all very moved to witness the faith and resiliency of the believers in the midst of suffering.
During these trips, we were able to help 200 families in need. Although the relief effort was small and might just be a drop in the bucket, we sensed God’s presence and pleasure throughout the trip. We are honored to be part of the C&MA relief efforts that bring hope and joy to people who have suffered much. May the Name of the Lord Jesus be glorified!
Learn More
Read more stories about Alliance work in the Cambodia.
Read additional stories of the worldwide work of Alliance ministries supported by the Great Commission Fund.
What You Can Do
Give to the Great Commission Fund. In doing so, you partner with Alliance workers, like Rob Burns, who are lighting the way for people trapped in spiritual darkness.
Pray for Alliance workers around the world.
Check out how your church can begin a Ministry Partnership with overseas Alliance workers.
October 14, 2011
The following is an adapted excerpt from Louisa Spagnolo, serving in Thailand.
For months I’ve been praying for a way to connect with my neighbors. I have greeted them, baked for them, let my dog play with their dogs in the park, yet somehow there was always a wall between us.
Several weeks ago I went to my colleagues’ house a few blocks away. (They are on home assignment, and I was working on their computer.) Upon entering the house, I noticed the office lights were on. I didn’t remember leaving them on last time I was there. I didn’t think much of it and began my work on the computer, which was also on.
I heard a banging noise at the back of the house but thought it was coming from a neighboring home (the buildings are so close to each other that something happening at the neighbors’ often sounds like it is happening in your own home). About 10 minutes later I went to get something from the kitchen.
Masked Man
As I came out of the office, I saw a man with a mask over his head, his arm raised as if to strike me with the handle of the machete he was holding. I tried to scream, but my voice wouldn’t come. When I turned to run, he grabbed me from behind.
“Be quiet,” he said, “I’m not going to hurt you.” And he didn’t. He took 2,300 baht and my ATM card from my wallet. He left my laptop computer and my cell phone; he also disabled the phone so I couldn’t make any calls. While he was there, I shared with him that I am an international worker who came to his country to help people like him. I told him that I wanted him to have joy and peace in his life. I urged him to make better choices, as the things he was doing now would not bring him happiness. After I had talked with him for 30 minutes, he tied my hands to the foot of a bed and left.
Several minutes later, I easily freed myself and came out of the house, crying. Some women were standing in front of a nearby home. I stopped and asked them for help, explaining what had happened. Before long, other neighbors heard the story. That afternoon I went door to door, asking people to be careful and to watch out for each other.
Making a Connection
For the first time since moving to this area six months ago, I made a deep connection with my neighbors. They were amazed that I wasn’t hurt-as well as sympathetic and thankful to me for coming and warning them. Most of all, they were surprised that I didn’t want to run home to America and hide.
You and I know who protected me. Praise God for keeping me safe and for giving me the presence of mind to speak grace to another in a moment of distress. I also thank Him for this unique opportunity to connect with my neighbors.
Pray that the Lord will continue to work through my relationships with these people—and that I will have boldness to seek them out. Pray, too, for my peace of mind. I love my home here and my neighborhood. I do not want to move, but I have more trouble feeling safe here. It is hard for me to go out and walk around the neighborhood like I used to. Pray that the Lord will restore my sense of security.
Also, pray that God will work in the heart of the young man who robbed me. Pray that as he reflects upon the things I told him, he will have no peace until he comes to know Jesus. Pray that other Christians will come into his life to explain more of what I was trying to tell him that day.
What You Can Do
Give to the Great Commission Fund. In doing so, you partner with Alliance workers, like Louisa Spagnolo, to be light to those who are walking in darkness, desperate for hope.
Pray for Alliance workers around the world.
September 15, 2011
The following is an adapted excerpt from a prayer update by Todd and Debbie Adams, Alliance field workers in Indonesia.
This past Sunday we attended a church service where Todd was asked to speak and lead communion. In January 2009, while this Body of believers was gathered together, a group from a breakaway movement came and started to burn the building down around the people inside. Some young men came in and starting hitting anyone who was around. It was with this same group that we gathered on Sunday.
Prior to our arrival, a church member had been warned that we were not allowed to come. We heard this news at the service while a woman gave her testimony. I bent over and translated to my daughter Jordan what was going on. She then said to me, “Mom, I had a vision this morning in my room: I was sitting here at this church when angry men came and started beating the church people. There was much screaming and chaos, but as I prayed, God’s Spirit came upon the church, and everything was still.”
We praise God that He indeed protected us from harm, and we had a sweet service together despite the threats during the week. There was peace and freedom as we reflected on what it meant for the Lamb of God to come and to take away the sins of the world. We enjoyed communion together, and the work was not thwarted. Someone was praying . . .
Our daughter Emily’s roommate attended the annual beach trip at the International school. She came away from this experience saying, “Something is different with the students here in this school.” After talking to the Bible school teacher, she realized that what is different in the lives of the students is Jesus. She invited Him to come into her heart. Someone was praying . . .
We are waiting on the Lord for His leading in ministry, and doors are opening. The days seem so full, and we ask you to pray that the times ahead will be Spirit-led. We ask that somebody would pray . . .
This morning Todd read the following words by Walter Wink in a devotional: “History belongs to the intercessors-those who believe and pray the future into being.” As we seek His face in prayer, things are happening. God bless you as you intercede.
What You Can Do
Give to Alliance Great Commission Ministries online. In doing so, you partner with Alliance workers, like Todd and Debbie, who are bringing the reconciling message of Christ to people who are desperate for His peace.
By an Alliance international worker in Kosovo
“I have been a believer for 18 years and have served in the church most of that time,” says Beki*, a young pastor’s wife whose ministry has impacted hundreds of people in Kosovo. “This is the first time I have had the opportunity to receive training for the things that I do.” Beki is a passionate, gifted, and effective leader. She not only leads the women’s ministry in her church but also serves on the national women’s commission. As my teammate and I heard her words, we were struck anew with the urgency to offer her, and women like her, the opportunity to receive training in a way that is accessible to them.
Equipping Women to Lead
The women of Kosovo are caught between two worlds. Society around them is modernizing at an alarming rate; they are bombarded with western media and its ideas of feminism. Yet they are bound to the traditions of women as sole caretakers of the home and children. Women in the church have embraced their freedom to be involved in work, ministry and leadership, but they do not want to forsake their familial obligations.
Training Kosovar women for ministry requires a program that takes into consideration the unique challenges that women face, balancing responsibilities in and out of the home. A resident program is not an option and an intensive approach would only lead to discouragement and drop out.
In August of 2010 the women of the Alliance Kosovo team launched the first Women to Women Leadership Training (WWLT) site in Prishtina, the capital city. Beki was among the first group of women trained as a facilitator for the WWLT courses that are designed with the unique challenges of women in mind. Immediately, Beki implemented the skills of her recent training as a facilitator on the national women’s commission, resulting in the most effective women’s event the commission has hosted to date.
A Spiritual Journey
For Beki the desire for her people to experience the light of Jesus is the impetus that led her to the Alliance leadership program. Raised in a home of the country’s traditional religion, Beki practiced the rituals and obligations as a child under the tutelage of her father and grandfather, who are respected leaders of their faith.
“Actually, the fact that I had to pray in [the religious language] was an obstacle for me,” says Beki, “as were other doctrinal issues. When I asked questions, I was told, ‘Thus says God, and you should do it, because you are indebted to him.’ Dissatisfied with the reply, I lived with doubt.”
When Beki was 16, she and her brother took a summer job in the State vineyards, where they met some boys noted for their bad reputation. One day, the boys began to sing about Jesus. “I was stunned!” Beki says. “I turned to them and said, ‘Do you know what you are singing? You are not allowed to sing about Jesus!’ They told me that they believed in Jesus as their Savior and Lord and invited me to their church.”
Surprised by the boys’ assurance of salvation, Beki’s interest was sparked to understand more about their faith. “I went to the church service, and for the first time, I heard a sermon about God the Father’s love for His children,” she says.
Beki began reading the New Testament with curiosity and a critical eye, looking for mistruths or contradictions. “At the same time, my brother also read the New Testament, and we discussed the Scriptures,” she recalls. “What we found was Jesus’ love for us. We returned to the church, and after the service, the pastor called for whoever wanted to accept Jesus as the Lord of their life. My brother stood up immediately, and I followed, asking the pastor to lead me in the prayer of salvation.”
So joyful was she about her newfound faith, Beki immediately began to tell family and friends about Jesus. She was met with cynicism and warnings; many criticized her. “The boys of the neighborhood called me Mary and spat on me, but I blessed them. They even began to think I was drugged because I did not respond with anger. After a time, my sisters and brothers accepted Jesus into their lives. My friends began to return to me, and my teachers’ respect for me returned. I thanked God for the time of persecution, because it was a time when I was assured that I am in the truth and that God is alive, working in me. My grief, anger, and desire for revenge were replaced with peace, love, and compassion for others.”
Lighting the Way
Beki’s husband realized the value of her training and agreed to take the responsibility of the home for a week, so that Beki could accompany Alliance international workers to a training event in Switzerland in Spring 2011. I am continually touched by Beki’s enthusiasm and gratefulness. She is a woman gifted by God, and with this training, her gifts will continue to multiply as she serves the women of Kosovo.
*Name changed
What You Can Do
Pray for the Lord’s empowerment for Alliance workers who are involved in training and equipping nationals for leadership.
Give to Alliance Great Commission Ministries. In doing so, you partner with Alliance workers to share the Light of Life with those walking in darkness, desperate for hope.
Learn More
Training believers to be leaders in their countries is essential to building strong national churches. Learn about the C&MA’s role in equipping national believers who are called to lead.
Read about a joint effort between Alliance workers and national believers to reach Kosovo with the light of Jesus.
August 15, 2011
By Zac and Julie Stutler, serving in Dominican Republic
The following is adapted from Zac and Julie’s Web site.
We minister in Punta Cana, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean. During the past 10 years, the population in this area has grown dramatically as families have moved there to work in the tourism industry and the corresponding infrastructure. In 2009, God opened a door for us to move to Punta Cana Village, a growing residential community for professional people and their families. This community has the busiest international airport in the Dominican Republic, a bilingual school, shops, restaurants, medical and dental offices, and other businesses. Cap Cana, another high-end neighborhood just three miles away, also has shops, offices, a bilingual school, and even a university. Yet neither of these areas had an evangelical church.
In July 2010, Jeff and Deborah Climie joined our ministry team. Through a variety of creative outreaches—including baking classes, movies, and more—God has allowed us to build many great relationships in the area, and doors have been opened to present practical seminars in local schools and the university.
From the start of this project, we dreamed of having a ministry center in Punta Cana—a place to offer meaningful services and activities to the families such as classes, seminars, and pastoral counseling as well as worship times and Bible studies. By using innovative methods to serve the community, we desire to bring enrichment and hope aimed at meeting specific felt needs of the people, thus connecting them to Christ.
Last fall, we began the process of finding a location in order to establish an identity and have a visible presence in the community. In December, we signed a contract to rent a commercial location to serve as a center for community outreach. God provided in wonderful ways, and today the dream of having a ministry center in Punta Cana is a reality.
The name of this ministry is “Alianza” (Alliance)—which implies unity and working together for a common goal. The mission of Alianza is to motivate and equip the families of Punta Cana to live in an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ and to reflect His love toward others. Our prayer is that from the very beginning, Alianza would be a source of great blessing to the families of these beautiful communities that make up the Punta Cana area. On April 2, 2011, Alianza officially opened its doors.
An Amazing Day
On Sunday, July 10, under the bright Punta Cana sun, Alianza celebrated its first baptismal service. Four people enthusiastically declared their heartfelt desire to love and serve the Lord all their lives.
After a wonderful Sunday morning service, we headed over to a pool belonging to one of the women of the church, who happens to live near our ministry center. Before being baptized, the believers briefly shared about the difference Christ had made in their lives. There were four very different but wonderful testimonies of God’s work in these lives.
One of the women baptized—a young professional who is also a wife and mother—had found Jesus as a teen but never had an opportunity to grow in her faith. She had prayed for seven years for a church in Punta Cana. In her testimony, she shared that being able to follow Jesus in baptism had long been a deep desire of her heart.
Another woman shared how the Lord had filled her life with such joy and peace. It was a delight for her to have her son and daughter-in-law present to hear her testimony.
For one young couple, it was a day of double blessing and celebration. They were celebrating their second wedding anniversary and were baptized together. The wife had known the Lord for a time but never had the opportunity to grow. When Alianza opened, she and her husband began to attend faithfully. She was very excited about an opportunity to grow in Christ. Her husband was seeking the Lord and on May 12 prayed to receive Christ. He shared how knowing Jesus had brought new meaning to his life and how Jesus is now his best friend.
It was truly an amazing day. Those who attended the service were blessed and challenged to follow Jesus in a new way. Some, who are just beginning in their relationship with Christ, told us that they want to be baptized soon. Even some who are not yet followers of Jesus were touched and want to know more about this wonderful Savior who transforms lives and fills us with joy.
God is doing many amazing things in Alianza! The Sunday attendance has averaged around 50. New people are visiting all the time. In addition to the young husband who was baptized, another couple gave their lives to Christ in early May and is beginning discipleship. We have started some new discipleship classes and will start more in the coming days as there are various people desiring to follow Jesus with all their hearts. These are only a few of the great blessings that are happening in Punta Cana.
Your partnership with us in this ministry makes all this possible. Thank you so much for your faithful prayers and giving to the Great Commission Fund, the Punta Cana Church Plant Approved Special, and our Work Special Funds. God has exciting plans for the days to come here in Punta Cana, and He is using you to change lives and bring joy here in Punta Cana.
Thank you for living the call together with us.
You are an important and an amazing part of the Alianza team!
What You Can Do
Give to Alliance Great Commission Ministries. Partner with Alliance workers, like the Stutlers, to introduce families around the world to the joy and peace of Jesus.
The following is compiled from adapted excerpts of reports written by Kevin Oberg and Andrew Schaeffer, Alliance field workers who recently accompanied a short-term outreach team to Kenedougou, Burkina Faso’s westernmost province.
A youth group from the Moses Lake (Washington) C&MA Church has adopted the village of Samorogouan. For several years they’ve invested in this village through prayer, giving, and sending two short-term teams to minister.
During the group’s recent trip to Burkina, one of the activities on their itinerary was to visit the chief of the village of Djiguan, which is next to Samorogouan. We—Kevin, Toby Hull (another Alliance worker), Andrew and his sons, and Abigail, an intern—accompanied them.
Upon arriving in Djiguan we were treated to a royal welcome—benches and chairs had been set out for all 28 people! (We learned that the chief had encouraged all villagers who weren’t in their fields to attend the meeting.) After the customary greetings began, the Moses Lake youth presented the chief with gifts—a shirt, a soccer ball, and a flashlight.
“We Were Living in the Dark”
We were absolutely amazed at his response. He thanked the team and then proceeded to tell us that the flashlight was a very appropriate gift.
“It’s as if we were living in a dark hut without any windows when, suddenly, someone opened the door and let the light shine in,” the chief explained. He was referring to several months earlier when an evangelistic team of Alliance workers and pastors had spent a couple of nights in Djiguan. They had shown the Jesus film and announced the good news about His substitutionary death on the cross for our sins.
“Settle Here and Teach Us”
“This light helps us to see,” the chief continued. “We want it to remain in our village; so we offer you land in our village so you can settle here and teach us.”
After the meeting, we followed the village elders to a large property next to the main road and across the street from a little market—an ideal spot for a church and pastor’s house. As we began touring the land together, one of the Moses Lake team members, Nate, suddenly bent over with sharp abdominal pains.
Concerned that he might be suffering an attack of appendicitis, Andrew agreed to take Nate back to Ouagadougou (the country’s capital) for a medical consult to rule it out. We praise God that the illness wasn’t serious!
So what caused this excruciating pain? We can’t help but wonder if it wasn’t the enemy doing everything in his power to resist the entry of the Light of the World into Djiguan. Much collaborative work is taking place to push back the darkness in Djiguan and throughout the Kenedougou province. But the enemy yields his ground so reluctantly.
More Challenges
Many on the Moses Lake team shared that they were sensing God’s leading into ministry. Yet there were many setbacks on the trip—lost luggage at the beginning, the scary moment when Nate became ill, and then a delayed flight that caused the team to miss their flights in Paris and London and arrive home about 48 hours after they were supposed to.
Was this more work of the enemy, trying to discourage them? Our prayer is that through these trials, each team member has become stronger in his or her faith and drawn closer to God.
As we advance into the enemy’s camp, we are wielding the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Yet we are also desperate for your prayers for protection as we preach the good news and claim imprisoned souls for Christ’s Kingdom.
What You Can Do
Pray for safe travel, good health, and fruitful ministries for the many short-term teams visiting Burkina Faso this summer and other sites worldwide.
Give to Alliance Great Commission Ministries online. In doing so, you partner with Alliance workers like Andrew and Kevin, who are bringing the light of Christ to those whose communities have dwelled in darkness for centuries.
Learn More
Check out exciting, short-term missions opportunities through The Alliance.
Read how many Burkinabe are being wooed to Christ through the witness of joy-filled believers.
July 15, 2011
Miracle Baby Born to Couple Advised to Abort
EQ and Jaeng were devastated when, after Jaeng’s first trimester check-up, the doctor informed them that they had a blood disorder that would cause their unborn baby to be born with many physical and health problems. The doctor also told them that they would probably never have a healthy child together. He advised them to have an abortion.
The couple serves with Friends of Isaan (also known as Team Isaan), a group of Alliance international workers and national colleagues who minister to the Isaan people in northeast Thailand. Both had received Christ through the team’s ministry in the Sawang Daen Din prison. EQ had been imprisoned for being involved in a gang fight. After accepting Jesus as his Savior, he was released and brought the message of truth home to his family and village. He wanted to get married but didn’t know any Christian women who weren’t closely related to him.
Jaeng received Christ while in a women’s group at the prison and was baptized at the same time EQ was. She was released about a year and a half after EQ was freed. Her home village was near EQ’s, and since there was no Christian group in her own village, she joined the group of believers in his village so she could have Christian fellowship. Not long after, in October 2010, they married. They received training as church planters and have been working with Team Isaan’s mushroom enterprise.
Trust and Obey
After hearing that the doctor had advised the couple to abort their child, Alliance international workers Jon and Joy Chase—who also serve with Team Isaan—asked the Alliance family to pray. “Then one day I talked with EQ and Jaeng about the difference between man and God,” says Jon. “I told them that the doctor was a man, and he only knows so much and can only do so much. As for God, His power and love have no limits. Even if they had the baby and it was not totally healthy, God would provide the grace they would need, and the child would be a blessing accordingly. After hearing this truth, they decided to trust God and not man. They chose to trust in God’s will for them and their baby by not having an abortion.
“With each appointment after that, EQ and Jaeng saw how God answered their faithfulness as the baby grew stronger without any noticeable defects. After their four month check-up, the doctor said that the baby was perfectly fine and there was no need to worry. This caused EQ to think of the name ‘manna’—because this child was a great blessing to them from God.”
Defying the doctor’s initial prognosis, little Manna was born a healthy and completely normal baby girl. “Today, we are all praising the Lord as we get to see Manna in person, growing stronger every day,” say the Chases. “With great wonder, we look forward to seeing what the Lord is going to do in and through her life in the years to come.”
Learn More
Read “The Light of God” in the September 1, 2010, issue of alife.
Read more about Team Isaan, including EQ’s testimony.
What You Can Do
Give to Alliance Great Commission Ministries and partner with Alliance workers at home and abroad who are being light in a spiritually dark world.
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