February 17, 2012
Non-believers are filling up River of Love church in Mongolia, taking a Financial Freedom course based on Biblical principles. After class, a group of four men (all new believers) are studying theological education by extension. None of this would be possible without gifts to the GCF!
By Al Stombaugh, Alliance Field Director, Mali, West Africa
Alliance missionaries brought the good news to the Dogon, a tribal people in Mali bound by ancestor and spirit worship, in 1931. Thanks to the ongoing, faithful giving of Alliance people to the Great Commission Fund, today, there are an estimated 15,000 Dogon believers.
Many of these believers were present on January 28, 2012, when 5,000 gathered in the village of Sangha (the historic center of the Dogon Alliance Church) to celebrate the culmination of decades of work—the translation of the Bible into their heart language.
February 16, 2012
By Andrew and Esther Schaeffer, the Alliance field leadership couple in Burkina Faso
During the past couple weeks, 8,000 Tuareg (an Arabic term meaning “abandoned by God”) have fled to Burkina due to unrest in northern Mali. We have been given an unusual opportunity to share the love of Christ with this people who have historically been staunch adherents of the predominant religion in this region.
Our workers are collaborating to provide a number of Tuareg refugee women, who have found shelter in an old stadium in Bobo Dioulasso, with rice, oil, milk, coffee and tea, as well as drinking glasses, water buckets, and cooking pots. We’ve also committed to help school Tuareg children for two weeks—until other aid agencies arrive on the scene. Thanks to gifts to the GCF, we are able to share Christ’s love in these practical ways, demonstrating to this people that our loving God has not abandoned them.
While preparing their new home for occupancy, Alliance workers John and Lisa Sappia met Abraham and Louisa,* who were hired to paint the Sappias’ house. When Abraham mentioned his intense neck pain, John told him about God’s healing power and offered to pray for Abraham. He allowed Lisa and John to pray with him and Louisa before the Sappias left to pick up their kids at school. “When we returned, Abraham told me that while we were praying, he felt a warm peace flow through his head and that almost immediately after we left, his neck pain disappeared,” says John. Abraham and Louisa then asked John to help them purchase a Bible and told him they would like to meet with the Sappias to learn more about Jesus. “We are on a team,” says John. “While you serve in the United States, it is our privilege to serve in Paraguay. And because of your teamwork, in prayers and giving to the GCF, we are seeing God heal in Asuncion!
*names changed
By an Alliance worker in Bosnia Herzegovina
Ana was a shy, withdrawn girl when I met her in the summer of 2005 and began ministering to her. When I prepared to leave for home assignment in 2007, she had regular anxiety attacks because of her fear that I would not return. Now she is a confident woman who assisted with leading worship and preached a sermon at the church service while I was visiting.
Though ministry is often difficult and slow here, this trip to Tuzla and seeing Ana reminded me that God is always at work, even when we don’t see it, and He is transforming lives every day. Thank you for being a part of those transformations through your prayers and gifts to the Great Commission Fund.
February 9, 2012
Juan Jesús and his wife, Wilma, first came to ALIANZA (a new Alliance church in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic) after receiving an invitation under the front door of their apartment. Although Wilma was a Christian, Juan Jesús believed that all religions lead to God. A few weeks after the couple attended the church, Alliance workers Jeff and Deborah Climie arranged to visit them in their home. Later, Jeff invited Juan Jesús to join him in studying the Bible. The first time they met together, Juan Jesús decided to follow Jesus. Since then, he has continued to grow and mature in Christ. “He and Wilma were baptized at the ALIANZA’s first baptismal service, July 10, 2011,” write the Climies, whose work is supported by generous giving to the GCF.
February 7, 2012
In Thailand, a local school has asked a Thai pastor to help with assemblies to improve the students’ English language abilities. This pastor has recruited Alliance workers Ed and Sue Danneker, who are the only American native English speakers in the area. “Understanding that we are Christians, the school will allow us to share about Jesus,” report Ed and Sue, who have enlisted their colleague Milcah, also fluent in English, to assist them. “Potentially, more than 900 students from grades 1-9 will attend the assemblies over six weeks, beginning February 15,” write the Dannekers, whose ministry is made possible because of generous giving to the GCF.
February 2, 2012
There were 1,606 births and a record breaking number of surgeries (610) during 2011, reported an international worker recently, who serves at Koutiala Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Mali, West Africa. More people than ever accepted the Lord through the hospital’s ministry, which is made possible because of generous giving to the GCF. Praise the Lord for how He is leading both hospital staff and C&MA workers for His glory!
January 20, 2012
More than 80 people in Japan heard the gospel, most for the very first time, during a Christmas outreach in a churchless mountain town. They sang Christmas carols, enjoyed a puppet show, and took home gifts of food and Christmas tracts. And they heard “Kentucky Santa” tell them about the real meaning of Christmas. When Alliance worker Ken Young, who loosely resembles Kentucky Fried Chicken’s (KFC) Colonel Sanders, shared the gospel story, a youngster pointed at Ken, saying, “Kentucky Santa!” Japanese KFC franchises traditionally dress their life-size statues of Colonel Sanders in Santa suits during the Christmas season. This brilliant move has made Kentucky Fried Chicken almost synonymous with Christmas.
“Naturally, the little girl, who saw my resemblance to the Colonel and heard me talk about Christmas, declared me to be “Kentucky Santa,” says Ken, whose ministry is made possible because of generous giving to the GCF.
January 12, 2012
Three small groups, including one for youth, are meeting regularly in Montevideo, Uruguay, as part of a church plant. These outreaches are led by Alliance workers who are supported by the GCF.
The Alliance believes wholeheartedly in the power and necessity of prayer. We cannot “Live the Call Together” unless prayer is central to all we do—as a denomination, as churches, and as individuals.
You can help build Christ’s Church around the world by donating online to the Great Commission Fund. This fund finances our missionaries, allowing them to focus on ministry rather than raising their own support.
Is God calling you to full-time service? Do you want to experience missions firsthand by participating in a short-term missions trip? We want to help you connect your passion with God’s purpose.
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