November 4, 2011
The following is an adapted excerpt from a recent prayer letter by David Manfred, field leader for Cambodia.
Thank you for your prayers for Cambodia, which is experiencing the worst flooding in many years. More than 200 people have lost their lives, and the rice harvest has been significantly impacted. In areas where the needs are greatest, emergency food supplies are being distributed through several local churches.
Cambodia is a low-lying country, much of which is in a flood plain; that is why many Cambodian homes are built on stilts. But the floods this year have been much worse than normal. In many of the homes near the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers, the flood waters have risen higher than the stilts. This particularly affects the Vietnamese minority, who tend to live on these rivers.
One of the outreaches of the C&MA in Cambodia is called “NewHope” ministries, which focuses on the 1 million-plus ethnic Vietnamese people who live in Cambodia. The number of Christians among them is far less than 1 percent. NewHope currently has eight small churches among the Vietnamese living here. Two of these churches have been under water for four weeks.
In the midst of this hardship, it is encouraging to see the faith of the faithful. A few Sundays ago, one of our international worker families from Australia, Tin and Anh Pham, went out to see how the Prek Kdam church was doing. Even though the water had risen above the height of the stilts and the floor in the church was flooded, they found that the believers had still come to worship—in boats. They tied them together in front of the church where they worshipped, shared in communion, listened to God’s Word, and prayed. Since the church flooded four weeks ago, they have been gathering together in their boats in front of the church every Sunday.
These are people, who—in the midst of the floods of life all around them—have chosen to build their “house” on the solid Rock of faith in Jesus: “‘As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built’” (Luke 6:47-48).
This church was started a few years ago through the faithful witness of Alliance international workers who continue to invest in developing new leaders, strengthening this church, and multiplying these efforts in many more places.
Thank you for your prayers for those who are being impacted by the flooding. We also thank you for your prayers for our field team and Cambodian believers, who are helping the peoples of Cambodia to understand that there is a true Rock upon which they can lean when the inevitable floods of life come. This is the eternal need that only Christ can address.
Thank you, too, for your support through the Great Commission Fund, which helps keep us here, impacting the multifaceted needs of this land.
What You Can Do
Pray for Alliance people around the world.
Learn More
Check out the December 2003 issue of Alliance Life magazine for Rest Beyond the River, a feature story about Beth and Rick Drummond, now-retired Alliance workers who founded the NewHope Evangelical School and Church in Phnom Penh.
October 31, 2011
The following is compiled from adapted excerpts of reports written by Alliance workers David Manfred and Debbie Vik; Jimmy Jacks, a freelance photographer from Hollywood Hills (Florida) Alliance, also contributed to this story.
Southeast Asia, including Cambodia and Thailand, has been enduring significant flooding. In Cambodia, the flooding has been the worst seen in more than 10 years. Recent estimates in a local paper report that as much as 13 percent of this year’s rice crop appears to be lost to the flood. Many homes have been destroyed, and there have been more than 200 flood-related deaths.
In Bangkok, people have been asked to evacuate because of the flooding; the government has turned off water and electricity in some of the more affected areas. Nearly everyone has been impacted one way or another, whether by leaving homes and jobs, being caught in landslides, or suffering from lack of food and water because trucks have been unable to bring supplies to cities due to major road closures. “Several of our churches and members’ homes have water up to the top of their first floor,” reports Debbie Vik.
CAMA (Compassion and Mercy Associates) has been partnering with Alliance churches and other organizations to help with relief. “This is a wonderful time for Christians to reach out to help suffering fellow Christians and for Cambodian Christians to reach out and help their neighbors,” says Jimmy Jacks. “Pray many will come to Christ via this disaster and caring Christians.”
What You Can Do
Pray for Alliance workers around the world, including those who are ministering to the people impacted by the flooding.
October 28, 2011
The following is adapted from David Manfred, field leader for Cambodia
Cambodia, along with the rest of Southeast Asia, has been enduring significant flooding in many parts of the country—the worst seen in more than 10 years. CAMA (Compassion and Mercy Associates) and several C&MA Cambodia team members have been responding with assistance in several hard-hit areas. In most places, this help is being given in cooperation with local Cambodian Alliance churches.
Pray that the flooding will subside soon, that the Lord will use this hardship for His glory, and that the assistance given in the Name of Christ will meet needs and help people understand that Jesus loves them.
What You Can Do
Pray for Alliance workers around the world, including those in Cambodia.
The following is an adapted excerpt from a blog entry written by a brand new mom who serves with her husband in marketplace ministries in Africa. (Check out the Learn More section, below, for more about marketplace ministries and the deadly toll taken by malaria-bearing mosquitoes in Africa.)
It’s hard to fight your instincts. When you see a big, fat mosquito land and start chowing down, all you want to do is smack it from here to Timbuktu (about 1,000 miles). I lifted my hand to do just that, but the mosquito was sitting on Glenn’s* precious little face while he sat a couple feet away in his bouncy chair. Talk about conflicting instincts—protecting your sweet baby and killing the offender.
We are at the end of rainy season, which means malaria-carrying mosquitoes are everywhere, day and night. In the kitchen cabinets. In the shower. In the car. In our bedroom—even-though-we-just-sprayed-it-yesterday. In the fridge (Not even kidding. I saw one in there last week.). And often, within the walls of the very net that hangs over our bed for the purpose of keeping them OUT.
The day in August we brought Glenn home from the hospital was crazy and exhausting. At about 6 p.m., I was so tired that the room started to spin and I felt myself collapsing, getting him into my husband’s arms just in time.
Several long, tiring hours later, Glenn was finally asleep. The power was out, so I used the light from my battery-operated headlamp to see as I very slowly and gently placed him between us in our bed, the only place protected by a mosquito net. The sleep I so desperately needed was just minutes (seconds?) away.
Then I saw him—a tiny black dot swooping around Glenn. How this mosquito had gotten inside our net, I have no idea. But he was there, and at some point in the night he would be hungry. Without even thinking, I scooped Glenn back into my arms and started bobbing my head around, frantically trying to find the mosquito in the beam of light.
Then I started thinking. And I got mad. Livid mad. I got so mad at God for bringing me to a place where on my baby’s first night at home we had to deal with this crap. There was no joyful oohing and ahhing over him as he slept peacefully in his crib in a decorated nursery. Instead I had to be a mosquito warrior with only one free hand and a thin stream of light as my weapons.
As I was spewing my angry thoughts at God, letting Him know the many ways He could have worked this day out better for me, I heard a calm voice speak to my heart, “Don’t you think I’m bigger than this mosquito? I’ve never failed you. Now trust me with your son.”
I put Glenn back down in the bed. (I’m not going to pretend I didn’t worry about him getting bitten, but I did get the sleep I needed.)
That night God didn’t whisper a promise that Glenn won’t ever get malaria. But He did remind me that every time I’ve trusted Him, He’s shown Himself to be bigger than the mosquitoes buzzing around my life.
*Name changed.
Learn More . . . mosquitoes and malaria
“With the summer rainy season come mosquitoes, and with mosquitoes comes malaria,” says pediatrician Jason Foster, who works at the Koutiala Hospital for Women and Children in Mali, West Africa. “I knew it was dangerous, but I didn’t know it kills more than 1 million people a year.” [Most are young children in sub-Saharan Africa]. “I knew malaria caused fever and a bad headache, but I didn’t know it could cause renal failure, coma, seizures, and permanent neurologic problems. We’ve seen and treated these cases in the past few weeks. Most of the complications occur in children and mostly to those whose families don’t—or can’t—seek medical care quickly enough.”
To further understand malaria’s devastating effects upon children in Africa, read the alife article “Wiping Out Malaria” by Tim Ziemer.
Learn More . . . marketplace ministries
Marketplace ministries (mm) deploys and supports lay professionals to enter countries closed to traditional missions workers. Through professional endeavors, mm servants—some of whom receive partial GCF funding as well as raise their own support—are able to build relationships in the communities where they live and work. Because of the sensitive nature of these initiatives, only the vaguest descriptions are provided.
What You Can Do
Pray for the safety of children and families who must fend off malaria-carrying mosquitoes as well as for a vaccine to be developed that will wipe out this pernicious disease. Remember to pray for Alliance workers around the world.
Give to the Great Commission Fund. Celebrate how gifts to the GCF enable Light-bearers in more than 50 countries to engage in holistic ministries that bring present and eternal hope—in Jesus’ Name.
October 25, 2011
The following is an adapted excerpt from Barry Jordan, serving in Indonesia.
Papua is in the midst of turmoil. At a recent Papuan Congress, a group proclaimed independence from Indonesia, resulting in police and military action. During the last week, seven people have been found dead in a city just over 10 miles from where we live.
In many respects people are going about regular business, but there is an underlying unease. I canceled my ministry with Team Joshua (an Alliance youth outreach) because of unresolved tensions in Abepura. In Timika, on the southern coast, thousands of striking workers from Freeport McMoran, a large international mining company, have shut down production. Four deaths have been reported in relation to the strike. Large demonstrations have the city on edge.
Political divisions in Ilaga, where my wife, Patty, was born, have seen more than 35 people killed. A Bible translator, who works with an Alliance couple, lives in Ilaga. Because of the revenge cycle that controls wars in Papua, this man is in danger, as he happens to be a relative of those on one side of the conflict. This past week, the son of a political leader was killed; that leader has proclaimed to all his family that this death ends the war and covers for all the unavenged deaths on their side.
What You Can Do
Pray for a harmonious settlement to the dispute and for lasting peace in Papua. Pray, too, that there will be true forgiveness and that the Prince of Peace will rule in the hearts of all those in Papua.
Pray for Alliance workers around the world.
Give to the Great Commission Fund. In doing so you partner with Alliance workers, like the Jordans, to spread the good news in regions of the world where many are desperate for peace, including the people of Papua.
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.
October 4, 2011
By Larry Wolters, serving in Burkina Faso
Gaoua is a village located in the smallest Alliance district in Burkina Faso. This region is inhabited by the Lobi, who have a reputation for being one of the most difficult people groups in Burkina to reach with the good news.
This summer, two short-term outreach teams from Alliance churches in the United States helped to build a worship center, an outdoor shelter, for a congregation in Gaoua. A team from South Hills Church Community in Henderson, Nevada, set the new structure’s posts; later, a team comprised of members from several Franklin, North Carolina, churches nailed on the roof to complete the project. Our interns took on a major project-management role with logistics.
Outreach with a Light Show
On the day we were finishing the roof’s installation, the skies grew dark—rain was on its way. The pastor asked to borrow our generator so the congregation could hold an evangelistic service.
As lightning flashed all around us and the rain began to fall, everyone ran for cover under the new shelter. The pastor, the only Alliance pastor in this district, then preached a bold message about new life in Christ in this corner of Burkina known for its opposition to the good news. Church members sang and danced with joy all night long.
When the service was over, the pastor sat under the new shelter the rest of the night, making himself available to anyone who wanted to know more about the joy and freedom found in Christ.
Worship Centers Needed
When I talked with the pastor, I learned that he had pleaded with the national Alliance church president for two shelters to be installed under which to hold church services. But only one was granted. When I met with the national church president the following week, I learned the reason: two such structures were desperately needed in the north for additional outreach to unreached people groups.
Please pray for the church in Burkina to be blessed with every means to reach all who are in desperate need of the Light.
What You Can Do
Give to the Great Commission Fund. In doing so, you partner with workers overseas, like the Wolterses, to ensure that the Light of the World is reflected in regions where steep challenges—spiritual and financial—hinder unreached people from receiving the good news.
Check out how your church can begin a Ministry Partnership with overseas Alliance workers.
Dig deeper—read more about our work in Burkina Faso.
September 22, 2011
By Dr. Randall (Randy) and Deanna Harrison, serving at West Africa Alliance Theological Seminary (FATEAC), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
The following is an adapted excerpt from the Harrison’s recent update.
Every one of our precious FATEAC students has a story. We wish you could get to know them all. Since that’s not possible, we’d like to share one couple’s story to give you a better idea of the exceptional men and women training here to minister throughout French-speaking Africa.
The Best Laid Plans . . .
Around 20 years ago a young Burkinabe boy was enrolled in a school for the followers of his country’s majority religion. The boy’s father had high hopes that his son, Fabé, would eventually become a great leader for their faith. But God had other plans.
A strong-willed uncle had more down-to-earth ideas for the promising young student; he transferred him to another school that offered a more general education. Fabé continued his studies and grew up a devout follower of his family’s faith.
Because of his excellent understanding of the French language and his community’s ethnic Dzuundo (a dialect of the Mande language), Fabé was later hired by a team of Mennonite missionaries who were translating the Bible into Dzuundo. He ended up studying the Bible for a living.
New Life
Between innumerable hours spent in the Word, the testimony of his Mennonite colleagues, and the drawing of the Holy Spirit, Fabé found the Lord and his life was changed forever. He entered the ministry and began serving the Lord with zeal and humility. And he married a lovely young woman, Rebecca—daughter of the first known evangelical believer among the Sicite people in Burkina Faso’s Kenedougou province.
Fabé and Rebecca left their native Burkina to attend FATEAC in Côte d’Ivoire. They showed up with their small family, a little shy and overwhelmed. Fabé worked hard in the master’s program, and Rebecca entered the Women’s Academy.
A head taller than most of his classmates, Fabé became known for his humble service to others. I remember the first time I (Deanna) had Rebecca in class. She wasn’t confident in her reading and writing skills. But by her senior year she was a leader on campus and chosen to be class president of the Women’s Academy.
At the close of this academic year, Fabé defended his master’s thesis. (This is an in-depth research project culminating four years of studying on a theological, biblical, pastoral, or translation subject.) Thesis defense is done in public, before a jury, with invited friends, professors, fellow students, family members and pastors present. Denomination leaders often show up.
Senior Year and a Civil War
Some students invite their (African-style) church choirs. It’s quite the experience. (We should also mention that this has been a particularly challenging year for the seniors because they had to write their master’s theses during a civil war!) Defenses can last more than four hours.
Fabé did a study on the word “covenant” in the Old Testament and its meaning for his ethnic group in Burkina Faso to suggest guidelines for translating this important biblical concept into his native language.
It’s so amazing to witness what comes up in biblical studies in Africa. For example, when you’ve heard teaching on the concept of “covenant”, have you ever been given an example of two families drinking their co-mingled blood to seal a covenant!? Fabé shared this scenario to illustrate his ethnic group’s understanding of that word. He got through his thesis defense with flying colors.
Now he and Rebecca are back in Burkina, continuing in Bible translation and church ministry. We miss them.
We could go on and on, sharing stories about other students. But we’ll just ask you to pray for all of them. While you’re at it, pray for us as we teach and learn from these brothers and sisters in the Lord. God is doing great things in Africa, and we are grateful to be a part of it.
One More Thing You Can Do
Give to Alliance Great Commission Ministries. In doing so you partner with Alliance workers, like the Harrisons, to spread the good news in regions of the world where many people are desperate for the good news, including French-speaking West Africa.
Simpson University staff and students are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of David Yang, a recent Simpson graduate who was found shot to death in his vehicle September 22 at 3:20 a.m. in Chico, California. David had been working the night shift at his job and was on his way home for a dinner break. He was 26.
David graduated in 2011 with a degree in pastoral studies and served as an admission counselor at Simpson. Recently married, David had been pastoring in a Hmong Alliance church while working part time. His wife, Sarah, also is a Simpson graduate. “David was a man of great joy-constantly smiling no matter where he was,” says Matt Kluttz, director for University Relations.
“He was a young man who exuded the love of Christ in his life,” University President Dr. Larry McKinney adds. “May God grant ‘a peace that passes all understanding’ to family and friends during this very difficult time. Our hearts and prayers are with the Yangs as we trust the Lord’s sovereignty together.”
Please pray for David’s wife, Sarah; David’s family; and the greater Hmong community as they mourn the loss of this dear brother.
For more information, contact Matt Kluttz at mkluttz@simpsonu.edu.
September 16, 2011
The following is an adapted excerpt from an update by Jane and Harry Landaw, serving as church-planting team coordinators in the tsunami-stricken area of Japan.
Recently, God used a “chance” encounter to accomplish a remarkable opportunity to show the love of Jesus to business owners and residents of Ishinomaki, a seaside city along the northeastern coast of Japan that was hit hard by the tsunami.
A few weeks ago in the Tokyo area, Mr. Doi, a non-Christian businessman, had been walking by the CRASH (Christian Relief, Assistance, Support, and Hope) Japan headquarters. He stopped by to see what the organization was doing to help out with relief and recovery efforts. Mr. Doi learned that CRASH had a large supply of rice cookers in storage but had run out of opportunities to distribute them. Because of his business contacts in Ishinomaki, Mr. Doi knew of shop owners near the train station who had lost all their kitchen goods in the disaster. He negotiated an opportunity for CRASH Japan to distribute this stock of new rice cookers to anyone who needed one.
When we arrived with the truckload of rice cookers, about 80 people were standing there, waiting to receive a new cooker. TV crews were also on the scene filming the entire event. We formed a “bucket brigade” with the local businesspeople and carried the heavy boxes into the little shop. We all crowded into the store where the local business leader explained what CRASH Japan was and that we had come to help them with this need. Along with the rice cookers, they allowed us to pass out tracts and an advertisement for a church that is located on the opposite side of the train station.
Many of the shop owners said, “Oh yes, we know about that church.” (You might have seen some youtube videos of this church and its food ministry after the tsunami.) We were able to distribute 150 rice cookers. Praise God! Everyone was so pleased and expressed genuine appreciation to us. In the process of distributing the rice cookers, we also had special opportunities to listen to individuals as they shared their stories, and we encouraged them and let them know that we cared deeply about their situation.
Later, we drove over to the church and helped the local pastor set up for a “Snow Cone Festival.” It was very hot, so we set up a large tent in front of the church, along with some benches, and made snow cones (“kakigori” in Japanese) for those who were passing by. Between 50 and 80 people stopped by to take a break from the scorching heat and enjoy the refreshing shaved ice with flavored toppings. Many people said, “This is the first kakigori I’ve had all summer. We have been so busy just trying to make it through the difficulties.” Along with the other Japanese volunteers, we had many opportunities to sit and listen to these special people tell their stories and to encourage them.
Among those who shared was a mother with two boys who had been at the beach on the day of the tsunami. They had tried to drive away but couldn’t get away fast enough, so they jumped out of the car and ran up a mountain, where they found safety. Then, they stayed in an evacuation center with 2,000 others for 10 days. The mother said that the little boys thought it was fun because it was like camping. What a precious family. (The father was not with them, though, and we wondered if he had survived.)
Then there was the woman who wept and wept, saying, “Would it have been better if I had died with everyone else? Was it better that I lived?” She kept going over those two questions. We told her that God had a plan for her and that her family needs her. Another woman’s husband made it through the tsunami, but because of an illness, he died at the end of July.
We pray for a mighty moving of the Holy Spirit, as so many are very open to Jesus. Also, we pray that many will return to ongoing outreach ministries at the church.
What You Can Do
Give to Alliance Great Commission Ministries. In doing so, you partner with Alliance workers, like the Landaws, to share the light of Christ with those who are desperate for hope.
Learn More
Read another story by Harry Landaw about relief efforts in the tsunami-affected area.
Facebook
Twitter
Forums
RSS
Podcasts
Newsletters