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.
December 16, 2011
By Jeremy Fields, serving with Compassion and Mercy Associates in Mongolia
The following is an adapted excerpt from the Fieldses’ December update.
I visited my son’s sixth grade Bible class the other day to give a symposium on the relative similarity between stable conditions in the ancient Middle East and modern day Central Asia. We concluded that stables are, in fact, quite dark, cramped, cold, and filthy.
If we were to design our own nativity set today, we decided that Joseph would be frantically wrestling cows away from the manger (a contraption made up of 2x4s and old tires). The shepherd would be busy scooping up after his cute sheep, the fancy wise man would be rubbing his head after bumping it on the low ceiling, and Mary would be calming the baby Jesus with one hand—holding her nose with the other.
Jesus’ List
I couldn’t help but contrast that scene with the glorious throne room of God. And I began to imagine what Jesus’ Christmas List must have looked like—not a list of things he wanted, but things He would give up to enter this world: angelic surround-sound, a 3-D panorama vision of the Universe, premium preventative health care, omniscience . . .
These thoughts inspired our family to start a new “Christmas List.” We chose things that we might have to give up if we were to follow the example of the One who “made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). The kids pretty much put down everything they enjoy that they’d have to give up in order for the world to share in Christmas, including:
- Our house (and most, if not all, of its plumbing )
- Toys
- Pets (we can get bigger, smellier ones!)
- Books, music, and even our language
- Friends and family
- Comfort and security
We have spent a great deal of thought as a family about what would be on our Christmas list, and it will probably be our “best” Christmas ever. Strangely, giving up most of the things on this list for Jesus has actually magnified our joy! Could it be that this is the essence of Christmas?
So what could you give up this next year in order to share Christmas with an unreached people group that has NEVER heard of Christmas or celebrated it before?
As you gather under the star (which points to the King) or the angel (which proclaims the Savior) on your Christmas tree, would you take a moment with your family to reflect on what Jesus gave up in order to share Christmas with us? Then simply ask Him what He would have you put on His Christmas list so that others can join us in celebrating Him in the coming year.
What You Can Do
For your list, consider praying for Alliance workers worldwide to experience God’s peace, comfort, and joy—the spirit of Christmas all year round.
December 15, 2011
By Jessica Schaeffer, RN, serving at Koutiala Hospital for Women and Children, Mali, West Africa
The following is an adapted excerpt from Jessica’s recent update.
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”(which means “God with us”) [Matthew 1:23].
In the challenges of these past months, I’ve often reminded myself, “Jesus is with me right now.” What a gift to know that He will never leave me or forsake me. I am not alone because of Immanuel, God with us. And what a joy it is to see others come to know the Gift, to enjoy the presence of Jesus in their lives.
God with Salif
Salif came to our hospital a year ago looking for help. The teenager had been in a moped accident two years previously and broken the bone in his thigh (femur). He hadn’t received proper care, so a piece of bone was sticking through his skin and chronically infected. Salif spent a lot of time watching Christian films during his hospital stay.
Ever since his discharge from the hospital last spring, he has come to church with me. Just recently, God answered our prayers: Salif decided to follow Christ!
A few days ago he visited me, discouraged because his father continues to verbally persecute him for having become a Christian and has threatened to kick him out. After missing school since his accident, Salif was finally back in school, until a few weeks ago when his father pulled him out . . . apparently a consequence of his profession of faith in Jesus.
As I talked with Salif, I kept reminding him that even in the difficult things he is facing, he is never alone—God is with him, and at any moment, we can cry out to Him for help.
Pray for Salif, that he will grow in his faith, and that He will know God’s presence with him, even in the midst of rejection and persecution from his family.
It is a joy to see others find Jesus and experience God’s presence with them always. Thanks for your important part in helping people to know and experience Immanuel. May you know His love and presence today—and every day.
What You Can Do
Pray for Alliance workers the world over. “Although life has been rich and full over these past months,” Jessica wrote this fall, “I’ve also been fairly overwhelmed with my workload. Sometimes the pressure is great, and I feel ready to despair. But my hope is set on Jesus, who I know will continue to help me through your prayers.”
Partner with Alliance workers like Jessica to share the light of Christ—Immanuel—with those living in spiritual darkness. Be Light—give to the Great Commission Christmas offering!
December 13, 2011
By Esther Schaeffer, serving in Burkina Faso
Two young Christian leaders in our church in Bobo-Dioulasso recently started up a ministry to help at-risk children and orphans. After I visited their project several weeks ago, the Lord laid it on my heart to donate a file cabinet and some soap to their work. I had bought the soap from a woman in one of my Bible study groups to help get her small business going. And the file cabinet was not doing me any good anyway; my papers are strewn across my desk and on every other available surface, so it was no great sacrifice to rid myself of it.
So I loaded these items into my car and decided to drop them off on my way to my Saturday afternoon Bible study that’s in a neighborhood near the ministry center. Well, the road was horrible, and the metal cabinet bounced around in the car making me think it would break a window. Once I drove into the neighborhood, I realized that I wasn’t quite sure which road I should take. So I began driving around, but it seemed like I always picked the worst road. I searched and searched, but since it was a new center no one seemed to have heard of it.
True Giving Costs Something
I finally had to give up and get to my Bible study, arriving late, tired, and somewhat unnerved. Worst of all, I knew that after Bible study I would have to go back into that neighborhood and try again to find the place, since I couldn’t keep all that stuff in the car for another week.
One of the women in my study said she knew about the ministry center so we went together, back over the bad roads. Finally, we found the place and unloaded the donations.
As I headed for home, I was still upset, grumbling about how something so easy could be so hard to do. Suddenly, the Lord said clearly to me, “Will you offer me something that costs you nothing?”
Wow! What answer did I have to that? “Lord, I will not make an offering to you like that.” Then I realized that my cost in this gift was the hassle, time spent, stress, and driving the bumpy roads. When I could view my efforts as something done for Him, I began to be thankful that I could offer to Him that which was most precious to me—my time and energy.
What You Can Do
When you give, you enable Christ’s light to shine through workers like Esther Schaeffer. Be Light—give to the Great Commission Christmas offering.
Read another inspirational article about Being Light, this one by Peggy Drake, RN, who also serves in Burkina Faso.
Pray for Alliance workers the world over.
December 9, 2011
Over the 2011 Thanksgiving Weekend, a fire truck—previously used by the New York City Fire Department—was transported to a New Jersey port to begin its ocean journey to Africa via cargo ship. Its mission: to serve the C&MA’s Bongolo Hospital and the surrounding community of Lebamba. The fire truck is scheduled to arrive in Gabon in early 2012.
“What a blessing this fire truck will be, not only for our hospital, but [also] for the local Gabonese!” exclaimed Dr. Keir Thelander, the hospital’s medical director. “Not long ago there was a fire in a nearby village; bystanders just watched as unsuccessful attempts were made to put the fire out with buckets of water—a fire truck could easily have put it out in minutes.”
Hospital Fire Spurs Action
After witnessing a fire that had greatly damaged Bongolo Hospital’s warehouse in 2009, Dave and Diann Conquest (parents of Keir’s wife, Joanna), returned home to Pittsford, N.Y., where they commenced an exhaustive search for a fire truck on eBay®. After placing a bid, the couple purchased the 1975 Mack CF600 Pumper 6-Cylinder vehicle for $3,175!
Since July 2010, the Conquests have helped to raise more than $20,000 to cover the cost for necessary repairs, supplies, and shipping the truck to Africa. Contributions have come in from the community, including local fire departments, and beyond.
The 158-bed Bongolo Hospital is more than 200 miles from the nearest fire station. In addition to its busy surgery, maternity/pediatrics, and outpatient departments, the hospital has a nursing school, a dental clinic, and an eye surgery clinic. As of November 11, a reported 1,111 people had received Jesus as Savior through the hospital’s ministry in 2011.
What You Can Do
Give to the Great Commission Fund. Partner with Alliance workers like the Thelanders to share the light of Christ with those living in spiritual darkness.
Learn more about Bongolo Hospital’s powerful witness in Gabon.
Watch a YouTube video about the fire truck’s journey to Africa, including an interview with the Conquests. Note: Clicking on this URL will take you off of the C&MA Web site.
December 5, 2011
By Laura and Jeter Livingston, serving at West Africa Alliance Theological Seminary (FATEAC), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
The following is an adapted excerpt of a recent update from the Livingstons that describes FATEAC’s state of ministry since failed presidential elections took place in Côte d’Ivoire one year ago.
One year ago last week presidential elections were held that set off months of violence in Côte d’Ivoire that culminated in civil war, which left hundreds dead and tens of thousands emotionally traumatized. On that one-year anniversary, we celebrated the official opening of the new school year with great thanksgiving!
Many Reasons for Gratitude
Our joy was compounded at this event because we were blessed to have a recovering Isaac Keita (FATEAC’s dean who has undergone cancer surgery) welcome us to the worship service. Former church President Andre Kouadio preached the Word clearly, in spite of his age and ongoing battle with diabetes.
In surveying the students attending this event—faithful church leaders representing 12 countries and 20-plus denominations—we were thankful to God for giving us the privilege of being a part of this ministry. And we were thankful for you and your part in enabling this work through your prayers and giving.
Trauma Healing Update
Speaking of ministry . . . Laura has just finished writing a standardized curriculum for use in the Trauma Healing Seminars as well as a program for training facilitators. This training is sponsored by ECGAP (The Church, Healing Community/Peacemaker)—a partnership between FATEAC and Action Internationale De Developpement Integral (AIDI), an Ivoirian nongovernmental organization focused on the development of women and children. Opportunities to meet deep needs through this partnership are endless.
On the first trip (July 2011) to take the message of healing and reconciliation to Duekoue—a town in western Côte d’Ivoire where the worst war atrocities took place—the idea was born to create a booklet that could be given to those whom we have counseled. Lynell Zogbo (The Bible Society) compiled the text, and Marianne Sommer (SIM) supplied the illustrations.
“My God, You Are the Light in My Night” helps the emotionally traumatized work through their grief as they interact with David’s Psalms of lamentations. The booklet is at the printer this week, and we plan to sell it at cost or, as funds become available, give it away to those still in the refugee camps here.
Last year at this time, we were daily battling fear and wondering what the future held. How good it is to look back and see that God never took His good hand off of us!
What You Can Do
Praise God for peace in Côte d’Ivoire after months of war. Please pray for peaceful legislative elections in December and for Isaac Keita’s complete healing. Pray also for Alliance workers worldwide.
Donate to Alliance Great Commission Ministries. In doing so, you partner with Alliance workers like the Livingstons to share the good news of God’s healing grace, provision, and reconciliation with the hurting and the lost.
November 30, 2011
The following is an adapted excerpt from an update by Dakar Academy staff, Evan and Jewel Evans, about the 2011 Thanksgiving weekend outreach in Senegal.
Outreach Summary:
- 1,000 people in 4 villages reached in evening evangelism campaigns; more than 200 decisions to follow Christ
- Children’s outreach team ministered to some 2,000 people in 10 villages
- Drama team ministered in 10 villages (“Best response ever!”)
- One church foundation dug and poured
- 573 bricks made by hand
- 1,800 liters of water pump-filtered by hand
- Mural painted in the village church of Diofane
- Inside of church painted in Bikol
- 283 patients treated by medical team
- 20 benches built by work crew
- Food crew fed 150 people 6 meals
GOD KNEW That . . .
Our medical team would encounter some difficult medical cases, so He sent us a doctor and a nurse from the United States to join us this year
Our water filtration system would break down, so He “just happened” to send us a brand new one with students from the States who joined the outreach
We would have three generators break down, but a first-time team member, who “just happened” to be a mechanic, was able to repair all three
Although we questioned why there was a last minute change of villages to conduct an evening campaign, an important person attended who committed his life to Christ. (A few others joined him after some time.) We had seen greater responses to the gospel in previous outreaches, but imagine our joy when we learned later that night that the first man who accepted Christ was the village chief!
GOD KNEW!
What You Can Do
Praise God for the successful outreach! Pray for the new believers to grow strong in their faith and for Alliance workers the world over.
Donate to the Great Commission Fund. In doing so, you partner with workers like Evan and Jewel to share the Light of Christ with those who live in spiritual darkness.
November 22, 2011
By Peggy Drake, RN, serving in Burkina Faso
It was an ordinary day at the clinic here in Bobo-Dioulasso. Around 10 a.m., I was between the waiting room and the pharmacy when I heard an old taxi pull up along with another much less noisy car.
I decided to walk out to the street, thinking someone in the taxi might need help getting into the clinic. To my surprise, the man in the taxi hopped out and went on into the waiting room. I then looked over and saw a beautiful black BMW! The driver, a well-dressed African woman, was looking straight at me and waving for me to come help her. Through the window, she explained that in the back seat was her neighbor, whom she had found crying and who had pled with her to please take her to the clinic.
“Please Pray for Me!”
When I opened the door, I realized that I knew this woman. She was a patient of ours! She looked up at me with tears streaming down her face and said: “Peggy, can you please pray for me!” That I can do, I thought!
This woman (we will call her Sali) is not a Christian but is of the majority religion here in Burkina. She told me that she had learned that her husband was in the United States with another wife and their children; he also had another wife and child in a different African country. She was obviously devastated. Sali told me that she was filled with sadness and fear when she was alone with her children in their family courtyard.
What a joy to be able to pray with this woman!
A few days later when I walked into the clinic, Sali was standing by the door. She came over and hugged me (this is not African, but she was so happy). She said that things were so much better in the courtyard and that her husband was now back and was being very kind to her. God is so good!
You see, it does not matter if people come to the clinic on foot, bicycles, motorcycles, or in taxis or BMWs. What does matter is that our patients learn about our Lord Jesus and see Him in us! That is why we are here—Living the Call together!
Thank you for giving to The Great Commission Fund so we can do what we do—shine the light of Christ among those living in spiritual darkness, desperate for the true hope only He offers!
What You Can Do
Pray for Alliance workers around the world who are being Christ’s light in some of the world’s most spiritually dark places.
Give to The Great Commission Fund—partner in Living the Call together with Alliance workers like Peggy!
By Evan and Jewel Evans, serving at Dakar Academy, Senegal
The following is an excerpt from a recent update by the Evanses who serve at Dakar Academy—a boarding and day-school program (K-12) largely for the children of international workers. School chaplains, the Evanses head up outreach programs and discipleship ministries; they also serve as dorm administrators.
We are up to our eyeballs in preparations for our Thanksgiving outreach weekend. It is going to be a big group again this year—about 140 of us, including 15 students from Faith Christian Academy in Colorado Springs. There will also be 10–15 Senegalese pastors and laypeople who will join us in ministry when we arrive in the area.
We will be busy with a number of team ministries during daylight hours, including:
- A drama team and children’s ministry team that will travel to a number of villages
- One work team that will paint a church in Bikol (the church for which we laid the foundation and made bricks by hand in January).
- A team that will paint a mural on the front wall of a church in Diofane (the church we built in November 2010).
- Our medical team, which will include three nurses and a doctor who will minister in Diakhao; they will be joined by a team that will dig and lay a foundation as well as make bricks by hand.
- A small team that will build 20 benches for the new church.
In the evenings, we will be holding evangelism campaigns in the following villages:
- Fri., Nov. 25: Diakhao, Gandiaye, Poukham Tok
- Sat., Nov. 26: Mbelakadio, Ngouloul Peul, Mbouscene
On our way home Sunday morning, we plan to worship in the church that we helped build in Diofane during the fall of 2010. We’re looking forward to the blessing of worshipping with our African brothers and sisters and seeing the results of our labors there last year.
Please Pray
We will be serving in an area that is populated by followers of the predominant religion here and ministering in villages that have just begun to hear about Jesus. Please pray for open doors and open hearts. Pray against spiritual resistance and that God will prepare the way for us. Pray for protection in travel and at all the ministry sites.
November 16, 2011
A “random” encounter leads to a heavenly selection
By Rob Burns, serving in Macedonia
I passed some hitchhikers on my way to Kochani to pick up Zoki, a national Christian who has a gift for evangelism, before going on to Berovo, a town of 7,500 near the Bulgarian border where we regularly visit believers and seekers. As I approached the city of Shtip, I saw more hitchhikers. After some deliberation, I “randomly” stopped next to a couple young guys, and asked them where they were going. They said, “Kochani, and then on.”
The boys, Noel and Victor,* hopped in the car and said they were high school students, studying in another town. They asked, “What are you doing in Macedonia?” I explained that I was here to work with the Evangelical Church of Macedonia (the national partner church) and to be a blessing to the people and country of Macedonia. I told them that regardless of whether someone calls himself Orthodox, Catholic, or Protestant, the most important thing in life is to have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Coincidence?
When we came to Kochani, I asked if they were stopping here, telling them I was going on to Berovo. They were excited, as “coincidentally,” their real destination was Berovo, too, and now they had a ride as far as their town. Perhaps I was even more excited, however, as I thought, “Good, they will meet Zoki.”
Zoki got in the car, and, after learning my companions were students, discussed what it means to get an “excellent” grade in life. He asked them if they believed that was possible without God, to which both replied that they felt it was impossible. Zoki began to share the gospel with them, asking from time to time if they wanted him to continue or if he was boring them. Each time, the students said, “No, please continue!” Zoki shared his own story, the gospel, and the need for repentance.
Divine Appointment
I prayed silently as I drove. Zoki asked his listeners if they wanted to pray a prayer of repentance and begin a relationship with God. They said yes! We still had several minutes before arriving in Berovo, which was invaluable time as the young men prayed with Zoki, who stressed the importance of fellowship. I related my testimony as well. The two guys, Noel and Victor, gave us their phone numbers, and we promised to be in contact with them. They both seemed interested in that. Zoki said to me, “Shame on me and shame on you for not having any New Testaments to give them!”
“How often does this happen?” I asked my coworker as we allowed the moment to sink in. Zoki said that he was surprised to see so much spiritual openness and warmth, particularly in teenagers. He was excited that they agreed to pray with him a prayer of repentance in the car and then also to give us their phone numbers. Had they not been interested, or just humoring us, they would not have given their numbers.
The following Friday, Zoki and I picked up Noel and gave him a New Testament, which we obtained through someone in his village. We told him many important basics about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Zoki and I look forward to meeting again with Victor and Noel, who continue to show an interest in learning about Jesus.
Our first Alliance Core Value states, “Lost people matter to God; He wants them found.” In the case of Noel and Victor, I refer to Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep; we could also say that He wants them brought home. God chose us to give them a ride to their physical home to lead them to their spiritual home.
Please pray for Victor and Noel! I have been encouraged by the warm reception we have received in Noel’s village. I have to wonder if God is preparing this village for spiritual fruit and Noel is just a part of that. Pray that the seed that has begun to bear fruit will result in many people knowing Jesus as their Savior.
Learn More
Read more stories about Alliance work in the Balkans.
Read additional stories of the worldwide work 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.
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