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 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
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 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.
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.
September 1, 2011
By Diane Rorabaugh, serving in Russia
“Sharing love with those who have needs is the reason we do this ministry . . .” says Diane, who assists an outreach in southern Russia that supports impoverished families, orphans, and developmentally challenged people. The following is an adapted excerpt from her recent ministry update.
This summer I enjoyed a lovely trip to Maikop, a small city in southern Russia that is near the Caucusus Mountains, not far from the Black Sea. While there, I visited with Phariza’s family, probably the first family I met in Maikop when I began participating in this ministry long ago.
Phariza is a beautiful, tiny 20-something young woman who has cerebral palsy. She can’t speak but is still holding on to life. Many in the world would call her useless, but she has a spark in her eyes that captured my heart the first day I met her. I confess that she’s my favorite.
Sometimes
When we had dinner with the family recently, the best part of the evening was when Phariza’s mom, Irina, held her daughter on her lap and snuggled with her. Phariza had the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on her face, and the love between the two was evident.
Sometimes we share God’s love in this ministry by giving food, medicine, clothing, or sending a child to camp. Sometimes we do so through listening to stories, empathizing with pain, or telling about the God who loves more than anyone can imagine. Sometimes, the best way to share love is to hold a hand or give a hug.
By sharing in this ministry through your prayers and through your gifts, you are helping to shine God’s light in the darkness—thank you!
What You Can Do
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
Read another article about Diane’s ministry to “the least of these.”
Check out Diane’s blog. (Note: clicking on this link will take you off of the C&MA Web site.)
August 4, 2011
By Lisa Nicky, RN, serving at Bongolo Hospital, Gabon, West Africa
The following story is an adapted excerpt from Lisa’s recent newsletter entitled “Together With You.”
I could hardly believe it when I heard that a short-term summer team comprised of rehabilitation specialists, including a physical and occupational therapist, was coming to Bongolo! Since their arrival, I’ve been translating for the team (and learning from them!) as they’ve worked to improve the quality of life for our patients who are weakened by disease and trauma.
Davy, who is in his early 20s, suffers from hemophilia (a bleeding disorder in which it takes a long time for the blood to clot). Recently, he came to us completely paralyzed after a fall that caused bleeding to his cervical spine. I remember praying with him and his family often that first week and asking him a question that I typically ask my patients, “Do you believe God can help you recover from this?”
His answer was a determined and heartfelt, “Yes!”
Timing is Everything!
Little by little, Davy regained the use of his arms and his legs. (You can continue to pray for him, as he is still quite weak.) Once again I see God’s perfect timing in that we have rehabilitation specialists to work with him daily during the period in which he is most in need of their expertise.
It was a great joy recently when Davy said, “Madame Lisa, I plan to be a part of the next class of nurses at Bongolo Hospital!” Isn’t it just like God to use a difficult disease and accident to inspire a young man to serve as a nurse for His Kingdom?
What You Can Do
Give to the Great Commission Fund online. In doing so, you partner with Alliance workers like Lisa, who is helping children recover from severe physical challenges and sharing Christ’s eternal hope with them.
Learn More
Read another article about how Alliance workers are helping save lives—physically and spiritually—at Bongolo Hospital.
Check out how you can get involved in a short-term missions trip.
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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