October 13, 2009
The following report comes from a field worker on the ground in Indonesia. It was originally dated October 6, 2009.
Pariaman and Sicincin are two communities that were hit hard. Almost every house either heavily damaged or completely destroyed. The communities are primarily family based with about 30 heads of families in a area. No power or public water source. Well water is fine. While some wells sustained damage or were filled with falling debris, most are functioning.
Death count is still not dependable. Govt is saying 550, however two major landslides may have claimed hundreds of victims. Also victims from the Chinese community are being buried without any report to the government.
The government is saying that over 30,000 homes have heavy damage, most cannot be repaired. We have decided to purchase and put together tool packets so that people can salvage usable materials from their houses. Tool packet contents are as follows: hammer, shovel, saw, file to sharpen saw, hoe, mallet, 3 kilos assorted nails, crowbar, pliers and two pair gloves. Initial purchase is 50 packets which we’ll distribute Tuesday afternoon. If this is received well by the community, we anticipate a purchase of 200 more tool packets.
We anticipate the arrival of a number of national workers that will help with cleaning of destruction debris and tool packet distribution. Adequate housing in the city of Padang has been secured. For the village area we’ve purchased tents and a small gen-set.
August 21, 2009
Whether taking out garbage, setting up tables, or moving equipment for church events, self-proclaimed surf bum and Alliance layperson Jim McCleary was always looking for ways to serve God at Deltona Alliance Church in Florida. But when he met an Alliance missionary to Indonesia, Jim learned that God’s call on his life was tailor made just for him.
“In 1996, George Hobbs (now retired) was speaking at our weeklong Missions Conference, and I was asked to pick him up at the airport,” Jim says. The two stopped at a restaurant on the way back to the church, and Jim asked George about the surfing in Indonesia. George’s answer ignited in Jim a passion for a unique ministry.
“Surfers are like Indonesians,” George told Jim. “They wear funny clothes, have crazy hair styles, and speak a language all their own. They may have strange customs, but the main thing about surfers and Indonesians is that they are both going to hell if they don’t know Jesus.”
The Challenge
“When I went to Indonesia,” George continued, “I had to dress and look like the Indonesians. I had to learn their language and their customs. Basically, I had to become one of them to gain their trust.
“But you see, Jim, God created you to look like a surfer, talk like a surfer, dress like a surfer, and actually go out and ride the waves. No surfers are going to listen to me, but God can use you to get through to them. Why don’t you take a few kids to the beach, teach them how to surf, and share God’s Word with them. Do you think you could do that?”
Crosswaves
Jim’s first ministry outing a couple months later involved a few boys. “I taught them to surf and told them about Jesus walking on water,” says Jim. “And Crosswaves was born.”
Crosswaves is a Christian surfing ministry designed for all family members. Crosswaves leaders are believers, using the gifts God equipped them with to reach out and serve those in their local communities. Outreaches include beach activities and Bible studies, as well as supporting other ministries in their efforts, including those outside the United States. Crosswaves seeks to create an environment in which everyone will feel welcome and where the love of Jesus will be revealed.
Phil Risoldi and his family experienced the Crosswaves welcome firsthand. “My two sons and I met Jim at a Christian skateboarding event,” says Phil. “He had a tent there, representing his surfing ministry.” The meeting came just five days after the third surgery on Phil’s right arm, which was left completely disabled. “The doctors said I would never use my arm again.”
But Phil sensed God’s call to join Jim in ministry. “Crosswaves has fortified our family’s faith,” he says. “I thought, I can teach those kids to surf.” Though one arm is disabled, Phil ventures out on his surfboard to give surfing lessons, and “God enables me to stay in the water all day.”
Crosswaves outreach events—including surf lessons, lunch, and drinks for the day—are free. “All you have to do is listen to Jim talk about Jesus,” Phil says. “It is such a dynamic ministry; if you weren’t a Christian when you got there, you will be when you leave.” Currently, 1,250 workers facilitate Crosswaves chapters in three Florida cities as well as in Puerto Rico and Nicaragua.”We’re looking forward to the next town where God will start another Crosswaves chapter,” Jim says. “Is God calling you? Pray about it, let us know, and we will do anything we can to help you get started.”
A spinoff of Crosswaves is a youth basketball outreach called Crossover. Both Deltona Alliance Church ministries represent the heartbeat of The Alliance-mobilizing fully devoted disciples to reach lost people who matter to God. He wants them found, and Crosswaves is finding them on the beaches of Florida.
What You Can Do
Pray for safety and good health for Jim and his team as they ride the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
Pray that God will prepare hearts to receive the truth.
Donate now to Alliance Great Commission Ministries.
Learn More
Visit www.crosswavesweb.com and www.deltonaalliancechurch.org
April 7, 2009
Editor’s note: The following testimony of healing comes from Dan Kidd, a member of Glenview Alliance Church in Glen Rock, Pennsylvania. Dan, 46, had a stroke five years ago that took away his speech function. But all that changed recently when God miraculously intervened with His divine touch.
Five years ago, I suffered a stroke and lost my ability to speak, forcing me to communicate with a dry-erase board. Sunday, March 29, marked almost five years of praying for God’s divine healing in my life. As the youth worship band sang “How Great is Our God,” I struggled to think through the words in my head. Suddenly, I felt a “presence” or wave flow through me. I starting mouthing the words, then verbalizing them, and sound was coming out of my mouth. The first words I audibly sang were “How Great is Our God.” I began crying and walked outside, knowing my speech was returning at that very moment.
Some family and friends followed me out and asked what was wrong. I told them on my dry erase board that something just happened during the service, and my speech was coming back. I asked them to sing something-I wanted to see if I could follow along. With each song they sang, my words became clearer. I knew at that moment God had healed me.
We went back inside the church, and during the closing song, I walked up to the front and asked the pastor if I could say something from the pulpit. I said, “Hi, this is Dan. I am back.” I shared with everyone what had just happened and thanked them for praying for me for so long. As I told them that this is truly a miracle, I held up my dry erase board and said, “One more thing.” Then I broke the board in half.
Since then, I have been to three doctors, including a neurosurgeon, all of whom said that my healing is a true miracle. They have never seen anything like this before.
Many times I cried to the Lord, vowing that if He ever returned my speech, I would tell everyone and give Him the glory. I thank all who prayed and never gave up on me, and I give praise to God for what He has done. How great is our God!
Read more stories of divine healing in the February 2009 issue of alife. Also, look for “God’s Healing Arsenal” by Paul King, to be published in the July issue of alife.
November 14, 2008
On November 14, 2008, Alliance Radio in Hong Kong, a ministry of The Alliance, celebrated its 30th anniversary. “Throughout all these years, our gospel radio has become a vital spiritual mentor for many followers [of Jesus], especially those in remote areas,” said Lillian Lau, executive director for Alliance Radio.
After China was closed to active Christian ministry, The Alliance began preparing gospel messages to be aired over the facilities of Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC) in Manila. “These broadcasts started humbly, with a few hours of programming that have significantly increased in number of hours and variety of programs,” said Anthony Bollback, former C&MA missionary to Hong Kong. “As a result, those programs have enabled faithful pastors and Bible seminary students to be spiritual mentors to thousands upon thousands of new believers.”
“During the 1980s, our recording studio headed into its golden age,” said Lau. “More and more Chinese people were seeking truth, and gospel radio became their close friend.” Several preachers regularly recorded their sermons in the studio, including Rev. Phillip Teng. “I personally feel that gospel radio is our top priority in ministry,” said Teng. “Broadcasting is the best medium to preach to more than 1 billion nationals without time, space, or [personnel] restrictions. The relevance and effectiveness of gospel radio can be witnessed by all.”
October 22, 2008
by an Alliance missionary to West Africa
For many years I had a Fulani “grandma.” I called her Pati. If she and I had been the same age, we would have been best friends—she was that cool. Over the years I picked up bits and pieces of information, understanding that for some undisclosed reason, her family had abandoned her—her children, her husband, her sisters and brothers. In this culture, to abandon an elderly mother is unheard of.
As Pati began to lose her eyesight and was unable to care for herself, she was shuffled from one home to the next. During her last two years, she spent most of her days and nights reclining on a hard, wooden chair in the corner of her nephew’s front porch. All her worldly goods were either under her chair or in a little pile next to her “home.”
Sometimes when I went to visit, I couldn’t see Pati’s toenails or fingernails because the grunge was so thick. It made me want to cry. Her clothes smelled, and her hair was matted. I would bundle up her dirty clothes (there weren’t many), lead her to my car, and take her home with me. With the help of a friend, we would bathe her, wash and braid her hair, and do her nails while her clothes were being washed. At the end of the day I would return Pati to her chair on the front porch, where she would watch the dark shadows of children playing around her feet.
When total blindness set in and I would visit, I tried to sneak up on her if she was resting under the mango tree. I would tiptoe quietly and slowly sit down on the bench next to her. Within a couple seconds, Pati would get all excited, give a little jump, grab me and say, “Biddo an arii! Biddo an arii!” (My daughter has come! My daughter has come!) She said she could smell me!
It made me happy to give Pati so much joy because I knew she didn’t have much of that. As the months passed, she got weaker, and I kept waiting for someone to come and tell me that she was sick and asking for me. But no one did. Two days after Pati was buried, I heard from a passerby that my grandma had died. It hurt that they hadn’t told me that she was sick, so that I could go be with her. Years before, my daughter had said, “Mama, don’t let Grandma die without Jesus.” But Pati never seemed to understand when I told her that Jesus loved her.
It has been two years since Grandma died. The other day, Pati’s granddaughter, Iliasou, came to visit me. Although the family had abandoned Pati, Iliasou had taken care of Pati while she was dying. She was the one who closed Pati’s eyes. Before she died, Pati told Iliasou to find me after she was buried.
Iliasou came by to visit yesterday. And so we talked. We talked about Grandma, and we talked about Jesus. And Jesus has touched Iliasou’s heart somehow in these two years. She’s no longer the same hard woman she was before. She even has a glow about her face and a soft, sweet smile that she can’t seem to stop. During our time together, Iliasou told me about a conversation her uncle and older brother had this week. They were discussing the fact that Iliasou wasn’t practicing a local tradition. Her older brother was accusing her of following those “white Christians” like Rougi (that would be me) who only take people away from God. But Uncle chimed in and said, “Rougi isn’t a Christian. She follows God.”
In this culture, “Christian” is almost a dirty word. It is a major insult to call someone a Christian. So for Uncle to say, “Rougi is NOT a Christian—she’s a God follower” was the highest complement that he could have possibly paid me.
Let’s ALL be God followers.
Donate now to support the work of Alliance churches and missionaries around the world.
September 12, 2008
Since 1997, Alliance workers in Mongolia have ministered Christ’s love to hurting people through practical acts of compassion. Today, seven churches are flourishing in a land that had been untouched by the gospel for 700 years.
In July, 110 young people attended the first-ever CAMA (Compassion and Mercy Associates) Mongolia International Youth Camp. During the event, 10 participants made decisions to follow Jesus, and 90 youth committed to “running the race” for God’s glory. A seven-member Youth Council was selected from among the youth leaders for the purpose of encouraging and equipping youth leaders and planning future events for the CAMA churches in Mongolia.
As of this writing, Alliance missionary Bernie Anderson and his colleagues have been working to renovate a building to be used as a student ministry center in the heart of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital. Dubbed the Grain of Wheat Student Center, its close proximity to several major universities will enable our workers to reach thousands of young people with the gospel.
“I cannot share all of the amazing things God is doing in these far corners of the earth,” said Alliance missionary Jeremy Fields. “There is purposeful excitement [among our team] for what we believe God can do in our communities this coming year.”
November 29, 2007
Christian and Missionary Alliance congregations around the United States are taking new approaches to ministry, moving beyond just talking about Christ’s love to actually showing it. Medford Neighborhood Church in Medford, Oregon; Crossroads Church in Perry, Iowa; New Beginnings Christian Fellowship in Maywood, Illinois; and Acts 29 Fellowship in Hamtramck, Michigan, are causing their communities to take notice.
Medford Neighborhood Church hosted a “Meet and Greet Your Public Servants” night, featuring a free barbeque dinner. Pastor Lee Gregory described the event as a way of saying thank you to those who provide public services to the community. The mayor, city manager, sheriffs’ deputies, and city council members attended, along with police, search and rescue personnel, and firefighters. Police Chief Randy Schoen told one local TV news reporter, “This type of event builds community. It makes [our city] a better, safer, and more fun place to live, so I encourage [these kinds of gatherings].”
Crossroads Church Pastor Rick Gates shampooed carpets at a local school. Other church members cleaned windshields at a grocery store and distributed complimentary water bottles at community functions. Since these outreaches began, many civic groups and individuals have solicited the church’s help.
At New Beginnings, Pastor David Torres met with the mayor of Maywood and several other public officials from nearby Chicago suburbs to discuss how the church can best serve the community. Of the 80 churches in the city, the mayor told Torres that none has ever offered its services. “He was excited about working with our church and agreed to shut down the church’s street for a day to hold a back-to-school festival,” says Torres.
Acts 29’s outreach to Hamtramck, a suburb of Detroit, involves numerous programs. From hosting summer camps for inner-city kids, restoring dilapidated houses, teaching English to Middle Eastern immigrants, and offering after-school homework classes, the church has earned the respect of residents and community leaders alike.
November 20, 2007
About 144 people received treatment from a short-term team that ministered through a portable dental office in Sector 30, a needy area of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. While an Alliance pastor evangelized, the team members drilled and pulled teeth, putting in 14-hour days. “Some patients, desperate to be seen, stayed at the clinic overnight, sleeping on the ground or porch,” said C&MA missionary Pete Brokopp. “One man peddled 45 miles by bicycle to get there.” The village chief, the government delegate for the area, and the head of the medical center visited the clinic as well.
Even when the drill broke, the team remained committed to serving the impoverished people who poured into the clinic. The engineers on the team constructed a makeshift drill using an air compressor that Brokopp rented from a tire shop. “The hardest thing of all was turning away those who had waited so long, including one woman who kept refusing to leave when the clinic had closed,” he said. “But the dentist’s arms were so tired that he could barely hold onto the instruments.” Many teeth were broken below the gum line, making them difficult to extract. “One person took four hours to have his tooth removed and kept receiving novocain between other patients,” said Brokopp. “What a celebration when the last piece of his tooth came out!”
Each day began with prayer. Maman Paré, the best-known evangelist in the area, preached to the line of people waiting to be seen. “Some heard quite a few messages!” said Brokopp. Paré prayed individually with each person, and then the team prayed with the patients.
Weeks after the short-termers left, people in the community were still talking about the team’s visit. “When they praise the work the team did, the pastor just tells them to thank the Lord who sent the dentist,” said Brokopp. “Imagine all those people finally living without pain! The love the team showed them is indeed an opening to the gospel. Pray for changed lives as a result of this testimony.”
June 27, 2007
Reaching Japanese via multifaceted ministries
Of the 127 million people in Japan, less than half of 1 percent are evangelical Christians, according to the Joshua Project, a missions research organization. “Eight million gods are worshipped by the Japanese, and most follow Buddhism and Shinto,” said C&MA missionaries David and Vangi Kindervater. “Ancestor worship is part of daily life.” Along with the Bengali people, the Japanese are the largest Unreached People Group in the world. “Most have never heard a basic presentation of the gospel,” said the Kindervaters.
Persevering against great odds, Alliance missionaries are using a multifaceted approach to minister God’s love in this spiritually needy country. Practical outreaches to the community, camping ministries, and cultural events are just a few ways our workers are reaching the Japanese people with the good news of Jesus.
C&MA missionary Pauline Black is starting a moms and tots program called “Mommy and Me” at a community center. Her husband, Joel, teaches English classes and hosts an English-speaking club at a nearby university. The Blacks praise God for all the mothers, families, and young men they have met who are interested in knowing more about Christ.
On June 30, David and Vangi Kindervater will hold a concert and afternoon tea as a means for believers to reach out to their unsaved daughters and friends. The Kindervaters also have been holding gospel music workshops. “Gospel music is very popular here, and we are praying that many community people will join with our church members in singing praises to God and through this accept Him as Savior,” said the Kindervaters.
Harry Landaw praises God that three members of his sports evangelism group came to church Easter Sunday for the fourth time. Landaw’s wife, Jane, ministers to young mothers, mostly unsaved, who want to read the Bible.
Dale and Heidi Lemke, who are involved in youth work, are thankful for connections they have made through English/international clubs on university campuses. A Christian student at one university is starting a campus club to reach her friends. “We look forward to being guests at these clubs and hosting parties in our home,” said the Lemkes. “Pray that these students will find Christ and join a Bible study on campus, in our home, or elsewhere.”
“There is a spiritual battle being waged for the millions of Japan,” David and Vangi Kindervater said. Despite centuries of resistance, inroads are being made to reach them with the good news of salvation. “It is not an easy struggle, but it is a winnable one,” the Kindervaters said. “Even the gates of hell cannot withstand the will of God.”
June 15, 2007
With more than half the population in Indonesia under the age of 18, The Alliance is gearing up to reach this huge and often neglected people group. “There are many open doors [to minister to children] in Indonesia because kids matter to God,” says C&MA missionary Judy Gaskin, who has been networking with groups such as Children at Risk, Compassion International, Child Evangelism Fellowship, Awana, and Kids’ EE to bring the love of Jesus to the youth of Indonesia.
One way The Alliance in Indonesia has been meeting the need for outreach to young people is by training and equipping Sunday school and children’s ministry leaders. In addition, the Awana program has been introduced at Alliance churches in Indonesia. “Praise God for this wonderful opportunity to evangelize and disciple thousands of C&MA children in God’s Word,” says Gaskin.
C&MA camping ministries also are impacting youngsters with the gospel. Good News Camp began 15 years ago and continues to grow and develop. In the past 29 years, thousands of children and young people attended summer camps hosted by Jakarta C&MA churches. “We rejoice in the life-changing decisions that have been made,” Gaskin says. More than 500 children and youth will attend four Alliance camps this summer. Campers will be involved in Bible lessons, quizzing, choir competition, hiking, games, and more. “We will train new counselors who will minister along with Bible teachers, camps coordinators, cooks, and other helpers,” says Gaskin. “Many young lives will be changed for eternity.”
More than 20 years ago, C&MA missionary Ann Grinnell said, “Speak, Lord,” and Team Joshua was born. The handful of youth that began meeting with Grinnell has grown to more than 400. When a team member was asked to teach classes about religion, including a lesson on salvation, at a local public school, nearly 60 students received Christ. Recently, Team Joshua has been spearheading efforts to stop the spread of AIDS in Papua. The group is handing out brochures with a hotline number at all the major youth gathering places and is providing training on AIDS counseling to its volunteers.
Last month, Team Joshua held an AIDS awareness rally and concert. C&MA missionary Barry Jordan, who ministers with the organization, says, “It is exciting to see young people catching a vision of how they can help save their generation from AIDS.” Future plans include the opening of a youth center that will provide HIV/AIDS testing, education, and youth counseling.
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