COVID-19 is a word that none of us have ever heard about three months ago and now it has transformed our lives. How are you coping with its effect? Know that we have been praying for you and your family, for safety and for peace. Our family is well despite the impact of the virus.
As the COVID-19 situation worsened around the world, our teams scrambled to produce a ministry guide of best practices for how to minister at a distance that has been circulated all around the world. It includes some links to ready-made content to share on the topics of fear and anxiety, which are so relevant right now. We also added other resources that could help as you reach out to others. (You might find it helpful to pass along to your church leadership and pastors or share on social media).
This week our digital team is hosting 5 webinars on 5 continents. Already 1,200+ people have signed up from Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and Latin America. We need your prayers.
Please pray:
For energy as coordinating these webinars will require early mornings, late nights and middle of the night working across timezones, all while working from home.
For the technology to “just work” as people connect from around the world and join these equipping times.
Our webinars will help people figure out new ways of doing ministry during COVID-19 and answering these questions:
Arobogast Henga unfolded a big piece of paper on which he had drawn his church multiplication chart showing the 25 “generations” of churches God had raised up in the past two years.
In church planting, “generations” is the term used to describe successive church plantings: a church plants a church (two generations), which plants a church (three generations), which plants another church (four), and so on. Four generations is considered a “movement,” but 25 generations of churches planting churches is simply amazing!
Arobogast, like his father and grandfather before him, had been a fisherman in Tanzania. His family had always practiced witchcraft, believing it would help them catch more fish. In 2011, hoping to excel in his fishing business, Arobogast traveled to a nearby district known for its high concentration of witch doctors. Instead, he met Kanagana, a Baptist preacher proclaiming Jesus. And just like Peter, Andrew, James, and John in Matthew 4, Arobogast immediately left what he was doing, followed Jesus, and became a fisher of men and women.
In November 2017 Arobogast attended an MC2 (multiplying churches and faith communities) training offered by our staff in Tanzania. During the training, he learned about the vision to plant a church for every 1,000 people on earth.
He also learned about the concept “person of peace,” “pray-care-share,” and the multiplication of disciples and churches. The training taught him to enable newly planted churches to sustain themselves through intentional discipleship, empowering new believers for ministry and raising up leaders to engage new areas with evangelism and church planting.
Arobogast is a devout disciple of Jesus, a passionate evangelist, and a prudent strategist of church multiplication movements. He walks from one village to the next, coaching church planters, casting vision for multiplication, and sending new leaders to other districts so they can find people of peace and expand the work. His vision is to see a church planted in every village in Tanzania.
But Arobogast is not the only one with this vision in his country; he is a part of a much larger, national, and even international, vision.
A Common Vision In March 2015, several Tanzanian church leaders were among the 123 leaders from eight countries who attended the launching of the East Africa GACX (Global Alliance for Church Multiplication). At that event, the Tanzanian delegation was inspired by the vision to plant a church for every 1,000 people in their country. Upon returning home, they agreed to work together and set a national goal of 67,500 vital churches. As they collaborate across church denominations and mission agencies, they learn from and support one another, they avoid duplication and competition, and they make a greater impact for the kingdom through increased fruitfulness.
GACX is a worldwide network of churches and mission organizations committed to accelerating global evangelization through multiplication of churches and faith communities.
Since the birth of GACX in 2011, it has grown to a membership of 90 global ministries with several national and regional expressions (like the one in East Africa). Between 2010 and 2018, through mutual collaboration and generous sharing of resources and strategies, GACX members have collectively planted more than 1.75 million churches and groups.
God is working in powerful ways all over the world, despite increasing government restrictions, persecution, and anti-Christian sentiment. Churches and organizations are working together, and believers are giving generously. Furthermore, the gospel of the kingdom is being preached, churches are rapidly being planted and technology has accelerated the way we do evangelism and send missionaries.
It’s all part of God’s plan: a former fisherman now catching men and women for Jesus, the Tanzania national plan to see a church planted in every village and neighborhood, the growing work of our church planters and the intentional collaboration of the body of Christ through GACX. Jesus’ vision of the gospel being preached in the whole world is becoming reality.
Personal Update Thank you for praying for Stefan’s mom as she recovers from her fractured pelvis. Stefan was able to find her a place in an assisted living facility and we are waiting for the paperwork to be finalized for her to move in there. Please continue to pray for her healing and for Stefan’s sister and family who is currently taking care of her.
Over the course of 2019, we saw the Lord do so many things in our own lives and in the world. Thank you so much for your encouragement, prayers and support. May Zephaniah 3:17 be true for you every moment of 2020:
“The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.”
LOOKING BACK:
Highlights in 2019:
Our visit to South Africa!
We have seen 185,861,910 users exposed to content – either evangelistic or for discipleship through our digital platforms this year.
We have seen encouraging church growth in hard to reach places.
Kenneth got his driver’s license and started some university courses as part of a free dual-enrollment program. He is working hard but enjoys it.
Lowlights of 2019:
Several of our ministry partners passed away this year. We rejoiced that they are with the Lord, but mourn their passing.
Stefan’s Mom had a rough year and being far away makes it hard to support her and the rest of the family.
Increased persecution in several nations around the world caused suffering for our co-workers and believers.
LOOKING FORWARD:
This year we continue to work with our partners to trust the Lord for 10 million multiplying disciples. Although we only have around 3.9 million at the moment, we are excited about the momentum and the growth of the church.
Pray with us that the Lord will raise up men and women that believe in Him and who will continue to share the gospel around the world.
Clickety-clack. Clickety-clack. As the overnight train shook from side to side, I was laying in my narrow bunk thanking the Lord for His growing church in India.
That day, my travel buddies and I visited several new churches in the Northern part of India. We had taken the overnight train to get there – and believe me, the trip was a cultural experience. However, all the discomfort was worth it when we saw how God’s church is growing despite the increased hostilities toward Christians.
We went there to encourage our church planters in their work, instead, I was humbled and encouraged. As I listened to the stories of how the new believers came to Jesus through miraculous healings or the breaking of demonic bondage, I was again in awe of our Powerful God.
Today we celebrate Thanksgiving here in America. You are on the list as someone we are thankful for. Thank you for your investment in our lives and in turn, into the lives of church planters around the world. Thank you!
Train accommodation – don’t let the smiles fool you.
Particpants at the Global Alliance for Chruch Multiplcation Meeting in Dallas, Texas. (Spot Stefan in the second row toward the middel)
The Power of Unity
When God created us, He said, “Let us make mankind in our image.” King Solomon concluded, “Two are better than one.” And before going to the Cross, Jesus prayed, “That all of them may be one, Father, just as you and I are one.” Unity, togetherness, and intentional collaboration are values that drive our practices in the Global Alliance for Church Multiplication (GACX). In September, 311 leaders from 156 organizations came together in Dallas, Texas for the annual GACX Forum where we could support, learn from, and partner with one another.
Since we started GACX in 2011, we have been growing in so many ways.
First, we have grown from 5 organizations to 89 that are working together to see a vital church or faith community established for every 1,000 people among every tribe, tongue, people and nation.
Second, by working together, we have helped to start about 1,75 million churches and faith communities worldwide, 35% of our global goal.
Third, our language is becoming “Let us,” instead of “Let me.”
Fourth, and more important, our most common attitude is, “How can I bless the kingdom of God?” “How can I help inspire and support others so that they could do more and better for the Lord?”
Since the GACX meeting, Stefan had the privilege to visit and work with church planters in Central and Eastern Europe as well as Barcelona. It is amazing what the Lord is doing!
Prayer Requests:
Praise the Lord for the GACX and all the churches planted through the alliance.
Praise the Lord for a new platform identified to help with internal communication among all our missionaries around the world. Pray for Marie as she leads the communication strategy for this platform.
Pray for Stefan’s Mom. Life has been rough on her and we need solutions to help her.
Pray for Kenneth and Monica to walk closely with the Lord.
Pray for our co-worker, Mike Haupt, who fell off a ladder and has several fractures.
It is a month since we returned from our furlough in South Africa, and many things have happened. Among them:
Monica started high school. She also had a good report from her orthodontist that her impacted tooth is starting to move into the right position.
Kenneth started grade eleven and already has a few swimming galas (or swim meets as it is called here) under his belt. He also began three courses at the university as part of a dual enrollment program.
Marie and the digital strategy team put plans in place for more people to hear about Jesus through digital means.
Stefan attended a global church planters meeting in Greece. Together, 275 church planters renewed their commitment to see five million churches planted.
We attended our first American baseball game.
We weathered the storm and panic brought by Hurricane Dorian.
Prayer Requests:
Praise the Lord for His protection during the passing of Hurricane Dorian.
Praise the Lord for the improvement of Monica’s impacted tooth.
Pray for stamina as we all have full programs and to hear clearly from the Lord each day.
Pray for our digital efforts to bring the gospel to bear fruit.
Pray for the church planters to experience God’s protection, passion and provision as they plant churches around the world.
Stefan and Prince (our leader from South Asia) is excited to be at the Global Church Planters Conference.
With our toes in the sand and the sound of waves crashing close by, we had a very beautiful experience on Sunday, 30 June. Stefan had the joy of marrying his younger sister, Melissa and her husband Richard, on the beach in Kosi Bay. What made this intimate family wedding so special was the fact that all Stefan’s siblings were together for the first time since December 2011.
Family reunions is just one of the many wonderful things about our visit to South Africa. Another highlight is seeing all our partners and sharing with one another what God is doing.
Speaking about what God is doing – we heard a great story from one of our church planters in India last week. It reminds us of the privilege we have to serve together for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Rejoice with us as you read it.
“Rahina* saw a woman struggling with an incurable physical ailment touching Jesus garment and immediately getting healed. She was watching the JESUS film in her village in India. Rahina’s hope was revived!
Rahina, a mother of two boys was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue and had been under treatment for a year. During a religious festival, she was possessed by an evil spirit. As her troubles increased, her family took her to a village sorcerer with the hope of finding some relief. However, their efforts were futile.
Since the family was struggling to make ends meet, they could not afford to go for surgery as advised by her doctor. They were desperate.
At this point, Rahina’s sister in law, a Christian, asked the family to take her to a Prayer, Care, Share group (PCS group), an initiative of our church planting strategy. Sensing the pathetic situation of Rahina, Pardo* a PCS group leader, prayed for the work of the Lord in her life. After the prayer, Pardo arranged the screening of JESUS Film. That day marked the turning point in Rahina’s life! She accepted Jesus as her Lord and Saviour and began to trust Him for a miracle to happen in her life too.
After a week’s prayer, she experienced release from the bondage of the evil spirit. The PCS group continued to pray for her and they began to see her health being restored. After seeing the wonderful work of God in Rahina’s life, her husband and sons received Christ. Now her family is regularly attending the PCS group and sharing their testimony with others. As she began to learn the Word and grow in the Lord, she started a small Bible study group with 12 people.”
*Names changed for security reasons
Prayer Requests:
Pray for Rahina and her family as well as all our church planters to walk closely with the Lord.
Pray also for us to have good connections with our partners as well as potential new partners.
Another family reunion, this time with Marie’s family.
Argentina
– Marie attended a global gathering of our digital missionaries
We listened with rapped attention as
missionary after missionary shared how God is opening doors for them to reach
people for Christ using digital tools around the world, especially also in
places that we traditionally have limited mission activity due to opposition. Sammy
from Ethiopia told how their small little team led a social media campaign for
one month, inviting people to an event where they would train people how to do
evangelism. Twelve thousand people showed up!
I taught two training sessions and just
enjoyed the interactions and also the great Argentinian food and tango!
Marie and her helpers explaining the taxonomy framework we are using to tag all our content so that it can be used over all our platforms.
Albania
– Stefan joined our Eastern European church planters for planning and training
It’s been a roller coaster two weeks as I
have been connecting with our church planting leaders across Europe. We were
discussing training of churches, the challenge of a post-Christian/post-modern
society and the lingering results of communism on the church today. We
concluded that God is at work, even though it is harder here to see fruit than
in other parts of the world. We look forward to seeing how God will use our
strategies to see the harvest come in.
Stefan and Bekele Shanko (our vice-president for church planting) looking out over the city of Kruje
Adios
Florida – Goodbye Florida for the next few months
We left the hot and humid Florida for sunny
South Africa. We look forward to connecting with our family and ministry
partners over the next two months. We hope to make some stops in the Vaal
Triangle, Secunda, Cape Town, Durban and Gauteng and it would be lovely to see
as many of you as possible.
We have often spoken about the Jesus Film, the most viewed and most translated film based on the Gospel of Luke. But there is a new film available! It is a dramatization of the Gospel of John and is produced by one of our partners.
On the Jesus Film Project website and app, it is available as the full film and in 49 segments. The segments are short, anywhere from 2 to 7 minutes long.
As Easter approaches, as a family, we’ve been watching a segment each day of the “I am” series. It’s been powerful and the short questions afterwards have sparked good conversation with the children. It really brings John’s gospel to life in a new and meaningful way.
We’d like to challenge you to use this Gospel of John film series in your devotions in the days leading up to Easter. We pray that you find fresh insights into the meaning of Easter.
Click to go to the full version of the Gospel of John on the Jesus Film website.
Alternatively, you can download the Jesus Film App on your phone or tablet. Here is what the Gospel of John looks like on the Jesus Film App.
Prayer Requests: During Easter our missionaries will have many outreaches, both through face-to-face interactions and on-line efforts. Please pray that many will be drawn to Jesus through these events. Marie departs for Argentina tomorrow where she will attend a global meeting of our digital missionaries. Pray for fruitful interactions and that the Lord will accelerate our efforts to equip many to use digital tools to spread the gospel.
May you have a special Easter as we celebrate the Risen Lord! Thank you for your part in ensuring the Easter message is spread through our work.
Twenty seven years ago, as a brave and naïve second year nursing student, I took my first flight on my first missions trip. At the age of four I declared that I wanted to be a missionary when I grew up – this was my chance to taste the missionary life.
My destination – Sofia, Bulgaria.
The country recently opened up to the gospel after the fall of communism and we were ready to tell students the Good news of Jesus. There I learnt many things about God, myself and the sinfulness of people. I also learnt that I wanted to be a missionary the rest of my life!
Fast forward 27 years and I just returned from Sofia. This time, I trained 42 of our missionaries from Central and Eastern Europe how to use digital tools to spread the gospel. We met in our beautiful national office, run by our Bulgarian missionaries.
My highlight – Alex.
Alex, a Bulgarian student who was wondering about the purpose of life and the existence of God. While searching the internet he found our evangelistic website everystudent.com. After reading many of the articles, Alex became convinced that God was real and Jesus offered a way for him to connect with God. He accepted Jesus in his life, and through resources on the site and an email follow-up series he grew in his relationship with the Lord.
Alex became convinced that the site needed to be translated into Bulgarian for his countrymen to also discover the Good news about Jesus. He contacted our ministry, and with their help, he translated the site. He advertised on FaceBook to make the site known.
It was my privilege to help Alex develop his strategy to reach Bulgarians. The past three months he had 40 000 site visitors and 400 people invited Jesus into their lives. We planned together what next steps he could take with these new believers and how he could see more people visit the site.
I was thrilled to see how the Lord has been working in Bulgaria. From the humble efforts of a few South African and American students who went to share the gospel there in the early ‘90’s to a fully-fledged Bulgarian ministry.
Thank the Lord for what He is doing in Bulgaria and pray for Alex and our missionaries from the other Eastern European countries to serve the Lord with all their hearts and skills.
Also thank the Lord for Stefan’s healing – he was given the green light last week to start walking again. Pray for him as he will be meeting with our church planters in India from 19 February -2 March. Oh happy day! Returning the wheelchair.
