Snipers and Spiritual Toolkits

Snipers with night vision goggles were standing on strategic corners. An armoured vehicle was parked at the entrance. Our luggage was scanned before checking-in to the hotel. Yes, this was our welcome at the hotel. I was alarmed and wondered what it meant for our safety in this Middle Eastern country. Then we heard we were staying in the same hotel as the military delegation from many nations attending the annual Arms Show. And boy, did we see decorated soldiers! High profile people that came to select the latest weapons and equipment for their military toolkits. It was very impressive.

While the Arms Show was happening, forty of our digital missionaries met together. These missionaries all have one thing in common – they create digital content for countries where they could get into trouble for sharing the gospel. Together we learned from one another and also worked together to ensure an integrated digital experience for the users of the websites and apps managed by our missionaries.

At the end of the week, a colleagues commented “The soldiers came here to improve their military toolkits, but we came to improve our spiritual toolkits.”

Many stories were shared of what God is doing for His Kingdom through the internet – for example, in a big closed country, an evangelistic website had over 600 000 visitors per month since December. Every month, over 10 000 people clicked the “I just asked Jesus into my life” button. The site is so popular that it made the front page of a local newspaper – where the religious leaders warned people not to go to the site. Of course, that had the opposite effect!

Please pray for the safety of our missionaries in these countries. Many risk their lives every day to speak boldly of Jesus.
Pray also for the digital properties in these countries – for protection and for great fruitfulness to come from people visiting the sites.
Pray for Stefan’s visit to India the next 10 days. Pray that he will be an encouragement to our church planters there and would know how best to support them in their efforts. They will also celebrate 50 years of our ministry in India. A big milestone!

Would God Accept Me?

“Norah is from a closed country in the Arabian Gulf. With problems at home, she had a deep need for love. She found no love in the dominant religion.

After attempting suicide, Norah searched online, trying to discover who God is and if Christianity could bring her love. She found one of our evangelistic websites on Google and chatted with Miriam, one of our missionaries. Norah asked if God loved her and would accept her with all of her problems. They began to discuss Norah’s questions every day on WhatsApp. After three months, Norah made a clear profession of faith. She told Miriam, “I love Jesus so much!”

Miriam encouraged Norah to watch the JESUS film. Afterward, Norah said, “I want to read the Bible.” Miriam encouraged Norah to read the Bible on a website. A few weeks later, she wanted a Bible she could hold. Miriam told her this would be too dangerous. They put Norah’s hope for a Bible in God’s hands.

Miriam also encouraged Norah to share her faith with others. Norah talked with her brother about Jesus. After two months, he too, had accepted Christ. Soon she had told eight people about Jesus.

Norah started a discipleship group. She invited eight people and started two discipleship groups. Two of the eight new believers have started telling others about Jesus.

Recently, Norah emailed Miriam that God had answered her prayer. An unmarked box had arrived in the mail, containing Christian books and a Bible!

Norah continues to disciple others. She is now also extending her outreach further by doing graphic design for the discipleship website.”

In North Africa and the Middle East, missionaries like Miriam have trained more than 800 Arab believers to share their faith with seekers online.

On Saturday, 6 May, Marie travels to the Middle East. Her team will conduct a five-day workshop with missionaries in countries closed to the gospel. Helping them to create and distribute content for digital platforms so that users can find Jesus. Digital content, for the most part, can be freely accessed, so we have an unprecedented opportunity to spread the gospel across borders that are closed for missionaries.

Please pray for:
1. Safe travels and protection for all our missionaries traveling to our meeting.
2. Our missionaries to receive the skills, inspiration and innovation needed to make digital pathways for people to find Jesus and grow in Him.
3. Praise the Lord for Stefan’s productive meetings in Poland with European church planters.
4. Praise the Lord that Kenneth now has his learner driver permit (hence the smiling photo). Of course that also implies a prayer request for his parents as they teach him how to drive.

Relief Work in Puerto Rico

Marie’s team with some of the care packages we packed – ready to be distributed.

“Even though Hurricane Maria cost the life of my wife of 43 years, I have no regrets that we chose to stay to help our community.” These were the words of a pastor we worked with in Puerto Rico. He and his wife could have been airlifted from Puerto Rico the day before the storm hit the island. They decided to stay and be the hands and feet of Jesus in their community.

Stories like this and seeing how the church stepped into the mess to serve their communities has been my highlight of our visit. We worked in conjunction with GAiN (Campus Crusade’s humanitarian arm). This was GAiN’s first trip of five humanitarian groups being sent to Puerto Rico. We partnered with Campus Crusade Puerto Rico and churches to come alongside schools and individuals who need help to recover from the devastating Hurricane Maria that hit in late September 2017.

The impact of the hurricane was everywhere, but what was most striking was the people’s resilience. Despite the hardship, people are not defeated. Especially Christians are making a huge impact by their service and help to their communities. One of the churches is a hub for receiving donated food and supplies, and we sorted through the mountains of tinned food and toiletries to create care packages for families. I became an expert in checking expiry dates on the tins!

Packing care packages.

My team’s principle work was at a school of 235 students that lost use of three classrooms due to the metal roof being blown off. We worked for two days to put tarps on the remaining plywood roof and drying out the classrooms and, of course, building rapport with students and staff.

Getting ready to tarp the school roof.

Thank you for your prayers for our safety and for us to make a difference. We were thrilled to receive a compliment from one of the hurricane relief coordinators. He told us that at times when they receive volunteer groups it is like herding cats, but our team was like having pit bulls – they couldn’t keep up with our hard work.

Prayer requests:

Praise the Lord for the work the church is doing in Puerto Rico and pray that they will not grow weary as the relief phase now moves into the re-building phase.
We met many people who experienced major trauma during the hurricane. Pray for continued healing and comfort.
Praise the Lord for the successful meeting held for our Global Church Movement leaders in Manila. There were 229 leaders from 89 countries. Stefan had a wonderful time connecting with the church planters from all around the world.
Kenneth and Monica will start their end of the year exams soon. Pray for diligent preparations.

To Puerto Rico and the Philippines

Stefan had a wonderful visit with our Eastern European staff members last month. He loved hearing stories of what God is doing and how churches are planted in places like Moldova and Georgia. He was thrilled to pray, plan and partner with them to trust God for even greater multiplication and church growth.

Philippines:

Stefan’s team travels to Manila on Wednesday (21 February) for a meeting with church planting missionaries from all around the world. This meeting serves as a time of training, refocusing strategy, sharing best practices and encouragement. Your prayers for safety, unity and great learning would be appreciated.

Puerto Rico:

Marie’s team travels to Puerto Rico on 20 February to assist with Hurricane Maria relief efforts, coordinated by GAiN (the humanitarian arm of our ministry). It is five months since the hurricane hit that country, but a lot of work remain. Pray that their service will be an encouragement to the churches they partner with and that it will open doors for the church to minister to the lost in their community.

Pray for Kenneth and Monica’s protection and for a great time with our friends that are taking care of them until Marie’s return Thursday night.

Thank you for your prayers and encouragement!

P.S. Together with our Global Alliance partners, 1.3 million churches has been planted since 2011. Praise the Lord!

Despite Facing Persecution

As the Persian-speaking churches have closed in Iran, many home churches have started without a pastor. Christian leaders are providing training outside the country for the house church leaders of Iran. A leader in this church network brings small groups to train and sends them back to continue their work in the house churches.

He shared about Maryam (not her real name), a new member of a group with which he’d been working. Maryam shared her testimony while showing her wound-covered arms. Maryam explained she had approached one of her classmates, asking about her loving behavior. Maryam noticed she was different. Her friend answered that she is a believer in Jesus and shared Christ with Maryam. As Maryam read the New Testament her classmate had given her, her eyes were opened. She invited Jesus into her heart.

Maryam began attending house church meetings with her friend, and her mother found out about her faith. Her mother told Maryam’s father, a practicing Muslim with a high government position. After discovering that Maryam was serious in her faith, her father threatened her in hopes of causing her to stop following Jesus. As Maryam resisted, he began beating her to death. She cried, “Jesus, save me.” Suddenly her father stopped the beating and started crying, asking for her forgiveness. Her father said, “As I was beating you, I saw Jesus covering you; the belt was hitting Jesus. I realized I was beating Jesus, and I stopped. Like you, I believe Jesus now.”

We literally hear dozens of stories like this from our Campus Crusade missionaries and from our partners. And not just from the Middle East, from every corner of the planet. God is at work, and we are blessed to join Him! Thank you for your part in enabling us to be part of the Church planting efforts around the world.

Your prayers would be appreciated for the following:

Stefan is traveling from 16- 28 January to first meet with some of our church planters in Western Europe (Dresden) and then he joins the Eastern Europe team for their staff conference. Both these teams face their own unique challenges, so pray for wisdom as Stefan encourages and helps them think through their challenges.
Kenneth turned 15 on January 6th. Turning 15 means he can now earn his learner’s driver’s license. Pray for his test preparation. (And for his parents …)

2017 Highs and Lows

Missionary co-workers recently shared their experience: “One visit in a village was especially memorable. They have a tradition of showing respect to a person who is superior or in authority over them by cupping their hands and and bowing down on one knee. They then clap their cupped hands to show honor. We sat in a top leader’s home, himself a chief, telling the people present why Christ went to the cross for their sins. We invited them to watch the JESUS film that night and told them about the Holy Spirit … that He was everywhere. ‘He’s in this room with us right now.’

“As we spoke, the all dropped to one knee and started giving the hollow clap to show honor to the Holy Spirit. Like the wind they could not see, they knew He was there. They gave Him respect. Even the ultimate leader in that village was on his knee. This is the work of the Holy Spirit Who goes before us, opening hearts, setting the captive free. We praise God.”

We also praise God for all our missionary co-workers who take the gospel to those who have never heard, who plant new churches and help them grow in Christ. We also praise God for your partnership with us.

At the end of 2017 we look back with gratefulness:

Highlights:

Our visit to South Africa in June-July.
Stefan witnessing the baptism of 16 new believers in a river in India and seeing God multiply the church planting efforts there.
Marie seeing progress in the ways our organization digitally communicates with those curious about being Christ followers, those looking for resources to reach their friends as well as our staff members around the world.
Kenneth being in high school and joining the marching band and Monica being chosen for the robotics team.
Our study tour to Israel in September.

Lowlights:

Hurricanes Irma and Maria and dealing with the effects.
The persecution of our brothers and sisters in Christ in various places around the world. Meeting pastors who had their homes burnt down because of their beliefs.
Journeying with people who are going through extreme hardships.
Adjusting to the new school schedules of a high schooler and middle schooler that start and finish schools two hours apart and juggling the car rides.

As we celebrate the birth of Immanuel – “God with us” this Christmas season, let us drop to our knees, cup our hands together and give honor to Jesus. Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is a public holiday here in America that we can participate in despite not being American or understanding the history.

Being thankful to the Lord in all circumstances is a wonderful discipline and blessing.

Here are five things we are most thankful for this year:

Our family – those near and far.
Our jobs – we excitedly look forward to everyday, knowing how privileged we are to be missionaries.
Our partners – your prayers, encouragement and generosity still humbles us.
Our visit to South Africa during June and July.
Our hobbies – having the opportunity to pursue our interest: playing tuba, knitting, reading and swimming (guess which hobby belongs to who …)

May you also take a moment to thank the Lord for the many blessings in your life.

Things I Learnt About Marriage

On 1 November 1997, next to the Vaal river, Stefan and I tied the knot. It was the start of an adventure together.

In our twenty years of marriage, here are three things I came to appreciate:

1. Better Together

The longer we are married, the more I recognize the differences between us, and appreciate them. For example – my focus to complete tasks and reach goals, is softened by Stefan’s focus on people. Since I’m so task-oriented, I have learned through Stefan’s example to become a lot more people-oriented and I’m always muttering to myself “people first”. Hopefully we balance one another.

2. You Can Do It (And Then Discover You Love It)

I’m not very adventurous. Stefan is an adrenaline junkie. In our early years of marriage. Stefan often tried to convince me that I would enjoy something wild, with the opposite outcome. A few of those stories are still entertaining others at dinner parties (have I mentioned para-sailing over the Mediterranean sea…). Through trial and error, he learned my limits and when he now asks me to join him on one of his rides, I can know that I will enjoy it, even though the idea of it leaves me cold (or nauseated).

The same can be said about him joining me in discovering new worlds in books, movies and places to visit. Our tastes are still very diverse, but we have a more comprehensive appreciation of our world.

3. How Jesus loves His Bride

The Bible speaks about the Church as the Bride of Christ and how much He loves His Bride. I could not have asked for a better groom than Stefan to mirror some of the love I know Jesus has for me. I’m so grateful for Stefan’s obedience to the Lord and him spurring me on to love the Lord more and serve Him better.

I also recognize the faithful prayers of partners for our marriage and family. We think of your prayers as a shield around us and our marriage. We are humbled and grateful for your part as we celebrate this big milestone. Thank you!

Did you know?

The top 10 countries to access our JESUS Film digital content:

(www.jesusfilm.org)

United States
India
China
Brazil
Indonesia
United Kingdom
South Africa
Nigeria
Ghana
Germany

From Irma to Israel

Jordan River

We will remember the month of September as a month of a deep “lowlight” and a wonderful highlight!

Lowlight:

Florida is still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Irma. Our children lost six days of school, and so many tests and events were rescheduled. The evidence of Irma’s destruction is everywhere, and it will be months before all the debris is cleared and repairs done.

Florida is also the home of many Puerto Ricans, and we have felt their pain as Hurricane Maria ripped through their island. Many of our friends are trying to bring their families from the island to Florida.

Despite some chaos, everyone continues with life as normally as possible. God has made mankind very resilient!

Highlight:

Stefan and I just returned from Israel, where we attended a Senior Leaders’ Development Study tour. We joined forty colleagues, representing 21 countries. The focus of the tour was to study the process Jesus used in building His “disciple-making movement” that resulted in us, over 2,000 years later, also following Him.One of many study stops

It was a privilege to experience and see the context in which Jesus connected with people, won them over to His kingdom and built them up in their faith, while training and preparing them to be sent out as His disciple-makers.

Magdala Synagogue:

A personal highlight was to stand in the first century A.D. synagogue in Magdala (earlier manuscripts mention Magadon). Magdala is located four miles north of Tiberias, on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee.

Mary Magdalene is believed to be from Magdala. She is mentioned 12 times in the four gospels, more than most disciples. I am named after her–my full name is Maria Magdalena.

No one really knew the location of Mary’s authentic hometown until 2009, when it was discovered less than one foot under the topsoil. The excavation of the first century A.D. synagogue is significant, as it is one of only seven from that period. From the gospel of Matthew, we know that Jesus went through all Galilee and taught in the synagogues. It can be assumed that Jesus also preached in this beautiful synagogue.

Prayer requests:

Thank the Lord for His protection during Hurricane Irma and pray for the ongoing restoration that needs to take place.
Thank the Lord for the opportunity to visit Israel and experience the land of the Bible. We learnt so much. Pray that we will be good stewards of our new knowledge and experiences.
Thank the Lord for Stefan’s sister Lauren, who came to help with our children while we were away.
Pray for the Global Alliance for Church Multiplication meetings that take place this week in Minneapolis. This alliance includes our organization and 62 partner groups that are all striving to see 5 million churches planted by 2020. Learn more at www.gacx.io

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Irma

Hurricane Irma came past around 2 am this morning and it was frighting! But God kept His hand over us and our property.

Here are the good, the bad and the ugly from Irma’s “visit”:

The Good:

We hardly ever see our neighbours, but with the preparation and clean-up, the whole community worked together.
The closure of schools and non-essential services, gave us 5 days together as a family.
After the preparation work, we had time to do a few fun things, like playing board games, watching a movie and even cooking together as a family.
During the curfew, we also had time for the things we never get time for (and never want to make time for) like polishing great-Grandma’s silver.

The Bad:

Watching the panic and hysteria as people prepared for the hurricane.
Driving from shop to shop for basics like water, bread and tinned food. Empty shelves was not strange the past week.
The waiting and uncertainty of the hurricane’s path. She made various changes to her route during the week.

The Ugly:

Marie’s flight to Denver was cancelled at the last minute and she could not get another flight before the airport closed. It is sad to miss this training.
Waking up to wet carpets in the rooms that took the impact of Irma.
Seeing the damage to roofs, fences and trees of our neighbours.

In the midst of all this, we were very aware of the Lord’s presence and the encouragement from His people. Thank you so much for your prayers!

Schools and our office are still close tomorrow (Tuesday, 12 September) and we hope to get our home and garden back in order.

We are grateful we never lost electricity despite it being true for many of our friends. We are looking forward to a restful night.