Costa Rican outreach starts 2012 with a bang

Costa Rica (MNN) ― The work of Grace Ministries International in Costa Rica is active and growing. From the well-established church located near San Jose, the field has many goals.

In just five year, since the Grace Bible Institute of Costa Rica was launched, a Great Commission vision seems to be catching on. Sam Vinton with Grace Ministries International says the school started with just 13 students but now enrolls over 40 each trimester.

The goal is to train the next generation of pastors, lay leaders, and missionaries. In the next couple of years under the leadership of Bible institute students, GMI hopes to plant churches. Their team has been praying that the nationals  catch a vision of doing missionary work. God is answering beyond their hopes and imaginations. Vinton says, "I believe this is one of the big things that we're seeing happen in all of Latin America."

A new church was recently planted in Alajuela and just celebrated its first-year anniversary. GMI's Chuck Befus writes: "We are really too large a group for our present church rental with at least an average of 110 each Sunday and growing. We have seen God change the lives of many people and there is excitement waiting to see what God will do next. Please pray with us."

As a church and a field, the ministry also has a cross-cultural dream. "The churches in the San Jose area have had a real vision for the last couple of years of taking a team every summer into Nicaragua, which is the country north of Costa Rica."

By what they saw in Nicaragua, planting a church in Nicaragua could be a reality soon. "The responses have been good, and so starting this next month, instead of once a year, we're planning on going probably six times during this coming year."

With each trip, the team further cultivates the soil. There's no church yet, but there are study groups forming. Since the Nicaraguan women tend to be more spiritually inquisitive and sensitive to the things of God, the women members of the team prepared special Bible studies which proved very valuable as they conducted over 20 Bible studies.  

Vinton explains from there, "We're hoping that in another year or two, we'll have an actual Costa Rican family go as missionaries and possibly have an international team of different groups in South America, as well as an American missionary couple."

Already, Vinton says, "We have friends, we have contacts--people who used to be members of our church in Costa Rica who have moved back home to Nicaragua, who are foundational to this ministry."

It's an exciting time for Grace Ministries."Pray that the nationals will catch a vision of doing missionary work. I believe this is one of the big things that we're seeing happen in all of Latin America."

Ministry brings on new leadership in Latvia

Latvia (ORO) ― The Day Center in Karosta, Latvia, began as a pastor's dream long before its official opening in 2007. Sergey Garkusa, pastor of Russian Baptist Church "Light of the Gospel," invited children from the church to come during the week for instruction, activities, and one warm meal.

"We started with two teachers and about 15-20 kids from Karosta, or "Naval Port" as we call it," said Dace Rence, new Orphan Outreach director of programs in Latvia.

"Right now we are in a process of moving into a separate building given to us for rent by the local municipality. In the new building we will be able to separate children into smaller groups by ages and languages (we have a Russian and a Latvian group of kids)."

Currently about 50 children come to the Day Center, where they receive one hot meal--which is often the only one they eat each day--as well as educational activities, games, mentoring, and a chance to hear the Gospel.

When Orphan Outreach President Mike Douris heard that the Day Center might close because of financial problems, he decided to act. He had been instrumental in establishing an after-school program some years ago in Leiapia, Latvia, where he met and developed a deep admiration for Sergey Garkusa.

"The children in this community are at significant risk, and Sergey has a clear call from the Lord to minister to the children," Douris said. "Our hope is to be a blessing to this ministry and to walk alongside the church to meet the basic needs of the children, as well as assist in their education to provide hope for their future. The church provides spiritual guidance and discipleship so critical to their development. The staff members love the children unconditionally and help them face difficult challenges on a daily basis. Dace is a committed Christian and so passionate about orphan care. The kids love her, and she has such a heart for them."

It costs about $36 a month to give one child all that the Latvia Day Center offers. Twenty children have already been sponsored, and Orphan Outreach is urgently seeking more sponsors to care for the remaining 30 children.

"The staff are prepared to work long hours during the winter," Amy Norton, director of programs, said. "Many of the children end up [at the Latvia Day Center] for large parts of the day because it is so cold outside. We are so thankful that, due to a generous donor, we are able to provide a Christmas party and gifts to all the children and staff."

"The thing I remember most about that mission trip is the laughter of the children in that little room. Their home life was often abusive, hunger was constant, and parents with drug and/or alcohol problems all contributed to their unstable environment. But for these few hours each day they could eat, feel safe, laugh and play. Thirty members of the mission trip left in tears, but we knew Pastor Sergey and his workers cared for the children the best they could," said Joelene Key about her first trip to the Latvia Day Center.

An active member of First Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, Joelene has since rallied her Sunday School Class to support the Latvia Day Center with a monthly contribution for the past four years.

"I have been blessed in so many ways from my Latvian trips," Joelene said, "but a really wonderful blessing is seeing the ladies in my Sunday School Class get involved in missions. At my age, I can now help the Center better by staying home and helping the younger people go and serve Him." (Her 18-year-old granddaughter now is following in her footsteps, regularly traveling to Latvia).

Dace, a 31-year-old wife and mother, welcomes more people such as Joelene to come to the Latvia Day Center. Born and raised in Jelgava, Latvia, Dace graduated from Concordia International University Estonia with a Bachelor of Arts in media and public relations. She is a member of a non-denominational church in Jurmala, Latvia.

"Above all," she said of orphan care, "this is a spiritual battle for their souls and eternity. With God's help and strength we are trying to show the children a different path of life that they can take, radically different to the ones their parents and grandparents have taken-a life without abuse, drugs, and alcohol, but filled with hope, peace, and love."

Ministry team sees revival starting in India

India (STM) ― Sammy Tippit Ministries recently concluded evangelistic meetings, a pastors' conference, and student discipleship in the northwestern state of Punjab. Sammy Tippit preached in the evangelistic meetings and taught in the pastors' conference, while Dave Tippit led the student discipleship through his ministry, Eternal Concepts.

The evangelistic meetings were the largest that Tippit has ever held in the region. Each evening, many people responded to the message on "victory in life." The crowds increased nightly, and the response to the message also grew. Nearly half of those in attendance responded on the final evening.

Tippit noted, "God is doing something wonderful here in the Punjab. People are open. They are responding to the Gospel. Many Sikhs have come to Christ in the Punjab. It's exciting to see God at work." Pastor Nazir Masih agreed, stating, "The people of the Punjab are hungry for the good news of Jesus. This time has been a great blessing for us."

Tippit not only conducted the evangelistic meetings, but he also led a Pastors' Conference in a desert region of the Punjab with pastors who don't normally have the opportunity to attend leadership conferences. Many of the pastors are new believers and have been learning from "Jolly" Singh, who translates for Tippit. Pastors gave testimony of a deep work of God's Spirit in their lives. The church has been growing rapidly -- some would describe it as multiplying. Most of the pastors attending the conference were new in their walk with Christ.

Tippit also met a number of new believers who had come to Christ through his ministry in previous trips to the Punjab. He said, "One of my greatest joys is to meet these believers who have continued in their walk with Christ."

Dave Tippit also ministered in Punjab, pouring into the lives of students from Chandighar. More than 65 students attended the discipleship seminar provided by Eternal Concepts. EC has been working in partnership with STM on many STM outreaches around the world. Young people gave testimonies of a deep work of God.

Turkey: Disaster zone quake rattles confidence, topples buildings

(Cover photo courtesy IHH Humanitarian
 Relief Foundation / Story photo
 by Baptist Global Response)

Turkey (MNN) ― A second quake struck eastern Turkey late Wednesday night, leveling two more hotels that had survived the October 23rd quake.

Rescue workers searched Thursday for survivors amidst the rubble. At least eight people, including a Japanese aid worker, were killed in the new quake. 

Wednesday's magnitude 5.7 quake knocked down 25 buildings in Van. The two hotels were the only occupied buildings because the others had been evacuated after the first temblor. Aid workers and journalists were among the guests in the hotels, trapped in a grim replay of the earlier destruction. 

Angry residents protested in front of the rubble, claiming authorities should have closed the hotels because of the damage they sustained in the earlier quake. Riot police were called in to subdue the crowds.

Against this backdrop of confusion, Baptist Global Response teams were working. BGR's Pat Melancon says their crisis teams have been "responding ever since the first quake. They have actually only temporarily left for a few days and now are returning. They had planned to return prior to the second quake that occurred in Turkey."

With the new crisis, the teams will continue on the same course of action they've been on, helping new survivors. "It entails trying to provide temporary shelter for those who, because their houses have been damaged, don't feel that it's safe for them to move back into their homes," says Melancon. "It also entails doing food distribution, trying to provide blankets, and keeping people warm."

There have been roughly 1,400 measured aftershocks since Oct. 23. Many residents had been living in tents despite the cold, too afraid to return home. They are now joined by the survivors of Wednesday's quake. That, of course, means stretching resources. "Until folks can re-establish a sense of normalcy, it will require, of course, additional funds for us to give them food, give them more shelter, and also provide as much warmth as we can." 

Another complication in providing food aid is that hoarding has begun. Local supplies are not readily available, so food and other emergency aid have to be purchased elsewhere and transported into the quake zone. That requires more time, money, and manpower.

The BGR team has been working non-stop since October 23. While they are totally focused on being the living Gospel, "It's very discouraging once you've rebuilt your house, picked up the debris  and you've begun to put your house back together for a second earthquake to occur. Then suddenly, all the progress you've made has just been reversed," says Melancon.

Pray. Melancon says, "People are very shaken. We have a number of believers who are trying to help them work through and process what's happened to them and how their lives have changed." 

Turkey's quake shakes fears, sorrows, memories of 1999

Mission Network News: "Turkey (MNN) ― In the days since the 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Turkey, aid has been arriving, but reports are surfacing that the distribution has been irregular."

Read more...

Hope is fading as Turkey searches for quake survivors

Mission Network News: "Turkey (MNN) ― As of Tuesday, the death toll from the 7.2 magnitude quake in eastern Turkey was over 400 and rising.

Rescue workers were scouring the rubble for survivors trapped in the more than 2000 collapsed buildings in and around the city of Van, near the Iranian border."

Read more...

Death toll rises from Turkey quake

Mission Network News: "Turkey (MNN) ― Using heavy machinery and their bare hands, rescue workers scrambled through piles of rubble to find survivors Monday after a deadly 7.2 magnitude earthquake devastated parts of eastern Turkey."

Read more...

Uganda: the hunt for Uganda's terrorist

Mission Network News: "Uganda (MNN) ― The Lord's Resistance Army, a sectarian religious and military group, has operated a network of terror in northern Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and Southern Sudan since 1987."

Read more...

100 million farmers in China expected to move to city by 2020

Mission Network News: "China (MNN) ― China is expecting more than 100 million farmers to move from the countryside to the city by the end of this decade.

The anticipated influx of people will likely put the social security nets under a huge strain. The rapid urbanization not only puts pressure on the government to respond to needs, but also the Church. "

Read more...

Blast rattles Turkey's capital, sets nerves on edge

Mission Network News: Turkey (MNN) ― An explosion rocked downtown Ankara, Turkey yesterday. Police said they were considering the attack possibly terror-related. Read more...

Puerto Rico ministry damaged by Tropical Storm Maria

Puerto Rico (MNN) ― Shortly after Hurricane Irene's visit to Puerto Rico, Tropical Storm Maria dropped in for an extended stay.

Don Ten Hoeve with Grace Ministries International says, "Tropical Storm Maria just kind of sat over the Ponce area and didn't ever reach hurricane strength, but it did cause more damage than hurricane Irene did. It tore off roofing over one of our walkways by our dining hall, and then that roof flew across and damaged a children's play area."

GMI has an active ministry presence in the south of the island. "The property we're talking about is a year-round youth camp and retreat ministry. We run camps and retreats during the summer and then retreats all year long, during the school year and on weekends. We also rent it out to other church groups."

GMI was spared damage from Irene, but heavy rainfall is complicating a few things. "Most of our property is under water," Ten Hoeve explains, adding, "That's kind of typical for this time of year, but it hasn't caused damage in our buildings yet."
Although power outages are scattered over the region, "It won't interrupt ministry. It'll just cause extra work for people who work in maintenance; it's probably a $5,000 project to repair."

September is usually the heaviest hurricane month in Puerto Rico. Ten Hoeve says, "The hurricane season has a long way to go. We're right in that hurricane alley that is a constant threat. Pray for protection. Pray for the staff that will have a heavier work load preparing for each upcoming storm."

Please pray that no more damage will be done to the camp property by tropical storms or hurricanes this season. Pray also that God will provide the funds to make the repairs.

Churches Are Abandoning Age Segregation All Across America

WAKE FOREST, N.C., Sept. 15, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- The film Divided the movie, which has gone viral over the last 45 days, has now been thrust into the national media. The Washington Post (yesterday), the fifth largest newspaper in America, and USA Today (today) ran stories about the film and of the many churches, who are reconsidering the practices of modern youth ministry -- and jettisoning them. The National Center for Family-Integrated Churches (NCFIC) reports that it has approximately 800 churches that identify with the position.

Scott Brown, who is a pastor in Wake Forest, NC, and the Director of the NCFIC, and the Executive Producer of the film explains it this way: "What's going on? It is a form of validation. It is saying, 'Look there are other churches doing this. The dialog has reached national proportions.'" 

Brown said, "What we need to recognize is that, for many pastors, it is permission to ask, 'Have we been doing something that is destructive?'" It allows them to say, "It's ok if we abandon this segregated ministry."

Abandoning the established patterns of youth ministry is very difficult because they are so entrenched in the fabric of church life. There are so many churches saying, "We've always done it this way. We cannot abandon this." But the reality is that other churches are doing this and are thriving. It's like saying, "Get in while the water's warm."

Brown has written a book, A Weed in the Church, explaining the history of youth ministry, the biblical support for age integration as well as what youth ministry ought to look like if all you had was the Bible. Brown explains, "The book shows that the Bible not only communicates the message of the gospel, but it actually tells us how to communicate the gospel to youth."

"What is encouraging about the recent media acknowledgment is that there are now many churches to point to. If we have an acknowledgment that 'It's ok,' it grants permission for other churches to look at it as well."

While there are many who are embracing the practice of age integration for the discipleship of youth, there is still a vigorous discussion in the Christian community, especially among those who are against it.

Christianity Today ran a harsh movie review of the film on their website and likened it to "an angry letter-to-the-editor," calling it "propaganda," "categorically dangerous," and "filled with scare tactics."

On the other side of the spectrum of responses is Ted Baehr of the popular Christian film site, Movie Guide, "Everyone should watch DIVIDED. It is that important. DIVIDED is an interesting and compelling documentary. The point of DIVIDED has to be brought to the attention of everyone in the church - it is critical!"

Another critic of Divided, sounding much like Christianity Today, is a popular, neo-reformed blogger Tim Challies, who recently dismissed the film in an unfavorable review, counseling his readers to stay away from it. "It's a destructive message wrapped in a poorly-made documentary. The church would do well to ignore it," Challies wrote. He lobbed several grenades against the documentary, saying it was "not at all fair," builds a "case on a cliché," and is "not only uncharitable but also utterly ridiculous . . . complete and utter nonsense."

Brown acknowledges, "Age integration is a very difficult proposition to embrace. I know how counter-cultural and disruptive it is to dismantle the age-segregated world that dominates not only the church but also all of society." Yet, Brown categorizes the backlash criticisms in this way, "What is interesting is that many of the negative comments can be summed up by 'You are ugly and your sister's ugly,' yet they never come in with biblical arguments for their position." They're high on emotionalism, personal experience, and pragmatism and low on biblical support. 

To interview NCFIC Director Scott T. Brown and/or to receive a preview copy of the movie Divided, the book A Weed in the Church, and press materials, media should contact Tyler Dorin: 515-250-6491, tdorin@ncfic.org 

Uganda has highest school drop-out rate in East Africa

Uganda (MNN) ― A report from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) shows that Uganda has the highest school drop-out rate for females in East Africa.

The rate shoots up to claim roughly half the class before the girls finish primary school. The reasons are many: lack of interest, pregnancy, early marriages, hidden costs at school, and family responsibilities have driven thousands out of school.

The future for a girl who doesn't finish school is grim.

The Ugandan Education System won't allow a girl who drops out in primary school to return. Boys can come back and continue, but for a girl, once she leaves, she has missed her opportunity for an education. As a result, sexual exploitation and abuse is the most common scenario, but sometimes it includes far worse.

The "what" factor is keeping the girls in school. It's the "how" that gets complicated with limited resources. Although AMG International has sponsorship programs, Child Development Centers, and many other programs geared for the children in Uganda, there was something missing in the family structure itself. Florence Musiime established a ministry to teenage girls called the Dorcas Ministry, an AMG mentoring program.

Why "Dorcas?" Musiime explains, "In Acts 9:36, there was a lady who was called Dorcas. She had a ministry for orphans and widows, and that's how I came to the name: to be there for the girls."

AMG's Stephanie Pickard works with the child sponsorship program.  She explains that the vision grew from the seed of hope and the $10 that started it.  "They started with the ladies, the teachers, and got the teachers together and were able to help counsel the girls, help keep them in school and provide for some of their basic needs."

However, at-risk teenage girls need more than just a program. They need a friend. Pickard says, "This ministry is helping bridge that gap between not having a mother figure in their lives to being able to raise them up in the power and the knowledge of Christ."

Every girl aged 13 or older who is enrolled in an AMG CDC or sponsorship program is a part of the Dorcas Ministry. Every female staff member is, too. "There are approximately 430 girls in the program. It's even extended to their mothers and their grandmothers," Pickard notes. "The program specifically has extended to a discipleship program. It isn't simply providing for their physical needs, but also there's an emphasis on their spiritual growth and questions they have as they grow into women."

As the girls age out of secondary school sponsorship, there are still questions about their future. Some take on vocational training; others become mothers. There are a select few who have more opportunities.  Pickard explains, "The Dorcas ministry is actually sponsoring two girls who have qualified for university. Through their own faith and their own initiative, they're putting them through school. In the future, a lot more girls will be look for that opportunity."

Many times, sponsored students who graduate from college also return to the organization that helped them achieve their potential.
  
Most importantly, Pickard shares, "The girls have gained self-confidence. They've learned how they're supposed to grow up, that they have worth and value in God's eyes. That confidence brings them to a point that they're able to stay pure in their relationship with Christ."

Scripture notes Dorcas as a disciple of God. She is not only seen as a compassionate woman, but also as an evangelist.

Like its namesake, the Dorcas Ministry shares the love of Christ with more than 500 girls who are part of this AMG outreach. Because of its rapid growth, there are financial challenges. Click here for more ways you can help.

Orality-based Disciple Making: Rediscovering the Ancient Ways

By Jerry Wiles,
President Emeritus, Living Water International
Special to ASSIST News Service


HOUSTON, TX (ANS) -- A growing number of ministry and mission leaders, focused on reaching and making disciples in the global community, are coming to realize the importance of understanding worldview, culture and learning styles. In light of the fact that the majority of people in the world have always been, and still are, oral learners (by necessity or by preference) a new dynamic is taking place in the world of evangelization and mission strategy.

Jerry Wiles teaches aboard the boat that served as one of the locations for an Orality Training Workshop on the Amazon River in Brazil. (Courtesy LWI).

Living Water International, over the past few years, has implemented a simple, basic disciple making strategy that is having a significant impact in Africa, Asia, Central and South America and even in the United States. LWI is discovering that orality (oral disciple making) methods are universal and transferable to every part of the world and to all people groups. In fact, oral methods and strategies are much more transferable from developing countries to the west, than western, highly literate styles of communication are from the west to the rest of the world.

A cross-cultural evangelist in Africa said, “When we go to communities with our Bibles and literature, they want to run us out or argue with us. But now, when we go and make friends, tell stories and ask questions, people want to receive Jesus and follow Him.

A woman who attended an LWI Orality Training Workshop in Central America, said that she felt renewed and refreshed, because this is how she learned about Jesus as a little girl. She went on to tell of her father, who is now more than 100 years old, using story methods of presenting the gospel and teaching biblical truths. She was excited to rediscover that these methods still work today.

Training session in Quito, Ecuador. (Courtesy LWI)

LWI’s “Orality Training Workshop: An Introduction to Contextual Bible Storying” has now been attended by more than 4,500 people in 18 countries over the past three years. Amazing feedback has come from those who have received the training. We have observed certain patterns everywhere we have conducted this training, whether it’s in a slum area in Guatemala City, a village in Asia, the rainforest of the Amazon basin, remote areas in Ethiopia or on a university campus in Houston, Texas. Telling stories and asking questions seems to be acceptable, well received and life changing everywhere around the world.

Over and over we hear pastors saying things like,
“This orality method levels the playing field so that everyone can be a part of spreading the Good News of Jesus.” A pastor in Central America said, “I see how this is a method I can use to equip and mobilize story-telling evangelists, regardless of their education or age.” We are finding that even children as young as six years of age can learn and retell the stories.

We emphasize that storying and oral disciple making methods are not intended to take the place of other methods, but to give additional resources for one’s ministry and mission tool box. Bible translation work, Bible and literature distribution and literacy training are all important. Orality can be a bridge until people have the Scriptures in their heart language and learn to read it with comprehension.

We must recognize that there may be those who will never have the written Word available in their language or may never learn to read it. However, they can still come to a personal relationship with the living Christ, regardless of their education level or economic condition.

Supernatural Work of the Holy Spirit


The spiritual and relational aspects are vital and should not be overlooked if our orality strategies are to be effective. It’s more than just words and information, but an impartation of the life of God by the Spirit of God that produces lasting and eternal fruit. The availability of technological resources is also a great blessing in the orality movement; radio, television, internet, cell phones and the many digital recording devices are useful in many cases. However, there is still a need for a life-style demonstration of the character of Christ expressed in tangible and relational ways, in addition to the transfer of knowledge about Him.

One LWI staff member in Nicaragua, who had participated in an orality training a few months earlier, shared how she was using stories while doing hygiene training at water projects. She was excited at how children were so receptive and eager to learn more. When she told a story, the children would say, “Tell us another story.” After telling three different stories, she told the children it was time for them to tell a story. She was amazed and surprised that they were able to retell them accurately.

Storying in Africa. (Courtesy LWI).

Recently in an orality training workshop in South Asia, a pastor testified that learning the story of Nicodemus made him aware that he was in the same condition.

He said he was religious, but lost. He had been a pastor for several years, but during the workshop he said he came to realize he had never been born again of the Spirit of God. There was great amazement and joy among the other 70 pastors as he shared how he had trusted Christ and had peace and joy he had not known before. We observe over and over again how the Holy Spirit brings revelation and understanding in the process of learning and discussing stories about Jesus.

A pastor in Asia, who served as a translator during two orality training workshops, told us he had been using stories to present the gospel for more than 35 years. He had also been an evangelist and church planter for many years. After the workshops, he realized that what had been missing in his previous approach was the engagement, the use of questions, discussion and retelling of the stories. He saw how he could make reproducing disciple makers using orality strategies, in addition to presenting the Gospel. After experiencing the orality training as an interpreter/translator, he recognized the power of simplicity and reproducibility.

A church leader in Central America observed that the non-literate church attendees always sat in the back of the church for fear of being called upon to read. He was so excited to learn and use methods that allow everyone to engage and participate in the worship and equipping times.

Overcoming Skepticism

Trainee telling stories in a village in East Africa. (Courtesy LWI).

One of the things we are experiencing in various places is some skepticism and negative attitudes among some pastors and church leaders, especially those with more formal academic training. However, for those who will listen, learn and participate, there seems to be a real turn around in their thinking. The negative attitudes fade away as they see the joy and excitement among their people. They gain an appreciation for orality when they observe and experience it first hand. We continue to see the value of demonstration, participation and explanation, in that order.

The stories and testimonies of how the Lord is using orality are quite compelling. Now there are a growing number of case studies and documented results that are very convincing to anyone who takes the time to examine the evidence.

Not everyone receives and responds with equal enthusiasm and passion. It shouldn’t surprise us, in light of the fact that not everyone responded to the Lord Jesus in a positive manner. From the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4, we learn that only one out of four people will respond and produce fruit -- some 30, some 60 and some 100-fold. The seed represents the Word of God, the soil represents the hearts of men (and women) and the sower represents the messenger. It’s the good seed that tests the soil.

The word Gospel comes from an old English word that means “Good Story”. It is encouraging to realize that God will use each of us to be effective as we share the Good News of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit and as we seek to make disciples in the mission field where we live and work. All of us who follow Jesus are really on mission with God. I often remind people that we all live in a mission field, made up of our families, neighbors, co-workers and friends; and, there is one more I call “all others”--those short encounters wherever we are. They just may be opportunities to ask questions or tell stories that result in transformed lives.

We often hear people expressing their amazement that something as simple as stories and questions can have such a powerful impact and bring immediate change in people’s lives. A church leader, who oversees a large number of churches, shared that he sees how this orality training will greatly increase their effectiveness, not only with outreach, but with disciple making, leadership training, church planting and mission strategies.

A business professional, who participated in an orality training workshop in Houston, said, “I have participated in many seminars, conferences and training events over the years, but this workshop is by far the most helpful I have ever experienced.”

Relationships and Community


One of the fringe benefits of orality-based communication methods is relationship building and the development of community. An orality training workshop was conducted with a group of senior adults in a church in Texas. Among the 25 people attending the workshop, most had been attending the same church together for 25 to 30 years and felt that they knew each other fairly well. Toward the end of the workshop, the whole group was in tears as they shared with each other about the storms of life and the spiritual transformations they had experienced over the years. Even though they had attended church and worshiped together for many years, they had never shared on a heart level as they did that day. The stories and questions created an amazing opportunity they had never experienced before.

One of the things that make our Great Commission opportunities so significant is the wide variety of resources available to us today. We have available to us the tools of the age -- the many communication technologies, i.e. print, electronics, transportation, etc. But, we also have the tools of the ages -- prayer, personal witness, the Word of God, the work of the Holy Spirit. It is important to realize that God uses any and all means and methods to carry out His eternal purposes.

Having done orality training in a number of churches in the United States, in addition to Asia, Africa and Latin America, we’ve seen pastors and church leaders come alive with new insights and vision for new possibilities. An older pastor recalled that as a young boy, he learned the Bible and spiritual lessons by listening to his father and uncle tell stories. Another pastor decided to start using orality in their outreach by creating community storying-discussion groups. And a Sunday School teacher saw how oral disciple making methods would be far more effective than the literate, conventional methods she had been using.

Missionaries and church planters working in remote villages in the rainforest or those working among nomadic tribes immediately recognize the value of orality. They often see dramatic results when they begin putting their training into practice.

We like to emphasize -- and people are relieved and encouraged when we tell them -- that they don’t have to be great story tellers, because we have “great stories” to tell. People come alive with new excitement when they experience the power of the story and realize that God honors His Word and transforms lives by the work of the Holy Spirit.

When considering the most ancient ways that people have learned and communicated for thousands of years, and what the most universal and transferable methods are, we can appreciate how important orality and storying is to advancing the Kingdom of God.

One of the things we like to point out is that our best model in all of history -- as a leader, communicator, teacher and disciple maker -- is Jesus. It seems to be a real eye opener to many when we emphasize that what He did then, will work here and now. What we learn from studying the life and teachings and Spirit of Jesus will work anywhere and at any time. In reality, Jesus Himself is the only true disciple maker. But the amazing and wonderful thing is that He is prepared to reproduce His life in and through each of us as we make ourselves available to Him. We get to be His channels, His instruments of communicating His truth and life in making disciples.

Simplicity and Reproducibility


When people truly become disciples of Jesus, they belong to Him and He is able to grow them in grace and knowledge of Him. We get to be stewards and servants on the journey.
We often hear pastors and leaders saying, “This is so simple, why didn’t we think of this?” We sometimes refer to this as a “BFO” (a blinding flash of the obvious).

Orality strategies also enable disciple makers, evangelists and church planters to cross the language barriers more quickly than in literate styles of communication. Conducting bilingual training (English and a gateway language) allows for the stories and methods to be immediately used in other languages and dialects. Stories are learned in one language and immediately told in another; and some of those attending the training speak 4 or 5 languages.

Someone has wisely said that there are only two things here on earth that will last forever; the Word of God and people. For many, the Word of God means the Bible. While the Bible certainly is God’s Word written, in most places in Scripture the Word of God is not referring to a written document. The Word of God was around a long time before anything was written, according to John 1:1.

God has inspired and preserved His Word in written form over the centuries, and we are blessed to have it available and be able to read it for ourselves. However, today and throughout history, most of the people of the world have not had the privilege of reading and understanding it for themselves. Most people have come to Christ through personal witness, oral communication or some form or expression of the Good News of Jesus other than the written Word.

After participating in one of LWI’s Orality Training Workshops, a missionary serving in Central America said, “This is revolutionary for our region.” This is in an area there is a lot of human trafficking, drug dealing, witchcraft and demonic activity. A woman in the workshop in the area, after hearing the story of the demon-possessed Gerasene, said, “I am like that man, I need help.” A few men and women in the workshop took her aside and prayed with her, taking authority over the evil spirits. It was later discovered that the woman had gone to a witch doctor and made a pact with Satan in a ceremony that included cutting her wrists.

This experience was an amazing reminder and confirmation that Jesus still delivers, heals and transforms people today. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. We should continue to remind ourselves that the Holy Spirit is still sovereign and works out His purposes in spite of our failures and short comings.
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Jerry Wiles is president emeritus of Living Water International. He has served in various roles in ministry and missions over the past 35 years. Jerry currently serves on the Advisory Council of the International Orality Network and conducts Orality Training Workshops and trains trainers in disciple making strategies. He is the author of several books, the most recent, No Greater Joy: Power of Sharing Your Faith through Stories and Questions (Whitaker House).

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Uganda's fight against malaria finds a powerful ally

Uganda (MNN) ― In Uganda, more children are killed by malaria than HIV, war, or any other threat.

The upsetting thing is: malaria is easily preventable. Unfortunately, hospitals and even clinics are few in many regions of Uganda, and several facilities lack the necessary equipment to treat and diagnose malaria.

In the Mityana region of approximately one million, there are less than 10 clinics. "The nearest hospital is 60 miles away, so really, they're looking at a ratio of 10,000 patients per one doctor," says Brian Anderson with International Aid.

In 2010, Reverend Dr. Stephen Kaziimba, the bishop of the Ugandan diocese of Mityana, visited Buwaata--a district in Kaziimba's diocese--where he noticed a disturbing trend: malaria was killing hundreds per month. In two months, 520 children had died of the disease because the clinics did not possess the equipment to diagnose it.

Through a church contact in Muskegon, Michigan, Kaziimba was able to contact International Aid, who set to work gathering equipment and medicine right away.

By the summer of 2010, Anderson says, "We shipped a container of medical equipment and medicines to Mityana's largest clinic."

The clinic was improved by the shipment to be sure, but International Aid's reach had extended even further than they knew. The clinic was a government-run facility, and when the government caught wind of the high quality of IA's medical equipment and medicines, they were prompted to invest in the clinic, assigning a midwife and laboratory personnel to the health center.

In just a year, the malaria problem in that region was nearly wiped out.

Kaziimba recently reported to IA that "only two or three children had passed away from malaria this year. That's an astounding improvement, compared to 520 reported in two months' time last year."

Even more than this enormous success, however, is the eternal impact the work will have. "The hope of Christ there is presented as a part of treating the patients," explains Anderson. "They're trying to show the love of Christ and the hope of Christ to patients that are being treated."

IA has much more work to do throughout Africa, sending refurbished equipment, "labs in a suitcase," and medicines. Donations of equipment are needed from hospitals, and financial support is needed from anyone who can give. Learn more about helping to meet those needs.

Funding issues threaten a ministry's answer to malaria in Uganda

Hope Medical Center patient (Photo
 courtesy AMG Uganda)

Uganda (MNN) ― Uganda has the third-highest number of deaths from malaria in Africa. The disease kills more children in the country than HIV/AIDS or war, according to reports from the Uganda Ministry of Health.

  

It is also a country where one person out of every two lives in severe poverty. One out of every four suffers from severe malnutrition. Combined with a poor infrastructure and immense rural poverty, getting help once infected has been very difficult. Due to the growing demand for medical services, AMG Uganda launched the Bethany Medical Center in Igamba and the Hope Medical Center in Bugongi.

AIDS and malaria plague the residents of Igamba and Iganga, including children who are part of the AMG childcare program in Igamba. The Bethany Center is the only medical facility in the area where the poor can receive treatment. It has been gratefully accepted by the community, which allows it also to be a lighthouse for giving out the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ.

In Bugongi, the Hope Medical Center provides midwife services and maternity care--the only medical care available for miles around. Since both clinics are staffed and resourced, they provide more than the government clinics. In fact, Bethany took a recent donation of medical equipment this month which will help the team respond to even more needs.

  

However, both facilities operate at a loss of about $350 USD a month. It's clear that closing them is not an option with people's lives at stake, but operating at a deficit drains the resources of other work in the country. For AMG Uganda, the clinics are an integral part of demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ to the communities by providing education, medical care, and spiritual development.

This need is becoming more urgent as the bite of food shortages takes hold in the Horn of Africa. AMG is asking for financial help through outright gifts or through the sponsorship of one of the 270 children being served. Click here for details.

An education program in Uganda teaches the three A's

Uganda (MNN) ― When it comes to school, A's are the best mark.

Straight A's are even better, right?  That's what Worldwide Christian Schools is going for with their Educational Care program launch in Uganda. Dale Dieleman with WWCS explains  the nuts and bolts.  "'Educational Care' is a six-module program. The teachers go through each module with about six months or so in between to work on an action plan that they developed after each module."

It can take up to three years to go through all six modules, but Dieleman notes, "For many, many teachers who have never had a lot of formal educational courses, this is all brand new," which means that "even the teachers in the schools that hardly pay any salary at all are willing to say, ‘Yes, I want to be there.'" The Triple A? "We tried to make it very Affordable, Accessible and veryApplicable."

So what does the program do? It focuses on the teacher and helps them answer basic questions like, "How do you do discipline in a Christian school? How do you correct students and disciple them rather than do strictly punishment, and so on."

   

It provides on-the-job-learning, is peer-learning oriented, inductive-learning focused, practically based, Action Plan required, adaptable to local situations, world-view driven, Bible referenced, and community oriented.

But, Dieleman adds, it's very different from an educational conference. "The foundational course--the first module--is on biblical worldview. It really is all about the teacher, not so much on how to use the Bible in the classroom." The curriculum disciples teachers and has served as an evangelism tool in the training sessions. "It's something that really begins to stick over time and becomes part of who they are. They can move from school to school, and this will be part of their DNA."

What this means, explains Dieleman, is that "most countries we work in use a national curriculum. They are required to use this curriculum because students take national exams based on their performance. Their futures are based on this exam result." Teachers have to work with a secular curriculum, but because of the biblical worldview, they infuse their faith into what they teach. This approach benefits students, teachers, and ultimately, the schools. "We really feel that consistency, that continuity is really what will help teachers, in the long-run, establish themselves and recommit themselves to their calling."

Beyond the training comes an opportunity for mentorship. Dieleman says the program has been successful, but sometimes a seasoned pro can add tools they've used in their careers, and Uganda's teachers can combine the two to create a better learning environment.

With mentorship in mind, Dieleman says that now they're offering a mission trip for teachers. "We also want to give teachers with experience opportunities to become certified Educational Care trainer. What that means is: during the summer break they would have an opportunity to be assigned to one of our trainers in a particular country and actually go out and accompany them in doing some training."

To get more information, click here.

Discipleship Training Just What Nation Needs

Senegal (MNN) ― Senegal is somewhere between four and six percent Christian, and reports show that most in that percentage are Roman Catholic. The Joshua Project has found that only 0.2 percent of the nation are evangelical Christian.

Missions work is vital in the mostly-Muslim country, and a missionary family with The Mission Society felt the burden of the work immediately.

Adam Dalenburg says, "We spent our first couple of years trying to do everything for everyone."

The family preached, taught English as a second language, and tried to provide for the felt needs of as many as possible to live out Christ's love. But soon, Adam had a revelation.

"During this time, a Wolof proverb came to mind: an alligator is always an alligator, but a log can never be an alligator. You see, we were logs among alligators--we were basically outsiders," explains Dalenburg. "So we needed to ask the question: what was the best way to achieve our goal of helping them help themselves?"

Out of these ponderings, the Dalenburgs have formed a discipleship program. Many people in Senegal have mixed Islam with African traditions and Christian teachings. They are excited to learn more about Christ and want to know the truth. The program allows them to share that, one-on-one.

The preliminary work was not for naught though, says Dalenburg. "We first need to earn the trust of the people in the little things, knowing that eventually they'll trust us with larger things such as their salvation. So as we look back, we see that God was building these relationships so that we could further His glory throughout Senegal."

Since forming this program, the Dalenburg family has been able to reach and train people in Christ's Word, multiplying ministry around the world.

One man from Togo came to Christ after losing his entire family. "He came to me hungry and thirsty for the Word of God. So we set up a meeting twice a week, and we inductively studied the book of Romans.  It just really set him on fire," explains Dalenburg. "He has plans to go back to Togo and start a ministry there."

Now, "We are helping the Senegalese discover who they are in Christ and make positive lifestyle changes to further the body of Christ," Dalenburg adds.

Pray that God would continue to bless this budding ministry. Pray that many more lives would be changed as Senegal is slowly awakened to the Gospel.

Learn more about the Dalenburg family and how to give to their ministry at www.themissionsociety.org/people/Dalenburg.