News from The Alliance World
Metro District Church Boom
[Thu, 14 May 2009 14:57:59 -0600]
“The Metropolitan District has been hit with a powerful flood,” says Bruce Terpstra, district superintendent. “We have a flood of new church plants!” Terpstra, who couldn’t explain why this phenomenon is taking place, reports 20 church-planting proposals submitted to the district during the past six months, with 15 in progress.
“The district has a strong DNA for church planting,” says Terpstra, “and one reason [for the increase] may be a new funding strategy of matching contributions from the local church.”
Regardless of the reason, it is obvious that God is at work in the Metro District. One church started with an Alpha course dinner, attended by 101 people. The following week, 60 adults attended the dinner along with a table full of teens who showed interest in the Lord.
Most new church plants are daughter churches, but one non-Alliance church asked the Metropolitan District for help. “They were planting a daughter church,” says Terpstra, “and had not done it before.” After meeting with district consultants, the mother church decided the daughter church should be an Alliance church, and the unique partnership is bearing fruit.
“It seems like a week doesn’t go by without another opportunity washing up to our door to plant another church,” says Terpstra. “The only explanation that can be given for what is happening is that God has opened the floodgates.”
Alliance Leaders Play Key Roles in Evangelism Congress
[Wed, 13 May 2009 14:56:02 -0600]
Editor's note: The Thailand Congress on Evangelism exists to glorify God by facilitating the establishment of a viable and indigenous church among the peoples of Thailand that impacts the world. During its recent gathering, Thai church leaders were inspired and equipped to be more effective in evangelism and church planting throughout the country's 76 provinces.
Earlier this month 3,000–4,000 Protestant church leaders, laypeople, and missionaries gathered from all over Thailand to consider how they can work together more effectively to see the Great Commission completed in Thailand. The Seventh Thailand Congress on Evangelism drew people from the three main bodies of the Protestant church in Thailand—the Church of Christ in Thailand, The Thailand Baptist Convention, and the Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand—as well as many Alliance missionaries, church leaders, and laypeople.
Two C&MA Bangkok church pastors and leaders, Ajarn Timothy Jeng and Ajarn Nok Yutasak, played key roles in this event and also spoke at the conference. An exhibition hall displayed the church growth and evangelistic tools utilized by various ministries. "These are significant events that galvanize the churches and spur them on," says , C&MA regional director for Asia Pacific.
A God-Sized Vision
Those in attendance affirmed their vision to see a church established in every district of Thailand and for every village to have an opportunity to hear the gospel by the end of next year. Alliance missionaries are helping to see these goals achieved in the provinces of Nong Khai, Sakorn Nakon, Nakorn Panom, Surin, Bangkok, Mahachai, and Phuket.
The last event of this nature occurred in 2004, which coincided with the 175th anniversary of the establishment of the Protestant Church in Thailand.
Learn More
Check out our Alliance work in .
What You Can Do
Praise God for the spirit of unity that exists among the various segments of the evangelical church in Thailand. Pray that the Alliance mission and the C&MA national church, the Gospel Church of Thailand, will be used by God to impact the country for His Kingdom.
Pray also that the church will continue to grow in becoming self-supporting, self-propagating, and self-governing and that God's Spirit will draw men, women, and children to Himself in greater ways in the days ahead.
to support Alliance Great Commission Ministries.
Mongolians Find Jesus through Dental Ministry
[Thu, 7 May 2009 12:46:20 -0600]
During a one-day dental clinic hosted by (CAMA), The Alliance's relief arm, 12 people prayed to receive Jesus in Darhan, Mongolia. For the fourth year in a row, Dr. Bill Molpus, a retired Christian dentist from Mississippi, came to serve at the clinic with his assistant, Margaret Wiseman, who is from Wisconsin.
A Busy Day
As Dr. Molpus and his support team were busy pulling teeth, CAMA staff members worked behind the scenes with the registration process, checking blood pressure, praying for each patient, and sharing the gospel with those who were interested. By the end of the day, 87 patients had received treatment and 162 teeth had been removed.
"Praise God for those who were moved from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of God that day as they prayed to accept Christ as their Lord!" says , who serves with The Alliance in Mongolia.
Learn More
Check out our Alliance work in .
What You Can Do
Praise God for the 12 who received Jesus through the ministry of the dental clinic. Pray that they will grow in their faith and introduce others to Christ.
now to support Alliance Great Commission Ministries.
Brazilian Women Meet the Master Painter
[Thu, 7 May 2009 12:17:47 -0600]
In Brazil, 50 university students indicated that they wanted to receive Jesus at an evangelistic "Color Me Beautiful" seminar presented by Alliance missionary . The event was organized by who serve with The Alliance in Sao Paulo.
In this dynamic ministry, Jo demonstrates the use of colors to accentuate outer beauty and introduces women to Jesus, the Master Painter, who can make them beautiful on the inside. “Who better than the Creator to be Lord of your life?” asks Jo, who has interacted with hundreds of women during seminars held at tennis clubs and other venues. Before she accepts an invitation to speak, she asks, “May I talk about God?” The answer is always yes, and doors continue to open into lives previously untouched by the good news.
Not for Women Only
This spring, Ruth and Jo hosted at least seven of these events and spoke to more than 200 people–"and not just women!" says Ruth. "Attendees responded warmly to the message of Christ and His desire to clean up [people's] lives." At the university, the seminar was presented to cosmetology students with purple and green hair and "lots of tattoos," Ruth says. "About 10 percent were guys. We came prepared with 80 packets of our information, which includes the Father's Love Letter showing God's attributes."
A total of more than 100 students attended the two sessions, and the classroom was packed. After the presentation, one young woman approached Jo in tears, saying she needed to hear this message. "Who would have thought we would have such liberty in a secular university?" asks Ruth.
Future Opportunities
God also opened doors to present the seminar in a government office building, in three gated communities, and in a group home for disadvantaged girls. A drawing is held after each presentation, during which Bibles and other Christian books, along with flowers and accessories, are given away. "I loved to see how precious the Bibles with pink covers were to the women who received them," says Ruth. "Can you imagine doing this in a government building in the United States?"
"We received so many invitations for the future that my head is spinning," Ruth adds. The women have been asked to conduct the seminar at a beauty salon, a Christian bookstore, and other settings. In addition, the university where the first seminar was held has invited Jo back to hold a workshop.
Learn More
Check out our Alliance work in .
Watch a about Jo Kiel's ministry to women.
What You Can Do
Praise God for open doors into the lives of Brazilians through this unconventional ministry approach. Pray that all who heard Christ's message of inner beauty will fall in love with the Master Painter.
to support Alliance Great Commission Ministries.
Alliance Military Chaplains on Mission
[Fri, 1 May 2009 07:44:33 -0600]
“Chaplains tell me they sometimes feel separated from The Alliance,” says Robert Collins, retired lieutenant colonel (Army) and director for . Collins is the professional and spiritual mentor for Alliance military chaplains whose deployment takes them around the world, including to the frontlines of war. “They have no Alliance churches close to where they are stationed, or they live in an area of the world where there is no Alliance fellowship.”
Collins understands, having felt the isolation while he was in the military, and is working to change the situation. Alliance chaplains who have been stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait, have been telling the stories of God’s amazing work among troops for six years. Conversions and baptisms have taken place in places recorded in Genesis; Bible studies have sprung up throughout the many battalions.
One Chaplain's Mission
In Kuwait, Alliance Chaplain and Army Captain Erik Gramling recently baptized several troops and attended the Lighthouse Church, where Alliance pastor Daniel Harstad is “on loan” from the Canadian C&MA. The church is part of the National Evangelical Church Compound in Kuwait City, where 10–20 thousand people from 73 multilingual congregations attend worship services each week.
“The Compound was founded in the early 1900s by an American medical couple who were invited by the ruling family of Kuwait,” says Gramling. “The ministry is robust; many come to Christ.”
Gramling also encouraged his German military congregation to give to the ministry of the Evangelical Alliance Church in Baghdad. In one Sunday offering they designated over $12,000.00 to the GCF for that project.
A Global Vision
Collins says, “The vision is larger than Alliance Military Chaplain Ministries. I believe we bring our Alliance chaplain family closer to the true reality—we are Alliance—and we have a vision that is larger than are own ministries. It is a worldwide vision to take the whole gospel to the whole world!”
What you can do
Pray for Alliance military and institutional chaplains as they serve in hard places.
Learn more
Read stories from .
to support Alliance Great Commission Ministries.
Philippine C&MA Celebrates Milestone
[Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:16:15 -0600]
The Christian and Missionary Alliance Churches of the Philippines (CAMACOP) held its 50th General Assembly April 22–26, 2009, in Mactan Island, Cebu. The theme was "Living in God's Holiness." Dr. Gary Benedict, president of the U.S C&MA, was the devotional speaker. Other speakers included Dr. Ben De Jesus, former president of the Alliance World Fellowship; Dr. Rodrigo Tano; former president of CAMACOP and the Alliance Biblical Seminary; Dr. Joe Dalino, former president of CAMACOP, and Dr. Joy Tira, representing the Canada C&MA and Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization.
Slow Beginnings
The first Alliance missionaries arrived in the Philippines in 1902. Progress was slow; after 20 years, there were less than 500 baptized believers and three churches. Pioneer missionary Robert A. Jaffray was sent to the Philippines to determine if the field should be closed. When he arrived, Jaffray didn't see struggling churches without growth; he saw what God could do.
"I believe that the Philippine field can be the largest field of The Alliance," Jaffray said. He also said that the churches would never grow without a school to train pastors. To that end, the Ebenezer Bible Institute was started as a center for training Filipino Christian leaders.
A Vibrant Fellowship
Today, CAMACOP is a vibrant, autonomous, missionary-sending church. It is one of the largest evangelical groups in the country with more than 2,400 churches and 392,000-plus inclusive members. At the recent General Assembly, registered delegates totaled 1,154. Rev. Reniel Joel Nebab was reelected to a second term as president/bishop of CAMACOP. A ground-breaking moment included CAMACOP's approval of the ordination of women.
What You Can Do
Praise God for the growth of CAMACOP. Pray that these churches will continue to be beacons of light to a world that needs Jesus.
now to give to Alliance Great Commission Ministries.
Learn More
Check out Alliance ministry in the .
Watch a of The Alliance's history in the Philippines.
Alliance Students Benefit Orphans
[Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:25:34 -0600]
Recently, the college ministry at Princeton Alliance Church (PAC) in Princeton, New Jersey, held a benefit concert for the Tia Ana Orphanage in El Salvador, where short-term missions teams regularly assist the national church with ministry. “God is using college students from the United States to provide love, care, and justice in a Central American community of faith,” says Matt Peace, director for the C&MA’s Short-Term Missions Office. “Approximately 500 college students gathered for a night of praise and worship, raising more than $15,000 for the orphans.”
Tia Ana, who grew up in the streets of San Salvador, opened a home where destitute children receive love, food, clothing, and the knowledge of God. She wants the children to have what she didn’t as a child—the assurance of God’s love—and she relies on short-term teams to help meet spiritual and practical needs.
Not Just Chump Change
Matt Murphy, PAC pastor of young adults and coordinator of the event, was amazed at the outpouring of love by the concert-goers. “My heart broke when I saw young people giving. It wasn't just chump change; some gave all the money they had,” says Murphy, who has received numerous daily requests for a repeat performance.
“This event raised a lot of money for Tia Ana,” Murphy says, “but it did so much more to instill a vision to live for what Jesus was all about—the least of these.”
To Learn More
The Short-Term Missions Office conducts several trips each year, with permanent sites in strategic ministry locations. Find out how you can participate in a .
Check out concert and ministry pictures at and
What You Can Do
Pray that God will bless PAC’s young people with increased faith and understanding of His plan for their lives. Also, pray that the Lord will continue to provide for Tia Ana’s compassionate ministry.
to give to Alliance Great Commission Ministries.
Alliance MKs Safe after Fire Destroys Classrooms
[Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:05:30 -0600]
A fire demolished a wall and part of the ceiling at Dalat International School in Malaysia, causing water and soot damage that essentially destroyed the classrooms. During his rounds the morning of April 18, a security guard noticed smoke coming from the roof. The fire department responded quickly, and all students and faculty are safe. However, all textbooks, computers, furnishings, student work, and personal effects in the classrooms were ruined.
Investigators believe that an outlet shorted and sparked the fire, possibly the result of a rodent chewing on the wires inside the wall. Insurance adjusters have begun work on determining an estimate for replacing the damaged contents and structure, and a contractor has submitted a quote for rebuilding the classrooms. "It will take approximately four weeks to complete the work so that the classrooms can be used again," said Karl Steinkamp, the school's director, in a letter to parents.
A plan was implemented to move two sections of the fifth grade into other classrooms so that classes could resume Monday morning, April 20.
Steinkamp expressed gratitude for God's protection and commended Dalat staff members for their professional and Christlike response to the crisis. He also thanked students and parents who gave up free time to help in the clean-up effort.
"Dalat is a community, and it showed today in a way that makes me proud," he wrote. "Please keep those most directly affected by [the fire] in your prayers in the coming weeks."
What You Can Do
Praise God that the entire building was not destroyed and that the learning resource/special services and guidance areas were left untouched. Also, praise the Lord for sparing the student dormitories. Thank Him that this happened when no students or staff members were put in harm's way.
Pray for God's mighty provision in replacing lost and damaged items as well as His comfort and peace.
Learn More
Read about , Alliance missionaries in Cambodia, whose child attends Dalat International School.
Check out our Alliance work in the region.
Church Giving Triples in Cambodia
[Thu, 16 Apr 2009 07:44:06 -0600]
Despite the worldwide economic downturn, church giving recently has doubled—and even tripled—in some Khmer Evangelical churches in Cambodia (The Khmer Evangelical Church is the C&MA national church in that country).
"In light of the present financial crisis, the church families here were strongly convicted by the message of giving that has been preached in the churches," says Alliance missionary , who serves in the border city of Poipet. "Although the actual number appears small (according to the local standard of living), the amount of giving received has been tripled in Santepheap Church and doubled in the Poipet Church."
The increase in giving is especially significant considering the extreme poverty in Cambodia. "Cambodia is set to be the country hardest hit this year by the global economic crisis in the Asia Pacific region," the World Bank stated on April 7, 2009.*
"We are encouraged by the tremendous response of God's people and will continue to trust Him to meet all our needs," says Soeuth.
What You Can Do
Praise God for the sacrificial giving of His people in Cambodia. Pray that He will supply their needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
to Alliance Great Commission Ministries to support the Lord's work around the world.
Learn More
Check out our Alliance work in .
*reported in the Phnom Penh Post
Alliance Missionaries Safe Following Protests
[Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:19:53 -0600]
Alliance missionaries are safe after a state of emergency was declared in Bangkok and surrounding provinces following anti-government protests. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva narrowly escaped injury when his car was attacked. A government building was set ablaze, and hundreds of protestors took to the streets.
According to Times Online, Thai soldiers in full combat kit used tear gas and fired automatic weapons to clear the red-shirted protesters from a major intersection near the Victory Monument in central Bangkok. At least 70 people were hurt.
The protesters support the ousted former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra. They are demanding the dissolution of the current government and new elections.
Pray that God will protect the Thai church during this political unrest and for wisdom for His people in these uncertain times.
Miraculous Healing for Alliance Man
[Tue, 7 Apr 2009 10:15:24 -0600]
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 wrote 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 . Also, look for “God’s Healing Arsenal” by Paul King, to be published in the July issue of .
Dorcas House: Reaching at-risk girls in Burkina Faso
[Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:07:10 -0600]
By Amy Nehlsen
Our lives are filled with choices. What will I eat for lunch? What should I wear to work or school? Do I have time to share a cup of coffee with a friend? Can I really afford to buy those shoes with the economy the way it is?
Few Options for Burkina Women
For many young women in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, the choices are much more challenging: should I buy food to eat or medicine to treat my malaria? Should I beg on the street corner today or sell my body for $1?
This may seem melodramatic, but it is a reality that many young girls face each day in Burkina. Just 21 percent of Burkina Faso’s women are literate—many girls and young women are abandoned by their families and left to fend for themselves. With little education, their options are few.
Dorcas House Offers Choices
In response to this dire need, Alliance Women of the Burkina national church envisioned giving the next generation of Burkina women a future and a hope. In fall 2006, Nyagali Traoré, the ministry president, and I toured Alliance churches in the United States for three weeks. We shared our dream to establish a home where young women with little hope and few options could receive both biblical and vocational training.
Today, the dream is a reality. Dorcas House welcomed 15 girls, ages 15–25, in November 2008. Residents receive biblical, literacy, and vocational training and learn practical skills, including how to sew, make soap, knit and crochet as well. Animal husbandry, gardening, hair-styling, and other skills also are taught.
A Young Girl’s Need
Elizabeti, 18, is on her own. She was raised by her single mom, who became very ill and died in 2005, leaving her with a little brother to care for. She grew up in a remote village and has never attended school.
I first met Elizabeti in Côte d’Ivoire when her mother attended our Alliance church and became my language helper. She was happy for the job and came regularly with Elizabeti, who became my daughter’s playmate when the girls were two years old. Since her mom’s death, however, Elizabeti has worked as a servant girl for an African family. She has been trapped in a bad situation, without knowing how to get out of it.
Elizabeti entered my life again this past summer, and I was so excited to offer her the opportunity to live at Dorcas House. I imagined her in a place where she could receive spiritual formation, memorize the Word of God, and sing and pray with other girls. I could picture her learning new skills and participating in activities. That is now a reality.
Learn More
Check out the to learn more about their work in Burkina.
What You Can Do
Pray for Elizabeti and the other young women who now call Dorcas House home. Pray for unity among these young women who are from varied backgrounds and bring with them the emotional and spiritual baggage of lives lived for years in desperation with no hope.
Pray for good health for the girls and for the staff. Pray that God will provide operating funds and that His hand of blessing will be on Dorcas House.
Donate to to support our workers around the world, including those in Burkina Faso.
Japan Celebrates Milestone
[Wed, 18 Mar 2009 09:35:45 -0600]
Alliance churches in Japan are gearing up to celebrate 150 years of Christian ministry in that country. "Churches from all over Japan are joining together to praise the Lord for bringing the good news to Japan and to carry out evangelistic ministries," says field director .
A Rich History
The Alliance has a rich history in Japan, dating back to 1893, and has played a key role in advancing the gospel there. "Through early Alliance missionary efforts, many souls were won and many churches were planted in western Japan," says Harry, writing in .
Miss Mabel Francis, an Alliance pioneer missionary to Japan, received the country's highest civilian award, the medal of the Fifth Order of the Sacred Treasure. The governor of Ehime Prefecture had requested that the government and the emperor honor Miss Francis for her contribution "to the welfare of the Japanese people in their distress and confusion at the time of their defeat [in World War II] and for the long years spent in leading hundreds of Japanese to the knowledge of God."
"She was the first person in Japan's history to receive [the medal] while still alive," says Harry.
Full-Circle Missions
Today, the Alliance national church in Japan is sending cross-cultural workers to other parts of the world. Mariko Hidaka, a recent graduate of the Japan Alliance School of Theology, will serve as a missionary to Brazil. "Please pray for this young woman who has committed her life to serving the Lord cross culturally," says Harry.
Learn More
Read an by Mabel Francis in The Alliance Witness (forerunner to Alliance Life).
Read the article in The Alliance Witness.
Check out our Alliance work in .
What You Can Do
Pray for Alliance churches and believers as they participate in reaching out to share the gospel in their communities during the anniversary celebration. Pray that this will be a year of revival in Japan.
to Alliance Great Commission Ministries to support our workers around the world, including those in Japan.
LIFE '98 Church Plants Celebrates 10 Years
[Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:10:00 -0600]
Gateway (Alliance) Community Church in Draper, Utah, will celebrate its tenth anniversary in a special service on March 15. Hundreds of lives have been impacted for Christ at the Salt Lake City suburb church.
" has a great heritage,” says Ray Van Gilst, who serves as church multiplication director for the and participated in Gateway’s humble beginnings in 1999.
“It started through the prayer walking and giving of students at LIFE ’98 in Salt Lake City.” Gateway was planted with the assistance of 300 youth through Operation Good News and received a boost of $40,000 through a special offering taken at LIFE ’98. The conference is a gathering of approximately 10,000 Alliance youth that meets in a U.S. urban center every three years.
“Utah has some of the highest percentages in the nation for antidepressant use, teen suicides, pornography use, and bankruptcies,” says current pastor Shawn Bagley. “We want to be a light of hope to people who look great on the outside but are broken inside.”
Those who leave the Mormon religion for a personal relationship with Jesus face challenging obstacles and often lose the support of their families when they come to Christ.
“About one third of the members of each of our churches formerly were Mormons who have become believers in the true Jesus Christ,” says Van Gilst. “We keep praying that blind eyes would be opened by the Holy Spirit, and we rejoice to see it happen as often as we do.”
Living out a core Alliance distinctive of becoming a self-sustaining, self-governing, and self-propagating church, Gateway continues to expand, with three daughter churches.
Holland's Vision for Ministry
[Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:21:26 -0600]
“Europe is one of the biggest mission fields in the world,” says CAMA Zending director Ab Goldberg, who spoke to U.S. National Office workers recently of his vision for the C&MA in Holland. functions separately from Holland’s C&MA national church but partners with The Alliance as a missionary-sending agency.
Ab has served with the Dutch C&MA for more than 20 years (15 years in Cote d’Ivoire) and credits his ministry accomplishments to the U.S. C&MA. “CAMA Zending owes all to American C&MA missionaries who came to Holland to study Dutch before going on to to what was then our largest colony, Indonesia,” he says. “While they were in Holland, they recruited Dutch believers to be missionaries, and that is how CAMA Zending was started.
“I tell people that I am who I am because of the C&MA,” Ab says. When asked by former CAMA Zending director Arie Verduyn to consider the position of the agency’s director, Ab laughs, “I thought they were making a mistake.”
Moved by the honor of the offer and wanting to give back to the organization that had served him so well, Ab accepted. “We don’t always see the effect of it right away, but God’s work through the C&MA goes deep in the hearts of people,” he said.
With 30 missionaries in 11 countries, Ab’s vision for CAMA Zending is a daunting challenge. “European missionaries are ready to go to other parts of the world,” he says. “But it is hard to recruit for Europe.
“When [missionary candidates] come to my office,” says Ab, “I say, ‘Why not Europe?'” Ab believes if European believers don’t see their own continent as a critical mission field, then “we should not go farther on.”
One thing is certain. With Ab’s passion for missions and deep appreciation for The Alliance, his leadership at CAMA Zending will enable many to go and make disciples of all nations, including his own.
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