Picture Story by Global Mission - 3rd Quarter 2008

DEAR FRIENDS imbabwe. Three-and-a-half years ago. Large church district with only 273 scattered members. Very little growth.

The new pastor was determined to make a difference.

He was sure that God wanted to reach the people of that district and that with God’s help all things were possible. He immediately set to work visiting each one of his members. He prayed several hours every day – pleading with God to show him how to inspire the members to reach the people of this difficult region.

As he got to know the members, he began selecting and training them to reach out to their neighbors. The members became excited. They began to join the pastor in praying for a breakthrough. Each member started to see himself or herself, not as an isolated member, but as a piece in a giant puzzle.

Bible studies, friendship groups, cooking schools, Revelation seminars, and youth activities were soon being conducted all through the region. Then the pastor and others started holding an evangelistic series. Suddenly the work began to explode. Less than four years ago there were 273 members. Today there are 21,256 members in that district. And 90 percent are active in the church, not only attending, but also actively helping to reach out to those around them.

Dozens of small Bible studies are going on in various homes, churches, and rented buildings. Last July they had another set of evangelistic series. There were 1,000 small meetings conducted simultaneously throughout the district.

I think that it’s a miracle to see the change in the members who had struggled along for years thinking their region was too hard to work in. They were too scattered, the conference didn’t give them enough pastoral help, and they didn’t have enough money to build churches. Their changed attitude and determination to make sure their piece fit into the puzzle made it possible for God to do what comes naturally when people are willing to make those kinds of sacrifices for Him. Thank you for your prayerful support of Global Mission, which empowers Adventists around the world to reach their communities with hope.

In Christ,

Homer Trecartin Adventist Mission Planning Director

*Statistics courtesy of General Conference Office of Archives and Statistics

12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904

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street musician with a mission, Pastor Jeremiah was a Global Mission pioneer,, when he started playing his old, much used piano accordion, on the streets of Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He began using his musical talents too attract people so he could share the good news ws ws about Jesus with them. Because of his work as as a pioneer, today he’s a pastor.

Decades of civil war have scarred the hearts of the people in this war-torn country, but as they listen to the joyous singing of Pastor Jeremiah, smiles flicker across their faces. Pastor Jeremiah enjoys singing for church members. But his real passion is sharing the love of Jesus with people on the streets.

“I was a professional musician and singing for f the th devil,” d il ” he says. “But I met Jesus, and now I want to share my joy with Languages: French (official), Lingala, Kingwana, everyone I meet.” Thanks to Kikongo, and Tshiluba your support, Pastor Jeremiah has found his calling.

Religion: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%,

wo years ago God planted a small seed in the hearts of six individuals. Today the seed has transformed into a dynamic community. That seed was a desire to connect with young professionals in central London and introduce them to a God who can transform their lives. It has now become a community committed to challenging a ‘comfortable Christianity.’

Its uniqueness is in its diversity. As one “London Live” attendee commented, “‘London Live’ is London.” That is, it really reflects the diversity and the vibrancy that is London. Best of all, however, is the fact that people feel they can bring their friends.

This confidence means that even those with a home church can still bring their friends to Languages: English “London Live” to introduce Religion: Christian (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbythem to Jesus. terian, Methodist) 71.6%, Muslim 2.7%, Hindu 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified or none 23.1%

Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other 10%

Population: 60.4 million*

Population: 62.6 million*

Adventist membership: 26,693*

Adventist membership: 522,387*

Adventist to population ratio: 1:2,265*

Adventist to population ratio: 1:120*

Churches: 237*

Churches: 1,486*

Companies: 31*

Companies: 1,501*

Details: Europe today has the fewest Adventists per capita of any continent. The region’s challenges include post-modern secular countries such as Sweden and the United Kingdom and former Soviet bloc countries, such as Hungary and Romania, where years of religious oppression left many with no religion at all.

Nearly half of all Europeans are secular and practice no religion. Please support Global Mission projects in European countries such as the United Kingdom by giving to FUND # 5270.

Details: The Adventist Church has grown in many areas of Africa. Yet major challenges still remain. Religious, social, and ethnic persecution makes church growth difficult in some areas. Your support of Fund # 5220 will help take Jesus’ love to African countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

hese eight new church members initially had to postpone their public decision for Christ because of area violence.

At the time, it wasn’t safe to travel, and people were hiding in bomb shelters. No one felt it was wise to go to down to the Jordan River for a baptism.

Today they’re excited that they finally were able to seal their covenant with Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Christ) by a tevilah (immersion).

Church growth is difficult in Israel. Only two percent of the population is Christian. There are less than 1,000 Adventists in the entire country. Many different language groups exist in Israel because so many Jews have immigrated from other parts of the world, especially Eastern European countries after the fall of communism in the early 1990s. This group of new believers comes from the Romanian-speaking community now living in Israel. They are an example that church growth can Languages: Hebrew (official) and Arabic (officially happen even in difficult used for Arab minority) circumstances.

Religion: Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% Population: 7.2 million* Adventist membership: 851* Adventist to population ratio: 1:8,493* Churches: 15* Companies: 7* Details: The birthplace of Christianity, the Middle East is largely untouched today with the gospel. The Adventist Church has struggled to grow in this region known for political unrest and religious strife. Your support of FUND # 5280 will help further establish congregations in Middle Eastern countries such as Israel.