VOL.10—2
Establishing the Church Among All Peoples Everywhere
Flourishing Under Pressure
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Flourishing— in a Natural Disaster, During Persecution, Despite War’s Destruction, in the Midst of Conflict •
Flourishing— A Biblical Response
Contents Flourshing Under Pressure
The Church today is experiencing challenging circumstances, but it continues to effectively present the gospel in these circumstances. by AGWM Communications
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Flourishing in a Natural Disaster
When natural disaster strikes in a religiously sensitive nation, global workers and followers of Jesus must ask, “How can we respond to this disaster?” by AGWM global worker
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Flourishing During Persecution
The good news is that Jesus is for everyone. The Church must learn to walk with those around them to lead them into a thriving life that follows Jesus. by AGWM global worker
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Flourishing Despite War’s Destruction
Out of the destruction and turmoil of war rises a Church that is flourishing. Believers in this nation discovered ways to minister to those affected by war. by AGWM global workers
Next Issue Vietnam — Fifty years ago, the Assemblies of God began ministering to the people of Vietnam. Read how the Church built on that foundation and continues to thrive, even during intense persecution.
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Flourishing in the Midst of Conflict
These global workers had an unexpected change in ministry location. But God was preparing them to reach the refugees from their former location. by AGWM global worker
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Flourishing—A Biblical Response
As followers of Jesus, our response to natural disasters, persecution, and war must exhibit Christ’s love for all people. by AGWM global worker
VOL.10 — 2
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AGWM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR John Easter AGWM PUBLICATIONS STAFF Lauren Cordner, Bill Fleming Linda Gonzalez, Alex Goodrich Lucas Key, Marc McBride Hailey Miranda, Joy Myers Faith Sandquist, Richard Schoonover Holly Smith, James Wright AGWM EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Greg Beggs, Kevin Donaldson John Easter, David Ellis Joe G, Jeff Hartensveld Larry Henderson, Steve Lilly Doug Marsh, Gil Rodriguez PHOTOGRAPHY Associated Press Randy Bacon, David Dobson iStock, Shutterstock Gaylon Wampler COVER Shutterstock
CONNECT WITH US: agwm.org agworldmissions agworldmissions
This WorldView Edition Prior to His crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me” (Matthew 24:7-9). This is the world in which Jesus is building His Church. The disciples, however, were not to let these events hinder them as they proclaimed the gospel. Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations” (verse 14). We live in a world torn by war and natural disasters. Jesus’ instructions for the Church today are the same as He gave His disciples. Today the Church continues to flourish as it proclaims the gospel under difficult circumstances. John Easter AGWM executive director
Our Vision
Christ will be proclaimed, and His Church will be established in all nations through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Our Mission
Establishing the Church among all peoples everywhere by reaching, planting, training, and serving.
Email us at worldview@agwm.org. WorldView (ISSN 2376-2969) is published bimonthly by General Council of the Assemblies of God, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, MO 65802-1894. Periodicals postage paid at Springfield, MO and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to WorldView, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, MO 65802-1894. Individual subscription rate for the United States and U.S. territories— $12.00 per year; Canada and other international—$14.95 per year (U.S. dollars). Bundle subscription (6 copies or more to same address)—$4.30 per copy for one year (U.S. dollars). Subscription questions? Call 1-855-642-2011. For editorial information, Call 417-862-2781, ext. 1780. © 2024. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Printed in the USA. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan. comThe “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
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Under Pressure
by AGWM Communications
I
n Matthew 16:18, Jesus told His disciples, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Jesus would work through His disciples to accomplish this task. However, He did not tell His disciples that this task would be easy. He explained, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 15:18). In verse 20 He continued, “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” Jesus had earlier told His disciples, “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me” (Matthew 24:9). The Church today is experiencing challenging circumstances—persecution, ministering in a wartorn world and a world rocked by natural disasters. So how do we approach gospel witness when experiencing opposition to the gospel? How can we effectively present the gospel in these situations? The stories in this issue of WorldView show how the Church is proclaiming the transforming work of Christ in a world filled with conflict and disaster.
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in a Natural Disaster by AGWM Global Worker
2023 Morocco earthquake
T
here are two questions that arise when any natural disaster takes place: First,
how do we handle the overwhelming loss? This includes destroyed houses, physical injury, death of family members and friends, or loss of livelihood. Second, what is the best way to assist with the large-scale trauma and mental health issues that can hold survivors (and first responders) in bondage for months or years? Compounding these questions is this: How can global workers and followers of Jesus respond when the disaster strikes in a religiously sensitive nation?
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Right page/clockwise– Egyptian worshipper prays for victims of Libya flooding and Morocco earthquake; relief supplies; Moroccan women mourn the loss of loved ones lost during the earthquake; humanitarian relief efforts
We asked these questions when a 6.8 earthquake struck late at night in the High Atlas Mountain villages of Morocco on September 8th, 2023. The answers were immediate. With wisdom from the Holy Spirit and love for our host nation, our global workers mobilized quickly and efficiently. Other believers throughout the nation quickly joined those living in Marrakech and Agadir.
remote areas, as local village leaders knew and respected them. Approximately 750 boxes of food and 500 blankets were delivered in the first three days after the earthquake. Other AGWM personnel and a Live Dead launch team packed up multiple vehicles of supplies and convoyed them to two staging grounds— joining in the emergency distribution and ministry to the grieving.
Moroccans immediately stepped up to donate blood for those in need. Global workers and Moroccan nationals purchased food, water, blankets, and other essential supplies. An international church staff, and global workers in the community collaborated, using the church as a staging ground to package these items, along with emergency generators and other essential items.
When Convoy of Hope, Water Mission, and Samaritan’s Purse joined with these global workers and national believers, the community relationships they had already formed were essential in connecting with Moroccan people to provide additional aid in the way of clean water, latrines, tents, and even donkeys and sheep.
These believers then developed a system for delivering these items to those who had lost homes and loved ones. Distribution was coordinated with those who lived in key areas of the Atlas Mountains, allowing direct access to the
“In the immediacy of the crisis, we don’t have time to think deeply; we just plunge into the work and do what needs to be done,” said Dick Brogden. “As the earth beneath us stops shaking and the floods recede, the emotion rises. Joy is mixed with sorrow.”
In the immediacy of the crisis, we don’t have time to think deeply, we just plunge into the work and do what needs to be done.” — Dick Brogden
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Below–Relief efforts in the Gaza Strip; recovery work after Moroccan earthquake
In Morocco, government helicopters brought the most severely injured to Marrakech’s hospitals, where they received free medical care. However, after being discharged, patients found themselves without money to purchase vital medications needed for their recovery. “One believing doctor, a friend of one of our personnel, personally contracted with a pharmacy to provide medications to these people for free. She and her family were selflessly willing to ‘pick up the tab,’” said an international church staff member. “Because of donations, we have been able to help in this unique area of need. However, the real ‘win’ comes with the relationship that has developed between the doctor and the patient. Doors are wide open for future follow-up!” “Some people come in to give out water, take a picture, and leave,” said a global worker in Morocco. “We are here, we stay, and we live with the people. We give out water, sit with them, pray, and give hope. What people really want after the disaster is to find hope again.” “These actions were done in the name of Jesus, and their compassionate and rapid intervention
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response has opened the door for ongoing gospel access where we had previously been restricted, particularly in remote mountain villages,” said Brogden. Workers from the international church and Live Dead teams had divine opportunities to meet with hurting village people. “Some of our ladies did basic first aid as they sat, listened, wept and prayed with women who had suffered great loss,” said an international church staff member. “Some of the men, after delivering food supplies, went back to the villages where they had been with soccer balls for the young people.” These acts of compassion opened the door to remote villages with Berber populations where our teams had not yet gained a presence. As winter approached, people constructed shelters as they waited for government resources to rebuild their homes. In sync with meeting tangible physical needs, global workers organized trauma counseling. A faith-based counseling service present incountry brought in several trauma counselors. For two weeks this team provided care for first responders, their children, and ex-pats living
What people really want after the disaster is to find hope again.”
in the area where the quake hit. Because of generous relief donations, the international church was able to partner with two trauma specialists who provided training for local community leaders on how to recognize and deal with crisis related mental and emotional needs. This team held another training for global workers who were then able to pass on the tools they learned to national believers. Arrangements are being made for a specialist trauma counselor to be on site for six months to assist in meeting the needs of those suffering.
The church in Morocco is small, but her compassionate response to the earthquake survivors will, prayerfully, have a tremendous impact in seeing people brought out of spiritual darkness into the glorious light of Christ.
Egypt/Libya The bold Egyptian Church was not quiet as tragedy struck around them. As floods took thousands of lives in Libya, and displaced tens of thousands more, the Church in Egypt
— Global Worker
flooded the border with food, water, and medical supplies. The Church overcame the nearly impenetrable border and sent doctors from their churches to serve in struggling hospitals. As war broke out in the Gaza Strip, the Church began to strategize how to best serve the hurting Palestinian people. They are exhausting their resources to meet the needs of those suffering inside Gaza and those displaced to Egypt. The Church continues to reach out to those who are experiencing loss through natural disasters and war. These believers demonstrate Christ’s love and compassion though kind deeds and supply what is lacking in material needs. And they look for opportunities to tell these people about Jesus, the One who can meet their spiritual needs. AGWM GLOBAL WORKER
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Flourishing
by AGWM Global Worker
During Persecution
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he architect’s office was a small room in a
building on a dusty Indian road. The room had one door and one window. There were two tables: one for the architect and the other for his two junior associates. Next to the architect’s desk were two plastic chairs. *Mamu, the Hindu village chief, sat in the first chair; I was in the second.
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Mamu spoke to the architect first. He asked, “Where is the bell?” There was no steeple, cross, or bell on these drawings. Without a word the architect’s puzzled face said it all. Where am I going to put a bell tower on this building? His associates stopped their scribbling and looked over. Again, and emphatically, Mamu repeated himself. “The bell! A cross!”
Across the table, we had spread the blueprints for a two-story building with a meeting hall on the second floor and a three-bedroom home on the ground floor. A local pastor’s dream of having a Christian church with a parsonage was coming to life. Years before, the church had purchased the land, and a generous donor in the West had provided money to build the church. Now the church’s leadership had asked me to review the plans. Mamu was familiar with Christianity. A year earlier his two daughters, his niece, Mamta, and several neighbors had started following Jesus. He was familiar with the customs of this western religion and their buildings with steeples and crosses, priests with Bibles, meals with meat, and festivals with strange stories.
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The architect’s pen hit the paper searching for a quick revision, but only confusion seemed to surface. The moment was rich with potential. I asked the architect and the listening associates, “If we put a bell on this building, will you come into it?” The architect, Mr. Rawat, a high caste Hindu responded, “No. I am Hindu. Hindus go to the temple. Muslims go to the mosque. Christians go to the church.” “Then,” I replied, “we are not going to put a bell on this building because Jesus came to be with Hindus, Muslims, and Christians. He is for all of us. I do not want anything on this building to keep you from coming into it.” Jesus is for everyone—that is part of why the news is good.
Jesus came to be with Hindus, Muslims, and Christians. He is for all of us.” — Global Worker
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The gospel is not fragile. Tyrants, dictators, heretics, wars, persecutions, famines, and unrest throughout history have not stopped the progress of Jesus’ mission to restore a broken relationship with humanity. This restorative message first came to India through Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples. After 2,000 years India is a nation with a Christian population that some estimate to be as high as 4.8%. One hundred years ago, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar introduced a philosophy called Hindutva, inspired by European fascism. Like fascism, the goal of the Hindutva movement was to create a hegemony in India. Essentially, this philosophy intended to define who had the right to say they were Indian, or who was a true Indian—who had “Hindu-ness?”
religion that originated within the India subcontinent (Hindu, Buddhist, or Jain). This resurging nationalistic philosophy has serious implications for Muslims and Christians in India. The U.S. Department of State website lists a summary of religious rights violations. They report that, “Attacks on members of religious minority communities, including killings, assaults, and intimidation, occurred in various states throughout the year. . . . There were also attacks on pastors, disruption of Christian
For Savarkar, to be Indian was to be born in India, to follow Indian culture, and to be a part of a
She understands that the good news is that Jesus is for everyone. This is the message a radicalized India needs to hear and experience.” — Global Worker
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and Muslim worship services, and vandalism of churches. . . . On April 6, the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America released its 2022 annual report and documented 761 violent incidents against Christians in the country in 2021, including neighborhood skirmishes, targeted killings, and armed assaults.” In addition to violence, more than 20,000 charitable organizations in India are no longer able to receive funding from outside of India. Western forms of Christianity are being targeted. The pastor requested Mr. Rawat to revise the architectural drawings to include a cross. The church was going to construct a building. Indian buildings are supported by concrete and rebar pillars. This structural work is the greatest expense for the project. The night after workers had poured the pillars—before the concrete set—locals who had embraced the Hindutva philosophy entered the property and removed the forms that held the pillars. The work was destroyed. Years later, the building remains incomplete. The message from the community couldn’t be clearer: Outside religions are not welcome. These threats to Indian Christianity leave space for the authenticity of Jesus’ good news to break through the historical and cultural misunderstandings of what life with Jesus is about. Is following Jesus about a building? Is following Him about a diet? Does life with Jesus require a certain type of clothing? If your answer to those questions is yes, then the radicalization of Hinduism within India has potential to wreak havoc on the Christian’s cultural way of life. This is the choice for those in India who follow Jesus. Will Christians double down on their Christian culture elements, or will they adapt their communication strategy to be “on the way” with Hindus? Will Christians walk with Hindus as friends, allowing them to meet and experience Jesus without the Western trappings of Christian religion? This choice for those who follow Jesus in India determines
whether the current socio-political storm stirring there will be a pivotal moment that leads to thriving communities of men and women who follow Jesus, or communal groups in Western church buildings who dig in their heels and say to their neighbors and towns, “It is us versus you.” Mamta, who met Jesus at the same time as Mamu’s two daughters, was transformed from a deserted mother of two—bootlegging alcohol in her tiny village to survive—to a thriving life with others who follow Jesus. Mamta moved from Mamu’s village with the church building to a town where a different type of Jesus community exists. This community doesn’t have a church building, a pastor, dress codes, or dietary rules. This community allows her to wear native dress. She wears the same jewelry as other married Indian women. She was born a Hindu, but she loves Jesus and honors Him with her whole life. Now, she leads a devotional group with her two neighbors. One of them, like her, was born a Hindu but is now following Jesus. The other Hindu friend enjoys hearing stories about a God who wants to be with her. Mamta is “on the way” with her neighbors and friends. She understands that the good news is that Jesus is for everyone. This is the message a radicalized India needs to hear and experience. AGWM GLOBAL WORKER
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Flourishing
Despite War’s Destruction
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by AGWM Global Workers
2023 Morocco earthquake
R
ussia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Within days of this attack, millions of Ukrainians
were
displaced
in
country;
millions more fled to neighboring countries and beyond to avoid shelling by the Russians and find refuge for themselves and their families. Thousands of apartments, homes,
and
businesses
were
in ruins. Is there any hope for the
people
of
Ukraine?
Yes.
* Names changed for security
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Out of the destruction and turmoil of war rises a Church that is flourishing. One Assemblies of God global worker who remained in Ukraine reports that the Church is using this crisis to minister to the citizens of Ukraine.
Mobilizing the Church
Churches became empty as many believers joined the mass evacuation that took place in the first days of the war. However, church members who remained became an army of workers. Throughout Ukraine these churches became aid points and refugee centers. In the months following the start of the war— even in the most devastated areas—pastors report that the churches are full; most of this growth has come from new people. Before the war, people were cautious and afraid of evangelical and Pentecostal churches. Many Ukrainians believed that these churches were sects and these people were crazy. However, when the Church began providing aid day after day, it shocked the people. The Church was not what they had always thought it to be. Churches were the only groups meeting the most basic needs of people who had lost everything. People by the thousands are coming to the churches because of the aid, shelter, evacuation, and love shown by the churches.
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People by the thousands are coming to the churches because of the aid, shelter, evacuation, and love shown by the churches.” — Global Worker
Ministry to Children The Ukrainian Church, along with help from others, developed several focus groups for ministry to children. First, at Christmas, believers distribute Gift of Heaven gift boxes. Hope in Action (AGWM mobile medical ministry operating in Ukraine) delivered 9,000 Christmas boxes to women and children. Churches in Poland and Ukraine pack these boxes. The churches and network of 200 volunteer doctors deliver these boxes. Second, “We developed a ministry for children with autism, Down syndrome, and other special needs,” states one global worker. “We bring these children from boarding schools to the church. There we organize different crafts, play with them, and prepare meals for them.”
This global worker and her husband were in the U.S. when she learned of a counseling program for those who have experienced the trauma of war. The American Bible Society, in conjunction with psychologists and pastors, had developed this Bible-based trauma healing course. This course is currently part of the training provided by the Trauma Human Institute.
Third, churches minister to mothers and their children from newborns to age 3 who had to leave their homes. The church provides baby food, diapers, and groceries to help them survive the move to Kyiv.
This global worker had planned to use this material in the country when she and her husband served because of the war taking place there. God, however, was going to expand the scope of her ministry.
Last, for children still living near the frontline zones, the churches deliver toys, sweets, food, clothes, and other necessities.
This global worker explained, “Everyone has a son, brother, relative, or knows someone experiencing trauma. We knew the trauma of war would affect our people.”
Dealing With the Trauma of War
Meanwhile, the Church in Ukraine, while experiencing trauma itself, knew that it must reach out to the internally displaced people (IDP) and others who needed help.
Trauma is a side effect of any war. This is especially true in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. When Russia invaded Ukraine, many people left their homes and fled to a bordering country. Others, however, sought refuge in a safer place inside Ukraine. How do you minister to those who have experienced trauma because of the ongoing war? God was preparing a global worker to bring this healing ministry to Ukraine.
Above– Children receiving Gift of Heaven gift boxes; mother with child receiving aid.
To meet the need for trauma counseling, God opened the door for this global worker to use her training to help churches in Ukraine minister to those who were experiencing trauma. These people needed emotional healing from trauma, but pastors also needed to understand how healing works. Sometimes pastors think that if you believe in God, then there should be no pain.
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Some people believe that time will heal all wounds. While this is partially true, God is the One who heals our hearts. But healing is a process and we need to understand how the process works. With physical wounds, God sometimes uses doctors and medicine to heal the hurt. If we do not treat these wounds, then time will not heal them. But if we treat these wounds, they heal over time. It is the same with wounds of the heart. With the wound of the heart, you need to understand what is happening and what is helpful and healing. To bring healing, people need to understand why they feel a certain way—what is normal. When you understand what is happening, you realize how healing is taking place and if it is taking place. The global worker and her team conducted two trauma healing events. The first was in Lviv, in the western part of Ukraine. Many refugees (IDP) had settled in the western part of Ukraine. They came from eastern Ukraine, where fighting is still ongoing. The team asked people from the church to join them so they could continue helping the people after the seminar. When you open peoples’ hearts, it takes time for healing. The team wanted to connect these people with the members of the church.
The church had been ministering to internally displaced people since the beginning of the war. They had been feeding people who are on the frontline for over a year. Every day they brought food to the railroad station for those arriving by train. They had more than 2,000 people in their feeding program. This was an asset because these people knew the church was caring; they trusted the church. As the team conducted this training, they could see an immediate difference in these people. Many in this group were unsaved. The gospel was new to them. The only connection they had with the church was through the feeding program. However, as the team taught this course, they could see a change in attitude on the faces and in the dispositions of these refugees. When they started the sessions, the refugees were tense, reserved, and withdrawn. However, many left with peace, almost with joy. They said that they had found hope. People who attended the training reported that the lesson on forgiveness was the hardest but the most helpful. Forgiveness is a hard topic, especially when you hear about horrible things that didn't just happen a year or a month ago but are currently happening and continue to happen. Most of those attending struggled with forgiveness. They kept asking, “How can you forgive someone for something like what they did to us? We can never forget that.” It is difficult to forgive people, but no one wants to live with unforgiveness and hatred. This is where many found hope. And this hope gave them understanding on how to move forward. The fact this church had a long-term relationship with
Ukrainian Soldier rescues child during evacuation of Kyiv, Ukraine
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The refugees were tense, reserved, and withdrawn. However, many left with peace, almost with joy. They said that they had found hope. — Global Worker
these refugees helped the training team. People were much more interested in the gospel. They wanted to have Bibles. They wanted more meetings. The church started a Bible study as a result of this trauma counseling. The second training was for the church leaders in Kyiv. There was a stark contrast between these two groups because these church leaders already understood the love of Christ. However, they did not understand what happens during trauma and how emotional wounds heal. Many people in their congregations were experiencing war, so their congregations were struggling. Trauma and stress skyrocket when everyone is stressed. Added to this was the influx of refugees who were seriously traumatized. A global worker explained, “I think there is not one person in Ukraine who is not traumatized right now.” People coming from the front lines or places that have been bombed or have been under occupation have more severe trauma. In the church, some people had to leave to serve in the army, or to take their children to a safer place. This left fewer church members to help, while the amount of work increased. Some of those who stayed to minister shut down their feelings to be able to continue. Church
leaders needed to know how to handle these circumstances and help both their congregations and these refugees. And they needed to know how to keep themselves emotionally and spiritually healthy. This trauma ministry has played a huge role in equipping leaders to bring emotional and spiritual healing to the people in Ukraine. The current war has not stopped the church in Ukraine from ministering to those in need. As believers in neighboring countries have partnered with Ukrainian believers, many people have experienced God’s love and accepted Christ as Savior. AGWM GLOBAL WORKERS
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Flourishing
by AGWM Global Worker
in the Midst of Conflict
T
he Russian invasion of Ukraine had been
going on for several months. On September 21, 2022, however, Vladimir Putin announced a mobilization of 300,000 military-aged Russian men to reinforce his military operations in Ukraine. Some sources estimate this number to be as high as 500,000. This event, even more than the war, caused turmoil inside Russia.
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Below–Russian army; Russians fleeing the country create long lines at the border crossing; the border crossing at Verkhny Lars between Georgia and Russia
Through God’s divine providence, He had moved this missionary team out of Russia and began moving Russians to them. — Global Worker
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Kevin and Cathy Stone
Russian citizens faced a difficult decision: stay and risk being drafted or flee Russia with no promise of safety or security. Around 1 million Russians decided to leave their home country and enter foreign countries they knew would be unfriendly to them. These people hoped to escape the war and find some form of stability. In the middle of that chaos and turmoil, the Lord continued to speak to the hearts and minds of young Russians, supplying opportunities for them to hear the gospel. Five months before this mobilization, a global outreach team that had been stationed in Moscow, Russia, had to relocate to Tbilisi, the capital city in the Republic of Georgia, because of complications surrounding the war. The team was disappointed not to serve in Moscow, where they felt God had called them. However, the Lord quickly showed the purpose of their relocation. During their first five months, this team faithfully shared the gospel in Tbilisi. They made connections with people and started
Scripture studies, but the spiritual soil was hard and the work largely unfruitful. However, on September 21, 2022, when the Russian military announced the mobilization, things began to change. Overnight, Tbilisi became one of the major destinations for fleeing Russians. Through God’s divine providence, He had moved this missionary team out of Russia and began moving Russians to them. The morning of September 21, 2022, one team member was in a language class taught by *Viktor, a Russian believer. Just a few months earlier, Viktor had left Russia because of the war. During the class, Viktor’s phone rang every few minutes and interrupted his teaching. Friends were calling him from the border begging for help. They knew he was in Tbilisi, but there was nothing anyone could do to help. Lines at the border were up to ten miles long. Because of the backlog, people were trading the titles of their cars for bicycles so they could more effectively cross the border.
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Theme resources available online | agwm.org/store. agwm.org 2 8 at
Introducing the Assemblies of God World Missions 2024 Annual Theme
On the night of His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21, NIV). The Father sent the Son, the Father and the Son sent the Spirit, and Jesus sends His followers. God is still sending the Church into all the world with the whole gospel. He has called us to participate in His mission to proclaim the gospel to all peoples everywhere. While evangelizing our communities and winning people to Jesus, we cannot neglect those who have limited or no access to the gospel. That is why we have chosen this theme for 2024: Sent—All Peoples Everywhere. The local church plays an important role in fulfilling God’s mandate (Matthew 28:19-20). Each church must cultivate an atmosphere where God can speak and must be willing to train, send, and support those He calls (Acts 13). Will you join us in ensuring all peoples everywhere hear the gospel?
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Eventually, Viktor stopped teaching the class because he was overwhelmed by the situation and plight of his friends. Viktor and the team member prayed about what they could do in the face of this crucial situation and felt led by the Holy Spirit to go to a mall. They knew many of the Russians would end up there after fleeing the country. Viktor wanted to see if there was anything he could do to help them. Once they arrived at the mall, they sat with a group of ten Russian men from the Republic of Tatarstan. In Russia, there are 4.7 million Tatar people; 90% are Muslim. Less than 0.46% are evangelical Christian. Viktor and the teammate discovered that these men were Tatar Muslims. Because of the emotional weight of their circumstances, these men allowed Viktor to pray over them in Jesus’ name for comfort and provision. Even more important, they allowed Viktor to share the gospel with them. He read from the Gospel of John. Out of the pain of war, a forced mobilization, and fleeing a country, God provided an opportunity for these men—from a predominantly Muslim region and people group—to hear about Jesus for the first time. A young girl named Masha fled to Tbilisi. The first time the team encountered her she wanted nothing to do with Jesus. She claimed to be an atheist and did not want to talk about religion. The team stayed in contact with her, and eventually she agreed to come to a Scripture study, but only to observe, not to participate. During that study the team read the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11–32). As they neared the end of the passage, they noticed that Masha was wiping tears from her eyes. After taking a minute to compose herself, she exclaimed, “I’m surprised this kind of story is in the Bible. Since childhood, all I heard from my religious relatives was punishment and fear—how you couldn’t do this or that or something terrible would happen to you. But in this story, the father is so forgiving.”
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I feel so much peace. It’s like I never had depression.” In that moment she decided to pray the prayer of repentance and be welcomed as a daughter of God.
The mall in Tbilisi, Georgia
— Masha
— Global Worker
From that moment Masha began to attend regular Scripture studies with the team. She also invited her friends from a depression recovery group to come and experience Jesus. During one of the meetings, after a moment of silence before God, Masha told the team, “I feel so much peace. It’s like I never had depression.” In that moment she decided to pray the prayer of repentance and be welcomed as a daughter of God.
Your Move
In the weeks that followed, Masha told the team she wanted to celebrate her first Christmas as a believer by being baptized. On Christmas Eve, Masha shared how Jesus had changed her life. She told how He had worked all the details in her life perfectly to bring her into relationship with Him at this exact time. When she came up from the water, her first words were, “That was awesome!” Over the following months, Masha and her friends continued to come to the Scripture study to be discipled. A couple of months after her own baptism, Masha baptized one of the first
Pray Give Go
friends she had brought with her to the Scripture study. The Lord was producing disciples who were making their own disciples. In the middle of war, a mobilization, and a population of displaced people, the Lord continues to work in the hearts and minds of the Russian people. He is still drawing people near to Him, providing opportunities for them to hear the gospel for the first time, and making disciples who are continuing to multiply. When you hear news about unfortunate things happening in Russia and surrounding areas, remember the Lord is reaching people like Masha. The gospel is being preached, lives are being transformed, and the church is being planted. AGWM GLOBAL WORKER
Pray that Churches ministering in difficult circumstances will flourish as they meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those around them. Responding to natural disasters and crisis situations often means that global workers need more funds to cover these added expenses. Consider giving to global workers to help them meet these challenging needs. God is still calling people to minister in difficult places. Ask God if this is His plan for you. Allow Him to direct your life.
Scan the QR code or visit pgg.agwm.org/v10n2
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lourishing
A Biblical Response
to Natural Disaster, Persecution, and War
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by AGWM Global Workers
T
he articles in this issue of WorldView show how the Church is
flourishing as it responds to disasters, persecution, and wars. How can the Church flourish in a crisis? How can the Church flourish when governments and religious groups persecute it? What is the guiding principle that directs us during these challenging events?
As followers of Jesus, we understand that our world is in crisis. Until Jesus returns, sin affects the world. The Bible authors experienced many of the same crises we experience. They asked, as we do, Why do these things happen? Jesus knew persecution awaited His Church. He told His disciples, “You will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me” (Matthew 24:9). The apostles experienced persecution as authorities jailed them (Acts 4-5), beat them (Acts 5), and sometimes killed them (Acts 7).
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Jesus explained that those who persecuted them were ultimately rejecting Him. He told the disciples, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 15:18) and “anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me” (John 16:2-3). When global workers and national churches face persecution, we know that those who are persecuting them are rejecting Jesus. Still, we can take comfort in the fact Jesus faced persecution even to the point of death. Violence entered the world through Cain’s disobedience (Genesis 4). The violent chaos of Judges is summed up by the phrase “all the people did what was right in their own eyes” (Judges 21:25, NRSV). Jesus knew that from the time He ascended until the time He returns, war would continue to be a normal, though tragic, reality (Matthew 24:6-7). When we witness the destructive conflict between Russia and Ukraine, when we see Palestinians and Israelis killed, when we hear of civil wars and conflict around the globe, we understand there is something deeper taking place. There is more to conflict than human action. Persecution and war are not merely the result of human sin, but also the work of spiritual forces that hate God’s kingdom. Paul wrote “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). Paul asserted that all creation is “groaning” from the bondage and decay caused by sin and the Fall (Romans 8:20-22). When we hear of earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires, and all other natural disasters, we are reminded the kingdom of God has yet to fully reign over the world. Sin continues to push the world into crisis. Suffering, persecution, war, and natural disasters are the result of people rejecting God, demonic spiritual forces, and sin’s grip on the
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world. This understanding, however, does not make reality any easier. What should we do about this? we ask. How should I feel about this as a citizen of God’s kingdom? The better question is, What is God doing about this. How can we get involved in what God is doing? Paul explained that the Holy Spirit works in and through us, showing us how to pray and what to do. The Holy Spirit makes us more like Christ, connecting us to God’s heart and will. As the earth groans, Spirit-filled believers groan with it. When the Church does God’s work, it will be empathetically connected to the world. The Church—the believers—mourn death and destruction. Like Jeremiah, we mourn, “I have cried until the tears no longer come; my heart is broken. My spirit is poured out in agony as I see the desperate plight of my people. Little children and tiny babies are fainting and dying in the streets” (Lamentations 2:11, NLT). As this mourning burrows deep in our hearts, God can use the Church to accomplish His good in the Earth. What does this look like practically? How are AGWM global workers becoming involved in God’s work in crisis? From Jesus’ lips, He commands, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44, emphasis added). Even as hostile governments expel global workers and threaten believers, we pray for their persecutors. The witness of faithful believers, even under persecution and duress, often provides opportunity for the Holy Spirit to move. Just as Paul’s jailer received salvation through Paul’s message (Acts 16), persecutors can be transformed by believers’
With every rebellion, disaster, and human failure, the Maker’s commitment to humanity, to His world, to His universe, is renewed and persists unshaken.”
— Global Workers
witness and the Holy Spirit’s influence. Even when persecution forces global workers and believers to flee their homes, like the church in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1), we take our witness to places untouched by the gospel. When experiencing war, we take the path of love. When tempted to take sides, we must remember that God is on the side of life. Jesus’ mission to give abundant life (John 10:10) includes spiritual and physical life. This involves creating environments of peace. That is why Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). Whether witnessing to Russians or Ukrainians, Palestinians or Israelis, we must “proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:19), announce “the good news of peace through Jesus Christ” (Acts 10:36), and be the hands and feet of the “Lord of peace” (2 Thessalonians 3:16) wherever we are. We must care for the victims of these crises, aiding them in their physical needs (James 2:16). Though the desperate suffering and pain of war tempt us to hate, we must remember God’s heart for peace extends to victims and perpetrators alike. Just as Roman soldiers repented from their sin (Luke 3:14), Russian, Israeli, and Hamas soldiers are capable of repenting and accepting Jesus as their Savior. No matter what evil they have committed, God wants to save them: “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live”
(Ezekiel 33:11). We must witness even to those we believe are in the wrong. Finally, when persecution, war, natural disasters, and the suffering they create seem beyond anything we can do, we are called to persevere. Just as Job refused to curse God and continued to serve him faithfully, we must serve faithfully. One AGWM global worker sums up this perseverance: “I don’t have the answers. I don’t have the resources. And so, I cry out, even groan, to the God of creation. Through the trials, calamities and setbacks in Scripture’s storyline, an undergirding claim remains: Freely, and by His power, God created this world. And He did so with much good in mind. He is the Maker of heaven and earth. The One whose power made what is out of what was not. With every rebellion, disaster, and human failure, the Maker’s commitment to humanity, to His world, to His universe, is renewed and persists unshaken.” We persevere because we know God’s love for humanity and creation persists. AGWM global workers persevere because we have read and experienced how God has worked for His people. We will continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Even as creation groans under the weight of sin, even as people reject God and turn to violence against each other, we must continue to be peacemakers, to aid the vulnerable, and to worship the God who created the world and is saving the world through His kingdom. AGWM GLOBAL WORKERS
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