New IM Director
Serving the Least and Last
Doug Marsh,
Contents
The Bible: Global Transformation and Discipleship
Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 shows how God used His Word to transform a life (Acts 8:26-39). e same life-transformation is taking place today as global workers proclaim the gospel and explain what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Learn how global workers are making an impact in people’s lives by bringing the Bible to them in their own language.
by Mindi Benintendi and Richard L. Schoonover
32 26
Next Issue
e Su ering Church — Many believers around the world are experiencing suffering because of their commitment to follow Jesus. Some have been martyred for their faith. This issue of WorldView looks at some of these stories and how followers of Jesus remain faithful to Him, even when facing death.
Introducing Doug Marsh, AGWM International Ministries director
Missions has always been a part of Doug Marsh’s life. Raised in Peru and Bolivia by missionary parents, Doug learned what it means to serve God with what you have. As a teen he developed a Royal Rangers program in Bolivia that eventually reached many Latin American countries. These experiences prepared Doug to lead AGWM International Ministries. by AGWM Communications
Serving the Least and Last: International Ministries
As missionaries establish the Church among all peoples everywhere, they often need assistance in specific areas of ministry. AGWM created International Ministries to meet this need. The nine IM divisions provide the expertise and resources to accomplish this goal.
by Doug Marsh
This WorldView Edition
When we translate God’s Word into the heart language of “all peoples everywhere,” we participate with the same Holy Spirit who spoke at Pentecost so that “each one heard their own language” (Acts 2:6). When we work to see every believer equipped with God’s Word, we are standing in 2,000 years of Christian mission. Gambian Christian scholar, Lamin Sanneh, sums it up well: “The original language of Christianity is translation.”
This issue of WorldView tells how AGWM is working to provide a Bible in the heart language of every believer. Life Publishers, through the FireBible, and International Ministries (IM), through uniquely skilled global workers, are sending the Word across language barriers around the world. We encourage you to pray and give so that all may hear!
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.
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
Rebecca Scott, 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
Randy Bacon, International Ministries iStock, Lightstock Shutterstock, Gaylon Wampler
Our Mission
Establishing the Church among all peoples everywhere by reaching, planting, training, and serving.
WorldView (ISSN 2376-2969) is published bimonthly by General Council of the Assemblies of God, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Spring eld, MO 65802-1894
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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.
Global Transformation and Discipleship
Inby Mindi Benintendi and Richard L. Schoonover
Acts 8, as the Ethiopian eunuch traveled home, he read from the Book of Isaiah. When Philip questioned the eunuch about what he was reading, the eunuch asked Philip to tell him who Isaiah was talking about.
“Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus” (Acts 8:35, ESV).
The Bible is God’s special revelation to His creation. According to AGWM Executive Director John Easter, “Reconciliation is at the center of the biblical narrative. The good news of what God has done through Jesus Christ is the message of hope we proclaim to a broken world.”
Do you understand what you are reading?
The Ethiopian eunuch was probably reading from the Septuagint — a Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament. Greek was not his native language. This may have added to his inability to understand what he was reading.
As Christians, we take for granted that the Bible exists in our own language. With only a few exceptions, we consider local language translations authoritative for a believer’s life and practice. While we encourage the study of original languages and historical context, it is not required for believers or leaders to read or study Scripture in the original languages.
God, in divine humility, made himself known to His creation in a way that they can know Him. The Word became flesh. Jesus was born as a human in a specific time and culture. He presented His good news in the language and idiom of the people He was reaching.
The same principle applies to today’s Bible translations. They present the good news in languages and idioms people can understand.
The Bible and evangelism/missions
Philip asked the Ethiopian eunuch, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
The eunuch replied, “How can I, … unless someone explains it to me?” (Acts 8:31).
Philip wasn’t interested in the man’s language skills. His question focused on a deeper understanding of God’s Word.
This Ethiopian was reading Isaiah 53:7–8, the prophecy concerning the coming Messiah — the One who would provide salvation for the whole world. However, this man did not understand to whom this passage referred. He needed someone to explain it to him. Philip then used this Scripture and others to explain Isaiah’s prophecy concerning Jesus. This was the message the eunuch — and all humanity — must hear.
Throughout Scripture we see how the gospel impacted lives. Paul wrote to the Thessalonian believers, “The Lord’s message rang out from
you not only in Macedonia and Achaia — your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore, we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead — Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath” (1 Thessalonians 1:8–10).
Global workers throughout the world today are using the Bible to tell people about Jesus. Many times, this involves one-on-one conversations that may take place over days, weeks, even months. In each of these conversations, global workers are opening God’s Word and explaining Jesus and His sacrifice for our sins. These conversations often lead to a lifechanging encounter with God.
The Word became flesh. He presented His good news in the language and idiom of the people He was reaching.
When people accept the truth of God’s Word and find salvation through Christ, they turn from worshipping pagan deities. They begin to believe in a creator God who made humanity in His own image. They understand that He desires to have a relationship with them.
This is why the Bible is important in missions. It presents the life-changing power of the gospel. It penetrates the darkness. Billions of people around the world have discovered this power as they encounter God’s Word in their own language. Having a Bible in one’s heart language not only helps believers understand God’s Word but helps them proclaim it to others.
in Vietnam. She realized this Bible was an incredible resource and wanted to give it to someone who could use it. Her friend’s mother is a pastor, so she gave the Bible to her. The FireBible is the first study Bible translated into Vietnamese. To see her receiving a Bible translated in her language was amazing. This Bible became an valuable tool in her ministry.
One global worker received a Vietnamese FireBible before it was available for pastors
Most pastors around the world have limited resources and Bibles. This Vietnamese pastor shared how helpful it was to have a study Bible in her own language. The believers around her created a sign-up sheet. They listed what hours on what day they would like to read from the Bible. Others took photos of the pages with their phones so they could read it later. Soon after this Life Publishers provided 100 Bibles for other Vietnamese pastors. Their faces were filled with joy. Some had been saving their money for years to buy a Bible.
The Vietnamese FireBible
The
Bible
—
presents the life-changing power of the gospel. It penetrates the darkness. Billions of people around the world have discovered this power as they encounter God’s Word in their own language.
FireBible History
The FireBible ( rst known as the Full Life Study Bible) was a response to a need from pastors in the Brazilian Assemblies of God. Then AGWM Executive Director Loren Triplett had a vision to develop a study Bible in Portuguese (Brazilian). Missionaries Don and Linda Stamps began the arduous task of building a team of scholars to begin this project. Under their leadership, they created the Full Life Study Bible. Toward the end of this project, Don struggled with terminal cancer. The Stamps’ prayer was not just for his healing but for him to nish this project. Stamp nished his notes just prior to his passing. The Stamps’ legacy continues to impact the world through a Bible translated into nearly 70 languages today.
In 1996, the Assemblies of God World Missions leaders saw the potential for this Bible to be used around the world and assigned the project to Life Publishers.
Life Publishers, an AGWM ministry, is committed to translating the FireBible into the world’s top 100 languages. Currently, Life Publishers has translated and printed the FireBible in 67 language versions and in more than 88 editions (Youth and Children Editions included). Not having access to the Word explained — and in the language of their heart — deprives people of life-changing teachings and they miss the transformative impact it can have on their lives. Providing access coupled with explanation of what they are reading creates an environment conducive to acceptance and spiritual growth.
Life Publishers
Making the Word Accessible
Philip understood the importance of explaining God’s Word to the Ethiopian eunuch. He probably communicated to this Ethiopian in Aramaic or Greek, most likely in Greek. But Greek, was not the Ethiopian’s heart language — the language of his nationality.
Years ago, global worker Jeffery Dove was living in Bangkok, Thailand. The Myanmar Assemblies of God leadership asked, “Would you consider creating a FireBible in the language of the Tedim-Zomi Chin tribe?”
At that time the Tedim-Zomi Chin numbered between 350,000 and 400,000, and had a unique culture and language structure. They were the fastest-growing language group in the Myanmar Assemblies of God. Dove, along with Life Publishers, began to create a FireBible in their language.
Many people become Christians because they encounter the gospel in their heart language. Bible translations help to advance an understanding of God and His message of salvation. Without this specific, earthy embodiment of language, Christians would not know themselves or their God.
You probably have multiple versions of the Bible at your disposal. Each of these is a translation from the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. Even the Gospels are a translation of what Jesus spoke in Aramaic. But what if you only had a Bible in a secondary language? While you could probably read and understand the text in that language, it would not be the same as having a Bible in your heart language. This is why translating the Bible into other languages is important.
The Myanmar Assemblies of God asked for 10,000 FireBibles. The leaders also asked if they could sell these Bibles to the church leaders. Because leaders viewed the Bible as something extremely valuable, it wasn’t acceptable in their culture to give the Bibles away.
The Chin people are among Southeast Asia’s poorest. They grow crops and are day laborers to make a living. Why would these leaders want to sell these Bibles when Life Publishers would give them away? The leaders replied, “Selling it at a locally set price adds value and ownership.” The price they set was equal to six weeks of a day-laborer’s pay.
Today, millions of believers can relate to Philip’s question, “Do you understand what you are reading?” A large percentage of these people cannot read — or understand — a Bible in any language other than their heart language. Life Publishers is making the Bible and study notes accessible in the heart language of many people.
Think about your take-home pay for six weeks. Would you be willing to work six weeks to purchase a Bible? Church leaders began talking about the value of this Chin language study Bible and how it would help people understand God’s Word in their heart language.
Continued on page 14
Je ery Dove
Fire FireBible Progress
The FireBible ame graphics located on the world map depict the various languages of the FireBible. Use the QR code to view the online interactive map and learn more about speci c projects.
To get more information visit the interactive map at
Languages & Counting
After Life Publishers completed the translation, editing, and formatting, they had the Bibles printed in India. However, there were difficulties getting the Bibles across the border. At one point, all 10,000 Bibles had to be loaded on the backs of 231 pack horses and transported nearly 80 miles into Tedim, a small town in Chin state.
As the horses streamed into town, the believers met them with joy. The leaders among the Chin people had pre-purchased more than 7,000 Bibles for their churches and discipleship programs. What a great value they placed on a study Bible in their own language; six weeks of labor to read and understand the Bible in their own heart language!
Lisu tribal pastor Chunsein Taik from Myanmar, talked about receiving a Bible in his native language. “The first time when I saw the FireBible, my heart was beating so quickly I couldn’t say a word because joy and happiness were full up in my heart.”
Years later, the Chin leadership told Life Publishers they had sold all the Bibles and needed more Bibles. They had saved all the proceeds from the previous Bibles and sent a wire transfer for $42,000 USD to help print the second edition. This was equivalent to nearly 300,000 Kyat, Myanmar’s currency.
Sometimes we need creative ways to get the Bible to the people. Life Publishers produced a Bangla language Bible for Bangladesh. The government wouldn’t let them bring a truckload of Bibles across the border. They did, however, allow believers to bring the Bibles one wheelbarrow at a time. So, Life Publishers stored the Bibles in a building close to the border, and each day believers took a wheelbarrow of Bibles across the border. Eventually, they carried more than 7,000 Bibles into Bangladesh.
Sometimes delivering the Bible involves danger. When the war between Russia and Ukraine started, the senior bishop of the Ukrainian Pentecostal Church said they needed Bibles. However, the Ukrainian Bible was out of print.
In about three weeks Life Publishers raised money for a reprint.
The main concern was how to get these Bibles into Ukraine. Life Publishers contacted their Romanian office. Workers from the Romanian office were picking up people at the border and taking them to various shelters. They said they could put the Bibles on one of their trucks going into Ukraine.
Life Publishers printed 15,000 Bibles and shipped them by truck to the Romanian office and from the Romanian office to Ukraine. Convoy of Hope took 5,000 to 6,000 with them into Ukraine along with their supplies. National churches distributed these Bibles because many people had not brought their Bible when they fled Ukraine. Receiving a Bible in their language let them know that God was with them; He hadn’t forgotten them.
Life Publishers also partnered with the national church. A group wanted to take 1,000 Bibles into Kiev, the capital city. Life Publishers was hesitant because of the military conflict, but this group said that they had a way to get them delivered. Later they sent a video of them delivering the Bibles. You could hear gunshots in the background. It was interesting to see the age variations of those unloading the Bibles. There were young men alongside old men. They were smiling and you could hear the jovial sounds because they were receiving Bibles.
It was wonderful to see their smiling faces. They were in the middle of a firefight but were willing to risk their lives to get the Bible to their people.
Heart language FireBibles become a valuable and trusted resource to communicate God’s message to unbelievers and explain the Scripture to new believers.
From top down— Pack horses coming into Tedim; Believers in Tedim receiving the Chin FireBibles; Believer in Romania with the FireBibles for Ukraine.
“ The first time when I saw the FireBible, my heart was beating so quickly I couldn’t say a word because joy and happiness were full up in my heart. ”
— Chunsein Taik, Myanmar Lisu tribal pastor
Learning a Biblical Worldview
It is not enough to lead someone to a relationship with Jesus. We must help them grow in that relationship. One national church leader said that the churches as a whole in his country were slipping toward secularism. Church members were accepting abortion, living together without marriage, and homosexuality, even in the churches. He believed that teaching the truths of Scripture would help overcome this spiritual drift.
Discipleship is a lifelong journey in developing one’s relationship with God through studying God’s Word with an intentional desire to deepen one’s relationship with Jesus and pursue Christlikeness. Some also call this spiritual formation. This involves teaching a new way of life that replaces their previous worldviews with a biblical worldview.
The FireBible was designed to provide the resources we need to disciple believers. Numerous churches make use of the 76 articles within the FireBible as an integral component of their structured discipleship process.
Through the study of God’s Word, believers understand what it means to follow Jesus.
The Bible and Discipleship
The apostles understood the importance of discipleship. After the Day of Pentecost, when 3,000 people accepted Christ as Savior, the apostles taught these early believers (Acts 2:42). While this probably included passages from the Old Testament, it also contained the teachings of Jesus.
The Bible is a primary resource in discipleship. Through the study of God’s Word, believers understand what it means to follow Jesus.
Jesus has called us to make disciples and establish the church everywhere. When people read the Scripture in their own heart language, they are more likely to receive its message and to make a lasting connection to a local church.
It is vital to recognize the importance of language and cultural context in conveying the gospel and discipleship teachings. One global worker reports that while he and his wife were serving in China, they met a young lady from a rural village in south Shaanxi province. She grew up in poor circumstances. Her family and village practiced a traditional Chinese animistic folk religion. She did well in school and was able to attend a university. While there, she had a foreign teacher who was a Christian. This was the first time she had met a Christ follower and heard the gospel.
She became a follower of Jesus. After she graduated from the university, she got her first job teaching Chinese to foreigners. She was new in her faith, only knew a handful of Christians, and was struggling to grow closer to Christ. This is when the global workers met her. They began to invest in her life. She had a Chinese Bible but couldn’t understand it because it was written in an older version of Chinese that is no longer used today.
Her English was good, so when she read her Chinese Bible and got confused, she opted to read an English Bible. The Bible in her second language made slightly more sense, but spiritual growth was difficult because she couldn’t fully understand the Word of God.
Continued on page 20
The Chinese FireBible
Inside pages of the Chinese FireBible
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
— 2 Timothy 3:16–17
These global workers gave her a copy of the Chinese FireBible and began to teach her how to read it. She immediately recognized a difference. The study notes were amazing to her. Not long after she received a FireBible, she exclaimed to these global workers, “Last night in my apartment I was reading the book of Acts and began praying. As I prayed, I received the dialect!” As she read her FireBible and prayed, God sovereignly baptized her in the Holy Spirit. She was not sure how to explain what had happened, so “I received the dialect” was the best she could say.
She immediately began to grow in her walk with the Lord. Her mother has become a Christian and is sharing Christ with her village. Her brother has also become a Christian. She is part of an underground church in her city. She is also a small group leader and is discipling about a dozen young ladies.
Beyond being able to read Scripture in one’s heart language, people also need to understand Scripture and how it relates to their salvation and their new life in Christ. While the Ethiopian eunuch could read the content, he needed someone to explain the meaning of the Scripture to him (Acts 8:32–35).
Discipleship within the local church, together with prayer and spending time digesting God’s Word, moves new believers forward in their spiritual journey. But how do you disciple a new believer? What resources do you use? A good study Bible is a place to start.
“ As I prayed, I received the dialect! ”
As she read her FireBible and prayed, God sovereignly baptized her in the Holy Spirit.
People in various languages and cultures with their FireBibles
A Timeless Tool
God’s Word provides His message and divine truths. Explanation brings clarity to understanding and provides an opportunity for accepting God’s truth. The FireBible makes the Word of God accessible by providing Pentecostal, Spirit-led study notes through:
• comprehensive book introductions.
• in-depth commentary on every page.
• theme nder icon system.
• color maps and charts.
• subject index.
• concordance.
• 76 insightful articles throughout the work.
These features make the FireBible a comprehensive Pentecostal study Bible.
From Our Foundation
From its beginning, the Assemblies of God has held a strong view of the inspiration of Scripture. The first statement in the Assemblies of God Sixteen Fundamental Truths reads:
“The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct.”
As Pentecostals, we believe in the importance of Scripture in salvation (Romans 10:14–15).
We also understand the importance of the Bible in Christian discipleship. Paul told Timothy, “And how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17 ).
The FireBible is an incredible tool and a strategic component of our missional goal.
Paul sent encouragement to the believers in Thessalonica, “And we also thank God continually because, when you received
the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
In the hands of missionaries, national church leaders, and committed local believers, the FireBible functions as a powerful tool not only to spread the gospel but to ensure a solid comprehension of the Word of God.
FireBibles are not a “one stop” answer to the need to grow Spirit-empowered leaders. The established indigenous church, our resident
missionaries, and our Bible schools are critically important and vitally necessary. But the FireBible is an incredible tool and a strategic component of our missional goal of establishing the Church everywhere and reaching the lost in places where it is difficult for others to live and work.
Move Your
MINDI BENINTENDI Life Publishers
RICHARD L. SCHOONOVER AGWM Communications
Pray
Life Publishers continues to supply FireBibles in heart languages around the world. Pray that those who receive FireBibles will grow in their faith, inspired by the personal language connection to God’s Word. Pray that both Life Publishers and International Ministries will be e ective as they work to make the gospel accessible to all peoples
To provide FireBible translations in heart languages – something that can powerfully and personally connect believers to God’s Word – Life Publishers and International Ministries need nancial resources. Commit to supporting these ministries with your nances.
Go
God sends us, His sons and daughters, to bring the gospel to the world. We work to transform communities by establishing the church and providing life-changing gospel access to all peoples everywhere. Are you called to go and take your place in this crucial mission of sharing the good news? Prayerfully consider God’s call on your life.
Theme resources available online at agwm.org/store.
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?
Introducing
Doug Marsh,
AGWM International Ministries Director
by AGWM Communications
Doug Marsh became the Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM) International Ministries director on January 1, 2023. Concerning his appointment, Marsh remarked, “I feel like I’m stepping into big shoes ... it’s been a huge learning curve. I really enjoy it.” Doug, however, is no stranger to missions. He grew up as a missionary kid in Peru.
Marsh’s father was a global church planter and eventually developed a Bible school in Puno, Peru.
When Marsh turned 7, his family moved to La Paz, Bolivia, and remained there until Marsh graduated high school. While in La Paz, the Marshes engaged in church planting and Bible school education, encouraging students to advance in their ministerial formation to plant churches and make disciples. Marsh’s father began Christian education in Bolivia, which eventually sparked Royal Rangers in Bolivia.
Marsh’s mother was responsible for conducting Sunday school, and the younger Marsh was responsible for Royal Rangers. When Marsh was 14, a pastor in La Paz invited him to help start Royal Rangers at his church.
“I simply translated some of Johnnie Barnes’ junior leaders’ materials because this was all I had,” said Marsh. “It was a horrible translation.”
Out of the 14 Royal Rangers leaders from the church in La Paz, 11 finished the training. However, Marsh could not imagine how much his Royal Rangers ministry would expand. When leaders began to prepare for their first Royal Rangers meeting, they expected less than 35 boys and anticipated numbers to decline. Marsh was shocked when 85 boys arrived the next day.
Marsh eventually started 33 Royal Rangers groups in Bolivia. In 1989, Marsh hosted his first Camporama with approximately 130 boys. “Now, Camporama in Bolivia hosts about 2,000, and it keeps growing,” said Marsh.
In 1989, AGWM missionary George Davis, Latin American Caribbean regional Sunday school representative, asked Marsh to be training coordinator for Royal Rangers Latin America. In this role, Marsh would develop Royal Rangers curriculum for Latin America
Top down— Doug Marsh and his father; Doug teaching Royal Ranger leaders; Doug and missionary George Davis.
while he attended Central Bible College. Marsh fasted and prayed until he got his “yes” from God to accept the position.
In June 1989, Marsh moved to Springfield, Mo., to attend Central Bible College (CBC). He started working at the Latin America Caribbean regional office, developing Royal Rangers curriculum for Latin America. “Many of the Royal Rangers programs were really Boy Scout programs because they had no Royal Rangers material,” says Marsh. Marsh’s job was to convert the programs from Boy Scouts to Royal Rangers.
Doug and his wife Kerry met at CBC. They married in 1992 and graduated in 1993 Shortly after Kerry and Doug graduated, they moved to Costa Rica as missionaries, leading Royal Rangers and men’s ministries.
Now,
Camporama in Bolivia
hosts about 2,000, and it keeps growing.”
— Doug Marsh
In the next decade, Royal Rangers grew to about 45,000 in Latin America. This growth led AGWM Executive Director John Bueno to ask Marsh to start Royal Rangers International (RRI) which Marsh did in 2002 . He served in RRI for 21 years. Originally Marsh expected to serve as a Latin American missionary. Instead, RRI became part of International Service Ministries (later International Ministries) under director Lamar Headley.
Marsh to start Royal Rangers
“Headley was hugely instrumental in helping us think through how to establish the structure for Royal Rangers International that our missionaries would buy into and work in collaboration with the U.S. program,” said Marsh.
ture for Royal Rangers International Initiative, Global
JoAnn Butrin succeeded Headley as director of International Ministries. After Butrin’s recent retirement, Marsh was offered, and accepted the position as International Ministries director.
As director, Marsh oversees nine ministries: Builders International, Compassion Link, Global Initiative, Global University, Jacob’s Hope, Life Publishers, Network 211, Oral Learners Initiatives, and Royal Rangers International.
Marsh ministers along with more than 300 missionaries, associates, and employees to serve the AGWM regions with expertise and resources to reach the lost, plant churches, train pastors and laypeople, and serve the poor and suffering.
While most missionaries and ministries focus on one nation, the Marshes and IM workers have the unique task of serving missionaries and ministries across the globe. “It is very likely that the sun never sets on the work of International Ministries,” states Marsh.
As a teen, Marsh earned the highest Royal Rangers award, the Gold Medal of Achievement.
Marsh earned a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies from Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. His thesis was Holistic Adolescent Discipleship.
It is very likely that the sun never sets on the
work of International Ministries.”
— Doug Marsh
Marsh has published two books, including A Guy’s Journey to Manhood — a book written for teen boys and their mentors — and The Johnnie Barnes Excellence in Leadership and Ministry Initiative. The Marshes are committed to inspiring godly male role models for every boy, in every church, in every nation.
Doug and Kerry are the parents of two children.
Doug reflects on how God has directed his life. “He took me, a missionary kid from Peru and Bolivia, and positioned me and my family to facilitate the global reach and impact of strategic AGWM ministries. What an honor to walk alongside our missionaries and national church partners to plant the Church among all peoples everywhere by reaching, planting, training, and serving.”
AGWM COMMUNICATIONS
Doug and Kerry Marsh
by Doug Marsh
TThe mission of AGWM is to “establish the Church among all peoples everywhere by reaching, planting, training, and serving.” International Ministries plays a key role in this mission by sharing its areas of expertise with our missionary colleagues and with national church partners around the world.
The AGWM Executive Committee (EC) established International Ministries (IM) nearly three decades ago to eliminate unnecessary duplication. International Ministries is a missionary force multiplier. Each ministry enables the unique strengths of regional and IM personnel to unite to create or accomplish that which neither could do alone. Today, all nine IM ministries serve the five AGWM regions with expertise and resources to fulfill AGWM’s global purposes.
In addition to serving missionaries and national church leaders in each AGWM region, IM serves the U.S. constituency by mobilizing those who wish to donate time and finances to pray, give, and go. Every year IM plans vision trips. These short, global experiences immerse people into new sights, sounds, and cultures. There they experience God’s presence and activity globally. These adventures equip people to serve “the least and last” around the world.
CompassionLink
CompassionLink has a team of consultants who partner with global workers and national churches to restore community health. CL’s vision is to see communities lift themselves out of poverty and know the love of Jesus. Because each community’s needs are different, CompassionLink workers spend time with community members and church leaders to hear their dreams for the future. Using local resources, CL helps the community and church discover strategies for sustainable success. CL accomplishes this through various programs.
compassionlink.org
Builders International
Builders International oversees construction projects for AGWM global workers. It carefully vets each project and assesses it for viability and readiness. Every project has long-term sustainability because global workers oversee these projects in partnership with the national church in each county. Builders International works with teams on the ground and ensures that each project reaches completion.
buildersintl.org
Global Initiative
Since 1983, Global Initiative has been equipping and mobilizing the Church to reach Muslims everywhere with the good news. Global Initiative trains and resources church
leaders, pastors, missionaries, and laypeople to effectively and lovingly share the gospel with Muslims in their own communities. Global Initiative has a prayer network that has grown to more than 60,000 believers who pray every Friday at noon. reachingmuslimpeoples.com
Global University
Global University is more than a worldwide educational system for training pastors and Christian workers. Within Global University there are four distinct schools: School of Evangelism and Discipleship, Berean School of the Bible, Undergraduate School of Bible and Theology, and Graduate School of Theology. globaluniversity.edu
Jacob’s Hope
In 2009, Rabbi Jeff and Vixie Friedman launched Jacob’s Hope. Their goal was to bring hope to Jewish people around the world. This ministry has had a tremendous impact on Jewish people. Jacob’s Hope operates a Hope Center north of Tel Aviv. This center partners with ministries to provide funding for food, hygiene kits, clothes, and toys for children and families displaced by the war. Jacob’s Hope also offers weekly counseling, cancer survivor meetings, Messianic congregational meetings, and more. jacobshope.co
Life Publishers
Life Publishers, an AGWM ministry, is committed to translating the FireBible into the world’s top 100 languages. Currently, Life Publishers has translated and printed the FireBible in 67 language versions and in more than 88 editions (Youth and Children Editions included). Not having access to the Word explained — and in the language of their heart — deprives people of life-changing teachings and they miss the transformative impact it can have on their lives. Providing access coupled with explanation of what they are reading creates an environment conducive to acceptance and spiritual growth. firebible.org
Network 211
All nine IM ministries serve the ve AGWM regions with expertise and resources to ful ll
AGWM’s global purposes.
entire Bible School education delivered on a microSD card with an app for their phone, or online. OLI uses a narrative teaching style and video lessons to provide 3 years of free Bible school training to oral learners around the world.
oli.world
Network 211 is a world missionary outreach focused on global evangelism and discipleship via the Internet. This ministry uses 21 st century technology to communicate the 1 st century gospel. The Internet offers church planters and pastors a unique opportunity. Network 211 maintains a global network of one-to-one connectors who interact with people online in their native language. As a person responds, connectors recommend discipleship opportunities and help this person connect with a local church. network211.com
Royal Rangers International
Royal Rangers International serves a growing number of nations seeking to impact the next generation through the Royal Rangers ministry. RRI’s mission is to evangelize, equip, and empower the next generation of lifelong Christ followers and train them to become servant leaders.
rri.world
DOUG MARSH AGWM International Ministries director
The single largest unreached people group in our world today is the illiterate, or functionally illiterate. Some estimate that more than half of the world’s population is in this group. Oral Learners Initiatives produces unique discipleship and pastoral training video lessons for the marginally literate in their local language. Oral learners can receive an
