Venezuelan missionaries
Retirement as missions
Translating the Bible
tell magazine
Quest of a Lifetime
One apprentice spends two years living with and loving the people of Southeast Asia
Team Expansion’s Log of Love
www.teamexpansion.org
Fall 2014
tell
letter
tell
magazine
What is the tell?
STATE of the MISSION Welcome to our 2014 edition of the tell magazine.
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s usual, the past year has brought more than its share of upheavals around the globe. Consider: Our workers in Crimea changed countries without having to move houses as Russia took control of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula. Elsewhere, our team in the world’s newest nation, South Sudan, kept their vital ministry in high gear despite threats and nearby violence. Fortunately, not all the world is in turmoil. Inside these pages, you’ll read of one family’s decision to “retire into missions.” And in spite of ongoing political upheaval in Venezuela, God is raising up new churches (and hundreds of new believers), which have gone from being receivers of missionaries to senders themselves. You’ll also see how our various shorterterm experiences like Pathways and Quest are providing fruitful opportunities for newcomers to get a taste of cross-cultural service.
While we’re on the subject of preparing for the future, please be sure to catch the update on Emerald Hills and the “Five Loaves” initiative for this fall. Creating a fully-equipped prayer and missions training center here on our campus is critical. So will you do us a huge favor? Please say a prayer that God will help us listen to his voice and obey his commands for us as an organization. We invite you to examine these pages and walk with us through the world.
Revelation 7:9-12 paints a beautiful picture of every nation coming before the throne of God to worship Him. The tell, Team Expansion’s Log of Love, has functioned as a bridge between ministries around the world and the local church since 1992. It has been our hope to radiate the goodness of God and the progress that we are making together through this publication. Until that moment before the throne, may we all continue to play our part in fulfilling the Great Commission!
The tell is produced by Team Expansion, all rights reserved and implied.
Writing Editor CARLA WILLIAMS cwilliams@teamexpansion.org Design Editor SHAUNA RAYMER sraymer@teamexpansion.org
Team Expansion Transforming communities among the unreached by planting Biblical churches.
Doug Lucas Team Expansion President
Team Expansion 4112 Old Routt Road Louisville, KY 40299 www.teamexpansion.org 1.800.447.0800 (toll-free) 502.719.0007 502.719.0008 (fax)
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Fall 2014 • tell
CONTENTS 2
State of the Mission
4
Quest Apprenticeships
9
Global Guests in the USA
on the cover
Letter from the President
Flexibility, Growth, and Grace
Reaching the Nations within our Nation
12
Venezuela
14
Retirement as Missions
17
South Sudan
22
Bible Translation
25
“Five Loaves”
28
Journey of Obedience
30
News & Notes
33
Accepting the Great Commission
A Way to Reach Indonesia for Christ
The New Team for a New Country
One Piece at a Time
A Strategy for Emerald Hills
From Short-term to Full-time
Updates from Around the World
Full-Time Opportunities Team Expansion’s Urgent Needs
Prayer 34
Planting Seeds for a Church Planting Movement
A Lao Buddhist novice watching the annual boat racing festival on the banks of the Nam Khan. (photo by Blake Sellers)
tell
apprenticeships
Quest apprentice, Ricky, in Southeast Asia. Motorbikes are the primary method of transportation in Southeast Asia as they are affordable, efficient, and easily fit into the tight spaces of heavy traffic and slim alley-ways. (photo by Blake Sellers) 4 Summer 2014 • tell
Quest Apprenticeships: Flexibility, Growth, and Grace by CARLA WILLIAMS
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eam Expansion has developed Quest, a program for those who are interested in more than a twomonth internship, but who aren’t quite ready to sign up for full-time service. We place these individuals as apprentices under experienced on-field missionaries for 6-24 months. The opportunity is customized around the apprentice’s skills, passions, talents, and career plans. When Ricky, a recent Mien-American college graduate, wanted to spend two years experiencing hands-on ministry, our team in Southeast Asia was a natural fit. Ricky raised the support he needed while the team leader on the field began making plans for his young apprentice. Expectations were high, but Ricky had no idea how much he would grow in the next two years. apprenticeships
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(Clockwise from top) Mien women in Southeast Asia wearing traditional embroidered clothing (photo by Blake Sellers). Ricky harvesting Saffron coffee with local Lao farmers. Ricky modeling a training method with Mien brothers and sisters.
Ricky’s Quest apprenticeship was full of surprises, life-changing events, discipleship, disappointment, deep satisfaction, great loss, tireless service, exhilaration, and never-ending change. Through it all, he learned about real life ministering in a dark and difficult place, while practicing endless flexibility and discovering the true power of God’s generous grace. Stories from Ricky’s two years reveal the depth of his experience and the fullness of his apprenticeship.
For his second year, he moved in with another local believer, and experienced a great roommate relationship. Through shared life, late-night conversations, and mutual adventures, they cultivated a friendship that touched on the fringes of brotherhood.
LIVING WITH LOCALS
BAPTISMS
Ricky decided to spend his first year living with a local family. He had met the family on a previous trip a few years before, when they had first become believers. Their home had thatched walls, a tin roof, and no furniture. The bathroom was rustic, at best. Because of the tin roof, the house heated to sweltering temperatures. He was expecting these kinds of accommodations, though, and was thankful for the home and the family who provided it. Partway into his Quest, Ricky agreed to stay half of each week at the mountain gardens the team’s business used for training local interns. Ricky would live, serve, cook, train, and disciple with the interns, sometimes without power for several days at a time. About a month into this routine, all of the interns had returned to their homes for one reason or another, and Ricky practiced flexibility as the plans around him changed.
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In the end, he learned to be flexible, to listen more than he spoke, and to daily bring himself to the feet of Jesus for grace.
Before Ricky joined his team for his Quest, he had never baptized anyone. He wasn’t even sure he was qualified. When he returned, he had been a part of more baptisms than he could remember, but he would always remember the first one. An old woman had invited him to visit her remote mountain village to share the Gospel with her daughter-in-law. Ricky and other believers traveled the distance to meet with the woman. The family had heard radio broadcasts about Jesus, but they weren’t sure what the next step should be. Ricky and his friends prayed for them, talked, and shared the good news with the woman. She and her daughter believed on that day. Ricky knew they should baptize them immediately, since the village was so remote and hard to reach.
(From Left) Ricky baptizing mother and daughter in the forest alongside a small creek. A Iu Mien man reacts to receiving a printed photo of himself. For many in the Southeast Asian countryside, receiving a photo of themselves is a rare and exciting occasion (photo by Blake Sellers).
At first, the family produced a small tub, but it was clear that wouldn’t be sufficient. They went into the woods and found a little stream. It was just a trickle, but they dug a pit that would collect enough water for the women to be submerged. Before she was baptized, this woman had a terrible knee problem that had for years prevented her from working in the fields and carrying out her duties as a wife and mother. After she believed and was baptized, her knee was completely healed. Now, almost all the members of that family have put their faith in Jesus.
TRANSFORMATION
Ricky became friends with a young man with deep struggles. This friend had a troubled life, with many physical ailments and family problems. His father was a fervent animist and his mother was a Christian. Whenever his friend would have troubles, the believers would gather around him to pray, and he’d get better. Then his father would hire spirit doctors to come do ceremonies, and his friend would get worse again. Ricky would spend time with him each week to encourage him and pray with him. One day, while Ricky was visiting area villages with some of his team to share the Gospel, they got a terrible call. His friend had walked down to the river and had taken his own life. This was a time of intense grief for the whole community. The funeral was divided between traditional spiritual appeasement and Christian hope. Ricky was left to grieve in shock and wonder, forever changed by the life and death of his troubled friend.
During his Quest apprenticeship, Ricky regularly witnessed the power of the Gospel to transform lives. People who had been trapped in tradition and spirit-worship were given a new freedom in Christ. One day, while traveling in the villages, the team met an impoverished, crippled beggar. He was waiting beside their vehicle to ask for food, and when they talked to him, they learned he was a village shaman who had become disabled a few months prior to their arrival. They promised they would bring him some food for his family on their way back through the village. When they arrived several days later, they hoped to meet with him in private to share the Gospel with him, but the people in the village were all drawn to the strangers. A large group of curious onlookers soon pressed in around them. Finally, they were invited into a house, where they began to share with the shaman and his wife. Others gathered outside, peering through the windows or pressing in to hear what the team would say. The team went through the whole Gospel with them, integrating the cultural applications easily into the message. The shaman asked some discerning questions, and Ricky and his team did the best they could to answer the questions and explain the Good News. The shaman and his wife had never heard the Gospel before this day, and they were astounded. They believed and repented that very day, finally finding freedom from the bondage of spirit worship that had entrapped them.
PERSECUTION
JUST THE BEGINNING
UNEXPECTED LOSS
Ricky was serving in a highly volatile country where believers were persecuted for their faith from their families, communities, and government. Ricky and his team had to be extraordinarily cautious in what they shared and with whom, while balancing that caution with boldness and urgency. They served in the country under a business platform, which enabled them to enter many villages and speak to a wide audience. One day, when Ricky and his teammates were visiting remote areas for the business, they were detained by the local police for several days. While they were not mistreated, they had to answer many questions about their activities and contacts. It was tense and uncertain during that time, but God protected them and the sensitive information they had with them. They knew the persecution was very small compared to what local believers face in that country.
Ricky’s two years as a Quest apprentice included more than he could have imagined. He experienced a range of cultural events and holidays. He learned to be on a team and to have sustaining friendships. He had unbelievable adventures and quiet, life-changing conversations with God. In the end, he learned to be flexible, to listen more than he spoke, and to daily bring himself to the feet of Jesus for grace. His experience has changed him forever, and though he doesn’t know what the future holds for him now, he trust that God is still moving him and he is doing his best to listen and obey.
www.teamexpansion.org/quest quest@teamexpansion.org apprenticeships
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There are nearly 3 billion unreached people in our world.
Ready to do something about it?
Quest Apprenticeships Our Quest program is an in-depth apprenticeship, lasting from 6 months to 2 years. We will pair participants with an experienced team of missionaries who will challenge and encourage them, while showing them the daily demand and rewards of missions. Quest apprenticeships can serve several purposes: • Determining one’s ability to live and minister in a different culture • Gaining additional experience before deciding about full-time missions • Earning an in-depth apprenticeship for college or university requirements
Get started by filling out a profile today! www.teamexpansion.org/profile
WWW.TEAMEXPANSION.ORG/QUEST
Global Guests in the USA by JOSHUA RODENBAUGH
L
ouisville, Kentucky is home to Team Expansion’s U.S. headquarters, and downtown there is a 120-foot tall, 68,000-pound baseball bat marking the location of the Louisville Slugger factory. It stands as an icon of America’s favorite pastime and a landmark in the city of its origin. One might assume, then, that Louisville is “as American as baseball and apple pie.” This doesn’t seem far off when considering that most thoughts of Louisville quickly turn toward things like horses, bluegrass music, and a certain down-home charm. There’s a different side to this city as well, and it’s not too hard to find yourself in a neighborhood where you might even forget for a moment that you’re still in the United States. Louisville has a growing international population and is very culturally diverse. Since the ‘70s, Louisville has been a location for settling refugees and is now home to communities of Cubans, Vietnamese, Bosnians, Somalis, Nepalis, and others. In fact, over the first decade of the 21st century, the immigrant population of Louisville doubled and comprised nearly half of the city’s overall population growth. In addition, the University of Louisville has a growing international student body and attracts students from places like China, India, and the Middle East. Sure, you can still find great apple pie, but you can also visit a halal butcher, find camel meat at an African market, or sample a variety of restaurants or groceries that reflect the diversity of the neighbor-
hoods where they’re located. Baseball still has a strong presence, but near the university you might just as likely find a group of Indian or Pakistani students engaged in a lively game of cricket. This isn’t just the story of Louisville. It’s the story of what’s going on all across the country. We might expect places like New York City or L.A. to be havens for the nationalities of the world, but these days it’s happening everywhere. If the home of the Louisville Slugger can also be the home of many nations, then the same might be true of your neighborhood. In 2012 the U.S. received nearly 60,000 refugees, and immigrants receiving legal permanent residence numbered more than 1 million. There were 820,000 international students studying in the U.S. during the 2012-2013 school year. This number has increased by 40% in the last decade.
It cannot be denied that the nations of the world are arriving at our doorstep. The question, then, is how should we respond?
HOW DO WE RESPOND?
It cannot be denied that the nations of the world are arriving at our doorstep. The question, then, is how should we respond? Some feel threatened. There is worry about crowding, employment, and societal changes. It can be intimidating when new populations begin to dominate an area. If we are able to look at this phenomenon through God’s eyes, what we see is not a threat, but rather an unprecedented opportunity. Christ gave us the Great Commission and commanded us to make disciples of all nations. This has often been thought to involve traveling long distances into unknown places to take the Gospel where it had yet to global guests
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(Clockwise from top left) Union College in New York has been working diligently to expand its community of international students (photo by Jamal - muse.union. edu). A Teamfrom Expansion (Clockwise top) missionary kidmain visitsidols an Three of the international community of Taiwan stand on top inofLouisville. a temple. International A missionary students Houston and herarrive helperatfrom the Community College. how Odile U.S. teach students istoa bake. 56-year-old refuge Campers learn a mother of six from the basic block in Taekwondo. Congo - Leslie student is a 47-yearA swimming old entreprenural mother prepares for her class. A ofboy fourfocuses from Texas (photo his attention byonOpen Arms) hitting the ball.
go. While there are many scattered around the globe that remain in need of people to go to them (and Team Expansion is engaged in that very task), God has orchestrated another opportunity by which the unreached of the world are coming right here to us. Rather than fear, we should “be wise in the way [we] act toward outsiders,” and “make the most of every opportunity,” as Paul urged us in Colossians 4:5. In addition, we find through the Old and New Testaments the exhortation to love and welcome foreigners or strangers (for example, Deuteronomy 10:19 and Hebrews 13:2). We have a chance like never before to impact the world by traveling across town, down the block, or even just across the street. Many of the world’s remaining unreached people reside in countries that have restrictions against missionaries and Gospel witness. However, several of those countries that restrict missionaries are the very ones eager to send their best and brightest to the U.S. for education. The number of university students from China was up 20% this last school year from the previous year and makes up 28% of the total number of international students in the U.S. Another top sending country was Saudi Arabia, up 30% from the previous year. These students have great potential for returning home to places of influence and leadership, and if the Gospel has taken root in their hearts while here, the ongoing impact could be exponential. Many of the places people are fleeing as refugees are some of the most unreached portions of the world. As they arrive in a place with an ample supply of churches and communities of Christ-followers, there is an opportunity for them to experience the love of Jesus and hear the message of truth that they may never have had in their home country. Whether coming for study, asylum, or any other reason, adjusting to a new place and learning a new way of life can often create a sense of openness and sensitivity to hearing the good news of Jesus that they may not have had before. The chance to welcome them with the hands and feet of Jesus is a chance to change the world – if only we will take it.
The chance to welcome them with the hands and feet of Jesus is a chance to change the world.
GET INVOLVED
The opportunities abound and the first step is simply to be aware. Sometimes we just don’t know the opportunities are there. Get out there and find out who is in your city. Explore your community with open eyes and a prayerful heart and see what God reveals. When you discover where the people are, something as simple as frequenting some of the same shops and restaurants could lead to friendships with those of other cultures. You can also find out what is already going on in your city and plug in there. Call the international student services office at your local university and see if they offer something like a host family program, which pairs you with an incoming international student who will be happy to visit your home for meals or join you on special outings as they transition to American life and culture. It’s estimated that around 75% of all international students in the U.S., many staying for four or more years, are never invited in to an American home. That is a sad statistic, but one that can be easily changed if we open our hearts and our doors. In Louisville, there are several ministries active in the areas where immigrant and refugee populations are common. They do everything from community outreach events and after school programs for the kids, to English lessons, job training, and preparation for the citizenship exam. Many cities have these ministries. You may have some skills that could really be used to serve and these organizations are always looking for more volunteers. There are surely unique and exciting opportunities in every place, and all it takes is a willing heart and the beautiful feet of those who will step out to bring good news. They say you only have one chance to make a good first impression. As the nations arrive at our doorstep, may we leave with them the lasting impression of the love and grace of Jesus.
For more information: info@teamexpansion.org
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venezuela
VENEZUELA and the Great Commission
“I
don’t understand missionaries. You all come to Venezuela, stay awhile and get us all excited and start a church and we have this great life together and then you up and abandon us to go do it again somewhere else.” As she blurted out her raw feelings, her voice cracked and she shuffled papers around on my kitchen table as she took in the news that I was leaving Venezuela to go work in a lesserreached field. Heidi was a new believer with a firecracker personality. She taught high school biology and was one of the first converts in our new church plant. My coworker and I nodded in understanding and did our best to reassure her that someday she would understand. “No” she replied. “I’ll never understand.” That was 12 years ago. Today, Heidi is the missions director at the Casarapa Christian Community in Guarenas, Venezuela. She has started a church plant in her hometown and just recently baptized her father. She has led mission trip after mission trip to various locations in Venezuela and even spent last summer as an intern in North Africa. Her desire is to be a full-time missionary.
spent the better part of the last decade in North Africa, where they have had an outstanding ministry among Muslims. There is also Diana, a single woman who has joined the translation force and is making the Bible available in a local dialect for a people group in the interior of Venezuela. Maybe you would like to hear about Gabo and Barbara, a young couple with whom I prayed three years ago because of our shared desire to serve the unreached in Spain. I told them I was going ahead and that I would be waiting for them. This year they accepted the call to do a yearlong fill-in pastoral ministry in Spain. There is Linda, a young graphic designer who desires to work with Muslims and who did a threemonth internship last year with me. I would also be delighted to tell you about Gabriela, a young teacher who was working in Caracas as an interpreter for the deaf and pursuing getting a Masters degree in Spain. She never had any luck getting a scholarship. After taking the Kairos course in the Casarapa Church, she was convinced that she would never make it to Spain while her Masters was the priority. “It must be to do the Lord’s work,” she decided, and she handed it over to Him completely. Almost immediately, she was given a visa and just finished a yearlong missions apprenticeship in Spain and is planning on returning full-time this year.
God is moving in Venezuela, and He is preparing His workers to go into the harvest fields.
VENEZUELAN MISSIONARIES
Heidi’s story isn’t the only encouraging one coming out of Venezuela. Alfredo and Tamara are a middle-aged couple who have
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by REBEKAH HANNUM
The uncertainty of the country’s future looms over every Venezuelan heart and mind. But the roots of God’s Word are planted deeply in their souls.
I could go on and on, but one thing is clear: God is moving in Venezuela, and He is preparing his workers to go into the harvest fields!
VISION 2020
The Christian Churches of Venezuela work together toward one goal: The Vision 2020. The idea is to plant 120 churches inside and outside of Venezuela by the year 2020. While many churches are being planted inside Venezuela, the fact that more and more workers are looking to start churches outside of Venezuela has energized and empowered the local sending church. This might come as a surprise to those of you who are aware of recent events in Venezuela. Over the last several months there have been protests against the current government, an oppressive force over its people. Many Venezuelans are exasperated with their current situation and the Cuba-like influence on their freedoms. Finding basic necessities like milk, toilet paper, and corn flour can be difficult and the Venezuelan people are feeling the burden on a daily basis. Friends of mine have been robbed, friends of friends have been killed, and the tears are ever flowing from believers and non-believers alike.
OBEDIENCE
Amidst this ugly and tragic situation, there is something beautiful taking place – something that makes the Venezuelan believer choose the imperishable over the perishable. Hope over despair. Joy over destruction. Life over death. It’s the hope of an eternal kingdom. “…Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly
one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:16 For the Venezuelan believer, obedience is key. No matter what the current situation is, God’s Word never changes. The uncertainty of the country’s future looms over every Venezuelan heart and mind. But the roots of God’s Word are planted deeply in their souls. “Por tanto, vayan y hagan discípulos de todas las naciones, bautizándolos en el nombre del Padre y del Hijo y del Espíritu Santo, enseñándoles a obedecer todo lo que les he mandado a ustedes. Y les aseguro que estaré con ustedes siempre, hasta el fin del mundo.” Mateo 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 You see, it’s the same commandment in English as it is in Spanish. Go and make disciples of all the nations. And that’s exactly what they intend to do.
For more information: southamerica@teamexpansion.org
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retirement
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RETIREMENT
as Missions by workers in Indonesia
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cross the western world thousands have or will retire at a relatively young age. Can this block of believers be tapped for a new surge of workers who cross cultural and linguistic borders to share the good news of Jesus with people who have never heard this message?
OUR JOURNEY
God touched my wife and me with unique experiences thrusting us into this group. We spent 16 years on the island of Java telling people about Jesus, then we returned to the USA in 1987. For the next 18 years, I worked as a Bible college professor and my wife worked in various health services in the nursing area. I resigned from my position and we affiliated with Team Expansion, focusing on planting churches among the unreached peoples of the world. Before my resignation became effective, God rocked Southeast Asia with a 9.2 Richter scale earthquake and a mega-tsunami. We returned to Indonesia and spent some of January and February of 2005 in the devastated city of Banda Aceh helping with disaster recovery. Our hearts, along with thousands of others, were deeply moved by the devastation, grief, and trauma we saw, heard, and felt in Banda Aceh. At various times we heard a wife, husband, parent, or child tell about losing his/her beloved family members. Sometimes whole families were wiped out except for the tear-stained story teller who could barely talk about the experience. We toured with a taxi driver who choked up with tears as he showed us his neighborhood, now in shambles, and told of this neighbor or that one, now dead. We experienced with him his first return to his area after several weeks, now finally able to begin to face the grief and loss.
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A greater grief for us was the fact that 99% of these people did not know that the Messiah, the one they called Isa Al Masih (the Arabic for Jesus the Messiah), had come and died for all mankind, been raised to life again, and now offered eternal life to all who would believe in Him. Indeed, we were told not to talk about this good news! When we came back to the USA, friends asked us about possible assessment work in Aceh. We joined in assessing the needs and submitted a proposal to International Disaster Emergency Service (IDES). Through a variety of answered prayers and initial friendships, God led us to recommend serving in a town on the west coast of Aceh. Believing God wanted me to serve as field coordinator for this project, I volunteered and was accepted, and Team Expansion agreed with this plan of action. Again and again we were touched by God’s providential actions opening up opportunities for us to serve these devastated people, living on the edge of disaster in shacks, tents, and plastic tarp sheds. The devastation wrought by the tsunami was mind boggling. Certainly this was a “Samaritan” moment, calling for us to love our neighbor as ourselves.
CREATIVE ACCESS
We are in a “creative access” area. Aceh follows Islamic syariah law and outlaws any kind of proselytizing. From 2005 to 2009 we worked here under IDES. From 2009 to 2010 we joined Helping Hands, an Indonesian foundation serving in various community development areas. Though we believed we were doing the will of God by helping many people in many ways, the pressure of rejection and opposition was constantly upon us. Muslims are often taught not to befriend “infidels,” those not following the Prophet Mohammad and his
The clear Indonesian waters provide a recreational paradise, and a way of life for many locals.
We are praying that God will raise up seven retired couples to come to Aceh. They could form seven teams to serve seven people groups in Aceh who have yet to fully hear about the Messiah. teachings. We poured out the love of God. Sometimes friendships would begin, only to grow cold or antagonistic. We discovered religious leaders contacted “friendly recipients” and told them not to associate with us. These kinds of encounters saddened us as well as raised questions. Did God want us to continue here where rejection dominated rather than receptivity? On the other hand, it has been our privilege to live among these people. We’ve enjoyed many weddings and circumcision ceremonies, and grieved with family members as death claimed a loved one. We’ve helped with sicknesses and accidents. We’ve taught English and overseen many lessons about how to use computers. We’ve delighted in the beauty of the area and the beauty of moments when a guard is lowered, a question asked, and we could speak our hearts. Throngs know that followers of Isa Al Masih are among them, and that He leads us to love and good works. At times I frustratingly asked God, “What about just letting them go to hell?” This emotion dissipated after “a little talk with Jesus,” who died for hardened criminals, religious bigots, and other assorted sinners like me. God loves these people even though they are not yet accepting His great gift, the Messiah. God repeatedly renewed my conviction that He wanted us here as His witnesses. However, how to stay became an issue.
I believed Christian foundations would eventually be closed down (and they were). Thus we moved out from the visa sponsorship of a foundation and obtained a retirement visa. In 2010 we stepped into retirement. The Indonesian Immigrations office grants visas for people who want to retire in Indonesia. People 55 years of age or older who can show financial capability plus eight other requirements can receive this one year visa that can be renewed in country up to four times. The full requirements can be found at www.rami-services.com. Other agencies also arrange for this visa, so you can pick according to personal preferences and situation.
MORE WORKERS
We are praying that God will raise up seven retired couples to use this access tool to come to Aceh. They could join Indonesian believers in businesses, forming seven teams to serve seven people groups in Aceh who have yet to fully hear about the Messiah. The people groups are the Simeulue, Aneuk Jamee, Kluet, Singkil, Alas, Gayo, and Tamiang. In 2013, I surveyed these seven areas/ people groups to gather initial information and familiarize myself with these groups. Please join us in asking God to send forth these seven couples or other configurations to reach the people groups of Aceh. If God is calling you to think about “retiring” to a cross-cultural
retirement 15
(Clockwise from left) Indonesian women follow the rules of Islamic syariah law. Most children in Indonesia have not heard about the love of Jesus. Mosques are abundant, but provide no real hope. The islands of Indonesia are rich in beauty.
statistics
PEOPLE GROUP from Joshuaproject.net
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Simeulue
Population: 53,500 Percent Christian: 0.00%
Aneuk Jamee
Population: 69,400 Percent Christian: 0.10%
Kluet
Population: 53,500 Percent Christian: 0.00%
Singkil
Population: 69,500 Percent Christian: 0.00%
Alas
Population: 85,600 Percent Christian: 0.01%
Gayo
Population: 379,000 Percent Christian: 0.03%
Tamiang
Population: 42,900 Percent Christian: 0.00%
Summer 2014 • tell
ministry area, you can live as comfortably or as carefully as you want to, within the parameters of the country being considered. Holding on to God’s call, you can ride the highs and lows of cross-cultural living because of faith and trust in the Living God, knowing, “the one who has called you is faithful, and he will do it.” (I Thessalonians 5:24) Following God’s call to come to Aceh could potentially look like this: • Join Team Expansion and take advantage of their very excellent training programs, help, and on-the-field member care. • Upon completion of orientation and training, work through an Indonesian accredited travel agency to get a retirement visa. Proceed to Salatiga, Central Java, or Bandung, West Java, and enroll in an intensive, six month, Indonesian language training course and adapt to living in Indonesia. • Develop a team by partnering with Indonesian believers called to serve with you to reach the chosen people group. • After six months, locate in your service area. • Start developing friendships and contacts, working toward doing preliminary work in recording the language and culture of your group, sharing this data with other agencies in Indonesia. • Start sharing oral and written stories about God’s way of salvation. • Help people of peace start discovery Bible studies, working in accord with your Indonesian partners. • Lead those open to accepting and following Isa Al Masih, and help equip them to lead others to become followers who obey Isa in all things. • WE EXPECT TO BE HERE TO HELP YOU.
For more information: asia@teamexpansion.org
SOUTH SUDAN by JON GROGG
I
The team is thankful for this national disciple, who demonstrates 2 Timothy 2:2 qualities by being a faithful man who will be able to teach others.
t was barely eight in the morning, but the heat and the humidity made sure that my run through the South Sudan countryside would be anything but leisurely. I was quickly humbled by the number of locals traveling between clusters of huts. Clearly they had already been at work for hours, and for good reason. There were miles to walk to fetch water, herds to be led to pasture, ground to be worked, and a grave to be dug. One of the local leaders had passed away and family and tribe members were traveling in from near and far for the burial and funeral. This man’s health had been failing for quite some time. The Team Expansion missionaries I was there to visit had been ministering to this man and his family and tribe since they arrived on the field.
Two of the younger men in this family are like those mentioned in 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” They spend much time with our missionaries and are sharing what they learn. In his final days, the leader of this people turned to Christ for forgiveness and eternal hope.
For more than five years we have been praying, partnering, and progressing to this point of having a team in place.
TEAM BEGINNINGS
Our team getting to this point is a story in itself. The work was launched out
of a vision to reach the Muslim people groups of Sudan. A church in Missouri has taken on the responsibility of reaching these unreached peoples. For more than five years we have been praying, partnering, and progressing to this point of having a team in place to reach a people that will be more culturally suited to reach their Muslim neighbors to the north. The men on the team built their homes, while building relationships and
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One of the team’s Kenyan partners teaches the local pastors who have traveled in from surrounding villages for two weeks of intense pastoral and Biblical training.
Young men from surrounding villages gather for two weeks of intense Bible and ministry training. It’s great to see young men learning what the Bible says and how to communicate it effectively to others in their villages.
picking up the baton of ministry in the area from other workers. Currently the team is involved in a few key areas: a dental outreach, youth ministry, and training locals to be ministers. The team is also exploring how to use agricultural development as a way to minister and improve life for the locals.
MINISTRIES
The dental outreach allows the team and their local partners to get into villages, pull some teeth, build relationships and share the Gospel. While our team is still involved in these outreach events, there is a local team who oversees the day to day operations of the dental clinic in the village. The original vision for the youth ministry was to give the missionary kids a chance to serve, and the idea has really taken off. Close to 60 kids, ages 3-16, show up to play games, eat snacks and hear a Bible story. This is simple, reproducible ministry that makes a lasting difference. The training for local pastors is really exciting to see. Young men from surrounding villages gather for two weeks of intense Bible and ministry training. It’s great to see more than a dozen young men learning what the Bible says and how to communicate it effectively to others in their villages. It gives me great hope for these people to see young men diligently studying the Scriptures.
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south sudan
(Clockwise from top) Standing on the back porch of a missionary’s home, you can see a border town and Uganda in the distance. Missionary kids experience an African lifestyle at their South Sudan home. A local boy uses his worn Bible to follow along with the teaching of a national pastor.
Another encouraging aspect of this work is the multi-ethnic team. Not all of the team members are from the US. There are two men who are from Kenya and two Sudanese men who are taking on ministry responsibilities and doing a great job. I praise God for the faithfulness and diligence of our team on the ground, the churches, and the people whose generosity, prayers, and love make it possible for them to be there. I praise God for His gracious involvement of people like us in reaching unreached people groups. Thank you for joining us, may the Church in South Sudan continue to be fruitful and multiply.
For more information: africa@teamexpansion.org 20
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Will you pray? TEAM EXPANSION is looking for more intercessors to join its umbrella prayer group,
THE PRAYER FORCE. Would you commit to being one of those intercessors? You will receive daily prayer briefings via email.
Is God calling YOU to be an intercessor for global evangelization? SIGN UP AT WWW.TEAMEXPANSION.ORG/PRAYERFORCEBLOG
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translation
Bible Translation One Piece at a Time
T
by a worker in a sensitive location
here are 7,106 living languages in the world today, but less than 600 of these languages have the full Bible. Almost 1,200 language groups have some portions of Scripture, but no churches. Around 900 language groups have neither Scripture nor any church presence. For our organizations, Team Expansion and Pioneer Bible Translators, translation of the Bible is not the goal in itself. The goal is for a language group to become changed by the power of the Word of God and to daily live in accordance with it.
TRANSLATION PROCESS
What does it take for the Bible to be translated into a language so it can begin reaching the unreached? There are over 32,000 verses in the Old and New Testaments. It usually takes years to complete the translation of all these verses. Serving as a Bible translator for the past 14 years, I would compare the whole translation process to eating an elephant! How does one eat such an enormous beast? One piece at a time. In translation, the process starts with prep work. Before plunging into transferring the meaning of words and sentences from one language to another, one has to uncover the text as a whole and examine it up close. This involves looking at where the text came from, to whom and when it was written, what key ideas and concepts are stressed, and what keywords are used to bring the thoughts across. Then the first draft is produced. After it is complete, the theological checker comes with a magnifying glass and starts picking at the text, comparing the translated text with the original. There are also philological and stylistic checkers, who go after smaller blemishes of the text. A big test of the end result is what the potential readers think of the translation. When those people read the words, do they wince, not sure what they think of it? Do their eyes brighten? This exciting
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stage of translation is called comprehension checking, when native speakers are exposed to the translation and have a chance to interact with it for the first time in their lives.
RELATIONSHIPS
Bible translation requires a lot of time spent in front of the computer, with books and grammars, but it also provides countless opportunities for reading the Word of God together with those who have not heard it before. In order to check the translated text for understandability and naturalness, I started going to villages, knocking on doors and asking
The goal is for a language group to become changed by the power of the Word of God and to daily live in accordance with it. for help. This resulted in many different relationships. Some were casual, some friendly, and some became family. For about six years, an elderly Muslim man, Reefat, read with me portions from both Old and New Testaments, answered questions about the text and the language, and prepared short retellings of the stories. Throughout that long process, he never asked any questions about the deeper meaning of the text. Then, one day, he asked if what is written about Jesus was historically accurate. To the best of my ability, I explained what historical proof there was of Jesus’ life. He listened carefully, and then said, “If it all is true, and I thought that it
was, and now I see that it is, I do not understand how anyone can reject that man can be saved through Jesus only.” In the minutes that followed, I learned that this statement was not just his acknowledgement of truth for Christians, but for everyone, including Reefat himself. In Mark 10:28-30, Jesus said that those who have left their families and home for the sake of the Gospel, “will receive a hundred times in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields.” As I grew, I naturally left my parents and their home to be an independent man. On my spiritual journey, I chose to leave my life without God and follow Christ. Many years later the words of Jesus came true for me. Because of working on translating the Bible, and particularly because of comprehension checking, I have “brothers, mothers, and fields.” A man named Reza and his wife, Esma, proudly tell people that I am their third son. Shefkiye, whom I had the privilege of baptizing in her lake, sees in me her older son, who is a positive influence on her only son, Ervin. Vasfiye calls me her “son, who knows great prayers.” At any time, the doors of these people’s homes are open to me. I am encouraged to treat their homes as my own. Without asking for it, I benefit from the produce of the fields that belong to these families. Potatoes and tomatoes, grapes and plums, milk and homemade cheese fall into my lap in spite of my genuine protest. Best of all, my own mother became part of the family that Jesus promised, when she turned to God, repented and was baptized. Bible translation is a challenging mental exercise in perseverance. However, the story of Bible translation became the story of my personal life. I see now that it is exactly how Jesus intended it.
For more information: info@teamexpansion.org translation
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Leadership Development Trust Communication Cooperation Conflict Resolution Confidence Building Problem Solving
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Discipleship School of the Outdoors is an experiential education program that fosters personal growth and builds teams in an outdoor learning environment.
Our course consists of low and high ropes. We offer programming for schools, colleges, universities, sports teams, churches, businesses and corporate groups. We encourage consultations prior to planning so we can better serve your group’s specific needs. All of our programs are led by experienced facilitators who have a passion for adventure and experiential education. If you can’t come to us, we can also come to you.
www.dsoto.org 24 Summer 2014 • tell
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dsoto@teamexpansion.org
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emerald hills
“five loaves”
for Emerald Hills
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by TINA MCCORMICK
hen Penny and Doug Lucas were launching Team Expansion (19781982), I was going through elementary school. I grew up in the same home church that Doug did (Freetown Church of Christ, Freetown, Indiana). I remember my mom and dad discussing them often, praying for them, and giving sacrificially to make their work possible, first in Uruguay, then in Venezuela, and now, years later, in some 46 countries around the globe.
TEAM EXPANSION
From those meager beginnings in Montevideo, God has raised up scores of other churches and thousands of new believers. On any given Sunday, if you wanted to stop by all the congregations in the world established by Team Expansion and its working partners, you’d need to visit some 500 churches consisting of nearly 17,000 worshippers. Isn’t it remarkable the way the Lord can take meager seeds and multiply them into a bountiful harvest? Having joined Team Expansion in April 2014, I’m one of its newest members. However, because I served as a volunteer for roughly a year and a half prior, I was already sold on the core concept: Train new workers like crazy until they eat, sleep, and breathe church multiplication. Then coach them into success as they labor among some of the world’s least-informed, least-reached, and often unengaged and Bible-less cities and people groups. And watch God at work. I love it.
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Upper Floor Plan
Lower Floor Plan
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EMERALD HILLS
There’s just one problem: We need more workers, and they need a lot of continuing education if they’re going to excel. Emerald Hills, Team Expansion’s 61-acre campus, is perfectly suited to become a missionarysending greenhouse, partnered with local churches throughout the world, but we don’t have housing or dedicated training space. And beyond that, we’re out of room for the staff that can help us recruit and train new workers and empower them to change the destiny of unreached peoples. Over the past few months, we’ve been asking God, Team Expansion leadership, and good friends throughout the globe, “How can we double the number of workers, who will then help us multiply, exponentially, the number of churches and baptisms that can happen per year around the globe?” We have a good plan in place now. We just need to empower it.
Isn’t it remarkable the way the Lord can take meager seeds and multiply them into a bountiful harvest?
FIVE LOAVES
When Jesus needed to feed a multitude of 5,000 men and their families (in John 6), he began with the lunch box of a small boy. God did the rest. From five loaves became enough dinner for thousands. Modeling our approach after Jesus, we’ve been meeting with groups in churches large and small, asking for input, seeking feedback, and
brainstorming about how to raise up more prayer for the harvest in line with Matthew 9:35-38, more workers for the harvest, more resources to send them, more training to prepare them, and more communication to network them together into sending and going teams. Over the next 10 years, we feel God calling us to partner with local churches to double the number of workers, double the number of teams, and double the number of unreached peoples with whom we’re working. This kind of monumental outcome will only happen if God decides to make it happen. Thus, prayer is the key response we’re seeking. However, the resources to find, select, prepare, and send those workers will be nothing short of monumental. We’ve prayerfully selected 25 unreached people groups, each of which have waited for far too long to hear the Gospel message. Over the next few months, we’ll be asking for partnership in putting together initiatives to reach them. For this reason, we seek your prayers and your passion. Would you help? Please contact us today about hosting a Five Loaves Refocus Group at your church or college. Help us explore how to increase the number of volunteers. Commit with us to raise the funding needed – and let’s look forward to watching God at work. To pray, learn more, or get involved, visit www.fiveloaves.com.
For more information: www.fiveloavesonline.com
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pathways
Journey of Obedience
From Short-term to Full-time
S
everal years ago I met Karen on a recruiting trip at Johnson University Florida campus. As we talked that day, Karen shared with me her story. She had grown up in France and was raised in a Christian family. However, her father was a former Muslim who had come to France to study with hopes of converting others to his faith. He met Karen’s mother who was a Christian and it was her faith that ultimately led him to relinquish his ties to Islam and become a follower of Christ. Since her father had family in North Africa, they would visit there every summer and Karen learned more about the Arab culture and her Muslim relatives. From this her desire to share the Gospel with her Muslim family and others of that faith grew deeper.
JOURNEY TO COLLEGE
She had always wanted to attend a Bible college, but being from France, she was not as aware of her options. She had some relatives who lived in Florida and thought it would be nice for her to be close to family while being so far away from home. She heard about Florida Christian College (now Johnson University) and made her
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by TARA WOOLARD
decision to attend there. Her original plan was to attend for one year and then return to France to work with her parents in their ministry to Muslims in France. One day in a missions class she saw the movie, “Through the Gates of Splendor” for the first time. She struggled with the idea that God would call someone to a foreign field where they might lose their life for the cause of Christ. As she wrestled and prayed about this, she realized the possibility that God was preparing her to go to a hostile land. At this point, she decided that she would stay to complete her four-year degree in cross cultural studies and be intentional about getting involved locally in outreach to Muslim people in her Florida community.
JOURNEY TO SHORT-TERM
Before entering her senior year of college, she was required to do a summer internship as part of her degree. As God would orchestrate things, that spring Karen and I met on her campus while I was serving as the interim coordinator of Team Expansion’s summer internship
(From left) Family picture after church in 2003. Family picture at a park, summer 2011. Enjoying friends at college. Distributing Operation Christmas Child boxes to Syrian refugees during Karen’s Pathways internship. Graduating from Johnson University Florida. Karen and her fiancé.
program, “Pathways.” She had been praying about a potential summer internship in a Muslim country and we were offering one with our team in Jordan. Karen applied for that internship, was accepted and joined the team of college students who went to Jordan that summer. While there, she served with her team among Syrian refugees who had fled to Jordan for safety from the civil war in their country. They interacted with many Muslim families who had experienced great loss and suffering, and were able to bring some hope and provisions to those whom they served. It was a powerful summer.
JOURNEY TO FULL-TIME
When she returned, we talked at length about her summer experience and what she was thinking for the future. We continued to stay in touch and spoke often during her senior year of college. Toward the end of that year, she called me to say that she and her fiancé had been praying and felt God leading them to apply with Team Expansion full-time in hopes of returning to Jordan to serve as missionaries.
She recently completed our Launch candidate school training for potential full-time recruits and has returned to France to raise support and plan for her wedding. Her fiancé hopes to attend our Launch training and then later join Karen in France. They hope to be on the field in the next couple of years serving full-time with our Jordan team. Karen’s story involves many steps of faithful obedience. Each step has led her deeper into God’s plan for her, and for His Kingdom. She started out only planning to spend a year in the U.S., which led to a four-year commitment, which led to an international internship, which is leading to a lifetime of service and obedience. Throughout the process, she’s learned to be flexible with her own plans as she pursues God’s calling, and He is transforming her future.
For more information: involvement@teamexpansion.org pathways
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news
News and Notes
Updates and information about a few of Team Expansion’s fields around the world
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2
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2 - Philippines Tragedy and new churches
1 - Crimea - Unrest affects teams Team Expansion has two teams who serve in Crimea. One team does Bible translation among an unreached people group, and the other team works with international students at a medical university. Both teams spent some time waiting out the turmoil in the US. One team has returned and one hopes to return soon. As war rages just a few hundred miles north in mainland Ukraine the people in Crimea hope for peace in the region. There is a feeling of uncertainty about the future but people try to go on with their daily lives. Please pray for the local churches as they continue to minister and pray that in these difficult times many people would turn to God. Pray for all the pastors and missionaries, that they will be able to continue to live and serve in Crimea.
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In the fall of 2013, the Philippines suffered both a recordsetting earthquake and a record-setting typhoon. Thousands of lives were lost, millions were suddenly homeless, and God used the tragedy to open doors to the Gospel. Immediately, through grants, the generosity of the Church, and the Team Expansion community, the team was able to meet needs, providing nearly 20 tons of relief goods and medical care for thousands of sick and injured survivors. God provided resources for them to build 42 homes in seven months. Most importantly, people groups they did not know a year ago are now exposed to the Gospel. Since tragedy struck, they have seen multiple churches start and hundreds of people stepping into a new faith. Now their focus is shifting from disaster relief in these areas to soul-winning and church-planting in disaster-struck areas.
3 - Turkey - New believers The Holy Spirit was moving in the hearts of the Turks before the team even arrived. They first met Yiğit* on the basketball court and he immediately began asking questions about Jesus. As he began reading the Bible daily, God opened his eyes to the lies of Islam. He wasted no time telling his entire family about Jesus. He
faced physical attacks from classmates and verbal attacks from family. Yiğit found it difficult to witness to his friend, Kerem; “He will never accept Jesus. It is impossible!” After reading parts of the New Testament, Kerem decided Jesus was a selfish god. The Holy Spirit convinced Kerem to read it again and
the Lord opened his heart to become a follower of Jesus while teaching Yiğit that nothing is impossible with God. Kerem was temporarily kicked out of his house, but both young men rejoice in persecution and continue to share Jesus daily. *Names changed
4 - North Africa Goal of seven new churches
One team in North Africa is actively seeking the establishment of seven churches in their country this year. The nation is more than 99 percent Islamic, but there has been a surge of people who are spiritually seeking in the last few years. The team desires to see churches that have at least three disciples, but no missionary presence. Each church should be independent of foreign resources, but will have regular coaching from the team or their partners at least twice a month. The team longs to see churches that embrace the model of going, making disciples, baptizing, and teaching obedience to all, as Jesus commanded. To see this goal established, the team is sharing their vision with local believers and training them in church multiplication practices. They are also streamlining some of their mass evangelism processes and methods for following up with local seekers.
5 - Jordan
Syrian refugee crisis Throughout the past two years, the team serving Syrian refugees in Jordan has assisted approximately 500 families, out of about 3,500 who live in their area. Through grants and gifts from churches and individuals, the team provided those families with foam mats to sleep on, blankets, kerosene space heaters, diapers, medicine and food. Families can range from 10-20 in one apartment. It is not uncommon to have multi-generational or extended families living together. They have organized summer camps for refugee children and assisted with school fees and supplies. The team works alongside the local church and is accompanied on home visits by local believers they are discipling. After an initial visit, the team goes back a few days later to meet urgent needs. The team tries to visit each family twice a month. During visits, they listen, and provide comfort, encouragement, and prayer. They make sure to let the families know it is the church helping, not the individual workers. As their relationships grow with those families, they are seeing God lead their evangelistic outreach. Already several have believed in the Gospel! Members of the team have also traveled to northern Iraq to help support a similar ministry among the Syrian refugees there.
6 - Peru
Connections trip A Connections team went to the Ancash Region of Peru, where they experienced several aspects of cross-cultural ministry. Clustered throughout the Andes are adobe dwellings of substantive farmers who exist within a labor intensive culture marginalized by modern South American society. Their faith is nominally Catholic with a lot of animistic superstition and fears mixed throughout. There are more than 300,000 high-altitude farmers who speak a Southern Conchucos dialect of Quechua, and most have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ nor experienced His deliverance. The team partnered with mature Christian Peruvians in a mission-work called “Living Water – Clean Water,” bringing the Word of God in their Quechua heart-language (developed and translated by Wycliffe Bible Translators and distributed by a Peruvian-led ministry called www.awiPeru.org) and offering Sawyer PointOne water filters as a clean-water solution.
news and notes
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aRefuge
Make a Connection
ON A SHORT-TERM TRIP!
The Connections Ministry helps link churches and short-term volunteers with Team Expansion field workers in order to advance the Great Commission among unreached people groups around the world. Participants primarily serve the field team, pray for the area, and advance the work of the existing ministry. Our trips may include cultural experiences, prayer walks, work teams, evangelism, teaching, leadership training, medical services, marriage enrichment, sports camps and more.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION! CONNECTIONS@TEAMEXPANSION.ORG
TALY Ineeds you! Italy is a difficult field that needs men and women who will persevere in their passion for church planting and making disciples. We seek friendly, committed Christ-followers who are willing to allow God to use them to engage Italian people. 2014the • tell 32Summer
TEAM EXPANSION - connections -
Abilities in the following areas would be a plus: • Counseling and/or Coaching • Creative Arts • Preaching/Teaching • Worship-leading/music • Youth/Student Ministry • Sports Ministry • Web and Media
Find out more by filling out a no-obligation profile today! www.teamexpansion.org/profile
TOP OPPORTUNITIES VISIONARY TEAM LEADERS
Any of 6900 Unreached People Groups Middle East / North Africa Southeast Asia Europe
CHURCH PLANTERS 45+ countries East Asia, Muslim lands, and Eastern Europe TEACHERS Around the world DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING SCHOOL Trainers, house parents, and mentors ENGLISH TRAINING South Asia, East Asia, Europe AGRICULTURE SPECIALISTS Asia, Africa MISSIONARY KID (MK) COORDINATOR Coordinator for MK care/training/debriefing programs ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO VICE-PRESIDENT PRAYER ADVOCATES EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION FACILITATOR Workers for outdoor challenge course team building INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) SPECIALISTS Website design and database management CREATIVE ARTS DESIGNERS
Fill out a no-obligation profile today! www.teamexpansion.org/profile Questions? involvement@teamexpansion.org aRefuge
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prayer
PRAYER J
Planting the Seeds for a Church Planting Movement
esus taught His disciples to pray, “… your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) What did Jesus desire to see happen as a result of this prayer? He came to earth for the reasons outlined in Isaiah 61:1-3. The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
SPIRITUAL KINGDOM SPIRITUAL BATTLE
Jesus came to establish a spiritual kingdom. God’s people are called to pray diligently in order to usher in His Kingdom. When will this be accomplished? Psalm 2 tells us that God’s Kingdom will come when all nations adore Him, when all peoples sing His praise and worship Him. Because Jesus came to establish a spiritual kingdom, it is no surprise that the devil has unleashed a battle in the spiritual realms to come against the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth. Paul made it very clear in Ephesians 6:11-12 that the war is spiritual: Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For 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. Paul instructed the Ephesian church on how to fight this spiritual war, both defensively and offensively. After detailing the pieces of battle armor necessary, he said, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:19) It is clear that prayer must pervade all of the Christian’s battle plans so that the tactics might be God-directed and Spirit-led. It is necessary that all kinds of prayers go up continually as Christians watch and persevere in those prayers night and day.
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by BETTY BYRD
Why is the work of prayer so crucial? Because it moves the hand of God, it changes direction, it is the line of communication with God, and, without prayer, Christians are powerless to stand against the forces of evil.
PRAYER FOR CHURCH PLANTING MOVEMENTS
Complete devotion to prayer is essential to God’s kingdom coming to earth through church planting movements. No church planting movement has ever happened without extraordinary prayer preceding it. One worker in a southeast Asian country explained why they began a prayer initiative for the people of their land. Throughout my life, people have prayed for me. I clearly remember my grandfather kneeling beside his bed at night, praying for each of his children and grandchildren. My grandmother prayed for years about whom I would marry and become. Friends and family have prayed for me during difficult times throughout my life, and I know that so many pray for us now as we work here. But for the vast majority of the people in this country, no one has ever really prayed for them. No one has lifted them, as an individual person, before the face of God. Not once. And isn’t that really what they need most of all? God is the one who calls us to repentance, who changes hearts, who moves mountains. None of us can come to God on our own. Prayer to this amazing, faithful God is work that I can do, that you can do. Do I love my friends in this country enough to be faithful in this? Because Team Expansion believes that prayer is the crucial strategy in launching church planting movements, a number of prayer initiatives have arisen around the world, starting with our whole organization. In the past six years, as an umbrella prayer initiative for Team Expansion has increased, marked growth throughout the organization has occurred. The number of baptisms has increased from 735 to 920, church plants from 197 to 500, and attendance in the churches has doubled. God hears and answers prayer. May He receive all glory and honor for the great things He has done and continues to do.
For more information: www.teamexpansion.org/pray
NORTH AFRICA
In an initiative birthed in North Africa, over 111,000 people have joined in a prayer network to lift one particular Muslim country before the throne of God. Within that country, there are now Kairos graduates and trained facilitators who are propelling their own people into a worldview that is setting the country on fire with the Gospel. There are more than 5,000 people who have visited a website pointing them toward Jesus, and more than 300 Bible downloads from that website and more than 80 motivated seekers looking for the truth this year.
AP PROVINCE
One of the most recently launched initiatives is already seeing God do great things. On Palm Sunday of this year, people from six denominations gathered to worship and praise God and hear the Word preached. For the very first time ever, the people of the AP province witnessed a choir whose members were all from one previously unreached people group. Praise God! He is at work and is doing a mighty work among the people of the AP province in this Asian country.
SPAIN
At the end of 2013, workers within Spain launched a cultural center. Since the time the center was opened, more than 50 adults have come through the doors and participated in different activities. Workers have shared testimonies with several of these people and have shared Bible stories with even more. A Bible study takes place every Thursday night. Hours are spent in prayer and different prayer activities. Tears have been shed as people have drawn close to God. There are now several believers at different stages of growth in their faith.
TAIWAN
An initiative in Taiwan encourages people around the world to set alarms and pray at 10:02 each day. They chose 10:02 based on Luke 10:2, where it says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.� As a result of these prayers, people entrenched in the hopeless worship of many false gods are finding hope in Jesus Christ.
MIEN PEOPLE
Pray for the Mien, an initiative targeting the Mien of Southeast Asia, is resulting in the Mien reaching their own people. Simple house churches and small groups are springing up throughout the land. Mien Christians are participating in church planting and multiplication movement training. In an area of intense persecution, the Gospel is continuing to spread and transform lives.
prayer
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Make Your summer matter
Pathways interns will be assisting current missionaries with everything from special projects like camps and builds to everyday work like farming and technology. By the end of the summer they will have a much greater idea of what day-to-day missions life is like, and will return as stronger advocates for God’s global mission.
SUMMER 2015 FIELDS *all fields subject to change Ghana - Taiwan - Philippines - Turkey - China
pathways make your su mmer matter
10-week summer internships Start your application by filling out a profile today! WWW.TEAMEXPANSION.ORG/PROFILE
Deadline for filling out a profile is November 24, 2014 www.teamexpansion.org/pathways
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