Outreach Oct-Dec 2010

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OUTREACH Issue 22 | Oct - Dec 10

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ORLD Y OF THE W IT L A E R E TH E LIVE IN WHICH W 2010 World Cup PLUS: The ris Jones tives By Ch c e p rs e P l a Glob ership rough Partn h T g in d il u B eal 2010 ristmas App and our Ch

The Official Elim International Missions Magazine

Shedding some

light on the issues

Chris Jones says we need to understand the times in which we live.

Chris encourages us that across the world God is doing amazing things and we have a part to play.

Contents

06 the REALITY of

...

08

TRANSFORMING THE WORLD ONE LIFE AT A TIME | 03 COVER STORY - THE REALITY OF THE WORLD | 08 LIONSRAW : WORLD CUP 2010 | 12 ELAM MINISTRIES 20TH ANNIVERSARY | 13

16

BUILDING : A PARTNERSHIP | 14 PRAYER DIARY | 16 LIFELINK | 18

08

18

COVER STORY

THE REALITY OF THE WORLD What is the reality of the world in which we live? What is really happening across the globe? Read articles from around the world showing the true story.

TRANSFORMING

1

THE WORLD LIFE AT A TIME

by Chris Jones

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.

Proverbs 31:8

O

One of the first things I look to do on arriving in a country is to find a locally produced national newspaper, written in English, in order to discover the headline news and what is happening in that country that may not be covered by the media in the UK. It is often very illuminating and surprising to read a world story or incident from a different world viewpoint.

The TOI article primarily considered two areas:

路 In a recent national survey the role of a housewife was categorised as the same as a prostitute or sex worker, thus raising the issue of the value put on such a crucial role in a nation that wishes to be seen as a rising world power.

路 According to the latest official national statistics it is believed there are just under seven million prostitutes in the country and it is widely believed

As I travelled throughout the nation in the following days I determined to ask the many people I was scheduled to meet with

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that the true number across the nation of India was probably nearer to ninety million, an absolutely staggering figure.

OUTREACH | Oct - Dec 2010

I visited India in August and the newspaper I found myself reading was the Times of India (TOI) which is always a good place to start. Amongst the many articles ranging from the delights of Bollywood to the strained relationship with its neighbour Pakistan and their devastating floods, was one on the sex industry in their own nation of India and in particular the exploitation and role of women.

One little girl’s story: She is 10 years old from a Hindu background. Her father died of alcohol poisoning. She comes from a slum in Delhi where she lived with her mother, with no money for food or clothing. Her mother left home in the morning and returned in the evening, having earned very little.

While the mother was absent, no one was there to look after this little girl and she was sexually abused by neighbours and relatives. She was severely traumatised and understandably mistrusting of men.

whether or not they believed the article to be accurate, to ascertain if the article was anywhere near the truth or simply wild speculation.

The unanimous response I received from my questioning with each person I met with was that they firmly believed that the figures quoted were actually on the low side and whilst this cannot be proved one way or the other, the enormity of the challenge is huge and cannot be ignored.

In May 2005 this little girl was rescued and taken to the home I visited in New Delhi. Initially she was very shy and slow to learn but now she is doing well, she is bubbly, gentle and caring. Her favourite song is, ‘I will forget everything and I’ll dance because of Jesus’ and she wants to be a pilot or a teacher when she grows up. What an amazing transformation in this little girl’s life!

Over the period of my visit I was massively impacted by two meetings that are still ‘living’ with me today and that I would like to share with you.

04 OUTREACH | Oct - Dec 2010

The first was when I was with a pastor discussing this subject and he shared with me that one of the ministries he was trying to establish in his church was to wives and mothers who had chosen, or a better word would be forced, into prostitution as a consequence of financial hardship. This is very often caused by the fact that the husband is unable to get work or more often than not what money they did manage to earn was kept by the husband to be used to buy alcohol. A wife would leave her house around mid morning after her husband had left for the day, and from then until the middle of the afternoon she would work as a prostitute, leaving in time to get back before the children and her husband returned, in order to get enough money for the family to survive. You may well already be aware of such situations and of the desperate needs, but what incredibly challenged me was when the pastor took me out on the street and showed me some of the Mums who had been forced to do what they were doing simply in order to survive.

The second incident I want to share with you I still can’t fully express just how much my heart was and still is impacted. I was coming to the end of my visit to India and had just a little time available to go and visit a girls’ home in New Delhi. This home is caring for 16

girls aged five to fourteen rescued from their very worst point of need.

All these girls had been sexually abused by family members and neighbours. They come from nonChristian backgrounds and most had no birth certificates. If they hadn’t been rescued, it is certain they would now be on the fringes of society, with no rights whatsoever, not even to say no to sexual advances.

But two wonderful Indian Christians have established this place of rescue and from an exploited and desperate background, each girl previously haunted by mental turmoil, has a hope and a future. I can still see before me their wonderful smiling faces. The girls have a phenomenal sense of community, united and supporting each other. They are doing well in school and are being introduced to the Bible. What a transformation.

And we need to help practically. This Christmas our focus is to set up a fund

I thank God for my own upbringing and for loving, Christian parents. I thank God for my two children, secure in the knowledge that they are loved and cared for. Sometimes it’s hard for us to understand the depths of despair and fear experienced by many children across the world. It’s hard to even begin to consider what those amazing girls in the home in India have gone through. And yet now their lives have been completely transformed. Together, let’s transform some more lives!

Some photos have been edited to protect the children’s identity.

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We mustn’t keep our heads in the sand with the busyness of life around us and all the things crying out for our attention. We mustn’t forget the reality of the world. Yes, this may upset us and cause us to want to turn our face away, but we can’t. We should be upset, not just an emotional reaction, but one that as Christians touches the very core of our being. We need to speak up for those who can’t.

to help girls like those I met in the home in India, to rescue them from abuse and from the sex industry, to take young boys and girls out of desperate situations and put them into places where they will be loved and cared for in a Christian environment. Together we can make a difference, one by one, every small amount will help. This isn’t an appeal just because it’s Christmas time and that’s what we should do, I really do feel God laying this on my heart and calling us to have an effect, to have the resources available to make a difference.

OUTREACH | Oct - Dec 2010

But this problem isn’t restricted to India alone, and whilst my visit there has very much highlighted and drawn my focus to it, sadly it is a problem across the whole world, including the UK. This is going on in our own country and statistics say that many girls are right now being brought into London to be used in the sex industry during the 2012 Olympics. This is the reality of the world in which we live.

Shedding some

light on the issues

Chris Jones says we need to understand the times in which we live SOME INTERESTING STATISTICS The average person in church is a black woman from the sub Sahara with five kids.

The fastest growing churches are in India, South America and the Far East - Europe and the UK are the smallest Recent figures indicate about 50% of the world’s population is under 20, 75% is under 25 We have the most wealth in the West

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UNDERSTANDING COMMUNITY Here in the UK we’ve lost the sense of community. We used to have a relationship with our neighbours and rely on them, now we keep ourselves to ourselves. We need to change this and make an impact in our communities for Jesus. Yes, we all need individual salvation, but we need to reach our communities, build relationships with our friends and neighbours and tell them about Jesus.

OUTREACH | Oct - Dec 2010

1 Chronicles 12:32 “...men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do - 200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command.”

THE RISE OF TRIBALISM Rather than reaching country by country we need to reach people group by people group, tribe by tribe.

A different strategy is needed to reach people from different areas, eg Gloucester to Cheltenham, Celts to Anglo Saxons. And we need to remember that to become a Christian isn’t to make someone Western.

We need nationals in their country to reach their own community, with us providing training and support, but also teaching them how to support themselves financially. Someone recently said that India will be reached through Indian money.

MAJOR RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD

2. Bairwa: India - Hinduism 3. Comorian, Ndzwani, Comoros Islands: Indian Ocean - Islam 4. Garre; Somalia - Islam 5. Rajbansi; India - Hinduism 6. Arab, Yemeni: Yemen - Islam 7. Azerbaijani, Azeri Turk: Iraq - Islam 8. Hazara: Afghanistan - Islam 9. Pashtun: Afghanistan - Islam 10. Sanaani, Northern Yemeni: Yemen - Islam NUMBER OF UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS = 6837 POPULATION IN UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS = 2.74 billion Source: Joshua Project

THE SPEED OF CHANGE It is said that culture changes every three years. We need to understand what’s going on. Twenty years ago we didn’t know much about HIV/AIDS. Missionaries used to go overseas for three years and come back home for six month, an old strategy that dates back to when people went overseas on long journeys by boat. In the 1950s Billy Graham spoke to large stadiums, in the 60s through radio, in the 70s on TV, in the 90s by satellite TV. Now we use the internet, facebook, twitter, youtube, podcasts. The message never changes but we have to use new ways of communicating to our advantage and make it applicable to the situation.

UNDERSTANDING ISLAM Most Christians could appear to be scared of Islamic fundamentalist, but not all Muslims are fanatics. We need to love and try to understand them.

And we have a wonderful opportunity as we can reach them in our own towns here in the UK, we don’t need to travel to their nations.

Source: http://chartsbin.com/view/3nr

Across the world God is doing amazing things, we have a part to play.

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“The message never changes but we have to use new ways of communicating to our advantage and make it applicable to the situation.”

1. Aimaq, Taimani: Afghanistan Islam

OUTREACH | Oct - Dec 2010

GO INTO ALL THE WORLD Political correctness has gone mad but we shouldn’t be slaves to this. There are no ‘rights’ when it comes to Christ, everything is through His grace, we are all slaves to sin. Here in the UK and in many places across the world there’s a climate of expectation and what we are entitled to, but when God calls us we have no rights, but He will enable us. It may be uncomfortable to consider this, but ‘Go into all the world’ doesn’t give anyone the guarantee they will come back - many Indians, Chinese and Arabs are literally laying down their lives for Jesus.

TOP TEN UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS:

theREALITYof life in the AMAZON

by Marty Davison

I have been in Maues for eight years now. What was foreign and strange has now become familiar, home. Each person’s experience or perception is unique and in this understanding I write, hoping to grab your minds and take them on a little journey through my eyes.

Brazil is a geographically immense and multicultural country, where even within the Amazon there exists regions with different cultural traits and practices.

One of the first things that impacted me when I arrived in the Amazon was the filth, chaos and noise of the port area at Manaus. Boats of all sizes were zooming this way and that, to a background stench of rotting fruit mixed with the distinctive smell of urine, plus the constant noise of traffic, horns and people. People were rushing about, carrying loads well beyond their physical capability. There was an appearance of disorder, yet everybody knew what they were doing and where they were going.

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It is a relief to start the 20 hour boat journey down the Amazon river, getting away from the humid, concrete jungle of Manaus, where the heat of the day is trapped in its buildings and roads, only to throw it out again at night. As you swing to and fro in your hammock, there is something of wonder as the boat chugs

it way along the river, giving glimpses of nature, dolphins rising, parrots flying past and the odd riverside dwelling. If you wake early for the sun rise it’s an amazing experience looking out over the rainforest as the sun lights up the skies with colours that defy imagination.

I have often described Maues as being like an island in the jungle, as you can arrive by boat or plane, but there are no roads to take you back to Manaus or connect you to other towns or cities, all roads eventually ending in jungle.

Maues is a large town on the banks of the river Maues-Acu with over 40,000 people and only 5,000 houses, meaning an average of 20 people per house. Most of the main shops are located at the river front. As you move from there the houses are crude structures, wood with planks nailed up for walls and corrugated sheets for roofing, with concrete or mud floors.

The majority don’t have inner walls but sheets are pinned up at night to give an

Maues has a large gay population and I remember being flabbergasted at seeing transvestites walking down the main street during my first days here. The church has grown over the last six years from 20 people to around 200-250 attending on Sundays, 23 leaders and over 500 in the ‘cell’ groups. We have seen many drug addicts, alcoholics, those involved in witchcraft, give their lives to the Lord but we still haven’t made much inroad into the gay community.

Maues used to be known as the ‘land of Guarana’. Guarana being a regional fruit that contains three times as much caffeine as coffee. Maues was the only producer of Guarana until the fruit was cloned and planted in other parts of Brazil and the world. There was also a season of tremendous wealth heralded by the gold miners that came down river loaded with money to spend! But this also brought violence, prostitution and corruption not far behind it. Those days have long since gone and the decadence of this once thriving little town has been further accelerated through political corruption and the diversion of finances from their destinations into the pockets of the greedy.

At the Living Word Church we have run a small school for the last six years catering for 100 pupils aged 4 to 6. This has given us 100 doors each year to go through, to touch the community with the love of Jesus in practical ways. We have seen tremendous fruit with whole families coming into the Kingdom of God. But the school also gives us an open window through which to see the true reality of life in Maues.

The majority of the children come from dysfunctional family backgrounds. Mum might be a teenager, so granny is raising the child, or mum might have had several partners, having different children with each partner and the one she is with now isn’t dad but an ‘uncle’. Some of the children are being raised with ‘aunties’ or ‘grannies’, people who have taken the responsibility

Hope deferred really makes the heart sick and a nation wander further into the wiles and snares of the enemy. to raise children who have been abandoned, rejected or unsuccessfully aborted by their biological mums. Due to the high unemployment and the growing dependence on government handouts a fatalistic complacency has set in, which is passed down. Hope deferred really makes the heart sick and a nation wander further into the wiles and snares of the enemy.

Sexual promiscuity and infidelity is alarmingly normal along with STD’s even amongst teenagers, with one school having to be ‘closed’ whilst a syphilis outbreak was ‘managed’.

On a lighter note, having left Ireland with a Dental degree and years of experience as a dental surgeon, I have now learnt to do plumbing, electrics, foundations, roofing, ceilings, water towers and designed and helped build houses. I speak fluent Portuguese, I have got used to the fact that I will always be a ‘gringo’ here. I still get sun stroke after a day’s physical work. I have learnt to love all the different foods especially fish with chilli peppers...well maybe not all, cow innards takes getting used to!

As a family we experience the mosquitoes, the 32°-40C° heat, the humidity, the water and electricity shortages. But we choose to live here, we weren’t born here, we are here to make a difference. The price is high and I would request MORE PRAYER, especially for our children Daniel and Elizabeth and for my wife Rebeca and I. At times you do miss home, but the privilege of being part of God’s work keeps you keeping on. God’s promises are yes and Amen and there is a hope that we are part of that generation that sees revival, transforming not only lives but the whole of the city.

Marty hails from Northern Ireland and is from Elim Carryduff. He first went to Brazil in 2002 where he met and married Rebeca, a local girl.

Marty and Rebeca have two children, Daniel and Elizabeth.

If you would like to hear more from Marty tune into our up and coming podcast where we interview Marty and talk to him about life in the Amazon.

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Care must be taken both as a pedestrian (no pavements) and a driver. The number of motorbikes has tripled in the last few years as has the number of road fatalities, with motorbike and bicycle being the main mode of transport and not a road traffic light in sight!

OUTREACH | Oct - Dec 2010

illusion of privacy with many having outdoor toilets above or beside a septic pit.

The Reality of

REACHING THE UNREACHED

The challenge of reaching the largest unreached people group in the world Kathy Cooper talks to Boureima Diallo about the reality of reaching the Fulani people Kathy Cooper (KC): Boureima, where do the Fulani people live?

Boureima Diallo (BD): They are a nomadic people living in 19 countries across Africa from the Gambia in the West to Sudan in the East. There are 25 million Fulani, mainly in West Africa and over 99% have not had the opportunity to hear the Gospel for the first time.

KC: Why can your ministry reach Fulanis?

BD: Because we are Fulani Christians reaching out to our own people, so there is no cultural barrier to overcome.

KC: Do you come from a Christian family?

BD: No, many years ago Fulanis were the first ethnic group to become Muslim in West Africa. I come from a large Muslim family.

Praise God the Lord saved me from the darkness of Islam into his wonderful light.

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KC: So when and how did you become a Christian?

BD: My father had three wives and 17 children and we were all Muslim. I was praying five times a day and doing many things required by the Koran. As we were a large family, my father employed someone to help with the housework, a man called Adama who was a Christian. Adama told me all about Jesus Christ and how He could change my life. It was difficult for me to take this in. I asked Adama if I could go with him to his church to meet this Jesus. With fear in my heart I asked my father for permission and after a long silence, he said he wanted me to be a good Christian. When I went to the church I went forward at the end but still didn’t fully understand what I had done. When I got back I talked with my father and amazingly he explained it better than the preacher and Adama! Some months later I discovered my father had been reading a Holy Bible.

KC: Did you face any opposition?

BD: Yes, my uncle, a mosque leader, threatened to kill me one day. It was often difficult being the only Fulani Christian in the village. But there are now six Christians in my family and I believe all my family will be saved one day.

KC: So how did you start Fulani Ministries?

BD: I prayed much for my people. Then when I was at university God challenged me to stop my studies and be available to him for the salvation of my people. I asked God to confirm this and amazingly he did as that same day I led two Fulanis to Christ.

KC: So what is Fulani Ministries involved with?

BD: Evangelism is central to all we do. We hold outreach events and provide resources for local churches. An important part of our ministry is training Fulani Christians through Discipleship and Mission training to reach out to other Fulanis. Millions of Fulani people can’t read or write so our Radio Ministry broadcasts 30 minute weekly radio programmes in the Fulani language. Plus we minister to Fulani prisoners, provide mobility equipment, teach craft skills when a Bible message is given at each session plus teach literacy as 90% of Fulanis are illiterate and much more!

KC: Tell us some recent happenings BD: From December 2009 to May 2010 we planted 26 new churches. Just a few weeks ago eight adults, including the daughter of our village imam, decided to follow Jesus.

Thank you Boureima. Our prayer is that through the grace of God you and all involved in Fulani Ministries will reach many more Fulanis with the good news of Jesus.

The Reality Of

MINISTRY IN PAKISTAN

BY JOHN IQBAL

Pakistan is the second biggest Muslim country with over 170 million people, 96.7% are Muslim and 1.7 % Christian. When General Zia Ul Haq came to power in 1977 he imposed Islamic Sharia law which caused severe persecution for Christians and converts to Christianity from Islam face the death plenty.

In the midst of persecution and hardship there are real opportunities for us as Christians to reach people. We are allowed to establish Christian schools and provide education to the general public. Muslims are very happy to send their children to Christian schools as they believe that Christians are hard workers and can provide a better education for their children. Christian hospitals in the country are also considered providers of the best service to the community with their sincere compassion and concern for humanity.

Pakistan is an Islamic country but that does not mean we cannot get involved in community projects and we have equal opportunities to help needy and neglected people. We can impact individuals, families and communities with different projects such as schools, medical centres, adult literacy centres and vocational training that make a real difference. As Christians

As Christians we are free to perform Christian services in our churches, hold Christian conferences seminars and events, to train and equip new pastors and leaders in our Bible Colleges. We are also free to plant new churches and reach people as we express our faith with wisdom.

Pakistan is facing enormous challenges with the struggle against terrorist activities and more recently the devastating floods which affected over 20 million people. As Christians we have been able to help the victims of the flood and express our love by meeting practical needs through providing food, clean water, medical aid and shelter. Thank you to everyone in Elim who has given to help with this.

We appreciate your prayers as Pakistan is in need and is open for the Gospel because the circumstances and the way of people’s thinking is changing in the country and especially people’s attitude towards the Western world is improving.

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Pakistan has become a centre for terrorist activities and people from all religious backgrounds condemn these activities. The general public is frustrated and confused because of religious activists who promote violence in the country in the name of religion, as terrorists believe they are fulfilling their religious obligations.

But we thank God for every opportunity to help people and explain to them that God can bring peace in the land as Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace.

when we take this opportunity to serve people and help them, it builds bridges to help them spiritually as well.

John works with Australian Christian Churches (ACC) into Pakistan leading a Bible College as well as supporting schools and local projects.

John is married to Anne and they have 2 children.

OUTREACH | Oct - Dec 2010

The Blasphemy law has been used to accuse Christians and some are suffering because of that controversial law. However Christians in Pakistan have liberty to exercise their faith in their own communities and perform worship services.

Lionsraw was birthed in 2004 when Jon Burns, the founder, was sitting watching the England v France football game at the Stadium of Light in Portugal. As he realised 60,000 people there shared his passion for the game, he wondered what great things could be achieved if it was possible to harness that passion and belief.

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The main ventures of Lionsraw are centred round major sporting events. The debut special project at the World Cup in South Africa this year focussed on children affected by poverty and HIV/AIDS, with around 130 guys from England going with Lionsraw including a number of Elim guys. The team worked incredibly hard in ‘the Valley of a Thousand Hills’ building new changing rooms at a school, erecting a large barn, taking part in a feeding programme for orphans and homeless kids and playing football and games with the children – oh, and they watched some football too! One of the team commented, “We have all been on the go pretty much without stop since we arrived.

To illustrate this, I find it hugely ironic that very few of the Lionsraw team seems to have any idea about how the World Cup is progressing – nobody seems to know who is playing next, or how the group positions stand. For a team of football anoraks, this is real testament to the focus on project work.” The members of the Lionsraw team all had different skills and abilities, but everybody worked really hard together, with a lot of banter and very few cross words.

OUTREACH | Oct - Dec 2010

At the end there wasn’t a dry eye in the house as a thank you letter was read to the team: “We want to thank you for the building that you built for us and the joy you brought to Sithembakuye.

We cannot show or express our happiness, but deep inside we are blessed to have wonderful

Photos: The Lionsraw team make a real difference in South Africa 2010

Jon is married with two children and leads a church ‘The Vine’ in the North East of England.

Jon says, “All over the human race there are football fans with the LION’S heart, I am lucky enough to be called upon to give the RAW.”

and caring people like you in our lives.

God bless you all,” One of the team commented, “It is clear that God has blessed us with this opportunity to make a difference. For many of us, it is a humbling chance to turn our faith into something concrete.”

And Lionsraw is now turning its attention to the next project - the World Cup in Brazil in 2014. For more info on Lionsraw: www.lionsraw.org. Also look out for our interview with Jon Burns in our up and coming podcasts.

Elam Ministries 20th Anniversary

By Hope Jones

Elam’s vision is that all the people of the Iran region would have the opportunity to come to know the Lord Jesus Christ and follow Him as a disciple, and that they would be instrumental in taking the Gospel to other Muslims.

There are 66 million people living in Iran today: there have been one million casualties due to revolution and natural events; there are four million drug addicts; and 17% inflation. One quarter of the population is 14 years old and under and women still suffer under an oppressive system.

Training is the backbone of Elam’s Ministry. In the early 1990’s there was less than one Christian worker for every one million people, so a training revival was needed. A two year Persian speaking training course began with six students. Now over 300 men and women have been formally trained. Over the last five years the training programme has taken place mainly in Turkey - three months intensive study of church planting and leadership with 10-15 students. Many return to Iran where hundreds of house churches have been planted.

Not only has Elam forged ahead in bringing the printed word to Iran, it has also produced satellite TV programmes in Persian such as a programme entitled ‘Healing the Broken Hearted’ which is reaching up to 28 million people, and hundreds of thousands visit the Christian website. Also a growing ministry to women is showing many with abused and broken lives their value in Christ. Women make up 60% of the Iranian church!

Sam Yeghnazar closed the celebrations with Elam’s goals for 2011 - to continue the leadership training, church planting and launch a new on-line discipleship programme.

But also to give thanks in the harvest, as great things are happening, to give thanks for what God has done thus far and what He will continue to do in the harvest of souls.

Footnote: Many of you will know of Maryam and Marzieh’s release from prison in Iran – workers with Elam Ministries.

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When Elam first started its mission in 1990, things looked very bleak in Iran: the Iranian Bible Society had been shut down by the government, evangelism was illegal, churches were closed down and Christians were being persecuted. Ruled by a government fiercely opposed to Christianity, Iran seems completely closed to the Gospel. All evangelism and the printing of Scriptures is banned; the apostasy law demands death for Muslims who change their religion. Yet it is in Iran that more Muslims today are turning to Christ than anywhere else in the Middle East, some say one million people in Iran have come to Christ.

In 1990 the old Bible translation was difficult to understand with very few copies actually inside the country. There were about 70 Christian books in print and hardly any Christian material for children. Today Elam, through partnership with Wycliffe Translators and the Bible Society, has produced 550,000 printed copies of the newly translated New Testament, and the Old Testament is just two years from completion. 200 additional Christian books, and more than 50 children’s books and videos, have been produced. Also 5000 copies of the children’s ‘My Study Bible’ have been published. The printed word plays a vital role in the ministry of Elam and this is borne out as 98 Iranians out of 100 said they would take a copy of the scriptures; the people are spiritually hungry.

OUTREACH | Oct -Dec 2010

‘To God be the glory, great things He has done’ are the words which set the scene for the 20th Anniversary Celebrations of Elam Ministries held recently at their UK Headquarters in Godalming, Surrey. The event commenced with this proclamation and celebration of a great God, not an organisation. Elam is a ministry whose history is all about people, how God used their founder Sam Yeghnazar and many others throughout the years to fulfil His purposes in Iran.

BUILDING

Photos: (Top) The Team stood outside the newly built church.

(Bottom) The building as the roof is being built.

(Behind) The team working on the construction of the roof.

:a partnership

The Elim churches in Kenya have gone through some difficult times in recent years, having faced division within their own leadership resulting in there now being several Elim groups with variant names. However, God continues to work graciously through these churches and the gospel is spreading with new churches being planted throughout the nation.

Over the last two years we have helped one of these groups in forming a Constitution, setting up national departments and the development and training of their pastors and leaders.

Pastor David and Bobbie Tinnion have been instrumental in this work and they, along with other Elim UK pastors, continue to help in the training and development of these pastors.

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But it is not just Elim pastors and members who are involved in this work. At the end of July, I was privileged to lead a team of 15 members from Sheringham Baptist Church to Nyahururu for a two-week mission. Along with my son Daniel, the team raised over ÂŁ5,000 to fund a stone church building for Pastor Reuben Warutere. Within the team there was an architect, builder, carpenter and roofer plus lots of willing hands ready for the hard task of labouring in a rural town 2350 metres above sea level. By the time we arrived in Nyahururu a roof needed to be built and hoisted onto the church walls. This we managed to do and other works such as building the church steps were finished in time for the opening of the church on Saturday 31st July.

OUTREACH | Oct - Dec 2010

It was a joy for me to lead a team from another denomination and they were all impressed with the quality and background support from our Elim Missions office prior to the trip. They have asked to go on future trips and some are contemplating doing longer mission trips with us in their gap years.

It was an excellent trip in many ways. We reached thousands of people with the gospel during the two weeks through presentations at schools and churches and reaching out to the poor with a feeding programme in a slum of 30,000 inhabitants. But it was the moments where we were humbled by sitting in the dilapidated home of a God-fearing believer, or hearing the testimony of a displaced person who escaped with her life in the recent post-election riots, or watching a Masai church worship with amazing passion, or holding the hand of an orphan, that will remain with the team for a long time. For although an Elim short term mission trip brings a great blessing to many, the truth is the ones who go and give come back to the UK so much richer for the experience.

We received a note of thanks shortly after coming back home from the National Leadership team of who we were working for saying, “This is to thank you most sincerely for the just concluded mission to KenyaMasai and Nyahururu. We were so blessed to see a church built and completed. The team was such a blessing to us all in their hard work and loving hearts. Their generosity to the neighbours and the communities around the church and the slums has such a great impact to the church and the kingdom of God. God be glorified.�

Article by Paul Hudson, Missions Development Director.

UPdate

u keeping you up to date with all things Elim Missions. From the UK to across the globe. To get for information about what is going on in Elim Missions visit: www.elimmissions.co.uk/news

ELIM MISSIONS TRAINING COURSES SEPTEMBER 2010

u ELIM MISSIONARY WEDS IN ROMANIA On 16th October Elim Missionary Becky Hallworth from Elim Longton marries Christian Tudosie in Romania. We send all our best wishes to Domnul and Doammna (Mr & Mrs) Tudosie!

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Six people came to West Malvern for the three day missions training course for people interested in or going overseas for more than one year. Topics included Being a Christian in a strange culture; IT for Missions; Communication skills; Keeping your Sanity on the mission field; self leadership; maintaining your personal walk with God, keeping healthy overseas and much more. And 13 people attended the one day course for people going or interested in going overseas for less than a year. We had a fantastic packed time together of fellowship, fun and information. Keep an eye out for the 2011 dates.

WALK FOR LIVING WATER PROJECT Ron and Pat Ransome from Elim Harrogate spent their summer holiday walking the Dales Way from Ilkley in West Yorkshire to Bowness in the Lake District to raise funds for the Living Water Project in Nepal. This was a tough challenge as Ron had a hip replacement just 10 months earlier. They raised sponsorship through their Elim church, work colleagues, members of a golf club and Pat’s sister’s church in Belfast. The walk took 7 days, averaging 12 miles a day with a typical mix of British rain and sun, staying at local B & Bs on the way. In total they raised £1200 and the water project is now complete and providing fresh water for about 500-600 people in Bihi village.

u WORLD MISSIONS SUNDAY CHALLENGE JUNE 2010 Our challenge was to save money on your regular shopping bill during June - we have so much in the West and others in the world have so little. Well done to Elim Coventry who saved an amazing £984.40 for Elim Missions - thank you.

A ‘FAIR’ AMOUNT! The Northern Ireland Missions Office team had a stall at the Auld Lamas Fair in Ballycastle at the end of August and raised £2950 over the two days for Missions.

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prayerdiar y

OCT - DEC 10

OCTOBER Week 1 - 3rd-9th

Pray for Lifelink and the team that heads up this ministry: Mandy Campbell, Jo Rubens, Rachel Hesketh, Karen Green, Amanda Blount and Lisa Lenton.

Pray that the favour of God would be upon Lifelink and that doors would open for them to help more women across the world who are in desperate need of the love of Jesus Christ.

Week 2 - 10th-16th

Please pray for all the Focus Groups that we are hosting in the coming weeks. South East Asia 18th Oct, West & East Europe 19th Oct, India 1st Dec, Central & Southern Africa 2nd Dec. Pray also for Chris Jones, Paul Hudson and Kathy Cooper as they travel on one of our Road Trips, visiting Pastors and Church Leaders in the London area in the coming weeks.

Week 3 - 17th-23rd

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Pray for Becky Hallworth, Longton, who was married to Christian in Romania on the 16th. Pray for God’s blessing on them both as they embark on their life together. Pray that God would also use them both in amazing ways as they move into this next phase of their lives. See a picture of the happy couple on page 15.

OUTREACH | Oct - Dec 2010

Week 4 - 24th-30th

Pray for the Elim Missions staff as we have staff meetings on 25-26th Oct. Pray that this will be a fruitful time together where we are able to hear the clear direction of God. Pray that as we plan the coming years for missions we ask that God be at the very centre and that He be the reason for all that we do.

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

Week 1 - 31st-6th

Week 1 - 5th-11th

Week 2 - 7th-13th

Week 2 - 12th-18th

Pray for our Just Looking @ Missions day on 11th Nov at Elim International Centre, Malvern. Pray that all those speaking and attending would be stirred once again for the importance of missions. Pray that from this people will be impacted and even motivated to go and take the Gospel to the nations.

Pray for all our missionaries that are travelling during the Christmas period. Pray that as they travel they will be kept safe and whether travelling back to the UK or elsewhere they would know that God is using them in a mighty and powerful way as they serve Him overseas.

Week 3 - 14th-20th

Week 3 - 19th-25th

Pray for Chris Jones and the International Missions Department. Pray that as they work, travel and serve they would know God’s blessing and favour and that in the day-to-day running of the office they would know God is using them all to extend His Kingdom. Pray also for the missions staff and Area Missions Directors as they meet on 9-10th Nov.

Pray for Boureima Diallo’s work among the Fulani people of Burkina Faso and across Africa. Pray this will be a season that is greater than the former and that God would use him far beyond his own expectations.

You can read more about Boureima on page 10.

Wednesday 1st December is ‘World AIDS Day’. There are more than 90,000 people living with HIV in the UK and 33.4 million people living with HIV worldwide. As HIV/ AIDS is increasing in every region of the world, pray that God would bring healing to our world. For more information visit: www. worldaidsday.org

Please pray for our missionaries at this time. For many it can be a hard time, away from friends and family. Pray that they would be near to God as He promises to be near to them. Pray that we would all be reminded of the price that was paid in Jesus when He came into this world and that He is still Immanuel, ‘God with us’.

Week 4 - 21st-27th

Pray for our partner organisations working around the world. Especially for John and Anne Iqbal working in Pakistan, page 11, Lionsraw, using sporting events to make a real difference, page 12 and Elam Ministries, working into Iran, page 13. Pray that these organisations and many others across the world would know the blessing of God.

Week 4 - 26th-1st Praise God for all our missionaries and partner organisations across the world. As we enter this new year pray that they would know the favour of God in all they do and that this would be a year like non before with God using Elim Missions and all our missionaries and partner organisation like never before.

SIGN UP for

PRAYERLINE

email: kathy.cooper@elimhq.net

OUTREACH | Oct - Dec 2010

Pray for Marty Davison working in Maues, Brazil. Pray especially for Marty’s children Daniel and Elizabeth and for his wife Rebeca. Marty explains that “at times you do miss home, but the privilege of being part of God’s work keeps you keeping on. God’s promises are yes and Amen and there is a hope that we are part of that generation that sees revival, transforming not only lives but the whole of the city.” You can read more about Marty on page 8.

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Week 5 - 28th-4th

18 OUTREACH | Oct - Dec 2010

Women connecting locally To make a difference globally

The world in Swaziland allows you to go into the local hospital and openly pray for people. The world I live in, here in the UK, could send me to jail for doing that.

The world in Swaziland has a church on every corner, whereas my home town is more likely to have a wine bar or pub on every corner.

“Reality is the leading cause of stress amongst those in touch with it.”

Jane Wagner

The world in Swaziland has 71% of its population living with AIDS, a whole generation is dying out and the people are wondering if they will survive as a nation.

Their only hope is the church.

You may be thinking, ‘What a lot of challenges Swaziland faces.’ But just look around you. What do we read about in our own newspapers each and every day?

Abuse, child murders, hate, hurt, pain...we can make a difference in the world in which we live.

Lifelink is a lifeline...with our prayers we offer spiritual support - ladies your prayers are needed like never before. Find out what is happening in the world in which you live and pray...prayer changes things, believe it.

Through your prayers and finance Swaziland could be saved, other nations could be saved.

And go! Have you ever been and seen for yourself or do you just listen to what others have done? My little team was made up of a young married couple aged 26 and a boy of 16 and they will never be the same again, having seen for themselves how people live in Swaziland. I saw shy young people laying hands on the sick and praying for them, I saw them crying over the suffering of someone they didn’t know, I worked alongside them painting houses for people we will never meet.

I was walking in Swaziland with a volunteer from America who had been saved for just four years and had completed the Teen Challenge Programme, having been a drug addict herself. We were talking about some of the sad things that we had heard about the culture in Swaziland, which led us to talk about our own cultures and she said, “Coming here has made me realise that there is real evil wherever you are in the world”.

That could be you. A mission will change your life even more than it will change those you visit, and what encouragement you will bring to our overseas workers, by the very fact that you saved your money and you made the effort to go and visit them.

Isn’t that the truth...the reality of the world in which we live is that, of itself, the whole

Article by Karen Green, Minister at Elim Halifax and part of the Lifelink Core Team.

The reality of the world in which we live is that God needs us to do His work here in the world in which we live while there is still time.

You can make a difference.

LIFELINK NEEDS YOU! There are many different ways to raise money that will make such a difference in the lives of people in countries that we may never manage to visit ourselves, but where we can indeed leave a legacy. For more information contact us lifelink@elimhq.net | 0845 302 6750

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The world is a big place and each country and culture is unique, having its own positives and negatives. I recently travelled to Swaziland where the reality of life depends on whether you live on a local homestead and have to survive from day to day, or you are one of the BMW/Mercedes owners who attend the local church, sitting alongside the ex-drug addicts.

world is evil and there is only one way out.

What an incredible mountain of impossibility Swaziland faces. But with God the Church can show people a life that is not based on sexual abuse, but on love, acceptance and care for one another.

OUTREACH | Oct - Dec 2010

‘The reality of the world in which we live...’ - it depends on where you live don’t you think?

Why not buy

a gift with

real purpose this Christmas

k ChristmasAppeal2010

www.elimmissions.co.uk/gifts4life

For some, Christmas...

just isn’t that fun!

This Christmas we are asking you to help set up a fund to rescue young girls and boys from abuse and put them into safe places where they will be loved and cared for in a Christian environment. Many children and women across the world are exploited, used and abused and we want to be able to provide a hope and a future for some of them.

If you would like to contribute please send cheques made payable to ‘Elim International Missions’ marked with ‘Christmas Appeal 2010’ on the reverse to the address below.

You can also find out more and pay online at: www.elimmissions.co.uk/christmas2010 Elim International Missions | Elim International Centre | De Walden Road | West Malvern | WR14 4DF