ELIM MISSIONS | CULTURE | LEADERSHIP | CURRENT AFFAIRS | MISSIONARIES
OUTREACH
SUMMER2013>
WHO IS
YOUR
NEIGH -BOUR?
The UK is currently questioning its position in relation to the rest of the world. Do we stay in the European Union? How open should our borders be? P06
LEAVING A LEGACY: As the Kemptons prepare to leave Nepal Steve writes about the continuing work there and just what has been achieved. P04 CAMBODIA - MOVING FORWARD: We hear from Davy and Esther Allen and Becky Haldane as she joins them in Cambodia. P10 SO CLOSE TO HOME - the story of a woman trafficked within the UK: Who would have thought such horrors are happening within our towns and cities. We hear the story of a woman who has experienced just that. P12 ALL CHANGE IN ELIM MISSIONS: Chris Jones speaks with Paul Hudson as he takes on the role of International Missions Director. P14
EDITORIAL Since announcing that I would be relinquishing the role of International Missions Director at the end of August, I have been thinking about what I will feel like when the final day actually arrives and also how I would feel when it comes to writing my very last editorial for Outreach magazine. Well the time has now come to do the latter and as I find myself in this very place, I do so with a whole raft of emotions, two of which overshadow the rest; privilege and thanks. It has been a privilege to have had this opportunity to serve our Elim Movement and all that this has involved over the past decade and whilst this has brought with it many challenges and difficulties, the privilege of being able to serve in this role has indeed been exactly that, a huge privilege for which I will be forever grateful. When one turns to considering the thanks that need to be made I am somewhat overwhelmed as to where to start as the task is so huge. Since my departure has been announced I have had many kind words said to me via email or by mail, for which I am very grateful and humbled (and I have in fact kept them all). I would like to add the following caveat that in reality the giving of thanks should be all mine; to our General Superintendent and the National Leadership Team for allowing me to serve in such a capacity; to our churches, missionaries and partners across the world for without them none of what we have done would have been possible; and of course to my team in the Missions Department, who are the real heroes in the story of the past 10 years. For those of you who know me well I am a passionate family man and whilst I am not one to speak about my family much in public, there is no greater delight for me than to have them join me whenever they can. However for the first time in 10 years in public I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to Hope, Ben and Megan for their unequivocal and unswerving support over this time and for being the best supporters and constructive critics a husband, dad and IMD could ever wish for. Without them, none of what has been achieved could have been possible. It was this past winter, in the midst of a couple of days of heavy snow, that Hope and I were in York and we took the opportunity to visit York Minster to see again the beauty and awe that this building inspires. Whilst we were there we were able to join one of the daily services being held. There were 40 or 50 people there on that occasion taking part in a very simple but powerful act of worship. In so doing my thoughts
were drawn to how many people down through the centuries, in this and other such places of worship, had joined together to worship our God, separated by time and geography, unknown to each other, yet united in a timeless act of worship, each one in their own unique way, place and era, fulfilling what God had called them to, their acts of service and worship known to very few but known by our Saviour and Lord. As my time as Missions Director comes to a close and I look forward to the future, I can’t help but feel that I have been privileged just like one of those myriad of worshippers who down through the centuries have been able to play their part in the great plan of what God is doing throughout history. The time has now come for me to play another role and pass this particular one on to Paul Hudson, who I know will do a wonderful job. So as I step into something new rather than step down, this editorial would be incomplete without a personal heartfelt thank you to you all for your help, support and prayers as we have partnered together and with His people down through the centuries to see His purposes fulfilled in our generation. Thank you.
CHRIS JONES
International Missions Director
CONTENTS WHO IS YOUR NEIGHBOUR?
COVERSTORY
With the debate about mimigration hitting the headlines, we explore who your neighbour actually is and what it means to love them >
10 CAMBODIA: MOVING FORWARD We hear from Davy & Esther Allen and from Becky Haldane as she joins them in Cambodia.
14
ALL CHANGE IN ELIM MISSIONS:
With all the changes taking place at Elim Missions Chris Jones took some time to speak with Paul Hudson.
04
06
LEAVING A LEGACY
As the Kemptons leave Nepal Steve writes about the continued work in Nepal.
SO CLOSE TO HOME
12
THE STORY OF A WOMAN TRAFFICKED IN THE UK: We hear a lot in the news today about sex trafficking. At Elim Bible Week many would have heard an incredibly brave lady tell her story for the first time. Read her moving story here.
16
THEREFORE GO! Not To All Nations!
John Martin looks at the Matthew 28 call to go. But what does it really mean? Is it really a call for us all to go?
R OU S G UR N I O S B ES GH BL EI
N
18
LIFELINK: Blessing Our Neighbour
Through their work Lifelink has seen so many amazing things. Here are two stories of some of the people impacted.
LEAVING A
{
{
Steve, Helen, Sian and Iona:
LEGACY IN NEPAL
If you would like to contribute to the work of UVN in Nepal then please send donations to Elim International Missions marked “UVN” – Nepal.
STEVE WRITES: Martin Luther King said, “Find out what you were made to do and give yourself passionately to the doing of it.” King was not just an eloquent orator he was a practitioner. His dream lived because he himself lived the dream. He did not merely speak about passion, sacrifice and endurance – he poured out his life and demonstrated his unwavering commitment to the cause. Such an abandonment of self can only influence and inspire those who look at his example. Living and working alongside men and women in Nepal who have the same kind of unwavering commitment for the work of God has been inspirational, indeed life changing. Those who have influenced and inspired me most in my life are the people who have, ‘lived out and done’, not just, ‘talked and suggested’. Fredrick Wood once said, “The only life that counts is the life that costs”. William Booth echoes this thought stating, “The greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender”. Bhab Ghale, my friend and fellow Elim worker epitomizes to me the concepts 04 | OUTREACH MAGAZINE
of personal cost and surrender. He has incarnated himself into the mission here in Nepal and shown what the hands and feet of Jesus look like in human form. Having a passion not to be seen and known is a rare and unique quality and may well be the reason why God uses men like Bhab. We have been in Nepal for six years and it’s only as I sit writing now that I begin to reflect how inspirational my wife Helen has been. Inspiration is acquired by watching those who have endured through adversity and pain and it is in
such places of darkness that inspiration shines most. During our time on the field Helen’s father passed away, she was treated for a serious illness over a prolonged period and has had to experience the frightening ordeal of an earthquake as we live on a major fault line that runs across the Himalayas. She has patiently released me to be away for much of the time and has faced the daily challenges of life in Kathmandu with stoicism. No electricity for up to 15 hours a day, black water coming from the taps and the joy of family bucket washes in winter. For me, this demonstrates pas-
sion, heart and desire because it is backed up by personal experience and a commitment to the cause of Christ. To give yourself is to abandon your own agenda. John Blanchard puts it in plain and uncomfortable English, saying that, “To die to our own comforts, ambitions and plans is the very essence of Christianity”. It is also identified clearly in the statement of Jesus in Luke 22:42: “Not my will, but yours be done”. Jesus abandons himself to the will of His father. In the days when Helen has felt that she has not contributed anything of lasting worth to the work here in Nepal I feel very humbled because without her very little could be accomplished without such unswerving dedication, abandonment and persistence. United Vision Nepal (UVN) is a Nepali NGO that is committed to holistic mission. Our understanding of holistic mission involves both the proclamation and demonstration of the gospel. In simple terms we focus on both the physical and spiritual transformation of communities wherever we have the opportunity to serve. For six years we have developed and honed this strategy and it has been exciting seeing it gain momentum. SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION: The vision of UVN is to see, ‘One Church and one trained leader in every village in Nepal’. To reach this objective a church planting strategy was initiated and the results have been incredible. In just 18 months 45 new churches have been established, thousands of people in remote rural communities have heard the gospel and many
hundreds have responded and come to faith in Christ. We currently have 22 UVN reps (church-planters) ministering in different districts all across Nepal. Again I have been inspired by the breathtaking dedication of some of these men. They have little in terms of resource and face many practical hardships yet despite this they embrace the task ahead of them with great joy. A church planting movement has started and our vision is to have a UVN rep in each of the 75 districts of Nepal within the next 5-7 years. In order to maintain the momentum of this a church-planting network has also been established. UVN has caused a ripple that we believe will continue to have influence for a long time into the future. A great fire has begun and it is our hope and prayer that this fire will become out of control. PHYSICAL TRANSFORMATION: Ministering to the physical needs of a community has proved vital in UVN’s strategy. Wherever UVN has completed a community transformation project such as providing clean water, literacy training, building a school, introducing natural farming techniques, etc. a new church has always been established. This is remarkable yet at the same time a very simple strategy that could plausibly work in other areas of the world. UVN is looking across the borders of Nepal to other Himalayan and Asian nations at the possibilities of multiplying the work into new regions. The process of physical transformation requires time. Much effort and consideration is given to building relationships and identifying the specific ‘felt’ needs of the community. Investing finances and practical
resources are clearly important, however the investment of time given to listening and understanding the situation of local leaders and communities has proved vital in allowing the gospel seed to be planted. When people are acknowledged and valued they are willing to listen. Communities do not simply have the gospel preached at them, they see the love of God practically demonstrated as we seek to love, serve and minister to their physical needs. Almost always communities and leaders ask us why we are helping them. This is always a wonderful opportunity to give a reason for the hope we have. CONCLUSION: Challenges and disappointments have come from places we did not expect but God has been supremely faithful and His people have been incredibly generous over the past six years. Many wonderful Elim teams and individuals have invested time, energy and in some cases sweat and tears - especially those who completed the Everest base camp sponsored treks! The foundation stones for the work in Nepal are now firmly set. UVN has a godly and skilful leader in Bhab Ghale who will take the work forward. We also have support from partners in Australia and Canada allowing UVN’s foundations to continue to grow broader meaning we can continue to build higher for God’s glory. As a family we feel so privileged to have had the opportunity to serve and minister in Nepal for the past six years. We have been changed and enriched by our experience and we know the work of UVN will continue at a great pace as it seeks to fulfil its God-given vision. OUTREACH MAGAZINE | 05
WHO IS YOUR
NEIGH -BOUR? by Christina Barron
The UK is currently questioning its position in relation to the rest of the world. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is opening 11 new Embassies and 8 new Consulates overseas but the focus at home is on the nature of our global relationships and the way they affect us. Do we stay in the European Union? How open should our borders be? 06 | OUTREACH MAGAZINE
The UK is currently questioning its position in relation to the rest of the world. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is opening 11 new Embassies and 8 new Consulates overseas but the focus at home is on the nature of our global relationships and the way they affect us. Do we stay in the European Union? How open should our borders be?
actions show it?
Is there a more appropriate time to be asking who our neighbour is?
Interestingly, Jesus chooses to emphasise his point by making the hero of his story a Samaritan. Jews and Samaritans had a particularly hostile relationship. Just a chapter before in Luke 9 we are told that a Samaritan village refuses to extend the important Jewish tradition of hospitality towards Jesus himself. The Samaritan’s actions as the neighbour in the story break ethnic boundaries. This man is not from the Jerusalem area, geographically speaking he is not a neighbour, there are tensions between the communities and yet he personifies this role. In his story, Jesus tackles racial, cultural and social prejudices and asks us to think differently about the way we engage with the world around us.
An expert in Jewish law approached Jesus with this question. He understood that he should ‘Love your neighbour as yourself ’ but asked ‘And who is my neighbour?’ In a story with which we are so familiar, Jesus removed the theory and made it personal. As we approach questions of immigration, of community, of culture, let us do the same, let’s remove the politics and think about the people. By the time Jesus finishes the story of the Good Samaritan, of one man in need and of another who comes to his aid, we realise that Jesus never directly answers the man’s question. Jesus doesn’t define who the man’s neighbour is but tells him what kind of neighbour he should be. The neighbour in Jesus’ story is merciful, caring, kind, compassionate. He is sacrificial, thoughtful, hospitable. Perhaps as we approach questions of immigration, of community, of culture, we should not be asking ourselves who our neighbour is but what kind of neighbour we are. Are we thoughtful, hospitable, kind? Do we love the people in the community around us, those we encounter day to day? Do our
The victim in Jesus’ story is unidentifiable, described only as a man, and stripped (literally) of anything that might identify his background or social statue. He is the everyman, the any man. Our neighbourliness is not directed to those of our own social circle but to anyone we may meet on the road.
Here, in the 21st century, globalisation has given us an interesting stance on this issue of who our neighbour is. Nations have become neighbours, ever more interconnected and involved with one another. More so, beyond the summits and the diplomacy, the nations have moved in next door. In this, globalisation has presented us with a different way of thinking about mission. Jesus told his disciples to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of
...as we approach questions of immigration... we should not be asking ourselves who our neighbour is but what kind of neighbour we are? the earth. We understand the concept. Mission starts at home and spreads out. We are called to go into all the world. Today this has swung back aroundnow we can find the ends of the earth at home! We have a unique opportunity, perhaps more here in the UK than elsewhere. Much is made of our population’s multi-cultural mix and even a quick look across Elim’s churches show people of every nationality. Neighbourhoods, schools and workplaces are flavoured with families from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Jesus’ message hasn’t changed. Love the one you meet on the road. We are used to a traditional perspective on mission. We are happy to pray for those who feel called to the far distant places of the globe, to learn a new language and way of life in order to spread the Kingdom of God to those who have not heard it before. We are happy to give and to send, but we do not consider ourselves called to go so far, we do not consider ourselves missionaries. Now ‘going’ can mean next door. Are we prepared to meet that challenge? We have an incredible opportunity to influence and affect far more than our locality by being a good neighbour. OUTREACH MAGAZINE | 07
Early on in Jesus’ ministry his path is crossed by a Roman centurion. The Roman is a professional; he is a career-man and working far away from home. The Roman is swept up into the story of God; he encounters Jesus in a different culture and in a different country to that of his heritage. What if the Roman could have called his family back home? What if he could have sent an email, hopped on a plane so that he could tell them what had happened to him, that his servant once sick had been made well by the power of God? What if the Greek woman in Mark 7 could Skype with her relatives and tell how Jesus had healed her daughter? Would Paul have needed to be sent to Rome, to Greece to tell them about Jesus or would they already have heard because families had been transformed? Thanks to travel and communication advances, thanks to immigration, we have an opportunity to spread God’s message in a different way. Recently a team from Romania came to the UK. They shared about training programmes they were running to equip the members of their churches to reach those of a different religion in surrounding countries. When they visited Birmingham they couldn’t believe the influence of different cultures and religions right here; they were travelling across borders to reach the same communities that we live side by side with. The Japanese branch of Ealing Christian Centre in London is one of the biggest Japanese churches in Europe, yet is no bigger than an average sized 08 | OUTREACH MAGAZINE
We can show compassion, love, mercy, kindness, hospitality over the garden fence, on the school playground, at the coffee machine at work, to the everyman and any man. church in the UK. Since the 1500s, Japan has historically been one of the most difficult nations to reach with the gospel. Being in the UK, perhaps, has given this gathering an opportunity to discover Jesus that they would not have had at home. Now, having been introduced to and strengthened in faith, they are working to plant churches back in Japan. In supporting the Japanese community here, we can help to extend the Kingdom of God there too. Many of Elim’s missionaries working overseas are grappling with these same issues of neighbourliness. They are seeking to know how to reach out to what are often ostracized people groups, from gypsy communities in Macedonia, to victims of trafficking in Cambodia, to traditionally hostile parties in the Middle East. They are bringing together communities at a point of need with practical projects such as wells providing fresh, clean water across Africa, or a training group for local teachers in the Philippines. Let’s not lose the opportunity to do the same here- to go beyond the ethnic, cultural and social boundaries to meet the people behind the labels, to bring them together. Let’s welcome the questions of how to support seekers from traditionally ‘closed’ communities when God provides them with a way to find him in the UK. We can show compassion, love, mercy, kindness, hospitality over the garden fence, on the school playground, at the coffee machine at work, to the everyman and any man. We can ask who our neighbour is; we can get to know them. How are their kids doing in school? Are they struggling with work? Is the family well? Would they like to share a meal or a game of football? Would they like a babysitter? Can we help? Today we can reach the ends of the earth by going next door, so what shall we do? It’s time to decide what kind of neighbour we want to be. ARTICLE BY CHRISTINA BARRON
Christina is part of the Elim Missions team and loves to be challenged. She tidies up to relax, likes meeting new people and travels when she can.
KATHY COOPER SER VING ELIM MISSIONS SINCE 1988 “It is a very real privilege for me to have this opportunity to pay tribute to Kathy on this special occasion. For 25 years the name Kathy has become synonymous with our Missions Department and it is something that has been well earned. Kathy has not only served the department with diligence, hard work and excellence but also with grace, poise and elegance as she has dealt with everything that has come her way during this time. Having had the privilege of working with Kathy for virtually 7 days a week for over 10 years (sorry Kath) without a cross word or difficult moment between us, I am able to say that as we as a Movement say thank you and goodbye we do so to a person of the highest character and integrity and also a person of fun.” CHRIS JONES International Missions Director
“Anyone who works as part of the team at EIC we consider valuable to us. However, the sterling service that Kathy has given for over twenty-five years is extraordinary. It is not just what Kathy has done during that period but the manner in which she has served the International Missions Department and the wider Movement. The regard that she is held in Malvern is echoed by the esteem that she is held across our Mission Field. We will miss her greatly and have appreciated all that she has done immensely.”
JOHN GLASS
General Superintendent
HAPPY RETIREMENT!
CAMBODIA: mo v en as be ane h e ld c a in H aiti s Becky w g in H o in k n r s o a w ! and h 2010 o Cambodia t d move
BECKY WRITES: I first went to Phnom Penh in January 2013 when I joined the Lifelink team who were visiting the Allens. My time in Haiti was reaching a natural conclusion towards the end of 2012 and when Chris Jones suggested joining that group to consider a more permanent move to Cambodia I was more than a little excited! N
LONDO
Like most people of my generation, when I think about Cambodia I picture a large Blue Peter thermometer and pictures of starving children. At the time I had no idea what had actually happened there, I just knew that collecting milk bottle tops was somehow going to ease the situation! You may be interested to know that this was one of Blue Peter’s most successful campaigns, raising nearly £4 million in 1979! Before visiting in January I read more about Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge regime and what had happened at that time, but really still had very little idea of what to expect. Until you actually breathe the air, take in the smells (not just the pleasant ones!), walk the streets and meet the people you can’t begin to understand and appreciate the flavour of a country. Memories of my experiences in Haiti were still very fresh and I was a little nervous about how I would find being in such a different country. However, I knew almost straight away that this was a place where I could spend the next phase of my life. Thankfully Chris and the Allens agreed and so I moved to Cambodia on 1st May.
The work that Elim is doing within Cambodia is so exciting. Having seen Davy & Esther Allen do some great work in the past few years, we are really looking forward to a bright future as Becky Haldane joins them > 10 | OUTREACH MAGAZINE
It’s not difficult to spot needs here and the many opportunities to help and bless. Whilst I’m eager to get stuck in, I know I have to make language learning a priority. Khmei is like nothing I’ve ever attempted to learn before. I’m daunted by the prospect but excited at the idea of being able to communicate freely with the beautiful Khmer people. I don’t yet have the full picture of what my working life here will entail. In joining the team I am happy to help Elim’s ministry in Cambodia in any way I can. It is wonderful to see the church, with Cambodian leadership, thriving and vibrant. My heart, like most of us, is for those who are struggling to be able to help themselves out of seemingly impossible situations, whether that is extreme poverty, or some form of slavery, or something that we can more obviously relate to. Obviously, and somewhat frustratingly, I don’t have all the answers, but I know Someone who does! Jesus said that He came to bring life in all its fullness and I refuse to believe that isn’t true for those born into such dire situations as are many people in Cambodia. What that will look like in this context remains to be seen. I just know that the promises of God that we claim for ourselves are for this nation too. I also know that God’s heart breaks for His children here, but that He has a plan to prosper them, not to harm them, to give them a hope and a future! I’m excited to see what God has in store for Elim in Phnom Penh, how He’s going to use us to impact this city and the lives of the people we meet. I’m looking forward to working with Davy and Esther who, along with being generally wonderful people, are the most amazing natural evangelists I’ve ever met. I have much to learn, and hope that I have much to give too!
ving f orwar d
When we were speaking in churches in the UK we could not stress enough how blessed we are with the Khmer team we are honoured to be working alongside. Chamnap and Nita are two of the most humble people we have ever met and in their roles as Khmer Pastor and Manager of the Early Learning Centre they exude the love of Jesus and are passionately living for Him. They also keep us right on cultural matters, the way we do things in the UK will not necessarily work in Cambodia and vice versa, our desire is to reach and minister to the people of Phnom Penh in a way that is perfect for them. Phnom Penh Elim church is blessed with a leadership team comprising of Pastors, Elder, worship leader, youth leader, Sunday school leader and ladies ministry. Each person in these roles is a faithful, dedicated church member with a heart to serve God and to see His church grow. In
the past year the church has grown in numbers from 15 to around 80 which is amazing and delights us so much, but we are aware that those attending each week need to be discipled to grow stronger and deeper in their Christian walk. When you have time away from a situation it gives you an opportunity to seek God’s leading and direction and whilst we were on furlough David felt challenged about why we do church in Cambodia as we do. It takes on a similar format to what we are used to in the West: welcome, announcements, worship, word, communion and closing prayer. The congregation are all at various stages in their Christian life and therefore have different levels of understanding and each week there are those who have not yet made the decision to follow Jesus. We have tried holding new converts courses and Bible for Beginners classes in the past but time is always an issue with people not only working but also carrying out further education in their spare time. David has been praying about the possibility of everyone meeting on Sunday morning for praise and worship and then breaking into three or four
smaller groups covering evangelism, leadership training, discipleship and Bible study. The Early Learning Centre is managed by Nita and a wonderful team of staff who care for over 50 children. A number of the children are benefitting from the scholarship scheme which enables their families to not only survive but live! We are privileged to partner with other faith based organisations fighting against human trafficking and we are humbled to be in a position to provide reintegration and restoration to lives that have suffered horrors we cannot even imagine. The Freedom Project in Cambodia will be able to make a difference to those who once had no value put on them by others but are valuable and precious in God’s eyes. We are delighted to have a new addition to Team Cambodia; Elim missionary Becky Haldane has joined us and we are very excited about the giftings she brings with her. The three of us value your prayers as we get stuck into language study and seek God’s direction for His will to be done in Phnom Penh.
have ther dia s E & o Davy in Camb have been ars and zing 2 ye ama for oing d n ! bee work
G
DAVY & ESTHER WRITE: As we write this article we are entering our third year serving God with Elim Missions in Cambodia. We have just returned from a two months period of furlough in the UK spending precious time with family, friends, and our home church and also having the privilege of sharing in a number of churches about what God is doing in Cambodia. Being 6,000 miles from our loved ones, of course we miss them, but we know with all our hearts that we are walking in the plan God has for us and loving every step of the journey we are on. God’s provision is amazing and on our return to Phnom Penh we have moved into a new home, a bungalow which will also be a facility where we can hold small group meetings, invite the staff from the Early Learning Centre for dinner, even have the weekly church prayer meeting in. One of the bedrooms has been made into a study for David and an office which will be used by the church Eldership team. We know this home is a gift from God and we want to use it to extend His kingdom in Cambodia.
PHNOM
PENH
OUTREACH MAGAZINE | 11
So Close To Home We hear a lot in the news today about sex trafficking – a modern day form of slavery with women and children having their freedom taken away from them. We hear heart breaking stories of how they have been used and abused. And whilst we are incredibly upset and even angry, if we are completely honest this can sometimes seem far removed from us here in the UK. But the reality is that sex trafficking doesn’t just happen overseas, it happens right here, right now.
This is a true story of a woman who was sex trafficked here, in the UK
At Elim Bible Week we heard an incredibly brave lady tell her moving story for the very first time. She thought she was in a relationship with someone who cared for her. But the reality was very different and she was deceived into being used in the sex industry. And if she didn’t comply, the consequences were very serious. She learned what absolute fear means. Where was God in all of this? 12 | OUTREACH MAGAZINE
She had always believed in God. In fact as a child her dad made up a prayer she said every night. But as time went on although she continued to pray, it became habitual and had nothing to do with a relationship with God. Her parents divorced and at 18 years old she moved to London. Just before she moved an old man gave her a beautiful pocket-sized Bible which she
kept with her at all times. She worked in a jewellery store, learned the trade and worked her way up to becoming director of a wholesale jewellery business. Things were good. She lived the high life with plenty of money and lots of new friends. She moved to a flat with a friend and they were regulars at nightclubs. They met a couple of guys and
really hit it off with them so began meeting regularly at weekends. As the friendship grew they met midweek and Tony seemed to like her so much he even drove her all the way up to her mother’s home one weekend and when she arrived back in London he was there at the station to meet her. One night at Tony’s mother’s house he took her into one of the bedrooms and talked about girls who could make a lot of money going out with older men. She laughed and jokingly
“Her spirit was crushed. She went into survival mode” said, ‘I could do that’. When it was time to leave he took her in his car and said he was serious. He became aggressive. Then he pulled a gun out and put it to her head. The car doors were locked and she was glued to the seat with fear. He drove her to a flat and told her that if she didn’t do as he asked he would kill her and as he knew where her mother lived he would kill her too. Then he raped her. Over the next three months she was taken to places where men were waiting to have sex with her. If she didn’t hand over the money to Tony immediately, folded correctly, she was punched in the face. If she struggled, she was beaten. If she didn’t do as she was told she was taken as a punishment to join girls who lined the street waiting for customers, girls who had been beaten so much their spirit was gone, they had no hope. Days followed days. Her spirit was crushed. She went into survival mode as that was the only energy she had left.
One night she was dropped on the street, watched by Tony from a nearby car, laughing while she stood terrified. A group of Christians were talking to the girls. They asked her name and said they would pray for her. She showed them the Bible in her pocket. The Christians were kind, but careful and didn’t draw attention. The last time she was raped was by a guy who had just come out of prison. He was high on cocaine. After he raped her he put his hands round her throat shouting, “I’m going to kill you”. She ran outside and hid. Then the guy went without leaving any money. When Tony arrived he was furious. He made her get into the front of the car. Then he wrapped material around his fist and punched her again and again. Each time she came round from passing out the beating just continued. Her legs were shaking, she had wet herself. The beating continued when they got back to the flat. He said he would tie her up and put her in the river and no one would know. He tortured her though out the night. She screamed and sobbed and told him she would do as he asked. An hour later he left the flat and drove away, leaving the key in the door saying she had learnt her lesson the hard way and he trusted her. Somehow she nervously called a taxi and when the driver saw her he took her straight to hospital. She had broken ribs, badly bruised face and head, her back and shoulder were scalded from boiling water. The taxi driver returned the next day and took her to the house of one of the working girls he knew. This girl cared for her until she was well again.
On the night before she escaped something very strange happened. She was lying on her side on a bed alone, crying, when she prayed that God would help her. She felt someone get in the bed behind her and an arm come round her to hold her tightly. She knew it was Jesus. She returned to her mother and stayed indoors until all the bruising had gone down. She started attending church and God began a great healing in her life. She had experienced evil but now she was experiencing true love from God.
“The memories still hurt but she has learnt that the pain is bearable when she is holding on to Jesus.” The memories still hurt but she has learnt that the pain is bearable when she is holding on to Jesus. Today she is married with two children and a responsible job. God has transformed her life.
If you have been touched by this moving story, please find out about our Freedom Project, helping restore and rehabilitate women and children overseas who have had their freedom taken away from them and have been used and abused www.elimmissions.co.uk/ freedomproject OUTREACH MAGAZINE | 13
ALL CHANGE...
in Elim Missions
Chris Jones speaks with the incoming International Missions Director, Paul Hudson: With all the change that is taking place within Elim Missions, who better to speak to the incoming International Missions Director, Paul Hudson, than the man who has served in the role for the last 10 years. (CJ) Paul congratulations on becoming the new International Missions Director. Many will know of you because of your work with Missions over the years but I want to take the opportunity to ask you more about who you are, your family and of course your heart for the future, so people can get to know you more. So tell us 14 | OUTREACH MAGAZINE
something about yourself and your family. (PH) Thanks Chris. First may I say that it is an enormous privilege to have been appointed as your successor. I am grateful to the National Leadership Team which has given me the opportunity to serve in this way. So a bit about me. I am 47 years old, my first name is Andrew but all my life
I’ve been called by my second name and I’m married to Greta. My wife is a Yorkshire lass with a German name. We have two children, one at University and one about to go: Daniel aged 20 years and Rebecca aged 18 years. I believe you weren’t raised in a ‘traditional Elim family’. Tell us more. Yes, that’s right. I was raised in The Salvation Army. My parents had been Officers for many years. It was there I learnt what it was to seek the Lord at the Mercy Seat, to be public about my faith and to play a musical instrument, the tenor horn. Many people think of you as a Yorkshire man but this isn’t actually true is it? Well, I’m a cross between a Yorkshire Pudding and a Norfolk Dumpling! I sound Northern but I was born in Norwich. How long have you been pastor of the Elim Dewsbury Church? I’ve been pastor there for 17 years. However, Greta and I class it as our home church. We got married at the Elim church in the previous building. I served on the leadership team for a few years, but then we left for a period of 7 years to study at Elim Bible College and for our first church appointment, before returning in 1996. Tell us something of what it was like to tell your church you were moving to take up this new role? On the Sunday morning that we told them we had decided to wait until the end of the service. I preached the final message of a series from Ephesians instilling confidence
“I would ask people to pray that I hear the voice of God for Elim Missions and also that I will have wisdom in all that I do.” in our identity as a church and began the sermon with the word, ‘Finally’. The whole series became a preparation for the church for what I was about to tell them that morning. Every Pastor will know that nervous feeling prior to such a statement. It’s a tough ordeal!
be addressed is that of child soldiers. These are two words that I believe should never be put together. Since meeting former child solder Hassan in Sierra Leone and also 26 ex-Kony soldiers in northern Uganda, my heart is disturbed enough to do something about this.
How did they respond? They cried and we cried and then one lady stood up to clap which set off the whole church standing to applaud us. It was a very moving experience. After the service every member came to us and said exactly the same thing: that they could see this happening. It is this understanding that has helped both us and the church to walk through this. When a Pastor leaves a church there is so often a grieving process. I cannot describe it properly but knowing that they understand has helped incredibly.
I have had the privilege of asking these questions, but here are two that you may not want everyone to know the answers to. Tell us it’s not true that you support Manchester United? It is true and it’s also true that Elim Missions can now talk about a proper football team!
In the coming days we will get to know more about your heart and passion for Missions but is there one people group or global issue that really captures your heart as a person, not necessarily as the incumbent Missions Director but as Paul Hudson? I have to answer that in two ways. The one people group is our Elim missionaries who have sacrificed so much and are doing an incredible job around the world working alongside amazing indigenous leaders involved in God-given projects. The global issue which needs to
In closing tell us two issues that we can be praying about over the next six months. I would ask people to pray that I hear the voice of God for Elim Missions and also that I will have wisdom in all that I do.
Also tell us what your wife bought you for Christmas and why? Ah, she bought me one of my to-do dreams of life: a trombone. Now I have to learn to play it, which is proving quote a challenge!
Paul, thank you and please be assured of our prayers for you and your family over the coming days and we will pray that Elim Missions will continue to grow and flourish and reach many people with the good news of the gospel.
OUTREACH MAGAZINE | 15
THEREFORE GO... GO WHERE? NOT TO ALL THE NATIONS!
I remember a dream I once had. I was onboard an old steam train, the sort we see in those old classic movies like Brief Encounter. In my dream this train was moving along quite nicely, then suddenly I felt it gaining speed. It got faster and faster, the clickety-clack sound of the wheels on the track was deafening. And as the train got faster I became concerned about where it was heading. In my dream my mind went back to my early family holidays in Somerset, how Dad and I used to lean out of the carriage windows on the train ride to see where we were going. At 12 years old I thought that is what I want to do! But in my dream as I reached the window and peered out all I saw was fog! The train was speeding up and I could barely see my hand in front of my face. Panic!! What was going to happen next? I wish I could tell you... I woke up! It was just a dream after all and I woke up feeling as if I hadn’t slept a wink yet knowing that all I had to do was stay onboard the train and keep going! I wonder how the disciples felt in Matthew 28? They had spent three years with Jesus, seeing the most amazing things; the lame walking, the sick healed, the blind seeing and not to mention the dead raised. Then all of that is taken away. They must have felt as if they were on a train without a clue where it was heading (although trains hadn’t been invented then of course). How many times have you felt like you really don’t know what to do? I know I always want someone there to help me, to tell me where to go and what to do. We read in Matthew 28:16 that Jesus did exactly this for the disciples, “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go”.
have not only heard it but have decided to obey it. A family that is just about to go is the Fenners. Robin and Janet are moving to Kenya with their teenage daughter Kyla. “The many visits to Africa have not only confirmed the calling but also created strong relationships with leaders and believers all over East Africa. It is from these elements that I have drawn great expectation on the Holy Spirit to move amongst the African Church and to use us in an anointed and unique way. Facilitating leadership and discipleship conferences as well as evangelism has become the core of our calling and what we are incredibly passionate about. We are also passionate about our personal walk with God and totally trust Him to take charge of our lives. We firmly believe that the more we step out of ourselves and step into God - the more we trust in Him for every aspect and need for our move into full time mission.
It is interesting that Jesus tells the eleven to go to the mountain. He doesn’t lead them like he did in Matthew 17:1. They have to go by themselves. Jesus has brought them from a place of being led by him but now they have to go it alone.
The practical preparation as a family is the rough ground on which we have to walk. This is a mix of emotion and passion: emotional as we move to another country and leave our two adult children in the UK; passionate because we have a certainty in our hearts that God will hold our adult children in a safe place as we move forward in obedience.”
Some journeys are a calling to go, trusting that Jesus is calling you. They may feel lonely, they may feel like Jesus has told you to go and then just left you. I want to encourage you, Jesus is with you and will be there when you get there but you have to make the move. One of the privileges of working in Elim Missions is regularly spending time with people who have heard that call to go. They
You may never have thought about going. It may be far from your thinking but the reality is that all of us are all being called to go every minute of every day. Another couple who have
The eleven! There is pain in the process, it once was twelve but now it is eleven. Even in pain you have to make a move. Jesus calls out to you, “Go”.
16 | OUTREACH MAGAZINE
decided to do something is John and Rachel McDonough: “Since first experiencing short term missions we knew we wanted to be involved in sharing the gospel in a cross-cultural setting. Through input from our pastor and Elim Missions we explored opportunities to minister overseas, visiting and researching the country we felt called to and then being obedient to God’s prompting to ‘go’. Once we had decided to take the leap and commit full time to the mission field, all that was left to do was to fund raise and we got enough support to cover our basic needs and went. Due to our short term experiences that had prepared us, we knew that sharing about Jesus while immersed in a foreign culture would be challenging, plus it would be hard moving overseas and being away from loved ones and our own culture. Often we miss our home country, the comfort of familiarity (and HP sauce!). But Jesus promises that He will always be with us, ‘to the very end of the age’ and the sacrifice of leaving loved ones, homes, brothers, sisters, parents, etc is the price that He knows comes with responding obediently to the great commission.” The famous, “Therefore go...” passage from Matthew 28:19 is the second ‘go’ that Jesus says in this chapter. If the disciples hadn’t listened to the first go, to go up the mountain, they would never have heard the call to go to all the nations. The idea of going to all the nations may freak you out to the point of being a blubbering wreck. Mud huts in Africa, weird half cooked food in Asia, no nice warm shower every morning! Some might say “get a back bone and be a real Christian” but Jesus says “go up the mountain”. This was a place of familiarity, the place Jesus had prearranged with them, a place they had been before... but never for the reason they were going there that day. That mountain might be your neighbours who know you are a Christian but don’t know what it is all about. It may be the playground where the path is steep and telling your friends is scary. The call to go may be to get on your knees and pray for that family member who has always thrown faith and Jesus back in your face. The mountain is probably right in front of you but it is about seeing it with the mandate to GO for Jesus’ sake! The thing with stepping out and going is that, just like my train dream, you can rarely see past your hand in front of your face. But if we could see the end of the journey we would probably be so excited to get there we would miss the amazing things on the way! The disciples knew they had been called up a mountain, they didn’t know they would then be called to go into all the nations!
...God will use a willing person who is bold enough to say, “Yes, I’ll go!” I encourage you to take the journey up your mountain today. Why? Because God will use a willing person who is bold enough to say, “Yes, I’ll go!” Some doubted when they got to the top. They doubted in themselves, in Jesus’ ability to use them, maybe even in Jesus himself. Jesus didn’t single the doubters out and say, “Your doubting isn’t good so can you leave.” He called them to go as well! You may doubt that you have the ability or the calling but Jesus still calls you to go! The understanding of the word ‘go’ in Matthew 28 is ‘to continue on one’s journey’. Your journey started when you said yes to Christ. Your call to go is not a separate call that will come in a large meeting with hushed tones and a keyboard playing. It is the call for everyone who has said yes to Christ. You may not end up in Kenya like Robin and Janet, or in France like Richard and his family, but then again who knows! God does - so listen to him calling you to go! ARTICLE BY JOHN MARTIN
John is the creative guy at Elim Missions. He is married to Cara and they have their first baby expected at the end of August.
OUTREACH MAGAZINE | 17
R U O G ESSIN
BL
S R U O B H G I E N
Amanda
B
elink lount, Lif
ber
em Team m
Johanna - Macedonia As I stood in Johanna’s apartment in Macedonia I was humbled to see the small and inadequate space that she and her parents called home. As a Lifelink team we were visiting people to take them much needed food supplies. John and Suzana, Johanna’s parents, made us all so welcome and served us some strong coffee as a sign of their hospitality to us and I’m sure also to say thank you for the food we were able to take to them. The challenges that they face on a day to day basis became obvious as they described the struggles they live with, which are made more difficult by Suzana’s problems with walking. It was wonderful though to hear how the support they receive from our amazing missionaries, Tony and Norma, was making a real difference to them as a family. We saw how the only place for all three of them to sleep was on one sofa bed, which was in their really small lounge. Their apartment was made up of this lounge, a tiny kitchen and a bathroom, which meant that Johanna had no room to call her own as she grew up. When John and Suzana asked me to pray that the Lord would provide a bedroom for Johanna, I cried as I was moved with compassion for this beautiful family. I reflected how my daughter Lydia is only one year older than Johanna and has her own bedroom and so many more clothes to choose from each day than Johanna. I returned home to Birmingham determined that I could respond to this need in the way Jesus taught us to love people, to love our neighbour as ourselves. I have been able to send Johanna clothes that Lydia has grown out of knowing that they will mean so much to her. I was elated recently to know that because people, like my family, had sent money to Macedonia, an open balcony in John and Suzana’s apartment has been converted into a bedroom for Johanna. This lovely little girl now has a space to call her own. It’s small, but it’s hers and that is so precious. We each have something we can do to help our neighbour. When we allow God to move our hearts he can move our hands to make a difference for someone who needs a simple blessing in life. What has God given you that you can use to be a blessing to someone else? 18 | OUTREACH MAGAZINE
Claudia - Brazil For some time now Lifelink has supported the Living Word School in Brazil, through the 816 project run by Elim Halifax member Pete Green. The school is described by Elim Missionary Martin Davison as ‘an expression of the love of God’. As we have partnered with this work, the children in the school have become our neighbours too. Over 1,000 children have gone through the school since it was first opened. All of them have heard the word of God and learned about the love that he has for them. This is the story of Claudia, one of the children at the Living Word School, and her family. Claudia’s father was a weekend drinker, dabbling in drugs and with a past in gangs. Her mother also drank and home life was tough for Claudia, marked with frequent arguments and aggressive behaviour between her parents. After much perseverance Claudia finally managed to persuade her mother Ane to go to the Living Word Church for a Saturday night meeting. At the church Ane found the love of God and eventually committed her life to Him. Through prayer and fasting, and being a Godly example, Ane then led her husband Nildo to the Lord too. As a result of their conversion to Jesus, they got married. They are now impacting many lives. They are giving food to others, even out of the little that they have, because they believe God is prompting them to bless their neighbours. Ane is now employed at the Living Word School and Nildo regularly lends a hand. He also sells snacks, and the couple are slowly but surely saving enough money to build their own home. They lead a Cell Group full of their friends who have been challenged by the transformation in their lives. And where did this all start? With a little girl called Claudia, who at the age of 5 years, helped to lead her family to Jesus. If you would like to give to the work of Lifelink to help others like Johanna and Claudia, send your gifts to Elim Missions marked ‘Lifelink’
Elim International Missions Charity 251549 | SC037754
OUTREACH MAGAZINE | 19