mbmission.org
Summer 2016
one mission. local national global
one mission. local national global
Witness Summer 2016
Contents Editorial: One Mission...............................................2 House Building, Peace Building................................4 His Hand on my Shoulder.........................................6 A Crack in Everything...............................................8 Is Jesus Powerful?...................................................10 A Perfect Gift..........................................................11 Ali and Jake..............................................................12 I Saw a Boat.............................................................13 Walking on Water...................................................14
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Staff Editor-in-Chief......................................Randy Friesen Managing Editor............................... Mark JH Klassen Layout & Design.................................. Darcy Scholes Additional Design.................................. Colton Floris Media Team Lead.................................Larry Neufeld
one mission. local national global
one mission. I recently heard the amazing story of Sean, one of our newest mission candidates. He was born in Laos during the Vietnam War and both of his parents died tragically when he was a child. After enduring four years in a refugee camp, he finally escaped to the USA at the age of fourteen. There, as a lonely and hungry student, Sean was invited into the home of a Christian woman who cared for him and introduced him to Jesus. That woman made an investment in Sean life’s that completely changed him, offering him a home and church family that he had never known. Since then, Sean’s life has been focused on sharing this Gospel with Southeast Asians in America through church planting and a successful career in business. Now, Sean is sensing God’s call to return to Southeast Asia to help his people find hope in Christ. Just like his friend, PK, who currently leads our work among the Khmu in Thailand, Sean connects living on mission in America with living on mission in Southeast Asia – it is one mission.
local national global
When we bring Jesus and his mission to the center of our lives, it puts into perspective all of our other life decisions and investments.
When we bring Jesus and his mission to the center of our lives, it puts into perspective all of our other life decisions and investments.
Circulation & Administration.................Ann Zauner
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Sean’s refugee story from thirty years ago is being repeated today around the world. If someone had not become Jesus to Sean, he would not have been able to understand the Gospel. Mission is a way of life that begins with how we respond to those around us each day, and it extends to our active prayers and support for Gospel-focused efforts nationally and globally. Mission is local, national and global. We’ve been discerning with our national conference partners in the US and Canada whether to bring our various church planting and discipleship training efforts together into an expanded definition of mission that is both “here” and “there.” Sean’s story, and others like it, remind us that God has brought the nations to our shores so they can receive the Gospel and then take it back with them to their countries of origin. What stories is God writing today in the midst of the refugee crisis?
the Yazidis as much as he loves the Germans or Americans. God is inviting all nations into his family through his Son, Jesus Christ. Who are we? We are deeply loved by God and called to be his spiritual sons and daughters with an inheritance that is eternal. Our mission is to be disciples of Christ who make disciples of all nations. This is not just for professional missionaries! This is the identity and purpose of every Christ follower in all ages and cultures. Through Christ, our heavenly Father invites us home. Once we have found our home in him, we are called to invite others to also find their home in God and in his family.
Our team in Germany is resourcing churches to respond to the flood of refugees who have recently arrived from some of the least-reached regions of the world like Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. We are hearing some very encouraging reports about many who are responding to the Gospel as Christians serve them in practical ways, build relationships with them and testify to the love of Jesus. Recently, our staff led a one-day discipleship conference for refugees in Germany. At the end of the day, people were given an opportunity to give their lives to Jesus. Among the many that responded was a young Yazidi man who asked for prayer for his seventeen extended family members who have all been abducted by ISIS in Syria. After a time of fervent prayer for his family, an older woman from Iran, herself a new believer in Jesus, gave this young man a hug and let him know that he now had a new family in Christ! The image of God’s family is powerful. Paul, the apostle who also planted churches in the context of war, persecution and conflict, wrote to the church in Ephesus, “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that… Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Ephesians 3:14-17). Who we are and what we are called to do is directly impacted by who God is and what he does – we are his children. Who is God? He is the Father of a global family that encompasses all nations and denominations. He loves
This compelling reality of the new family of God and our place in it must be stronger than our national and denominational identities. In a time when many other voices are vying for our loyalty and attempting to define reality for us, we must remind ourselves of who we are and whose we are!
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.” Ephesians 3:14-15 In this issue of Witness, we hear stories from around the world that describe the one mission that God is calling each of us to embrace. Living on mission locally (loving our neighbor), nationally (reaching our communities and cities with the Gospel) and globally (supporting church planting among the least reached around the world) is the privilege of every Christ follower. As a Mennonite Brethren global family, we have the opportunity to live this message together with humility, courage and generosity! Randy Friesen, General Director
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HOUSE BUILDING PEACE BUILDING Building a Foundation for a Church-Planting Movement among the Least Reached in Southeast Asia We had just arrived on the property, and we knew that the local Buddhist monks had already communicated that they were opposed to the building project.
We were shocked. In reality, since we arrived a year ago on the land that we had purchased, this group of monks had not stopped threatening us or attempting to destroy our property.
With this in mind, I cried out to God, “If building a house on this land is just our crazy plan, then let it fail! But if you, God, have made a covenant to be with us, then who can oppose the Living God? I know you can make a way where there is no way. Father, give the Buddhist people here a revelation that Jesus is the Living God.”
So we prayed again as a team that God would give us love for our enemies and a way to build a house on the land that he had given us. Seeking legal protection, Pastor Isaiah went
At that very moment, we looked up into the sky and saw the most beautiful portal of light open up between the clouds. We took it as a sign. Earlier, when we arrived in Pastor Isaiah’s village after our long journey from Thailand, there had been an official letter waiting for us from the head monk in the village. The monk’s message was clear: “Since Christians would only cause fighting and conflict in our village, we forbid you to build a church here.”
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“We forbid you to build a church here.” to visit the local mayor to apply for a building permit. He discovered that a new mayor had recently been installed, replacing the old mayor who had been close friends with the monks. “Why didn’t you come to see me earlier?” the new mayor scolded Pastor Isaiah after learning about his struggles. “I will make sure that no one stops you from building your house!” Pastor Isaiah came back to the property praising and thanking God
for his favour and perfect timing. We all breathed a sigh of relief and began to work on the property. Little did we know that the monks would not take losing this fight lightly. Over the next five days, we dug for water, cleared the land for farming, pulled out tree roots and re-roofed a bamboo hut. Then we focused on one of our most important tasks – planting thirty-three precious palm trees. We laid out the young trees before God and gathered together as a team to worship and pray. As we committed our farm and the trees to the Lord, we asked him to cause them to bear maximum fruit so that they would provide for God’s workers in the region. It was our prayer that within five years these trees would be producing delicious dates and providing an income for many pastors and their families. However, the monks had not given up. After they realized that we had secured a building permit, they decided to call the police and claim that foreigners were in the village doing business illegally.
Without knowing anything about this false accusation, those of us who were foreigners in the group had decided to return to Thailand early so that we could help with another ministry. That same day, others in the village clarified to the police that Pastor Isaiah was building a house and not a church building. Seeing no problem with this plan, the police dropped the case. But when the monks heard that the police had done nothing to stop the building project, they were furious and demanded that the police find Isaiah. Several police officers then stormed into the Isaiah’s family home and vented angrily at Isaiah’s mother. Upset and in tears, she replied to them, “Look at my house, my idols. I am a Buddhist. My son is a Christian. Why do you come here and accuse us of these lies?”
“Why do you come here and accuse us of these lies?”
After all the poles were in the ground, Isaiah went to meet with the police. He prayed that God would give him patience and self-control. After an hour of being yelled at and accused of causing problems for the Buddhists, Isaiah finally had his opportunity to speak. He told them about his work in Thailand with the church and about his partnership with many foreigners. He told them about how they had recently brought donated computers to the impoverished schools in the region to give children new opportunities for learning. He told them about their work among local farmers to experiment with new seeds and plants in order to increase their productivity and improve their standard of living. Finally, he told them that he wanted to build a house on his property because he had no safe place to store his own farm supplies and no safe place to worship and pray to his God. The police were shocked. They had no idea about the good things that Pastor Isaiah and his friends had done
to help the community. Isaiah asked them, “Have I done anything wrong?” “No,” the police replied. “Please accept our apology. As long as you build a house and not a church, you are free to go.” As Isaiah was leaving, the police officer grabbed his hand warmly in a gesture of friendship and squeezed it tight. By Louise Sinclair-Peters Long-Term Worker in Thailand
PRAY Please pray for Dave and Louise Sinclair-Peters as they make disciples and train missional leaders among Burmese people in Thailand. To hear more about how you can be involved in their ministry, email Dave and Louise at dlbangsaen@gmail.com
Meanwhile, the day for the wood to be delivered to the property had arrived. It was a common understanding in the community that once poles were in the ground, then no authority could stop the building project. Many of our friends and neighbours, however, were afraid that the monks would try to sabotage the trucks that carried the wood. So it was agreed that the trucks would travel at night to attract as little attention as possible. Isaiah and his team worked all through the night and into the day getting the poles onto the property: from the truck to the ground, from the ground to oxen, from the oxen to the top of the hill where the house was to be built. This was a huge undertaking, but praise God for the work that was accomplished. Canadians, Germans and Burmese working together. mbmission.org | 5
His Hand on My Shoulder
Sonam grew up in the mountains of Tibet. Like most others in the area, his family eked out a living on a small farm, terraced on a steep hillside. In addition to looking after the few acres of land that belonged to his family, Sonam also worked odd jobs in construction. Their religion was Tibetan Buddhism, which pervaded every aspect of their lives. One day, Sonam was in a terrible accident with a tractor and lost his leg. It was like losing a lifetime of income. It also meant that marriage would be very unlikely for him.
followers of Jesus in Tibet. I remember how our hearts went out to him. Although we were strangers to him, we decided to help. Through some friends who lived near to Sonam, we got him into a hospital where he could receive the operation and be fitted with a prosthetic leg. We began to pray regularly for Sonam.
Sonam was in a terrible accident and lost his leg.
Sonam’s family could not afford the medical costs. So his father sold their only assets – their cattle. But it still wasn’t enough to pay for the amputation. As well, the driver of the tractor refused to pay any compensation. Although Sonam filed a lawsuit against him, there was still no money to pay for the operation. Sonam became very angry and drifted into hopelessness.
At first, Sonam was hesitant to receive this help. In the hospital, he was fearful, despairing, and often irritable. There were setbacks in his recovery; the stump kept bleeding, and eventually another operation was required to reshape the bone. Even with a prosthetic leg, his life seemed hopeless and pointless. He often thought it would have been better for him to die in the accident.
Unknown to Sonam, his traumatic story was told to some of us who were
At that point, one of us went to visit Sonam and shared a word for him:
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“The reason you did not die is that God has a task for you that you have not accomplished yet.” The word rested in Sonam’s heart and gave him hope. As time went by, he wondered what it could possibly be that God wanted him to do. Sonam started thinking about how he had been rescued. He thought about how these total strangers had done something for him that he couldn’t have done for himself. He reflected on this undeserved gift, and started feeling more and more amazed, more and more grateful. Inspired, he began looking for ways to serve the other patients in the hospital with him, delivering food, emptying bedpans, visiting them and cheering them up. Sonam also became more and more concerned with how the lawsuit against the tractor driver was dividing his community. The other man was from the same village, actually a distant relative. Even though it went against the grain within their culture to cancel debts and not exact repayment, Sonam decided to drop
the lawsuit. He simply told the man to pay what he could, and that he would no longer pursue him in court. Sonam said to him, “I have been treated generously, and I am willing to treat you generously.” Sonam forgave him, despite the cultural expectation to seek revenge and repayment. We continued to pray for Sonam and, to our surprise, God kept bringing him across our path. When we would visit the city near his village, we often found ourselves randomly bumping into him. On numerous occasions, even on shorter visits to the city, we had unexpected encounters with Sonam. It felt very much like our relationship with him mattered to God.
“The reason you did not die is that God has a task for you that you have not accomplished yet.” On one occasion, I had a free day in that city. While I was walking down the sidewalk, I prayed, “God, what do you have for me today?” When Sonam’s name came to mind, I pulled out my phone to try to call him. As I was looking for his number, I felt a hand on my shoulder. When I turned around, I was looking into Sonam’s face! We spent the next couple of hours together in a teahouse and I listened to Sonam retelling the story of grace in his life. He exuded gratitude and joy. He told me about how he had experienced God’s goodness in his life and, even though the people in his deeply Buddhist community disagreed with the idea of God, they couldn’t contradict what he had experienced. I was amazed at the transformation in Sonam’s life. I kept thinking back to the angry, hopeless person he had been before, and the joy and peace
that he now possessed. I thought I was supposed to encourage him somehow, but he was the one who encouraged me. On another trip to his area, I was again asking God about direction for the day and, looking down from my guesthouse window, I saw Sonam standing on the street just below. Laughing and amazed at the unlikelihood of seeing him there at that particular time, I ran down to him. I found out that he was helping as a team leader for the Special Olympics in his community. He told me about how he was helping the poor and the physically challenged. Even though these special people were often shamed and marginalized, Sonam was inspired to befriend them and take the time to understand them.
his village monastery to become a monk, for which he would receive their financial aid. But he continues to say no to them also, in part to avoid offending the believers who have helped him. From what I can understand, he wants to honour both religious groups. Sonam wrestles with these tensions. I believe that God has plans for Sonam, and that the word spoken over him is really true, that God has a task for him. I see the changes in him, his willingness to forgive, his willingness to serve. These changes reflect his Creator, and I recognize the work of God in his life. But I long for him to trust all of his life and eternity to Jesus. By a worker in Asia
I watched as Sonam interacted in sign language with his new friends. Though it was a challenge, he persisted, knowing that he had also received the same kindness and generosity from others. Sonam’s eyes lit up as he told stories from these people’s lives, and the camaraderie that they shared. He talked about the value of genuine friendship, and joked about how he and his friends counted as a single healthy body: he did the talking and they carried the bags. To our knowledge, Sonam is one of the only people in his language community who is actively trying to understand the Bible. Since there is no Bible in his own language, he is struggling to read the version in the national language. But it is his second language, and he only reads at a fifth grade level, so he has difficulty understanding what he is reading. Until now, Sonam has not become a follower of Jesus. He has declined to cross that line into repentance and faith. He does not want to dishonour his family and the cultural traditions of his people. At the same time, he is under pressure from
PRAY Please pray for Sonam. What does God have in store for him? Will he become the first follower of Jesus in his family and in his community?
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A CRA EVERYT
ACK IN THING
During the past few months of our time in India, as I have communicated with family, friends and supporters back in North America, I have concentrated on the resplendent beauty of this country and the deep sense of aliveness and belonging we feel in this place. Yet there is another side to our life here that is not as easy to express. I have witnessed horrific suffering here. I have seen dilapidated hovels teetering on garbage heaps where entire communities have been relegated to sifting through refuse for work. I have seen mutilated vagrants consigned to a life of outstretched palms. I have known the desperate pleas of children tugging at my kurti, their voices frantically trying to sell a string of beads, and the empty stare of young eyes slumped on the streets with faces shaped by hunger. Recently, I was chased down the street by a man with one leg, shuffling on his arms, desperate for twenty cents. There is an exposed wound in India, one that I cannot tear my eyes away from. India is home to a third of the world’s extremely poor, who survive on less than a $1.25/day. The number of orphans in India is nearly the entire population of Canada. Furthermore, the influence of caste is still a formidable force in the lives of hundreds of millions of people. The Hindu caste system seems to be a prime example of a poverty trap, which confines people to desperate circumstances through factors beyond their control. This system perpetuates and fortifies systemic oppression and poverty-related ills for those born into low castes and those without caste, known as Dalits or “untouchables.” According to a recent census, there are more than 200 million Dalits in India. What I have seen in India, I am ashamed to say, has made me question God’s love and care for all of his children. People sometimes ask me, “How do you deal with the poverty?”
Recently, I spoke to a tour group about this. After their first day in Delhi, many in the group were in tears upon meeting numerous street children. I shared two of my favorite quotes with them. The first was from Leonard Cohen, Canadian poet and songwriter, which says, “There’s a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” The second was from Parker Palmer, American author and educator, which says, “When we give our hearts to the world, our hearts will be broken—broken open to become channels for a love greater than our own.” I asked them to consider how the cracks forming in their own hearts could be invitations to live their lives differently. In my own life, I am realizing that it requires vulnerability, surrender and a heightened consciousness to not allow these fissures in my heart to harden into bitterness. I must continually soak in the presence of the Lord to remember as he once whispered to me, “I do care – I sent you.” And not only me, but all of us who are called to walk alongside those that are born into devastating conditions who do not yet know him and who have been deemed untouchable. By VG
GO If you are interested in a cross-cultural experience that will change your life, consider TREK. TREK gives you 8-10 months of intense discipleship-in-mission training and an opportunity to learn and serve with longterm workers. Check it out at mbmission.org/trek
IS JESUS POWERFUL? Among the Khmu, a tribal people of Southeast Asia, where the church is growing rapidly, the question is not so much, “Is Christianity true?” For the Khmu, the real question is, “Is Jesus powerful?” Ounkham is a Khmu evangelist who travels from village to village sharing about his faith in Jesus and praying for people. He had been to one remote village a number of times with no response to his message. However, on his most recent visit, while he was speaking with a group of people, an angry man came out of the jungle to confront him. The people advised Ounkham to leave at once, because this man had been possessed by a murderous spirit.
Instead of leaving, Ounkham confronted the man and asked if he could pray for him.
The Khmu are mostly animists who believe that their lives are subject to the whims of the spirits. These spirits are capricious beings, not particularly reasonable, that are likely to upset the delicate balance of one’s life if their demands are not met. They are not to be worshipped, but to be honoured out of fear. In this context, the relevance of the Christian message depends on Jesus’ power to overcome the spirits. As I travel among our tribal churches and get to know more Khmu church leaders like Ounkham, I am realizing that these stories are not as exceptional as one might think, and unsurprisingly, the Jesus we know from the New Testament is still moving in the same way today. By Jamie Munday Long-Term Worker in Thailand
Latest Video: The Cost
Apparently, because of this man’s violent tendencies, he had previously been put in chains by the men of the village. But he broke the chains and moved to the jungle, only to return periodically to torment the community. Ounkham was afraid, and yet he also realized that he had been praying for an opportunity in this village. So instead of leaving, he confronted the man and asked if he could pray for him. Before the man could even give Ounkham an answer, the demon manifested, threw him to the ground and left him. What was the result in the village that day? One man was free of demonic oppression and twenty families put their trust in Jesus.
For another story from our work among the Khmu, watch The Cost, a gripping account of a young evangelist who gave his life for the church in his village.
Stories like this make it clear that the fulcrum of spiritual transformation is the power of Jesus, not an abstract theological power but the tangible power to heal, to prophesy and to overcome spirits.
mbmission.org/the-cost If you would like to contribute financially to our work among the Khmu, please make a donation to Northern Thailand Ministry. mbmission.org/northern-thailand-ministry
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A Perfect Gift
Hiromi and Nathan with their baby daughter Joyce I met Hiromi when I first arrived in Amagasaki in May 2009. She was a member of the Amagasaki MB Church where I was teaching English. About a month after I arrived, she got married. Sometime later, Hiromi’s mother, Fujiko, heard about my English classes and decided to join. Gradually, she became interested in the Gospel and started to attend the church.
Hiromi did not know how long Joyce would live. She was told that the baby could die during the pregnancy or at birth, or possibly live a short time after being born. The pregnancy went one month past the due date, but finally, on October 5, 2015, Joyce was born. She lived for fifteen hours. Those hours were a very special gift from God.
In 2015, Hiromi became pregnant. She and her husband, Nathan, already had a beautiful daughter, but they had been praying to have another child. Not long into the pregnancy, the baby was diagnosed with anencephaly, which has a fatality rate of one hundred percent. Hiromi and Nathan were devastated. The doctors recommended that Hiromi terminate the pregnancy, but the couple prayed and believed that God wanted them to keep the baby.
One month later, the family had a Celebration of Life service for Joyce, which had a huge impact on Hiromi’s family, especially her older sister who was baptized soon after. Within another month, just before Christmas, Hiromi’s mother and father and younger sister were all baptized.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above.” James 1:17 The word they received was from James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” They named their baby Joyce, meaning “joy given from the grace of God.” As Hiromi blogged and shared about her experience of carrying this child, God used her testimony to speak to many people. In particular, God spoke to Hiromi’s parents and sisters, who each came to faith in Jesus.
In February, Hiromi shared her testimony in church, followed by both her parents, and her two sisters, who all became memebers of Amagasaki MB Church. It was a wonderful day! The family continues to study the Bible with the pastor, and Hiromi’s mother has opened their home for small group meetings. It is so encouraging to see the joy in the hearts of these family members. Joyce’s short life has made an eternal impact. By Doris Goertz Long-Term Worker in Japan To read more about Hiromi’s inspiring journey with Joyce and to watch related videos, go to Hiromi’s blog at heavenlyjoyce.weebly.com
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Ali & Jake Ali grew up in Iraq where eventually he became a translator for the United States military. When life became too dangerous for him to remain in his native country, he was graciously offered asylum by the US government and found himself living in a large city on the west coast. As an Iraqi Muslim in the US, he was lonely, but he busied himself with translation work and frequent trips to the local gym to work out. On one occasion, as he was finishing up with one of the weight machines, a burly man in a tank top approached him and, with a snarl, asked, “Are you finished with my machine?” Ali was insecure about his English and wasn’t sure if the man was joking or serious, so he timidly stepped away from the machine. The man, seeing Ali’s fear, broke into a smile and explained that he was only joking. Then he reached out his hand and said, “My name’s Jake.”
Jake was the first American outside of work that had talked to Ali. He asked a few questions and, after hearing some of Ali’s story, invited him over for pizza. Ali appreciated Jake, so when he was asked if he’d like to come back the next day for a Bible study with some of Jake’s friends, Ali readily agreed to come.
Ali had no idea what a Bible study was and Jake had no idea about Islam. Ali had no idea what a Bible study was and Jake had no idea about Islam. What they did know was that they had quickly become friends. Six months later, it was through that friendship and that Bible study group that Ali gave his life to Christ.
It seems like a simple thing, crossing the room to say hello. But for Ali, it was the beginning of a journey toward new life in Christ. Muslims around the world are coming to faith in Jesus. In fact, more Muslims have become followers of Christ in the last fifteen years than in the previous fifteen hundred years combined! It’s important to realize that the single greatest factor in Muslims coming to faith in Christ is friendship with an authentic follower of Jesus. It is a theme that is repeated over and over again. It is the story of Ali and Jake. Who is God calling you to befriend today? By Aaron Myers Mission Mobilizer Midwest USA
Are you looking for resources to help you connect with Muslims? Whether you’re reaching out to your new neighbors, or leading a mission trip into a Muslim context, the Crescent Project offers helpful online courses and DVD seminars for churches, small groups and personal equipping. To order the Bridges DVD Study, go to crescentproject.org For the online course, go to crescent-project.teachable.com For more information contact Aaron at aaronm@mbmission.org
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I SAW A BOAT As we walked up to the house, I quickly asked the Holy Spirit, “Do you have something for me about this person?” Right away, I saw a boat. Hmm. As we rang the doorbell, I wondered if there was any significance about the boat or whether I had just made it up. An elderly man opened the door slightly more than a crack and looked at us with suspicious eyes. My friend introduced us and explained that we were with the local church. Quickly, the man told us that he was Catholic, had been to Israel, and knew a lot more than we did. His defensiveness pushed me to ask, “Sir, do you like boats? Or being out on the water in a boat?” I laughed inside as I listened to my own peculiar questions. To our surprise, he immediately opened the door and stepped toward us in a welcoming spirit. His demeanor changed completely. He smiled and said, “Why yes, I used to be an oarsman. Spent many hours on the water!”
The elderly man talked about boats and shared many of his memories from his years as an oarsman. The topic of conversation then moved freely into faith and Jesus’ statement in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.” We talked about Jesus’ invitation to a relationship with God, and about receiving his love, as opposed to earning it.
his suspicion and defensiveness. My hope is that he experienced the power of the Holy Spirit and continues to encounter God’s love. By Joanna Pharazyn FOCUS Apprentice
The man looked at me curiously and asked, “Why did you ask about boats?” Later, the man looked at me curiously and asked, “Why did you ask about boats?” I smiled and replied simply, “Well, I asked the Lord if he had something for you, and I saw a boat.” I was thankful for how God opened a door to talk to this man, and for how he provided a way to break down
Joanna is from Woodstock, Ontario and is currently preparing for longterm service in Portugal through the FOCUS program. Contact any of our offices if you would like to hear more about her future involvement in our church-planting ministries in Portugal and how your church could get involved in supporting her. mbmission.org/focusapprentices mbmission.org | 13
WALKING ON WATER a testimony about not being bullied by cancer What happens when Jesus invites you to walk on water? In the midst of the storm, you feel afraid and anxious. You’re facing something that seems impossible, maybe sickness or even death. But Jesus calls out to you and invites you to trust in him. Why? Easter 2014 marked a new chapter in our lives as a family. For several weeks my wife, Heather, found that her appetite for food was shrinking and yet, at the same time, her abdomen was swelling. Weeks earlier, God had awakened within us a new desire to understand more fully his completed work of salvation in our lives, including his healing power that is already at work in those who believe. We had begun a journey prompted by the Holy Spirit into new ways of thinking and praying, as revealed through God’s word and the testimony of others. In late May, scans and various tests led to a diagnosis of late stage ovarian cancer. How do you begin to process the impact of this in your life? As we prayed, Jesus brought us to the image of the disciples caught out on the water in a storm and Jesus coming to them, walking on the water (Matthew 14:25-31). It spoke to us as a family about the dark and fearsome storm that we faced. Yet Jesus was calling us to walk on the water with him. In the story, the disciples cried out in fear when Jesus first approached them. But Jesus was not offended; instead he spoke to them, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 14 | witness
The same was true for us. Over and over again, during the next few months in the storm of surgery and the long and difficult treatments, we heard the words of Jesus in our hearts, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Cancer is a bully that demands to be the center of attention and discussion. But Jesus invited us into something different. Cancer is a bully that demands to be the center of attention and discussion. But Jesus invited us into something different. Instead, he invited us to make him the focus of our journey – and not allow any other name to be lifted up. Like Peter who walked on the water with Jesus, our eyes needed to be focused on him with undivided attention. This was not easy. Especially as we walked through difficult appointments with doctors, numerous treatments, ongoing pain and repeated disappointments, it was difficult to stay focused on Jesus. In the midst of the storm, with so much fear and despair so close at hand, how can you keep taking steps forward in faith? There were several spiritual disciplines that we practiced during this time that kept us walking above the dark waters below. One of the most significant was to apply the good news of his salvation
message in each and every situation. Heather and I preached the Gospel to one another, over and over again. We made the commitment to ask each other a simple question, and to answer it, whatever the situation. We would ask, “What is the good news of the Gospel in this moment?”
In the midst of the storm, with so much fear and despair, how can you keep taking steps forward in faith? Our responses were rooted in our daily reading of God’s Word and our reflections on his unchanging character, his faithful promises and his completed work of salvation on the cross. As you can imagine, there were many moments on the journey when the waves of grief, disappointment and disbelief washed over us. In those moments, instead of turning toward our traditional patterns of comfort and encouragement, we asked each other, “What is the good news?” Regardless of the flow of tears and the emotions that threatened to paralyze us, we would respond – that was our commitment to each other. We focused our responses on his promises, his message of hope, faith and love in our lives. And we discovered, just like David did during his horrible tragedy (1 Samuel 30:6), we had strengthened ourselves in the Lord, and we were filled with courage and hope for the next steps. On one occasion, we had just walked out of a heart-breaking appointment with our oncologist. We were devastated with their prognosis. Again, we felt like cancer was bullying us into shaping our thoughts of the future. I was at a loss as to how to encourage Heather. What do you say, or do you say nothing at all?
Larry and Heather, with their children, David and Natalie I remember silently asking Jesus, “What do I do now?” In my heart, I heard the words, “Preach the good news in season and out of season.” So, as we drove down the road, the two of us in our car, I turned to Heather and asked her, “What is the Good News right now?” Through a storm of emotion, Heather dove into sharing God’s healing promises, his good nature, his salvation work completed on the cross, and that we are overcomers in Christ. It wasn’t long before our hearts were soaring in worship as we preached the Gospel to one another with joy and celebration, so much so that we eventually needed to pull over into a parking lot as tears of worship filled our eyes and we were both overwhelmed with the reality of his goodness and his provision for us.
We were walking on water with Jesus! Our faith was strengthened once again, and it was this pattern that would repeat itself countless times in the months ahead. More than a year has gone by since the diagnosis. We have passed through the storm. Heather is healthy, declared by the oncologist to be perfect! We have stayed connected in a new way to our Lord. We have realized afresh the power of the salvation message when it is applied with faith in our lives – it has the power to deliver, redeem, heal and lead us. On the journey, God simply wants us to know that he is the Lord of all creation, worthy to be worshiped, and that his plan for us includes inviting others into this wonderful love-filled and hopeful place. By Larry Neufeld Lead Team, Mobilization and Media
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