Connect Vol 5. Issue 1 (February 2023)

GOLD FOR GALMI

How you can be totally Convinced! of your calling

For SIM workers, by SIM workers

Felicia finds true hope in jail

Bill and Doris are drawn to Central Asia

SIM'S MISSION

BY TIM ALLAN INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

If Covid-19 has taught us just one thing, it is that we have a profound need for human contact.

Throughout those seemingly endless months of isolation in many parts of the world, we tried to make do with Zoom, FaceTime or other video messaging tools.

But, however good they may have been, we all knew they were no substitute for real, faceto-face contact. The truth is that no matter how well you come across on a screen, you cannot hug or be hugged; you cannot shake hands; you cannot put your arm around someone – or have an arm around you.

GLOBAL ASSEMBLY 2023

That is why it is such a joy to be on the verge of the first SIM Global Assembly since 2018 – a chance for at least some of us to get together. Of course, we’re sorry that more people cannot be with us. When GA was being planned we were still coming out of the pandemic and no-one could be sure what would be safe or wise for such an event.

We hope many of you will be able to join us virtually and everyone with a sim.org email address should already have received the Zoom links to do so.

One of the key themes for this year and for GA builds on our desire for connection. We want to build on the work we are already doing to create gospel collaborations.

The theme of GA is ‘Gospel Witnesses who are true to His name’ and what better way to demonstrate that by working together in partnership with others? That is precisely how the apostle Paul worked, building partnerships with individuals, families and churches.

JOYFUL UNITY

That desire for partnership is part of SIM’s DNA. We want to build multi-cultural teams made up of people from diverse backgrounds with diverse gifts who can work together to demonstrate their joyful unity in Christ.

As you look through Connect, you will see those partnerships in action. Our growing team in Central Asia, although spread across several countries, is working together and also collaborating with local partners to share the gospel (pages 8-9); Felicia would not have come to faith in Christ without the relationshipbuilding which allowed an SIM worker to join in prison ministry (page 7); Galmi Hospital in Niger would not have been awarded one

Convinced that no one should live and die without hearing God's good news, we believe that He has called us to make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ in communities where He is least known

GOSPEL WITNESSES GATHER IN GLOBAL COLLABORATION

PLEASE PRAY

 For the Global Assembly participants to experience the joy of meeting together and praying together as they come face-to-face with friends and colleagues

 For the reality of ‘connected empowerment’ to become a hallmark of leadership in SIM, allowing all to flourish together in joyful collaboration

 For partnerships around the world to grow and develop in ways which help the gospel reach those people who have never heard of Jesus Christ

of the government’s highest honours without the partnerships that are inherent in any large institution (pages 10-11).

Of course, SIM’s unity in diversity is captured by our Purpose and Mission Statement. No matter where we come from, or what our background is, we are all convinced that no-one should live and die without hearing God’s good news. We also all believe that God has called us to make disciples in communities where Christ is least known.

The Biblical principles which underpin those statements is unpacked by the updated study series, Convinced! (page 15).

CONNECTED EMPOWERMENT

As our International Director, Joshua Bogunjoko, enters his final year in the role and prepares for his final GA, it is fitting that at the recent State of SIM meetings he picked out two key collaborative components of his leadership – learning and ‘connected empowerment’. You cannot learn alone

– no matter how good the books, or how slick the elearning module, you learn best from interacting with others, whether that is by talking to them or by watching them. That learning posture has been a critical part of Joshua’s leadership, displaying the deep humility which is the hallmark of a true disciple.

Joshua’s emphasis on ‘connected empowerment’ is also a key feature of his leadership of SIM. He hasn’t simply empowered his leadership team, but he has enabled them to be connected in that empowerment. That has allowed them to work together, without needing Joshua’s permission, to move SIM forward with pioneering new ministries. So, as we look forward to GA and to the year ahead, we pray there will be more opportunities to connect, more opportunities to build partnerships and more opportunities to collaborate as we see to share the gospel with people who do not know the Lord Jesus.

Picture: Johnny Silvercloud, from Flickr. ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (Creative Commons BY-SA 2.0)

NEW HARVEST WORKERS

Church: Greater Phoenix Chinese Christian Church, Chandler, Arizona, US. Where are you serving? We are partnering with Zao Christ Church, a local church in Yamagata City, Japan. What are you doing? Starting some English-type ministries through the church, learning language and building relationships.

Pray: For our family as two of our kids move to new schools in April; for Linda and her language studies and acquisition; for us as we build relationships with neighbours, businesses we frequent, school friends and their families, that they would get glimpses of the Lord through our family.

Church: Eden Baptist, Cambridge, UK. Where will you serve?

Mandritsara, Madagascar.

What will you do? Debbie will be setting up a dental surgery at the Good News Hospital, Julian will be supporting local church leaders and involved in theological training. Together, we’ll provide pastoral care and support to the mission worker community.

Pray: For practical, spiritual and emotional transitions including farewells to parents, kids and dog; for setting up home and dental surgery from scratch and making good relationships in Mandritsara.

ECWA Gospel 2 Jenta, Jos, Nigeria. Where will you serve?

Benin and Togo. What will you do? Literacy and evangelism/discipleship; teaching English language; sports with teens and young people.

Pray: For a good finish to my masters programme at Jos ECWA Theological Seminary; for partners to join with me in ministry and God’s provision as I prepare to go.

Church: Lutheran Church, Germany.

Where will you serve?

Nairobi, Kenya.

What are you doing? I will help in the Ark School in a disadvantaged district of Nairobi. I will teach German and music and spend time with the children.

Pray: That I am well prepared for my work and that I can witness God’s love. I’m also praying for good cooperation with the SIM Kenya team.

Church: Evangelische Stadtmission, Friedberg, Germany.

Where will you serve?

Nairobi, Kenya.

What are you doing? I will help at the Ark School. My focus is to support the teachers in physical education and to contribute my own experience and ideas.

Pray: For a good relationship with the children and a safe stay in Kenya. Also pray I would have great experiences and encounters with God.

Blessed Ozgi Kudu-Kudu

Julian and Debbie Hardyman

Kohei and Linda Koyama

Melanie Fels

Sarah Schulz

Church: Penang Christian Centre, Penang, Malaysia. Where are you serving?

Penang, Malaysia. What are you doing? First full-time Interim Director of SIM Malaysia, hoping to be a catalyst for mission.

Pray: For my wife Rachel and I to ‘keep the main thing the main thing’; for church planting teams to be established for international student and diaspora ministries.

Church: Living Hope Church, Findlay, Ohio, US. Where will you serve? Central Togo. What will you do? Developing a discipleship and agriculture training centre to support new believers and the local church.

Pray: For our integration into the team and community; for God to transform hearts in our city.

Church: Avenue Community Church, Leicester, UK.

Where will you serve? Jos, Nigeria.

What will you do? Matt will use his physiotherapy skills and Lisa will teach women and do trauma healing. We’re passionate about sharing the gospel with the people of Nigeria.

Church: Clearwater Evangelical Church, Clearwater, Kansas, US. Where are you serving? Nigeria. What will you be doing? To be decided.

Pray: For God to make my future ministry clear; for diligence as I begin language school; for all Nigerians to have a heart for Jesus; for me to keep reaching out to the marginalised and unwanted in Nigeria.

Matt and Lisa Wallis, Joshua, Charis and Lydia

Pray: We would raise a great team to partner with us prayerfully and financially; for all the practical preparations involved in moving to Nigeria.

Church: Kingdom Light Church Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. Where will you serve?

The Middle East. What will you do? Teach and bring hope to African refugee children.

Elija and Alice Amah Church: ECWA Gospel Kabong, Jos, Nigeria. Where will you serve? Djougou, Benin.

Pray: For me to reach the full support level needed to go; and that the light of God’s glory will radiate in the lives of everyone I come into contact with.

What will you do? Discipleship, church planting among Dendi people. Pray: That the Dendi will discover their real identity in Christ Jesus and the way to the Father; for God’s protection over our family.

Johnson Solomon Olayinka

Papavi and Hannah Ayena

Jessica Koch

Q&A WITH DAVID PARK

PACIFIC ASIA REGIONAL DIRECTOR

Tell us a little about your background.

I am Sanguk ‘David’ Park. I was born in Incheon, Korea. When I was 12, God called me to preach the gospel. I have followed his calling step by step, including evangelism at campuses, hospitals, on the street and in the countryside. After that, I preached the gospel to foreign tourists in Seoul and then made short-term mission trips to Japan, the Philippines and Fiji.

I went to Fiji as a mission worker after my university graduation and military service. I taught at a vocational school and junior secondary school. Later, God called me to work with people from many different cultures. So, I went to an interdenominational seminary in the US to study mission, Bible, and theology in English. After that, I joined SIM.

Tell us a little about your family

Wanjai and I will celebrate our silver wedding anniversary in March next year. We have three precious daughters, Yerim (22), Sarah (19), and Lisa (13). Yerim is in her senior year at Tufts University in the US; Sarah is in her sophomore year at the College of the Holy Cross, also in the US; and Lisa is in the seventh grade at Korea Christian International School.

How did God lead you into SIM?

When I was studying at seminary, a mission worker took a summer intensive course with me. He wanted to visit the SIM USA office, so I offered him a ride. On his visit to the office, I somehow got to meet Steve Strauss, Fred Ely and Les Unruh, then SIM USA director, deputy director, and church network ministry department head.

What are the key things you hope to achieve in your time with SIM?

I would like to contribute to

God’s kingdom by participating in the great commission and taking it to the next level in the way we send more people to unreached communities by cooperating with local churches around the world.

To accomplish a significant task like the great commission, all of us tend to focus on securing the best people with the best resources. However, the best methods sometimes come from efforts to help people in challenging situations. When we walk with people and churches in their various needs, SIM is able to develop the best ways to reach unreached communities.

What inspires you when life gets difficult?

I remember God’s steadfast love poured on me during my cross-cultural service in Fiji in 1997. Even when I lost my two short-term workers in the ocean, God was with me intimately in the song from Lamentations 3:22-23.

What do you do when you’re not working?

I run three or four times a week and I like to walk and think. I enjoy reading historical stories about individual figures, migrant families and dynasties.

What is your favourite Bible verse and why?

I like Psalm 16 because it helps me get back to basics after day-long ups and downs. Through these verses, I can ground my spiritual life in the right place.

How can we pray for you and your family?

I would appreciate your prayers for Wanjai and I to remain in his love (John 15:9) all the time while we do our best in our lives and ministries. Please pray for Wanjai’s parents and my mom, all of whom will soon be aged over 80. Pray also for our three daughters that God will continue to guide them closely so they can be firmly rooted and established in God’s love.

FELICIA FINDS LASTING HOPE IN NIGERIAN JAIL

I met Felicia while visiting the prison in Jos in spring 2019.

As I continued to make visits, Felicia and I started getting to know each other. I asked her why she was in prison.

She told me she had gone to visit friends. Those friends were not home when she arrived. So, she went to a nearby bar to get something to drink and wait for her friends to come home. While there, the police raided the bar and took everyone inside to jail.

When I met Felicia she had been there for a couple of months awaiting the hearing at which she could explain her situation to the judge. She did not get this hearing for another six months.

By then, she had been in prison for eight months simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It took another two months to actually get her out.

During those 10 months, I was able to share about God’s love and how he has a purpose and a reason for everything that happens to us. She turned her life over to Christ while in the prison. Hallelujah!

When she got out, she had nowhere to go. Her family wanted nothing to do with her, assuming she was guilty of what she had been arrested for - prostitution.

So, I brought her to Gidan Bege (which means ‘House of Hope’ in Hausa). We began discussions with her family and took her for visits so they could see she was not the same

person she had been - that she was now a Christian. They eventually let her move back in and God has now fully restored those relationships. Hallelujah!

While all of that was going on, Felicia needed a way to support herself. She had some rusty tailoring skills so I talked to a fellow worker about enrolling her in a tailoring programme. She was accepted into that programme,

PLEASE PRAY

which lasted 18 months. Felicia did very well in her classes and completed the programme last summer, receiving a new sewing machine to start her business with.

Felicia has continued to hone her skills by apprenticing with a local tailor and is supplementing her income with a local government job.

She is active in her church and loves the Lord deeply. I am excited to see what God has in store for her!

 For Felicia to continue her walk with God and be a blessing to her community

 Give thanks for Melissa’s service in Nigeria and her ministry to women like Felicia. Pray for her continued trust in God’s faithfulness

 Pray for Nigeria’s marginalised and disadvantaged, that they may encounter Christians who can introduce them to Jesus

Sew good: Felicia (centre) with friends as they open a new sewing machine

Melissa Savary is an SIM mission worker serving in Jos, Nigeria, where she works with disadvantaged young women, sharing the love of Jesus. One of her ministries is visiting women in prison. That is how she met Felicia - and saw Jesus transform a life, as she tells here.

SKETCHING OUT A ROUTE INTO CENTRAL ASIAN MISSION WORK

BY TIM ALLAN, INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

A quickly scribbled diagram on a fast food restaurant napkin is a treasured souvenir of Bill and Doris’s journey into mission.

The jotting showed the possible routes the young married couple could take to confirm God’s call on their lives. Although they did not realise it, it was a key signpost on their pathway to serving with SIM.

Bill and Doris, who have three young children, now plan to serve long-term in Central Asia. If you had told either of them that would be their career path when they met at college, they would have laughed at you.

Bill was looking forward to an engineering career, thinking he would most likely stay in the same company for most of his life.

Doris, who had gone to college on a Navy scholarship, knew she would be spending the next seven years moving to wherever she was posted.

God’s first surprise was that Bill, despite his reluctance, realised he would have to put his career second if he wanted to be with Doris, who was about to start training to be a submarine officer.

He said: “After Doris graduated she was posted to South Carolina and we moved down there. I didn’t know what to expect but I found an engineering job and we joined a really good church. We began leading a small group and got really involved, with lots of opportunities to host and felt quite settled.

“Even though we were a small church, it was missional and we

helped support some mission workers. But we thought our role would always be sending, rather than going ourselves.

“After about 18 months or so, Doris was posted to the West coast, so we had to uproot and start all over.

“I had to give up my job and when we moved I had a few months without a job. She was on a schedule which meant she was away for three months at a time, and then home, but still working, for four months.

“It was tough at first but I eventually got a job, we found a good church and we began to enjoy our new life. Again, we were involved in hosting small groups, often including people who weren’t Christian. But I couldn’t see how God could use an engineer and a submarine officer in missions.”

God had another surprise in store. It just so happened that the church they had joined supported an SIM mission couple serving in Asia.

And when the couple spoke to the church during a home assignment, Bill and Doris began to see what might be possible. The four of them even went out for lunch and

Cattle market in Central Asia

Map by Cacahuate is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/bysa/4.0/?ref=openverse

the couple patiently explained the various routes into mission, plotting them out on that napkin.

Doris left the Navy at the end of her term so she and Bill could start a family and, some time later, God produced another surprise.

Bill saw an exciting job in Philadelphia and wanted to take ityes, the man who had thought he’d stay put all his life now wanted to move across the country again.

He said: “I was as surprised as anyone, but the job was right in my specialist area.

“By this time we had two kids but Doris agreed to move, so we headed off again, packing all our stuff into a van and going.

“God surprised us again because

PLEASE PRAY

while we driving over we had a call from someone at SIM with an engineering background! He wanted to get to know us and, I think, show us engineers could go into mission.”

The area they moved into was very multi-cultural. They made friends with an Egyptian couple on their street and, again, opened their house to students and others for Bible study. Increasingly, they were finding people coming who did not know Jesus but were eager to learn.

From there, they took a 16-week course in cross-cultural mission and moved through the SIM membership process.

Bill said: “By then we were thinking it might be possible for us to go, but we did not really know

 For God to make his calling fully known to Bill and Doris as they move to Central Asia

 For all the practicalities of moving with three children under five to Central Asia, that God would smooth support-raising, visas and everything else

 For God to encourage and empower Bill and Doris as they start long-term service in a place where so few people know Jesus

where. We knew we wanted to go where the gospel had not been shared widely, so we were thinking it could be the Middle East, North Africa or Central Asia.”

While they were at the SIM head office in Charlotte, God surprised them again. By his grace, their time in the guest house overlapped by one day with a couple who were serving in Central Asia with their own young children. If ever Bill and Doris needed confirmation of God’s calling, that was it.

Now, of course, God’s big surprise is that they will soon be living in that very region, doing the same work. At first, that will involve learning the language and culture and neither of them has any idea where God will take them after that.

As they know, God loves to surprise his people. All his small surprises in their lives are now pointing to that big surprise of fulltime mission in Central Asia.

If you are interested in exploring Central Asia opportunities email Brenda Naatz (centralasisaregionaldirector. assistant@sim.org).

by Ekrem Canli, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported licence

1950... A SMALL DESERT CLINIC TODAY... THE HEART OF A COMMUNITY

THERE’S A GOLDEN GLOW AT GALMI HOSPITAL

BY TIM ALLAN, INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

SIM’s Galmi Hospital has received a special gold award from the President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum.

The award for outstanding public health service was presented to the hospital leadership team at a ceremony to mark Niger’s Republic Day in the capital, Niamey, just before Christmas.

Presented personally by President Bazoum, the award recognises the hospital’s huge contribution to the health of the Nigerien people since it was founded by SIM workers more than 70 years ago.

The President said: “Founded in 1950 in Galmi in the Tahoua region, Galmi is a mission hospital administered by SIM. Located on the southern edge of the Sahara to support 16 surrounding villages and far from the main

hospital centres, it functions as a real ‘oasis in the desert’. With a capacity of 180 beds, and welcoming Nigerien patients from all social statuses, the hospital treats an average of 55,000 patients a year and performs more than 3,000 surgeries thanks to the experts who come from all over the world. It is also a training centre for interns from various countries.

“In 72 years, Galmi Hospital has played a very important role in the prevention of communicable diseases, the management of medical and surgical obstetric conditions, the care of traumas from road traffic accidents and the training of Nigerien personnel.

“In the name of the republic, we award you the Niger Public Health Gold Medal.”

The hospital started as a simple village clinic in 1950, when it was staffed by SIM worker Burt Long and his wife Ruth, but has grown hugely since then. Indeed, an entire village community has grown up around the hospital.

It now has a nutrition centre, emergency and maternity departments, a paediatric clinic for the under-fives, an outpatient department, a pharmacy and surgical teams. It has 240 employees, 22 longterm mission workers, 10 surgical residents and a significant number of short-term mission visits every year.

The hospital often takes the most difficult and complicated cases. Patients come from all corners of Niger, which is a predominantly Muslim nation, and even from neighbouring countries, including Nigeria.

Despite being a private Christian hospital, it plays a vital role in the fabric of the healthcare system in Niger often taking patients from public hospitals. People see

Galmi Award

Our outpatient department is organised in such a way that each patient who comes to our door will hear about Christ

President Bazoum with Galmi Hospital Director, Dr.Yakoubou Sanoussi

SIM Galmi Hospital as a place of hope. There is even a saying in the local Hausa language, ‘Sai Galmi’ , which means ‘Only Galmi’. Many serious medical conditions can only be treated at Galmi Hospital and public hospitals often send hard cases to Galmi.

Hospital director Yakoubou Sanoussi emphasised how sharing Christ is at the very centre of his team’s medical ministry.

He said: “Our outpatient department setting is organised in such a way that each patient who comes to our door will hear about Christ, either through our chaplains, or from the continuous projection of the Jesus film and other means.

“Our inpatients benefit from one-on-one sharing of the scriptures and prayers. Doctors and surgical residents will spare time even with their busy schedules to stop and pray for their patients as needed.

“In the more specialised departments, such as the HIV unit, patients who come regularly build strong relationships with our workers, offering more opportunities for deep conversations. In 2022, we recorded nine professions of faith from our patients.”

SIM Niger director Jonathan Moore said: “SIM has been serving the people of Niger since 1924, and since 1950 from Galmi Hospital. This award from President

PLEASE PRAY

 Give thanks for the government’s recognition of the contribution Galmi Hospital has made to the well-being of Nigerien people for more than 70 years

 Praise God that Galmi is a beacon of Christian hope in a predominantly Muslim country and that the gospel is preached and shared so faithfully there

 For more mission-minded medical workers to be raised up to serve in Galmi and other mission hospitals around the world

Bazoum is a tribute to all of our SIM workers over the last 72 years. Though we are storing up our treasures in heaven, it is an encouragement to see the Niger government recognise the dedication and hard work of so many people who are striving to meet the needs of the poorest of the poor.”

If you are interested in serving in Galmi please email niger.personnel@sim.org. There are vacancies for medical staff in almost all specialties and for a wide range of administrative staff.

Galmi Award

Celebration Day (l-r): Galmi Director Yakoubou Sanoussi, Deputy Director Samaila Yamba, SIM Niger Director Jonathan Moore, Acting Chief Medical Officer Matt Megill and SIM Niger Office Manager Ajila Boubacar with the award

OPPORTUNITIES

ENTITY DIRECTOR, ZAMBIA

SIM Zambia is searching for an Entity Director who can work alongside the Board to develop and implement a strategic ministry plan. The successful candidate will also provide leadership and pastoral care to an administrative team and 30 personnel working in the country in a wide variety of ministries. For more details, or if you would like to nominate someone for the role, please email zambia. directorsearch@sim.org.

TEAM LEADERS, MIDDLE EAST

We are seeking to appoint new country team leaders for Egypt (as soon as possible) and Lebanon (from summer 2023). The successful candidates will play key roles in building partnerships and developing ministries in places where there is huge gospel need. Contact Stephen (middleeast.director@sim. org) for more information or if you are interested in applying for either role.

FINANCE MANAGER, NIGER

We are looking for someone trained in accountancy or finance to help either shortterm or long-term. You would supervise and participate in the financial operations of SIM Niger and help improve competency countrywide. French would be helpful - anyone committing to long-term service would need to learn the language. Email niger.personnel@ sim.org for a job description or more details.

COMMS ADMIN ASST, INT’L

We are looking for an admin assistant to work in the communications team at SIM International. The major focus would be coordinating the production of SIM’s annual Prayer Guide and coordinating our team of translators. A second language would be very helpful for this part-time role. For an informal discussion, a job description or more details, contact Tim Allan (international.commsdirector@ sim.org).

DOCTORS, MADAGASCAR

SIM’s rural mission hospital in Madagascar is in urgent need of a senior medical doctor to help cover home assignment from November for three months. The doctor could be in the second half of registrar training, or a consultant, with a background in family practice, internal medicine or accident and emergency. Long-term surgeons and doctors are also needed! Contact Ted Watts, Senior Surgeon at The Good News Hospital (ted.watts@sim.org).

ARE YOU SIGNED UP FOR NEWSLETTERS?

SIM’s ArtsBeat newsletter equips and encourages SIM’s creative community around the world. To subscribe, contact intl.arts@sim.org.

Caring Connections is a quarterly newsletter for SIM’s many healthcare workers. To subscribe, contact Jana.Faus@sim.org.

News from SIM Ecuador shares highlights of the ministries of our teams there. To subscribe, contact ecuador.comms@sim.org.

The monthly Engaging the University newsletter keeps you informed about university ministry across SIM. To subscribe, contact intl.university@sim.org.

The Faithful Witness newsletter provides stories and prayer about this growing initiative of SIM. To subscribe, go to http://eepurl.com/gr_pbb.

Do you have a ministry-focused newsletter you would like to share here?

For Freedom’s newsletter gives all the latest info on SIM ministries related to anti-trafficking. To subscribe, contact intl.forfreedom@sim.org.

Pakistan Linkline is an occasional newsletter which shares compelling stories and prayer needs. To subscribe, contact pakistan.linkline@sim.org.

People2People (P2P) provides SIM personnel news, updates, resources and people development articles. To subscribe email rindi.bowman@sim.org.

SIM’s Sports Friends newsletter keeps you up to date on sports ministry in 18 countries. To subscribe go to: https://sports-friends.org.

The SIMprayKids monthly UK prayer email inspires kids to engage in missions. It features content produced by mission worker kids around the world.

Email connect@sim.org

TALKING A GOOD GAME FOR THE GOSPEL

BY SAMMY, SENT BY SIM EAST ASIA

I love this verse, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’ (2 Corinthians 12:9), because it really makes me glad to know that the Lord can be glorified even through a simple man like me.

There were many challenges in my ministry, particularly with speaking in the local language.

When I first arrived, I started my two-year full-time language course.

But despite my best efforts, even after five years I could not speak the language well.

Though I managed to pray after three years and share a gospel message after four years in the language, I lacked the local accent.

One day, one of the church leaders told me that I would soon speak the local language well. Yes, I wanted to but, really, I could not. Of course, I felt very ashamed but I did not give up.

Later I began to manage a youth vocational centre. The young people from the local communities came to study technical skills in our centre. I taught them the Bible every day and developed deep relationships with them. I rejoiced when I realised they were able to understand well when I spoke and soon became disciples.

Whenever I visited the villages with my students and shared the gospel in the widely-spoken official language, they translated my message into their own tribal language. They

PLEASE PRAY

liked to serve the Lord and they soon became my translators and valued assistants in the ministry.

They were confident to stand in front of people and serve along with me. The Holy Spirit truly led them to grow spiritually too.

The local church leaders were very happy with my idea of

 For Sammy to continue building relationships with the young people he meets

 For the young people of his region to be inspired by the gospel and step forward to serve with Sammy

 For the local church to see just how much young people can contribute to gospel ministry and be open to them taking on leadership roles

encouraging the youth and involving them in ministry. They allowed more of their young believers to join our leadership training programmes.

The local pastors invited my students to go with them to serve in the villages and family churches too. It was a breakthrough for the local church to start focusing on training their young people.

Jesus’s grace, strength and power are my secrets in moving forward seriously in ministry.

Though speaking the local language was initially my biggest challenge, I praise and thank God for using me to bless my students, the new disciples and the churches in this region too.

Sammy talks

Speaking truth: Sharing the gospel with young people and children in Asia

INTERVIEWS TAKING PLACE FOR NEW INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR

The search for our new International Director has now reached the interview stage.

We had several excellent candidates and carried out initial interviews on Zoom. Some of these were selected to be interviewed in person. We are now continuing

discussions and prayerfully seeking the Lord on his choice.

Once agreed and affirmed by the International Board, the preferred candidate will be voted on by the members of the Global Assembly and then by all our mission members. We hope to

BOOK REVIEW:

Faithful SIM servant Madan Kallow has just published the story of his astonishing life.

Born into a Sikh family in the final stages of British rule in India, Madan does not know his exact date of birth because it was never registered.

His book details his journey from rural India to the UK, where he arrived as a 12-year-old boy in 1960.

He tells how Western society put him at odds with his family and cultural background, and forced him to rebel against his religion and upbringing, culminating in his becoming a Christian at 15 and later

have an ID designate approved by August, 2023, allowing time for a good transition and handover from Joshua Bogunjoko in February, 2024.

Thank you for praying as the search committee works through this robust process carefully.

ONE LIFE, TWO CONTINENTS, TWO CULTURES

BY MADAN KALLOW

marrying Brenda, despite opposition. The couple joined SIM after visiting their daughter, who was serving shortterm in Nigeria in 2008. They served with City Ministries, helping support vulnerable children, until 2014. Since then, they have served with SIM UK, preparing and serving food for many grateful guests.

Now aged 72, Madan says he hopes his story will help his 10 grandchildren “love and appreciate their roots and become more tolerant and empathetic to the needs of people from all races.”

The book is available on Amazon - just type the title in the search bar.

10 DAYS OF PRAYER: MAY 18-27, 2023

This year’s 10 Days of Prayer will run from May 18 to May 27 – or, to put it another way, from Ascension Day to the Day of Pentecost.

The devotions are written by our International Director, Joshua Bogunjoko, and focus on the ‘I am’ sayings of Jesus in the book of John. The prayers have been written by Spiritual Life Coordinator Marcia Strauss.

The material is being translated into French, Spanish, Portuguese and Korean. We encourage all of SIM to join in these corporate days of prayer, so please put the dates in your diaries now. There will be global Zoom meetings during the 10 days, with links emailed to all sim.org addresses in advance.

New obituaries for three SIM workersMavis Jean Greenwell, Marilyn “Teddy” Joan Cail and Donald Livingstone Genheimer - have been uploaded to Port. They can be accessed by clicking on the Cloud of Witnesses button on the home page of Port. If you want to add any obituaries from your entity or region, please contact SIM International’s Internal Communications Editor, Dan Muchai (dan.muchai@sim.org).

One of the key things which binds SIM workers together is our complete commitment to our organisation’s Purpose and Mission Statement.

They are powerful words, which detail our conviction that no-one should live and die without hearing God’s good news. We all share that belief.

We don’t share it because we think it’s a good idea – no, we share it because the Bible, the word of God, tells us we should have that conviction. It is a fundamental part of who we are.

When the statement was agreed some years ago, a Bible study series was launched to help us see exactly how the word of God underpins everything we say about ourselves.

The series was called ‘Convinced!’, taking its title from the very first word of the new statement. That series has now been updated and translated into French, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic (see above).

If anyone would like to translate it into Korean, Chinese or any other SIM language, please get in touch with Ken Baker (ken. baker@sim.org)!

There are eight studies in total,

PLEASE PRAY

HOW TO BE TOTALLY CONVINCED! OF YOUR CALLING

UPDATED BIBLE STUDIES REINFORCE SCRIPTURAL BASIS FOR

each focusing on a key phrase taken from our Purpose and Mission statements:

1. God’s Good News

2. Called to Make Disciples

3. Love and Power

4. Crossing Barriers to Proclaim

5. Love and Compassion

6. Disciples for ChristCentred Churches

7. Working Together with Churches

8. Facilitating Participation in Mission

The studies were originally created by Chris Conti, a communicator sent by SIM USA

 Thank God for the work of those who have put together Convinced!, for their faithfulness to the word of God

 For the studies to be used and appreciated by many connected with SIM

 For the studies to have a lasting impact on those who use them, bolstering their commitment to share the gospel with those who have no knowledge of Jesus

and serving in Latin America. They were expanded by Ken, who has led the updating process, with important contributions from many others, including Chris, Cynthia Sundman, Sara Salloum, Femi Adeleye, Carlos Pinto and Joseph Wong.

Ken said: “I think the restatement of our core mission, vision and purpose has been key to the growth we have seen in SIM in recent years.

“We know these statements resonate with our inquirers and with our workers, so we hope lots of people will really enjoy using these studies.

“We’d love to see everyone in SIM, as well as our supporters and churches, use them to gain a greater understanding of the Biblical convictions which inspire us to serve God in mission.”

The studies are intended for very wide use, both inside and outside SIM, so please feel free to share them with anyone in your network who might be interested.

They can be downloaded at www.sim.org/convinced or from the home page of Port.

For more information, or if you have questions, email Ken.

SIM’S MISSION AND PURPOSE

PRAYER BREAKS OUT WILDLY IN THE MIDDLE EAST

BY AMY BAREHAM CHAPMAN

In the gospel of Luke, crowds assemble around Jesus as he begins: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine…and go after the lost sheep until he finds

It’s clear Jesus is asking a rhetorical question. “Doesn’t the shepherd pursue that one errant sheep at all costs?” Of course!

And yet…as a Christian reading this parable in an age tormented by distraction and dictated by efficiency, it is tempting to respond, “I’d cut my losses. I’d be quite pleased with the 99, actually.”

Fortunately, the King of kings is a kind and gracious ruler, offering immeasurable joy in return for slowing down. He prizes the restoration of the lost. This joy burst forth recently, in a Middle Eastern city where Faithful Witness has placed Abigail*.

On an early morning walk, Abigail came across a small boy playing in the gravel. Something about him resonated with her, and she later prayed for the Lord to make their paths cross again.

One day, Abigail and a friend went searching for the boy. She writes, “Finally, Father God led us to the boy, by which time, half the

PLEASE PRAY

• For Abigail’s ministry; she is the first Faithful Witness worker in her area and hopes new team members will join her

• For the boy and his family - may they be receptive to Abigail and open to the gospel

• For Christians living in the Middle East. Ask God to shield them from harm as they shine his light in the darkness

community seemed to have joined us and, to the mother’s shock, we all poured into her little house uninvited. I tried to explain how we had been looking for her son. She was absolutely bewildered!”

Abigail gathered that the boy’s mother had been widowed when her husband died from Covid-19.

Now, she was struggling to care for her young children.

During their conversation, more and more people curious crammed into the home. Abigail offered to pray for the mother and her son.

“Suddenly, the room erupted, and all the kids were pushing forward to be prayed for – even the old ladies, too,” said Abigail.

“We tried to do one general prayer for all, but they wanted individual attention, so we prayed for each one. It was wild, unorthodox, but so amazing to sense the Holy Spirit working!

When we finally pushed our way out through the door, we were escorted along the street by clapping and cheering children.”

It would have been easy to miss the boy playing in the dirt, and easier still, to notice him but not think much of him.

The Lord, with great compassion, made Abigail aware and then helped her choose obedience. When a believer’s heart is aligned with the Good Shepherd, their pursuit of the missing one is not a fool’s errand but a lavish demonstration of unconditional love.

Since that first visit, Abigail has returned to the little boy’s home (with less commotion) and encouraged his mother. Now, she prays for opportunities to share the gospel with this family so she can rejoice with the ninety-nine when they return to God’s flock.

*Name changed

it?”

(Luke 15:3-4, NIV)