For SIM workers, by SIM workers
FEB 2022 • VOL 4 ISSUE 1
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF SIM KOREA
Join with us in 10 Days of Prayer Searching for a new International Director Unlikely friends bring Nadeem* to faith in Christ
KOREAN MISSION WORKER Minsun Kim USES A SELFIE STICK TO PICTURE HIS FRIENDS in A NIGERiEn VILLAGE
CONTENTS Harvest workers .................................. 4-5 Join in our 10 Days of Prayer .................. 6 Q&A with Andrea Wilson ........................ 7 SIM Korea’s 25th anniversary ............. 8-9 Called: SK Lye................................... 10-11 Ministry opportunities ........................ 12 Helping the Ecuador church understand the Bible narrative ................................ 13 Leader appointments and news ........... 14 How our Business as Mission people have coped with COVID-19 ........................... 15 Nadeem’s unlikely friends bring him to Christ ............................................... 16
EDITORIAL
SIM'S MISSION
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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
© SIM International 2022. Connect is an internal publication of SIM for the encouragement and information of its workers. SIM International Director: Joshua Bogunjoko International Communications Director and Editor of Connect: Tim Allan Design: Pilgrim Communications Email: connect@sim.org • Web: www.sim.org
STARTING THE SEARCH FOR OUR NEW INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR BY GILLIAN PHILLIPS CHAIR, SIM BOARD OF GOVERNORS
As we begin the search for SIM’s new International Director, I am reminded of the old hymn: “Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us over the world’s tempestuous sea; guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us, for we have no help but thee.” We all know the Lord leads us – day by day, over the years, in our local context and in our global mission. Without his leading and guiding, we would be part of a fun, challenging, interesting but ultimately futile endeavour. We are confident that he will continue to lead and guide us into the future. God also gives us human leaders – those who lead the local church, those who lead our teams, and those who lead SIM, including our country leaders, our boards and our executive. The International Board is so grateful to Joshua Bogunjoko, our International Director who continues to lead us in a visionary and godly manner. Joshua has already announced that he does not feel God is calling him to serve a third five-year term, so we have started a search process for his successor. Our aim is to discern who the Lord is calling into this key leadership role to take SIM forward over the next five to 10 years. This appointment of a new International Director is under the oversight of the International Board and the process is managed by a Search Committee chosen by the Board. The members are: Gillian Phillips – Chair of International Board. from the UK. Patrick Oduro – Vice Chair of Board, from Ghana. Andres Corrales – Member-at-large on Board, serves in Uruguay, from Costa Rica. WWW.SIM.ORG
FEB 2022 • VOL 4 ISSUE 1
It is vital that we come before our Lord in prayer. Can I ask you to be praying fervently over the coming months as the whole mission seeks to discern the Lord’s leading? As Paul prayed for the church in Philippi, may we all pray for one another – for the glory and praise of God: “This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9-11). This is a season for discernment of who the Lord wants to lead SIM for the coming years. This should be our prayer. On a practical note, we have set up an area on PORT for the search process, which contains a lot of background information and a Frequently Asked Questions document. We will be posting specific prayers through our normal channels. If you still have questions, please email international.idsearch@sim.org. Above all, please pray.
EDITORIAL
Sherri Letchford – Member-at-large on Board, serves in Kenya, from USA. Ola Sage – Vice Chair of SIM USA Board. Former visitor to Board. Ivan Liew – Serves on SIM Singapore Council, visitor to Board. Puti Ozukum – SIM mission worker serving in Mali, from North East India. Angela Doucet – Joshua’s Executive Assistant, who will be providing administrative support. We hope to bring a global perspective and a clear process, as outlined in the Board’s by-laws. It is vital that we listen to the whole mission in what will be a four-stage process: 1) Consultation on the challenges and opportunities SIM will face, and the qualities needed in a leader for those times. This will inform the writing of the Person and Position descriptions (March–May 2022). 2) When the final role descriptions are available, we will call for nominations (June–August 2022). 3) Discernment of who to take from long list to short list to final interviews (September 2022– February 2023). 4) Decision-making process and ratification by the Global Assembly and all mission members (March–August 2023). This timescale gives us space to consider prayerfully and carefully. It will also allow the chosen candidate to have around six months to prepare before taking over from Joshua.
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NEW HARVEST WORKERS Doreen Thomas Church: Victoria Point Baptist Church, Victoria Point, Australia. Where will you serve? Home office of SIM Australia (out of Brisbane). What will you be doing? Personnel Director. Pray: For continued grace in the learning of SIM and all the processes and for a real connection with our workers, both at home and overseas. Church: Redeemer Church, Bellingham, USA. Where will you serve? East Asia. What will you be doing? Blessing people and discipleship. Pray: For direction and open doors for a placement this spring. That the Lord will use us to grow his church in East Asia.
New harvest workers
Zach AND Naomi, with Annabelle
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Church: Maffra Community Church, Maffra, Australia. Where will you serve? Galmi Hospital, Niger. What will you be doing? Outreach and discipleship in and around Galmi, as well as practical support for the hospital. Pray: For continued successful language learning in France and for God to prepare the way ahead of us before we arrive in Niger.
David and Taryn Price with Micah, Noah and Caleb WWW.SIM.ORG
Ishaku and Martha with Jesse, Favour, Anya-Kati AND Nyam-Judah
Church: ECWA Gospel Kabong aka Blue Zinc, Jos, Nigeria. Where will you serve? Jos, Nigeria (WAMO). What will you be doing? WAMO Mobiliser. Pray: “...the one who endures to the end, he will be saved” (Matt 24:13).
Where will you serve? Asia. What will you be doing? We will concentrate on language and culture learning. Pray: That we will continue to use every opportunity to share the love of Christ, both during and beyond our transition to Asia.
Hu and Fen*
Abby Penglase
*Names changed
FEB 2022 • VOL 4 ISSUE 1
New harvest workers
Jessica Cullen
Church: Connect Church, Blenheim, and Hokowhitu Baptist Church, Palmerston North, New Zealand. Where will you serve? Mukinge Hospital, Zambia. What will you be doing?: Medicine – I’m trained as a General Practitioner. Pray: That I can reach my funding budget and have clearance to travel, with borders open, early in 2022.
Church: New Heart Baptist Church, Rochedale, Australia. Where will you serve? Loja, Ecuador. What will you be doing? Church planting among the Saraguro people. Pray: For God’s direction as I establish the ministry foundations, gain a deeper understanding of the culture, and connect with previous contacts and new Persons of Peace.
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DEVOTED TO GOD AND TO EACH OTHER BY MARCIA STRAUSS, SIM SPIRITUAL VITALITY LEAD
People Care team
We need the spirit of devotion to recollect always the presence of God to be always doing the will of God, to direct all things always to the glory of God. – EM Bounds
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Devotion keeps us focused on Godwith-us. It fills us with delight in obedience. It makes us fervent in doing all things for his glory. But how do we sustain that level of zeal in the face of deep weariness, accumulated disappointments and draining uncertainties? EM Bounds offers us one means of achieving that: “Prayer promotes the spirit of devotion, while devotion is favourable to the best praying. Devotion furthers prayer and helps to drive prayer home to the object which it seeks. Prayer thrives in the atmosphere of true devotion.” In short, devotion fuels prayer and prayer fuels devotion. Our zeal for God grows as we meet with him in prayer, growing in our sense of belonging to him and in our understanding of his incredible love and commitment to us. I would add that our fervent loyalty to each other grows as we pray for, and with, each other. Paul exhorts us, “Be devoted to one another in love.” How do we grow in devotion to each other? As we meet with God together, we’re reminded that our brother is hurting too, that like us, our sister also falls short of Christ-likeness, that our co-workers are God’s gift to
encourage us and fortify our faith. Praying together increases our sense of belonging to each other. SIM’s annual 10 Days of Prayer, which this year runs from May 26 to June 4, offers us the opportunity to refresh our devotion to God and to each other. We would love you to mark your calendars and encourage your team to dedicate time to pray together
during these 10 days. We pray it will be a time when we can unite in our devotion to God and to each other. Prayer must be aflame. Its ardour must consume . . . A soul devoted to God is a fervent soul, and prayer is the creature of that flame. He only can truly pray who is all aglow for holiness, for God, and for heaven. – EM Bounds
HOW SIM’S 10 DAYS OF PRAYER BEGAN . . . Our 10 Days of Prayer begin on Ascension Day, which is 40 days after Easter, and lead up to the day of Pentecost. This tradition became part of SIM after our merger with the Africa Evangelical Fellowship (AEF) in 1998. The 10 Days of Prayer were observed by churches
in South Africa (where AEF was founded) for more than 50 years, beginning in the early 1860s, and were marked by seasons of revival. During the 10 Days, we examine our hearts and seek God for blessing, provision and fruitfulness in ministry.
WWW.SIM.ORG
Q&A WITH AN SIM LEADER: ANDREA WILSON, GLOBAL DIRECTOR OF MISSION ENGAGEMENT Tell us a little about your background? I was born into SIM. My parents, Gerry and Glenda Johnson, served with SIM in Asmara (formerly Ethiopia, now Eritrea) and then in the US. I went on my first mission trip through Church at Charlotte, a big SIM and Sports Friends mission partner. That, along with the Urbana Missions Conference when I was in college, inspired my call to long-term missions. I studied Communications and Theatre, which I chose so I could speak the gospel in a relevant way to visuallyoriented younger generations. Before joining SIM, I served as an International Project Coordinator for a Christian sign company working with global clients. Tell us a little about your family? I’m married to the wonderful, fun-loving Monte Wilson, who is Director of Short-Term Ministries with SIM USA. We have three daughters, all born in Bolivia, where we served for nine years. Nicole, 22, is adopted, and studying Early Childhood Education at the University of South Carolina. Kayla, 16, is in high school, plays percussion and is very artistic. Sabrina, 14, is in her first year of high school, and loves children and engineering.
What are the key things you hope to achieve in your time with SIM? Knowing people are living and dying without Christ, yet we have the power to change that, inspires me to want to make FEB 2022 • VOL 4 ISSUE 1
What inspires you when life gets difficult? When things are tough, the Lord’s still, small voice whispers to my heart to continually praise him. Often, he reminds me that I am blessed beyond imagination. When I consider the suffering of the world, I can’t help but praise him, knowing that we’re so unworthy. What do you do when you’re not working? You’ll usually find me hanging out with one of my daughters watching a movie, doing crafts, baking, or playing a board game. I also enjoy painting and reading. Monte and I enjoy hiking and kayaking together. What is your favourite Bible verse and why? Philippians 4:4-8 is a constant encouragement. It’s a great reminder to release my worries to him and to focus on what is lovely and beautiful and praiseworthy, allowing his peace into my life as he takes the reins. What piece of technology could you do without/never do without? I would love not to be tied to my phone! I lose it constantly, so maybe I could live without it… but without alarms reminding me of upcoming meetings, just imagine how late I’d be! (I’m already on South American time. ) How can we pray for you and your family? Please pray for Monte and I to have strength, energy and wise use of our time. Please pray that the faith our daughters had as children will take root in their hearts as young adults, especially as they deal with worldly pressures and other anxieties which so easily press in.
Q&A with an SIM leader
How did God lead you into SIM? We trained with SIM in 2001, but the Lord led us to another ministry in Bolivia, Hospitals of Hope. Later, we served in ministries started by SIMers, including the Cochabamba International Church and Carachipampa Christian School. Seeing how SIM cared for families helped us appreciate the mission. When the Lord opened the door for us to lead the Short-Term Ministry of SIM USA, which we are both very passionate about, we joined SIM.
disciples and encourage others to do so. In my current role, I long to help support and encourage our mobilisers so this can become a reality. I strongly believe in prayer and want to see others inspired to take seriously a call to pray for the Lord of the Harvest to send more workers into his harvest fields and for spiritual breakthroughs. I also want to help address barriers to serving, including finding ways to help those raising support in challenging contexts.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO SIM KOREA KEY ENTITY CELEBRATES 25 YEARS IN OUR GLOBAL FAMILY BY JOSHUA BOGUNJOKO, SIM INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR him at the time. So, Igbaja unites us as the special place where my salvation journey began and the place where mission workers from SIM Korea began their journey. The governing council of SIM Korea was first formed in 1997. Then, in 2000, as a new century was ushered in, SIM Korea became a joint owner of the whole mission. I would like to mention SIM Korea’s first director, Mrs Sarah Kang (above). Both historically and
Korea 25th anniversay
It is a great honour for me to congratulate the SIM Korea office on the 25th anniversary of their joining the SIM family. The first SIM Korea mission workers, Rev. Sam and Sarah Kang, were commissioned in 1981. They were sent not only to my home country of Nigeria, but to my home region! As many of you know, I was raised in a village in southern Nigeria. When I started high school, I moved to Igbaja town and attended the SIM school there, which shared a campus with the Igbaja Seminary. Rev. Sam Kang served for many years as a professor at Igbaja Seminary, though I did not know
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Kyoung-Hwan Oh helps out on a school building site in Pretoria, South Africa
today, our mission teams everywhere have depended on the contributions of godly women. Sarah’s gifts in administration and leadership helped establish the Korea office on a good foundation. All of SIM is grateful to Mrs Kang, to her successor, Rev. Yong Sung, to the SIM Korea board members, and to the SIM Korea directors and staff, who have faithfully shepherded the affairs of SIM Korea; and for the care of SIM Korea workers that has made their entity one of the leading offices in SIM. Korean mission workers today are known for many qualities. I can only mention a few of those, but they include their devotion to prayer, their emphasis on church planting and theological education, and their resilience while serving in some very challenging locations. These characteristics not only harmonise with our SIM purpose, ethos and core values, they enrich our teams in ways we would not achieve without them. The first church in Korea was planted in 1893 and ushered in more than 100 years of church growth and outreach. The SIM Korea office was established just before the turn of the 21st century, ushering in, we pray, 100 more years of continued growth and outreach. We look forward with great anticipation to what the next 25 WWW.SIM.ORG
Top: Youngchun Heo shares the gospel with South Asian villagers; below left: Petro Chang (centre with child on lap) with his discipleship group; below right: Sungil Kim (front) using an Instagram frame during a training session for Sunday school teachers in Peru
FEB 2022 • VOL 4 ISSUE 1
PLEASE PRAY • Give thanks for the many Korean workers who have been sent out to share the good news of Jesus Christ with communities where he is least known. • For the small team in the SIM Korea office, that they would continue to work well together and support their faithful mission workers around the world. • For God to raise up more men and women from the Korean church to join his global mission.
Korea 25th anniversay
years will bring for SIM Korea and its mission workers. “For what thanks can we give to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice because of you before our God” (1 Thess 3:9). May the partnership between the Korean church, SIM Korea and the SIM global family continue to advance God’s gospel for his glory.
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CALLED:
SK LYE, SIM EAST ASIA IT AND COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
BY TIM ALLAN God can call people into mission at any time. For some, he places it on their heart when they are very young, but for others the process of leading, guiding and shaping takes much longer. By his own admission, Sue Kheong Lye definitely fits into the second category. SK, as he is known gave his life to Christ in his teens but God then moulded him for more than 30 years before moving him into fulltime mission work. He said: “When I look back, I can see how God has been so gracious to me. Very rarely have I felt God’s call on my life, but I can see that he has been opening doors and closing doors to bring me to full-time mission work.” SK was born into a nonChristian family in Singapore, the youngest of three brothers and with a younger sister. In that family, he is still the only Christian. His parents were Taoists and practised ancestor worship, but still sent their three sons to a Christian mission school, perhaps drawn by the subsidised fees and the highquality education. SK says: “When my oldest brother started to talk about church, my parents were very opposed and stopped him going. Because he was the oldest, he had the responsibility of keeping the
family name going and they did not much delay, God led SK to RBC, an want him to become a Christian. international mission now known “They were not happy when as Our Daily Bread Ministries. RBC’s I started going to church but International Director approached they didn’t stop me. When I got SK about a role but, when SK asked baptised, my father did not come, for time to complete his work but my mother did.” contract, he approached Christina. SK’s career has taken many SK says: “He later told me that twists and turns. He started in the if you get the wife, the husband will Singapore Air Force, then gave that follow. It’s ‘buy one, get one free’! up at the age of 31 to study in the He was very right.” UK. By that time, he was married to Two years later, SK followed Christina and they had two young Christina into RBC, joining to head children – a son Deming, up their IT and comms departments. who now has When RBC decided I think God has been three children to re-structure of his own in preparing me throughout and turn the Singapore, and international office my life, teaching me to be into a regional office, a daughter, Mei Xuan, who lives obedient to his call. Even it seemed that door in Edinburgh, had closed. But God in my disobedience, he was opened another. Scotland. The family SK says: always there, leading me intended to spend “Christina and I to this point in my life two years in the had heard about UK, but ended up SIM and we felt staying for 13, after SK completed God wanted us to serve as paid his PhD and became a university administrative staff. Christina had lecturer in information technology. looked at working with OMF but They returned to Singapore in that was a self-supporting role, and 2000, so Deming could comply with I’d had an interview with a UK Bible his national service obligations. college for a registrar’s role, but That led SK into a variety of that was also self-supporting.” jobs, first as an IT management “We were still talking to SIM, consultant and then as a highthinking we would be suitable for powered civil servant. All the while, salaried roles.” God was opening some doors and “But when we started talking to closing others. Eventually, and after them, they made it clear that they
CALLED
CLOUD OF WITNESSES
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SIM’s Kenya director Dr Peter Okaalet (left) went to be with the Lord on Saturday, February 5. He had struggled for some years with prostate cancer before coming to SIM but was in remission when he joined us about three years ago and then
took on the key leadership role with SIM Kenya. Peter, who was born in Uganda, was a mighty man of God and could have done nearly anything with his immense talents. In his medical career, he was prominent in the fight against HIV/AIDS but he was WWW.SIM.ORG
SK with his wife Christina, son Deming, daughter-in-law Li Fen (left), daughter Mei Xuan and grandchildren Angie (left) and Evan
wanted us to take on director level roles, which meant we would have to raise support!” Christina went on to serve for five years as Personnel Director, before taking a missions role at Bartley Christian Church, SIM’s founding church in East Asia. SK is still serving SIM East Asia and has also been helping with the regional leadership development programme. He is very open to going wherever God leads him. He says: “I think God has been preparing me throughout my life,
teaching me to be obedient to his call. Even in my disobedience, he was always there, leading me to this point in my life. “It is my belief that God calls me to service for a season. As such, I do not see myself as serving till I retire. “I also see God as using each season to teach and grow me for the next season of service, wherever that may be. “Hence, I am learning to ‘go’ when the next ‘door’ is opened by God.”
PLEASE PRAY • For God to make it clear to SK and Christina where and how he wants them to serve in the future and that SK would sense God’s leading as they come to some decisions. • That SK would be able to take a greater role in the Regional Leadership Development programme, to help equip future leaders for SIM East Asia and other entities in the region. • For God to help SK and Christina balance the demands of ministry and family life and that they might have a profound gospel impact on their grandchildren’s lives.
captured by the idea that everyone’s first need was to know Jesus Christ and walk with him. A memorial service for Peter was held at All Saints Cathedral, Nairobi on Friday, February 11 before his burial service took place in Soroti in FEB 2022 • VOL 4 ISSUE 1
his home country of Uganda on February 15. A fuller obituary will be available on Port, but please do join with the whole of SIM in praying for Peter’s family and the Kenya team as they mourn his loss. Other obituaries which have
been recently added to Port include surgeon Louis Carter, who served in Nigeria, George Campion, Wilf Husband and Hugh Gordon. To access the obituary section on Port, just go to the home page and then click on the Cloud of Witnesses button.
CALLED
- DR PETER OKAALET 1952-2022
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OPPORTUNITIES FRANCE-BELGIUM
Country Director, People Care Coordinator SIM France-Belgium is searching mobiliser and who can build and for two key personnel. maintain partnerships across The Country Director role the world. requires someone who can work The People Care Coordinator closely with the board to set and role requires someone who can implement strategic vision, who walk with mission candidates is a gifted leader and mission through the whole process and
BENIN-TOGO
Personnel Coordinator, Treasurer, Project Coordinator Three key roles are vacant in this French-speaking entity. The personnel coordinator role is the most pressing, with an urgent need to fill this vacant position by the end of March, but the other roles are vital too. If you feel you could help, or could suggest someone who might be able to, please contact the country director Lee Phillips (Benintogo.director@sim.org) as soon as possible.
NIGER
Sahel Academy Director The Sahel Academy Director is needed by May 1 and will oversee the daily operations of the school, which seeks “to develop students through a holistic education of the highest quality while nurturing a Christ-like character.” The school is also seeking a business manager, an elementary school principal, a high school principal and an HR professional. Contact Personnel Coordinator Beka Rideout (beka.rideout@sim. org) for more details.
then support them as they serve. Both roles require bilingual French and English. For more information and job descriptions, please email Vincent Wastable (vincent.wastable@sim. org) in the France office.
THAILAND
Sports Friends Country Leader You would lead the Sports Friends ministry and team in Thailand, and help the Sports Friends SE Asia leadership in supporting ministry development in Laos. This role is performed in support of, and in full collaboration with, SIM Thailand’s country leadership, vision and strategy. Please contact Country Director Ryan Hannah (Thailand. director@sim.org) to find out more detailed information.
MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
ARE YOU SIGNED UP?
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The SIMprayKids monthly UK prayer email inspires kids to engage in missions. It features content produced by missionary kids around the world. Sign up at https://bit.ly/2LSn1GB. Visit the new Trauma Healing website for resources and updates: https://bit.ly/2IpnTkI.
Email connect@sim.org WWW.SIM.ORG
Students on the Ecuador MOCLAM programme take a class during the COVID-19 pandemic
HELPING CHRISTIANS SEE HOW THE ENTIRE BIBLE POINTS TO JESUS BY JOSH PARSLEY AND DIEGO HERRERA Bible points to Jesus and God’s redemptive plan. MOCLAM is an undergraduate training programme of Sydney, Australia’s Moore College but customised for different parts of the world. The focus of the course is to provide accessible theological education for more people. SIM Ecuador team member Diego Herrera explained, “MOCLAM has a Christocentric focus, meaning all the subjects have been developed to show how Jesus and his work lies at the centre of the biblical narrative. “This, I think, makes MOCLAM fitting for our context because, in
PLEASE PRAY • For the current participants to remain steadfast in the programme. • For God to provide more leaders to teach new groups. • For the Words of Hope leaders to have clarity in serving the local church well, because training opportunities abound. FEB 2022 • VOL 4 ISSUE 1
my judgment, this is what the Latin American church needs the most.” The first study group formed in September and will last a year, covering various classes. The goal is that men and women grasp a better understanding of the interconnectedness of the Bible and be equipped to share that story in places where Christ is not known. Another participant, Weston, said, “MOCLAM has encouraged me in multiple ways, such as showing me the need for biblical training in the church, starting with myself, and how vast and amazing God’s Word is. That makes me want to share it with others.” Because the first study group represents various local churches, several congregations in Loja are being impacted. As believers like Eunice and Weston grow in their knowledge, the Ecuador team trusts God will use this to extend the good news to more least-reached communities.
MOCLAM
Eunice is one of the few secondgeneration Christians in Loja, Ecuador, and a deaconess at her church, Mustard Seed. She always believed that the whole Bible pointed to Jesus, but she didn’t quite understand how, apart from a few verses in Isaiah. She confessed, “I really never understood what the Old Testament was about and how it connected with the New Testament.” Thanks to Moore College Latin America (MOCLAM), a new ministry initiative of SIM Ecuador’s Words of Hope ministry, she can now explain from cover to cover how the entire
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LEADER APPOINTMENTS North Africa Director Started January 1, 2022 The new director has been living in the Mediterranean, from where he has served as North Africa Acting Director, since 2012. He served as a church pastor for 10 years and then planted churches in Eritrea and Ethiopia before taking on his current role. God has blessed this work by expanding SIM’s presence to almost every country in North Africa. Chiu Eng Tan
SIM International Board of Governors Started January 1, 2022 Chiu was born in Cebu City, Central Philippines, a third-generation ethnic Chinese in the Philippines. She studied at the Biblical Seminary of the Philippines (BSOP), the only Chinese seminary in the country, and went on to become a pastor in Bethany Church, Cebu. She later joined the BSOP faculty, serving as Academic Dean from 1996 to 2019 before retiring in 2020. Dave MacDonald
LEader Appointments
Global Director of Operations Started February 1, 2022 Dave has been serving in this role since February, 2019. He has held many leadership roles, including on the board of SIM South Africa and as lead pastor of Table View Baptist Church, Cape Town. He has wide experience in farming, project management, building and carpentry. He is a former chair and president of the Baptist Union of Southern Africa and holds a diploma in theology from the Bible Institute of South Africa.
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NEWS Chadian Arabic Bible published in full The entire Chadian Arabic Bible was published for the first time in May 2021 (pictured right). Soon afterwards, 100 Bibles arrived for use in Dar Sila, Chad, where SIM's Faithful Witness team is serving. A second shipment of 100 arrived in October. One SIM mission worker said, "We are so excited to have the entire Bible in a language most people in Dar Sila understand." The translation, by Chadian churches in partnership with Wycliffe and WEC International,
events
Jonathan Finley
Faithful Witness Lead Started February 2022 Jonathan has a doctorate in Intercultural Studies and served in church planting and leadership development in the multi-ethnic Paris suburbs. He founded a mission agency which was integrated into SIM France in 2017. For the last 18 months, he has served as SIM USA’s Integration Coordinator. Michael Chay
Acting Singapore Director Started August 2021 Michael is positioned to strengthen our partnership with Singapore churches, theological institutions, other mission agencies and with mobilisation of new workers. Prior to joining SIM, he held key positions in business development and marketing. Michael has served as a lay pastor and Chairman of Elders’ Board of Bartley Christian Church.
| resources | updates
Videos for prospective mission teachers Megan Patterson, SIM’s ministry point person for transformational teaching, has produced nine great videos for Christian teachers. They show how teachers can reflect a Christian worldview and how they might bring pupils and colleagues to Christ. They can be used as discussion starters for took more than 20 years and was teachers or candidates in SIM supported by a wide range of other Arabic speakers. SIM workers helped and beyond. They are available on Port at in proof-reading and checking. Point Persons: Transformational Pray for the distribution of the Teaching: Videos. Bibles in eastern Chad. WWW.SIM.ORG
OUR BUSINESS PEOPLE FIND WAYS TO COPE WITH COVID-19 BY JOHN P, MINISTRY POINT PERSON FOR BUSINESS MINISTRIES
Adobe Stock picture, by Stokkete
and re-evaluate their ministry. One BAM business owner in Pacific Asia used the slowdown to develop a more intentional mission strategy for their business plan. A BAM business owner in South Asia used the reduced workload caused by the pandemic to improve the development of her staff. A BAM couple in the Middle East had been in business there for more than 20 years. They went back to their passport country to visit family and friends in early 2020. When Covid hit, they could not return for 16 months. During that time, their staff of approximately 10 local women ran every area of the business with exceptional results. This was the greatest testimony of God’s faithfulness to their business and the result of years of training and
PLEASE PRAY • That our Business as Mission workers would rely on God’s continued wisdom and discernment in decisions concerning business, family and ministry, especially during a time of limited resources. • For a sustained decrease in the virus so that countries will begin to open up and reach a level of normality. • For our Business as Mission workers to find favour in their communities and then lead many to Christ. FEB 2022 • VOL 4 ISSUE 1
discipleship that they had invested in these women. In Southeast Asia, our teams faced significant delays at the beginning of Covid lockdowns in being able to get products out of their countries because there were fewer flights and much tougher export controls. This impacted sales and the wages their local employees could receive. However, they have been greatly encouraged by the ability of local SIM workers to be able to continue to sell their products to women they meet and continue to build relationships with them. They even had opportunity to participate in the Christian wedding ceremony and baptism of two of their weavers who have come to faith since they began working with the Muslim women five years ago. Business is challenging even when things are good. When you compound the challenges of running a business cross-culturally with the uncertainty of a global pandemic, the view can be quite dismal. However, it has been very encouraging to see the faithfulness of our God combined with the resilience of our BAM workers.
Giants of Covid
COVID-19 forced nearly half of small businesses in the US to close temporarily in 2020. In India, 82% of small businesses suffered a negative impact on their business. A great majority of these business owners were indigenous, so how much more challenging was it for those who were operating small businesses outside their passport country? Such is the case for many of our missional business people. Some existing BAM (Business as Mission) enterprises have been impacted more than others. Tourism and hospitality have been hit the hardest by COVID-19. When it was clear the pandemic would be long-lasting, some of these businesses had to close, at least temporarily, or find alternative strategies to remain open. One person who had a tourism business was asked by a like-minded organisation if he could use his tourism vehicles to deliver food and essentials to hard-hit areas of his city. He gladly agreed! This volunteer work was noticed by some business organisations in the area and he was then asked if he and his vehicles could be hired to make deliveries to homes during the Covid lockdown. Although it was not as profitable as his tourism business, he was able to keep most of his employees working part-time and make enough money to avoid closing down. Other business owners have used the pandemic to reflect on
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UNLIKELY FRIENDS BRING NADEEM* TO CHRIST
FAITHFUL WITNESS
BY AMY BAREHAM CHAPMAN
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Nadeem* could have been justified in disliking – perhaps even hating – the Faithful Witness family. They were foreigners, Christians, and had been given a piece of Nadeem’s land without his consent. But in this West African region, where more than 90 per cent of people have not been reached with the gospel, God is doing something remarkable. His law of love and his gospel of peace are drawing the unreached into encounters with Faithful Witness teams. Yakouba* and wife Mariama* began visiting Nadeem’s rural village last year. They stayed in a guest house across from his home and were pleasantly surprised when their Muslim neighbour kept showing up and trying to befriend them. “I’d walk over to his house and sit down with him,” recalls Yakouba. “He was so open and warm, even giving us a pumpkin he’d grown for his family. I said to myself, ‘Wow, this man is so generous.’ The next time we visited the village, I brought things for him.” Yakouba helped Nadeem buy medication and food for the family. He could sense God’s anointing and continued to build the relationship. Nadeem confessed that, at first, he had been upset with Yakouba and Mariama, who had been working on a water installation in the area.
They had approached the villagers and asked for some land to build a property. As is customary in this region, the villagers offered up a piece of Nadeem’s land, but didn’t discuss their decision with him. When Nadeem learned his land had gone to the Christians who had brought safe, clean water to his people, his spirit softened. Yakouba says, “He was happy to let us use the land. We believe that is because Christ came into it.” Yakouba and Mariama had to leave the area for several months for the birth of their new baby, but were thrilled to find Nadeem eagerly awaiting their return. He immediately brought Yakouba to his farm and gave him some grain. “When I saw how happy he was, I felt God tell me to go to his house because he was so excited to receive us,” Yakouba says. The men talked for two hours and Nadeem revealed how he had lost one of his daughters to a mysterious illness. Yakouba asked Nadeem if he was prepared for his own death. Nadeem answered: “No, I don’t know where I’m going.” When Yakouba asked if he realised
there were answers to his questions about death, Nadeem replied, “Yes, and I believe you have the answers.” Yakouba shared the gospel and another of Nadeem’s daughters, who was serving them tea, nodded as she listened. “There and then Nadeem was ready,” says Yakouba. “I thought he’d need to think about it but no, he was ready to accept Christ. He spoke to his wife and prayed.” Yakouba noticed a protective charm hanging around Nadeem’s neck and told him it was time to burn it. The new brothers in Christ set the charm on fire and welcomed the protective power of the Holy Spirit. The next time Yakouba visited, they prayed together. Yakouba says, “[Nadeem] said I shouldn’t have any concern. He knows what he has done, and he is a Christian. He only needs us to pray for him to withstand persecution. Once his people know he’s a Christian, they’ll abandon him.” Mariama wants to speak with Nadeem’s daughter. If she accepts Christ, her mother may well do so, too. Nadeem is the second-known believer in his tribe. Let us rejoice at God’s perfect plan for his life. *Names changed
PLEASE PRAY • For Nadeem’s wife and daughter. Ask for the truth of the gospel to saturate their hearts and minds. • For protection and provision for Nadeem and his family. • For revival in those parts of West Africa where Christ is least known. WWW.SIM.ORG
