SIM Connect: 2021 Issue 3

For SIM workers, by SIM workers

AUG 2021 • VOL 3 ISSUE 3

Called North: Meet a Faithful Witness team leader in North Africa Bible institute helps government The impact of COVID on church and community Joy in the face of death

CONTENTS Global recruitment strategy ...................... 3 New Harvest Workers ........................... 4-5 Called North: Pastor Joe........................ 6-7 News ......................................................... 8 Leader appointments ................................ 9 God intervenes amid COVID.................... 10 Bible institute trains health workers....... 11

The impact of COVID on church & community........................................... 12 Ministry Point People.............................. 13 Q&A with an SIM leader: Luke Lundstedt........................................ 14 Opportunities to serve ............................ 15 Joy in the face of death............................ 16

“We thought sharing the gospel with the community amid COVID-19 would not be possible. But God gave us opportunities to witness.” p10

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The monthly newsletter from Engaging the University will keep 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.

For Freedom’s newsletter gives all the latest info on SIM ministries related to anti-trafficking.

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Visit the new Trauma Healing website for resources and updates: https://bit.ly/2IpnTkI. Do you have a ministry-focused newsletter you would like to share here?

© SIM International 2021.

Connect is an internal publication of SIM for the encouragement and information of its workers.

SIM International Director: Joshua Bogunjoko

SIM’s Sports Friends newsletter keeps you up to date on sports ministry in 15 countries. To subscribe, go to https://bit.ly/3oLvhXA. SIM Stories East Africa shares stories from a variety of ministries in East Africa. Sign up at https:// bit.ly/36O2ESq or email simstories.eastafrica@sim.org.

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Email connect@sim.org International Communications Director: Tim Allan Editor: Tabitha Plueddemann Crowley Design: Pilgrim Communications Email: connect@sim.org • Web: www.sim.org WWW.SIM.ORG

GLOBAL RECRUITMENT STRATEGY DRIVES DIVERSITY IN SIM

BY TIM ALLAN, INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR A passionate commitment to diversity is one of SIM’s defining characteristics.

We very often talk about our multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-skilled teams, working to share the gospel with people who have never heard of Jesus Christ.

One of our core values says we are strengthened through diversity. But sometimes that commitment is hard to put into practice.

I remember once being part of an SIM team on a stand at a big Christian conference in my country. Whenever people came up to talk to us, I made a big point of our diversity and our commitment to multi-cultural teams.

But when I turned and looked at the others working on the stand, I realised how far we had to go … we were all male, all over six feet tall, all white and all from the same culture.

It is often very difficult to recruit workers from diverse backgrounds. Many things play into anyone’s decision to apply for mission: Is this an organisation I could fit into? Do I have the right skillset for the role? Do I feel God is calling me?

Will there be sufficient funding for me? Will the hours fit with my family? For those reasons, and maybe more, we often find that most applicants come from a small handful of cultures.

That is one of the key reasons SIM International is pursuing a global recruitment strategy. We want workers on our team who come from different cultures, ethnic backgrounds and locations.

We want them to help us have a truly global perspective, which takes account of the huge diversity in our teams worldwide.

Another reason is cost, a factor which cannot be ignored and has played into this discussion for many years. Back in 2013, a review recommended decentralising our office staff, both to diversify the team and to reduce cost. In 2017, a mission-wide survey sought feedback about relocating the International office. The results indicated the need to disperse the International Leadership & Services team to many regions.

Our two latest International appointments, in finance and IT, are both Kenyans, working from Nairobi. Our International Leadership Team now has people from more than six countries.

It seems this is all in God’s perfect timing. We know there will be challenges when we work with people remotely and with people from different cultures and time zones.

But if the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it is that we can work in that way. We can make good use of Zoom and we can be flexible in the way we meet, in the times we meet and in how we keep teams functioning well.

Our journey towards greater diversity continues, and this is a significant step forward.

To find out about the global recruitment strategy, email International Personnel Director Helen Heron (international.personnel@sim.org).

LEARNING CAFÉS WITH DR. JOSHUA BOGUNJOKO

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your questions to International Communications Director Tim Allan.

The SIM family devotions are now held monthly on the third Wednesday. They are available on Vimeo and written versions are available on Port in English, French and Spanish. international.communication@ sim.org Vimeo: https://bit.ly/3gPXA3r

EDITORIAL

International Director Joshua Bogunjoko hosts a Question & Answer session open to everyone in SIM on the third Wednesday of every third month. The next one is in September.

The Q&As take place immediately after the global family devotion. Look for the Zoom invitation in your inbox!

Joshua welcomes questions on any aspect of SIM’s work; no subject is off limits. Please send

SIM Learning Cafés are 75-minute Zoom webinars available to everyone in SIM. Look for an invitation to upcoming cafés from international. workerdevelopment@sim.org.

• Aug: Nurturing Expectancy in Prayer with Marcia Strauss, Tohru Inoue, Donek Tesfaye • Sept: Catalyzing Mission Engagement with Andrea Wilson • Oct: Mentoring people in transition with Gillian Phillips & Ruth Maxwell Watch previous Learning Cafés on Port.

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NEW HARVEST WORKERS Church: North York Chinese Baptist Church, Toronto, Canada Where will you serve?

Potosi, Bolivia What will you be doing?

Teaching English, and supporting the medical clinic to open doors for the gospel.

Pray: That God would prepare hearts in Potosí to receive the word and bear fruit.

New harvest workers

Church: Aldinga Bay Baptist Church, Adelaide, Australia Where will you serve?

Abancay, Peru What will you be doing?

Working with youth in Abancay and the surrounding villages. Currently doing language school and cultural orientation in Cusco, Peru.

Pray: For good understanding of the language and culture, for the right place to live when we start the ministry.

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Michelle Chiu

Abigail Morton

Church: First Baptist Church, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Where will you serve?

Lubango, Angola What will you be doing?

Serving at the CEML Hospital Pray: For open borders to Angola and to be granted a tourist visa in good time.

Thomas and Joannah Crowe Church: The Exodus Pentecostal Assemblies, Nairobi, Kenya Where will you serve?

Nairobi, Kenya What will you be doing? International Computer Support Specialist, working in the International IT team.

Pray: For grace for my family to abide together in his love; for God’s continued guidance as I transition into my role; grace and wisdom to fully utilise my talent.

Shalvin Muchelule WWW.SIM.ORG

Helien and Mary Singsit

Church: Kuki Baptist Church, North East India What will you be doing?

Church planting in Thailand Pray: For support raising and for our three children.

Amanda

Alan and Fiona Murray Church: Evangelical Church Winning All, Mista Ali, Jos, Nigeria Where will you serve?

Kayes, Mali What will you be doing?

Evangelism, discipleship, community development Pray: For monthly supporters, for creative ways to share the gospel, for physical and psychological balance in preparing to leave to the field.

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New harvest workers

Church: Charlotte, USA Where will you serve?

Asia What will you be doing?

Empowering women to care well for themselves and their families.

Pray: For God to provide financial and prayer supporters; for God to sustain me daily through many transitions.

Church: Franklin Baptist Church, Auckland, New Zealand What will you be doing?

Working as technical manager and assistant to the director for the new online international school, 3H School (Head Heart and Hands).

Pray: For a smooth transition into the ministry

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CALLED NORTH: PASTOR JOE

BY TABITHA CROWLEY

CALLED NORTH

The move of believers from meeting secretly in homes to meeting openly began with a call from the police.

The voice on the phone said: “This is the police.”

Pastor Joe paused, dumbfounded.

The voice continued: “We know you are getting ready to baptise Ahmed this weekend.”

Joe’s mind raced. How could the police know this – the person’s name, the event, the time? Unable to deny it, he replied, “Yes.” Joe will never forget what the voice said next: “Then why don’t you do it in the empty church? We know you are meeting in homes weekly.”

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FROM NORTH AFRICA TO SEMINARY AND BACK Joe’s journey to North Africa began many years ago when he arrived there as a university student from sub-Saharan Africa. When he wasn’t studying accounting, he was active in a local church. Immersed in this context, he soon felt the Lord’s call to missions and told his pastor, “I feel I may leave to study theology and return long-term.” The pastor said he had known, but had wanted Joe to come to that conclusion through the Holy Spirit. He added, “Because I know this is from God, I will give you all the support I can. You find a school; I will try to find a scholarship.”

One Sunday, Joe told his pastor the name and the cost of an African

seminary he had found. The next day, the pastor emailed someone he knew. On Wednesday, the reply came: “We are glad to offer Joe a full scholarship for four years!”

The Lord had prepared his future wife, Esther, with a missionary call.

Near the end of Joe’s fourth year, the church in North Africa offered him a staff position. Together, the couple made this place their home.

In time, the church invited the couple to consider ministry in another North African city, where an empty church building had stood with no pastor for more than 40 years. Joe and Esther went to look and to pray. When they saw the church, Esther recognised it from a dream she’d had several years earlier. Confirming through prayer, the couple and their family relocated

to this city and began ministry to local believers meeting secretly in houses and to sub-Saharan Africans studying there on scholarship.

That is, until the unexpected call from the local police.

Taking courage, the believers began to meet publicly in the church, despite the insults that it drew. In the beginning, Joe sensed the presence of police in plain clothes in the street whenever the church held activities. Today, however, the police provide open protection, arriving in police vehicles and full uniform.

The police have instructed him: “You authorise everyone entering the church. You take care of security inside; we will take care of security outside.”

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PLEASE PRAY: • For five more francophone units from Sub-Saharan Africa to join the North Africa Faithful Witness team.

• For protection for all workers and local believers in this region.

• For many on campuses in North Africa from the majority religion to discover Jesus and have courage to follow him.

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A DREAM IS BORN Joe and his family have served for more than 20 years in North Africa, and the Lord continues to reveal his life’s calling. Joe explains, “If God has opened doors for us – sub-Saharan Africans serving in the Arab world – maybe others can come too. After all, it is clear that African workers are not as limited here as Westerners.”

God has taken Joe from studying accounting on scholarship in North Africa to pastoring and discipling new students to reach their North African colleagues. What he received from his pastor he has multiplied among many others. Through Joe’s “hand-in-hand” operation, he networks with seminaries and churches to receive young Christian men from sub-Saharan Africa to intern or study in universities.

Joe and Esther have never belonged to agency. Recently, the local church advised them to find a sending entity, so Joe and Esther have joined the SIM family.

The vision for SIM’s Faithful Witness matches the vision of “handin-hand” but scales it up. As leader of the North Africa Faithful Witness team, Joe’s vision is to see scores of francophone students on scholarship in North Africa to reach their colleagues. To do that, Joe envisions five more pastor-disciplers coming to help the growing team to train and disciple many more students.

Joe says, “Difficult does not mean impossible, especially with God. If God opens the door, who can close it?” northafrica.director@sim.org

CALLED NORTH

a boy aged 10. The children fled and FINDING JESUS joined a crowd walking to another Born into a nominally Christian country. Once there, they joined family, Joe was never confronted by the gospel. His dad died when he another group of refugees walking to a third country. Miraculously, was 15, and his mother struggled they arrived in the same camp as to provide. their elder brother, Joe, who had When Joe started boarding fled by another route after hearing school, rebelling against authority that his whole family was dead. and bad behaviour began to define Tragically, the children had his teen years. Whenever he saw his become slaves to a refugee family room-mate kneeling at the bottom who treated them cruelly in bunk, he would kick and insult him exchange for some protection. So as he climbed to the upper bunk. early one morning, when his siblings But his Christian room-mate would were at the river away from the say, “God bless you.” Much later Joe family, Joe took them and together learned he was fasting and praying they fled the camp.

They walked for Joe, and had asked his Christian until late that evening with no food friends to pray, too. and arrived at the border of their One day the room-mate invited home country.

Joe to a Bible study. Joe went and Joe was interrogated by military mocked everything. Yet he kept border guards for hours. Why was attending the services he entering instead of leaving his On January 7, 1990, at the age country?

But Joe could not prove his of 20, Joe’s life changed forever. identity or innocence.

Through a guest speaker at the Eventually they students’ service, sent into a Joe witnessed Joe’s vision is to see roomhim and asked if he someone who scores of francophone knew the man there. claimed and acted Joe said, “Yes, he as if God were students on is a well-known his friend. Joe scholarship in North businessman from could see on the Africa to reach their my town.” But the man’s face such businessman did joy, peace, and colleagues. not know Joe, and deep conviction all hope seemed that God was lost.

But when Joe said his father’s his personal friend. After the name, the man knew and confirmed service, Joe accepted Christ’s gift his identity! of salvation and became a friend of Further, the businessman gave God, too! Thirty years later, he still Joe and his siblings a lift to their feels the joy of that salvation. hometown.

They arrived at the home But it wasn’t long before his faith of their traumatised mother, who had was severely tested. assumed all her children were perished.

During his time as a refugee, CIVIL WAR people questioned Joe, “Are you A war broke out in Joe’s country, still believing in God? God did not and six of his siblings were killed in protect your family!”

Joe says, “The one day. If Joe hadn’t been away, he Holy Spirit helped me with this would have been murdered, too. simple idea: ‘Yes, people passed During the attack, his two away.

But you have not.” youngest siblings escaped, a girl and

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NEWS

events

| resources | updates

SIM UK: NEW ADDRESS

By Joanne Cornish

Tom Stout, SIM Ministry Point Person for Orality on far left, with trainees in oral Bible storytelling.

MISSION SENDING GROWS

NEWS

By Gene Brooks

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The Evangelical Church of Liberia (ECOL) hosted its second annual national missions conference from May 21-22, 2021, at the ECOL National Headquarters. The conference drew about 80 pastors, church leaders, missionaries, and local church people from across the country.

The conference focused on sharing the gospel among oral learners. Speakers included Rev. Tom Stout, SIM Ministry Point Person for Orality from California, Dr. Rick Calenberg, President of the Evangelical Seminary of West Africa, and Rev. Musa Sheriff, a former Muslim.

Plenary and breakout sessions included Bible storying for evangelism and disciple-making among oral cultures and the importance of the Great Commission.

Musa Sheriff’s rousing presentations compared the person and work of Jesus in both the Qur’an and the Bible. He also gave an astounding testimony of his journey from preparation in a madrassa to be an imam to a believer in Jesus Christ with a passion for those who are seeking God within Islam.

ECOL General Overseer Rev. Moses G. Paye says, “We began our national mission conference in 2019 to raise awareness of the importance of the Great Commission among our 115 churches. We want our churches to understand the importance of supporting missions cross-culturally within our own country as well as outside our own borders.”

ECOL has seven church planting missionaries deployed cross-culturally across Liberia and beyond.

Following the conference, Tom Stout spent a week training ECOL missionaries and ELWA Radio’s tribal language broadcasters in oral Bible storying.

Then the missionaries visited villages in a day-long practicum in Bible storying evangelism.

ECOL has seen growth in response to the mission conferences. Proceeds of the offerings help fund the monthly stipend for ECOL’s missionaries. Each missionary has planted multiple churches and started primary schools where none existed in villages within and beyond Liberia. In the last two years, ECOL has planted five churches in Sierra Leone.

It’s been a busy year for the UK office.

At the end of 2019, we relocated our headquarters, leaving behind more than 20 years of ministry from Wetheringsett Manor.

With a focus on church-centred mission, we set up ‘home’ in Cambridge, enabling us to connect with local churches for fortnightly prayer meetings in our new workplace and regularly engaging with them face-to-face (until COVID-19 struck).

Our vibrant new-look website (visit sim.co.uk) is an invaluable resource to help equip our workers with a missional focus. It provides Bible studies and prayer resources for adults; fun activities for children; stories from the field and advice on setting up international cafes; supporting overseas workers and discipling into mission.

SIM International UK 640 Newmarket Road, Cambridge, CB5 8RS 01449 766464

Cloud of Witnesses is SIM’s annual newsletter which lists SIM workers who have gone ahead of us to glory.

The latest edition was emailed to all email addresses on December 30, 2020.

During the year, obituaries will appear on Port monthly so that our family will know in a timely way who has passed away. Please look for a button called “Cloud of Witnesses” on the home page of Port.

In the past three months, the following obituaries have been received: • Ed Klotz from the US; served in Nigeria, Liberia and Eritrea • Jack Edward Phillips from Canada; served as Canada Director • Rosie Roth from the US; served in Nigeria • Kathy Frost from the UK, served in Nigeria and Canada • Roy Wallace from Canada; served in Ethiopia.

Please email obituaries to: international.communication@sim.org

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LEADER APPOINTMENTS Suk Jin Gim

Victor Fredlund

Interim Director for Botswana, Mauritius and Madagascar Start date: Jun 1, 2021 Victor and wife Rachel have served 40 years in South Africa in healthcare, church planting, community development, and child and youth work. They work in Mseleni Hospital and with the Africa Evangelical Church. Victor has served many years on leadership councils.

Nepal Director Start date: Oct 1, 2021 From South Korea, “Su” and husband Yang and children serve in Nepal. Su’s experience includes serving Hindu migrant workers in Korea, working in India, and moving to Nepal in 2012. Su holds a doctorate in intercultural education.

Hyon Kim

Global Director for People Development Start date: Jun 1, 2021 Hyon was born in South Korea and raised in Canada.

Hyon and husband Peter have made many trips to Galmi Hospital, Niger, since 1999. Hyon worked as a physician in Toronto and has served on the Executive Team since 2018.

Chris Crowder

George

Re-appointed as Regional Director for Middle East and North Africa (MENA) George has led MENA and South Central Asia since 2016. He also oversaw the regions of South and Central America and South Asia for three years. Previously, he was chief financial officer for SIM USA. George lead Sudan and South Sudan as interim director for one year.

Global Director for Regional Development Start date: Sept 1, 2021 Chris and wife Beverly joined SIM Sudan in 2005, and Chris directed the team for nine years. In 2017, he became Chad director, and from 2018 to 2020, served as East and Central Africa regional director.

He holds a Masters in Organisational Leadership.

John McIvor

New Zealand Director Rob has served as country director for New Zealand since 2016. He has ministered as pastor and mission worker for 22 years. Rob has a Masters in Transformational Leadership. He longs to see greater cooperation between mission agencies and churches.

Bangladesh Director Start date: Oct 15, 2021 John McIvor and wife Fiona served on a church-planting team in Faridpur, Bangladesh, from 2012 to 2018.

He also directed SIM’s Arsenic Mitigation programme. John joined SIM in 2007 and met Fiona, an Australian with SIM. John holds a Masters in Divinity.

Eric Waechter

Interim Director for France–Belgium Start date: Aug 2, 2021 Eric served as general secretary, then president, of the Evangelical Federation of France (FEF) from 2011 to 2020. He is currently the human resource manager for the Evangelical Alliance of CAEF, a union of churches, where he oversaw mission from 2011 to 2019.

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LEADER APPOINTMENTS

Rob Reynolds

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GOD INTERVENES AMID COVID

BY NIKALI, PHILIPPINES

GOD INTERVENES AMID COVID

When the pandemic hit and extensive lockdowns were announced, our foremost question was “What will happen to the ministry?” As I grappled with confused emotions, God intervened in a powerful way. I was amazed how God pulled all things together perfectly and enabled our lives and ministry to move forward in manners beyond our comprehension.

We were worried the people we serves would suffer due to the economic problems caused by the pandemic. But God sent different organisations, churches, groups and individuals to provide our communities with weekly essential relief like food and hygiene kits.

We thought sharing the gospel with the community amid COVID-19 would not be possible. But God gave us opportunities to witness and share his love as we handed out relief to those who gathered outside our apartment. Amidst the curfew and restrictions, we were able to engage them at a personal level by hearing their stories and sharing the message of hope. Spiritual

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Workers distribute weekly essential relief. hunger in the women disciples spurred them to meet weekly for Bible study, despite the lockdown.

To help the couple discipling these women, God provided a car to travel and meet many physically.

The Lord enabled us to run discipleship sessions for kids every fortnight, too.

Through the provision of stable wifi and laptops, we advanced our outreach to the urban poor communities. Leveraging on technology, we had fellowship and spiritual conversations with the weavers. Consequently, we were able to continue with our ministries while staying engaged with the community and team members. This

helped the team to bond and build closer relationships through weekly pray and trainings.

One major lesson we have learned is to use every resource wisely and innovatively, including gadgets, scholarships, Internet, reliefs, crafts, car, printer, house space, etc. When God empowers, no resource is too small for his use.

We also learned the value of reaching one person at a time. As much as we have been investing in groups, investing one-to-one is crucial. Above all, being rooted and fully dependent on the Lord allows God to work powerfully and supernaturally through us individually and as a team.

DO INTERRUPTIONS MEAN THE END OF MINISTRY?

BY KHRIEKO AND NITHO, THAILAND During these challenging But later when we managed COVID-19 times, we have to reorganise it we had two experienced God’s wonderful candidates for baptism, because hand upon our ministry. Though another person had come to know most of the outreach programmes the Lord. have been cancelled, God Although the church has moved the churches building was closed, many to go into the were still able to worship communities to the Lord together meet the needs through online of the people. services. However, This has resulted not everyone in in building the rural areas has phones or internet. relationships.

Baptism of a new On one occasion, God opened doors for believer in Thailand. we had to cancel people who live close by to gather to worship him, a baptism service.

study the scripture and pray together in groups of two or three. What a joy to see new believers showing more desire to study God’s word and pray!

God also brought reconciliation among church leaders and enabled them to start monthly prayer fellowships in new places. In Chaiya-phum province, church leaders are praying together revery night through online apps.

We praise God for not only his peace, joy, and blessed hope amidst the pandemic but also for providing creative opportunities to serve him. Praise be our God of Mission!

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BIBLE INSTITUTE TRAINS HEALTH WORKERS DURING PANDEMIC

BY TABITHA CROWLEY

WHAT IS INTEL? INTEL is the only Bible school in Lichinga, the capital of Mozambique’s largest province. Its two-year Bible certificate includes trade or agricultural training, equipping pastors and lay leaders

Newly trained community health workers run a four-day campaign in Lichinga, Mozambique. to support their families. While the church is growing, discipleship is lagging, and Bible understanding is low. INTEL’s vision is to see local pastors and lay leaders being and making disciples and reaching the nearby Muslim people groups.

INTEL opened in November 2018. Among the 100 guests were pastors, mission leaders, government officials, and the head of the peace commission of Lichinga, an imam. He came in Muslim dress and asked to speak. The schedule was rearranged, though no one knew what he would say. When he spoke, he quoted the Bible and praised the school.

CLASSES BEGIN INTEL opened for classes in early 2019 with 21 students, including six women. Tim George, SIM Mozambique director, says, “We see God working in the students’ hearts at to bring out buried things. This is a challenge as they seek counsel on issues we have never dealt with.”

The vision for reaching out to the Muslim villages flows into all

PLEASE PRAY  For God’s Spirit to work and for lasting fruit among the students.  For continued low cases of COVID in Mozambique.  For teaching staff to provide theological classes and mentorship; for technical trainers to provide skills such as carpentry, etc. (See Synergie for detailed descriptions of skills needed.)

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courses, and students now share about conversations with their Muslim neighbours. They also report forming Bible study groups to pass on what they have learned.

With a new year group of 21 students, almost 50 people now attend the school daily. They come from more than10 denominations, which challenges the students to respect and learn about other churches.

The believing son of an imam is now studying at INTEL, while three pastors in ministry for more than 20 years are enjoying their first opportunity to study God’s Word.

INTEL’s first 18 graduates left the school in December 2020.

THE YAO The largest people group in the province, the Yao, are mostly Muslim but some now follow Jesus. In 2019, Youth with a Mission invited all Yao believers to a conference and almost 1,000 people came!

INTEL welcomed its first Yao leaders in 2020. Tim says, “We are honoured to be entrusted with training and teaching the leaders for this first generation of Yao believers. We look forward to seeing the fruit in the years ahead.” tim.george@sim.org

Bible institute trains health workers

The Theological Institute of Lichinga (INTEL) had been open less than two years when COVID19 hit in early 2020 and the Mozambique government closed all schools.

While students received written distance learning material, INTEL’s leadership team discussed how to help prepare for the pandemic. They came up with four key ways and offered the school to the Ministry of Health, pivoting to train community health workers.

First, SIM printed materials explaining the basics of COVID and prevention, such as distancing, mask wearing and hand washing.

Second, Brazilian worker Ludimila Yoshimura trained local women to sew masks, which were sold or distributed to churches and the hospital.

Third, a team of Mozambican doctors, German nurse Heide Zwirner, and a British doctor trained about 40 Mozambicans, including INTEL students. Their community health campaign on COVID and safe practices, ran throughout the Lichinga area.

Fourth, INTEL’s building became a distribution centre for information and supplies.

INTEL re-opened in August after restrictions loosened.

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The Impact of COVID

THE IMPACT OF COVID ON CHURCH AND COMMUNITY

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It might be easy for us to feel overwhelmed by the giants COVID-19 has revealed. But if we reflect for a moment, we will also see great opportunities revealed – opportunities for God’s people to live out Christ’s love, compassion and hope in communities.

The myriad health, social, emotional, spiritual, and economic giants that have emerged from this global crisis have forced the church to ask critical questions, such as “Why is this happening?” and “Where is God in this situation?”

These quickly evolve into “How been trained. Participants are, in should we respond?” and “What turn, training their congregations is God calling us to do and be?” In and communities and mobilising wrestling with these questions, we practical, local responses. These have seen unexpected doors open include home visits and care for the for the church. vulnerable, community awareness In the early stages of the and education, mental health pandemic, a group of SIM’s support, and pastors addressing Ministry Point People was COVID myths and fears in their concerned about the potential preaching and teaching. for COVID case numbers to “I’ve been really equipped and overwhelm hospitals and health resourced to go out there and minister facilities, especially in areas with in this time. This has provided the limited capacity. So, the question opportunity for us arose: How to reach out to the could we equip The church should be lost and others in a and mobilise encouraged to look different way.” the local church Training participant, for ways to overcome. to provide Zimbabwe complementary Just as Goliath had care in “My wife and I have vulnerabilities, so too communities? both learned a lot from does each giant.

An answer this programme. We was SIM’s have learned that it is COVID Equip initiative, a an opportunity to gain our neighbour video-based church training for Jesus. … After this programme I programme designed to prepare am counselling them to be safe and the local church for a gospeldoing my ministry more powerfully.” based community response to the Training participant, South Asia physical, emotional, and spiritual (After the training) “The church impacts of COVID-19. created awareness in its members Since its launch in July 2020, on containment measures; they teams in Kenya, Zimbabwe, also partnered with the local and South Asia have led the authorities to sensitise the public on implementation of COVID Equip.

COVID-19. With a number of their These teams report that more than 400 pastors and church leaders have members being infected, [the parish]

offered spiritual care and members appreciated the presence of the church in their difficult moments.”

Training participant, Kenya Lockdowns and social distancing measures have forced churches to ask, “What do worship and ministry look like when physical interaction is not permitted? How do we keep people connected with God, with us and with each other?” Use of online platforms has been key and, more than just providing ways to connect, this has opened doors into places where there had not been an opportunity to minister.

For example, the move to online training enabled Trauma Healing to access new and places in the Middle East and beyond.

As we continue to stare down the giants that COVID has revealed and wrestle with the questions this pandemic elicits, the church should be encouraged to look for ways to overcome. Just as Goliath had vulnerabilities, so too does each giant. Just as the Spirit empowered David to direct his stone at Goliath’s weak spot, the church can look to the Spirit to reveal the opportunities to topple the giants before us!

For more information on SIM’s COVID Equip initiative, contact international.covidequip@sim.org.

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WHO ARE SIM’S MINISTRY POINT PEOPLE?

SIM’s Ministry Point People want to help all SIM entities and ministries engage better with the specific areas they cover. If you need help in any of these areas please do reach out to them.

NEXT GENERATION

Sports Friends

Youth

Engaging the University

General Education

Tripp Johnson Cynthia Sundman Jason Brink Megan Patterson

Nancy Writebol conducts a retooling workshop in Liberia.

CHURCH & COMMUNITY

Orality: Tom Stout international.orality@sim.org

Media:

Lee Sonius

Arts in Mission: Pete McCarthy Intl.Arts@sim.org

Health Ministries: Kendrick Lau International.Health-Ministries@sim.org

Hope for Life: Jacqui Croxon International.HopeForLife@sim.org

Fulani: Jon Banke intl.fulani-rmc@sim.org

Buddhism:

Ernest Chung

Translation & Literacy:

Pierre Barassounon

Theological & Missiological Education:

Tim Jacobson

Literature:

Tim Welch

Africa Strategic Disciple Making:

Ernie Frey

Trauma Healing: Nancy Writebol intl.TraumaHealing@sim.org

For Freedom:

Sarah Scott-Webb, Karine Woldhuis Intl.ForFreedom@sim.org

Business Ministries: JP Gradone Intl.Bizmin@sim.org Developing a global team for these four areas: • Professionals in business • Business as mission • Business for sustainable church planting • Micro-enterprise

NOTE: All of the MPPs use their SIM emails; you can also use the generic emails where they are given.

Ministry Point People

POINT PERSON VACANCIES Four Ministry Point Person roles remain vacant and need to be filled by individuals who are passionate for and experienced in the focus areas. Vacancies include MPPs for Diaspora, Muslim, Hindu and Youth.

SIM Media MPP Lee Sonius is seeking someone to focus on the vast area of outreach through social media.

SIM Trauma Healing MPP Nancy Writebol seeks an assistant to help facilitate the development of Trauma Healing related ministries. Skills needed include communication, organisation, research and administration. See Synergie for complete description.

If you know of anyone interested in any of these roles or if you would like more information, please email Global Director for Ministry Outreach Emma Brewster: Global.DirectorMinistryOutreach@sim.org.

AUG 2021 • VOL 3 ISSUE 3

Contributors to this article include Jacqui Croxon, HIV Ministry Point Person, Hope for Life & COVID Equip Working Group; Karine Woldhuis, For Freedom Ministry Point Person; Nancy Writebol, Trauma Healing Ministry Point Person; Tim Jacobson, Theological Education Ministry Point Person & COVID Equip Working Group; Dr Bob Carter, Health Ministries Team & COVID Equip Working Group.

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Q&A WITH AN SIM LEADER: LUKE LUNDSTEDT REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA

Q&A with an SIM EDITORIAL leader

Tell us a little about your background.

I grew up in a Christian family. When I was two years old, my family served with SIM in Ghana, planting churches in the rural north. Some of my earliest memories are of playing in dry riverbeds and riding on the back of my dad’s motorcycle to visit villages. I remember doing homeschool, attending a local village school, and eventually going to boarding school in Côte d’Ivoire.

After serving in Ghana for seven years and in Kenya for four years, my family transitioned back to the US. During the initial years there, I developed a deep relationship with Jesus and decided to serve him with my life. After high school, I studied child psychology at the University of Minnesota.

Soon after, I moved to Lima, Peru, to work with Food for the Hungry.

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Tell us a little about your family.

My wife Priscilla is from Sydney, Australia. We have two beautiful children: Eliya was born in Sydney, and is in second grade.

Gabriel was born in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, and is in kindergarten. We worked with SIM in Bolivia for eight years and have now been serving in Chile for the last three years.

How did God lead you to SIM? I was recruited back into SIM by my wife. Priscilla initially joined SIM as a single, short-term missionary to Peru. She had just returned to Peru as a long-term worker when we first met. After getting married in Lima, I rejoined SIM and we moved to Bolivia to work in university student ministry.

What key things do you hope to achieve in your role with SIM? Throughout my life God has brought me key people who challenged me to grow in my relationship with God and develop the gifts and abilities he has given me. What drew me to SIM was the opportunity to be part of that same discipleship process in others.

I am also passionate about seeing teams and

organisations use their abilities and resources to make disciples effectively. I have no illusions about achieving something of my own in SIM; rather, my hope is to help others develop their God-given potential and to see SIM fulfill its mission.

What inspires you when life gets difficult?

I know that it is in the difficult times when I grow the most. I’m learning to look for how God is trying to grow me when my path takes me through low valleys.

My family is also a huge source of encouragement for me. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:2-3).

What do you do when you’re not working?

We do lots of things together as a family. We have been in and out of quarantine, so our options have been limited. We like to play games, cook, laugh, go for walks and ride bikes.

Before the pandemic, we did a lot more hiking and travelling. I also enjoy woodworking.

What is your favourite Bible verse?

There are many; however, one particular favourite is Psalms 4:8: “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, oh Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

What piece of technology could you do without/ never do without?

I like to keep technology at arm’s length. I would have a hard time going without my laptop.

However, one of my favourite features is that it can be turned off, closed down and put away. As such, there is nothing attractive to me about a smartwatch that stays with you all day, every day.

No thanks, I’ll pass.

How can we pray for you?

Pray that as a family we will thrive in life and ministry, even amid frequent quarantines, border closures, and hybrid or virtual schooling for the children.

WWW.SIM.ORG

OPPORTUNITIES KENYA

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NT GE R U

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER Ensure the smooth, efficient and sustainable management of all operations of the country office and compounds.

PERSONNEL COORDINATOR Provide administrative coordination of placements and matters concerning the well-being of workers.

This position is for a two-year period, starting January 2022. The current personnel coordinator will have other responsibilities but will be available for consultation.

See Synergie for more information or email Martha Muhindo.

Kenya.personnel@sim.org

NIGER GALMI HOSPITAL DIRECTOR Guide a large, multi-cultural team, which is demonstrating God’s love through physical and spiritual healing.

GALMI HOSPITAL FINANCE DIRECTOR Develop a hospital budget, provide oversight of finances and help to train the local team.

PERSONNEL COORDINATOR AND TREASURER A personnel coordinator and a treasurer are needed to fill in during home assignments. Personnel coordinator needed from mid-2022 to mid-2023. niger.personnel@sim.org

COUNTRY DIRECTOR Seeking a new director to take on the role as soon as possible. Preferably a French speaker who can live in Chad and support our workers who are seconded to partners. Lead and develop the team; proactively maintain healthy relationships with partner organisation leaders. rd.eastcentralafrica@sim.org

NAMIBIA

COUNTRY DIRECTOR Seeking a mature Christian with a missional vision, leadership and administrative skills and pastoral gifts.

The Namibia team is just 10 people, but there is great DO YOU HAVE AN URGENT OR STRATEGIC MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

AUG 2021 • VOL 3 ISSUE 3

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Seeking an executive assistant; the position is parttime, 20 hours weekly. Interested candidates should email their resumé. international.services-appointments@sim.org REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATORS Provide stories from workers in each of SIM’s ten regions to SIM websites, social media and magazines. Must be based in the region covered, have good internet access and reasonable access to travel within the region. Full support raising required.

INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS EDITOR: Oversee internal communications for SIM International, including the content management and editing of Port, and Connect. Strong written and organisational skills required. international.commsdirector@sim.org REGIONAL SECURITY CONSULTANTS The International Security Team is recruiting Regional Security Consultants. The most urgent needs are for Europe and Africa, but applicants from any region are welcome. A background in security, safety or risk management is ideal, but not required. Strong interpersonal skills, cross-cultural training experience and the ability to thrive as a consultant are necessary.

Contact Nate Killoren. intl.security@sim.org

AFRICA MOBILISATION

Seeking volunteers who love to edit and proofread, or who enjoy administrative and organisational tasks. A few hours per week or month is welcome.

Can serve from any location. Also seeking managing editors for both the English and French mobilisation magazines - www.afrigo.org. afrigo.admin@sim.org

opportunity for growth! Seeking someone internally who is familiar with the ethos and workings of SIM. Please pray with us. julie.mbaisa@sim.org

EMAIL CONNECT@SIM.ORG TO INCLUDE IN NEXT ISSUE.

MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES

CHAD

INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP & SERVICES

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JOY IN THE FACE OF DEATH

BY WALTER ERIC

panicked; I experienced the peace of Jesus who impressed on me: “Today is the most meaningful day in the Christian calendar. Perhaps it is the best date to go home and be with my Saviour.”

Aware of my sin, I remembered the Easter 2021 will stay in our memory words of the repentant criminal next to for good. My wife, Christel, and I Jesus: “Lord, remember me.” My heart picked up COVID-19. While I enjoyed filled with intense joy and responded time at home resting and reading, with great assurance! “Praise Jesus, I my wife fought for life at Aga Khan am right at his side and can hear his Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. words: ‘Today you will be with me.’ I Our oldest don’t need to worry.”

My heart filled with daughter, who has After seven intense joy and experience with hours of waiting, responded with great doctors, hospitals, praying and and insurance assurance! “Praise Jesus, negotiating, I was companies, admitted to the I am right at his side.” immediately same ward where took over crisis management, and my wife was fighting for breath. To together with our other children, assure me of his love, our good Lord greatly encouraged us, gave advice, gave me a beautiful window bed prayed and informed friends near Christel. I spent 10 days there; across the globe. Without their she spent 23. loving, sacrificial, round-the-clock I had packed a new notebook, commitment, we would have been at which became my “Corona Diary” a great loss what to do. and helps me not to forget all his On the eve of Good Friday, my goodness. Here are excerpts: conditions deteriorated rapidly. My • The ward had recently received breathing worsened, and at 5am I special “high flow” machines, phoned our friend, Dr. Umar, and said: which added much needed oxygen.

“I am suffocating.” He immediately • Our doctor friend was supported advised to get an ambulance. by one of the best specialists in Descending one flight of stairs lung diseases. from our apartment was agonising • Unlike my people-oriented wife, and left me exhausted. But I never I am usually a coward about

JOY IN THE FACE OF DEATH

SIM worker Walter serves with Life Challenge Africa in Kenya, which seeks to show Christ’s love to Muslim neighbours. He recounts his experience as a COVID-19 patient and the grace God provided him during suffering.

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Please mark your calendars for Feb 26 to Mar 3, 2023, Sunday evening to Friday evening for Global Assembly 2023. We will continue to monitor the global pandemic. At this time, we are prayerfully moving forward with our plans.

Martha Muhindo GA2023 Planning Team Coordinator, Nairobi, Kenya

speaking to strangers, but God gave me easy access to sufferers in nearby beds, people from diverse backgrounds whom I talked to freely about the Bible and Jesus!

• In spite of extreme demands and the risk of infection, the nurses showed extraordinary love, efficient service and fearless commitment. Most were Christians; our two doctors were Muslim. Our sovereign Lord brings together amazing teams to accomplish his grace!

We are deeply grateful to the many who prayed. Perhaps most people prayed we would get well quickly. But I believe these weeks of hospitalisation were a special gift of our loving Lord, watching over us, speaking to us, making us aware of areas in our life we would never have discovered.

Learn more about Life Challenge Africa Walter’s work with Life Challenge Africa equips Christian leaders in Africa with resources and support to develop relationships and connections with Muslim neighbours. Learn more at https://life-challenge.org/.

PLEASE PRAY: • For full recovery for Walter and Christel.

• For the Lord to minister to all those suffering from COVID. • For more opportunities to engage neighbours with the good news of Jesus.

WWW.SIM.ORG