For SIM workers, by SIM workers
JULY 2019 • VOL 1 ISSUE 1
New Harvest Workers My journey as an MK mum Business blesses ‘closed’ communities in South Asia
CONTENTS Introduction ...........................................................2-3 New harvest workers .......................................4-5 Q&A with an SIM leader ...................................6 Business blesses ‘closed’ communities ..........7 My journey as an MK mum .............................8 Are you signed up?
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News .............................................................................. 10 Leader appointments ........................................ 11 Faithful Witness ................................................... 12 Called: Thaddeus and Lucy Gichana .......... 13 SIM’s forgotten pioneers ................................ 14 Ministry opportunities..................................... 15
CONTENTS
Rebuilding after Cyclone Idai ......................... 16
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© SIM International 2019. Connect is an internal publication of SIM International for the encouragement and information of SIM workers. SIM International Director: Joshua Bogunjoko International Communications Director: Tim Allan Editor: Tabitha Plueddemann Design: Pilgrim Communications Email: connect@sim.org Web: www.sim.org Cover: Thaddeus Gichana (centre, front row) with the teens' Sunday school class from Christ's Co-workers' Fellowship in Nairobi.
WELCOME I very much hope Connect will enable all of us who work in SIM to do just that – connect! Connect with each other, connect with the global hubs of the organisation and connect with what God is doing through SIM. Connect replaces the much-loved Intercom, which served SIM so well for many years. I want to say a special thank you to Dotsie Corwin, who edited Intercom faithfully for 25 years, and is now enjoying a well-deserved retirement. As we have developed a new purpose, mission and vision for SIM and brought in a new leadership structure, and in consultation with SIM comms people around the world, we thought it was a good time to re-launch our internal magazine. The target audience for Connect is anyone who serves with us or who works with us – indeed, anyone who might call themselves an SIM worker. Our intention is to communicate the central vision, mission and purpose of SIM in a way that can be easily understood. We want to capture both the great need for the gospel worldwide and the great excitement we have in sharing that gospel with people who have never heard it. The articles will generally be short, written in accessible English, French, Spanish or any other language (and translated to other appropriate languages) and will communicate all God is doing through SIM. There will be lots of news from around the SIM world, profiles of new mission workers, details of key ministry
TO CONNECT
Joshua Bogunjoko SIM International Director
INTERCOM, THE PUBLICATION THAT CAME BEFORE CONNECT, WAS FIRST PUBLISHED MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO, IN JANUARY 1968.
INTRODUCTION
opportunities, useful resources and some great SIM stories. We want to make everyone who is part of SIM feel they are part of SIM. We want to connect you with other ministries, other people and other cultures and connect them with you, while emphasising that we are all united in our desire to make Christ known. In a mission of our size and history, there are so many faithful servants entering the presence of Jesus before us. We have decided to produce a separate, annual newsletter called Cloud of Witnesses. It will include all the obituaries we receive within the year, and will be sent to all SIM email addresses. Even though we are 126 years old, we want Connect to show we are a vibrant, healthy gospel community with the passion and commitment to continue for the next 126 years. Please let us know what you think of the new Connect and do let us have your suggestions for changes. You can email the editor, Tabitha Plueddemann (connect@sim.org) with any feedback. In the meantime, I very much hope you enjoy reading the first issue of Connect.
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NEW HARVEST WORKERS Irene Westendorp Church: Reformed Church in Nijkerk, The Netherlands Where will you be serving? Lubango, Angola What will you be doing? Working with fistula patients in both prevention and rehabilitation. Pray: That I will rely on God as I prepare and that he will bring people into my life willing to pray for and support me. Church: ECWA Seminary Church in Jos, Nigeria
Church: Centro Cristiano Peniel (Iglesias Evangelicas del Caribe) in Ayapel-Cordoba, Colombia
Stephen Nitte La’abes
Where will you serve? Galmi Hospital, Niger
Where will you serve? Bamako, Mali
What will you be doing? Medical laboratory technician
What will you be doing? Studying French, so that I can serve long term in Niger
New harvest workers
Pray: As I raise support, looking above and within for the Lord to supply all the needs for me to serve in Galmi.
Church: Centre Street Church in Calgary, Canada Where will you serve? Cochabamba, Bolivia What will you be doing? Outreach ministry of the local church
Rachel Stewart
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Pray: That the Lord sustain and encourage me in learning the language and the new culture, and help me to remain confident in his care and provision.
Pray: For God to strengthen me each day, to help me learn Spanish, and to fill me with his peace and wisdom. Pray for the healing hand of Jesus on many people in Punto de Gracia with health issues.
Yurani Suarez
WWW.SIM.ORG
Church: Evangelical Baptist Convention, Churachandpur, India & Bartley Christian Church, Singapore Where will you serve? Guwahaty, India What will you be doing? Consultants for mobilisation and training Pray: For us as we settle into our new ministry.
Thang and Ching Ngaihte From: Melbourne, Australia Where will you serve? South Asia What will you be doing? Empowering students to disciple others Pray: for peace as I transition to life in a different country and for patience as I begin language learning.
From: Perth, Australia Where will you serve? Continental Asia What will you be doing? Working with abandoned children and with families to prevent this. Pray: for Larry as he finishes Bible college before we leave for the field. Praise God for the safe delivery of our second son.
Larry and Sally (name changed for security)
JULY 2019 • VOL 1 ISSUE 1
New harvest workers
Lisa
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MEET DAVID MacDONALD SIM GLOBAL DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS ANSWERS KEY QUESTIONS Tell us a little about your background? I grew up in Eswatini (Swaziland) where my parents were missionaries with Trans World Radio. I studied theology at the Bible Institute of South Africa and at the Baptist Theological Seminary. I also studied agriculture, specialising in commercial farm management and operations. I worked in agriculture, then started a business before God led us into 23 years of pastoral ministry. I recently completed 11 years as senior pastor at Table View Baptist Church, Cape Town. We launched various ministries including a home-based care HIV and AIDS project.
Q&A with an SIM leader
Tell us a little about your family? I am married to my best friend, Anne. The Lord has blessed us with three children. Matthew, our eldest, lives in Cape Town with his wife, Jayd. They both work at a local school in IT and administration. Joshua, our middle child, worked for a large company before the Lord challenged him to equip himself for ministry. He stepped out in faith and is studying theology, majoring in youth ministry, at Davis College in the USA. Bethany is studying psychology in South Africa and works as an au pair.
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How did God lead you and Anne into SIM? We were encouraged to consider joining SIM by Ruth Crail of SIM South Africa in 1996, but God closed that door and opened a different one in a remote region of our own country. We later returned to Cape Town to pastor a church, and Ruth invited us to sit on the SIM SA personnel committee. Later I served for seven years on the SIM SA board. We felt God was bringing our chapter of pastoral ministry to a close, and I had finished four years with the executive team of the Western Province Baptist Association. We also felt God challenging me that my role on the SIM SA board was about to change. As we prayed about this, we were approached by SIM International about
the Global Director of Operations role. When Joshua Bogunjoko invited me to take up this responsibility, we knew that to say ‘no’ would have been disobedient to God’s call.
When Joshua Bogunjoko invited me to take up this responsibility, we knew that to say ‘no’ would have been disobedient to God’s call.
What key things do you hope to achieve in your time with SIM? My desire is to see SIM as an organisation being good stewards of all the resources God has entrusted to us. As I develop this new role, I will work with the Operations Team to ensure we provide high quality, efficient, cost-effective and relevant services. Our prayer is that God, by his grace, would enable SIM workers and ministries to thrive, as we take the good news to least-reached communities. What inspires you when life gets difficult? The knowledge that God has saved and called me (Jeremiah 1:5; John 15:16), the knowledge that God knows my frailty (Psalm 103:14), and the knowledge and assurance that He will never leave or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5-6). What do you do when you’re not working? I enjoy sailing, cycling and anything outdoors. I enjoy photography and music. I play several instruments and relax with the piano and the cello. What is your favourite Bible verse? Proverbs 3:5-6 ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.’ My father shared this with me when I was a young teenager, and it has fashioned my spiritual journey. What piece of technology could you do without/never do without? In both cases, my cell phone and computer. Life is complicated! How can we pray for you and Anne? That we serve our Lord well in the assignment He has given us, for the sake of his glory, the benefit of others, and the spreading of his good news. WWW.SIM.ORG
BUSINESS BLESSES ‘CLOSED’ COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH ASIA by Amy Zawislak, Livelihood and Projects Coordinator
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SOUTH ASIA
Products gives SIM the opportunity to establish I sat in an SIM Asia board meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, in March 2018, nervously awaiting my turn to biblical values education and Bible storying in these speak. As Livelihood Coordinator for an SIM country, I least-reached places. As I closed my presentation to the board, to my had been invited by the Central South East Asia surprise, the missionaries expressed that my story Director to present about the missional business God was challenging them to rethink their missional led me to start with the SIM country director there. models. They saw how my background gave me access I had been in many high-level meetings in my 20+ to communities that had been year architectural design career, ‘closed’ to Christians. It struck but I found myself alongside a PLEASE PRAY me for the first time how, though very different group of people I lacked a degree in missiology, that day. No longer was I with for disciplers in our partner God was using my project seasoned architects, operations communities, as the women grow in management and business skills, managers and executives; their understanding of Isa Al Masih. learned in my former career, for next to me were seasoned for spiritual growth and protection such a time as this. missionaries with degrees in Joshua Bogunjoko’s TABLE for two women weavers who now missiology and theology. from May 2017 resonates follow Isa Al Masih. I swallowed my feelings of with my journey: “My desire is intimidation and began to tell for A*, a person of peace, and 14 other that missional business and the my story, which, like all of ours, Muslim women and families in our placement of professionals … for is God’s story. new partner community, that they will Kingdom purposes will become a Three years earlier, I had be open to praying in the name of Isa natural ministry approach for SIM. taken a mission trip with my Al Masih and for open doors. “This is not merely efficacious church in Chicagoland, USA. We for more markets so we can expand or a last resort when there is facilitated a retreat for about in our country and possibly other SE no way to do other missionary 200 women missionaries serving Asia countries. activities; it is strategic. Business among the five million Muslims holds a place alongside medical in this country. outreach, theological education, I shared how God had taken translation, education, etc. me from a corporate project manager and sender of “All of these align with the mission, purpose and missionaries to a full-time, mid-career missionary vision of SIM from its very founding.” myself. What had begun as a whisper from God Email me at amy.zawislak@sim.org to talk more became a missional marketing business named Chora. about Chora Products Livelihood – how you can be a I was now providing market opportunities for part of our team or share our products in your city or handcrafted fashion accessories, made by Muslim country! I’d love to hear from you. women in impoverished communities. Chora
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MY JOURNEY AS AN MK MUM *Names and locations are changed
MISSIONARY KIDS
My husband and I have two daughters, Blessing and Joy. As we prepared to follow God’s call into crosscultural mission, we learned that a homeschool teacher would teach them and the children of two families already serving there. We were encouraged that eight-year-old Blessing would come with us and join this group. After seeking counsel and prayer, we decided our older daughter, Joy, would stay with a relative in our home country to begin university. There was university education in the field, but it was in the local language. We arrived full of energy and soon settled in a remote location. But, within weeks, the homeschool teacher left, and no other teachers were in the pipeline.
UNIQUE CHALLENGES FOR AFRICANS
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The two families soon chose to re-locate to the capital city for high-quality schooling. My husband and I, both filling urgent leadership roles in the ministry location, prayerfully considered all the options. Eventually another West African missionary family came to a town about four hours away. We arranged for Blessing to live with them and attend a homeschool group there, at an affordable rate and closer to us than the capital city. While we earnestly sought the Lord in prayer, the two scenarios for our girls were not ideal. God’s grace has been abundant to us, and I can testify that both girls are doing well today. However, it was a journey of challenges! Joy felt our mission had ‘stolen’ us from her. Living with our relative became strained, to the point where my husband returned home to sort it out. A teenager’s life is full of bumps, even in the best of circumstances. About two years later during a time of crisis in our home country, SIM went to great lengths to care for and protect our daughter. Through the mission’s response, Joy experienced their great love for her. Today we praise God that Joy is a thriving young woman. The arrangement for Blessing was quite positive, yet not without challenges. We gave her a phone to call us often. Her host family was truly hospitable and attentive. But how should a host family discipline another person’s child to do schoolwork? Her academic performance was affected. And even the warmest welcome could not help Blessing from sometimes thinking that maybe my parents do
Within Africa, African MKs are often ‘hidden’ because they blend in. Other missionaries and local people may not think they are MKs because they are not used to seeing Africans in that role. In African contexts, it’s typical for any adult present to intervene if a child is being naughty. In a multicultural mission context, one should not discipline another family’s child. The family of origin may not know how to fully accept your MK who has become different than their cousins and friends at home. Comments can mildly mock your child for not speaking their parents’ language well, not eating like them, etc. Even in jest, these words convey a subtle message to the MK about their differentness.
WWW.SIM.ORG
ARE YOU SIGNED UP? Ideas for incorporating the arts into mission and ministry opportunities are all available. Contact intl.arts@sim.org to subscribe.
SIM’s ArtsBeat newsletter equips and encourages the SIM creative community around the world. In it you will hear from workers in the arts, ranging from visual arts to music, drama and dance. Engaging the University’s monthly newsletter shares stories, prayer requests and event notices that will keep you
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AfriGO and Allons-y ! are about missions mobilisation in Africa and among its diaspora. This 12-page quarterly magazine features news and articles by African
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JULY 2019 • VOL 1 ISSUE 1
The mission and sending church must be well informed of the schooling options. No matter how urgent an assignment, the needs of the children are just as important. Living across cultures will shape, 5 enrich and confuse your children. Help them understand cultural differences and to respond confidently to comments from family, local people, and other missionaries. A verse for my children was I Peter 3:15, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” If we seek God’s wisdom, plan well, and are present during our children’s challenges, we can have every hope they will grow into well-rounded individuals.
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PLEASE PRAY
for our MKs! Each one is a gift who enriches our teams, ministries and our SIM family worldwide. for SIM’s MKs who are in transitions, for each one to lean on God for help and courage. for SIM parents to know God’s wisdom in decisions they are facing today.
Are you signed up?
not want me, a feeling that could not be further from the truth! As parents, especially of MKs, we are always learning. Let me share some principles we gathered along the way: Include your children in 1 discussion about the changes, what and how they will happen. Even the very young have feelings, thoughts and opinions. Let them voice them. Help your children through 2 transitions. Your positive attitude and allowing them to take a special object will give a sense of security. Plan, plan, plan… then be prepared 3 for surprises. Despite the best plans, mission teams and resources luctuate from year to year. Your options one year may not be the same the next.
Email connect@sim.org
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NEWS
events
| resources | updates
LEARNING CAFÉS
SIM Learning Cafés are 75-minute webinars available on Zoom to everyone in SIM. They foster SIM’s value of lifelong learning and support our desire to flourish. Watch previous Learning Cafés on Port. Click the ‘International Leadership and Services’ button on the landing page, then go to ‘Cafés Seminars Presentations’ from the ‘Related Sites’ list. Previous cafés include Christian leadership from a Latin American perspective, the do’s and don’ts of e-learning, seeing the innovation around you, creative arts in mission, engaging with anti-trafficking, and the role of research in missions. Look for an invitation from international.workerdevelopment@ sim.org to upcoming Learning Cafés: • Biblical leadership from an African perspective • Leading diverse teams: Inter-cultural communication and competency • Trauma-informed organisation • Mental, physical and spiritual fitness for the field
LIVERPOOL DIASPORA CONSULTATION More than 100 delegates came to Liverpool Hope University in England in June for a consultation on diaspora ministry in Europe. The Global Diaspora Network held the event to highlight the work of visionary Global South leaders who are reaching refugees migrating from the Middle East, Asia and Africa. SIM UK Director Steve Smith and SIM colleagues Mike Parker, Emma Brewster and Ken Baker provided training for ministry teams working with the #HowWillTheyHear initiative. #HowWillTheyHear is a collaborative ministry of 12 mission agencies, coordinated by United World Mission, with the aim to reach refugees in Europe. Please join us in mobilising for #HowWillTheyHear teams (howwilltheyhear.net)! In 2017, there were 258 million international migrants worldwide, or 3.4 per cent of the world’s population (migrationpolicy.org).
WEST AFRICA MISSIONS OFFICE (WAMO) ORIENTATION IN GHANA
NEWS
HOPE FOR LIFE GLOBAL GATHERING 2019
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SIM workers and partners serving in HIV and other health areas are invited to the Hope for Life Global Gathering in Johannesburg, South Africa, this October. This is a great opportunity to network, share ideas and build capacity. DATE: 28 Oct (begins with dinner) – 1 Nov 2019 (ends after breakfast) COST: Hope for Life will cover the cost of venue, accommodation and meals. Participants must cover flights and visas. Funds can come from project budgets or ministry funds. We do not want finances to prevent anyone from attending, so please complete the relevant sections of the registration form if you will require assistance. CONTACT: international.hopeforlife@sim.org REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/2YcsKYl
Nine new West African missionaries and six candidates attended SIM's West Africa Missions Office orientation in Ghana.
Nine new West African mission workers and six candidates attended the first of its kind SIM WAMO orientation. Held in Tamale, Ghana, in June, participants came from Ghana, Coté d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Nigeria, the Congo and the Gambia. The new missionaries are assigned to Niger, Liberia, Ghana, Mali and Coté d’Ivoire. Nigerian Stephen Nitte, who will serve in Niger, said: “The quality of the speakers and the clarity of their teachings left each participant satisfied and happy to have taken part in this meeting.” SIM WAMO, led by Director Daniel Salamu, now has 36 missionaries — 15 active members and 21 appointed and preparing to go. WWW.SIM.ORG
LEADER APPOINTMENTS Ghie Sibayan
Philippines Director Start date: July 2019 Ghie has served as Acting Country Director since May 2017. Prior to that, she was the Field Personnel Coordinator as well as member care consultant, counselor and mentor to fellow missionaries. In 2006, Ghie pioneered the House of Barnabas in Davao City—a place of encouragement for missionaries.
Timothy George
Mozambique Director Start date: May 2019
Steve Smith
UK Director second term Start date: March 2019
Randy Fairman
USA Director Start date: March 2020 Randy served in Western China from 2007, engaging in business as mission. He also served as China director for seven years. In October 2018, Randy joined the International Leadership Team as global director of mission engagement, tasked with mobilising new generations, locations and finance.
Ryan Hannah
Thailand Director second term Start date: September 2019 Ryan has been the Thailand director since 2014. He was the Malawi director from 2003 to 2011. Ryan has served as a member-at-large on the International Board of Governors and has participated in various strategic initiatives. Ryan and his wife are mentors in the SIM’s Leader Development programme. JULY 2019 • VOL 1 ISSUE 1
Ecuador Director Start date: August 2019 Christian, from Germany, has served in Ecuador since 2014, training and facilitating ministries of church planting and disciple-making. His passion is to see God move believers to engage in their small churches in rural Loja province, in order to reach their families and communities for Christ. LEO MUTZNER
Switzerland Director second term Start date: January 2020 Leo began as director for Switzerland in January 2015. Leo and his wife were missionaries to France, where Leo served as a pastor for more than 30 years. For six years, he served as chairman of a French mission organisation, and he has also taught at the Bible Institute in Geneva.
Leader Appointments
Steve is committed to strengthening, partnering and planting new churches that will send and receive gospel workers, equipped to make disciples where Christ is least known. Steve has served in pastoral roles in the UK and taught biblical theology in Uganda.
Tim has served in Mozambique since 2009 in Bible teaching, church leader training and administration. In 2014, God led Tim to open a new Bible school. We praise God that Instituto Teologico de Linchinga (INTEL) opened in February 2019 with its first 21 students.
Christian Waidelich
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Faithful Witness is a new strategic initiative designed to help take the gospel to communities where there is no Christian witness, or very little Christian witness.
WHAT ARE THE KEY DISTINCTIVES OF FAITHFUL WITNESS? 1. An intentional plan to reach communities where there is no church, few or no Christians and no active Christian witness. At present, most workers and most money goes to places where there is already Christian witness.
Faithful Witness worker will have a home assignment within five years, so they can share stories with their church and other potential supporters. After five years, and sooner if possible, the worker is expected to be fully self-funded.
2. A funding model which allows workers to be supported through matched funding. Any worker on a Faithful Witness team can receive matched funding for a limited time of up to five years. Each case will be treated individually, and no worker will receive more than two thirds of their budget.
4. The teams will be multi-cultural, multiethnic and multi-skilled. We want at least two workers on each team to come from the country in which they are serving. We want no more than two ‘units’ from any one country.
3. The funding model addresses the problem of workers being unable to go because they cannot raise support, yet unable to raise support because they have not gone. Every
5. Apart from funding, all Faithful Witness workers will be treated as any other SIM worker. They will go through the same selection, orientation and training processes.
FAITHFUL WITNESS
WHERE ARE THE FAITHFUL WITNESS LOCATIONS?
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1. Chad: Small teams will be sent to Chad, in partnership with other organisations. They will focus on those who have no church in their own language. 2. Mali: The Hassaniya people are open to receiving workers who will live among them and learn language and culture. There are four known believers among them. 3. Ayutthaya, Thailand: The city is 40 miles north of Bangkok. The team will focus on sports, community health education, and English language learning ministries. Future locations are being identified, and we welcome suggestions. Please email Michelle Krewson at global.faithfulwitness@sim.org with suggestions or to ask further questions.
WWW.SIM.ORG
Thaddeus and Lucy co-facilitate a trauma healing workshop in March 2019.
CALLED: THADDEUS AND LUCY
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heard God say, “If you will open your life to me, I will heal your bitter life and change it to a sweet life.” In March 2003, Thaddeus was introduced to Life Challenge Africa, a ministry of SIM Kenya. Soon he resigned from his job as a physical planner and pursued ministry training, while volunteering at his church. Thaddeus heard God say: “I have raised you up as my ambassador of hope to the hopeless.” Lucy and Thaddeus met in 2005 and were married in 2009. On their wedding day, Lucy realised she was committing herself to be not only Thaddeus’s wife but his ministry partner too. Thaddeus joined SIM formally in 2010, and feeling the need to deal with childhood trauma, he and Lucy joined the School of Counseling, Deliverance and Healing. They are now certified as trauma healing facilitators by the Trauma Healing Institute at the American Bible Society. In October 2015, Lucy joined Thaddeus at SIM. They now travel together to provide biblical trauma care both inside and outside Kenya and have developed SIM Kenya’s Urban Refugee Trauma Care ministry. Thaddeus is SIM’s regional trauma healing coordinator over both East and Southern Africa, while Lucy coordinates Churches for Grace programme under Kijabe AIDS Education and Community Outreach, a SIM Kenya partner project. Thaddeus also became chair of the SIM Kenya council in September 2018. Lucy and Thaddeus draw strength from God’s calling, particularly from the words of Isaiah 45:1-3. They even decorated their wedding cake with this passage! Please pray for them to remain steadfast in pursuing God’s calling on their lives. Pray too for God’s provision to enable the couple to pursue chaplaincy training.
CALLED
Meet Thaddeus and Lucy Gichana, SIM missionaries in Kenya. Together they serve in the areas of biblical trauma care, urban refugee ministry and leadership. Lucy was the third of 11 children. Her father worked far from home and was largely absent. While Lucy was still in primary school, she and three siblings were left in the care of their grandmother. Thaddeus was the fourth of 10 children. His father died when he was three and hee was taken in by an uncle when he was six. Both Thaddeus and Lucy were separated from loving mothers and siblings at young ages. They were also both raised as Roman Catholics. Lucy’s father wanted her to become a nun after completing her education, while Thaddeus was admitted to Mother of Apostles Seminary, but did not enrol for it. Lucy gave her life to Christ in August 1993 at an open-air gospel meeting soon after she had heard a voice asking: “Is it London first or salvation first?” She was getting her passport to go to the UK after completing undergraduate studies but immediately responded: “Salvation first.” Lucy was accepted into an internship programme with World Vision Kenya, who then hired her as a community motivator. Eventually she became their coordinator for design, monitoring and evaluation. Thaddeus was saved through the gospel passion of his younger brother, Joseph, who moved in with him after high school. Every evening, Joseph shared God’s Word and, in May 1996, had the privilege of leading his older brother to Christ. While serving as mission coordinator of his church, Thaddeus began to understand God’s call to mission. He
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PART IV
SIM’S FORGOTTEN PIONEERS by Tim Geysbeek, Church History Consultant, SIM Nigeria and Rev. Jonathan Obi, ECWA Archivist, Nigeria
This is the last of four articles about the founding of the Sudan Interior Mission (SIM). Walter Gowans, Tom Kent, and Rowland Bingham reached Lagos, in what is now Nigeria, on December 4, 1893 – the date now celebrated as the founding of SIM. Gowans, Kent, their Liberian cook, Tom Coffee and 19 other employees left for the interior on February 24, 1894. Bingham stayed behind, recovering from malaria. Gowans died in mid-November 1894, and Kent three weeks later. This final article takes us to the official founding of SIM in 1898 and introduces SIM’s fourth and fifth members, Robert Lee and David Loynd.
HISTORY
* * *
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Walter Gowans, Tom Kent, Rowland Bingham, learn Hausa and Arabic. At 271 km (169 mi) Robert Lee and David Loynd met in the home of inland, it was the most interior station of any John and Alice Hindle in Southport, England in European-based organisation at that time. October 1893. Bingham and Loynd returned to the coast on There they resolved to go to the Sudan as April 9 and left for England later that month, independent missionaries because no mission where they parted ways. Bingham later arrived agency would send them into the interior of in Canada, where he formally established the Africa. They ignored warnings from the Wesleyan mission with a board in 1898. Loynd tried to join Methodists in Lagos that neither they nor their SIM’s team in Nigeria in 1901 but never did so, children would ever see Sudan. allegedly because he could not raise support. Gowans, Kent and Bingham set sail for West Hindle, who became SIM’s de facto publicist, listed Loynd as an SIM missionary in May, 1894 Africa after the meeting but Lee, who would go but Bingham only mentioned Loynd once in on to become SIM’s UK director, and Loynd lacked the funding. It took Loynd, an article and never in his booklets who came from Bolton, England, or his book "Seven Sevens of Years the best part of a year to raise and a Jubilee." Neither did he support. Bingham eventually recognise Loynd as an SIM missionary in a handwelcomed him in Lagos on November 14, 1894. written list he later made. Writing about this Together, they set out for the interior, Southport meeting following Gowans and in the mid-1970s, Kent. Their goal was SIM International to “open a station at publication secretary a point just beyond Kerry Lovering called existing stations” as Loynd and Lee SIM’s close to Gowans and “forgotten pioneers.” Kent “as possible and yet The foundation of maintain contact” with SIM rests not only on the friends in Lagos. work of Gowans, Kent, Their attempts to and Bingham, but also establish bases in Ilorin Coffee, Loynd, Lee and David and Alice Loynd drowned after a and Iwo failed, so they others whose stories are German U-boat sunk the Lusitania on May settled for a few weeks beginning to appear in the 7, 1915, en route from the United States to in Ogbomosho, where pages of history. England. Another causality of the Lusitania American Southern For sources, contact was Rowland Bingham’s sister Winifred. tim.geysbeek@sim.org. Baptists ran a station, to WWW.SIM.ORG
MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES NORTH AFRICA
PARAGUAY
BANGLADESH
CELTA (OR TEFL EQUIVALENT) LANGUAGE TEACHERS
ANDROID APP DEVELOPER FOR CELL PHONES
CEO FOR GRACE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Location: See MO #9439 for location and specifications. Language teachers are urgently needed for an existing ministry. This ministry is at risk of closure if these vacancies are not filled. Contact innercom@outlook.com.
LIBERIA GUEST RELATIONS MANAGER
MK/TCK EDUCATION CONSULTANT Location: ELWA campus near Monrovia, Liberia. This role involves working with MKs in their education and extracurricular activities. There is an opportunity to teach at an elementary level and to work with Liberian staff to set up an Awana-type programme for children who have completed trauma healing workshops. Contact Lauren Walker at Liberia.Personnel@sim.org
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Date: 2019-2020 school year. Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh. Learn more about the school at www.grace. school. Contact serve@ grace.school.
ZIMBABWE LEARN MINISTRY COORDINATOR Date: 2+ years. Someone is needed to lead the Leaders Equipping and Resourcing Network (LEARN) ministry launched in Zimbabwe this year. Similar to the Pastors’ Book Sets ministry, LEARN equips pastors through conferences and by providing electronic tablets loaded with resources. See MO # 9434. Contact Caiphas Ngarivhume at Zimbabwe.Director@sim.org.
NIGER SPIRITUAL RETREAT COVERAGE Three general surgeons to cover the hospital and one or two people to help with childcare. Date: Oct. 29—Nov. 5, 2019. Location: Galmi, Niger. The Galmi Annual Spiritual Retreat will take place Oct. 31Nov. 4, 2019. Those providing cover should arrive by Oct. 29 or 30. Departure can be from Monday, Nov. 5. Contact Crystal Rendel at Niger.STAcoordinator@sim.org. SAHEL ACADEMY DIRECTOR
MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
Location: ELWA campus near Monrovia, Liberia. SIM Liberia urgently needs a Guest Relations Manager(s) to oversee two beach-front guesthouses. This person will work closely with Liberian staff and must be an excellent communicator, handle finances, have intermediate computer knowledge, facilitate maintenance and repairs and ensure the comfort of our many guests. This is a great first mission experience for a young person, couple or an older couple looking at early retirement.
Location: Asuncion, Paraguay. The recording studio GGG (Grupo para Grabaciones de Guarani) wants to make the Bible accessible in audiovisual format. A programmer will be involved in the development of each ministry in Paraguay, showing missionaries how to use an audiovisual Bible app. Ideal for an English speaker with Spanish or a willingness to learn Spanish in the first year. Contact Yvonne Cameron at paraguay.personnnel@sim.org.
Location: Niamey, Niger. Learn more about the school at www.sahelacademy.com. Contact Nancy DeValve at Niger.personnel@sim.org or director.search@sahelacademy.com.
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REBUILDING AFTER CYCLONE IDAI
by Brian Heffron, SIM SASC media coordinator
Since Cyclone Idai devastated south eastern Zimbabwe in March, the body of Christ has been helping rebuild communities, churches and lives. Violet Myambo, who is managing SIM Zimbabwe’s relief efforts, said: “When the houses were destroyed, some people came out with nothing — some not even clothed. The church community shared what they had. “The church was in despair, and most people’s faith was tested. Some people fail to understand why the loving God allowed calamity upon his people but it also strengthened the church as people came to understand there is nothing permanent in this world.” Church buildings opened as safe havens and as mortuaries. Homes and food were shared with those who had lost theirs or who were stranded by roads that remained closed for days, weeks, or even months. Violet said: “The church sustained the community
until roads became passable. Churches in every town and village gathered food and clothes to help the victims.” SIM Zimbabwe bought and helped distribute food, clothing, sanitary wear and school supplies around Chimanimani. SIM is also rebuilding a bridge in Biriiri. Many people are still living in tents despite overnight temperatures that dip near freezing. Rebuilding cannot begin until the government identifies and allocates safe locations. Hundreds died in the storm and its aftermath; one local church lost 72 members. People are experiencing nightmares, becoming uncomfortable at signs of rain, and feeling fear of flowing water. Pastors and missionaries have been counselling survivors, and an SIM Kenya team, led by Thaddeus and Lucy Gichana (see page 15), will soon lead trauma healing counselling in the region.
PLEASE PRAY
that safe locations will be identified in Zimbabwe so rebuilding can begin. that Bible-based trauma healing will help many to heal spiritually and emotionally. that the new Biriiri bridge will be a lasting reminder of God’s loving providence. for abundant crops, so people can feed themselves again soon. for donations to SIM International Disaster Relief Fund #88600 and SIM Malawi Disaster Relief #96759 for neighbouring Malawi.
HOPE FOR LIFE LAUNCHES WEBSITE
UPDATES
by Jacquie Croxon
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Our pioneering Hope for Life network of ministries has just launched a new website at www. hopeforlife.net. Go check it out! The mobile-friendly website is designed to promote our Hope for Life ministries, including 40 projects in 16 countries across Africa and Asia all working to address HIV and related health issues. Hope for Life is a fresh take on the compassion ministry established by
SIM’s HOPE for AIDS, which began in the 1990s. The site reflects the hope-bringing, life-giving basis of Hope for Life and, in so doing, engages with prayer and financial supporters and tells tories of God at work. It also provides a forumbased platform to encourage networking, collaboration and resource-sharing among those interested in these ministries. Stories and other content can can be re-purposed for your newsletters or personal
presentations; please attribute it to us at www.hopeforlife.net. Contact me at international. hopeforlife@sim.org for more information or just to tell me what you think of the website. I’d love to hear from you!
WWW.SIM.ORG
