As we approach the end of the year, I am amazed at the course of world events. Refugees are fleeing their countries; civil wars are spilling over the borders into confrontations between super-powers, and the global economy continues to fluctuate erratically. But, in the midst of all this—God is at work amongst his people. I read the reports sent by our church planters—that you help support—and there is fantastic news every day.
In the Middle East, Pastor Maher shares that the Egyptian Bible study started by their church has grown from fifteen men to over 80 faithful believers. We are now prayerfully considering whether we can support a full-time pastor to lead this group into establishing a new independent church. Pastor Raed’s church, just one-year-old, has established a school for refugees fleeing Syria. They already have twenty-five first graders. These children are not allowed to attend the public school, so the ministry of this church has a huge impact on these families.
Your Donation Supports Pastors Reaching Their Community – Join us in the Effort
We have also received many testimonies of new believers — here is one:
Pastor Khup shared about an amazing conversion of a young man through his ministry: “I went to a nearby town twice and gave encouragement to the new members there. I conducted a gospel rally for two days. It was amazing to see that three young men, who are drunkards, joined us. More amazing was that the worst one received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It was a miracle of God! This man, who had beaten his father to the point that he lost sight in one eye, has repented of his sins to God. His name is Naing.”
Through the ministry to the poor, and reaching out to families in the community, our pastors diligently preach the gospel and are transforming entire neighborhoods. Our newest outreach this year in Uganda has made tremendous progress. Through the generous support from our partners, we were able to help God’s Embassy Church build a rainwater-harvesting tank that now holds 18,000 liters of water. The neighbors can collect their drinking water from the tank instead of the dirty creek. This provides safer drinking water for everyone living near the church. Also, it has opened many opportunities to share the love of Jesus Christ with these people.
The church in Rukungiri is having a great impact on everyone in the community. In September, they hosted a Vacation Bible School with over 1,000 children in attendance. Your support allows pastors like these to work full-time serving their community and preaching the gospel.
As we come to the end of the year, we can use your support. There are so many opportunities to provide pastors and establish new churches, but we need the financial resources to expand these ventures. The support from our faithful partners in the past has been greatly helpful, would you prayerfully consider making a donation today? Your gift will help transform a community. Together we can provide the start-up support that is needed to make a new church possible in hard to reach communities. Without our partnership in these places, the people would not have an opportunity to know Jesus.
In Mark 2:1-12 Jesus is presented a paralyzed man brought by his four companions. Their faith is remarkable. So determined were they to get their friend into the presence of Jesus that they removed the roof and lowered him down into the room in front of Jesus. We read, “And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Jesus commended the faith of the men who brought their friend, and he expressed that because of “their” faith, the young man’s sins are forgiven.
Consider how God is moving among the people around the world that need to hear the gospel. How possible is it that because we are making an effort to show the love of Jesus to these needy people—God will open their heart to know his son.
C.H. Spurgeon commented upon this story:
“And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.”
O that we had more daring faith among us! Cannot we, dear reader, seek it this morning for ourselves and for our fellow-workers, and will we not try today to perform some gallant act for the love of souls and the glory of the Lord.
The world is constantly inventing; genius serves all the purposes of human desire: cannot faith invent too, and reach by some new means the outcasts who lie perishing around us.
It was the presence of Jesus which excited victorious courage in the four bearers of the palsied man: is not the Lord among us now? If so, then through door, through window, or through roof, let us, breaking through all impediments, labor to bring poor souls to Jesus.
We can make a difference in fulfilling the Great Commission. By the grace of God, each one of us can fulfill our role in God’s plan. If we each “Grab a corner” we can bring many people to Jesus. Thank you for your prayers and your support.
