Never Give Up Hope - Part 1

Never Give Up Hope - Part 1 Selina’s* stomach stayed knotted. Her nails, chewed down. Her neck, stiff and tense. The dark circles under her eyes were unbecoming for a 20-year-old. This was not the first time her pastor father had not come home. Salina knew this was part of the risk he took working with the secret church, but the wrinkles in her brow still grew deeper. Would he return this time? Would he be missing a hand or foot? Would his fingernails be pulled out? Selina tenderly remembered the last time she had seen her father. She had longed to hug him and hold him before he left, but she had said a quiet goodbye as she took the empty teacup from his hands. As was the custom among her people, he simply put his hand on her head and blessed her in Jesus’ name, and then hugged his son. Selina had wanted to kiss his bearded face that day, hold his hand, and even stop him from leaving.  Now she wished she had. Pastor Quornelius* was acutely aware of how long it had been since he had seen his daughter, Selina, and his dear family. He deeply missed them, but he had critical teaching materials and care packages to deliver to the growing numbers of believers.  But with so few police patrols in this part of Pakistan, Pastor Quornelius was fully aware of the dangers, and bravely carried out his mission. Having been kidnapped before, he prayed he would not be kidnapped again… and that he would return home to his family before winter set in. One With Them Serving the secret church around the world is a high risk calling. Let us become One With Them in Jesus’ work, by covering our courageous brothers and sisters with prayer and encouragement, remembering that a three-strand cord is not easily broken! *Pseudonym   4/23/2013

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city.  “Oh, my Lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked. “Don’t be afraid” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (2 Kings 6:15)

From “Religion” to “Relationship” Part 2

From “Religion” to “Relationship”  Part 2
Conrad, now 19, was pleased to join a team of volunteer leaders who taught during an Open Doors’ Sama Kitab Iskul (SKI) summer youth camp. 

During one session, he told the children how Jesus’ showed His love by washing each disciple's feet. On the last day of the SKI camp, Conrad brought in a bucket of water and washed the feet of a fellow teacher. When he invited 180 enthusiastic children to do the same, a young Muslim boy named Alzibar was the first to grab a bucket.

Shocked that Alzibar was so willing, Conrad recalled his first encounter with the young boy. “Alzibar approached me smiling. While I was preparing the name tags for the registration table, he shared how his grandparents scolded him and warned him not to attend the SKI. His parents, who were working in Saudi Arabia, were also angry at him. So, I asked him why he came. 'I wanted to know more about Isa (Jesus),' he said.”

Conrad kept a watchful eye on Alzibar throughout the camp session. One time, he saw the boy flipping through the pages of the Injil, the New Testament in the Sama language. “He was very intent while reading it. Then, he closed the book and kissed it. One of his classmates told him that it was not the Qur’an. “Even so, we still need to respect it, because it’s God’s Book,” Alzibar said.

Open Doors held Sama Kitab Iskul in five other communities that year. More than 300 children attended. Conrad, who so much enjoys serving the Lord, obviously looks forward to volunteering his time and energy for the next SKI.

“I want to do it again! I want other youth believers to experience it. Also, I want to meet Alzibar, again. Please pray that Isa will touch all the hearts of the people I serve.”

One With Them
Be One With Conrad, and young believers throughout the Philippines, as you pray for the seeds they have so faithfully planted, to take root in the young hearts reached through the SKI camps.

One With Them CHALLENGE
Consider a financial donation for Youth Study Bibles. At $19 each, please seek the Lord’s guidance in making a contribution that will put God’s Word in the hands of the persecuted youth. Click here for information.

4/20/2013

"If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.”
(John 13:14)

 

I had more than enough resources to plant a church successfully.

Been There, Done That, Part 2 by Chris McKinney

Been There, Done That, Part 2

By Chris McKinney When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. ~ Acts 18:26b
READING: Acts 18:24-28
Just as Apollos needed someone in Ephesus to correct his teaching, encourage him, and strengthen his credibility, back in Vigan what I needed was a mentor – someone who had already planted churches in the Philippines and could tell me exactly what to do. God knew my dilemma and provided me with a most excellent mentor. Charles was a veteran church planter with several decades of experience in the Philippines working with another denomination. Having already fulfilled his vision of planting clusters of churches in two other areas, he and his wife Dottie moved to Vigan the same month our family did, with plans to establish another cluster of new churches.
As the only Americans in town, our two families began spending time together. Although they could have seen us as competitors or even false teachers, Charles and Dottie drew in a confused missionary aspiring to plant churches. Charles began sharing church planting principles, methods, and a culturally-specific model with us. He made me confident that I had more than enough resources to plant a church successfully.
As I planted a new church for my very first time, I would often seek out Charles and Dottie to relate my experiences and observations, counting on affirmation and guidance. Charles and Dottie rejoiced with us, encouraged us, prayed with us, and somehow managed to focus, re-direct, and broaden our vision all at once.
Lord, Thank You so much for the mentors You have provided along the way. Help me to reach out to others with that same generosity of spirit. Amen. 
Dynamic Church Planting International (DCPI) “Equips Leaders to Plant 5 Million Churches Worldwide.” Learn more

What Would You Do?

What Would You Do? 

The dreams were relentless – they returned night after night.

Farzan (alias) knew that they were no ordinary dreams. Taking a great risk, he decided to share the dreams with three of his friends. Trust is a rare luxury for believers in Afghanistan, but, over the years, he had built a mutual trust with these friends and co-workers. These men were the only other Christians that he knew; and they kept their faith a secret among themselves.

After sharing, Farzan was surprised to learn that his friends had also been having dreams…all different…. and all disturbing.

In one dream, Farzan was shot on the way to work. Two others had dreams in which the office vehicle that they used was ambushed, and Farzan was badly injured. In another dream, a co-worker shared that there was blood everywhere, and Farzan had died.  

Farzan and his friends struggled with how to interpret and respond to these dreams. Were they a warning from the Lord? Were they perhaps attacks from the enemy to discourage him?  Farzan wondered if he should leave town before it was too late? Or should he remain and refuse to be intimidated?

After Farzan and his friends went before the Lord in prayer, he decided to stay where he was and to continue his work for the Body of Christ. His decision set an example for the other believers to not be afraid, and instead, trust the Lord in all things. As a result of his courageous behavior, he had an opportunity to speak God’s power into the lives of his friends.

One With Them
Some persecuted believers must make decisions like this daily. Stand One With Them as you pray for Farzan, and others like him; remembering that we must always turn to the Lord to guide us as we face difficult, or even risky, decisions.

One With Them CHALLENGE
Afghanistan is ranked in the third position on Open Doors World Watch list of the top 50 countries in the world where the persecution of Christians is most severe. Learn more about Afghanistan by visiting the WWL site.   

 

 

4/21/2013

 

And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there…. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
(Acts 20:22,24)

 

Deep in the Jungles of Orissa

Deep in the Jungles of Orissa There is a place where the river runs deep and muddy brown; its banks are lined with dense, lush vegetation. Nestled among the trees, beneath the shade of the thick jungle canopy, is a remote village called Urladani. This is just one of the many forgotten villages along the winding river of no bridges, in the notorious state of Orissa, in eastern India.  The villagers must cross the river in handmade boats for supplies. During the flood season, the swollen river adds another treacherous danger to an already unstable world. The state of Orissa is well-known in India. Over the last ten years, extremists have brutally killed hundreds of Christians. Though the situation has been well documented, the Indian government has done little to help. Into this impoverished, remote corner of Orissa, a team of Open Doors workers pushed forward to reach isolated believers. Braving pesky insects, endless travel problems, political pressure and perilous river crossings, these workers embarked on a mission to deliver as many children’s picture Bibles as they could carry. Undeterred by the obstacles, they traveled from village to village to fulfill the dream of reaching the children with God’s Word. Rita Naik expressed her joy on receiving the Bible. “I come from a poor family and could never afford the Bible. I thank God for such a nice gift. I pray that Open Doors would be able to bring more for other children, so they too can be blessed.” Rajesh Nayak says, “I have never seen this kind of a Bible in my life. I am very happy to receive this picture Bible. I will read it daily, know more about God, and develop my spiritual life.” One With Them Even if we can’t travel ourselves, we can all be One With these workers for the Persecuted Church through prayer and financial support. Tomorrow we will hear about their success and the reaction of the children receiving the Bibles. One With Them CHALLENGE Commit to helping children, like those in Orissa, by becoming a World Bible Sponsor. Click here to learn how you can bring Bibles to the most dangerous places on earth.   4/22/2013

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18)

From “Religion” to “Relationship” Part 1

 

From “Religion” to “Relationship”
Part 1
There comes a time when passed down religious practices give way to a real relationship with Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life. For Conrad (19), a youth raised in Jolo, Sulu, on the Island of Mindanao in the Philippines, the time had come.

In Jolo, there are many Tausugs who hold firmly to Islam as their religion and way of life. They despise Christians, like Conrad, who were raised to believe in Christ. But to Conrad it was always a “religion,” until one day when Open Doors came to share. For the first time, he understood the meaning and importance of a “relationship” with Jesus Christ. 

“I had always been active in the church since I was a child. I attended Vacation Bible School, and joined church activities. But with my friends outside the church, I was a very different person. I thought I knew a lot about Isa (Jesus) before, until I attended the summer youth camp. There, I realized my own sins, and I asked God to forgive me. I asked Jesus to heal my temper,” Conrad testified.

Now of college age, Conrad has decided to not return to his village. Instead, together with his elder brother, he is staying at a local pastor’s house. “One time, I was invited to help in the feeding ministry. At first, I thought I’d just be observing. Instead, I found myself actually serving the children their food and washing their plates. I realized that I enjoyed serving the Lord. My being an Almasihin (Christian) is useless if I do not actively serve Isa (Jesus). I felt I'd found something important I’d been missing all my life.”

Tomorrow read Conrad’s testimony about volunteering at a children’s summer camp. 

Be One With Them
Be One With Conrad as you serve the Lord today through whatever opportunities He has given you. Give thanks to Him for His many blessings in your life, and for the blessing of Conrad and his life-story.

“A Fire In My Heart”

 

“A Fire In My Heart”   Meet our Afghan brother, Said Musa, a former orthopedic therapist in Kabul.  Living in a neighborhood where landmines and bombs are commonplace, Musa was all too familiar with their destructive power. When he was a young man, he accidentally stepped on a landmine. Although his life was spared, one of his legs was damaged beyond repair and had to be amputated.  Constantly wary of hidden landmines, he cautiously went about his daily business. One day, after a bomb exploded near his home, he observed two expatriate women helping the injured – injured people the women didn’t even know. Fascinated and confused that they would help those unrelated to them, Musa began asking questions. When he learned the women were Christians, he tracked down what he knew to be their “book,” the Bible. Musa could not stop reading, and as he read, he realized that this book spoke the truth. “It was like there was a fire in my heart,” Musa exclaimed. Hungry for more, Musa began meeting with small groups of believers and diligently studied everything he could find about Jesus.  He learned how to worship and pray, and cautiously shared his faith whenever possible. Eventually, his newfound faith was discovered, and in 2010, Musa was arrested and imprisoned. He vividly recalls the day when the harsh treatment and suffering, that he initially encountered, brought him to a place of total despair and discouragement. In the midst of Musa’s despair, Jesus miraculously appeared to him in a dream and assured the suffering believer that He was always with him. God used that dream to spark a transformation in Musa – so much that other prisoners soon began to notice Musa’s peace and his positive spirit. Even the guards began to listen to him and seek him out.   Musa recalls a time when he was asked by the guards to speak to two boys who were drug users. Out of 500 people in the prison, they chose Said Musa to counsel them. Someone else even confided boldly, “What you say is the truth! If people would have a fair choice, 75% of them would follow Jesus.” One With Them Today, Musa is no longer in prison, and he and his family have been relocated to another country. They continue to serve Christ, even as they struggle to adjust to the new culture and language. Stand One With Them by praying for Musa and his family as they serve Christ in this new country, and as we all serve wherever He calls us.      4/18/2013

The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.  (Psalm 145:18).