SATISFYING PARCHED SOULS IN KENYA

Satisfying Parched Souls in Kenya

May 15, 2014

Martha (pictured) and other residents from the village of Kisile in Kenya were excited to receive a well so they won’t have to travel several miles each day to find water for drinking and bathing.

Martha went through the same routine every morning. Before daybreak, she and other women from the village of Kisile would tie five-gallon jerry cans on their donkeys and ride off in search of water. The nearest source—a contaminated river—was six miles away.
During times of drought the river dried up and they had to travel even longer distances looking for water. Sometimes that quest and the return trip home lasted all day.
When gospel workers from Cornerstone Evangelistic Ministry (CEM) first visited Kisile in 2006, they saw how villagers like Martha struggled to find clean water for drinking and bathing. Water-borne illnesses like diarrhea and typhoid plagued the people. Children suffered the most.
“We were much touched by the plight of these people and started praying for God to make provision for a well for their village,” said the ministry’s leader. “God answered our prayers and provided a well back in 2009.”
At the time very few Christians lived in this Turkana village, where most of the people still practiced traditional rituals to honor their god, Akuj, and the spirits. They believed Akuj was angry with them when too little or too much rain fell from the skies. To halt his displeasure, they offered animal sacrifices and cried out for mercy.
Missionaries with CEM brought a message of hope and deliverance to the people. In addition to digging a well by hand, they told villagers about the “living water” (Jeremiah 2:13) offered by Jesus Christ. Only He could quench the thirst of their souls, and His shed blood on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice that washed them clean from sin.
God used Martha in a mighty way, as she was one of the first believers in Kisile, even before the arrival of CEM’s workers. At age 10 she insisted on attending a church in a nearby village. Although her parents were skeptical of the teachings, they permitted their daughter to go to the church with other children.
When she was 16, Martha attended an open air evangelistic event in another village and committed her life to Christ. She led two of her brothers and a sister to the Lord. By the time the missionaries arrived, this young evangelist had already prepared her people’s hearts for a great spiritual harvest.
“The true God has come to our village,” she boldly proclaimed.

Established just a few years ago, the Kisile church has grown to more than 70 members.

Since then Martha has been in the forefront to bring others to Christ. She celebrated when the newly-installed well gave her people access to clean water, but she rejoiced even more when later in 2009 a church was constructed in Kisile.
Martha played a crucial role in assisting the missionaries with their evangelistic outreach and helped plant the church. Five years later, the church has grown tremendously with over 70 members.
With assistance from Christian Aid Mission, CEM has built 14 wells thus far for Turkana villages in the Ngaremara area of Kenya. The average cost for a hand pump well like the one in Kisile is $1,650. The wells have saved lives and improved the overall health of residents. As gospel workers demonstrate the Savior’s love in tangible ways, they are winning many souls to Christ and transforming entire communities.
Now 29 years old, Martha is a Sunday school teacher and directs the congregation’s youth group. She has an infectiously joyous spirit and has led more than 40 people to follow Christ.
Just as she once guided members of her village to sources of refreshing water, Martha now points them to the One whose “fountain of water springs up into everlasting life” (John 4:14, NKJV).

Use the form below to contribute online. Or call 434-977-5650 to contribute by phone. If you prefer to mail your gift, please mail to Christian Aid, P.O. Box 9037, Charlottesville, VA 22906. Please use Gift Code: 572CEM. Thank you!

ON THE MEND

On the Mend

May 15, 2014

This Christian physician received surgery last month in Damascus to remove a tumor from inside one of his ears. A Syrian ministry that receives assistance from Christian Aid Mission helped pay for some of his medical expenses.

A Syrian doctor who underwent emergency ear surgery two weeks ago is back at home and hopes to return to his medical practice this week.
Christian Aid Mission helped provide the funds for Dr. Samir*, a general practitioner and a friend of the ministry, to have a procedure called a modified radical mastoidectomy to clean out a rapidly advancing infection in his left ear.
Surgeons removed a tumor from inside the middle ear cavity. Though larger than anticipated, praise God the growth was benign, based on biopsy results.
Dr. Samir has a history of ear infections. The most recent flare-up quickly progressed since available antibiotics were having little effect. If left untreated, the infection could have spread to his inner ear and brain.
“I feel a great debt to God and I feel that I became closer to Him through this experience,” Dr. Samir said. “The excellent results of the operation are God’s answer to your continued prayers for me. My sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone who had a part in making this surgery possible.”
An indigenous ministry assisted by Christian Aid responded to Dr. Samir’s request for financial help and covered the bulk of the costs for the $8,500 ear surgery. Originally the procedure was scheduled to take place in Jordan, but the danger of traveling necessitated having the surgery in Damascus. He returned to his home May 8.
Dr. Samir said the operation successfully removed the tumor and infection, but it did not address the 90 percent hearing loss in that ear. Typically in these cases, a follow-up surgery is performed six months later to place an implant in the middle ear. Such a procedure would restore an estimated 50 to 70 percent of Dr. Samir’s hearing ability. That operation is expected to cost around $6,500.
The dedicated doctor plans to go back to work in the next day or so. He knows his services are greatly needed, as most physicians have fled Syria and medical assistance of any kind is in short supply.
When he is not seeing patients, Dr. Samir helps his father minister to Syrian families who have been displaced by the civil war. Christian Aid has supported their work by providing funds for food packages and other emergency relief.
Offering medical services in a war-torn country may be challenging, but Dr. Samir says he cannot imagine doing anything else. He adds that nothing can “take the place of the happiness” he feels providing quality care in Christ’s Name.
“Thank you with all of my heart for standing with me. May the Lord bless you all,” he said.
*name changed

Use the form below to contribute online. Or call 434-977-5650 to contribute by phone. If you prefer to mail your gift, please mail to Christian Aid, P.O. Box 9037, Charlottesville, VA 22906. Please use Gift Code: 400MED. Thank you!

CROSSING THE BRAHMAPUTRA

Crossing the Brahmaputra  

Christian Aid Mission assists an Indian ministry that is reaching out to the Mising (also known as Mishing or Miris) tribe in the northeastern state of Assam. The Brahmaputra River is the lifeblood of the people, who settled along its banks and raise crops on the fertile plains. They remain despite destructive floods. The Misings practice a mixture of Hinduism and their own religion called “Donyi Polo.” They believe they are descendants of the sun and the moon and worship them. Some are now converting to Christianity. In the photograph, a group of gospel workers are traveling across the river to hold a baptismal service in one of the Mising villages.

More GREAT QUOTES

More GREAT QUOTES
-Sermonindex

"God loves with a great love the man whose heart is bursting with
a passion for the IMPOSSIBLE." - William Booth.

"Depend upon it, if you are bent on prayer, the devil will not leave
you alone. He will molest you, tantalize you, block you... What
he minds, and opposes steadily, is the prayer that prays on until
it is prayed through, assured of the answer."
- Mary Warburton Booth

"If we once get above our Bibles, and cease making the written
Word of God sole rule both as to faith and practice, we shall soon
lie open to all manner of delusion, and be in great danger of
making shipwreck of faith.'"
-George Whitefield

"God is not looking for brilliant men, is not depending upon eloquent
men, is not shut up to the use of talented men in sending His
Gospel out in the world. God is looking for the broken men who
have judged themselves in the light of the Cross of Christ. When
He wants anything done, He takes up men who have come to the
end of themselves, whose confidence is not in themselves, but in God."
-H.A. Ironside

"Though the cross of Christ has been beautified by the poet and the
artist, the avid seeker after God is likely to find it the same savage
implement of destruction it was in the days of old. The way of the
cross is still the pain-wracked path to spiritual power and
fruitfulness. So do not seek to hide from it. Do not accept an easy
way. Do not allow yourself to be patted to sleep in a comfortable
church, void of power and barren of fruit. Do not paint the cross nor
deck it with flowers. Take it for what it is, as it is, and you will
find it the rugged way to death and life. Let it slay you utterly."
-A.W. Tozer

It’s not too late to help.

 
Last week we sent you an e-mail about the tremendous opportunity we have to stand with our persecuted family members in Nigeria who have lost a limb at the hands of radical Muslims.

We thank all who have prayed and contributed to VOM’s Families of Martyrs Fund, which serves the needs of these living martyrs!

If you would like to assist in providing new prosthetic limbs and help in other ministry outreaches to our persecuted family, click here.

The need for prosthetic limbs continues to grow, as radical Muslims try to eradicate Christians from Nigeria. We will work to meet every one of these needs and will stand with these believers as much as we are able.

It can be difficult to comprehend the suffering our family members endure, especially in countries like Nigeria, where attacks continue to intensify. Even more astounding is their steadfast faith in the face of these violent attacks. They are a testament to Christ’s love, and they encourage us in the realization that our true hope lies only in Him!

To help support our persecuted family in Nigeria and other hostile nations, please click here.

If you would like to view a list of resources on the persecuted church and online specials from VOM, please visit secure.persecution.com.

This online offer is being presented by The Voice of the Martyrs. For additional information, you may contact us by clicking here or calling our order line at 800-747-0085. To view our privacy policy, click here.

Order The Voice of the Martyrs’ 2014 Prayer Calendar

Order The Voice of the Martyrs’ 2014 Prayer Calendar

Prayer continues to be one of the main requests we receive from our persecuted brothers and sisters. Agreeing with them in prayer for their safety and faithful witness for Christ brings us into fellowship with them. “After going through what I went through, seeing other Christians go through suffering, having other Christians encourage me and pray for me, it all brought me closer to Christ.” — Awuna Sunday, injured in a bomb attack at a Nigerian church

The Voice of the Martyrs’ 2014 Prayer Calendar is an excellent tool to help us remember our persecuted family in prayer each day. Order yours now. Quantity discounts are available for those wishing to distribute prayer calendars to friends and family members. Click here to order yours now.

ANUGERAH KRISTUS BAGI SEORANG PEREMPUAN DI IRAN

ANUGERAH KRISTUS BAGI SEORANG PEREMPUAN DI IRAN

Sarah adalah seorang perempuan dari Iran, seorang pengikut Kristus yang berlatar belakang agama M. Beberapa tahun lalu, ia mengalami perampokan dan penembakan yang menyebabkan lehernya berlubang. Vonis medis pun menetapkan ia tidak akan bertahan hidup. Saat ini, penangkapan dan penculikan di Iran terus berlanjut; Iran menduduki peringkat ke-5 dalam WWL 2012.

"Diberkatilah orang yang mengandalkan TUHAN, yang menaruh harapannya pada TUHAN!" (Yeremia 17:7) Sarah tetap hidup. Sarah mengalami penggenapan firman Tuhan di atas.

Berkat anugerah Tuhan dialaminya saat tim medis melakukan pembedahan pada lukanya. "Saya menghabiskan waktu berjam-jam di dalam ruang bedah," kenang Sarah, "Namun, para dokter tetap gagal menutup lubang di leher saya. Tim medis telah angkat tangan. Mereka mengatakan bahwa mereka tidak dapat menyembuhkan luka saya."

"Oleh karena itu, di tengah ketakutan dan keputusasaan, saya terus berdoa kepada Tuhan. Sampai pada suatu pagi, saat dokter hendak mengganti perban saya, saya melihat mereka sangat terkejut! Lubang di leher saya telah sembuh! Para dokter menanyakan kepada saya, obat apa yang saya minum? Pengobatan apa yang saya jalani? Saya hanya dapat berkata dengan bangga, 'Saya hanya berdoa kepada Tuhan, Tuhan saya adalah Juru Selamat yang hidup.'"

Sangat luar biasa, seluar biasa proses penyembuhannya, Anugerah Tuhan terus mengalir dalam hidupnya. Sebagai umat Kristen yang belum dibaptis, Sarah telah lama berdoa dan bergumul untuk mendapatkan baptisan.

Tuhan pun menjawab kerinduannya, Tuhan membukakan jalan bagi Sarah untuk menerima baptisan pada saat konferensi Open Doors berlangsung. "Saya telah menanti baptisan selama tiga tahun. Pembaptisan ini sangat berarti untuk saya."

Tuhan memberikan anugerah pemulihan kepada Sarah, baik melalui fisik maupun spiritual. Bahkan, di tengah ketidakmungkinan yang dilihat dari mata manusia. Anugerah-anugerah Tuhan justru datang melalui cara-cara yang heran dan tidak terduga.

Jika saat ini saudara mengalami tekanan, berada di tengah ketidakmungkinan dan keputusasaan dalam pergumulan yang saudara alami, teruslah berdoa. Karena dalam kesaksian Sarah, kita dapat melihat karya agung Tuhan dalam kehidupan anak-anak-Nya yang berserah.

"Dokter dapat angkat tangan atas sakit yang dideritanya, bahkan saat Sarah angkat tangan atas pergumulan dan penderitaannya. Tetapi, Tuhan tidak pernah angkat tangan atas pergumulan dan hidupnya." Dan, percayalah Tuhan akan melakukan karya anugerah-Nya atas hidup saudara.

Teruslah berdoa untuk Sarah dan perempuan-perempuan lain yang terus bertahan hidup untuk Kristus di Iran. Seperti kita ketahui, sangat sulit untuk menjadi seorang Kristen di negara ini. Mereka disiksa, dipenjara, didiskriminasi, dan diasingkan. Berdoalah agar Sarah-Sarah lainnya dapat membuka hati dan menyerahkan segala khawatir dan harapannya kepada Kristus.

Saudara juga dapat memberkati dan menjadi saluran kasih Kristus kepada wanita-wanita yang teraniaya dan perempuan-perempuan yang mengalami keputusasaan dalam hidupnya. Mereka yang kehilangan pekerjaan, mereka yang harus kehilangan tempat tinggal karena imannya, dan mereka yang merupakan janda-janda martir. Open Doors memiliki proyek senilai Rp 300.000/perempuan untuk pelatihan keterampilan. Keterampilan yang dapat mereka gunakan untuk bertahan hidup, yang dapat membiayai anak-anak mereka, dan untuk memberkati orang-orang di sekitarnya.

Diambil dan disunting dari:
Judul Buletin: Frontline Faith, Mei - Juni 2012
Penulis: Tim Redaksi
Penerbit: Open Doors Indonesia, Jakarta
Halaman: 8