christian mission spring 2013

christian mission 1 www.christianaid.org

Christian Mission

REPORTING THE wORk OF INDIGENOUS MINISTRIES PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL AMONG UNREACHED PEOPLE

Celebrating 60 Years Helping Indigenous Missionary Ministries

FoCus on: Latin America Russia Africa


60 Years And Counting

by Cynthia H. Finley, President

Like those native missionaries who blaze the trails from village to village, carrying the gospel just over the mountain or through the next jun-gle, Christian Aid is a trailblazer for indigenous missions.

Sixty years ago, Christian Aid led the way in send-ing financial support to indigenous ministries based in lands of poverty and persecution. What began with a missionary journey in 1948 by Bob Finley led to the understanding of the most effective and efficient way to engage1 unreached people groups with the gospel. In those days doors were closing in areas where com-munism was on the rise, and American missionaries were being forced out of nations like northern Korea and China, where my husband, founder of Christian Aid, had thought he would settle as a foreign missionary. But the Lord showed him a different way.

He would return to the U.S. and work from this end sending finan-cial support to help native gospel workers win their own people to Christ. He thought that Christians living in prosperous countries should support indigenous missionaries in poorer countries who are already in the field, on the frontlines, working among the unreached. Thus believers here would enable them to finish the task of taking the gospel to every tribe, tongue and nation.

These courageous brothers and sisters live in their own culture and speak the language of those to whom they take the gospel. They know the hidden pathways to the most remote villages, into the deserts or into the heart of closed cities, and they are passionate about

reaching the unengaged1 with the message of the Lord Jesus. There is no better way to fulfill the Great Commission, so helping native missionaries continues to be the focus of Christian Aid.

I joined Christian Aid in 1970. The Lord led me here in the days when Bob Finley had recently met Nicholas Bhengu, a Zulu from Africa, P.J. Thomas of India, and Paul Pang of China. Christian Aid helped them raise funds to build their ministries. It was a joy to get to know them and understand who God had placed on His mission field.

Weve had the greatest impact in Nepal and China in the last 60 years, and particularly during the 40 years Ive been here. Bobs dream in China in 1948 was to start a Bible school to train native missionaries. But that dream

was shattered when he had to leave in 1949. At that time he could never have imagined that half a century later God would be using him and Christian Aid to help establish over 150 Bible institutes which would train and send more than 50,000 native missionaries. Nor could he have imagined that those 50,000 missionaries would win more souls and

plant more churches than did all the foreign missionaries combined during the 142 years they were there. God brought Freddie and Dorothy Sun to Christian Aid in 1987 to make this possible.

Then in 1990, Sarla Mahara of Nepal began help-ing Christian Aid by trekking high into the Himalayas to visit churches and the native missionaries who planted them. She often slept on the floors of village huts and ate the primitive food of tribal villagers as she searched

missionaries working in their own

nations are reaching the

unreached better than we

ever could.


Contents

60 Years and Counting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3

the Indigenous Way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5Light in Latin America . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9setting the Captives Free . . . . . . . . 10-13In Defense of the Gospel . . . . . . . . . 14-17 Working together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182012 Memorial Gifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19

Questions? Comments? Call 1-434-977-5650

email: [email protected]

BulK Quantities of Christian mission are available for churches and individuals willing to distribute them

among interested Christians.

CHRistian aiD missionP. o. Box 9037

Charlottesville, VA 22906434-977-5650

www.christianaid.orgCreDIt CArD gifts are accepted

by phone or online.

we love the brethren.. . . because

ChristianAid

Christian Aid is a member of the

Evangelical Council for Financial

Accountability

eDItor In CHIeF, Cynthia Finley PUBLICAtIons DIreCtor & DesIGn, John scully WrIter-eDItor, Joan Hutter FIELD DIRECTORS : LAtIn AMerICA, rosa Hart soUtH AsIA, sarla Mahara; AFrICA, Brittany tedesco ForMer Ussr, slavik radchuk; CHInA, Dorothy suns. e. AsIA, M. eAst, e. eUroPe, stephen Van Valkenburg

Christian

VoL. 39 no.1 spring 2013Mission

Copyright 2013 Christian Aid Mission. All data, materials, photographs and illustrations

are property of Christian Aid Mission.

Mission stateMent: We seek to establish a witness for our Lord in every tribe and nation (Luke 24:46-48) by supporting competent indigenous mission boards based in poorer countries, planting churches among unreached peoples.

GIVInG To CHRIsTIAn AID: Christian Aid Mission sends 100% of your offerings overseas for the missionary, child, cause, or ministry that you designate. Additional gifts are needed to cover operational expenses which come from gifts specifically designated for this purpose, from staff raising their support, and from general funds. to give to Chrsitian Aid and/or ministries mentioned in this magazine, contact:

out and held accountable the missions needing help. When we first began sending support to Prem Pradhan in 1967, there were fewer than 30 Christians in the entire country of Nepal. Some were in prison for their faith. Despite many years of per-secution, the number of Christians grew each year. By 2012, at least one million Christians were reported to live in Nepal, some within each of the 100 tribes scattered throughout the country.

Overall, Christian Aid has provided a U.S. headquarters for more than 800 indigenous ministries, which have deployed over 80,000 native missionaries, reaching 3,000 tribes or nations with the gospel.

This year we celebrate our 60th anniversary and want to tell the story of region after region in three issues of Christian Mission magazine. In this issue youll encounter the youth movement in the former Soviet Union and the young men and women who are giving a year of their lives to take Bibles to every village in Russia. Youll read of Gods work among West African nations despite increased persecution. And youll learn of the outreach to the poorest, most remote regions in Latin America.

And, something new, for the first time you can read Chris-tian Mission online or download it to your eReader.

We thank God for missionaries from Europe and America who took the gospel to unreached areas 150 years ago and for those who are still going out at great cost. But native mission-aries working in their own nations are reaching the unreached better than we ever could. Financially, helping an indigenous missionary who already speaks the language or is multi-lingual and can handle the living conditions just makes sense. We can build them up as they march forward into the final frontiers in preparation for our Lords return.

1Engaged/Unengaged: A Christian witness is started among an unreached people group/No contact has been established.


Bob Finley in China

Bob Finley starts ISI in Washington, DCISIs A.I.D. Division becomes Christian Aid Mission

Christian Aid moves to Charlottesville, Virginia

the Indigenous WayCHrIstIAn AID MArks 60 YeArs oF reACHInG tHe UnenGAGeD tHroUGH nAtIVe MIssIons by Joan Hutter

1948 1953 1957 1967 1970 1976 1988 1997 2005 2013

Bakht Singh visits Bob Finley in U.S.

Bob Finley begins supporting pioneer missionary Prem Pradhan in Nepal

History in the Heart of GodChristian Aids history flows from the heart of God. It is His idea to seek and save the most hidden peoples, tribes and nations, to bring

forth resounding praise from the earth. He clearly states in the Scriptures that all nations will come and

worship Him (Revelation 15:4). Christ Jesus purchased

for God men from every kindred, tribe, tongue and nation (Revelation 5:9). He is calling out a people for

His name (Acts 15:14).

He who has the purpose has the plan.There are two main styles of missions today. One

sends American believers overseas to poorer countries. The other sends financial help to those who minister

among their own people in those same regions. This is the story of Gods heart for indigenous missions, and how the seeds of support for native missionaries ministering

to unreached people groups in their own impoverished lands have sprouted over the last 60 years.

It began with a heart after Gods heart. As a

young, passionate evangelist, Bob Finley had an ear to hear what the Spirit was saying to his generation

concerning missions. While on a missionary journey as a young man, Finley gained a deep and profound

understanding that men and women ministering the gospel in their own lands are more effective than

foreigners are. What the nations needed was not

another foreign missionary. What they needed was funding for their own missionaries.

In 1948 a movement was born. The result? By 2012, there were more than 200 native worker

mission agencies in North America. These groups are dedicated to assisting indigenous ministries across

the globe. Christian Aid Mission was the pioneer

and provides a U.S. headquarters for more than 800 indigenous ministries, which deploy more than 80,000 native missionaries, reaching 3,000 tribes and nations

with the gospel. Christian Aid diligently seeks out

growing, financially accountable ministries reaching

areas and people groups who have no witness for Christ among them. Some of these areas are being reached with the gospel for the first time. Others have

been contacted, yet still have no believers living and

ministering among them.Indigenous missionaries can complete the task

of reaching every tribe with the gospel. They boldly trek through jungles and marshes, over mountainous regions and across rapid rivers to find the next village.


1948 1953 1970 1976 1988 1994 1997 2005 2013

Christian Aid moves to a larger adminis-tration building in Charlottesville.

Bob Finley publishes landmark book, Reformation in Foreign Missions

Far left to right: Bob Finley meets with indigenous leaders from Africa, India, China and Nepal.

what began as a missionary journey ended in a deep and profound understanding

of gods love for those men and women ministering the gospel in their own lands.

Freddie and Dorothy Sun come to launch Christian Aid China Division

Ukrainan Slavik Radchuk joins Christian Aid to help with former USSR

They minister in cities and reach out to university

students. They press on through poverty and persecution. They may own one shirt; they may lack

shoes. But they wear the gospel shoes of the Great Commission and consider their own lands their own responsibility. These native missionaries speak the language of hidden tribes, and they fill the earth with

the preaching of the Word. Beginnings of Christian Aid Mission

In 1948 Bob Finley went as a missionary to China. In 1949 communists expelled all missionaries. So Finley traveled to and ministered in other Asian countries. Soon, his eyes were opened to the strength of indigenous Christian ministries.

In 1953 after returning to the U.S., Finley started

International Students Inc., with headquarters office

space provided by Billy Graham in Washington, D.C. The ministry focused on winning foreign students to Christ; and, as they

returned home, the A.I.D. [Assisting Indigenous Developments] division assisted these students

to serve as missionaries to their own people. As A.I.D. grew and expanded it became Christian Aid Mission

when it was time to split off from ISI in 1970.

In 1976 Christian Aid headquarters were relocated from Washington to nearby Charlottesville.

The present headquarters building was purchased in 1997 from the Virginia Electric and Power Company for half of its appraised value. The purchase was made possible by a special bequest from a long time donor in Connecticut who went to be with the

Lord in 1996. The building serves as a communications

center for 800 missionary ministries that send tens of thousands of gospel workers to the field, with thousands more now in training for future service.

More than 60 percent of unreached people groups live in countries closed to missionaries from North America. But indigenous missionary ministries are

active in nearly all of those

countries. By sponsoring a native missionary, you can help them finish the work of preaching the gospel to every tribe, tongue and nation, until the return of our Lord Jesus.


Light in Latin AmericaFrom the jagged mountains to the basin jungles, indigenous missionaries go where we cant go by Joan Hutter


whether in the andes heights or along the deep flood regions of the amazon jungles,

the gospel is shining in latin america . . .

COVER PHOTO: Native missionaries with COA joyfully minister to new believers in the mountain villages of Peru. PHOTO TOP LEFT: Gospel workers journey over rugged terrain to reach those living high up in the Andes, where sheep are raised for wool.

PHOTO BOTTOM LEFT: with a boat provided by Christian Aid, missionaries take the gospel to the most remote basin areas.

Peru The unbearable, sub-zero cold would drive anyone back inside to nestle beneath a heap of llama skins. After all, burning moss, the only winter fuel source at this altitude, brings

just a hint of heat, and the few clothes these villagers own hang heavy and damp from their skeletal frames. Thin, thatched huts with frozen mud floors offer flimsy

protection from the elements. Children cough deep,

belly coughs that linger from last winter; they just

wont go away. The frigid wind gusts howl across the bald mountaintops where, at 14,000 feet, Quechua widows cant seem to provide enough warmth or nourishment to keep their young ones alive. But the love of God is shining through the outreach of native

missionaries, and those who believe find eternal hope

and a present help in this overwhelming situation.

Its very cold here and we do not have house heat in this small town of poor farmers, Julio, a church planting

missionary with Churches of Ayacucho (245COA), told Christian Aid, which sends support to the Peruvian-based

ministry. There is a great need for Jesus.

Theres a great cost in making Him known, but as these indigenous workers leave everything to reach the unreached, those hidden peoples in destitute

conditions are receiving Him and finding warm healing

for their souls.

NAtive MissioNAries trek through the rug-

ged ANdes BriNgiNg the gospel, as well as food, clothing, supplies and building materials to these people who continue to face hardship after a terrorist

persecution from more than a decade ago. The prov-ince of Ayacucho literally means corner of the dead, but CoA is claiming life in the name of Jesus for the Quechuas and has renamed the area Kausaqucho, or corner of the living. Led by Lazaro, they have planted 50 churches and continue to train, disciple and call

forth new believers to minister to their own people. As they turn to the Lord Jesus, they abandon

generational, tribal witchcraft and idol worship dating

back to the Incas. Even when many latched onto some form of Christianity, they only meshed the new

beliefs with their ancient ones. Still trapped in harmful

patterns, and without hope, they kept pouring out their

offerings to idols and celebrating feasts to gods they

had re-named as saints to appease the religious system.But when they encounter the gospel of the living

Lord, they experience great freedom from bondage.

Chains fall off and eyes are opened. In the name of

Christ Jesus, they have power to turn from sin and live a whole new life.

It is uplifting to see how the Lord is restoring the

lives of people who used to love worshipping idols, Lazaro reported in a ministry letter. Now they worship

the only true God.I shared the gospel with Thomas, a man who used

to abandon his family because he had alcohol and drug addiction, Segundino, a native missionary, shared in

a letter to his supporters through Christian Aid. He

received Jesus as his Savior and the Lord delivered him from bondage. Through his good testimony his wife

and children also came to the Lord.


A missionary team preaches the gospel in an open air campaign attracting villagers who come out to hear the gospel, and many receive Christ.

As Christian Aid marks its 60th anniversary year,

the Latin America division has grown to support ministries reaching into the most remote regions, no matter what the hindrances. Whether in the Andes

heights or along the deep flood regions of the Amazon,

the gospel is shining in Latin Americatouching tribes

in Mexico, Honduras, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Since the mid-1970s, Christian Aid has supported native missionaries here who, because of poverty and

persecution, would not otherwise have the ability to

reach out with the gospel. Persecution is very subtle in Latin America, said

Rosa Contreras Hart, born and raised in Peru and now director of the Latin America division for Christian Aid,

which helps 26 ministries in that region. Evangelical Christians are shunned. Believers rely on each other

for help because the community and their families will shut them out of everything, including farming. Instead of having people help them they are suddenly left alone to farm by themselves if they become a

Christian.

Yet, ministries are growing, despite these trials.the work oF the lord is MAkiNg pro-

gress, Hart said. We help ministries that go to the most hidden and remote places to reach the unreached. We couldnt go there. They can handle the high altitudes and cold, or the intense heat, the

food. They speak the language and respect the culture. From their own poverty, they are trying to help

others, she said.In a world of extremes of mountain heights and

deep, thick jungles believers in these developing nations truly are reaching into unknown cultures.

A missionary with a ministry working in the Amazon recently wrote of the effort to make friends with a

in a world of extremes of mountain heights and deep, thick jungles believers in these developing nations truly are reaching into unknown cultures.


Prison inmates find freedom when they meet the Lord and study the Bible behind bars.

primitive tribe. The worker, whose identity must remain

anonymous for protection, reported that believers in

a certain village received three visits from a tribal man who was stealing cassava roots from their farms, as well as cooking pots and machetes from their houses.

These un-contacted people take their opportunity when most of the villagers are away from their houses, and some of them have been seen unexpectedly, but have run away, the missionary shared. He taught the believers how to pray for the tribal men, and how to place gifts for winning their

friendship. Thats what they want, to open a door for the gospel.

C h r i s t i A N A i d s u p p o r t s indigenous ministries in 13 countries across Latin

America. In each region, workers have challenges, but with help and prayer they can meet them with courage.

Deep in the Amazon jungle challenges rise with the rivers as the sky opens and pours rain for several months straight. Its difficult to travel

from town to town. Gospel workers hike many miles and rejoice if they receive boots to temper their journey along the muddiest roads imaginable, washed out by flooding. Christian Aid has helped provide boats, too, for travel, which enable missionaries to carry the message farther. Yet intense heat penetrates the jungles, and myriads of mosquitoes multiplying

along thousands of tributaries carry malaria and other diseases.

In areas where the rivers run wide amid oppressive heat waves, the people struggle to find clean drinking wa-ter. The easiest way is to drop a pill in a bucket of water, but a machine also is used to distill the water. Children

often struggle with stomach illnesses in these areas.

Associated Ministries of Argentina (280ama) is fighting for the desperate need to bring clean water

to the Wichi people. They are making inroads by

representing the Wichi on a governmental level. Through the work of AMA, many unreached groups are gaining a witness for Christ and receiving the Bible in their own language.

Not even prison doors can hold back the light of the gospel, as prison outreach of ecuador (235Poe) reaches inmates and feeds their poor, hungry families. When inmates hear the gospel and profess Jesus as Savior, they are set free in their hearts. They may be behind bars, but they are off the streets and away from

temptations of drugs, alcohol and gangs, as they grow

stronger in their faith. Imagine planting a church in a

prison courtyard, where incarcerated men or women hear the gospel, study the Bible, receive baptism and

are raised up in new life to disciple others. There is great freedom behind bars.

In a world where the needs seem overwhelming, where the cold is bitter and the heat sweltering, where

poverty confines whole people groups and where

joblessness and alcoholism drive men to prison, the Lord is moving; His light is shining; the transforming

love of God, shown through native missionaries, is

streaming into the most remote places. And the light in Latin America is bearing fruit for the kingdom of God.


setting the Captives FreeIn every Village, every CityYOUNG BELIEVERS COMMIT ONE YEAR TO DELIVER NEW TESTAMENTS TO EVERY UNENGAGED VILLAGE THROUGHOUT FORMER SOVIET LANDS by Joan Hutter

Believers living in the former Soviet Union know about freedom. They also remember the cost of freedom and the stone cold prison floors of persecution they experienced in the years of waiting

for an opening, any opening, for the gospel. Even in the most challenging times they met, preached, and

prayed. Those were the days when 300 people shared five Bibles, all hand-copied, and if anyone was caught

with a page of Scripture in their home, he was arrested and imprisoned for three to five years. Yet, they never stopped believing revival day would come.

And it did. In 1988, after 70 years of oppression

and persecution, the leader of the former USSR lifted

the ban, and Christianity busted like a lion out of

its cage. Open crusades drew thousands, and new churches were born. The people craved truth. They sought the Lord, and He answered and delivered them.

Much has happened in a quarter of a century.

Since the iron curtain lifted, the gospel has run swiftly through those lands.

Today, more than 70 percent of Christians are under age

25. Bibles now are being printed in the former Soviet

Union. The gospel is flourishing, but evangelical Christianity still falls low on the list of religions for

that area of the world, and threats loom of changing

laws and closing doors. Persecution continues in some

regions. While Ukrainian and Russian missionaries have journeyed far and wide, still, some 130,000 villages and

cities have never heard the gospel and have no church

or witness among them. In Ukraine, there are 25,000 unreached villages.

With a sense of urgency, church leaders today are uniting with one heart and desire to engage the

unreached with the Word of God. The plan: Send short-term missionary teams from village to village to preach, witness and leave four New Testaments in every village.

That the Truth would set them free. Maybe in a few years I can report that all Russia

and all the former Soviet Union with a communist background in every village, in every city that we delivered New Testaments, and we were able to preach the gospel to them, said Ukrainian evangelist Slavik Radchuk, field director for Christian Aid Mission since

1994, who is working with thousands of believers to accomplish the task.

When we come before His holy throne, we can say we did everything to witness to our people, he said with tears. All nations must come before His

holy throne.

one Year for Jesus

Two thousand believers at a recent conference joined together in the One Year for Jesus project.

we called for these young

missionaries to give one year for jesus. one year of their lives for the

gospel.


We called for these young missionaries to give one year for Jesus. One year of their lives for the gospel, said Slavik, who works to discover, encourage and support indigenous ministries all across the former Soviet Union. Two hundred young people came forward and we laid hands on them to send them out.

For the project in Russia, the group needs 520,000 copies, and for Ukraine, 100,000 copies of the New Testament. Already, these missionaries are going in small groups. Theyre moving from the southern regions to the northern, from village to village. In the last year God has enabled them to purchase and distribute more than 120,000 New Testaments. But they need help to finish the task. Support sent through

Christian Aid will enable them to get the job done. One copy costs 48 cents, Slavik

said. Add 50 cents for each missionarys expenses to deliver a New Testament into the hands of a yet-to-believe man or woman. Thats 98 cents per New Testament. If people get saved, we then

send a missionary to plant a church. (380 bms)

He tells a story of an older lady who has known only communism her

whole life. She had never heard the gospel. When indigenous missionaries visited

her village and stopped to share with her, she listened and believed.

They handed her a copy of the New Testament and she wept because the knowledge of the glory of the Lord had now come to her. What had been hidden from her eyes had now been made known.

the hidden Years

Christianity in the former USSR dates back to

the baptism of Prince Vladimir of Kiev in 988. Yet in

1917, after the Russian Revolution, communist leaders

proclaimed they would rid the country of believers in Christ. New Testaments were destroyed. The government made a law about the spiritual source (Bibles): Anyone

possessing a New Testament in his home would go to jail for three to five years.

For 70 years the Bible was hidden. Ladies secretly labored to copy each scripture by hand to produce a single Bible over a 10 year period.

I asked my pastor if he had a Bible, Slavik said, speaking of his teenage years. He said no, we had only five Bibles for the whole congregation Slavik

would soon learn that he was born to carry the Word to his people.

Yet, in the 1970s and early 1980s believers had to hide to worship the Lord, and Christianity spread as a

whisper. Slavik went with his dad to the underground house church three times a week at 6 a.m. His mother

BMS missionaries work to establish a witness for Christ in Siberia by leaving four Bibles in every village.

slavik would soon learn that he was

born to carry the

word to his people.

Some who have known only communism weep when they hear the gospel.


taught him to pray, and his dad taught him to preach. So thats what he did. He prayed for unreached villages and, beginning at age 14, preached to the assembly of 20 to 30 believers gathered in the forest in summer and in a small apartment in winter. But police found them, and Slavik was jailed for a few weeks. When released, he knew he had to leave that oppressive land or hed end up serving long years in prison.

Slavik carried the Word in his heart. He and his friend Sergei Sharapa traveled as scouts, much like Joshua and Caleb, to spy out the land all across the former Soviet Union to see where the gospel could be preached. They discovered only 40 churches in Russia and a few hundred evangelical churches in all former Soviet republics. They preached the gospel and saw many come to Christ.

They kept praying, raised up more volunteers and split up to search out five areas which were more

open to the gospel. For years these teams served the Lord, ministering to the underground churches

in the former Soviet Union. Finally, freedom came. Mikhail Gorbachev became party head in 1985 and initiated glasnost and perestroika. By 1988, these young evangelists had complete freedom. Slavik held a crusade in a field in Rivne, Ukraine and 20,000 people

attended. Through more crusades, tens of thousands

came to Christ. No more would they be hidden.

the Freedom Years

A new freedom had blown in like a wind from heaven. But this freedom still called for courage. It

lingers with a matchless urgency. Slavik recalls the story that changed his life

forever. In 1987, the year of freedom, he came upon a car accident. A lady was weeping, trapped beneath the car, pregnant, ribs broken and hardly breathing.

I remember the Lord said to tell her about Him, Slavik recounted the story at a recent staff meeting at

Christian Aid Mission headquarters in Charlottesville,

Virginia. I kept feeling that I should open my mouth.

Through the crusade ministry of Slavik Radchuk, hundreds come forward to receive the Lord Jesus.


But he couldnt bring himself to speak. The years of hushed Christianity still subdued him. When she

arrived at the hospital, the woman, Valentina, was

taken straight to surgery. Slavik went home and could not shake the image of the suffering woman who could

barely breathe. He decided he would return the next day and tell her about Jesus.

The next day I came back to tell her, he said. But she and the baby had died. I missed the opportunity to tell Valentina about Jesus,

for her salvation. That changed me. I told

the Lord, No matter what, Ill preach salvation. No matter what the cost. If I

have to die in Siberia, I give my life to You.

He felt more liberty in that moment, as if the last curtain of fear had lifted, and

he was a surrendered evangelist, ready to give his life for the gospel.

With this new freedomboth in

the republic and in his heartSlavik and

his team registered their ministry, Good samaritan Mission (368gsm). In the beginning they lived on just $5 per month. But the support of Christian Aid

has enabled Slavik and his indigenous missionary teams to visit most of the former USSR.

impact at the highest level

More breakthroughs have come with time and prayer. Slavik has preached to hundreds of thousands of people through crusades, and to millions via radio and television.

Youth Movement

God is moving on every level. Hundreds of missionaries have been sent out to minister to the people groups in their own regions who have no witness for Christ among them.

I invite you to work together for the former Soviet Union, he said. Soviet Union people are hard prayers. The spiritual atmosphere is three times greater there

than in America. Seventy percent of believers are young people.

There is a true youth movement impac ting Russia, Ukraine and the surrounding nations today. Since the gospel

broke through with momentum 25 years ago, most believers are young people. They hear the gospel at a crusade and come forward, weeping, to receive forgiveness from their sins and place their trust in the Lord Jesus. They are hearing the gospel in their own language, no longer just Russian, and taking the message to their own cities

and nations.

Thankful HeartsIn the last 10 years Slavik discovered pockets

of believers in the central Asian states. He also has developed video Bible schools to train, disciple and fortify new Christians while the doors remain open.

God used Dr. Finleys vision and desire for these past 60 years, he said. Now we lift up his hands and carry

his vision. Because of Christian Aid, there are believers

and Christian churches in Ukraine and the former USSR.

since the gospel broke

through with

momentum 25 years

ago, most believers are young

people.

Many youth come to Christ in a world closed to the gospel just 25 years ago.


by Rae Burnett, contributing writer

How many times have we heard that African Christianity is a mile wide and an inch deep? After 18 years of travelling the continent in search of independent indigenous ministries reaching their nations with the gospel, I have to agree with that conclusion. Joyful faces, exuberant music and dancing, even enthusiastic preaching and profound testimonies, do not necessarily indicate a depth of knowing God.

There is much more to knowing God and making Him known than raising your hand in a meeting or at-tending church on Sunday. Salvation is past, present, and future. A mans new birth cannot be disconnected from his life in Christ any more than a newborn babys can. And for those who know God, a glorious eternal future with Him awaits.

Christian Aid supports African missionary min-istries that make very sure that anyone wanting to become a Christian understands the gospel very well. That it means entering into Christs death, burial, and resurrection as Paul explains in l Corinthians 15. And that being born again enables the believer to live Christs life by the indwelling Holy Spirit and to grow daily in knowing Him and making Him known to oth-ers. Discipleship is the way of life defined by Jesus in Luke 9:23-24: And He said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

All of these ministries face increasing persecution

and unimaginable difficulties from corrupt govern-ments, wars, unrelenting natural disasters, disease, poverty, cultural and religious barriers, on and on. Encouraged and empowered by recent political con-cessions to terrorism and financed by billions of Middle East dollars, Muslims are growing bolder in their dis-crimination and violence against believers. Native mis-sionaries are especially vulnerable and visible targets.

Yet the greatest threat to the gospel and native mis-sionaries who are true to it, remains the same as in the days of Jesus and the early churchtraditional religion.

Many Africans reject the gospel because of the lives of those who call themselves Christians, and most of the persecution of these native Africa ministries comes directly from the Christianity brought by foreigners.

Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel, (Philippians 1:15-17).

I am very grateful to the Lord for the privilege of supporting the following ministries through Christian Aid. I personally know every leader and many of their missionaries. I have exhaustively visited many fields, and these are a few representations of those, which I can guarantee, live and preach the full gospel of Jesus Christ in spite of personal danger. All need regular com-mitted support as well as funding for various projects, most of which are for the purpose of enabling the work to become self-sustaining.

In Defense of the Gospel

Congo Brazzaville

Guinea BissauGuinea Conakry

Mali

Burkina Faso

ivory Coast

Nigeria

togo

senegal

EnlARgEd AREA

Niger

CHRISTIAN AIDS 60TH YEAR: THE GOSPEL FLOURISHES IN AFRICA


seNegAl With support from Christian Aid, life Mis-sions Africa has grown to include an orphanage, a conference center, two Christian schools, schools of missions and discipleship, as well as multiple village mission bases. lMA holds two conferences every year which have profoundly affected the spiritual life of Senegal and beyond. Every month, more than 500 believers gather for a weekend of worship, teaching,

and fellowship at lMAs Life Center. Thousands have been born again,

including a large number of Africans visiting this international melting pot. As of today, there are more than 40 cell groups (left) doing evangelism and

discipleship throughout the country, including believers from every Sen-egalese tribe. Every week there are

baptisms, and new cells are formed. After discipleship and missionary training, many of

the men and women who have met the Lord through lMA return home to begin their own ministries. They are preaching the gospel and discipling converts in Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Niger, Benin, Togo, Congo Braz-zaville, France, and the USA. 522LMA

ivorY CoAst After nine years of discipleship and missionary training, seven Ivoirians who met the Lord in Senegal returned home to establish Gospel of the Cross Ministries. Missionaries settled strategically throughout the country, holding seminars and planting cell groups. In recent years, Ivory Coast has suffered political strife and instability that totally changed the once peaceful and prosperous nation. This has resulted in openness to the gospel in spite of the strongholds of traditional religion, Islam, and witchcraft. Many have come to the Lord. gCM is praying for land for an agricultural project to support their mission base and a future school of missions and discipleship. 536GCM

guiNeA BissAu One of five African countries colonized by Portugal, Bissau suffers language isolation, political instability, and extreme poverty. As in all of Africa, Is-lam is making headway, and traditional African religion (witchcraft) permeates the culture. overcoming Faith

Ministries and restoration in Christ Mission, the two vibrant ministries that Christian Aid helps here, live and work in dense jungles (above), without electricity and

clean water. They desperately need regular support to plant churches where there are none and disciple converts. Their homes are full of children and widows with no means of caring for themselves. Both leaders received extensive missions and discipleship training at Africa School of Missions. 526OFM, 526RCM


NIGerIA For 28 years, Missionary Crusaders Minis-tries leader Gabriel Barau has trained workers to evan-gelize Muslim, idolatrous, and hostile people groups. Today, despite the danger of being attacked by Islamic terrorists, MCMs 118 missionaries are committed to remaining in their fields among 16 unreached people groups. Since mid-2009, Boko Haram has murdered and maimed thousands of men, women and children, and they are only getting bolder. When necessary, MCM uses tentmaking, literacy classes, schools (right),

medical treatment, or humanitarian aid to open doors for missionaries to enter a village.

MCM is the preeminent voice for the gospel in this influential African country. They badly need a new missions base. MCM has always rented from a

N I G e r a n d BurkiNA FAso Neighbors of Mali, they share a simi-lar culture and dangers. Poverty mandates that ev-ery day is a strug-gle for survival. Though not under terrorist occupa-tion, the threat of Al Qaeda is always present. Islam and witchcraft have the nation in bondage. Christian Aid supports strong ministries in both countries, life in Jesus Ministries in Niger (left) and Hope of Glory

togo Since his conversion from Islam, Christopher Djatta has been threatened, poisoned, maligned, in-sulted and cast out of his home. Nothing has deterred him from pushing forward with the gospel, especially into resistant Muslim areas where he well understands the culture and the mindset. Christian Aid has enabled warriors for Christ Ministries to begin construction of a school of missions and discipleship. Twenty three missionaries are reaching 13 tribes throughout the country. Many have used tentmaking (photo) or the

provision of a well to gain entrance into closed tribal areas. 546WFC

Muslim landlord and now needs funds for their own headquarters, which can be built in stages. Christian Aid has provided for the purchase of land as well as funds for MCMs two schools of missions. 550MCM

Ministries in Burkina (right). Their leaders and several

missionaries have been trained at Africa school of Missions (AsoM) and are bringing committed men and women into the kingdom, baptizing, discipling, and establishing them in the faith. 511LJM, 544HGM


MAli The eyes of the world are on this miserably poor country as Al Qaeda arms terrorists to Islamize the nation, imposing the brutality of Sharia. In the midst of this danger, as well as centuries of witchcraft, Keita risks his life daily to proclaim the gospel.

Keita met the Lord in Senegal and remained for four years of discipleship and missions training. Once a highly-placed powerful Muslim sheikh and expert in Islam, he has a broad sphere of influence. Keita told me right before leaving for Mali, As of now, I do not know one Christian in my country. At first I will be alone. But visit me in two weeks, and you will see disciples! Though disowned by his family and threatened with death, Keita is actively baptizing and planting home cell groups. His ministry is called Glory of the Gospel Ministries. 509GGM

CoNgo BrAZZAville A bloody and devastating civil war left thousands to suffer without adequate food, clothing, housing or education. Hundreds of destitute children have been rescued, sheltered, fed, and edu-cated by Brazza for Christ. Many Congolese are coming to the Lord and meeting in home cell groups. When funds permit, BFC missionaries are planning to open a school of missions and discipleship for Central Africa on land provided by Christian Aid. It will be modeled after AsoM, where the leader and his workers were trained. There are also plans for BFC headquarters, a Christian school and orphanage on the property. 564BFC

CoNAkrY This country is on fire with the gospel as a result of life Missions Africas Annual Young Mens conference in Senegal. Born again through the teach-ings, several Guineans then attended Africa School of Missions training for discipleship and missions and re-turned home to start gospel outreach Ministries and Mission of the implantation of living Cells. Between them, there are 17 village fields, cell groups through-

out the country, and over 40 evangelists, including a university professor who has five cell groups. Right now there are 19 who are praying to receive training at ASOM. Even the long-resistant Susu tribe has believers who are being discipled. 528GOM, 528MILC

As I write this, my mind pictures so many scenes with each of these ministries. I long to convey what I have seen and experienced: lives poured out to make the Lords name known in the earth. Each one has so many needs that, if met, would greatly expedite the task. Almost every worker would benefit from a motor-cycle. Some need a car. Buildings are rarely adequate. The support they receive is often insufficient to pay for schooling and proper nutrition for missionary children, especially in remote areas. I pray that the Lord will touch our hearts to pray for our brothers and sisters in Africa and to send all the support we can.


This year marks the 200th anniversary of Adonirum Judsons arrival in Burma in 1813, his legacy reaching far into the heart of this complicated land. He trans-lated the New Testament into Burmese, but during the Anglo-Burmese war of 1824-26 he was imprisoned and almost lost the handwrit-ten document.

Maung Ing, Judsons fourth convert, rescued the manuscript, which guards had unwittingly discarded. Maung Ings great-great-great-grandson, Maung Tun, started Witness-ing for Christ (715WFC), an indigenous ministry assisted by Christian Aid that planted dozens of churches in the 1970s and 80s. His son, Ronnie Tin Maung Tun, heads the ministry today.

Jean Pinkham, an American, has a heart

for Burma that started in her youth when she picked up the biography of Adoniram Judson. Later in life she connected with indigenous Burmese ministries when she and her hus-band, Wesley, gave shelter in their home to Ronald Lalthanliana (Thana), an indigenous

believer who founded Myanmar gospel outreach (715MGO), a ministry Christian Aid has helped for decades.

Jeans initial support through Christian Aid was a simple gift toward a boat project to aid native Burmese missionaries in 1991. Twenty years later Jeans giving through Christian Aid continues.

Her lengthy commitment toward minis-tries in an unreached area was spurred by a thread of Prayerline entries over the years, and her impact has been dynamiclaying

foundational stones for Gods kingdom with generational significance.

Nearly five years ago Jean heard about Christine, a woman who was unable to ignore the plight of homeless children after the devastating typhoon, Nargis, hit Myanmar (Burma) in April 2008. Christine gathered

young children off the street and started light of Myanmar orphanage (715LMO).

With help from Christian Aid, Christine kept the orphanage going, in part because Jean Pinkham stepped in to support Christine, along with numer-ous mission endeavors in Myanmar (Burma). Jean lives in urban southern

Californiaa far stretch from the reality

in Burma. But sisterhood in Christ cre-ates a bond beyond Burmese borders.

Believers following Jeans pattern of behind the scenes, long-term involve-

ment with ministries in a single country are laying foundational stones to build the church of Christ in regions plagued with darkness for centuries.

The Great Commission calls believers to unite in long-term, Spirit-empowered engagement to build His church, one living stone at a time. Working together in this way is the model for effective missions.

A 2o YeAr CoMMItMent to sUPPort InDIGenoUs MInIstrIes In BUrMA BY one CHrIstIAn AID Donor

Working togetherGifts sent to Christian Aid in memory of friends and family members are used to further the gospel worldwide through native missionaries. An appropriate card is sent to the bereaved and tax-deductible receipts to the donors.

When sending memorial gifts, please include the name and address of the family member whom Christian Aid may notify about your gift.

in Remembrance ofGiven by

Donald o. allen Mary M. Allen

Jim allison David t. Pricelouis anthis

Felicitas Anthismihran and adrien Bazikian

ralph Angione, Ann tracy Ansell, Gary A. Assadourian, Charles and Aida Bazikian, Daniel A. Bazikian, Paul D. Bazikian, susan Dadian, Patrick and Arpinee Buongiorno, Jack and saynik Cilingiryan, Gail e. Litzkow, Jenny Hovsepian, Carl and stella kapikian, samuel D. and Wyllis Paravonian, Alice Philibosian, savarsh and sosy shishmanian, John and Azadouhie Vartanian, Leda Yesilcimen, Christopher and kristen Zakian, Laura Zakian

Robert e. Carlson Mrs. robert e. Carlson; Boulder neurosurgical Associates, PLLC

Carmen Cintron Guadalupe Gonzalez

Cindy Connell David t. Price

sam Dawson Mrs. Charles Ditmars

George Dobrowolskirobert and Janice Pripps

mrs. linda Dunlap nancy Charles-Parker

merida erickson robert and Janice Pripps

Priscilla fisher Mary-Ann salvatore

malcolm G. finley, sr. Mrs. Brooks Monroe, Jeffrey and Christine riley

lt. thomas fouke nancy Charles-Parker

osea Galletta Carrie Ferri

Christine with her mother and orphans.

Jean Pinkham


Philip and noemi alajajianRonald and Marjorie alfanoFrank a. alianoFelicitas anthisMrs. araceli D. antonioMarilyn s. antoshLou ann BagnallKelly and Jane BakerWilliam H. BarnesKent and stephanie BaumanMyrna D. Bayogthe estate of adrien BazikianLorraine Behrsnancy D. BestJacob D. Bettsnorma J. BillingsleyRudy and Lavonne BlancoHerman and audrey Bollstuart BrickerMatthew and alison BrombergDean and Barb BrooksMrs. Constance P. BrownMarion BryantWilliam and Lois CadwalladerCarlos and Diana CarralesGreg and Vicki CarsonJose Roberto CataquizVictor s. and Lily t. ChangHenry and Jennie Cheneric and Jennifer ChinMr. Robert Chuivan e. Cobbelfren ColincoBarbara B. CorrellRobert and anne CrowJebaraj and Queeny DavisJudith a. De PoeDonald G. DeibertFrank Deierholtammy Derricoeleonora M. DiceyDavid and Michele DiedrichDonald R. DilworthBarbara DimondiJack DongJan Dykstra

Rev. eleanor J. edwardsel Rancho Del Rey Boys Home - MexicoWilliam and Laurie ellsoosLynn P. elmDrs. Paul and Ruth entnerMr. and Mrs. John M. FarrantReggie and Diana FerreeCarrie FerriKenneth FoxPaul and Rebecca FreelMr. and Mrs. John GaryMichael and Patricia GentJohn and naomi Gerrardalice V. Gevinganne GeweJanet M. Gillinghaminez L. GlassBill and sana Glassburnelizabeth Gradystan and Patricia GrecianF. sue GreenMargaret a. HaileyJohn and Mary HallLillie HandBernadette M. HardingerMr. and Mrs. Donald HarrisCharlene HarveyMr. and Mrs. Dighton Headearl and alice HedlundDavid G. HerbChris and Donna HerrlinMr. Le Bron J. HoldenJudith L. HornJoseph and shirley HorvathDarrel W. HudsonDavid Hultgrensusan JacoxRossana JavierHaiyan JiangMrs. Charles JohnsonClifford and Judith JohnsonMr. F. t. JonesJewel JonesLilly KassardjianHelen a. KaufmanGrace V. Kershawsonja H. KnightlyJulie e. KohsyRichard and sherrill KuiperVincent and Jing LanLesli H. Laphamirene LawsonFrances LeeMr. and Mrs. Frank LeePierre LeonardJyh-Laing and Da-Lu LinRong Lin and Reda BotrosPaul-Lois Lindbergsusan LoftonJack D. LongJoan e. LongsdorfDonald and Catherine Lukearlene MackillopHuddie and sherian Mardirosian

elizabeth W. MarshKerry McCarthyisabel McLeodelizabeth Y Li and stephen Meiines G. MentzerJanet B. MeyersRichard and Laurel MilliganDonald L. Minnichtalmage and Pamela Minteredwin and Linda MorrisMichael and Jacque MurphyMr. and Mrs. LeRoy Musselmanthomas and therese ngVerda t. norvilleKay ovitzGene and Linda Jo PowellJoe PrallRaymond and Monica Prawlsteven G. PrettymanDavid and Karen ReimersJerry and Jessica shaver RenshawJospeh and naomi RiceMeredith W. Richardimelda RodarteDonna RogersJavier RossanaMrs. Jeannette H. RussFern sanfordDr. everett W. schaefferLynne schmetzerRebecca schmidtanita selzerMarjorie shaferHelen shaoMadeline B. shawWayne and susan sheltonRonald shortevelyn smithMaj. and Mrs. John F. snyderJim and Lucinda speersHope swilleyBenjamin n. taylorYvonne L. taylorRufus H. tisbiGerald tryonamy L. tuckerCharles turnerRobert and audrey turpaudDale and Marcy UsherDuane and susan UsherM. J. VrentasMichael and Luanne WachulaLarry and Regela WalzJoel e. and Mary Jane WarkentinPo Ka alice WongMaureen WuWei-Chiu and Linda YaoPurita and Wing K. YeeMariah YipPilar YuLin Li and Gang Zhousharon Zylstra

2012 Memorial Gifts the following gifts sent in memory of freddie sun were received after september 30, 2012. Contributions received prior to this date were listed in the Fall 2012 issue of Christian MISSION magazine.

All these gifts are being used to further the gospel work of indigenous ministries in China and the ongoing work of the China Division of Christian Aid Mission.

Judy J. Glover ron raushenbach, Jacobs technology, Inc.

Clarence Hall Barry and Mary Pence

michael Harkness David t. Price

fred Hecht nancy Charles-Parker

molly Honesco Cynthia Chmiko

Dr. sam Hsu nancy Charles-Parker

Delbert Kistler richard and sandra kupres

Bill Koski robert and Janice Pripps

sarah Kukiriza Deb, tim, and Mike Broderick

faye frantz liken roger, Jonna and Bob Brakebill; Lakewood Church, robert H scott, John P. kennedy

Bruce lindbeck David t. Price Jack t. long, Jr. James B.

and Marjorie M. robertsonDorothy P. lowe

D. t. ormesher, ralph and Jinnie Lowealice e. malmquist

rebecca A. schmidtlillian mcClendon

Alvin and Judy Le BlancKent miller

robert and Janice PrippsRuth morrison

rebecca s. HummDenise myers Allen MyersRay nolet David krohnertelaine smith

Ann s. Crowellsunshine summers

susan summers foster Vdell

robert and Janice PrippsDavid Walker

Deb, tim, and Mike Broderickmarilyn marcella VanDerWerff

nancy Charles-Parkermarguerite Willing

richard and sandra kupresmrs. francis Zeivel

robert and Janice Prippsmerlyn Zell

Jennifer L. Djakovich, Chris and nellie schmidt, karen Hesson Brady, richard and Cheryl Fullmer, kathleen M. Cook, Laura and rita Pearson


.

non-profit organizationAUto

U.s. Postage PAIDLong Prairie, MnPermit no. 908

CHrIstIAn AID MIssIon P.o. Box 9037 CHArLottesVILLe, VA 22906

eleCtRoniC seRViCe ReQuesteDwe love the brethren.. . . because

ChristianAid

60:142 CM13-1

Your support for Christian Aid is . . .

. . . making an evangelistic impact in areas of poverty in the philippines

. . . reaching unreached villages with the gospel on the vast sub-continent of south asia

. . . helping refugees from syria

. . . assisting bible schools in china

christian mission spring 2013

Documents

indigenous missionaries

native missionaries

founder of christian

focus of christian aid

foreign missionaries

american missionaries

native gospel workers

years ive