The Body of Christ spans across borders. Even when we can’t speak one another’s language, worshipping the Lord together demonstrates our unity. That’s why Global Disciples is placing a new emphasis on worship in their discipleship training.

Tim Singer*, Global Disciples’ new worship specialist says, “Our goal is to raise up regional worship leaders, give them more training, and help them discover how they can train others within their own unique cultural context.

“So in other words, we’re not going to bring the songs we sing here in America with us. Instead, [we] teach them to write their own songs, use their own cultural resources, use the instruments that they have, and encourage them to have their own unique expression of worship. That’s where the beauty is.”

But most of all, Singer says they are encouraging worship leaders “to find that sincerity, that authentic expression that leads us into the presence of God.”

(Photo courtesy of Jon Tyson via Unsplash)

Global Disciples has helped plant thousands of churches around the world over the years. They noticed the need for a worship focus after hearing many of these new churches struggling in the area of worship.

Collaborating in cross-cultural worship, however, can be a daunting task. Even across denominations or across the street, congregations and church leaders have very different approaches to worshipful expression.

It may not be an easy endeavor, but it is worthwhile to proclaim the name of Jesus through worship to a lost and hurting world.

As Global Disciples comes alongside these international churches, Singer plans to listen to and learn from the other worship leaders as well.

“When I meet with someone who’s a musician, hearing their music and pointing out what is really beautiful about what they do, that’s unique. I worked a lot in different cultural contexts in Europe and throughout Eastern Europe and some parts of Asia already, and I saw that take place. We just started doing music together and then encouraging and saying, ‘Wow, that is really beautiful. That’s really special. How could you go further in that area?’… They’re so thrilled when their local culture is lifted up.”

This recently played out when Singer collaborated on worship recordings for a Global Disciples training with leaders from Africa, Asia, North America, and South America.

(Photo courtesy of Gabriel Gurrola via Unsplash)

“I wasn’t given much notice, but I was able to quickly find two people from Kenya and we took one of their Swahili songs and I transcribed it…and then also I wrote a singable translation for it. We sang it in Swahili and sang it in English. It was simply one of the most powerful worship songs I’ve encountered in a long time.”

As Global Disciples launches worship training and experiences, they are looking to connect with more worship leaders from around the world. Click here to contact Global Disciples and ask about their worship initiatives!

Global Disciples is also searching for new worship resources and other creative contributions. Singer says, “One part that I’m glad we were able to include in my job description is to celebrate creativity, to help local churches understand their creative artists (who are so often misunderstood) and how their gifts are crucial in the body of Christ. Sometimes, our artists are modern-day prophets. They have ways of saying things that can’t be expressed in words. How do we utilize those gifts in the Church?

“We’re also looking for partnerships with churches in the US,” Singer says. “We want to do some international, collaborative worship experiences that bring people together across languages and cultures and get that flow of resources going in each direction.”

You can learn more about Global Disciples ministry at their website here!

*Last name changed for security purposes.

To help the Church make the transition from pandemic to normalcy, Barna recently published “Three Questions for Church Leaders to Ask Before Reopening.” We reached out to Ed Weaver of Spoken Worldwide, an organization that focuses on providing discipleship resources for orality-based learning, and asked him those questions.

“What are the local and government regulations currently in place in my church’s area, and how should I lead my congregation in light of these?”

Every part of the world can answer the first part of this question differently, but Weaver points out that many Christians are responding to the same regulations. Weaver says 90% of Spoken Worldwide’s partners have interstate travel restrictions, 65% have restrictive local travel, and nearly 55% have restricted public transport.

(Photo courtesy of Unsplash)

Fortunately for Spoken Worldwide, most of their groups only have between 10-15 people, keeping them under most crowd limitations still in place. Still, it’s enough to keep them pursuing new solutions to pandemic and lockdown conditions.

But leading a congregation means more than simply knowing the rules. “At the core of all this has to be the question of, ‘Okay. How am I compassionate toward the members of my small discussion group?’” Weaver says. “‘How do I lead them? How do I meet their needs?’”

Every community presents its own unique challenges. Some families face severe economic downturn; others have little to no access to food. Ask your neighbors what they need. Listen to their response. Show them Christlike compassion.

Once believers have these answers, they need to consider what they can do to help.

“If you look at the first-century church and specifically in the first couple of chapters of Acts, you see people gathering together and sharing what they have,” Weaver says. “One of the things we can be encouraging any of our churches, whether they’re here in the US or whether they’re abroad, is to be able to say, ‘What are the needs of my people and how am I meeting the needs of my people? … am I helping them solve what their real core felt need is and then be able to minister to them spiritually as well?’”

“How can I intentionally connect with my people—and encourage them to connect with others—without putting them at risk?”

Connection requires intentionality. And when it comes to local churches, Weaver says church leaders need to step up to the plate. It’s easy to get wrapped up in all the strife Christians face as individuals, but what about others?

“This is a great discipleship opportunity for all of us, not just in the developing world, but here in the United States is to say, ‘I’m leading somebody,’ you know. I think we all have heard this, ‘Somebody’s watching you and somebody’s following you, whether you know it or not.’”

True, face-to-face discipleship is off the table for many believers. But Weaver urges leaders to pursue intentional options to fill that now-vacant gap. Consider texting congregation members or believers you sit next to in the pew. Reach out via social media or give people a call.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash

“Certainly take care of yourself, but also be aware that you’re connected to people that you’re responsible for shepherding.”

Everyone needs encouragement at this time. Maybe you can help provide some of that relief.

“What has the pandemic revealed about my formation as a church leader and what opportunities are before me because of this?”

On one hand, Weaver believes the pandemic has unfortunately revealed that much of the Church is anxious, fearful, and even selfish. They may have struggled to trust God in all of this, focusing instead on protecting themselves according to their own limited power and resources.

On the other hand, this is an opportunity.

“He’s the one that’s going to get glorified in the endgame,” Weaver says. “I think this is a perfect opportunity for us to point to Scripture and just say ‘Okay, let’s take a deep breath, and let’s recognize that God is going to do something through this that is going to be good. It’ll be for His good and His glory. And we will be strengthened in our walk with Him as a result of it.’”

What about you? What has the pandemic revealed about you and your relationships with Jesus and the Church?

Weaver finishes with an urge to prayer and a reminder that the Body of Christ is a united Church.

“We’ve gotten reports from our teams in the field,” he says. “They’ve been so worried about us here in the United States, and the sickness and the death from the virus that they’ve been on their knees fasting and praying for us.

“Let’s pray for this virus to just ignite that into something more visible for all of us to realize that we are not alone, that we are not separate, that we are truly united in the Body of Christ .”

Learn more about Spoken Worldwide’s work right here.

Header photo courtesy of Unsplash.

Voters outside a polling station in Nigeria (Photo courtesy of The Commonwealth Observer Group)

Nigeria (MNN) – Nigeria’s election results might go down as President Muhammadu Buhari’s ‘Second Chance’ to meet his campaign promises of security, peace and fairness.  Todd Nettleton is a spokesman for the Voice of the Martyrs USA.

As he watches the results, he says, “Christians there are hopeful that there will be more security, that he will protect the religious freedoms of all Nigerians, but I think there is some skepticism as well, based on what has happened in the last four  years and the fact that there hasn’t been the progress that he promised four years ago.”

What will be different this time?

Boko Haram, a jihadist group, plagues the north of the country. While Buhari says its activities have been largely brought under control since he assumed office in 2015, Nettleton observes, “He came in four years ago promising to address the Boko Haram situation; promising to increase the security of Nigeria, the internal security. I think you would say he’s had mixed results on that.  He certainly hasn’t defeated Boko Haram.”

The country’s Independent National Electoral Commission certified the results last week. With 56-percent of the votes, Buhari could claim the win.

Yet not everyone was willing to accept the results.  Occupy Nigeria launched a protest in Abuja Monday, challenging the electoral process. Opposition leader Atiku Abubakar, who took 41-percent of the votes, promised a court challenge, as well. “The opposition is making noises about protesting or filing a formal challenge to the election results. It doesn’t seem that that is likely to be successful.”  

(Photo courtesy of The Commonwealth Observer Group)

What makes this term different from the last? “Buhari did gain power in the Nigerian Senate”, explains Nettleton, adding that “There is at least a theory that he will have more success in pushing through some of the legislation and some of the reforms that he has campaigned on because the Senate will be more favorable to him in this new term.”

Who are the players?

Why was the focal point of the election on security?  Boko Haram was originally a non-violent organization when they first formed in 2002. They mainly wanted to purify Islam in northern Nigeria, but became increasingly radicalized. With the help of Al Qaeda and the Islamic State, they embraced the weapons, ideology, and tactics of an insurgency.

The group also expanded into Chad, Niger and Cameroon. In the 17 years of their uprising, the violence displaced over two million, and tens of thousands lost their lives. They also regularly kidnap young girls, convert them to Islam and marry them off to Boko Haram soldiers.

In the northeast, the Fulani herdsmen are moving toward militancy in the fight over resources, now rivaling Boko Haram in the ferocity and frequency of their attacks. To the south, Buhari faces the Niger Delta Avengers, who vow to increase their attacks and take down Nigeria’s economy. Since the first term, what headway has Buhari made in getting a handle on the rebel groups?

What will be different in a second term? Nettleton explains, “Buhari did gain power in the Nigerian Senate. There is at least a theory that he will have more success in pushing through some of the legislation and some of the reforms that he has campaigned on because the Senate will be more favorable to him in this new term.”

Both Boko Haram and the Fulani herdsmen regularly target Christians.   They make up roughly half of the population, yet feel unheard and unprotected as the attacks ramped up last year.

Where is it worst?

According to information from Open Doors, during the first quarter of 2018, the Fulani militia launched 106 attacks on communities in Adamawa, Benue, southern Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa, Plateau and Taraba states, resulting in 1,061. In the south, an additional 17 lives lost in attacks. Also documented, seven instances of violence targeting Fulani herders or communities, in which 61 people lost their lives; two of these attacks were in the south of the country.

Teen victims of Boko Haram violence were rejuvenated at a camp just for them. (Photo courtesy Voice of the Martyrs USA)

That’s why Christians hope that a second Buhari term brings the promised change. “We wait to see if that legitimately happens, and hopefully there is more freedom for our Christian brothers

and sisters. Hopefully there is more security for Christians, but (also) for all Nigerians because we don’t want to see the violence and the attacks continue.”

Why should we care?

What’s happening to ministry work in Nigeria?  People make tough choices, but maybe not the way you might think, says Nettleton. He heard the story of a pastor who leads a church in an area where Boko Haram is active.   When the risk grew too great, he sent his wife and kids six hours away to safety, but remained in the area to continue to be a witness for Christ.

Nettleton says when the pastor was asked ’Why don’t you go with your family? Why don’t you go someplace safe?’,  “He said ‘if I did that, who would pastor my church?’ As you are praying for Nigeria’s Christians, pray for those pastors who are having to send their family away in order to continue the ministry that God has called them to.”

Shortly before the current mandate lapses on May 29, Buhari will dissolve his cabinet. Last week, he swore in eight new Permanent Secretaries, so there’s hope things will be more nimble in this term.

Politics aside, Nettleton reminds us, this is a spiritual battle for the heart of Nigeria. “We continue to pray and we pray for the Church and for the Christians to be protected, but also to be bold in their witness. I think we pray for Nigeria’s government leaders, just as the Bible calls on us to pray for government leaders, that that they will make wise choices and that they will pursue justice.”

Headline photo courtesy The Commonwealth Observer Group

(Image courtesy Wikipedia)

Bangladesh (MNN) — ISIS last week claimed responsibility for the murder of a pastor in northern Bangladesh.

Joe Handley with Asian Access confirmed reports that armed extremists killed 65-year-old Hossain Ali, who converted to Christianity from Islam in 1999. He was a member of Valacopa PBT Church (Paraclete Bangladesh Trust Church). Among the reasons he was targeted, “Pastor Ali came to Christ and was leading a small fellowship in his district. When he started connecting with Muslims and then they, in fact, converted and started attending church, then the pressure started coming down.”

A2’s Peter Mazumder noted in an e-mail that Ali was an enthusiastic preacher of the Gospel. [SIC] “He converted 2 other MBB neighboring families, and as their church is 1 kilometer far from their place, he started a HOUSE CHURCH at his own residence about two years before.”

However, in recent months, ISIS has said it was behind a series of attacks on religious converts and minorities in Bangladesh including Shiite, Sufi, and Ahmadi Muslims, Christians, and Hindus. With their presence, says Handley, “They [church partners] are hearing reports of similar kinds of things almost daily, and so he pleaded with us to pray.”

A point to consider: amid these attacks, the country’s Highest Court is considering dropping Islam as the country’s official religion. Yesterday, Bangladesh’s Supreme Court began to hear the challenge to 28-year-old constitutional amendment. Similar situations have occurred in Nepal and Pakistan as the countries considered secularization. Each time, explosive push-back occurred.

Against this backdrop, there’s been tightly focused attention on conversions. In fact, in many Muslim nations, a change of faith is considered “apostasy.” It makes men like Ali targets. Yet, they’re fully committed to sharing the hope of the Gospel, explains Handley. “So in the midst of that, the Church is trying to rally. You’ve got this church-planting movements that are happening. The pastors that are growing in these networks and then the more mature ones, like the folks that are working with Asian Access, do all they can to try to help encourage/strengthen the Church.”

(Photo courtesy Asian Access)

The greatest need in the Church of Asia is leader development. “We have made an effort to try to come alongside and build, within the context of our ministry, supporting these pastors, sponsoring them in such a way that they can receive the kind of help that they need in the midst of crisis and terror that they’re facing,” he adds, noting that by investing in these persecuted pastors, their hearts and hands are strengthened. “It emboldens them as strong pastors in these communities and nations to rally and try to support those families. In this case, Pastor Ali leaves behind a wife, a son, and three daughters.”

What’s described in this story isn’t confined to just Bangladesh. It’s all throughout South Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, North Africa. It’s the new “normal,” says Handley. “This is just indicative of what we’re seeing more and more around the world. I would say at least a third to half of the countries that Asian Access works in, we have pastors facing this kind of persecution.”

A2 has a fund to support persecuted pastors. Twenty followers of Christ, contributing just $20 per month each, can provide the resources to enable one more persecuted pastor to get the invaluable training, support, and mentoring provided by the Asian Access learning community. (Click here for more information.)

The body of Christ rallies. As horrific as it was, Ali’s death is a call to prayer, concludes Handley. Here’s the thing: There are no limits to where prayer can take us. “As we pray globally, it helps these folks, and they feel more strength when they know the body of Christ is praying for them.”

Please also pray for comfort and healing for Ali’s wife and his children. May this tragedy bear witness to the love and hope that Christ offers to all who call upon His name.

On October 1, China showcased its military capabilities as
well as its economic and social progress.

There are mixed emotions about the celebration. For some, the anniversary is a grim reminder
of the oppression of the regime. For
others, it's a salute to freedom.

Erik Burklin with China Partner (CP) says believers are also
celebrating their freedom in Christ. "As a direct result in their life-changing perspective and also the
changes in their lifestyle, other friends of theirs notice and then ask the
question, 'What's so different about you?' And then they share Christ." 

While it is true that in many places, the government hounds
the church, the growth of the church indicates that pastors are needed. "We're taking a small teaching team with
us to Jiangxi Province," says Burklin. "We will be in
two locations–the local Bible school, and then the latter part of our trip we
will be training Christian leaders at a Bible training center." 

Under the auspices of the China Christian Council, CP holds
Pastoral Training Seminars (PTS) in theological schools now open in China.
Recruiting trainers from around the world, CP facilitates at least four PTS
annually.

Besides training in basic Bible doctrine, the core
curriculum places importance on the Bible in their daily lives. Sermon
preparation emphasizes evangelism. Above all, the development of a personal
relationship with the Lord is stressed. 

With the help of several international pastors and
para-church leaders, CP has developed the following four training courses:
Evangelism, Pastoral Care, Discipleship and Christian Leadership. 

Keep praying for body of Christ in China. There are many
challenges.  "We need to pray that
they would stay true. Pray also for the registered church pastors, that they would
stay humble, that they would stay Biblical, and stay true to God's Word."

You can help. Click here.

Erik Burklin with China Partner says
it has taken its toll on families. In
traditional Chinese society, the elderly used to live with one of their
children. But today, young people live with their parents because they cannot
afford a place of their own. According to China Daily, the population of the
elderly (60 or older) in China is about 128 million or one in every ten people–the largest in the world.

Experts say family-based care is
now impractical. "More and more young people are leaving their villages
and their smaller cities for the large cities seeking better employment, making
a lot of money," explains Burklin. "As a result of that, the traditional
'family values' of adult children taking care of the elderly family members is
falling by the wayside." 

In Hangzhou, Christians responded
by building the Hangzhou Christian Senior Home for them. Not only a community center, it's also a
senior home and serves as a church on weekends. 

Groundbreaking for the second
phase was March 30. The senior home's
first phase is complete and already houses between 60 and 70 senior
citizens. 

Staff will provide care and
ministry for the elderly. Several years
ago, Reverend Joseph Gu shared his dream of building a Christian senior home
next to the church with China Partner's founder, Dr. Werner Berklin.

The "Senior Project"
has been ongoing, supported by China Partner for practical reasons and for
ministry reasons. Burklin says, "Sharing
your faith openly is still not very much allowed by the government, but how
they do share their faith is through the way they live. In this particular
case, they take care of the needy and the elderly. That speaks volumes to the community."

Pray that God will provide for
this ministry. Pray too that the staff would be the hands
and feet of Christ to those they're serving, and that as a result, hearts
would be open to the hope of Christ. Click here if you can help.

Conflicting worldviews have led
to a spiritual dissonance in many of these countries, which leaves millions
open to the truth of Christ.

So, who will take the Gospel to
Asia? That question is answered in a documentary entitled, A2:RE:DEFINED. Craig Detweiler directed the documentary for Asian
Access. "For those who want to see
for themselves what it is like in Sri Lanka, Asian Access has prepared a
documentary. It shows you what's going on in Mongolia, in Japan, and in Sri
Lanka."

The 35-minute documentary
details a part of Detweiler's own journey as he returns to Japan 20
years after he was there as a missionary with Asian Access. 

Although aimed at missions
professors, the purpose of A2:RE:DEFINED is to open eyes toward the difference the Gospel makes
in Asia. The documentary also reveals
A2's committment to developing church leaders who can reproduce new leaders and
build or plant churches.  

Detweiler notes the importance of
one-on-one relationships that are developed throughout the course of his time
in Japan.

In one segment of the documentary,
viewers are told that "a missionary is really a person whose heart is to
demonstrate Christ in their context."

It's that approach combined with
designing creative and cutting-edge ministries to effectively impact this
strategic area of the world that create an exciting potential to close the
10/40 Window.

Among the
more unique approaches, the Asian Access model brings
together 12 pastors who meet quarterly for training over a 2-year period. The training is
intensive, in-service, in-country, in community, and ongoing.

As participants
move through the two-year transformational process with a group of 11 other
leaders who face very similar challenges, a strong sense of camaraderie
develops which motivates the leaders to grow together and to push one another
to a higher level of performance.

The
relationships that develop often provide a network for ongoing friendship and
development long after the program is completed.

These are among the "how-tos"
detailed in the documentary. As Asian Access adapts to an
ever-changing world, they need to share their vision with the people training
leaders in the West. Detweiler says the
documentary  "is a gift we made to the
church here in the West to educate ourselves to pray in more-informed ways and
to figure out what's going on with our brothers and sisters overseas."

Click here for a link and look
for A2:RE:DEFINED.

The world's most populous nation
appeared Monday before the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review
panel.

Canada, India and Nigeria sat the
panel to hear 46 complainants on violations plus Beijing's defense of its
policies. The
list of documented rights violations ranged from torture, to censorship, to
discrimination, to human trafficking in women and children.

The Human Rights Council launched
periodic human rights reviews in 2007 and are meant to ensure all UN members
are answerable for human rights violations in their territory. Under the Universal Periodic Review system
(UPR), all UN member states have their record examined every four years.

It seemed to be an ideal time to
call China to accountability on the numerous reports of torture, arrests, and
general harassment against Christians.

However, Bob Fu with China Aid Association reports, "China
received even higher marks, and it sent a chilling signal to freedom fighters
and to the Chinese vulnerable groups that the only thing [the] American
government cares [about] is money, trade and finance."

China Aid learned that Congressman
Frank Wolf (R-VA) openly criticized the Obama Administration for its silence
during the UN review. 

In addition, speaking on the
floor, Rep. Wolf sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton voicing
his disappointment. (See link below.) Here are Rep. Wolf's prepared remarks
for the House titled "U.S. Delegation Silent at U.N. Review of Human Rights
Abusers:"

"The United
Nations Human Rights Council is now conducting reviews of the human rights
records of 16 countries–among which are China, Cuba, Saudi Arabia and Russia.

"While the
United States is not a member of the Human Rights Council, every member of the
U.N. has an opportunity to pose questions and raise concerns about the human
rights record of the country being reviewed.

"I was
shocked and disappointed to learn that for the last week, the U.S. delegation
has been silent. How can America say nothing about four of the worst
offenders of human rights and religious freedom in the world?

"China has
been designated by the State Department's annual Religious Freedom report as a
country of particular concern every year since 1999. And the U.S.
delegation has remained silent.

"Saudi
Arabia, too, has received this designation for the past four years. And
the U.S. delegation has remained silent.

"The U.S.
Commission on Religious Freedom placed Cuba on their watch list in 2008.
And the U.S. delegation has remained silent.

"This
administration made a pledge to place human rights at the top of its
agenda. The administration is off to the wrong start on making human
rights a priority."

China's Foreign Ministry promised
further efforts to promote human rights protection, but empty promises on improving
freedoms won't fool believers into thinking things will be different. 

Fu also notes, "This
won't have a great impact on evangelism. There will be more persecution because the Chinese government is
encouraged by the silence of free countries, and the Chinese government will
take that as a 'pass.'" 

Fu expects revival and even more
outreach, based on the resolve of one house church member. Rather than be discouraged, she told him,
"I'm determined to see freedom to be realized in China, even when
others are keeping quiet. I think this is the message that Chinese house
Christians are willing to share."

You can help. Click here for details.

The review on the rights record
could trigger protests surrounding the politically-sensitive anniversaries in
China, adding to government worries about unrest as unemployment rises. China Aid notes that persecution of Christians
is clearly human rights abuse. The Chinese government does not recognize the
human rights of house church Christians because they are not members of the
registered church.

Legal churches are strictly
controlled by the government. Those who do not wish to follow government
policies on religious practice and beliefs must meet in homes and risk being
labeled as "evil cults."

Fu says, "The Chinese
society entered into the most volatile time of history. The Chinese government
has already tried to neutralize the so-called 'threats,' and unfortunately, the
house church is still listed as their target."

Such a designation can result in
closing down the church, confiscation of property, and charges against the
leadership, often resulting in torture, imprisonment and death.

In any case, while the report is
not comprehensive, it does cover the majority of provinces and municipalities
in China and involves many types of persecution and indicates a trend towards
targeting Christians in urban areas with tougher tactics.

For example, the year of the
Beijing Olympic Games marks a year of increased persecution of house church
Christians. In 2008, the total number of house church Christians persecuted in
the nation increased 157%. In Beijing alone, persecution increased 418%.

As for the government's success
in stopping the Gospel, Fu says, "I think the effect will be contrary to
what the Communist Party wants to accomplish–that is, an even bigger revival
and more growth of the church."

China Aid urges recipients of
this information to hold the Chinese government responsible for the human
rights abuses against house church Christians in China. Pray for boldness for Christians in sharing
the Gospel, despite the dangers that they face.

According to a report from China Aid, the payment is an
indirect admission of guilt. The
government also covered the medical bills of the youngest son, who was badly beaten
by PSB officials. They also covered the
fine for breaking the family's lease on their apartment. 

Pastor Bike is the head of the Chinese House Church Alliance
and has been targeted before with arrests and threats for sharing the Gospel.

As recently as December 21, 2008, China Aid reports that
Pastor "Bike" Zhang Mingxuan was detained in Wulanhaote city, Inner
Mongolia.   Authorities caught up with
him while he was waiting for local believers
to transport him to preach and visit persecuted believers.

Weeks prior, on December 9, 
police broke into the house of Hua Huiqi, a Christian of Beijing House
Church and forcibly escorted Pastor Zhang Mingxuan out of Beijing. 

In late November, the
Ministry of Civil Affairs called for the elimination of the Chinese House
Church Alliance, so it appears unlikely the harassment will stop.

Pray that the Ministry of Civil Affairs will withdraw their
statement. Ask God to protect Pastor Zhang. Pray that his passion for Christ
will be the light that draws others to God.