Church Closures

Since 2006, all religious groups must register their places of worship with the Algerian government. The only religion not required to follow this ordinance is the majority religion of Islam. However, the government often uses strict requirements for places of worship, resulting in the denial of applications.

(Photo by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay )

The USCIRF emphasized the need to protect places of worship during a recent hearing. USCIRF Chair Tony Perkins says the right to religious freedom is a right all people should maintain, including the right to access their places of worship. Christians who attempt living into this right put themselves at risk in Algeria.

“We don’t hear a lot about Algeria, but it’s extremely dangerous for believers to live there,” Patrick Murphy says, with I Found the Truth.

The USCIRF’s Vice Chair Gayle Manchin has called on the Algerian government to reopen the closed churches and to stop harassing the Christian community in the country. If history is any indicator, it is unlikely the Algerian government will heed this call.

Persecution in Algeria

(Photo by James L.W on Unsplash)

The World Watch List ranks Algeria #22 of the hardest countries to live in as a Christian. Open Doors USA, publishers of the World Watch List, says the persecution level of Christians is very high in the country.

“We have seen pictures and even videos of police coming in and closing down churches; believers being in prayer meetings, and they’re forcibly dragged out, and the doors are locked for good. And so, I mean this is a bad thing. Of course, it’s a terrible thing, and these pictures and videos are going around the Middle East, and now around the West,” Murphy says.

Next Steps

But the circulation of these images and videos is generating prayer. Pray for the protection and encouragement of the Algerian Church. Pray for their ability to meet and worship, too. And pray for God’s Word to impact and transform the people in Algeria.

“God’s going to use it to spread the Gospel. That’s always the result of persecution. So, in the end, it’s difficult, but God turns it to good.”

Header photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash.

Expanding Church Planting

Indonesia, July 2019 (Photo courtesy of FMI)

Now, Bruce Allen with FMI says they see the fruits of the labor. But with exponentially growing church plants comes a need to support new church planters. In this year alone, FMI has helped support five new church planters who are doing multiple church plants. But, there are still six church planters who need support. Will you help?

“There are guys in seminary, even now, in Indonesia. They’re saying ‘Hey, we want to be mobilized to share the gospel with our own countrymen. We just need some help and doing it, especially as we go out into the very rural areas.’ That’s where FMI really stands alongside of these guys to help them in their early years of church planting as they can be empowered to lead their congregations to maturity,” Allen says.

Will you Help?

Christians can help support the Church in Indonesia by giving to FMI’s Overseas Partners account. This account allows FMI to establish partnerships with church planters. It only costs USD 120 to a single church planter for a month.

Indonesia, July 2019 (Photo courtesy of FMI)

“For the price of that [daily] coffee, you could be having a significant impact across a whole village community, and help empower a pastor to lead his congregation to maturity in the world’s largest Muslim majority nation. We would provide you as a partner with material so that you know about the culture profile, about the individual pastor that you’d be partnering with, and his community,” Allen explains.

Small groups, families, and church congregations can come together to support a church planter with a recurring $120 monthly gift. This gift equips church planters with Bibles, Sunday school curriculum, medical expenses, and supplementary income. The financial assistance allows church planters to focus on their ministry rather than devoting the majority of their time to providing a basic income to support their families. It helps these church planters give the best of themselves to their ministry.

Seeking Maturity

Indonesia, July 2019 (Photo courtesy of FMI)

“One of the things that we are strategically trying to avoid is to increase an unhealthy dependence on foreign funding. Our whole goal is not just to send money every month. The goal is that we empower the church planter to lead his congregation to maturity,” Allen explains.

One of the ways FMI measures maturity is a congregation’s independent ability to support its pastor and the ministry.

“They know that it’s a short term system. They understand what the goal is, and that we will be evaluating their progress along the way,” Allen says.

Will you help support a church planter in Indonesia?

To learn more about supporting a church planter, click here.

To give, click here.

Header photo courtesy of FMI.

Then, she heard something. Another Native young woman’s voice on a loudspeaker. She was telling a story.

(Photo courtesy of Ron Hutchcraft Ministries)

The woman on the loudspeaker said her name was Rachel. She had been abused by a man she should have been able to trust. She hated Christianity. She burned Bibles. She had no hope. She, too, almost ended her life. But something stopped her.

As the woman listened, she left her rope and plan behind to find and follow the voice.

She found Rachel at an On Eagles’ Wings ministry event. Native young people spoke in an open space with other young folks from the local Native community gathered around.

The women walked right up to Rachel and said, “I was just down the street behind a building with the rope over the tree to end my own life. I heard your story. I’m here to find out what saved you.”

Ron Hutchcraft with Ron Hutchcraft Ministries was there that night. According to him, “That night, instead of that woman taking her life, she gave her life to Jesus — because of the power of a Native young woman reaching the heart of a Native young woman with a story of hope.”

Empowerment in Ministry

Rachel’s story illustrates the power of Native believers reaching their own people with the hope of Jesus Christ. Earlier this week, we talked about how Native America is the forgotten mission field. After 400 years of missions in North America, only four percent of Native Americans know Jesus.

(Photo courtesy of Ron Hutchcraft Ministries)

However, when non-Native Christians reach out to Native communities with the Gospel, it can look like sidelining Native believers while the visitors do the heavy lifting.

Hutchcraft says this method, while not ineffective itself, does not honor our Native Christian brothers and sisters’ role in the Church and even dampens a ministry’s impact.

“When I think about the many churches’ vacation Bible schools on reservations, [I] praise God for the mission efforts that there have been. If it weren’t for those, there might not be four percent [of Native Americans] who know Christ.

“But the mistake we make when we go in is we do it for them instead of with them.”

Instead, Hutchcraft says, “We ought to pair up with some young Native people and have them do it with us and, slowly but surely, work ourselves out of a job so that one day, there’s a VBS that is put on only by their own people.

“That’s what I mean by empowerment. We need some people who will be a voice for Native Americans.”

Sending Native Young Christians

On Eagles’ Wings, a branch of Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, empowers Native young Christians like Rachel to be agents for the Gospel in their own communities.

Soon, On Eagles’ Wings will launch a Summer of Hope missions team with about 45 Native young people. This team will travel to several Native communities across North America to share food and games in public spaces like basketball courts or parks. In short, they’ll build relationships and spark community.

But most importantly, at the end of each visit, the team members publicly share their hope stories — how Jesus changed their lives.

“I have seen what happens when Native people are empowered and unleashed under the banner of Christ. That warrior spirit that’s always been in Native people — under the leadership of Christ — becomes an incredible force for the Gospel.”

Join the Warriors in Prayer

(Photo courtesy of Ron Hutchcraft Ministries)

To have an effective ministry this summer, the Native team with On Eagles’ Wings does need to be equipped and sent by the Church. You can play an active role in commissioning this team of Native young people by supporting a team member with finances and prayer.

Click here to send an On Eagles’ Wings team member!

When you give, you’ll get a prayer card. Hutchcraft says, “We want to give you actually one of these warriors to pray for, so you will have their name and their face and their tribe for you to pray for.”

Please pray for the team’s spiritual protection — both during and after Summer of Hope. Ask God to prepare the hearts of the Native men and women joining the On Eagles’ Wings team and even call some to long-term ministry.

Pray also for the Native partners who have invited On Eagles’ Wings to visit their communities. Ask God to bless the ministry of these partners and maintain their Gospel witness as the local Church.

“This is the most exhausting mission work I’ve ever done in my life,” Hutchcraft says. “It drains you mentally. It drains you in every aspect of your life. We need supernatural strength, supernatural preparation of hearts, a supernatural response when the invitation is given to begin a relationship with Christ, and a supernatural long-range outcome — that out of the moment will come a movement that will last a generation and more.”

Header photo courtesy of Ron Hutchcraft Ministries.

“Aaron lives in a community where the majority of people did not know the message of the Gospel. The few that had heard it rejected it, and it was frowned upon there. When he heard it, something stirred in his heart, and he accepted Christ into his life. But when others from his community found out about his newfound faith, they kicked him out. They banished him.”

(Photo courtesy of e3 Partners)

Isolated, Aaron eventually discovered an e3 team who discipled him and trained him to share the Gospel. The training included a three-touch process.

Aaron joined a training trip and observed his teachers share the Gospel. On the second trip, Aaron helped with 50 percent of the work. On the third trip, Aaron did the work of sharing the Gospel alone.

As Aaron spiritually matured and his confidence grew, his mentor, Ramos, encouraged him to return home as a light for Christ.

Multiplying Workers for the Harvest

Terrified, Aaron prayerfully made the journey. He asked God to lead him to people whose hearts were open. When Aaron arrived, the first people he saw welcomed him back. Trusting God, Aaron shared the Gospel with these people and they almost immediately accepted Christ.

(Photo courtesy of e3 Partners)

“Today, Aaron has shared the Gospel with over 130 people from his own community. Many of them have accepted Christ into their lives and been baptized. Now, two churches have been planted in that community,” Johnston explains.

“What started as a community that was just completely hostile towards the Gospel, has now grown into a community that is thriving, and it’s multiplying believers and churches daily.”

God is moving in some of the hardest to reach places through e3 partnerships with national believers, like Ramos and Aaron. e3 strives to provide a teaching and discipleship model resulting in exponential growth. Testimonies like Aaron’s prove its working.

“I think that’s really, ultimately, the only way that the Gospel is going to be able to reach across the entire world,” Johnston says.

Will you support e3’s work?

To learn more about the ministry and find ways to donate, click here.

Pray God continues raising up workers for the harvest. Pray these workers share the Gospel and disciple others. Ask God to bless these workers with resources to fund their work and host training events. Pray for ways YOU can join e3 through short-term trips and even work in your own country to help further the message of the Gospel.

Church Dedication

Church dedication – Bangladesh (Photo courtesy of FMI)

FMI helped supply resources to construct the church building. Allen was to preach at the dedication and document it through photos and a written report, to later share with donors and the FMI board. However, things did not go as planned.

The morning Allen was to make the last leg of the journey to the church site, there were special intelligence military officers waiting for Allen.

“These officers were saying, ‘We cannot let you go any further. We know you have the permission. We see your papers. But, we had to track you down because last night while you were sleeping, there was a terrorist incident. Six local officials in that area were assassinated by terrorists. In addition, 50 other people were wounded and they had to be hospitalized,’” Allen recalls.

For context, the closest hospital to this area was still five hours away and required traveling through remote, jungle-like terrain.

National Believers at Work

Allen was traveling with two local ministry colleagues who were allowed to enter the area, under the condition that Allen willingly submit to a temporary house arrest. While Allen stayed behind, these two men traveled on and split the tasks of preaching at the church dedication and documenting the event.

“It just reminded me of how vital this strategy is of partnering with local believers because, number one, this is an area where foreigners aren’t allowed anyway. We cannot send someone from Canada, the UK, the US to go into these restricted-access places to serve as missionaries. It’s just not allowed by the government.

“And yet, that’s not a barrier to God’s Spirit. He has already raised up Christian leaders in these tribal areas that have restricted access,” Allen explains.

Church dedication – Bangladesh (Photo courtesy of FMI)

In these remote areas, local Christians are living the Great Commission and not only sharing about Christ, but discipling and strategically maturing their congregations.

FMI exists to help empower these local believers in their work. God is using the faithfulness of these Christians to make Himself known in Bangladesh.

“It just reinforced that fact that partnerships with the local believers are so invaluable,” Allen says.

Pray for believers in Bangladesh. Pray for their protection, perseverance, and obedience to the Gospel. Ask God to help these local Christians endure the trials they face, the persecution they sustain, and for God to build their ministries and fortify them.

Also, pray for the congregations these FMI-supported pastors and church planters disciple. Finally, pray these same congregations would catch the vision for a growing Church.

Will you partner with the Church in Bangladesh and support national FMI pastors and church planters?

To support a national believer through FMI, click here.

Learn more about FMI’s work in Bangladesh here.

Header photo courtesy of FMI.

The USCIRF Report

On Monday, USCIRF released its 20th Annual Report. Upon the release, Mission Network News met up with Dr. David Curry of Open Doors USA to discuss the list. Per Curry, there were no surprises on the list, but there are a couple of countries which should have Christians on alert.

“Whenever the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom comes out with their report, it’s always a subset of some of the larger issues going on, meaning there are other places where Christians are being persecuted. But it has highlighted a couple of key areas,” Curry explains.

“What the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom does, in my view, is give you a handful of the places where they think religious freedom is crossing over into the political best interests of the United States.”

Russia Designated as CPC

(Photo by Nikolay Vorobyev on Unsplash)

On the 2019 report, Russia is recommended as a Tier 1 Country of Particular Concern (CPC). A country can be designated as a Tier 1 CPC “for engaging in or tolerating ‘systematic, ongoing, egregious violations’” regarding religious freedom. CPCs designated as Tier 2s only meet one or two of these defined violations, but never all three.

Russia’s classification on the list is attributed to the government’s actions against “nontraditional” religious minorities through fines, detentions, and criminal charges under the mask of fighting extremism in the country (This information found on page 80 of the USCIRF 20th Annual Report). Curry believes part of Russia’s designation is because the U.S. is sending a political message that it does not like what Russia is doing and is concerned for “religious freedom and what it means…for that region.”

Curry says in some of Russia’s provinces, there have been Muslim extremists attacks on Christian churches. There are also questions regarding some of the nation’s laws from the last few years which give significant control to the state to restrict evangelical churches. However, these laws are unevenly implemented. Learn more about these laws here and here.

World Watch List vs. USCIRF Report

Russia is also ranked #41 on the Open Doors’ World Watch List* (WWL). The WWL is a report based on research into countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. The WWL works at a “grassroots level marketing key data” and determines precise factors that contribute to the ranking of countries. For this reason, Curry says the WWL is “the lead indicator for the USCIRF report”. Open Doors also shares its WWL data with the U.S. State Department.

“[The USCIRF report is] not giving you every place that Christians are being persecuted. They’re just telling you what, where that persecution, quote ‘is cross reference with their political interest’…But certainly, the Open Doors list is more comprehensive,” Curry notes.

China Designated as CPC

The USCIRF Annual Report also includes China, which is recommended as a Tier 1 CPC. The nation was previously designated in November 2018, but Curry says the reasons China was designated a Tier 1 CPC might take some catching up for the average U.S. citizen. China is also ranked #27 on the WWL.

(Photo by Theodor Lundqvist on Unsplash)

For a period of time, China was expanding religious freedom so Christians and other religious groups could practice their faith – provided it did not overtly conflict with the Communist Party agenda. But according to Curry, in the last five years, persecution against Christianity and other religions has increased in the country. Furthermore, China has an added layer of technical sophistication which gives them control of how people “live and experience life”.

“This technical sophistication allows them to use facial recognition, keep master lists of people who are going to church, who call themselves Christians, and then begin to give social scoring to people who are considered less than ideal citizens if they’re committed followers of Jesus. You can see where that’s headed, in a worst-case scenario,” Curry explains.

Curry recalls an incident in Beijing from last September when a church refused to add cameras to their pulpit. The purpose of the cameras was to use facial recognition to discover who is attending. Curry also says individuals under 18-years-old are no longer allowed to attend church.

“It’s just it’s stunning the levels to which China is now going to, to persecute and to hold down the expression of Christian faith,” Curry says.

China: Additional Challenges

To add fuel to the political fire, Christianity is seen as a “Western” religion. In 2019, the U.S. and China have gone back and forth in trade wars. For the U.S., this means religious issues go on the backburner., though it is a forefront issue.

“For Christians in the United States, we need to continue to pray, care, and show concern for what’s happening to brothers and sisters in China. This is a very severe problem. And there are [a] great many Christians whose faith, the practice of their faith, the freedom of that is at risk,” Curry emphasizes.

Responding to the USCIRF Report

Still, the question remains, how can Christians respond? The first step—education. Curry encourages Christians to learn the facts of what is happening in both China and Russia. Start by reading the USCIRF Annual Report and familiarizing one’s self with the WWL. Also, stay up-to-date with the pressures Christians are facing globally at the Open Doors website.

(Photo by twinsfisch on Unsplash)

“When you find out what’s happening to individual people, these stories come alive. I mentioned a church in Beijing, Zion Church, their pastor is in prison in solitary confinement. His story, his courage I think inspires us all in our faith. And then to be people of prayer for our brothers and sisters, because Jesus asked us to do that. Pray for those in prison for the name of Jesus,” Curry says.

Pray for the religious freedom of expression for Christ-followers in China and Russia. Pray for the religious liberties in the countries listed on the USCIRF Annual Report and the WWL. Ask God to encourage and strengthen Christians living in these countries and that His Word and Gospel would penetrate the culture despite the religious restrictions.

Find more ways to come alongside the churches in these countries here.

*Open Doors USA’s World Watch List (WWL) is a ranking of the 50 top countries where it is most difficult to live as a Christian. Find the WWL here.

Header photo by James Coleman on Unsplash.

Larry Andrews, President and CEO of Partners International, says he’s excited about the global engagement level of churches and ministries who are involved with and have adopted unreached unengaged people groups (UUPGs) through Finishing the Task.

(Photo courtesy of Partners International)

But, as the numbers drop for those who are currently UUPGs, the groups which remain have their own challenges when it comes to Bible translation work.

“Those last couple of hundred are really difficult groups. I think there’s a caution that I have about how that relational connection with these organizations is going to happen because reaching those groups will take a relational, intentional effort that, hey, it might take more than two years,” Andrews says.

Andrews, who also serves with Alliance for the Unreached has a vision for every church in the United States to be a part of fulfilling the Great Commission.

“Every Christ follower is required to fulfill Christ’s mission. This passionate call to have every church engaged, every Christ-follower engaged, is one that the Alliance for the Unreached is all about,” Andrews says.

International Day for the Unreached

One of the ways Alliance for the Unreached raises awareness is through the International Day for the Unreached (IDU), which takes place on Pentecost Sunday. The day is devoted to learning about and praying for UUPGs. However, in the past, the Alliance has focused on raising awareness. Now it is time for action and revival.

(Photo courtesy of Alliance for the Unreached)

Jesus calls His people to personally engage with the Great Commission. Therefore, Andrews says it is time for every church to take steps towards fulfilling the Great Commission. However, Barna Research reports only 49 percent of the Church in America knows about the Great Commission.

“The Church in America essentially needs to be woken up. We’re asleep at the wheel and how do we prayerfully move the 51 percent of churches out there to engage and to be part of the work that Christ is doing across the world. It’s sad from one perspective, at least how I look at it, because part of finding joy in Christ and really having an intimate relationship with Him, is doing, being about the things that He cares about the most,” Andrews says.

Get Involved

Pray for God’s guidance for ways the Church in American can engage with the Great Commission. Ask God to reveal ways to get involved.

For example, Andrews’ church began the process of collaborating with partners in North Sumatra about three years ago. Through this work, his church has become engaged with reaching the unreached in efforts to help fulfill the Great Commission. Pray God would lead His churches in how he wants them to get involved, too.

Get involved with Alliance for the Unreached here!

*Final quote omitted and paraphrased at the request of the source. 

“Pray, give, go is a typical approach for churches to take in getting involved with a mission agency or, even you’ll see that on a lot of mission agency websites. In listening to church leaders, what we’ve discerned is only a certain number of people in the congregation, a limited number, are going to feel like they’re really pray-ers [or go-ers], and maybe get involved,” Jerry Meadows with Global Disciples explains.

Passions Meet Great Commission

This begs the question—how do we engage those who don’t fall under the “pray, give, go” formula? Global Disciples has some ideas for how people can get involved with Kingdom work.

(Photo courtesy of Global Disciples via Facebook)

“[When people call] our next thought is not a statement but perhaps a question. How would you like to get involved with missions? What are you already interested in doing? How has God gifted you? What involvement do you already have in your church? If we can lock into the individual or group’s interest or affinities or gifts and skillsets, then we can help them craft a very personalized way to be involved,” Meadows says.

For example, someone who enjoys running can use their passion to help reach the least reached people. This can look like signing up for a 5k race and using the race to bring awareness and advocacy for the cause. Meadows also suggests in the practice runs, use the time to pray for unreached peoples or the cause the individual has chosen.

“Inspiration without information is just hype. Information without inspiration is just boring. But, inspiration and information without involvement, it’s no good at all. What we need is involvement…[If] we can lock into an affinity like running or even some form of hobby or habit, then we can get traction in their personal life, which will lead them to a life of worship and stewardship,” Meadows explains.

“And really, that’s where we want to get people, too. We want to help churches ingrain a life of worship and stewardship into the average person attending church.”

Get Involved

Want to find out how to inspire your church to engage with the Great Commission? Then visit goglobal1day.org to find resources to help. These resources include church and group leader resources, event fundraising ideas, social media resources, a 40-day prayer guide and more.

Find resources to use your passions to get involved with the Great Commission here!

Or, feel free to contact the Global Disciples’ office for more information at 717-290-7550.

Just over one-third of those surveyed by Pew Research Center in 2015 – or, 2.3 billion people – claimed to follow Christ.
(Graphic courtesy of Pew Research Center)

The Great Commission has become a bigger task than ever before. According to Worldometers.com, our world currently holds more than 7.6 billion people. Pew Research Center reports that an estimated 5.3 billion belonged to a religion other than Christianity in 2015.

Furthermore, approximately 32 million people have no way of even learning about Christ. They have no believers living among them, and no churches or agencies who are trying to reach them with the Gospel.

To “finish the task” ahead of us, is it better to send church workers overseas? Or should we equip local Christians to do the work?

“There is somewhat of a false dichotomy between sending or coming alongside to support a local indigenous Christian population,” notes Chris Lang, the Director of Mobilization for Frontiers USA.

“I don’t think the call that Jesus has on the Church has changed. We are called to go and make disciples of all the nations. Regardless of where we are, regardless of where the Church is…the call remains the same.”

How to reach Muslims for Christ

As described here, Frontiers is helping bring the Good News to Muslim people groups, one of the world’s largest unreached and unengaged people groups (UUPGs). They’re concentrating on groups in six regions: Northeast Africa, the Caucuses, the Arab Gulf, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Southwest Asia.

“There are over a thousand unreached, unengaged Muslim people groups today,” Lang notes.

In order to reach Muslims for Christ, Frontiers employs both sending and equipping methodologies.

Frontiers partners with local believers in places where a local Church body exists, Lang explains. They help support and equip those Christians with theological education and training.

“Part of what I think we bring to the indigenous Church worldwide is vision – vision to finish the task; vision to engage all of the unreached people groups that remain,” he adds.

However, in many instances, there is no body of believers to support.

“Throughout great swathes of the Muslim world…[there is] just not a local Church that can engage that population.”

Your role in the Great Commission

As a Chadian pastor recently described to Lang, the task of the Great Commission is too large for a single church or organization to accomplish alone. The task also requires more than one approach or methodology.

“He said, ‘Don’t just send us your money,'” Lang recalls. “‘We need people because the task is so big, it’s so great that the African Church can’t accomplish it on its own.’

“They’re asking us to come alongside and to help,…to be in the role of co-laborer with them, and I think that’s what we need to do as a sending entity in the West.”

Just as the approach differs by organization, the role you’re called to play in the Great Commission may vary as well.

(Photo courtesy of Frontiers)

“As individual Christians, we need to continue to advocate for missions in our local congregation. Let’s put together prayer meetings so that we can pray for the nations,” Lane suggests.

Download a free prayer guide or sign up for prayer updates here.

Some people “may be hearing that still, small voice calling them out to something beyond themselves, something beyond the work in their local congregation….

“I would encourage [readers] to pay attention to His leading because they might be called not just to pray, not just to send others, but to go themselves.”

Visit Frontiers’ website to learn how you can enter the mission field.

“We still need to send, we still need to ‘go and make disciples’ until Matthew 24:14 is accomplished, ‘til all the nations have heard.’”

(Header image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Joshua Harrison with Audio Scripture Ministries reflects, “We have realized and seen that there is a place for everyone in God’s Great Commission. There is one Body with many different members. We’re all on the same team, but we may have different roles on that team.”

Get Creative With Your Gifts

ASM has seen this truth carried out in profound ways. Their ministry gives people access to God’s Word in the form of audio Bibles. To do that, they have a whole force of volunteers and staff with many different giftings.

“For example,” says Harrison, “we have Don Lang who is a retired electrical engineer. He travels and shares the stories and the needs for God’s Word in audio in Mozambique and the many other places where we serve. He visits different conferences and shares that all across the US.

A faithful group of volunteers from Hamilton Reformed Church serve at the ASM office. (Photo, caption courtesy of Audio Scripture Ministries)

“[There are] others we have who have been painting and gardening and keeping our facilities in good running order here in the Holland, Michigan office. We’ve had groups from local churches who come a few times a year to stuff praise and prayer guides or help send out newsletters for mailing to our supporters.”

There is also no age limit to how God can use you! One of ASM’s volunteers named Lena is a great example of what it looks like to creatively serve the Lord.

“She is 93-years-old but she recently took the time to knit dozens of hats that we were able to bring to our compassionate care patients in Mozambique!

“Old and young alike, they fight many different kinds of illnesses and chronic diseases, so they struggle to maintain proper body temperature. But to see the joy on their faces when we brought these beautiful hats that someone cared enough to make…for them, [it was] just confirming the message of the Gospel that we’re bringing them with our weekly visits.

ASM’s Compassionate Care Team preparing hats. (Photo courtesy of Audio Scripture Ministries)

“One of our patients,…as she put the hat on, she said, ‘This is so pretty, I feel like I’m going to church now every day!’”

Harrison shares, “I hope and pray for you and me that at 93, that you and I are still diligently using whatever skills we can to connect people to God’s Word and to share His love for them.”

What about you? Are you skilled at crafting or writing or music? Maybe you excel in hospitality or encouragement. There are several opportunities to be involved in the Great Commission by getting creative with how God has gifted you.

ASM even has an opportunity right now for an accounting coordinator to join their ministry!

“We’re looking for someone right now who is good with numbers and loves Jesus and has a passion for global missions!… Maybe you are interested in joining the team here as accounting coordinator or maybe you know someone who fits that or wants to volunteer in some way. Contact us! We would love to talk with you.”

Look For Opportunities

Another aspect of involvement in the Great Commission is simply looking for opportunities.

(Photo courtesy of Crista Ballard Photography)

Harrison suggests, “Do you know a friend or a neighbor or a colleague who speaks a different language than you? Have you considered bringing them an audio Bible [and] perhaps connecting them to God’s Word in their own heart language? Or maybe, do you know someone who is sick or shut-in? Could God’s Word in audio bring comfort and hope to them?”

You can get audio Bibles from ASM to give to friends and family who you think would be encouraged by God’s Word in audio!

“Recently, we had a distribution partner report they brought an audio Bible to someone who was shut-in. He had had degenerative eye surgery just done and he was facing a long recovery time. He was so excited to receive an audio Bible and the joy it brought to his heart was so amazing!”

Earlier this month, we even shared a call for more recordists to join ASM’s team in Mexico. The recordist job is not for the faint of heart since it requires someone who can get outside their comfort zone to live in rugged conditions while recording Scripture translations.

But someone saw the opportunity to serve in ASM’s recordist position and stepped up!

Harrison shares, “We are praising God for Luis who has been involved with his father in prison ministry before and preaching the Gospel. Now, he is excited to join the team as a recordist! So, thank you so much for your prayers, and let’s keep praying for more laborers for the harvest field of our Lord.”

Ask God to show you how you can get involved in the Great Commission by creatively using your time, talents, and treasure for His glory.

To find more ways you can serve with ASM, click here!

(Header photo courtesy of Audio Scripture Ministries)