AFCI World News

Myanmar Participates in AFCI Worldwide Prayer Day

On January 26, all 25 AFCI national teams gathered for a day of prayer. Prayer lists were circulated from the International Office to pray for the advancement of God’s Kingdom around the world. Pictured here is part of the AFCI Myanmar team as they were praying for Myanmar and other AFCI fields. Joining together on this special day, knowing that our hearts are united in prayer for each other, brings strength to our international fellowship of Christian workers.

Part of the prayer emphasis in Myanmar was for the evangelism teams that travel to remote parts of the nation to share the wonderful news of Christ. One team from the AFCI Myanmar Bible School went out recently and was able to report on a number of villagers who made decisions to follow Christ. Praise God for His answer to prayers.

Church Growing in St Vincent

BY: Veral Blake, National Director

Talking about church! This past Sunday was exceptional at Harvest Bible Chapel St. Vincent – an outreach established by AFCI. It was our Friends & Family Sunday. We were overwhelmed at the response of the friends and family who turned out at the invitation of members and friends who attend our church. Normally our attendance on Sunday will be about 160. This Sunday we had 270 in attendance.

In the evening we showed the film "Courageous" and over 500 persons showed up. Most exciting of all is that several persons committed their lives to Christ in the morning and the movie challenged a wide cross section of men who brought their children to view the movie to really make a commitment to raise their children "God's way. Harvest Bible Chapel St. Vincent is one year and 5 months old .

To God's glory! It is the fastest growing church in St. Vincent presently. We are overwhelmed with the joy of the Lord of the bold step we took to evolve our small struggling congregations from a mere rippling brook to a mighty flowing stream. The father/son combination is having a great impact upon the nation. In fact Allister and I are now working on an article to be published soon regarding the efforts and effectiveness of our father/son tag teeming.

Christian School and Seminary Training in Peru

BY: Charlie Hanak, Americas Regional Director

I'm in Chimbote, Peru, with a group from Virginia (USA) who are making improvements to the Kindergarten classroom for the Cristo Redentor School (raising the roof so the room won't be so hot). As the only Christian school in a large barrio, Cristo Redentor is meeting an important need in the area. As an outreach of the Villa Maria Methodist Church, the school also provides outreach and care to the families of the students.

We have spent time with the faculty and students of the seminary training program sponsored by AFCI-Peru in Chimbote.  The pastors use the Cristo Redentor building in the evenings for their classes.  Ricardo Visurraga, National Director of AFCI-Peru, has arranged for the students to receive credit from the Evangelical Seminary in Lima.  The school year begins in March and 25 pastors are signed up.

                Seminary students saying, “Thank You!”

New AFCI Team Member in Ethiopia

On January 18, 2012 the AFCI team in Ethiopia visited Kolfe Kale Heywet Church and took part in the dedication of Worku Haile-Mariam Mohammad to the ministry of AFCI Ethiopia. This is Worku’s home church.  AFCI Regional Director (Fred Amoah-Darko) delivered a message on commitment from Romans 12:1-2. To conclude the service, a number of pastors, elders, and evangelists gathered with the AFCI team to pray for Worku and his wife, Tiruwork Siefu.

Worku remarked to those attending, "I hope by the grace of God I will fulfill the AFCI vision worldwide as well as Ethiopia in particular." Worku has a wide experience in ministry, including teaching at the Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology. He is a well respected church leader in Ethiopia.  Shiferaw Feyissa, National Director for Ethiopia, said, “Worku brings many gifts to the AFCI team that we need. We have known each other for many years and we have worked together in ministry from time to time.  I am excited to now be working more closely together. Worku will be part-time with AFCI at present, but we are confident that this will grow to be full-time in the future.”

Pastors’ Conference in Bhilai

The Bhilai India Pastors Conference organized by the local churches and pastors from Himachal, Arunachal, Jharkhand and Andhra was held at Bhilai from 27^th – 30^th Oct, 2011. Vijay Hebbal was the key resource person for the conference. He said that the conference was an eye opener to the Pastors and they extended invitations for AFC to visit their mission fields in their respective regions to minister to a larger fraternity of pastors and leaders.

AFCI ministers are in high demand from churches and denominations across India. The AFCI team has developed training materials that are theologically sound as well as practical, enhancing the work of pastors wherever they are invited to teach.

Christmas: At all Times and all Places

BY: Paul Hanak, International Director

I just returned from Cambodia - a predominantly Buddhist nation. But in all the hotels and stores they had Christmas trees and other symbols celebrating the birth of Christ. Even many societies that have only a minority of Christians still recognize the tremendous impact of Christ on history!

Before departing for Cambodia, I was shopping here in Atlanta the first week of November, and already all the Christmas decorations were up. I used to think, “Why can’t they wait at least until after Thanksgiving to put up the Christmas displays.” Now, I have come to appreciate the fact that people celebrate the birth of Christ at any time of year, for whatever reason. It opens up opportunities to talk to them about the greatest gift God gave to the world – his only Son.

I am reminded of when I worked at the beach in North Carolina the summer after graduating from high school. I was not a Christian at that time, and a Christian group held some open air meetings on the beach in July that they called, “Christmas in July.” Even though I did not understand what it meant to have a relationship with Christ, it challenged me to think. A year later at the end of my freshman year at university, I bowed my head to ask Christ to take control of my life.

In this very busy season of parties and gift giving, I am thankful for the reminder wherever I go that Christ is alive and continues to seek a relationship with each and every person on this earth - whether in Cambodia where few know him, or in the USA, where stores use the season for commercial purposes. During this season, when Christ is brought to the attention of men and women, pray that God will use all of us who know him to help others take one more step closer to calling Him Lord.

“You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.” (Acts 10:36)

God’s Protection in St. Vincent

BY: Veral Blake, National Director

We want to share with you an experience we had a couple days ago as an encouragement for you to continue praying for us regularly and to show how valuable your prayer of protection is. On Wednesday night we were on our way home after a dinner appointment. As  we got on the outskirts of Kingstown the capital City,suddenly a little boy of about 8-9 years ran from one side of the street to get to the other directly in front of our vehicle. He was hit head on and knocked to the ground. Thankfully I was not driving fast so I was able to stop without running over him. He got some bruises but was not seriously injured.

Obviously it shook us up and sent Norma's pressure skyrocketing. The parents who ran a barber salon were nearby, The father had just left him in the saloon to go get some food at a nearby restaurant when the boy ran after him without him knowing.God had protected us from killing that child.

There was an interesting part to the incident. We took the mother and son to the hospital.When I told her who I was she was excited because since she was a child she listened to my children's program and always thought it was someone from overseas who hosted the program. She was ecstatic to meet me. An incident that could have resulted in distress and sorrow, God turned it into a blessing.

The child is doing well. He has no concussion. Never stop praying for our safety and protection.

Home for Seniors in Ukraine nears Completion

BY: Al Moore

THANKSGIVING … with the apostles Paul and Timothy we say to you saints in Christ Jesus … Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. (Philippians 1:2-5)

 
We are overwhelmed at God’s goodness. Last week we visited The Father’s Arms home for seniors in the village of Motovilevka, 1½ hours from the center of Kiev. A Ukrainian business man has provided quality insulation AND labor. As we walked inside we were amazed as it’s so close to being finished. The heating is in the floors. Many Ukrainians have given their expertise, time, efforts, and monies. The orphans that live there in the orphanage have done some work.

Here’s what yet needs to be done:

Tiles to be purchased for floors and walls in the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry. In the corridors and rooms will be quality linoleum to be purchased and installed. Painting is to be done in the bedrooms, dining and visiting area. Doors to be purchased. We trust in a couple months the elderly ones will come in. Also, the outside walls will have a final layer for ultimate weather protection.

We were told the American Embassy can provide items as stove, refrigerators, freezers, etc. etc. for humanitarian purposes. Some beds, mattresses and furniture have been provided.

Reaching Indians in the Pacific Islands

BY: Sione Veituna, National Director

A door has opened for AFCI to work with the Indian Division of the Fiji Methodist Church. It started when I was invited to speak at an Indian funeral at the invitation of a friend. Members of the elders of Dudley Methodist Church attended that service, and this opened the door to to speak at the head church of the Indian division of the denomination – Dudley Methodist Church. They have now asked me to help out in the English-Speaking worship services on a regular basis.

The Methodist Church is the largest denomination in Fiji. It has three divisions:-The Fijian, the Indian and the English-speaking divisions. I count it a blessing to be linked to the Indian ministry of the Methodist Church and to work with the leader of that ministry.

New Doors Opening in Ukraine

BY: Wally Vasylovych, National Director

At the end of last month I participated in Regional Pastors’ Conference where I spoke about our LifeWorks course and our Family Club ministry. There were pastors and church leaders from about thirty churches. As a result, we have already received invitations to come to many of the churches to train them on how to use our LifeWorks materials.

At this conference I learned that in another region of Ukraine (Zakarpattia – Hungary), there are churches who want us to come with LifeWorks. We plan to go to Zakarpattia in winter. The ministry is expanding across the nation as more and more pastors here from others how helpful our material are in reaching out with the love of Christ.