AFCI World News

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.

A Partnership in Ministry for Cambodia

AFCI Cambodia has a strategic partnership with Global Connection International (GCI) in Colorado, and God has used this organization to strengthen the outreach of AFCI’s Cambodia ministry. This past month, Barnabas Mam was able to visit the international office of GCI in Colorado and minister in their home setting.

It is a joy for AFCI to be able to join together with likeminded ministries to work hand-in-hand as we seek to impact the world for Christ.

Jim Weber, President Elect of GCI wrote about the visit . . .

“He (Barnabas) arrived late on Thursday evening, but we were up early and made our way over to Valor Christian High School by 8:45 AM for their morning chapel service. Barnabas did a great job speaking to the kids and the response from students and staff alike was fantastic after he was finished!”

“We then went north of Denver about 2 hours to the city of Loveland where we held a Global Up-Date event at the Embassy Suites Hotel. Again, Barnabas did a powerful job as our key-note speaker, in communicating the needs of Cambodia and a Biblical mandate for us to do something about it.”

“On Sunday we shared in ministry together at the Englewood Bible Church, pastored by Bob Hayes who has been to Cambodia with us on three different occasions. Barnabas spoke during the morning worship service and then we enjoyed a very meaningful fellowship over lunch with the Pastor, his wife and another couple. The husband and Pastor Bob are planning on going to Cambodia with us in January, and as a result of Barnabas' visit, we will be focusing on his prison ministry and time with the Cambodian military under his guidance.”

“It was our pleasure to spend Friday afternoon through Saturday evening showing Barnabas around the Rocky Mountains.  He got to hear the elk bugle in Rocky Mountain National Park and see "The High Country" in all of its splendor as the aspen trees were in their full display of yellows and golds!”

“We appreciate so much what AFCI stands for and what you are doing and look forward to a special ministry partnership in the days ahead.”

New Tent Commissioned for Ministry in Guadeloupe

BY: Hayward Paul

The program was full of welcoming speeches, congratulations for the arrival of “The Tent,” and expressions of the new beginning for evangelism in Guadeloupe. Music filled the air as the three Johnson daughters led the singing backed by an ensemble of musicians that provided a subtle Caribbean beat to the many hymns and worship songs sung. When we sang “These are the days of Elijah…”, I was so stirred listening to the French, the Creole, even English – singing in all these languages with such great enthusiasm!

The congregation was large, filling the chairs – nearly all the 600 seats were full, with others standing inside and around The Tent. Representing AFCI, I lauded Raymond Johnson, his family and his team for pulling all this together, for his leadership in the Church in Guadeloupe, for his heart for the lost, and commissioning him for a strong return to evangelism using “The Tent” as a tool for his work. We gathered around and prayed for this man – for his strength, leadership and greater ministry to come.

When Raymond spoke the people listened – he told of his journey from being born in Dominica and born-again in Guadeloupe! The double entendre was not missed. His heart is for his adopted country and neighboring Francophone countries, where he yearns to bring the true Gospel. He spoke strongly, passionately and thankfully about the help he had received from his Christian countrymen in financing “The Tent,” providing the chairs, obtaining a bus, finding and financing a mobile storage unit – indeed a ship-container to house “The Tent” and supporting equipment. Raymond explained that the next two nights would be crusade-like, full of music and evangelism, an outreach to this area, and welcomed all to come and see again what was to happen.

It was a moving night, and the new journey was now beginning for Raymond Johnson, his family, the evangelicals in Guadeloupe, and perhaps many others who did not yet know the Lord . . . yet. 

         The Voice of Ambassadors for Christ Guadeloupe (AFCG La Voix)

A Committed Church Planter Among the Jarai People

BY: Barnabas Mam

Plin Kpa was born in 1965 to a Jarai family in Oyadao District, Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia and is the one of the first two people in his tribe to believe in Jesus. Plin accepted Christ in 1997 through the ministry of Mras, a Jarai evangelist from Vietnam. Plin had a strong passion to bring the Gospel of Christ to his own people but had no training.

In 1998 I started the first church planting class at the Institute of Church Planting Cambodia (ICPC), and Plin was a student. In the middle of the church planting course Plin got news from his dear wife that their rice grain in the barn and their rice paddy in the fields were all destroyed by fire. But he continued on in his training, graduating in October 1998. Plin was crushed but not destroyed.

                               Plin and his family in Charlotte, NC

After returning home, Plin ploughed the fields, sowed the seeds, witnessed Christ to his new friends in the neighborhood and planted a church among the new believers. By the time Plin and his family migrated to America in November 2002 his church had reached five hundred members with a good number of leaders to look after the church.

Once Plin settled the United States, he was able to find a job and worked so hard to supply his family’s needs. Compelled by the love of Christ, Plin and Mras started doing home visits to find the opportunity to share the Gospel to their fellow Jarai refugees in Charlotte, NC. As a result of their zealous ministry, Oyadao Montagnard Baptist Church​ was planted in April 2007.

Just last month I was reunited with Plin in a visit to Charlotte. What a great encouragement to see those who have been trained continuing to serve the Lord. Whether in their own homeland or half way across the world, God is continuing to use His servants to bear fruit.