*2 From the President - OUR LIVES MAY NOT BE AS PRECIOUS AS WE THINK
'And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what well happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20. 22-4
Biblical faith is active and costly, in John 14.15, Christ explains that those who love Him will obey His commands. Obedience must be understood to be active (there is no passive obedience), and remaining active for Christ will cost us our lives as we expend our limited stocks of time, energy and resources:
Biblical discipleship is therefore a process of losing our lives; it is impossible to interpret and apply Christ's teachings without understanding this point. 'WHOEVER LOSES HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE WILL FIND IT', He tells us in Matt. 10.39
It is worth noting that even if we are not obedient to Christ, we are diminishing day by day as we approach the day of our death. Therefore we have only 2 options: 1. seeking to expend ourselves for Christ's sake or 2. attempting to preserve ourselves as we diminish day by day. Let us be clear in understanding that both options lead to our earthly death. Our lives are either used or lost.
In the economy of this world, any personal gain is always weighed against its cost. In Acts 20.24 (see above), of his life is so small compared with the gain of obeying Christ that he 'does not account (his) life of any value nor as precious to (himself')..
Paul's phrasing, and especially the word Precious, connects with us because most of us were raised, and now raise our children and grandchildren, to continually affirm the value of our lives. we take great pains to convince our children and grandchildren that their lives are precious, and rightly so, but we miss the mark if we suggest that there is nothing more precious. Our Lord's eternal kingdom is worth so much more that we not only should be ready to respond to God's call but also should beseech Him for greater opportunities to trade anything *( or everything) for the kingdom's advancement.
Christ's parables of the hidden treasure and pearl of great value in Matthew 13.44-6 illustrate the infinitely great value of God's kingdom by telling us that each man traded All that he had to purchase his treasure. Note also in verse 44 that the man went 'in his joy' to sell all that he had. We are meant to Joyfully Give Everything.
In this month's magazine, you will meet several of our Christian brothers and sisters who serve sacrificially and joyfully on the front lines of mission fields in hostile areas and restricted nations.may we never fail to partner with them through our prayers...and may we be inspired by their examples to be bold witnesses for Christ. Cole
4. Mehfri: From Peddling Drugs TO PROCLAIMING CHRIST
At 21, Mehfri enrolled in a Bible school in Indonesia with no intention of studying the Bible. Although he had grown up in a Christian family, he enrolled in the School only to hide from the police, who were after him for selling drugs.
'I was not in the Bible school to get born again, he said. 'When I was in the Bible school, I was thinking how I could sell drugs to the students to get money'.
After a few months at the school and three years of selling cocaine and Ecstasy, Meh was arrested and put in jail. Then one day, a pastor who visited the jail every Friday gave Mehfri a Bible.as Meh began to read the Scriptures, he recalled the few lectures he had paid attention to during his time at the Bible school. The lessons on God's love spoke to him in his time of need, and his heart was softened toward the Lord.
'I read Romans 10, and at that time I confessed that Jesus is my Lord, he said. Twenty days later, his father, who had always struggled to make ends meet, cam up with the money to pay his bail. Following his release from jail, Meh decided to return to the Bible school - this time to study God's Word.
'E wanted to become someone God sends to share the gospel', he said. 'when I became a student at the Bible school, my heart was not quiet because I WANTED MANY PEOPLE TO KNOW JESUS. THERE WAS A FIRE IN MY HEART TO SHARE JESUS WITH OTHER PEOPLE'.
After two years in school. Mehfri arranged to begin ministry work on an island in the Philippines, where he served with a house church for two years. He then moved to Mindanao, a region in the southern Philippines known as a radical Muslim stronghold and a difficult place to share the gospel. The government has ceded control to Islamists in some parts of the region, and attacks on Christians are not uncommon. 'Not many people want to go there, Meh said, so this challenged me'.
He quickly joined a house church of three families who cared for and supported one another, working together to share the gospel with their neighbors. 'These were not rich people, Meh said, 'They were farmers and fishermen. During the two years (I was there), God stayed with me and provided everything. i saw God with me completely.
After two years with the families in Mindanao, he moved to the Indonesian island of Borneo to study at another Bible
*5 school. there, he dug deeper into the Scriptures and focused more specifically on evangelism; he knew he had to know the Bible better in order to share the gospel in Islamic areas. On Fridays and Saturdays, students from the school shared the gospel with local Muslims. 'I shared the gospel with many Muslim people and baptized them', he said. Remembering how God had turned his criminal life into a witness for the kingdom, Meh said he often wept with gratitude when he baptized a new believer. 'i was thinking about what had happened in my life', he said. 'Because how beautiful are the feet that bring these things?
Mehfri formed friendships with students at an Islamic school during his time in western Borneo. even starting an anti-drug group to help them avoid the destructive traps that had once ensnared him. as he shared his anti-drug message with the students, he also gently shard the need for salvation through Christ.
After a few months, a student asked Mehfi for help, saying his friend wanted to learn more about 'mercy'. Agreeing to a meeting Meh followed the young man and three of his friends to an cemetery were they were to meet the other friend. But when they arrived, three men were waiting for him. When they started punching him, Meh considered fighting back. But he decided that would only hurt his Christian witness, so instead he ran for his life.
Bleeding from the mouth, he took shelter in a nearby church building, where some people helped him recover and escorted him back to the Bible school. He remained at the school as much as possible for the next six months, focusing on completing his studies.
Soon after graduation, Mehfri got a job selling water filters and married a young woman he had met at the school; she gave birth to their first child two years ago. The couple share the gospel together in Muslim villages, whee Meh reaches out to at least five people a day and often doubles that.
In 2016, Mehfri developed a friendship with a teacher at an elementary school for Muslim children.after meeting with Meh two to three ties a week for three months to discuss Jesus and the Quran, the man came to faith in Christ. he eagerly taught what he had learned to this school students, until his superiors ordered him to stop. He then focused on studying the Scriptures and leading his family members to Christ.
The next time Mehfri visited the teacher's home, he was confronted by the man's son before he could even get off his motorbike. 'are you the one who gave the Bible to my father? he asked. Meh answered in the affirmative and was suddenly attacked from behind by three en with sticks, one blow bruising his right eye. Meh quickly fled the scene on his motorbike, speeding toward home.
When Mehfri's 2 year old daughter saw him struggling, she encouraged him to stay strong. 'You must stay on fire, for me, she said, pulling his hand. 'You must stay on fire'. His daughter was repeating a phrase he had often said to her, which moved Meh to smile. His wife, overwhelmed with fear, began to cry. but after Meh prayed with her, she then prayed for those who attacked her husband.
Mehfri said he has come to accept persecution as part of his walk with Jesus, who first endured persecution for our sake. 'Jesus is the example, the model', he said. 'so we must follow Jesus. We don't know about the future, but we must face it. We are ready to face more persecution'.
Pray that Christians in Indonesia will develop a heart for sharing the gospel in their communities.
...*8 Ishaku: MINISTERING IN ENEMY TERRITORY
The Reverend Ishaku Manawa serves in a very dangerous area for Christians. At the peak of Boko Haram's reign of terror, entire swaths of the region where he works, Adamawa state, in northeastern Nigeria, were under Islamist control. the group had effectively taken over even the state's two largest cities, Mubi and Yola, until Nigerian government forces liberated the area in 2015.
Violence against Christians continues in the region today, as Boko Haram regains power and Fulani Islamic militants attack Christian villages with impunity. in one 12 month period, Islamic militants killed about 200 people and displaced another 200,000. and this is precisely why Ishaku has chosen Admawa as his area of ministry. 'I prefer going to places where people are struggling or they they don't know Jesus, he said.
Ishaku, his wife and their 7 children currently live in Mubi, but Ishaku spends three or four nights a week ministering to people in nearby rural areas.He knows his life is at risk every time he ventures out. once, while traveling to the village of Ngososhe Sama by motorcycle, he came upon a group of Boko Haram fighters who were burning houses and firing their rifles. 'The watched meas i passed and did nothing, he said.
Ishaku is no stranger to the pain of losing dear friends. He estimates that Boko Haram has killed more than 50 people under his care over the years, including 37 from a single congregation that he leads. When someone he knows is killed, such as a young man he taught as a child in Sunday school, he grieves their loss. His grief is usually tempered, however, by the knowledge that they were people of strong faith. 'But there are other whose deaths troubled me, he said, 'because they weren't as strong as they should have been'. Those losses impel him to continue teaching and strengthening the faith of his flock.
As Ishaku has faithfully shared the gospel in hostile territory, he has had the great joy of leading some members of Boko Haram,including a 17 year old girl, to Christ. 'she used to be part of Boko Haram,he said, but when she heard the gospel, she repented. Although her father is complaining about it, it was her decision'. To help her grow in faith, Isahku arranged for her to move in with a Christian woman in another state.
Another Boko Haram member, Shuaibu, came too faith in Christ after a conflict within his squad. 'He used to kill a lot of Christians', Ishaku said, but the Lord captured him'.
Shuaibu was zealous about eradicating Christianity, but a power struggle within his group prompted him to step away from the chaos. as he walked the city streets, he heard preachers telling their congregations to pray for those who were killing them. To hear Christians talking that way amid a campaign of violence against them convinced Shuaibu that following Christ was the right path to take.
After Shuaibu placed his faith in Jesus Christ, both his family and Boko Haram were after him, so he moved out of state. Today he supports persecuted believers financially and periodically talks to Ishaku on the phone.
As the conflict around Ishaku shifts, he adapts his ministry to the situation. In 2014, when hundreds of thousands were displaced by Boko Haram,he planted a church across the border in Cameroon among one of the largest groups of refugees.
More recently , Ishaku has been providing food and comfort to farmers in Adamawa state who are attacked and run out of their villages by Fulani Islamic militants. 'wherever they are,I go and encourage them to continue to follow Christ, he said, 'Their make sure they have a place to worship, even if it is under a tree. after that,i continue to visit them, worship with them and encourage them'.
Although Ishaku's ministry schedule requires a lot of time away from home, he says his family is fully supportive of his work. 'My wife is one of the people who encourages me, he said. 'she tells me that anytime I hear of a place were the people are in need of God's word, I should get up and go'.
His seven children are also committed to helping him any way they can. they pray for and encourage him, and his oldest daughter occasionally accompanies him on ministry trips. when one of his other daughters expresses concern about the danger of his work, he assures her that God always protects.
'I have taken up following Christ, and suffering is part of following him', he said. '"(Suffering) is not something to refuse because Christ promised us, saying, 'You will be persecuted as long as you follow Me'. I see it as part of the cross we bear for Christ'.
Ishaku believes he was especially called to this difficult work and he was never content as a traditional pastor. 'I don't feel i should sit in one place and enjoy', he said. He goes to the church - the people who make up Christ's church - to minister to them wherever they may be.he feels uniquely equipped to perform his danger role just as the rest of Christ's body fulfill their unique roles, including supporting him through prayer.
PRAY
-for wisdom as he disciples former terrorists
-for protection against discouragement
-that his children will know there is no greater work than the work of the Lord.
*10 Fawzy: THE HONEST OUTLAW
For Fawzy, police interrogations have become such a common part of his ministry work that he hardly notices them. as an evangelist and church planter in North Africa, he spends his time meeting with new Christian courts and others interested in leaning more about Jesus. But his activities are viewed as a threat by Islamic leaders and government officials afraid of civil unrest.
His first visit with government authorities was in the late 1980s,just three months after he had become a believer. after police arrested Faw, then 17, at his home, they took him to the police station and interrogated him for more than 6 hours, asking him if he had become a Christian. Although frightened, his faith held strong. 'I felt like there was a power or a hope in my heart, Faw said. he boldly told the police that he had left Islam for Christianity after studying the Bible through a correspondence course.
three months later, the authorities returned for another lengthy interrogation, telling Fawzy the only reason they didn't arrest him was that he was still 17. They warned him that if he remained a Christian after turning 18, he would spend the next two years in prison.
Much to Fawzy's relief, the authorities left him alone for the next 14 years. and while his family members were observant Muslims, they, too, allowed him to practice his faith without harassment. even his brother , who was a member of an extremist Muslim organization, told Faw that he was the best of his brothers. 'I am good because I don't believe in Islam, Faw told him.
During this reprieve from government interference ,Fawzy grew in faith, obtained his first full Bible and received discipleship training from an older believer. Then, in 2004 , he and another believer founded a church that grew to 20 members and the police soon began to call him in for periodic 'meetings'. Faw said they were monitoring his phone calls and watching him closely but were unable to charge him with anything.
A few years later, the government began to systematically expel foreigners from the country, some of whom were Christians. as believers in North Africa grew anxious, the number attending his house church declined to 5 people it was a difficult time in the life of the local church, but for Fawzy it was also a time of refinement and growth. He realized that he and other local Christians should not depend solely on Christians from other countries for support and encouragement. The government had inadvertently pushed them to mature in faith.
after the expulsion of most foreign-born Christians, Fawzy became more visible as a church planter in the region. the police frequently called him in for questioning , but he viewed every interrogation as a chance to share his faith.and when authorities asked him how he came to know Christ, he shared his testimony with them, including the vision he had seen as a new believer in which Jesus told him to walk the narrow path. once one of is investigators told him he was the first 'true believer' he had ever met.
Fawzy was asked repeatedly about his relationship with foreigners. Muslims commonly believe that foreigners pay people to convert to Christianity, so his interrogators wanted to know how much money and other benefits he had received from foreign Christians. Faw reassured them by saying, 'i get to know the faith directly from Jesus Christ, not from any foreigner'.
as a believer, Fawzy is known as someone who is trustworthy, and his reputation extends even to the security forces. 'They sit with me in the coffee shop, Faw said, 'They ...know everything, every detail. (They say,)'We know that you are a Christian for more than 20 years. We know that you attend church. ...We know you are a true believer in Christ. But at the same time, I understand that you have a good relationship and you behave in a good way with respect toward people'.
Fawzy tells them his honesty is a result of his faith in Christ. though they respect him, they continue to ask him whether he works with foreigners or believers in other cities and they continue to worry that his work might have a political motive.
Fawzy's most recent visit with authorities occurred just weeks before he attended a VOM-supported training conference for North African leaders. The police know he will not stop evangelizing, so they urge him to share wisely. The ongoing problems with police do not worry Fawzy however. 'Even when the authorities are against you, God is with you, ' he said. 'My main concern is not what is going to happen to us. My main concern is how I can testify to God's work'.
PRAY:
* for Fawzy's boldness as he builds the church in different places.
* that he will come into contact with new believers to disciple.
* for the continued unwavering faith and commitment of Fawzy and other front-line workers who are questioned by police.
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