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WORLD MAP WORLD MISSIONARY ASSISTANCE PLAN
Fall 2008
DIGEST
A Chorus of Thanksgiving IS ECHOED AROUND THE WORLD BY LEADERS RECEIVING ACTS MAGAZINE & THE SHEPHERD’S STAFF
During a recent Philippines seminar, this leader was equipped with sound World MAP training resources – strong reasons for thanksgiving!
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Chorus of Thanksgiving by Frank R. Parrish
FRANK R. PARRISH
“For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God” (2Cor 4:15). t is a joy to be writing to you as we enter into yet another busy fall season for the ministry of World MAP. We are partners in three church leadership seminars in Nigeria in November; still translating, printing and mailing the “double-sized” issue of ACTS Magazine, a very important and biblically-thorough study on The Anointing Of The Holy Spirit; writing yet another biblical study for ACTS Magazine; coordinating ongoing Shepherd’s Staff distribution worldwide; and so much more!
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King of all kings, who is working powerfully by His Spirit, through His eternal Word, to bring life, wisdom, salvation and hope to countless souls around the world! Though not of our doing, I can share with you the impact of World MAP’s ministry around the world with absolute surety and confidence. First, because I know without doubt that it is our Lord’s desire – and His right as the inheritor of the nations (Ps 2:8) – to bring glory to His Father as He moves in the hearts of every tribe, tongue and nation in these days. Second, because we receive so many testimonies and heartfelt thanks from church leaders all over the world. They express again and again that the materials we are sending to them are producing much fruit in their lives and the lives of those they shepherd. Many of those testimonies and sincere words of gratitude have been included in this Thanksgiving issue of DIGEST for your enjoyment.
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In over 140 nations around the world, multiplied tens of thousands of pastors are receiving World MAP’s equipping and training materials. These important teachings have wide-reaching impact – on the pastors’ lives and families, their ministries, their churches and cities, and even their nations! Let me say quickly and adamantly that we are fully aware that this impact is not our doing. We have the grateful privilege of partnering with the Lord – the 2
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Honored To Serve With You All of what I’ve shared is likely not new to you, as a long-time partner and member of the World MAP family. So why, then, am I writing to you about this?
For the simple, yet very sincere, reason that Wendy and I want to join our voices and hearts with those thousands of church leaders who have already testified and proclaimed their gratitude. Though they may be saying how grateful they are to World MAP and our staff, the reality is that they are thanking YOU! For without your prayers and faithful, often sacrificial, giving we could not fulfill God’s call to “send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared” (Neh 8:10). It is because of you – and your commitment to the cause of Christ – “that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God”. Your partnership allows God’s grace to be multiplied into the hearts of people around the world. Together with them, we join the never-ending and ever-growing anthem of praise and thanksgiving to the One who makes it all possible! Hallelujah! Some of you give out of your abundance, and for that we are grateful. Others have written to explain your circumstances of limited income or recent illness, or even the loss of a loved one, and yet continue to give what you can – and for that we are immensely humbled, and still very grateful. In either case, we are overwhelmed with thanksgiving for your willingness to do all you can, to reach all you can, while you still can! Even in these days of seeming
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uncertainty and challenge in our world, you have been faithful to partner with us in the Gospel. The words of thanksgiving that we have received on your behalf could not be contained even in several issues of DIGEST! But we have gleaned from the testimonies, and in this magazine you will read some amazing stories and some profound expressions of thanksgiving. Since they are written to you, I trust you will take time to read them – and receive them! I know you will be blessed, as we also have been encouraged and blessed. Church leaders are thanking you for caring about them enough to pray for them and regularly allow your heart to be touched by their circumstance. They are grateful that you have responded faithfully to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and have been the Lord’s hand extended to them to help. Your help equips and trains the church leaders in some of the most desperate and difficult places – giving them confidence, hope, strength, boldness and a building up of their faith. Truly, God’s grace is being multiplied to them through you! Wendy and I, in this season of thanksgiving, pause to express our thanks to you. We are honored to serve with you in assisting the
Vol. 48 • No. 4 Fall 2008
World MAP World Missionary Assistance Plan
DIGEST
CONTENTS 2 Chorus Of Thanksgiving 4 Praise The Lord For Your Work & Effort
Thank
you, W orld M AP! Body of Christ in so many nations. Please know that the words of gratitude you will read are from real people who are living – and sometimes suffering and even dying – for their faith. Their faces you may never see on this side of Heaven. But be encouraged that on that Day, when we all join in a glorious song of praise and thanks to our Savior, Lord and King, you will meet them. And you will know that all that you have done for Jesus’ sake, whether large or small, will have counted for the glory of God and the salvation and blessing of countless people. Now that’s something to be thankful for! That all may know Jesus, Frank Parrish, Director WMAP
VISION AND MISSION OF WORLD MAP World MAP (Missionary Assistance Plan) is a transdenominational, nonprofit ministry dedicated to fulfilling the Great Commission – making disciples of all nations – by: • Equipping indigenous church leaders in Third-World nations through biblically-based, Spirit-filled teaching resources and practical ministry training so that they can be more effective, and in turn raise up and equip still more leaders (2Tim 2:2). • Sharing the triumphs and trials of these front-line ministers with believers in Western nations, to inspire the Body of Christ to fervently pray and sacrificially give, so that “this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world” (Matt 24:14). The Third-World church stands poised and ready to reach the nations with the Gospel, if they could just be equipped to do so. Thank you for partnering with World MAP to supply this urgent need!
9 Shepherd’s Staff Distribution 10 The Galilee Zone 11 ACTS Magazine Excerpt 12 “World MAP Has Trained You Very Well” 12 They Learn By Lantern
WORLD MAP BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jon Cook, Skip Mahoney, Hank Morris, Frank Parrish, Vic Torres.
WMAP CANADA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Paul Dreher, Helmuth Lange, Dave McTaggart, Frank Parrish, Wendy Parrish, Horst Senkbeil, Alex Tingstad.
DIGEST STAFF Frank and Wendy Parrish .......... Directors / Editors Gayla Dease.... Publications Coordinator Keith Balser......................... Copy Editor
World MAP DIGEST is published quarterly by World Missionary Assistance Plan, whose editorial and business offices are at 1419 N. San Fernando Blvd., Burbank CA 91504. The subscription price is $5.00 per year. Receipts for contributions are tax-deductible. Periodicals postage paid at N. Hollywood, California 91605 and additional mailing offices (USPS 692240). Postmaster: Please send form 3579 to 1419 N. San Fernando Blvd., Burbank, California 91504. HOW TO CONTACT US: Visit us at our website on the Internet at www.world-map.com • Email us at
[email protected] • Call us at 1-818-843-7233 • Fax us at 1-818-845-5000 WORLD MAP DIGEST
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World MAP Director Frank Parrish, right, leads staff in prayer
African church leaders rely on The Shepherd’s Staff
“Praise The Lord For Your F
rom the foreign office managers and round-theworld translators who help carry ACTS and Shepherd’s Staff teachings to the developing nations, to the World MAP staff and the faithful supporters who make the ministry possible, all hearts share the same mission: to fulfill the Great Commission by making disciples of all nations. Working together they equip indigenous church leaders to be more effective, and in turn raise up and equip even more leaders for Christ. This united effort is much appreciated by hundreds of thousands of church leaders in Asia, Africa and Latin America whose ministries are often built on the foundation provided by World MAP supporters and teams. “It is our greatest privilege to do our part in fulfilling the Great Commission by serving our brothers and sisters around the world,” said Frank Parrish, director of World MAP, following one of the daily World MAP prayer meetings where staff members
pray for church leaders, World MAP supporters and nations around the world. The church leaders in developing nations “are truly heroes of the faith,” added co-director Wendy Parrish. “We’re honored to assist them with equipping resources.” As we approach the holiday season, we would like to share with you some words of encouragement and thanks for those of you who fund ACTS Magazine and The Shepherd’s Staff.
CHINA: Co-Working In God’s Kingdom While the world’s eyes were on Beijing and the Olympics this past summer, China has had the attention of World MAP supporters for nearly two decades. In conjunction with Revival Christian Ministries International, World MAP has provided 356,313 Chinese copies of The Shepherd’s Staff to underground house church leaders, many of whom are persecuted for their Christian faith.
Filipino cell leaders (left) and the Indian church leader above count on World MAP to provide training material 4
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Sig & Joy Feser oversee WMAP’s East African operations he ff
In places where identities must be hidden
ur Work And Your Effort”
By Gayla Dease, World MAP Publications Coordinator
“World MAP has been a great blessing to our work in China and to the Chinese churches,” an RCMI spokeswoman recently said. “The Shepherd’s Staff has been a great tool book for all Chinese church leaders.” “This book,” she said, “is also considered as the other ‘must-have’ book – other than the Bible – to all Chinese house church leaders, and even now the Three-Self Government official church leaders find it useful, too. The Shepherd’s Staff has a lot of practical and useful teaching material, which helps Chinese church leaders understand more about God’s Word, thus helps a lot in shepherding their flocks.” The book is “a great blessing,” she explained, since “many church leaders do not have chances to receive systematic Bible training.” “We are very grateful for World MAP’s generosity,” she added, “and we look forward to more chances of co-working in God’s kingdom in the future.”
INDONESIA: Reaching The Remotest Meanwhile in Indonesia, where roughly 88 percent of the population is Muslim, Robert and Eliana Mambu have worked with World MAP since 1987 to print and distribute ACTS and The Shepherd’s Staff to a small but growing group of Christian leaders. “Publishing ACTS Magazine has been a great blessing to many pastors in Indonesia,” said Robert, who was happy to share this recent unedited testimony from long-time ACTS reader Pastor Y. Halim from North Sulawesi: “I really thank the Lord because until now ACTS is still visiting me in Tagulandang, a small and desolated village in North Sulawesi. Through this magazine I receive many lessons, my faith is strengthened, especially when I face the work of darkness such as witchcraft and black magic. There was ever happened an epidemic disease in my village; in four or five days the patient died. My children were often attacked, but
Vander Santos, right, shown with his family, manages ATOS
Used in remote villages!
Robert & Eliana Mambu, managers of Indonesian office WORLD MAP DIGEST
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in prisons and more,” he added. “All of them affirm that World MAP material is a true seminar for them, that the material has been vastly enriching their ministry, and they can offer much more with the knowledge that they have been acquiring with the material of ACTS and The Shepherd’s Staff. ‘Praise the Lord for your work and your effort’ is what all of them say.”
In Pakistan (above) Alex Sarfraz hands out an Urdu Shepherd’s Staff during a conference in Lahore. Below, the Emmanuel Press staff in South Africa reviews ACTS mail.
praise the Lord for ACTS; when I practiced the lessons I received, ‘How to Face and Overcome the Power of Darkness’, God’s power really worked and my children were healed! “Once one of my children was almost paralyzed; it happened many times; we were confused; however when my wife and I practiced the lessons from ACTS: to praise and worship God, to drive out the devils, suddenly a black creature run away and until now the sickness is gone. Praise the Lord! “Just recently we also faced a problem that tested our faith. We thank the Lord for ACTS. At that time we had no money anymore; and we practiced the lessons of faith, and God really poured His blessings. Thank you for your prayers and ministry to us.” Testimonies such as this, said Eliana, encourage them and assure them that their work for the Lord “is never in vain”. “We cannot visit every pastor individually because of distance and time, but through ACTS magazines we can reach distant and remote places and be a blessing to them,” Robert added. BRAZIL: “What All Of Them Say” To You Vander Santos, who oversees the production and distribution of ATOS, the Portuguese edition of ACTS, said, “For me, [it] is a great pleasure to participate in this ministry, because I know that many leaders here in Brazil have been receiving spiritual food of quality. I receive a lot of letters of leaders of churches, cells, biblical schools, distant and poor communities, leaders 6
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PAKISTAN: Tower Of Light World MAP’s Pakistani office manager Alex Sarfraz recently shared this message of appreciation from church leader Younas Zia: “God bless you with spiritual blessings abundantly. Praise God for every thing which we receive in the name of Jesus Christ. Except Gospel, ACTS is the magazine which opens the eyes spiritually of mankind. I have been benefited by it greatly. Your organization has really a wonderful purpose to publishing it in Pakistan. It is like a tower of light for church leaders specially. It has changed my life as I have learned many things by reading it.” (Read more from Brother Alex on page 12.) SOUTH AFRICA: Vibrant Partnership Emmanuel Press – in White River, South Africa – has partnered with World MAP for more than 30 years, once as a major printing and distribution point but over the past decade primarily as “a depot” that receives World MAP mail from African Acts Magazine and Shepherd’s Staff readers who cannot afford a postage stamp to mail a letter to the World MAP headquarters in Burbank, California. “These requests are often accompanied by testimonies of great blessing received through the World MAP publications,” said Margaret Hooker, who pointed out that church leaders who write to World MAP’s South Africa address get an added benefit: “We here at Emmanuel Press, on our part, make contact with all those who have sent in ACTS and Shepherd’s Staff requests, by sending them a small set of Gospel tracts, which often then leads to them becoming tract distributors and/or people who do our free Bible Correspondence course.” EAST AFRICA: Quality Ventures Elim missionaries Sig and Joy Feser, serving on the African continent for many years, provide World MAP’s vital link to East African nations. Sig also provided the topical concordance material included in The Shepherd’s Staff. Joy recalls: “We started with World MAP in 1989 when Marvin Fast [the late president of World MAP Canada] picked up on the one sentence Sig wrote about the Topical Concordance he intended to write. That became part of The Shepherd’s Staff and paved the way for the Swahili translation of The Shepherd’s Staff and ACTS Magazine. According to Operation World, Christianity has grown from 33% to 54% during the time we have been distributing books and magazines to church leaders.... They send us wonderful testimonies of church growth, and of changed lives due to the teachings. What a privilege to be part of this wonder-
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Maria Franz, shown above left with husband Roy, has worked on the Spanish ACTS nearly 25 years. At right, a couple enjoy HECHOS, largely the result of Maria’s labor. Below left, Edith Maglipon in WMAP’s Manila office coordinates shipment of Shepherd’s Staff books to leaders such as the Filipino pastor (below, right) who received his copy during a conference hosted by missionary Paul Adams.
fully effective gift to the church in Africa and the world!” The Fesers’ own ministry has also grown and expanded. “For many years Pamoja Ministries has partnered with World MAP to bring quality materials to tens of thousands of church leaders in East and Central Africa,” said Sig. “Recently the door has opened for us to connect to many other African countries and we anticipate that many tens of thousands more leaders will be asking for The Shepherd’s Staff and ACTS Magazine in English, Swahili, French and Portuguese,” Sig added.
Swahili leaders receive copies of The Shepherd’s Staff in Tanzania SPANISH Proofreader: “Blessed Every Time I Work” Maria Franz also enjoys a long-running relationship with World MAP, having worked with World MAP
for 24 years, first as “office help” in 1983, then later – after she and her husband started a family – working from home as the proofreader of HECHOS (Spanish ACTS). “At first it was difficult to do, for the material was so good,” she recently recalled. “I just wanted to read and study, but what I really had to do was proofread!” For years she also translated letters from Spanish-speaking church leaders. “The reading of the letters was encouraging. It allowed me to hear firsthand what God was doing through HECHOS all over the world. I loved that God let me be a small part of their lives. I continue to be blessed every time I sit to work with a manuscript, knowing that from my home I can be a part of God’s plan all over the world.” Maria and Roy (also a former World MAP staff member) are serving as associate pastors at New Life Community Church in Pomona, California. PHILIPPINES: “You Are A Blessing To All Filipinos” Edith Maglipon in World MAP’s Manila, Philippines office has similar feelings of gratitude, and feels “really blessed” each time a Filipino church leader acknowledges receipt of The Shepherd’s Staff, which Edith has personally mailed or delivered to thousands of church leaders since 2000. “We often get comments like this: ‘The book which you have sent to me is really of great help. I can now teach with confidence about the Word of God.’” “May the good Lord continue to bless us,” Edith recently said. “I know in our own little way, we have helped those people who are in need of the Word of God. I thank God because I find my work so interesting and at least I was able to do work that glorifies God. Let us pray together for the continued success of World MAP and the very precious Shepherd’s Staff books and Acts magazines, which I consider the service and ministry of World MAP to humanity. “I applaud our dear boss, Mr. Frank Parrish, for his undying love to promulgate the Word of God to all people of all races.” “May the people continue to give their donations to World MAP so that the Shepherd’s Staff book and Acts magazines will reach the ends of the earth,” said Edith, who recently shared this collection of appreciative comments from Filipino readers: • It’s a great tool for my ministry. God Bless. • The book is very inspiring. It changes lives. God bless. • The book is of good quality materials. Glory to God. • The book is very integrative. It contains everything in one. • The book is full of wisdom. Thanks from the people of the Philippines. • The book is a great blessing to us. May we also request for ACTS magazines. • The book is great. May the Lord continue to bless World MAP. • May the Lord continue to bless World MAP. You’re really a blessing to all Filipinos. WORLD MAP DIGEST
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India staff members process applications and letters from around the world - and fill Shepherd’s Staff book orders • The book is well developed and catered for all. Thank you and God bless. • We find the book very useful. Can we ask for a dozen for our other church workers? While the book has already been published in 17 languages, Edith said the church leaders in the Philippines are praying for one more edition: “We’re looking forward to having the Shepherd’s Staff books in Tagalog [Philippine-language] version because this is the dominant request of our leaders, pastors, missionaries and men of God here in the Philippines,” Edith said, noting these additional reader comments: • “The book is of great help to enhance my learning about the Word of God. Can we request also books in Tagalog version?” • “How we wish and pray that you have available Tagalog version. The book is really good if it will be translated in Tagalog. Thank you and more power to you.” INDIA: New Heights The Shepherd’s Staff books for China – and other parts of the developing world – are printed in India, where World MAP partners with India Bible Literature to produce and distribute not just the books, but also many editions of ACTS Magazine, including French, Spanish and Swahili as well as English and seven Indian dialects. Because of low printing and postage costs, and economical wages for efficient Christian workers in India, World MAP is able to stretch its resources to reach a larger number of church leaders. IBL was founded in the mid-1950s by Dr. William Scott and his wife, the late Dr. Joyce M. Scott; their vision and burden was to place a portion of Scripture in every home in India – a country with 1.1 billion population. Their own innovative programs, reaching 20 million people on an annual basis, target the needs of India in such a way as to bring about a long-term impact. In a relationship with World MAP that has grown steadily since 1980 and now includes annual seminars as well as publishing ventures, IBL reaches beyond the borders of India; it now impacts the world. “It is always a joy and privilege to partner with the wonderful people at World MAP,” said IBL Executive Director E. Velayutham. “We pray and hope that it would grow to new heights in the days to come.” 8
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Indian pastors agree, as evidenced by these recent letters: Pastor N. Samuel, of Khammam, Andhra Pradesh State, South India writes: “The Shepherd’s Staff is wonderful and very much helpful in my ministry. Each and every article is inspiring, motivating, encouraging and edifying and it lifts me up to be strong in the Lord”. Elder L. O. Panwok from West Bengal says: “The Shepherd’s Staff is a treasure of rich subjects and more and more as I study, I feel inadequate and [it] makes me humble. It has been a great help to my spiritual life and ministry”. Pastor S. F. Thanga of Mizoram notes: “I continually use The Shepherd’s Staff in the Crusades – very helpful to prepare messages”. Pastor M. Ninghor from Manipur shares: “The ACTS Magazine helps me a lot in teaching as well as in spiritual life. It is also very easy to understand and the topics are valuable in our daily lives and profitable in giving the sermon during church service”. Rev. Prabal J. G. Minz of Ranchi, in Jharkhand State, says: “I am associated with the ACTS Magazine and World MAP since 1980, which has edified my spiritual growth and enlarged my biblical knowledge to a great extent. These in turn have helped me to serve my congregations more effectively for His Great Glory. I thank you whole-heartedly and pray that God bless the ACTS Magazine through the coming years”. Editor’s Note: With your ongoing prayers and financial support, World MAP will continue to provide ACTS and The Shepherd’s Staff in current language editions and possibly new ones, such as Tagalog and Arabic (a project that is underway). During the upcoming holiday season, please remember that your $5 gift will provide a subscription to ACTS or a copy of The Shepherd’s Staff to a church leader who will indeed “praise the Lord for your work and effort”. You may use the coupon on the back of this magazine to designate your support. God can work miracles through the ministries being built – and leaders strongly built up – by the God-glorifying equipping your partnership provides. WMAP
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From the printing press in India... In partnership with World MAP supporters and Pastor John Morrow of Living Word Christian Ministries, Intl., more than 25,000 copies of El Cayado del Pastor (the Spanish edition of The Shepherd’s Staff) have been placed into the hands of Latin American church leaders. This fall, 10,000 leaders in Honduras and Guatemala were the most recent leaders to receive the book because of this valued partnership.
To church leaders in Latin America To date, World MAP has given away 870,317 copies of The Shepherd’s Staff to readers in 140 developing nations!
The Shepherd’s Staff Distribution 293,627 ENGLISH
Chinese 356,313 English Int’l 222,903 Spanish 56,872 English Philippines 40,225 Swahili 33,912 English India 30,499 Portuguese 24,692 French 22,057 Telugu 16,898
Russian Urdu Tamil Malayalam Hindi Indonesian Oriya Bengali Marathi
16,057 8,987 8,929 8,670 8,537 7,500 3,067 2,475 1,724
COLOR LEGEND
356,313 CHINESE
English Spanish Swahili Russian Tamil Malayalam Bengali Oriya
Portuguese French Urdu Chinese Telugu Hindi Marathi Indonesian WORLD MAP DIGEST
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THE GALILEE ZONE
ACTS Hopeful Maps Out Vibrant Ministry Landscape by Keith G. Balser “I am a church worker in Asia, Africa or Latin America and I preach or teach from the Bible to 20 or more persons at least once a week” is a key qualification on the ACTS Magazine/Shepherd’s Staff application form. A church leader in Tanzania captured the spirit of that requirement in especially eloquent form when he wrote us this letter of request: “Praise the Lord!! It’s my hope that everything is going on well at World MAP. Pass my sincere greetings to all. May God bless you all in serving our Lord Jesus Christ. “Recently I came across your ACTS publication (Swahili version). After carefully reading that publication, I was delighted and came to a conclusion to be one of your recipients. By reading your lessons in ACTS, I’m sure my knowledge of the Word will be enhanced so as to lead me to live a victorious Christian life. Also to share with others the knowledge of the Word, thereby serving our Lord Jesus Christ. “My relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is as follows: I’m a born-again Christian. I’m a member of a Bible church in Arusha town. In serving our Lord Jesus Christ, churchwise Arusha town is divided into five zones. Each zone is led by a zonal leader who works under the church senior pastor. A zone comprises a minimum of three sections headed by section leaders. A section is made up of at least two home churches headed by home church leaders. “I’m one of the zonal leaders. My zone goes by the name, Galilee Zone. As a zonal leader, my duties in serving our Lord Jesus Christ are as follows: • to make sure those under my leadership live in harmony as Christians; • to help each other at times of trouble and to rejoice together at times of joy; 10
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• to make sure everyone strides forward in faith, to strengthen the lukewarm and to make a follow-up of backsliders and put them back on course; • to make sure everyone is engaged in winning souls for Jesus Christ; • to make sure each home church conducts weekly prayers (held on Thursdays) and home church gatherings (held on Saturdays); • any other duty which may arise in serving our Lord Jesus Christ. “Besides being a zonal leader, I’m a section and a home church leader too. At present my zone comprises three sections and six home churches. They average 30 members. Our goal by God’s grace is to double in the near future. “At the central church every Tuesday, classes are conducted for the newly born again. I do teach one of the classes and I really enjoy it. “Due to these facts, I feel I qualify to be one of your recipients of your ACTS publication. It is my hope I’ll be considered.” And it is our joy and privilege to add him to our ACTS Magazine mailing list, and to send him a free copy of The Shepherd’s Staff, World MAP’s “Bible School in a Book”. What an honor to partner in the Gospel with faithful and diligent saints such as this brother. We thank God that we are able to assist him in his very fruitful ministry efforts. And we’re thankful for your help in making this possible! WMAP
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The Evangelist And Evangelism – Taking The Gospel Into All The World! By Julie A. Young Edited for ACTS by Frank and Wendy Parrish Part Eight-A
How God Prepares an Evangelist Editor’s Note: As the evangelist seeks to be used by God to make the Body of Christ grow, it is important that he not neglect his own growth. This section offers detailed guidelines for prayerful self-examination, with the goal of seeing the fruit of the Spirit manifest in and through the evangelist’s personal and ministerial life. God Desires Full Devotion When Jesus Christ became the Lord of your life, He became Lord of everything. Your plans, your talents and skills, your thoughts, your feelings, your family, your body, your life – all these now belong to Jesus Christ, not to you. If you have not given Him everything, from your heart, to do with as He wills, then do this today. Tell this to the Lord in prayer. Then every day, pray to be searched by the Holy Spirit, who brings conviction. Let Him show you the things that you need to freshly surrender to God. Confess and repent when you recognize sin or failure, selfishness or fleshly desires. Disciplining your flesh will make you a much stronger disciple of Christ. The Bible says to “humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God…” (1 Pet 5:6). Following is a list to help you examine your life. This is not about rules or outward conformity. This is a way to honestly evaluate your life and ministry, from the heart. These questions are meant to help you grow in your personal life and become a better tool in God’s hands. Be honest with yourself; and above all, be honest with God. We cannot fool God. He knows what is in our heart, and He sees everything about our lives. It is always best to approach God humbly, asking for
His help and grace so that we can grow into stronger and more faithful servants of His. If some of these things are not yet true of you, but you want them to be, ask the Lord to help you. Then make time to actually do them! It has been said that we make time for what is truly important. If these things are important to you, you must begin to make time for them.
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An Evangelist’s Growth List • Do I spend regular time in prayer and Bible study each day? • Do I take time to listen to God, to wait for Him to speak and reveal His thoughts and plans to me? • Do I ask the Holy Spirit to search my life? Do I confess my sins regularly? Do I study the Bible and plan carefully any preaching work I am to do? Am I trying to improve myself in speech, appearance, knowledge of the Bible and my skills? When I go to preach, do I have other believers with me? Have I asked God to attend the ministry He has given me with His anointing and power? Am I filled with the power of the Holy Spirit according to Acts 2? Do I have people who will pray every day for my ministry and for me, especially when I go to preach or share the Gospel with others? Continued on page 14 WORLD MAP DIGEST
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"World MAP Has Trained You Very Well" orld MAP’s Pakistan publications manager Alexander Sarfraz has grown and benefited from the 13 years of service he has given to World MAP. A former employee of an engineering firm, Brother Sarfraz chose to devote more of his life to ministry work after serving as a translator on the Urdu version of The Shepherd’s Staff. “I completed it in three years,” he says of the translation project. “I think it was God’s plan and way to bring us into fulltime ministry.” Today he coordinates the printing and mailing of the Urdu Shepherd’s Staff, as well as the translation, printing and mailing of the Urdu edition of ACTS Magazine. “The ministry has also blessed me and my family a lot,” he says. “I have become a full-time Gospel preacher. Different churches and para-churches invite me to deliver sermons, as a seminar speaker, and as a chief guest in their programmes.” He recalls with fondness one seminar in the northern part of Pakistan where he was one of two speakers addressing a group of 50 participants. His topic was “God’s Plan of Salvation”. Sarfraz turned to ACTS and The Shepherd’s Staff to prepare his material, and was pleased when one participant later told him, “World MAP has trained you very well.” Sarfraz listens to God’s voice when making ministry decisions. Twice he was offered jobs in churches; but he refused them, he explains, “because I don’t have calling of pastor.” Because World MAP is an interdenominational
W
Brother Sarfraz presents The Shepherd’s Staff to Pastor Albert in Karachi, as Bishop Bashir Mall looks on. At right, Alex and Amina Sarfraz.
organization, Sarfraz says God is providing him with “many opportunities to witness among Muslims, Hindus and national Christians.” “If I had been a worker or pastor of any denomination, churches and other communities would have not invited me to speak in their gatherings,” he points out. “I want to follow Jesus daily so that I become like Him and serve Him with the humble spirit of a child till death. May God use me to expand His Kingdom in Pakistan to bringing many people far and near to Him.” In addition to other challenges, economic problems are pervasive in his country, and Sarfraz asks that World MAP supporters join him and his wife, Amina, in praying for the economic condition of WMAP Pakistan and its people.
They Learn By Lantern... Overjoyed To Have The Shepherd’s Staff One pastor in Ghana says he has a vision similar to that of World MAP. “It was my vision to set up a Bible school program which could support young missionaries in their desire to share God’s Word over the world,” Rev. Kwame Darkwa recently wrote. Step by step, he said, the Lord led him. Today he is training 24 students for the mission field – and the number is set to grow. Today, his Bible Institute continues to make progress both in Israel and Ghana! Recently, three of his African students received The Shepherd’s Staff and “they were overjoyed!” said Darkwa. “Many thanks for your love, prayers and support. These young ministers are sharing wonderful testimonies of what God is doing in their lives.” Medie, a town in southern Ghana, is home to the Sar Shalom Congregation, where the pastor oversees a congregation of 70 people. Although his new auditorium is still being built, he said “the Shepherd’s Staff is helping bring LIGHT into the places of darkness.” Local medical school students have also been training for missions as well as medicine, and Brother Kwame worked with World MAP to see that they also received a copy of the Shepherd’s Staff. “These young people have a heart for missions both in Ghana and the world,” he said. “They have applied themselves to months of hard study. The Shepherd’s Staff ministerial manual will be a key tool in their desire to spread the Gospel of God’s forgiveness and righteousness by faith in Yeshua the Messiah.” “They learn by lantern but are overjoyed to have at their disposal The Shepherd’s Staff,” he wrote. “Thank you so much for these precious items. Please keep them coming. Your love and support is expanding the WMAP Kingdom and is very much needed! Blessings to you!” 12
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Praying for the World Join the World MAP Prayer Corps as we circle the globe with intercession for the advance of God’s Kingdom.
ZIMBABWE: WASHING AWAY THE CHAFF Population: 12,382,920
50% professing Christianity while holding to native superstition 25% Christian 24% spiritist, ancestor-worshipping 1% Muslim, Hindu, other
Chief of State of the Republic of Zimbabwe: Executive President Zimbabwe Robert Gabriel Mugabe (since 1987; Prime Minister 1980-1987) Vice President: Joseph Msika Vice President: Joyce Mujuru Commissioner General of the Zimbabwe Republic Police: Augustine Chihuri Life expectancy: 40 years Zimbabwean dollar inflation rate: estimated 4,000,000% The wrong lesson: Robert Mugabe, who has dominated his landlocked country since its violent transformation in 1979 from Rhodesia, a British colony, into Zimbabwe (meaning “houses of stone”), spent 10 years as a political prisoner under British rule. While incarcerated, he earned degrees in law and administration via correspondence courses from universities in London and South Africa. He also learned to despise white European colonialism – with, many believe, a bitterly racist intensity. Yet his hatred is not limited to color-prejudice. While quelling a 1980 uprising, his North Korean-trained 5th Brigade – an elite unit under his direct command, independent of the normal Zimbabwean Army hierarchy – massacred 20,000 civilians of the minority Ndebele tribe (Mugabe being of the majority Shona). Mugabe termed his campaign to quell the uprising gukurahundi – Shona for “the early rain which washes away the chaff before the spring rains”. Chaff is indeed how Mugabe seems to view any opposition or dissent, and his national police are infamous for their cold brutality. PRAY FOR: • Economic relief for the suffering people of Zimbabwe. • A reformed government that tolerates dissent and encourages free political debate. • True regeneration among Zimbabweans professing Christianity, with the chaff of religious syncretism peacefully washed away.
UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUP
The SILVER PALAUNG of MYANMAR
Home: Rugged, well-watered Shan State in eastern Myanmar (Burma). Population: 20,000 Religion: Buddhism, with a strong undercurrent of spiritism. Dark tyranny: The Palaung have five traditional enemies: fire, famine, flood, pestilence… and government. War, civil strife, strong-arm rulership and dark political intrigue have plagued Burma for centuries. The Palaung traditionally look to a far darker governance: nats, malevolent spirits they believe inhabit rocks, mountains, rivers, other natural objects and dead ancestors – spirits that must be repeatedly appeased to hold back the floodgates of calamity. The “silver” in “Silver Palaung” refers to heavy silver hoops Palaung women wear around the waist, supposedly for spiritual protection. PRAY FOR: • A joyful Gospel witness in this fear-infested spiritual landscape. • The Myanmar government to become a shining outpost of benevolence. • Wide dissemination of Scripture, the pure silver found only in the Word of God (Ps 12:6). WORLD MAP DIGEST
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ACTS excerpt, continued from page 11
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Do I pray for more boldness, in order to best preach Christ? • Have I fasted and prayed this month? • Do I know what the Bible says about praying and trusting God for finances, so that the provision will be there to provide for my family AND my ministry? • Do I have a mentor to help me? Have I asked God for someone to train me? • Is there a man or woman I should ask to invest time and work into my life and ministry? • Have I prayed and asked God to show me other men or women I must train and help in evangelism? If so, what am I doing about it? • Am I disciplined in my walk with God or am I lazy? • Do I spend good, nurturing time with my spouse and children? • Do I put things off or do I work hard, keep my commitments and honor my word? • Is my thought life pure? Does my thought life belong totally to God? • Do I read the Bible and other Christian books to help me grow? • Do I work with pastors to help fill their churches or plant new ones? • Have I read and studied – and do I follow – the qualifications in Scripture for those who are called to leadership in Christ’s Church? (1Tim 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9) Use this list to give yourself – and fellow evangelists – reminders and encouragement. A Cost To Be An Effective Evangelist It is not easy to be in ministry, but the rewards of obedience to Christ’s call far outweigh the hardships. Seeing people come to Christ is one of the greatest rewards we can have
on earth. The Bible teaches that he who wins [brings] souls is wise (Prov 11:30). There are eternal rewards awaiting all who are obedient and faithful to Christ. For those who influence others for righteousness, Daniel 12:3 states: “Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.” The fruit of the Gospel and telling others about Christ is eternal fruit that will remain! God will both comfort and reward those who serve Him with faith and devotion. Jesus understands better than any other the trials and opposition that we face in this life as His disciples. But we have His great example and can endure, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb 12:2). Christ’s joy included knowing that His death would bring us back into relationship with God, His Father – our heavenly Father! We believers are also Christ’s joy, His beloved Bride for whom He anxiously waits (Eph 5:25-27; Rev 19:7-9). Bringing other people to salvation through Jesus should be our joy, also. Fulfilling God’s call upon your life may cost you a great deal. There is a cost to every believer to give up riches, selfishness and fleshly desire and become like Jesus. As you give up your life to live Christ’s life of sacrifice, you will do more of what Your Father is doing. You will see more of God’s power and presence with you. As you remain disciplined and faithful, you will become more skilled at winning souls, and in becoming a “fisher of men” (Matt 4:19). You will grow in wisdom, and be rich in the things of God. Serving God with our lives is well worth any cost to us! (1Cor 9:19-22) Personal Life Of The Evangelist An evangelist – like all believers – must strive to live pure and upright before God. He or she must have right relationships with their family and community. Fruits of the flesh, such as wrath or being judgmental, will reflect badly in your preaching. Treating your wife or children poorly displeases God, and affects the reliability of your witness to others. Cheating someone gives Christ, whom you represent, a bad name. Saying you will do a thing and then not doing it is dishonest and ungodly. Your sinful behavior must be dealt with in order that you represent Christ for
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Every relationship of business, family, church or friendship must be above reproach so that the work of Jesus is not compromised or spoken of in a bad way. Many of us have heard of someone resisting Christ’s salvation because a believer they knew was unkind, untruthful or unfaithful. They have “stumbled” because of the believer’s sinful actions (1Cor 10:32,33). who He is and for what His redeeming power can do! An evangelist loves the Bible and reads it and studies it. He looks for opportunities to share the truth of the Lord, but he does not neglect his other responsibilities such as his family or work. An evangelist prays much – on the train, walking, in the company of others or alone, always praying and listening to God. The heart of the evangelist must be soft and teachable. As you wait upon God, He will help you know Him better. As you grow to know Him more, you will be a better evangelist because you understand your Father. Jesus did only what the Father did, said only what the Father said (John 5:19; 8:26). Our goal as ministers is to know God so intimately that we are led by His voice and know His will. If you are married you must treat your spouse the way Jesus would treat them, and love them as He loves His Church (Eph 5:25). Treat your wife with gentleness and understanding (1 Pet 3:7). Treat your husband with honor and respect (Eph 5:33). If you are not married, you must keep pure in mind and in body (1Thess 4:3-5). The Lord knows what you do in private beyond the eyes and ears of others. The single minister must strive for purity in both thoughts and actions. They must quickly confess any failure and keep themselves from bondage to sinful behavior. Every relationship of business, family, church or friendship must be above reproach so that the work of Jesus is not compromised or spoken of in a bad way. Many of us have heard of someone resisting Christ’s salvation because a believer they knew was unkind, untruthful or unfaithful. They have “stumbled” because of the believer’s sinful actions (1Cor 10:32,33). As a minister, you represent the King of kings. Your words must be true; you must do what you have promised. If you do not live up to your words but instead make excuses, it may be a point of
stumbling for another, causing them to resist Christ. You represent Jesus every minute of the day, not only when you preach, but through every action. Let your speech be encouraging, not foul or full of criticism (Eph 4:15,29; Col 4:6). God desires us to be useful vessels of honor (2Tim 2:21). You would not serve your guests with dirty dishes. You would want to offer them food on clean vessels. God receives honor when you are clean and made ready as His vessel. If sin, evil speaking or bad habits dirty your life, you will not be as effective for God. Take time now to ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart. When He speaks to you, confess, repent in prayer and allow Jesus to remove the dirty things.
You will be free and much more useful to the Master. Repent before God often. Take the low place so that God may lift you into His higher purposes. Make repentance and confession part of your daily prayer: Ask God to search you; ask for His forgiveness; ask God to make you whole. Next issue: Strategy and vision.
WMAP
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THE WORD
AT PRESS TIME we learned that our postage rates for mailing ACTS and The Shepherd’s Staff from a key location have quadrupled. Thousands of church leaders hope to receive World MAP publications before the end of this year. Please pray with us as we research options; and help as you are led. Thank you!
DELIVERED
“I am much grateful for ACTS Magazine, which has put me deeper in searching, holding and delivering the Word of God to the children of God,” a Kenyan pastor writes. Latest Delivering the Word is their calling; delivering the equipping for that is ours. $5 delivers poiksetawgeill h one free ACTS subscription to a church leader. $10 supplies that and a free Shepherd’s Staff. increaosset! is c $25 does both plus funding a week at a World MAP Spiritual Renewal Seminar. Please th help us equip them to “Preach the Word!” and keep them fully equipped “in season and out of season” (2Tim 4:2). In Canada, send contributions and correspondence to: World MAP P.O. Box 75420 White Rock, B.C. / V4B 5L5
All others write to: World MAP 1419 N. San Fernando Blvd. Burbank CA 91504 USA
Thank you. We are grateful for your donation to WMAP! $1,000 $500 $100 $50 $25 $5 I have enclosed $ _______________________ I will send $ _________ for the next 12 months. Please use where most needed. Please add my email address to receive an online link to future issues of DIGEST: _____________________________________
Dear Frank and Wendy: Yes! I want to help pastors as they shepherd and equip believers to CB4
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bring in the Harvest!
Please place a gift of $ _________ on my:
Account No: __________________________ Exp. Date: _____/_____ Phone: (____________) __________________________ Please print your name below as it appears on the card, along with your address: Name: ____________________________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________________________ City: _____________________________ State: __________ ZIP: _____________ __________________________________________________________________ Authorized signature for credit card donation. You may also donate by phone. Please call World MAP USA at 1-818-843-7233.
