news

Farming and Salvation

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST

In one of our ministry areas, a common local practice of slash and burn farming has depleted water tables and eroded rich topsoil. Our outreach program teaches Muslim farmers to be good stewards of God’s creation through hillside terrace farming and organic agricultural techniques. Goat management and year-round Food-in-the-Home farming help famers feed their families. One of our Development Center staff members wrote about how God is using this ministry to draw Muslims to Himself.

After two years at the Development Center we have seen many good things happen. God has blessed us with more than 70 goats, and a new goat barn, a training center and enclosed eating area, many hardwood and fruit trees have been planted and we now have a road going to the farm. But the best blessing is to see people come to know Jesus.

Occasionally K and his son J have worked for us. While doing their job they stayed with us. Through this, God gave us opportunities to share His word. One day they told me a story. While they were in their hometown, they visited a neighbor and saw the end of the Jesus film. In that movie, they saw Jesus praying before they ate. They remembered that I prayed before we ate our meal. I told them that I am the follower of Jesus. I used the Bible and Quran to share about Jesus. He is not only a prophet but He is Jesus the Messiah who died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. He is also the way to God (John 14:6).

Praise the Lord He opened their hearts and minds to understand who Jesus is and received Him as their personal Lord and Savior. It was a privilege to share the Word of God. It's our desire is not only to train them how to be good farmers, but that we can plant the seeds of God’s Word in their lives.

Living on the Edge of Fear

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST

Week 1:
We have a new woman attending on Tuesdays. I will call her Emma. She is from the area where an earthquake occurred recently. She has been a believer for about a year but still has not told her family because of the danger she would be in if she did. The teacher asked me to stay to help teach her. We feel that she will need to learn the Word well to be able to withstand the pressure she will face when her decision is made public. I really felt that God would want me to do this.

This woman came for a few weeks but then stopped because of the pressure she was receiving from her husband and family. God protected her and strengthened her so she started coming again but she couldn’t come yesterday because of how the earthquake affected her family. No one from her family was killed but so far she knows 13 people who died in the quake. Many guests have come to her home to grieve.

Week 2:
I was with my friend at our Tuesday study when Emma called. Things were getting worse at home. Her husband had told her family that she was following Jesus and her father threatened to send her to a strongly Islamic country for a Koran course. I have to admit that thought horrified me. I told God that I thought that would be a "fate worse than death." Still, as I was talking with Him, I admitted that He had the perfect plan and asked for His will to be done.

What happened next was a blessing for Emma but sad for the people involved. There was another earthquake in the city where her family lives. The situation there is really difficult now as more buildings collapsed and the ones that didn’t are not safe to live in. People living outside in tents, etc. and there is snow falling now. Because of the dire situation, Emma has had a few days of rest from the pressure they were putting on her. Her family has to struggle just to survive in the situation. They haven’t had time to think about her decision.

Her husband has invited their families to come and stay with them. We don’t know what will happen to Emma if they all come to our city. Please remember Emma in your talks with the Lord. Ask God to give her strength to stand firm in her decision to follow Him. Ask for protection for her. Ask for continued wisdom for my friend and me as we seek to do Father’s will in supporting this new believer.

Interns Reach 300 Students

Fri, 7 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST

“Do you understand?” “Does that make sense?” could often be heard during the English Tutorial classes on Campus. Summer interns, Chelsea, Emma, and Debby are TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) majors from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL, who put their classroom knowledge to practical use during the English Tutorial Bridge Program at the University (remedial classes).

The three interns worked hard to prepare tutorial lessons that had nearly 300 students consistently attending. The students enjoyed singing, acting, and playing games that taught them parts of speech, how to construct sentences, how to ask questions, and much more.

More importantly, the interns built relationships with the students. They visited the girls’ dormitory, took students into the city, ate meals with them, played games, or just walked around the malls or parks. These interns sought to be the presence of Jesus in the lives of our students and to begin conversations that led to Biblical truths. They left a lasting impression with the students as well as a solid platform for our staff to follow up on contacts.

The students fell in love with their tutors and it was very obvious on the last day of the tutorials. There were special songs, poems, notes, and crafts made by the students for their tutor. Of course, everyone wanted their picture taken with the class as well as with their own tutor. Not just a few tears were shed as goodbyes were said when the interns left to take their own last year of classes. Thank you Chelsea, Emma, and Debby for the investment you made in students’ lives.

Ramadan Sleepovers

Fri, 9 Sep 2011 03:38:00 EST

This Ramadan I spent several nights with different families. Some of them I didn’t know very well but wanted to take this time to deepen those relationships. The first family I stayed with lost their father a couple of years ago. The youngest child is now three years old. I was blessed by their kindness and preparation for my visit.

The neighbor girls came over and we played games, snacked and talked until almost 1am. I see these girls at our monthly meetings and we have talked from time to time, but this extended, more intimate time, opened them up. They started sharing about their relationships with the opposite sex, their hurts and their hopes. It was such a precious time.

The next family I stayed with lived much more simply. Instead of a cement house with an outhouse (cement floors, toilet bowl, but no running water), there was a house built of bamboo with dirt floors and no bathroom.

That night, neighbors came and went as they watched the basketball game going on outside of the house. (Most people stay up all night until about 2am when they eat the morning meal and then sleep all morning.) This family had more visitors than normal when others realized I was staying there. One of the fathers even said to me that I was making things difficult for him. He said “I can’t believe you would decide to sleep in a house like this, so simple and so different from what you are used to.”

We fell asleep for about an hour and woke up to cook breakfast. I cooked some vegetables with sardines and they loved it.

My bond with these girls was deepened through this experience. A couple of days later the girls texted me “Ate, miss kita.” Ate (older sister), I miss you!

I praise God that during this important month I could share in the experiences with them. Spending time with them in their homes, showing them that I care about them, that no matter whether poor or a little better off that we do not show favoritism.

End of Ramadan Celebration

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 03:53:00 EST

Eid al-Fitr, the celebration marking the end of Ramadan, the Islamic Month of fasting has begun. It will be three days of feasting and visiting, and giving gifts to friends and family. In Muslim countries everything closes, the Government, Schools, businesses and even bread shops are closed for this holiday. The whole community (whether they fasted or not) takes part in this momentous time. This can be an especially busy time for our friends and colleagues, as the try to interact and visit with many friends and neighbors. Homes that might not be easily open to them during other times of the year, are usually open during these special days. Pray that new friendships could be started, existing relationships could be deepened and that enduring Words of Hope and Life could be shared. Respecting and participating in some of another’s culture and customs, is one way to gain a voice in an unreached community. It is kind of the reverse of having guests over to your house for Thanksgiving or Christmas, where instead of being the host, you are now the guest.

Night of Power

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:47:00 EST

Muslims believe that prayers offered during Ramadan are worth more than prayers offered any other time of the year, because they believe that Ramadan is the month when Mohammed first started to receive revelations of the Quran. The Night of Power, near the end of Ramadan (maybe the 26 or 27 day—no one knows exactly when) is a time when Muslims believe their prayers are multiplied even more. Some people will pray all night, seeking God’s help for difficult issues in their life. We can pray and ask that God would indeed reveal himself to those who are seeking him, perhaps through a dream or through events in their lives.

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty. -Zechariah 4:6

Ramadan: Earning God's Favor

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 04:19:00 EST

Ramadan, the Muslim Month of fasting is more than half over. Many Muslims, thinking (hoping) that they can earn God’s favor, are desperately trying to make it through the month. Others have simply given up and quit, mindful again of their failures and inability to please God. Still others are trying to pretend to those around them that they are fasting, while they are sneaking away to have a drink or even a whole meal in a backroom or closet. For each of these groups, we need to pray that God would open their eyes and hearts, that they would understand that God is not pleased or impressed about outward shows of faithfulness. God is looking at our hearts and thoughts, not whether we have put food or drink into our stomachs. Would you join us in praying for many Muslim hearts to be transformed this month? Passages such as Isaiah 1:15-20, or 1 Samuel 15:22, where Samuel challenges King Saul’s actions and reminds him that, “To obey is better than sacrifice.”

3 am Wake Up Call

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 01:58:00 EST

Boom! Boom! Boom! What’s that noise? It's 3:30 in the morning isn’t it? If you were living in a Muslim majority country you would most likely hear someone early in the morning, walking through the neighborhood and pounding a drum or calling out for the people to get up and eat. They want to get up and eat before the daily fast begins at sun rise and then continues until sunset. Extreme measures are taken to try to help Muslims make it through this difficult month of fasting. Pray that this month Muslims would hear the voice of Truth, instead of the voice of deception.

The Start of Ramadan

Tue, 2 Aug 2011 11:16:00 EST

Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. This year Ramadan (or Ramazan), the Islamic month of fasting, is August 1- 30. Based on the sighting of the new moon, Ramadan moves forward 10 or sometimes 11 days in our calendar each year, because the Islamic calendar follows the lunar calendar (354 days).

This month of fasting is to be observed by all Muslims, unless they are traveling, pregnant, nursing, sick or very young. For each day of this month, from the morning, when you can tell the difference between a black thread and a white thread, until the evening, when you cannot tell the difference between a black thread and a white thread, you are to abstain from food, drink and intimate relations. Nothing to eat, nothing to drink, even during the summer, when not only are the days longer, but temperatures in a number of Muslim countries can reach 120 degrees or more! Strict Muslims will even say you should not swallow your own saliva.

Pray that many Muslims this month, will come to understand the futility of trying to please God and earn favor with Him on their own efforts. May they come to understand that true fasting is more than just denying yourself during daylight hours. Pray for wisdom for SEND workers in Muslim lands, that they might have many opportunities to share the Good News in what can be a difficult month.

Quail Teach Trust in God

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 10:16:00 EST

One of the ways SEND workers reach Muslim communities is through providing low-income families with a source of income. Several families in a particular village were given quail to raise and sell the eggs. Through this, SEND workers developed relationships with the families and were able to teach them about trusting God...

It was April, we were in the middle of our Summer Values Classes (similar to VBS) when one of our quail recipients went from having a production of 500 eggs a day to 50. Within a week the other three recipients had the same problem.

We were stumped. Did the quail get some kind of weird disease or was it related to pesticides that sometimes get mixed in with the feeds here? Either way, after treating the birds they were not getting any better. We had to kill off all the birds which in turn meant cutting off one of the steady sources of income for these four families.

We spent time praying with them asking God to show us what He wanted us to learn from this. We encouraged them to trust in God. By July we had received significant financial help and were able to share with them how God provided for them through friends from the USA. They saw God’s provision and how people whom they never met do care for them.

We continue to face challenges with this project, like power outages affecting the incubation of the chicks. Yet, there is a deeper challenge that weighs on our hearts. We desire to see a transformation in the lives of the recipients. How will they learn the importance of hard work and honesty if there is no change from deep within? Please join us in praying that we will be agents of transformation and for our monthly meetings where we are focusing on Kingdom Values.

Muslim Policeman Meets Jesus

Thu, 9 Jun 2011 08:42:00 EST

One of our good friends, Bapa Jessie, a retired policeman, had been hospitalized for a mild stroke. Once we got word that he had returned home we went to visit him.

He was asking for Alice (my coworker) who had first met him in 1997. She was now working in a different community but I knew she would take the time to come visit her dear friend.

She came the next day and Bapa Jessie was so excited to see her. He said that while he was in the hospitalJesus came to him in a dream and showed him around, but told him it was not time for him to go yet. He needed to go back to his community and have people from our group pray with him. Alice reviewed the stories they had shared from the Old Testament in the past and talked about what Isa Al-Masih (Jesus the Messiah) had done for us all. When she prayed with Jessie, he squeezed her hands and cried especially when she mentioned the name of Jesus. He confessed his sins and I believe that we will see him one day in heaven.

A Busy Summer of Outreach

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 09:14:00 EST

We are in the middle of summer and the team has pushed into our busiest time of the year. Last week we held Values Camps in two villages and well over 100 children came to hear about the prophet Moses. We start another camp today in U town and expect 150 children to attend. I can’t tell you how amazing it is to see these beautiful children hearing about how Moses followed God despite constant threat to him and to his people. Our day camps start after lunch, but the little ones are so excited they start showing up soon after sunrise. I can’t imagine a better way to live than to be telling these children about how much God cares for them.

We also just started our university summer program where we tutor over 300 students who are working hard in getting accepted into the local university. We have twelve classes every day for the summer where we teach math and English to prepare these students for the final university entrance exam in late May. Over 90% of these students are from distant villages where 60-70 students fill one book-less class room. These are bright teenagers whose best hope out of desperate poverty is an education from this university. It is from these classes our team builds strong relationships of trust with students whom we will mentor, counsel, and love for many years to come. I can’t imagine a better way to show how good God is to these students than to love on them through our teaching and mentoring.

Love Is in the Air

Sat, 2 Apr 2011 09:19:00 EST

Love is in the air, especially during the month of February. The children and youth can often be found talking about their crushes and the love stories on the evening TV shows. People in this country love talking about LOVE. About a year ago, I wrote about my desire to see a change amongst the young people here. It seemed like there were so many youth getting married. They quit school and became mothers or fathers when they themselves were just teenagers. They have such a superficial or false concept of love. So what is true love and who deserves our love?

We held a half day seminar talking about who deserves our true love: 1) God, 2) You (yourself), 3) your family and friends, 4) your future mate, and 5) your future kids deserve your true love. My favorite part of the seminar was when we separated the boys and the girls and gave them a heart to heart talk. We shared our own stories, gave them some advice on how they can show respect and watch out for the opposite sex (ways we dress, act, etc…) and encouraged them to not be so quick to get into a relationship.

Several of the youth shared how they felt we truly loved and cared for them by sharing so openly with them. They said we talked about things that were never brought up in their homes. This is just the beginning but I pray that the things we shared will take root in their hearts and make a difference in their lives.

-Muslim ministry worker

Sharing Jesus with a Muslim Man

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 09:19:00 EST

He was told that Isa (Jesus) never died. But there it was in the Qur'an, clear as day, Surah 7:33, “…the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life.” He can’t read Arabic, let alone understand it, so his only knowledge of what the Qur'an says comes from Imams, Islamic teachers. But he has now read it for himself in a language he understands: Isa al-Masih did die, and was raised to life. After our study, he spent another half hour just reading the Qur'an, reading the verses we had just talked about. He found it so amazing that the Qur'an does indeed say that Isa died.

As we have gone through the Qur'an and Kitab (Arabic for Bible) together, Roger (not his real name) has seen more and more the similarities between the two holy books. The prophets in the Qur'an are the same prophets in the Kitab. Adam, Abraham, Moses, David, Jonah, Isa, they are all mentioned with honor in both. The Qur'an itself talks about the Tawrat (Torah, OT) and Injil (New Testament), that they are revelation from Allah. Isa Himself is called the Word of Allah. A key truth he has seen is that the prophets did indeed sin, but that Allah forgave them for their sin. Most importantly, he understands that it is those who believe (have faith) in Allah, they are the ones who will go to paradise.

Recently we started to study about Isa. There are many barriers to overcome, but I hope with time Roger will come to understand the uniqueness of Isa al-Masih. No other prophet in the Qur'an is called the Word from Allah, or the Spirit from Allah. No other prophet was sinless. No other prophet healed the blind, cured the sick, and raised the dead. But Isa did. Perhaps, was he more than just another prophet?

Pray that the prejudice and the misconceptions of who Isa is would unravel and that it would be replaced with the truth for Roger. I know God is at work here. How Roger and I met was God’s doing. He came to me, I didn’t go to him, and he wanted to study the Qur'an together. Soon we hope to show him the Jesus film in his native language. Pray for the Spirit’s leading on how to proceed before I return to the US and have to say goodbye to my friend, Roger. I would love to see him come to love Isa, and am praying that as he begins to study the Bible now, God would open his heart to the Truth.

-a short-term worker

Raising Families to Know God

Mon, 7 Mar 2011 10:40:00 EST

Savet didn’t let Tom drive away too quickly after coming to drop off Savet's wife and two sisters-in-law and all their children. The women had just attended a discipleship meeting, and had come back chatting about what a good time they had, what they learned, and how good the food had been.

The two men sat in the car in the middle of a narrow rutted lane made even narrower by a burm of snow on either side. “This study for the women is good, but we really need something for the men.” Savet poured out his concern. “We know so little about raising a family. If we are going to raise a believing family, we need to know how to do that. When are we going to start a regular men’s meeting?”

Several Sundays ago, this man and another new believer each made a commitment to raise their families to know the word of God. Pray with us for more families to join them, and for these courageous brothers who are choosing what matters most.

(A story from Central Asia)

Trusting God's Character

Thu, 3 Mar 2011 05:25:00 EST

Since November, I have had the privilege of teaching women in several locations. My initial desire was to encourage women in remote fellowships through sharing from the word together, praying for one another, and participating in ministry together. The Lord also gave me the opportunity to return to the fellowship were I first started. A core group of us meet for Bible study focusing on the character of God. Through these times we are seeing God answer prayer, and are coming to place greater trust in him, as we learn more about his consistent character--his goodness, love, power, rule.

The women in our group have many challenges; raising children, some as single parents, some with unbelieving husbands, all of them pinching pennies--which means there are many opportunities to trust the Lord as we continue on together. Please pray for a growing hunger for God’s word and commitment to study it. Please also pray for God to raise up teachers who can teach other women. (from a worker serving in Central Asia)

He Now Follows Jesus

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 04:01:00 EST

For some time, Alim (who appears in the SEND video, A Rebel Vision) has been traveling to his home town, about two hours northeast, once a week to be with his younger brother. Alim is the oldest child and without a father in the picture, has taken on the responsibility of making sure his brothers and sisters get an education, find work, have enough food and clothing, and provide for his mother when she is too ill to work in the banana fields. Because of his past in the rebel movement, though, he cannot spend too many hours in his village. So, Alim often meets his brother in a small town close to his village.

Over this past year Alim has been much more purposeful, more direct, in sharing what he knows about God and about Jesus to his brother. It took many months for his brother to get over the fear of talking about Jesus and to gain the courage to open up the Bible. He only became willing to read the Bible after Alim showed his brother how much honor the Qur’an gives to the Bible and to Jesus.

Each week Alim would wake up very early Saturday morning with an excitement that surprised him as he prepared to see his brother. Too many times events would try to hinder him; one trip three buses he rode on all had flat tires, another trip the motor on his bike blew, other trips fevers and illnesses for him and his family would happen, but in all these times he never stopped. He was passionate to be in the Word with his brother. Alim and I would meet weekly and talk about his brother’s questions and struggles and we would work through them together and pray for him.

After all this, I have never seen Alim as excited as when we met recently and he shared that his brother has become a follower of Jesus, and wants to be baptized! Alim has been praying for his family for years, and to see his brother fall in love with Jesus has been the greatest gift in his life. Lift up Hamim, Alim’s brother. Much is ahead of him.

Slavic Connection Leads to Opportunities

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 01:50:00 EST

A few weeks ago, I got a call from Ana, one of my English students. She is a friend of an Iranian woman I know. She had been trying to reach me for several months and finally did.

I knew she wasn’t a local woman but I assumed she was Iranian because all the other people I met through this woman were Iranian. I went to meet this woman and to my surprise, found out she was a Russian, married to a local man. Because of the time I spent in a Slavic country, God has given me a special connection with her. Even as I teach her, it helps that I know a Slavic language.

We have only had two lessons together so far but I have already had an opportunity to talk about God and His plan for my life. She asked me why I went to that Slavic country years ago. As I was explaining it to her, she almost started crying. I think that God is softening her heart toward Him. Ask that I will make the most of every opportunity I have with her to share the good news and wisdom from the Lord.

"He's a good man..."

Sun, 30 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST

“...he is a good man. We do not believe always in the same things but he believesin the true God. He and his team have started great projects to help our kids.”

This is how the head of a mosque introduced Barry* to his friend. At the beginning of the week Barry just wanted to buy a tap because ours was tripping. On his way back Barry saw the head of the mosque sitting in front of the mosque. He stopped to talk to him. It is always good to hear that our projects are well received and how enthusiastic people are about them.

The week before Barry had been in a remote place in the mountains. On his way there Barry had already seen the great dilemma. As far as the eyes could see the mountains were bare. Areas that had thick rainforest decades ago are culled and now used for agriculture. The rain has washed the fertile soil away and the farmers can barely make a living from their land. A year ago there were families murdering each other in the village and many have moved away. It has not been without danger to stay there overnight.

The next morning the town officials asked Barry what he was doing in their village. Barry told him that he was visiting one of his students and that he would like to see how his family lives. This student then began to rave about all of our projects and how much good comes out of them. Barry could see that the officials became more curious. They wanted to know more about the projects and told Barry about the problems in their village. Finally, they asked Barry how they could apply for the project.

There are so many opportunities. All our projects are bearing fruit and people are coming closer to the true God.
*not his real name

We stopped counting at 10,000 meals served at camp...

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST

This past year we had so many visitors at camp in this largely Muslim country! Some came for a day but most were with us for multiple days. For sanity’s sake my wife quit counting at 10,000 meals served. I never had to mow the acres of grass due to droves of romping feet. And the best part was nurturing our guests with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
A look back gives us lots of praises:

Increased number of camps, 15 throughout the year. Through the power of the Gospel: many new children of God and new seekers.
Camp involvement of 2 more local churches, 13 in total.
Structural work on the first floor of the Blessing House completed: 5 tons of rebar placed and tied, and 30 cubic meters of concrete mixed and poured, (210 batches and more than 1200 wheelbarrow loads pushed).
Sixth land payment made, only one left in October 2011.
Praise for the hands-on help that came our way to make it possible, teammates and interns and church teams from the USA.

What is it like to be the ONLY Christian camp in a whole country? Watch this video clip called "Stuck in the Middle" at: http://www.youtube.com/user/sendinternational