Indigenous Ministries

Indigenous Ministries

Beyond the Map

GBC’s Effective Strategy in Ministry to Nationals

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When you support a Bible college student, you multiply your impact for the Kingdom of God. Your gift of three years of training and education will impact the areas most in need of the Gospel.

This is the reason Indigenous Ministries offers the opportunity to sponsor a Bible college student; an effective means to participate in the outreach of the Gospel globally. GBC’s alumni are impacting India and Myanmar with the Gospel of Christ. Thank you, sponsors!

As the heavy monsoon rains poured down outside, GBC’s principal Dr. Tantarpale and I sat talking about GBC’s mission of training students to reach their own people with the Gospel. He shared with me that in point of fact, apart from the national being trained for outreach, there is NO WAY that the Gospel can advance in India. Why? Because as the government has closed (and continues to do so) the doors to any westerner sharing the Gospel, even nationals are on notice of the hazards of doing so. The only way is the platform of nationals reaching nationals for Christ.

Years ago, Dee and I were in the back country in a very remote place in Central India. As we paused at an intersection in a village, all of a sudden, a face appeared in my window, and there was Rahul, one of our own GBC graduates! We pulled over and went into a shack that sold good, hot chai (this is the chai that the powered packets here in the US got their recipe from). We heard how the Lord was using Rahul to pastor 10 small village house churches. He begged me to come and help him baptize 12 new believers. As we parted company, I was reminded of Rahul’s struggle in school…how the faculty worked so hard to help him increase academically and although he did graduate, his grades weren’t high. Yet here was this young man the Lord had chosen to use. He was thrilled and passionate to be serving the Lord and his people in ministry.

Today we have a big challenge: 25 GBC students need to be sponsored at $100/month each. Dee and I support ours and have done so for over a decade. Would you prayerfully consider joining us? If $50/month would better suit your budget for half a sponsorship, you would be such an encouragement. You can go on our website to sponsor a student. Thank you, and may God bless you.

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SUPPORT A NATIONAL PASTOR

Help plant a national church by supporting a national pastor and his family monthly. Our national pastors are trained, effective and passionate about reaching their OWN people for Christ! The cost to support a national pastor on average is 1/10th that of a Western missionary.

Go to IndigenousMinistries.org and select “Support a Pastor” on the righthand side.

PREPARING FOR STUDENTS TO BROWSE BOOKS

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In January 2017 dozens of volunteers from all over the US came together in Red Bluff, CA to sort and catalogue 15,000 books and prepare them for shipment overseas. Two weeks of focused, intensive, hard work brought us to the center picture – a container full of books bound for India.

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A few weeks later they arrived at Grace Bible College campus. It was an epic project, and sharing these photos again is an important reminder of how far the Grace Bible College Library Project has come, and how much so many have invested in these students.

Other campus projects have been in the forefront and now it’s time to FINISH the library!

What’s the need? $12,000 to buy the bookshelves, desks and chairs so the books can finally be shelved and used. Use the Gift List below and pick your amount!

GBC Library Project Suggested Gift List

$25 – 1 chair

$50 – 1 desk & chair

$75 – 1 computer desk

$100 – 1 bookshelf

$200 – 2 bookshelves

$500 – 5 bookshelves

$1,000 – 10 bookshelves

Your generous gift to the GBC Library Fund will make a significant difference to the student body this coming school year (which begins the first week of July) and for many years to come. Thank you so very much for your generous assistance.

 

Here are three projects this spring on the GBC campus.  A new entrance and gate is now in place.

The motorcycle belonging to one of the GBC teachers; he almost lost his life in an accident in May and is still recovering.

A water catchment system is being installed just before the monsoon season begins later this month to capture precious water.

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” II Timothy 2:2. NIV

Church Planting in Egypt & the Future of Indigenous Ministries

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As the heat continues to climb in central Egypt, a small fellowship of believers is gathering and seeking the Lord for their godliness and walk with Christ.

Our team leader shared that there has been such a response in the fellowship that Raja, one of our women on the IM Egypt team, led 20 women in worship, repentance and intercessory prayer recently.

In April, I was privileged to be with our Pastor at the launch of this precious church fellowship where 100 were in attendance that day. Weeks have gone by and it continues to grow. As I shared last month, Egyptian officials have given their permission for the church building to be built in the fall. The sense of anticipation of this fellowship is obvious as they look to the future. We’re excited too!

As I look at IM’s impact, I find that the model that we work through is both Biblical AND effective. It is how the early church grew so quickly bringing many to a saving knowledge of Christ. If you would permit me, I’d like to expand on this thought:

The philosophy of Indigenous Ministries is that the national can do a better job of reaching his or her own people for Christ than a U.S. ministry worker.

First, it is less expensive, (about 10% of a U.S. Christian worker). The time that it takes for an American to become acclimated to another culture takes years if not decades to accomplish. Language study takes 2-3 years. Support raising requires 2-3 years.

In our “instant” society, the average commitment of Christian workers is from 2 weeks to 18 months. However, what is the commitment of a national pastor? We have watched our national pastors work through revolutions and horrific threats of ISIS and Hindu fanaticism with trust in the Lord, and they minister with everything they have to build that into the hearts of the believers.

What is our role to the national church leader? To help where we can, to encourage and lift them up in the middle of their battles and challenges. To share with them and our national churches that we care and love them. Their constant knowledge that we are standing with them, especially in prayer, brings a special courage.

Would you pray with me on a specific area? As I look to the future of IM, I have asked the Lord to expand our borders. I have shared my burden with the IM Board, and I am so thankful for understanding men who know the concern that I have, and they have it deeply in their hearts as well.

There are opportunities that continue to come to shape before us. I am asking the Lord for the people He has for the future of this ministry. How thankful I am for those already working in our Colorado Springs office and of course globally. But I would ask that you pray with me that the Lord will add to our staff, both nationally and internationally as well. There is a world that needs a continued touch for Christ in so many areas.

We are working to bring an Egyptian national to Indigenous Ministries; he will be working in the IM office and traveling with me to our places of ministry. We need to raise his salary in the days ahead, and I ask that you pray with me for Reda and his wife. He has, for a number of years, been a right hand man to me in ministry overseas, and his place in the office will be in translation and continued development of the ministry in the Middle East. He has a servant’s heart and has shown himself faithful in ministry.

He has just completed a time of ministry to Iraqi, Syrian, and Afghan refugees in Turkey. He saw several come to Christ and follow the Lord through baptism. Would you begin to pray for Reda and Samira as they wait on the Lord for their next steps with Indigenous Ministries? Also pray with me as I work to encourage people to assist in giving to their support. I am also praying that the Lord will bring several U.S. based servants that we call “IM Ambassadors” who will help share the work that the Lord is allowing us to do with people across the U.S. If you feel the Lord leading you in this direction, do give our office a call.

“Man does not know his time,” was the title of a message given by one of our pastors in Egypt I sat and listened to in April. I was deeply touched by his message; and in light of global headlines of suicides, shootings and wars, we’re reminded that we truly do not have an understanding of how life will end for us. Perhaps you’re troubled with so much daily negative news.

As troubled as some of these days are, we can turn from tragedy and find joy assisting others to hear about the forgiveness, peace and hope they can have in Christ. We can keep our eyes on Him and lean in on His mighty arms.

At the end of it all, my prayer is that many will turn their hearts to the Lord as the result of our partnership together in this ministry God has given us. I want you to know how grateful I am for you; we are making a difference in the lives of so many. For the Glory of the Lord and His coming Kingdom!

SUPPORT A NATIONAL PASTOR

Help plant a national church by supporting a national pastor and his family monthly. Our national pastors are trained, effective and passionate about reaching their OWN people for Christ! The cost to support a national pastor on average is 1/10th that of a Western missionary.

Go to IndigenousMinistries.org and select “Support a Pastor” on the righthand side.

JOIN IM’s Egypt Prayer Walk in September

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JOIN IM’s Egypt Prayer Walk in September

  • Visit ancient sites in Egypt and engage in vital and effective prayer for Egypt and the Middle East
  • Engage in prayer during our women’s and pastors’ conferences
  • You’ll visit points of current ministry with our national teams
  • A highlight will be meeting the children in our sponsorship program
  • Travel arrangements made through our office; bring your praying shoes
  • Cost: $3850; call our office for dates and more information

Updates on Egypt Ministry

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John meeting with Egyptian young people hungry for truth and hope for their future. Believers in Egypt continue to grow and mature in local churches.

Recently, CEO John Cook held a meeting with our Egyptian national staff to discuss the church plants and map out the next number of years in ministry together. Here are some highlights:

Church building is a GO: The government has given the nod that in six months permission to build will be granted for one of our team’s newest church plants. This is very welcome news, and the Believers can’t wait to see this new church building go up. Later this year, a second church will begin plans to build. Please pray for these projects.

The desire of Indigenous Ministries and IM Egypt team is to see 25 churches planted in the next 15 years to reach this nation for Christ.

We all see that time is short, the Lord Jesus will return soon, and there are many yet to come to salvation. Would you pray with us both in the comfort of your home or office for this direction? Also pray about joining us in September for a very unique Prayer Walk for these church plants and many other areas of ministry and life in Egypt. See page 1 for more on the Prayer Walk.

At the core of Indigenous Ministries is Reaching Nationals Through Nationals with the Gospel, and church planting is in the center of this mission. Your partnership with prayer and financial support is a vital part of church planting through our Global Church Planting Initiative.

Jesus said, “…I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matt. 16:18 ESV

 

SUPPORT A NATIONAL PASTOR

Help plant a national church by supporting a national pastor and his family monthly. Our national pastors are trained, effective and passionate about reaching their OWN people for Christ! The cost to support a national pastor on average is 1/10th that of a Western missionary.

Go to IndigenousMinistries.org and select “Support a Pastor” on the righthand side.

Furnishing the GBC Library, India

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We’re so thankful for the $2,790 donated towards the library furniture for the Grace Bible College library.

URGENT – We’re asking the Lord for the remaining $12,210 very soon…the urgency is that the school year begins July 1, and the staff needs to assemble the library now.

Please consider a generous gift for this very worthwhile project. For more information, visit our website’s April 17 blog, “FURNISHING THE GBC LIBRARY, INDIA.”

Donate online. Thank you on behalf of the students and faculty!

Updates on Iraq Ministry

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Highlights: Last month was a busy month in Iraq with the ministry. First, we’re excited to announce that the Indigenous Ministries office in Kurdistan is complete. John and our team found just the right amount of new and used furniture along with office supplies for use. Next, additional staff was hired for administrative and video work and intensive training went on for days. A special joy was a large food distribution at one of the refugee camps, and John and Dee met with refugee families under our sponsorship. There were four women’s meetings held. The men of the church had a BBQ fellowship where John spoke. There were meetings with ministry teams reviewing past projects, working on current projects and planning future direction together. There were times in prayer together, times around the Word as John preached, and of course we ate good Iraqi food together celebrating the Lord’s goodness.

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Refugees return to a war zone: It was, however, visiting the areas where refugees are going back home, that was one of the toughest sights to see. Street conditions range from half decent to horrible dirt roads with holes. Post-war debris of burned out cars, tanks, building rubble, pipes and other miscellaneous junk lay piled up outside of town, and the schools and buildings that are operational look bleak. Out of every 10 homes, 4-6 are either totally destroyed, greatly damaged or deserted. For those with resources, the reconstruction is going well; there are big piles of sand, rock and building supplies in the driveway and street. But for the majority, it’s not going so well. Many people will never return; they simply don’t have the heart or desire to. Others don’t have jobs or resources to rebuild. But, there are some who are doing both.

How long until normal is restored? Life in these neighborhoods is slowly coming back online with the sounds of backpack ladened children chattering together walking home from school. Dogs bark and women hang up clothes, and neighbors chat in the streets. The outside farmer’s markets, once massive and a supply channel for the large city of Mosul, struggle to supply locals with what they need now. This is farm country, and we met with one of the residents who had joined our church plant after fleeing ISIS with his family in 2014, living in refugee camp in Erbil. Recently he and his family moved back to their home town. He took us five miles outside of town to his verdant green farm plot. Straddling overgrown rows, he picked armloads of sizeable onions, peas, carrots and cabbages, which soon filled our vehicle with their just-picked aroma. God has His hand on this country for blessing, not for war or disaster, but it will take a lot more than vegetables to bring back “normal.” Other seeds must be sown.

Ministry future: Pray with us as plans are developed and prayed over with national ministry colleagues for integrating fellowships in these post-war areas. More to come on that later.