Hope in the High Country

“Mr., mr., you have to take your stuff and leave. I won’t be responsible for it. You must take it.” About an hour before my friend and I asked the team we led into this town to look through their backpacks and remove everything heavy that was not needed for the next two days. Once unloaded we sent them on and would catch up later with them as we spent time with a local believer and finalize the storage arrangement.

We were headed to mountain village to show the Jesus Film and the hike would mean five to six hours up a mountain to an elevation of about 10,000 feet. The group of people we were to share the story of Jesus with were the Lisu people. Nearly three quarters of a million of these beautify people live in the southwest region of China in Lijiang, Baoshan, Nujiang, Diqing and Dehong regions of Yunnan Province.

Many of these mountain people have never heard of Jesus and few have modern conveniences such as electricity and running water. These are farming peoples who terrace the hillsides eking out a simple life with no hope or future. They live in fear of spirits whom must be pleased or manipulated in order get what is needed to live.

When the hotel manager told us that we would have to take the stuff with us we were dejected. This meant that we would have to load the stuff into our own backpacks and head to the mountain. Slowly we sorted and packed the materials and headed to catch a bus out of town. Once we got off the bus and started up the mountain we began to strain under to extra weight. Slowly we staggered up the mountain taking regular stops to breath and rest. Nearly three-quarters of the way to the village we heard something approaching from behind. Standing to the side of the pathway we watched with a surprised look as an elderly man maybe in his late sixties trudged by with six cases of Coke strapped to his back and flip flops for shoes. We starred at him and then back at each other as he went by without any heavy breathing or laboring walk.

Without a word we both thought the same thing and with a deep breath we left our self pity behind venturing forward until we reached the village. The team was already there as we expected, exchanging gifts and interacting with the Lisu people. With a warm welcome, refreshing drink and exchanging greetings we shared the idea of showing a film story in which the Creator God wanted the Lisu people to see and help them understand who He was.

Excitement quickly filled the village as we draped a large bed sheet between two trees and set up the battery operated projector. As evening took hold many gathered with small portions of food sitting on the hillside. With a brief introduction the film began. I don't think anyone spoke a word as they watch the film. For many this was the first time they have ever seen this type of media and heard a clear message of the gospel acted out in their own language. For the first time hope can to this high country home of a peoples who seemed lost in time.

After the film was over conversations took place throughout the night as many wanted to know and understand more. Questions around how the Creator God is above all other gods and spirits were asked and answered. Our local Chinese and Lisu believers translated and after leaving materials with a promise of returned within a week we got some rest in order to leave the village and our new friends in the morning. We know that local police many visit the village in the following days after word got out so we didn’t want to stay too long.

Morning came too fast and after some tea we redistributed everyone’s stuff from our overstuffed back backs. With some prayer for many who came to say goodbye the village sent us off. I saw the Spirit of God show up on the mountain, give understanding, and bring hope to this village. I don't know what has happened since but I am banking on the Eternal God and local believers from the nearby town to continue to nurture the new hope into a flame. I hope to see my mountain friends again. I hope to sit and talk about the time when hope came in the high country.

This is your investment. This is your joy.

Mark Szymanski
www.mszymanski.com
mski1957@gmail.com

Won’t you please consider joining our financial support team? You can send contributions to: United World Mission, PO Box 602002, Charlotte NC 28260-2002 and write ACCT# 11013 in the memo line. Further info about on-line giving and other programs see www.uwm.org. Thank you to our present supports that allow us to impact the many lives across the planet. Again, THANKS!

The Man in My Dreams

“Father’s voice echoed through the house as his booming voice shouted at me, you have disgraced this family, dishonored me and placed your life at risk. This can not be possible! The argument escalated until the entire home was in chaos. Mother weeping, father’s making accusations, finally, I left the house fearing for my life.”

My landing into Casablanca Morocco was a bit bumpy but as I taxied to the gate my anticipation of this new partnership began to grow. On que people jumped from their seats extracting luggage from overhead bins. You could hear the chatter in French, Spanish, English and of course Arabic as I suddenly realized I was the outsider again.

Working my way through immigration, customs, and then finally out of the airport the sudden heat hit me like a wave. Looking for my contact was a chore as I moved through a stampede of men aggressively reaching for my bags and offering their taxi for hire, “non merci, non merci,” I said in French as I worked my way through the organized chaos. Ah, suddenly I see my friend near the road and I quickly head that way.

The cool air of the land cruiser was a treat as we sped along the road exchanging pleasantries. Soon we began to outline the schedule and solidify thoughts for our time together. Nothing about investigating opportunities to advance the gospel in an Islamic culture is easy. Everything you do must be anchored in prayer, love for people and a heavy dose of sensitivity to Islamic laws, traditions and realities.

That evening six of us sat around a large bowl filled with cocos and chicken as unfamiliar but tantalizing smells filled the air... I’m ready to eat. Pushing back the jet lag I accepted some mint tea and soon I am engrossed in conversions which takes me deep into the lives of those who come to faith in this restricted culture. As I sat on the floor I imagined this is how Jesus ate and told stories while reclining with His disciples.

Across from me sat, Ahmad, a thin lightly bearded man whose eyes conveyed some inner joy. They seemed to dance as he spoke. As each of us casually reached into the bowl we listened to one another’s stories.

Ahmad began to share his story of conversation... “My father was furious as I told him about my decision to become a disciple of Isa. I tried to tell him that it all began with a vision of a man who came to me in my dreams, but my father wouldn’t listen.” I leaned in. I didn't want to miss a word. I have heard of these types of stories and now I was on the brink of hearing one first hand. Ahmad, began to tell about the night he first met a man in his dream. “The man in my dreams asked me if I wanted to know the true living God. My heart was ready to respond but the man put his fingers on my lips and said that this knowledge would not come easily, it was not free. The man went onto say that if I wanted it I would be harassed, cast out of my family and perhaps loose all I had.”

Everything in the room seemed to stand still as Ahmed continued. “My heart was conflicted. I knew I wanted this knowledge that would lead to true peace but was the costs too great.” Suddenly I woke from my dream! In the days that followed I wondered if what I dreamed really happened. I doubted my memory but my heart wanted this knowledge. I wondered how I could find it... where would this search for truth take me?”

In this land true knowledge about the Christian God is rare and hard to find. For people like Ahmed it is against the law to change one’s way. Ahmad began to wonder who could he trust. Where could he go to find out more?

Days turned into weeks and Ahmad’s thirst only grew. Then when he started to think there was no way to discover more he met a man in a coffee shop. He was a man of the Book, a Christian. Since that initial meeting many discussions have taken place. “There were many days I left our conversations struggling to comprehend the meaning of our study. I began to realized that this knowledge would have to come just as much through a step of faith as well as study. One night I asked Isa to become real to me.”

The months and years that followed was all the man in the dreams said it would be. Ahmad’s family is very disappointed and angry, his job was lost, but his faith is growing and his heart is full. Ahmad’s transformation continues as he learns daily about the true living God. He lives on his own, works small jobs and is in conversation with several other men, who like himself once sought truth but didn't know where to find it.

For many who decide to become believers in this region of the world danger is always present. Hardship is not just limited to the economics or family but radicals persist and are always willing to act. Please pray for these converts to Isa. Pray for their safety and conviction to remain strong in the face of persecution. One by one they come, one by one they grow, and one by one they multiply.

This is your investment. This is your joy.

Mark Szymanski

www.mszymanski.com

mski1957@gmail.com

Won’t you please consider joining our financial support team? You can send contributions to: United World Mission, PO Box 602002, Charlotte NC 28260-2002 and write ACCT# 11013 in the memo line. Further info about on-line giving and other programs see www.uwm.org. Thank you to our present supports that allow us to impact the many lives across the planet. Again, THANKS!

A New Kind of People

In AD 76 a new Emperor, Hadrian came to rule the Roman Empire until his death in AD 136. He was considered a man of culture and the arts. It appears he preferred peace rather than war. When he came to power persecution of Christians was in full swing. His desire to know and understand this “new people” led him to investigate those who followed the Jewish carpenter as there were many accusations against them.

So he sent this letter to Minucius Fundanus, proconsul of Asia, to conduct an investigation. In his letter he states; “Therefore he I do not wish, that the matter should be ignored without examination, so that these men may not be harassed, nor an opportunity given for malicious proceedings to be offered to informers. If, therefore, the provincials can clearly show their charges against these Christians, so as to answer before the tribunal, let them pursue this course only, but not just petitions, and mere outcries against Christians. For it is more fitting, if any one brings an accusation, that you should examine it.

Minucius Fundanus’ message to Caesar Hadrian concerning his investigation astounds me as he describes those who call themselves Christians…

“…But the Christians… show kindness to those who are near them; and whenever they are judges, they judge uprightly… They do good to their enemies… If one of them have bondsmen and bondswomen or children, through love towards them they persuade them to become Christians, and when they have done so, they call them brethren without distinction. They do not worship strange gods, and they go their way with modesty and cheerfulness. Falsehood is not found among them; and they love one another… And he, who has, gives to him who has not, without boasting. And when they see a stranger, they take him in to their own homes and rejoice over him as a very brother… And if they hear that one of their number is imprisoned or afflicted on account of the name of their Messiah, all of them anxiously minister to his necessity… And if there is any among them that is poor and needy, and they have no spare food, they fast two or three days in order to supply the needy their lack of food… Such, O King, is their manner of life… And verily, this is a new people, and there is something divine in the midst of them.”

This challenges me as I rely on God to make me into this kind of person. Thank you for your partnership in the gospel as we together pray and work to see “new people” developed all around the world.

This is your investment. This is your joy.

Mark Szymanski
www.mszymanski.com
mski1957@gmail.com

Won’t you please consider joining our financial support team? You can send contributions to: United World Mission, PO Box 602002, Charlotte NC 28260-2002 and write ACCT# 11013 in the memo line. Further info about on-line giving and other programs see UWM. Thank you to our present supports that allow us to impact the many lives across the planet. Again, THANKS!

Nick Vujicic Visits Slovenia – Many Interested in the Gospel

Imagine being born without arms. No arms to wrap around a friend ; no hands to hold the ones you love; no fingers to experience touch ; no way to lift or carry things. How much more difficult would life be if you were living without arms and hands? Or what about legs? Imagine if instead of no arms, you had no legs. No ability to dance, walk, run, or even stand. Now put both of those scenarios together… no arms and no legs. What would you do? How would that affect your everyday life? Nick’s mantra is, “If God can use a man without arms and legs to be His hands and feet, then He will certainly use any willing heart!” This is the life of Nick Vujicic.

In April Nick Vujicic made a trip to Slovenia as part of a tour through several European countries. His visit to this tiny but hardend to the gospel country was facilitated by our United World Mission team. You can read more about Nick here.

The three main Christian groups in Slovenia (Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran) are lacking in spiritual vitality. They are rapidly declining into irrelevance while agnosticism, New Age and different forms of Eastern religious beliefs are increasing, as is general spiritual apathy, even among those who notionally believe in God.

There is an evangelical presence in only 28 out of 210 municipalities, so church planting teams are clearly needed. The tiny evangelical population often reflects the divisive culture of the South Slavs – pray for unity and the formation of an Evangelical Alliance. Of the few dozen fellowships, almost none are self-funding; most pastors rely on secular employment or external financial support, and there is little teaching in churches on stewardship and giving. Pray for Slovene believers to rise to the challenge of personal evangelism, to support their own pastors and even to send missionaries.

Here is a quick update of only a few days of ministry...

TUESDAY: The hall was packed beyond belief with people standing around the edge – over 2000 people. The crowd was incredibly responsive (they loved it when Nick spoke in slightly broken Serbian to them – his parents’ native language). More than 1000 people turned in the questionnaire at the end. One of the last questions on there says: "Nick talked about the hope he found in God. Would you be interested in that hope." The German missionary compiling the data says, “I'm reading over and over again: "I'm very interested". Praise the Lord!

WEDNESDAY: Last week only 600 tickets were sold, but the hall here on the coast was packed with over 2000 people. Nick’s talk last night was even more focused on the Gospel, and people responded well. 1,100 questionnaires came back with contact information on them!

You can see more of his time in Slovenia by clicking here.

Thank you for your investment in our ministry which helps our missionaries expand the Kingdom of God in many nations including Slovenia.

This is your investment. This is your joy.

Mark Szymanski

www.mszymanski.com

mski1957@gmail.com

Please consider joining our financial support team. You can send contributions to: United World Mission, PO Box 602002, Charlotte NC 28260-2002 and write ACCT# 11013 in the memo line. Further info about on-line giving and other programs see UWM. THANKS!

Starting Banks, Depositing Hope

HOPE… “The feeling or belief that what we need can be had… or that events will turn out for the best”. What sacrifices would you be willing to make today to have hope tomorrow? What would you be willing to do to change the destiny of your family’s future?

These questions should touch the core of us who have experienced salvation. Since Christ came into our lives the course of our eternity is changed. This HOPE was given to us. A chance to have more, life, a future, a HOPE! As a son of a father whose family came from Poland without knowing a lick of English, or knowing anyone, and with almost nothing in their pockets, all in the HOPE that their children and children’s children will have a better life, I understand this HOPE.

I have seen thousands of people across the world scratching out a miserable life for themselves and children without HOPE. I have seen parents give away or sell their children, people with empty eyes and hungry stomachs, people with no means to change their world wondering if there could be something more. HOPE is a powerful feeling. Changing lives in these difficult situations must include tangible ways to change lives as well as providing the eternal HOPE of the gospel.

Your support of Cathy and I compel us to develop ways to bring this change and HOPE to wanting eyes. THANK YOU!

Pressed up against the Nepal border is the Indian state of Bihar with 80 plus million people. Ancient Bihar was a center of power, learning and culture however today’s Bihar lags well behind the other Indian states in human and economic development. The challenge of development in Bihar is enormous according to a recent World Bank report. This is largely due to persistent poverty, complex social stratification, unsatisfactory infrastructure and weak governance. More than 40% of the population lives under the poverty level.

“Imagine working to start churches in a culture (mostly Islamic), where most of the population lives on less than $1.00 per day, and there are few Christian churches to display any refection of God’s love and concern… so how do you do it? Where do you start?”

Starting churches here means helping people with economic issues, addressing health care realities and educational challenges as well as telling stories about the love of Jesus Christ and disciple those who believe. Working alongside national leaders and nationally led ministries is a must in order to multiply the harvest force and leave a lasting witness. Here is a recent report of those with whom we work… remember we are talking about a region of 80 million people.

This past February our group trained church planters in this region by discussing topics like: The worldview of Muslims, misunderstandings about Christianity, factors which bring Muslim people to Christ, Islam’s view towards sin, culture of fear about the Muslim community, and other topics.

These churches planters told us that when they began talking to people using the Quran, Muslims give more attention to the discussion and are positive in listening. They like to hear the stories with the names mentioned in Quran like Story of Abraham, Moses, Ishmael, Noah etc. this helps build bridges to share our experience with Jesus. Today because of you people in Islamic areas of India are being healed and discovering the true God of the Bible. They are receiving HOPE both here on earth and eternal.

Three quick testimonies are:

1. Trainees shared that they have altogether identified 51 seekers including 30 women. Their faith in Jesus is progressing as they are engaging more in dialogue about Jesus in the Quran and they are experiencing answered prayers.

2. They shared that 11 people have decided to follow Christ including 4 women.

3. Trainees shared that they have changed the way they were thinking of reaching Muslim people. Now, they are not expecting people to come to their church worship services but rather they must go out to the people.

In order to further establish a source of income for Indian believers, churches, and nationally led organizations myself and our United World Mission team is starting “trust banks” in this region. This effort will lead to less dependence on foreign contributions which permits for a greater self-sustaining, self governing, and self propagating church planting effort.

Please pray that these efforts will create the desired outcome… healthy self sustaining churches, leaders that have the capacity to further church planting in new regions and believers that can change their families and future by development of successful business creating HOPE for their children and their eternities.

This is your investment. This is your joy.

Mark Szymanski

www.mszymanski.com

mski1957@gmail.com

Please consider joining our financial support team. You can send contributions to: United World Mission, PO Box 602002, Charlotte NC 28260-2002 and write ACCT# 11013 in the memo line. Further info about on-line giving and other programs see UWM. We are in need of another $1850 per month in regular support to continue our work in the many nations where we are building national workers. THANKS!

Changes: Middle East & North Africa

Thank you for your partnership with Cathy and me as we advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ across the world through His servants. From day one of this New Year we have been on the run. On a recent trip through the South Eastern United States (3000 miles in seven days) I met with twenty six churches, twelve individuals and shared with several hundred interested in missions. Last night I just returned from another trip through Texas connecting to people and churches focused on the Middle East/North Africa... read on.

UPDATE - NORTH AFRICA MIDDLE EAST: You can’t turn on the news without hearing about the protests across North Africa and other Middle East nations. These events remind me of what took place in Eastern Europe in 1989 and the years following. Yes, there are differences but as a collogue remarked, “regime change, even if for the better, is traumatic.” So we need to praying for God's grace and will to be done, especially that good leaders will step into the power vacuum, not merely those desiring power and personal gain.

As I mentioned I just stepped in the door from a trip through Texas where I met with a church helping them develop a coaching process for people interested in relocating overseas. We discussed their deploying three young women who have stepped on a plane today headed for Libya.

As you know this entire region seems to be on fire today. Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, and last month I gave you an update on Sudan. Here is where the referendum ended up on Sudan… (Thank you Stan Smith for your information)

The residents of South Sudan have voted almost unanimously in favor of secession. President Omar Bashir has said that he would react to the new country’s creation by modifying Sudan’s constitution so that Sharia is the only law of the land and Arabic the only language. With this rejection of these Sharia additions Southern Sudan will succeed from the north… civil war now becomes a reality.

Faith McDonnell, the Director of Religious Liberty Programs and Church Alliance for a New Sudan at the Institute on Religion and Democracy, told FrontPage that South Sudan will be a pro-Western secular democracy with religious freedom.

“South Sudan’s independence means that a people who fought against jihad and forced Islamization/Arabization have won. They have rolled back the plan to impose Sharia, they have refused to be dhimmis, at great coast,” McDonnell said.

Al-Qaeda and other radical Islamic terrorists should also be expected to attack South Sudan as its independence is seen as a theft of Muslim land by the West. It is not inconceivable that the Bashir regime will ally with these terrorists as it has done so in the past to undermine South Sudan and please al-Turabi and the like. In fact, an intelligence report from 2006 claimed that about 15 members of Al-Qaeda were training the regime-sponsored Janjaweed militia in Darfur.

Bashir’s Sudan will also become even closer to Iran, which is eager to extend its reach into East Africa. The Iranian regime opposed the referendum and said it would help Sudan ensure its territorial integrity. Bashir can count on Iran to help him undermine South Sudan as it stands in the way of the Islamic Revolution.

The Iranians have grown closer to Eritrea and an expanded presence in Sudan would allow Iran to threaten the Red Sea shipping lanes and the Arabian Peninsula from the west side. Egypt could also be pressured from the south. In April 2009, the Mubarak regime arrested about 50 Hezbollah operatives planning to attack an Israeli site in the country. The interrogations revealed that they planned to send other members to Sudan for training in suicide bombing and other terrorist tactics.

Sudan is also sponsoring Hamas. In January 2009, the regime admitted that a truck convoy that was bombed by the Israelis was transporting Iranian arms to Hamas. The Revolutionary Guards had been managing the supply line from Port Sudan. An opposition newspaper has reported that the Revolutionary Guards is running a factory in Khartoum that is making weapons for Hamas, the Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen, and unidentified militants in Somalia. The deputy-editor of the newspaper was arrested after the story broke.

The Bashir regime may also be trying to build nuclear weapons or at least assist Iran in doing so. Since at least 1998, it has been known that an Iranian-owned company in Khartoum was acquiring nuclear technology. It is no coincidence that Ayatollah Khamenei was in Sudan when he stated in 2006 that Iran would share nuclear technology with Islamic countries. Khartoum has since officially told the IAEA that it is beginning a nuclear energy program and would build its first reactor by 2020. Agents of the regime have reportedly tried to make contact with the remnants of the A.Q. Khan network over the past year. This is made all the more dangerous by Bashir’s decision to make Sudan a state based solely on Sharia law.

The new country of South Sudan offers the West an opportunity to have an ally to counter Iran’s bloc in East Africa. It will come under attack from a Bashir regime that must not allow it to succeed and terrorists that see its creation as part of a Zionist plot against Islam. The largely Christian and African state of South Sudan will need the West’s help in defending itself against the Islamists, but how far the U.S. is willing to go to provide it remains to be seen.

Let us pray!

This is your investment. This is your joy.

Mark Szymanski

www.mszymanski.com

mski1957@gmail.com

Please consider joining our financial support team. You can send contributions to: United World Mission, PO Box 602002, Charlotte NC 28260-2002 and write ACCT# 11013 in the memo line. Further info about on-line giving and other programs see UWM. We are in need of another $1850 per month in regular support to continue our work in the many nations where we are building national workers. THANKS!

Storm Clouds Looming – Darfur, Sudan

DATELINE: January 2005: Nairobi, Kenya: Peace Brokered in Sudan… These headlines signaled an end to a twenty year civil war between the Muslim north and the Christians and animists in the south. All told more than 2 million people died and 5 million were driven from their homes. The key issue which permitted the success of the peace accord was a referendum, scheduled for this coming January 2011, in which the people of southern Sudan will have the option of secession. The past election, which did not meet international standards, sanctioned President al-Bashir, as a legitimate leader in the face of widely held opinions that the process was rigged and viewed as a sham.

At the heart of this conflict is revenue from oil. Sudan started exporting oil in 1999 with recent exports reaching more than 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) and Khartoum’s readiness to increase production to more than 600,000 bpd by the end of this year. The pipeline that transports the oil to the Port of Sudan runs along what is the disputed border between the north and south. In addition there is several more oil field just waiting to be tapped. Under the peace deal, the south gets half the revenue from oil extracted in the south and Khartoum (the north) gets the remainder, plus all of the oil revenues from what it declares to be the north. If the south votes to succeed then Khartoum may wind up the loser in this arrangement, which it looks like it will. The only solution is if these two factions can come to an agreement on oil wealth-sharing and boundary determinations. But with a history of election fraud, religious differences, and genocide war is likely.

The western region of Sudan known as Western Darfur or what is called Darfur is about the Texas with its population made up of racially mixed tribes the majority of which are Muslim. Early in 2003 two rebel groups rose up and launched attacks against the Khartoum government. Khartoum responded with a genocidal cleansing using a scorched-earth policy which led to casualties reaching nearly 500,000 dead and more than two million displaced by the government supported Janjaweed militia. Even today violence, disease, and displacement continue to kill thousands of innocent Darfurians every month.

All this seems like to be renewed as the referendum nears and the vote for succession takes place.
Americans and Christians have a particularly important role to play in supporting peace in Darfur. The US government has been proactive in speaking out in support of the people of Darfur, Christian aid groups are attending to the vast numbers of innocent casualties but there is still much work that needs to be done. Christians need to speak out with their voice and giving so that international governments take the actions needed to end this genocide.

Long-term peace in Darfur requires that the government of Sudan, the Janjaweed militia forces and the rebel groups of Darfur find a way to resolve their political and economic disputes. The international community managed to broker a peace deal in May 2006, but violence in Darfur actually increased in the wake of this deal. Thousands of innocent civilians continue to die from murder, disease and starvation every month. Today, millions of displaced civilians living in refugee camps are in dire need of international support as the violence continues.

So as this referendum vote draws near take time to pray, give to aid Christian aid groups and get involved in activities that heighten the pressure on our government to keep involved in negotiations that will lead to what will be an obvious outcome, a peaceful dissolution of a nation.

This is your investment. This is your joy.

Mark Szymanski
www.mszymanski.com
mski1957@gmail.com

Please consider joining our financial support team. You can send contributions to: United World Mission, PO Box 602002, Charlotte NC 28260-2002 and write ACCT# 11013 in the memo line. Further info about on-line giving and other programs see UWM.

The Pink Bag

The Pittman's and I have worked together for more than ten years across several countries in Latin American like Bolivia, Cuba, Costa Rica and others. We recently talked about a story which moves us so I thought I would share it with you.

It was chaotic at the airport in Sucre, as usual, on departure day. Paul and Dori Pittman, were leaving for the states for home ministry. Paul felt the tug on his arm and heard a timid voice that said “Hermano Pablo, necesito hablar con ustedes - Brother Paul, I need to talk to you all.” Turning in the direction of the voice, he hardly recognized Elizabeth, the confident young adult from the El Rollo Quechua church who had matured from the adolescent they remembered from several years earlier. In her hand was a small woven pink bag. Elizabeth is one of the three young Quechua youth their team had sponsored in Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) training, with the hopes that they could advance ministry to children in their community.

Elizabeth and her fellow children's workers completed their CEF training several years ago and since then, have started neighborhood Kids Clubs in two different barrios (villages). They have been faithful to the training they had received. For the past several months, they have been teaching on missions in their little neighborhood kids club meetings every Saturday morning.

As it turns out, Elizabeth’s students in her kids club had been taking up offerings to support a missionary so they can share with people about Christ. It seems that they remembered the Pittman family, as the only missionaries they knew. The small pink bag contained 47 bolivianos, about $7.00. This was a true sacrifice for these children to give and it was given with great love to support the Pittman family mission ministry!

This incredibly unique gift is much more than a monetary gift to the Pittmans. It’s a practical example of how national workers are being equipped and transforming their communities all around the world. It represents the heart and commitment of the Quechua church to share Jesus with the world. Praise God with us for the faith and dedication of Elizabeth and all the CEF workers who are raising up "little" missionaries in Bolivia.

This is your investment. This is your joy.

Mark Szymanski
www.mszymanski.com
mski@earthlink.net

If you would like to join our financial support team you can send contributions to: United World Mission, PO Box 602002, Charlotte NC 28260-2002 and write ACCT# 11013 in the memo line. Further info about on-line giving and other programs see UWM.

Numbers

The name of a popular TV series where scientists use calculations to solve crimes, the fourth book of the Old Testament, containing the census of the Israelites after the Exodus from Egypt, the sum, total, count, or aggregate of a collection of units, or the like: The number of students who now attend the Christian college group called Lucas, on the campus of Lulea Technical University, TWELVE!

That’s right; we have grown by three people since last year when we started with nine students. This partnership is one I am working on with a church from South Carolina and two churches in Lulea Sweden. After several pre-partnership surveys we found that with five thousand students there were only seven Christians attending this university. The partnership’s goal is to develop new believers that will fuel new churches throughout the country of Sweden.

By now you are wondering, Sweden? You might have thought that this nation is a Christian nation but this is far from the facts. The truth is that less than one percent of the nation calls themselves evangelical. That’s right, less than one percent. “Though Sweden has a deep historical Christian experience the last several generations have lost the story and today’s population know virtually nothing about the living God,” says Richard Hultmar, church planter in northern Sweden.

With some of the highest suicide, abortion and singleness rates relationships are hard. People tend to congregate in pubs and clubs from Friday evening to Sunday. This is an enlightened population who pride themselves in knowledge and independence. “Life is good here so why would any intelligent person believe in or need something called God,” said Lars. I had a long conversation with him in a bar one night and found he never heard of the Christmas story or Easter. He knew of St. Nicholas and heard of Jesus but didn’t know what He was all about.

These last two years this North American partnership church sent teams to Lulea to perform research, encourage believers in two local churches, gave confidence to this fledgling campus ministry and their leaders, as well as helped with outreach activities. Our prayer is that we can double the size of the group this year.

Please pray with us and maybe your church would consider this partnership.

This is your investment. This is your joy.

Mark Szymanski
mski1957@gmail.com
www.mszymanski.com

If you would like to join our financial support team you can send contributions to: United World Mission, PO Box 602002, Charlotte NC 28260-2002 and write ACCT# 11013 in the memo line. Further info about on-line giving and other programs see UWM.

Building a Missionary Work Force...

I’m sitting here at a retreat center in South Carolina with twelve people who will shortly head out to various countries of the world, new missionaries! I have spent hundreds of hours prior to them being with me listening, coaching, discussing, envisioning and talking through the practical realities of working as missionaries. It is such an honor to Build a Missionary Work Force who will bring lost people to Jesus.

What brought me to this work was as a believer I began to understand that so much of the world didn't have the opportunity that I had to respond to the gospel. In fact many could not even hear just because they lived in a place where it was illegal to tell them. This broke my heart. I was challenged to discover what my role was in the great commission.

As I thought about what God wanted I discovered there are four shapes that our involvement could take. I came to believe that each of us must wrestle with and incorporate these aspects into our lives if we want to be obedient and receive joy as we walk with God sharing His passion. The four are: being a sender (those who actually supply the need of those who go), welcomer (a person who receives those who come from another culture to our own), prayer (those who lift up lost people asking God to send people to reach them), and Mobilizer (those who search out people who will go, preparing, training, coaching, envisioning, and providing oversight and help. Everyone can encourage people to go!) But for Cathy and I we knew we could build teams of people who could flood places around the world sharing God's love and desire to redeem His creation.

I meditated on scriptures like Romans 10:14: How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And Acts 13 where we see the first missionaries sent in the New Testament.

This is what Jesus wanted… GO, and make disciples of all nations (ethnic groups). Each of you who pray and give to Cathy and I have a hand in this fruit. As these couples and singles go they will be part of a global movement bringing broken and lost people to knowledge of God. We are honored that you are part of our team. Thank You, thank you, thank you.

Today we have nearly 160 missionaries serving on foreign soil. It is great to be part of so many lives. Once again God, The Lord of the Harvest has shown Himself faithful calling people to Himself. Thank you for being part of His great cause and our lives. Here are the new missionaries I just finished working with:

Keith & Rachel Keller - Czech Republic, Phillip & Autumn Wilkins – Czech Republic, Megan & Ben Naylor - Hungry, Pierre Aragon - Tajikistan, Matthew & Gayle Boyd – Senegal, Megan Kibbey – Scotland, Scott & Jennifer Stadalsky - Scotland

Would you take a moment to pray for them now?

Just for your information I have created a Partnership/Church Resource page on which are some great MP3s and eBooks and a lot of other resources. Check it out. Click this link and select the folder, “MP3s and eBooks” or any other folder and download what you want. There are some great missionary stories.

This is your investment. This is your joy.

Mark Szymanski

Mski1957@gmail.com

www.mszymanski.com

If you would like to join our financial support team you can send contributions to: United World Mission, PO Box 602002, Charlotte NC 28260-2002 and write ACCT# 11013 in the memo line. Further info about on-line giving and other programs see UWM.