“Years have passed since Clara Stromberg
laid down her life for a tribe’s salvation, but there are tribes who wait still
today. They are hopelessly lost, fearful each day, knowing no hope for life.
Day after day we receive word of our brothers who are giving their lives for
the salvation of those tribes, and they are enduring persecution. But they are
working for the salvation of lost tribes, and God is wonderfully blessing their
efforts. Better yet, they are serving the Lord who laid down His life, and we
know that He will pour out His rewards when we meet Him around the Throne.”
Thelma Braun’s
distinctive voice flowed forth from my computer speakers, and it was as if God
had rolled back time a few years. I was working earlier today on a new project:
posting treasured recordings online so they may be heard by anyone with access
to the internet. Before I could post them, I needed to listen to a few. Reminded
again of her passion for missions and her love for Jesus, I couldn’t help but
wonder what she would have to say about all ER has done since she went to
heaven in 2009.
I know she
would be pleased that S___ R___, supported by the home office staff and
ER’s precious partners, has launched a mighty movement to mobilize Asia’s women
for discipleship—the Women’s Impact Network. We are following in Thelma’s
pioneering footsteps as she initiated the movement, launching Women’s Work
Conferences in 2005. She discipled both S___ and me in a very meaningful way,
calling forth our gifts for ministry and encouraging us to work hard for the
Lord’s Kingdom. There is no doubt she would have great joy as she saw the women
assembled for training and making their commitments to begin discipleship
groups. | |
| Willys and Thelma (left) and fellow Africa missionaries |
The concept of
winning Unreached People Groups (UPGs) to the Lord would seem “old hat” for
Thelma. She and Willys left America in 1945 for Belgian Congo for just that
purpose. Her radio message, “Why India?” lays out clearly the rationale for
opening new ministries in that vast nation—that’s where the majority of
unreached people live and work. In the
radio message quoted above, Thelma called them “lost tribes.” No matter the
terminology, the concept is the same: the message of salvation in Jesus Christ
needs telling.
Great
Commission Challenge Camps (GC3s) were the first brand-new
initiative for ER after Thelma went to be with the Lord. She loved young people
and many who attended those early GC3 camps count it a blessing to
have met her and heard her messages.
Thousands of youth have been trained, and as the movement has now spread
to Thelma’s beloved Africa, it’s clear that GC3 has staying power.
Spin-off camps, most of them funded by indigenous ministries (without any ER
support), continue to train young tentmakers who will be equipped by GC3
to share their testimonies, win people to Christ, and disciple the new converts
to win others.
ER’s digital
presence has increased dramatically since 2009. A revamped website came first,
and then we have added a Facebook page, blog, and now an internet radio
station. We receive donations online, and have added a weekly Friday Foto
e-mail in addition to the Prayer Hotline which Thelma enjoyed writing.
Hebrews 12:1
reads, “Therefore, since
we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off
everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run
with perseverance the race marked out for us…” Thelma’s familiar voice speaks now only from
recordings—she has now joined the “cloud of witnesses” referenced in Hebrews. The Scripture then urges those of us who yet live to
- "...throw off everything that hinders”—Let us cast off any burden that would keep us from fulfilling Jesus’ mandate for discipleship (the Great Commission).
- “…and the sin that so easily entangles”—Let us live holy lives, making us a fit vessel for God to use as we share the gospel.
- “…And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us”—Let us patiently endure the trials of the Christian life and persist in witnessing for Jesus until our last breath.
 |
| ER has an internet radio station! |
If you would like
to hear Thelma’s challenge again, visit ER’s new
internet radio
station by following this link:
To “Like” our Facebook page and receive news, search:
To receive the weekly e-mailed Prayer Hotline and Friday
Foto, go to ER’s web page by clicking on the link below. Then click on the icon
that says, “Sign up for e-mail.”
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