Among the Cloud of Witnesses

“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:

http://www.spreaker.com/show/evangelism-resourcess-tracks

To “Like” our Facebook page and receive news, search:

https://www.facebook.com/EvangelismResources

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.”

http://www.erinfo.org/viewNavMenu.do?menuID=129

One UPG Reaching Another!

M___ M___ and his family

In the remote village of H____, in the Indian State of Jharkhand, M___ M___ was in trouble. His beloved wife suffered from epilepsy and he was desperate for her to be healed. M___ is Santal, from an Unreached People Group of 8.3 million that has been greatly impacted by ER’s Jharkhand School of Evangelism (SOE) and its graduates who have been working among them for several years.

M___ had already left his Animist religion and converted to Hinduism, but that change merely added to his sorrows. His worship of the many gods and goddesses was only empty ritual. Eventually, M___ met a Christian pastor sponsored by ER’s partner ministry in Jharkhand and a graduate of the Jharkhand SOE, who prayed over his wife, and she was instantly healed! They accepted Jesus right away, and M___ M___ dedicated his life to serving Christ.

M___ (center) leads evening evangelistic meeting

M___ was trained in the Jharkhand School of Evangelism, and felt called to the mission field in Eastern Jharkhand state. This is a vastly unreached region with over 120 villages where the gospel has never been preached! Nearly 100,000 people live in the region. 60% are Hindu, 20% are animist, and 20% are Muslim. Alcoholism and illiteracy are among the many scourges of the people that make evangelism difficult and discouraging.

A Nai family in Eastern Jharkhand

M___ is engaging these unreached people. At least six tribes designated “Least Reached” by the Joshua Project are among them, including the Nai.  Read more about the Nai UPG on the Joshua Project website at: http://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/17745/IN.  

This is M___’s strategy for ministry which he learned in SOE training: first he chooses a receptive village, surveys it, develops bridges of friendship with the people, and preaches the gospel in evening meetings. With those who show interest and willingness, he starts a discipleship series called New Life. Then, with those who have come to Christ, he plants a church in an unreached region. Presently M___ has surveyed 15 villages. His plan is to baptize 15 families in the next year, and within five years about 100 families.

M___’s testimony contains a riveting detail. ER's strategy of reaching M____’s people (the Santal) has resulted in sending a converted Santal as a missionary to the Nai. One member of a UPG is now reaching out to another! Evangelism Resources, through its project to engage Unreached People Groups through Schools of Evangelism, has the potential to repeat M___’s story hundreds of times.

ER is asking for prayer for M____ M____. Please pray with them in these requests:

•       Pray for him to complete 60 Gospel evening meetings in 20 villages in 2014.
•       Ask God to help him find a place to rent to use as a base of operations.
•       Pray for Chandmuni Kisku to remain healthy, with no recurrence of epilepsy.  

Learn more about ER's Unreached People Group project 

on our website at: our UPG page.

Learn more about M___'s School of Evangelism training 

on our website at: our School of Evangelism page.

Miracles Among the Miri

 U___ lingered on the edge of the crowd. Curiosity had drawn him to the Christian baptism service. He had never before heard the gospel of Jesus, but he felt his heart strangely warmed. Five people were immersed in the water, and each seemed to come up with great joy. The evangelist then asked, “Is there anyone else who desires to receive Christ and be baptized?”  Suddenly, U____ knew that he did. His new life began that day in 1996 when he strode forward, accepted Christ, received baptism, and became a servant of the one true God.

These humble beginnings were the start of a move of God among the Miri, U_____'s tribe. The Miri remain unreached, 0% evangelical Christians among them, according to surveys. U_____ and those early Miri believers faced fierce persecution from Hindu family, friends, and neighbors. However, God has ways of overcoming opposition!

U_____ received a menacing threat from one man—cease his efforts to convert Hindus to Christianity, or else face death. He was given an ultimatum of fifteen days.  But within those fifteen days the antagonist got drunk and was killed in a motorcycle accident. As one might expect, U_____ reported that persecution diminished somewhat following that event.

One of U___'s cousins had spent more than $3,000 on doctors seeking a remedy for his illness. This was a fortune for a Miri tribesman, most of whom are poor farmers. Five others suffered from the same malady.  As a last resort, U____ was called upon to pray to his God, and all were healed, placed their faith in Christ and were baptized!

U___ attended the ER School of Evangelism in the state of Assam, graduating in 2007. Other Miri tribesmen have also studied there, and through their efforts they have begun planting house churches.  Together they have evangelized twenty villages. Forty-seven people have accepted Christ and been baptized! Four house churches have been planted among the Miri, with an average attendance of 12 each. God is on the move, calling the Miri to repentance and salvation.

U____ needs help to accomplish his mission to win the Miri. One little church has been built, and it is too small now, praise God, to house the congregation! Funds are needed for a larger building, and for a motorcycle for U_____ to use as he travels from village to village as one of the leaders of this burgeoning work.

In 2013 Evangelism Resources published the names of fifteen unreached people groups (UPGs), one of them being the Miri, and encouraged people to “adopt” them. Those who adopt a UPG are challenged to pray and give financially, if God directs, to support evangelism efforts among that people group. Only one person thus far has adopted the Miri—more people are needed to pray! U__ and his fellow SOE graduates are counting on us to support their efforts. They know, as we do, that it is God who sends laborers into whitened harvest fields, and He has commanded us to pray for them (Luke 10:2).

Is the Holy Spirit prompting you to join the Miri prayer team? Send an e-mail to Evangelism Resources at: eroffice@qx.net.  We will be happy to add your name to the team, send you materials to help you pray with wisdom, and report to you the advances of the gospel among the Miri and other UPGs.

And a Little Child Shall Lead Them

Abigail and me at my office desk

 Abigail’s luminous eyes scanned my bulletin board, eagerly seeking just the right choice. I said a silent prayer that she would be drawn to the photos of the little girls, but that request was not answered. “That one,” she said, with certainty.  “I want that one.”

Abigail is five years old, the only daughter of dear friends of mine. The family recently visited us from North Carolina and they stopped by my office at Evangelism Resources to learn more about our mission. I explained several aspects of ministry, but immediately upon entering my office, Abigail was entranced by the photos of Unreached People Groups (UPGs).

I took her into my lap, showed her my computer monitor, and began telling her that there were many, many people who had never heard about Jesus—they did not even know His name! She had been wiggling, but suddenly her little body was still. She was thinking about that news.

The flyer that caught Abigail's eye...

Abigail has had the benefit of being born into a godly home. She has been in church since she was a baby, and probably does not remember a time when she did not know about Jesus. “Who will tell them?” she asked, and my eyes started filling with tears. Even though she was young, this child knew how to get to the heart of a matter.

I told her how brave friends of mine were working hard to tell others about Jesus, in spite of the fact that other people might hurt them for doing so. As I told her in the simplest terms possible, it was clear to me that the concept is truly very simple: someone must go.  I told her that in my thinking the best way was to train someone like them, from their own country, and then send them with the gospel.

Evangelism Resources has launched a plan to adopt 15 UPGs for prayer and intentional evangelism. I have made flyers with information about the different groups, where they live, and which of our Schools of Evangelism is trying to reach them. These are the flyers on my bulletin board that Abigail was scrutinizing, and there was only one group I truly did not want this five-year-old to choose—the Devadasi. I simply hoped to avoid any awkward conversation with her to explain their plight, given into sexual slavery as temple prostitutes.

Abigail makes her choice

But Abigail would not be deterred.  She was choosing the Devadasi and I bowed to her will. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was also bowing to the will of God. Again I pulled her into my lap, and tried to tell her about them. I know my voice quavered as I stammered to find the right words for her innocent ears. Finally I said, “As little girls, these women are given to work in the Hindu temples as slaves.”  I dared go no further, and my explanation seemed to satisfy her.

Later that night, Abigail’s mother, Heather, was putting her to bed and they said evening prayers together. Heather returned to us, looking a little shaken. When she was able to explain what had happened, she said, “Abigail just prayed for the Devadasi, and you’ll never guess what she asked.” “She asked that God would save the Devadasi, and make it so they would not have to do the work they do.” 

The room fell silent as we considered the thought that a five-year-old could pray such a Spirit-led prayer. The Word of God says that unless we become as little children we will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 18:2-4).  One child-like quality I saw demonstrated that night was the capacity of a child to open her heart to the Spirit of God and pray for the lost, whether she understands all the details or not.

Just yesterday I got a text message from Heather. While praying for the Devadasi, Abigail stopped abruptly and said, “Mommy, someday I might just have to go to the Devadasi and tell them they need to obey God’s laws.”  Out of the mouth of babes…  Obviously, as she prays, God is stirring Abigail’s heart for missions.

Evangelism Resources is still recruiting prayer warriors for Unreached People Groups such as the Devadasi. If you’d like to join the prayer team, which now includes little Abigail and her parents, please send me an e-mail at: eroffice@qx.net.  I’ll be happy to sign you up!

Coordinator of Communications
(name withheld)