Remember Ambassadors

The current international news is full of stories from Darfur, a region in western Sudan where active genocide is taking place.  Many aid groups serve suffering and hungry people in southern Sudan.  News from Khartoum is plentiful, full of teddy bears and politics.

But the center of the country, in the border zone between north and south, the area most damaged by the civil war, has been almost universally forgotten.  It is a Christian area that has been assigned to the Muslim north, an area where fundamentalist militias wreak havoc on Christian ministry, and where poverty is all but universal.

Into this place, the Nuba Mountains of the South Kordofan state, God is opening the doors for our ministry.  It blows me away to even say that.

Over the past couple of days, we fellowshipped with fellow Christians in the city of Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan, and to see first-hand the needs that they have.  Let me tell you, their faith is genuine, and only strengthened by the fact that they claim the name of Jesus Christ when doing so could cost them their lives.  When they worship, you can feel the Spirit of God move, and worship with them in spite of the language barrier.

Thanks to the team that God is raising up, from three different organizations, it appears that all systems are a "go" to make our dreams a reality.  We have met with government officials, each of which has expressed excitement about the possibility of this ministry, and church leaders who are overjoyed about our involvement.  Over and over, they thank us for caring about their needs.

We are in the beginning stages of laying out a budget for the building project, and Mark has begun to design the building for them.  There are lots of steps yet to complete, with input from many different sources, but your prayers, my friend, are being answered.

More to come… 

 

International trips tend to spark good friendships, so I post this picture of Mark Searcy, our building expert, knowing that he will quite probably forgive me.  But I post it for another reason, too–we leave tomorrow (or bukra, as they say here) for the Kordofan city of Kadugli, where we are planning our building project.  This will be Mark's magnum opus, where his expertise will shine, and I ask you to pray for him in particular as we travel down to lay the groundwork for this task.

You can see a little of Mark's passion in this picture, which I shot from the hip in the middle of a conversation, but he has a heart for the people of Sudan, and indeed, the people of the world.  That heart, combined with his incredible knowledge, are serving Remember's ministry well, and serving the people of Sudan.

Please pray for us as we head south tomorrow!

Our first day in Kadugli has been very profitable, but it has been far more than that–it has been a blessing.  We had an excellent first trip to this country back in January, but being able to come back has been even better.  We already have an established rapport with the local church, with pastors, and with people.

The air of excitement was palpable in the churches that we were able to visit throughout the day.  Remember is partnering with two other ministries to provide the Nuba Mountain area of Sudan with a facility that will serve as a clinic, safehouse, Bible college, school, and perhaps much more, and the Sudanese Christians are overjoyed at the prospect.  And what a delight it is to be able to bless these persecuted, suffering believers!  From giving candy to the little children in what was essentially a refugee camp for Nuba Mountain Christians, to working on this building project, we are blessed to be a blessing.

The camp in which many Nuba Mountain Christians, moved to Khartoum to try to find work, live and worship.

Sharing greetings with our brothers and sisters.

As we approach Thanksgiving, I am once again reminded of the inestimable privilege it is to be a part of God's work.  While I have an overwhelming amount of things to be grateful for, that one has been at the top of my praise list this Thanksgiving season.

The holidays always remind me of the value of family.  I have been blessed with a wonderful family in the physical sense, and I have also been blessed with the opportunity to see the family of Christ all over the world.  I am looking forward to the privilege of spending time with that family, and ministering hope and encouragement, as we head to Sudan on Friday.

Our schedule is pretty straightforward–leave the USA on November 23, and return on December 5.  After subtracting travel time, that should give us about 10 days in-country.  Those 10 days should be pretty full, as we travel down to Kadugli to view the land we will be building on, meet with government officials to take care of administrative details of the project, and price supplies, labor, and transportation.  Lord willing, we will also have the chance to meet with Sudanese pastors, as well as the widows and orphans of martyrs, to expand our impact even before the building project begins.

Please pray for us!  Here are some specific requests:

• For safety and travel mercies as our team goes to an area of the world known for its danger and sickness.
• For wisdom and guidance as we plan and coordinate with other ministries on this huge project.
• For the leading of the Holy Spirit as we discern where to give funds and supplies.

Stay tuned!  I will keep you updated wherever I can find an internet connection.

Just the other day, I received this e-mail from a Christian leader in the northern province of Himachal Pradesh, and with his permission I am sharing it here for your prayers:

 

Greetings in the Blessed name of Jesus.

Let me make an acquaintance myself to you. I am S.A. working…in the state of Himachal Pradesh, North west India.  Also I am working as a CEO for a Church planting and Discipleship Training school in Himachal. 

Himachal Pradesh is one of the least evangelised state in India with less than 1% Christians.  The number of Churches and Christian workers are very few.  Since the Anti conversion bill being passed in this state the Christian work is considerably less.  We need you prayers and support from REMEMBER AMBASSADORS.  Here with I'm enclosing a pressing need.

In Nov. 2005 we requested your prayers for Pastor Feroz Masih from Baijnath, who was brutally beaten up by the fanatic group and destroyed all his home and made his house as a temple in Himachal. He was one of our missionary from our local Church at Palampur. He served Lord very faithfully and all his children are in the ministry. After he has been abundant by the local people he was staying in different locations in and around Himachal Pradesh. On Nov. 11, 2007 he went to be with Lord. Pastor Feroz Masih remain as a martyr for the Church in Himachal.

We request your prayers for His family. May the Lord grant divine peace which passes all understanding and carry on the mantle which their father has taken.

 

Before we return to regularly-scheduled blogging on persecution in general, I want to take the time to praise the Lord for His blessing on our recent banquet.  We could feel the presence of the Spirit, and people's lives were touched!

Over 550 people came and enjoyed an excellent meal at Trident Technical College before watching our presentation on "Of Whom the World was not Worthy," the state of persecution worldwide.  We used video and live testimonies to share the compelling stories of the Body of Christ worldwide.  Focusing on Burma, Sudan, Iraq, and Egypt, we shared the needs of our brothers and sisters.

Stay tuned for the video!  Lord willing, we will be able to share with you the components that we put together.  In the meantime, thanks to each person that prayed for this event, that came, gave, and volunteered to serve.  Your prayers were answered!  But please don't stop praying–the fruits of this evening could extend into the far future as God opens doors all over the world for us to meet the needs of the persecuted church. 

If you'd like to read what the media had to say, we had a small write-up in the Charleston Post and Courier, which you can read at the bottom of this page.

Now that the banquet is over, I am turning my attention to Sudan.  Our joint team, in partnership with two other ministries, leaves in one week.  More updates to come…