Prayer Calendar: September 1-7, 2013

Please feel free to use this missions prayer point from The Call for September 1-7:

Pray for David and Debbie Cartwright as they serve on the American Indian Field.

This request is inspired by Compassion from Dark Places: http://www.wgm.org/dark-places

And They Were Amazed

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And They Were Amazed

By Beth Muehleisen, Uganda
July-September 2013

Have you ever planted a seed and watched eagerly, anticipating the day when little bits of green start thrusting up from the ground?

This is what we do through seed projects in Community Health Empowerment. A seed project is a small-scale ministry project carried out by a local church using local resources to bring great blessing to local community members with no strings attached, and it whets their appetite to see more of God’s love demonstrated in practical ways.

Scholastica and Fred made hand-washing stands and placed them at public latrines on Sigulu Island in Lake Victoria. Many of the diseases that people have in Africa are caused by contaminated food and water. We can reduce this problem greatly if people wash their hands after using the toilet.

The people in the community asked Scholastica and Fred, “Why are you doing this?” “What do you get out of it?”

They answered, “We don’t get anything. We’re doing it because of God’s love.” The people were amazed!

Every time a seed project is done by someone trained through CHE, the response in every community is the same—and they were amazed! Recently as I read through the book of Mark, I noticed that the people in the communities where Jesus visited had the same reaction to His ministry: “…and they were amazed!”

We have two requests for you. One, will you pray for those involved in the CHE ministry that God will use them to rebuild walls, repair broken gates, and be Light-bearers in their communities? The second request concerns you. How does God want to use you to do a seed project in your own community? God wants to use all of us to demonstrate His agape love no matter where we live, and when we do, everyone will be amazed.

How can your church address spiritual and physical needs in your community? WGM can help with training in this area. Consider a weekend Vision Conference for Wholistic Community Transformation. Contact us at wgm@wgm.org to schedule training.

Prayer Calendar: August 25-31

Use this missions prayer point this week in your time with the Lord:

PRAY that seeds of love planted through people like Scholastica and Fred will have an eternal impact in Uganda. 

Scholastica and Fred, united word and deed by making hand-washing stands and placing them at public latrines on Sigulu Island in Lake Victoria, Uganda. Many of the diseases that people have in Africa are caused by contaminated food and water. We can reduce this problem greatly if people wash their hands after using the toilet.

The people in the community began asking Scholastica and Fred, “Why are you doing this?” They answered, “We’re doing it because of God’s love.”

Biblical Transformation

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Biblical Transformation

The benefits of using the CHE tool in South Sudan
By Joy Phillips, South Sudan
July-September 2013

World Gospel Mission has joined a global movement called Community Health Evangelism. Mango Ministries in South Sudan uses this tool that leads to transformed lives and communities. In 2013, we are training and mentoring nearly 75 leaders in four different areas of South Sudan.

We’ve seen exciting glimpses of transformed lives in both the spiritual and physical realms. In one CHE lesson, WGM missionary John Muehleisen explained the plan of salvation by drawing the Four Spiritual Laws illustration in the dirt, in lieu of a chalkboard. Here is a testimony from one of the participants:

“I had gone to different trainings. But this was very special. I benefited spiritually and physically. This is a lesson that I can’t ever forget. I used to believe that salvation is from my side. I was thinking that I can reach God. But when Pastor John explained to us, I realized that I was wrong. I realized that it was God who can reach to me and save me. I can’t forget this lesson all my life—never!”

Isn’t that exciting? Changing misconceptions about God is the work of the Holy Spirit. Our job is to pray. Will you join us in praying that God will continue speaking truth into the lives of the CHE leaders and turn their worlds upside down? It’s a slow process, but we believe biblical transformation holds the key to radically changed lives, families, churches, and communities. When a life is wholly submitted to God and His truth and God’s creative power is unleashed, no one can predict what amazing things God will do!

Partner with Mango Ministries through prayer. Print Pray CHE, a free prayer guide, at www.wgm.org/mango.

Learn more about the CHE movement at www.chenetwork.org.

Has Anyone Asked You Lately?

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Has Anyone Asked You Lately?

By Nathan Vitatoe, Spain
July-September 2013

We each have an incredible story of redemption, a capturing journey from death to life that God invites us to tell many times over for His glory. The question is, how are we putting the Living Word into our own living that begs others to inquire about the hope they see?

For Kenzie and me, part of our ongoing story of God’s grace involves a joyful opportunity that we had in New Jersey while traveling and speaking on homeland ministry assignment. Some might wonder what missionaries do when they’re home in the States. Yes, we speak at churches, make phone calls, write letters, send emails, tweet, post on Facebook, etc., but as missionaries, we like to focus on the M in HMA: ministry.

We were part of a young adult outreach conference called The Jeremiah Project that was packed with service projects, worship, and life challenges that encourage a deeper walk with the Lord. While our two little girls handed out milk at an adult care center for the mentally and physically disabled and Kenzie played bingo, I played dominoes with Spanish speakers. We shared moments of laughter and joy as we connected with those in the program. We sang praise songs and talked about the hope we have knowing Jesus, inviting our new friends to embrace Christ.

Live out God’s Word each day so you have the opportunity to share your hope in Christ. Your own story continues; connect with a cause in a deeper way this year by checking out www.wgm.org/causes.