January - March Connect 2015

MAGAZINE & PRAYER DIARY

Africa Inland Mission’s JAN-MAR 2015

Christ-centred churches among all African peoples

18THE BARA AND THE NEEDFOR JESUS CHRIST

09SENT FROM RAYNERS LANE BAPTIST CHURCH

04WHY BOTHER:WITH CHURCHPLANTING?

04 WHY BOTHER: WITH CHURCH PLANTING?Exploring how planting churches helps to reach the unreached.

06 NEWSUpdates from the Shepherd team and we celebrate Keith Waddell’s 50 years of service.

08 JANUARY 1-3Introducing Andrew Wallace; a new member heading to South Sudan.

10 JANUARY 4-10Our focus for this week is the unreached Ik people of Northeast Uganda.

12 JANUARY 11-17This week our ministry focus is Biblical and theological education in Rwanda.

14 JANUARY 18-24We share the challenges and joys of mobilising people for mission across our world.

16 JANUARY 25-31Focusing on veterinary students as part of community development in Uganda.

18 FEBRUARY 1-7Our people focus for this week is the Bara of Madagascar.

20 FEBRUARY 8-14We share news and stories from North Africa.

22 FEBRUARY 15-21We focus this week on the Lopit peoples of South Sudan.

24 FEBRUARY 22-28This week’s ministry focus is healthcare, and the challenges of serving this way in Africa.

26 MARCH 1-7Our people focus this week is the Alagwa of Tanzania.

28 MARCH 8-14We focus this week on the support ministries of AIM, including AIM Air.

30 MARCH 15-21This week we share prayer points from Uganda alongside our Family Focus.

32 MARCH 22-31Hear from our Short Termers serving in Kenya and Madagascar.

Looking for more prayer resources? Visit our website:

www.aimint.org/eu/prayer

04 WHY PLANTCHURCHES?

Amy lives and works on an Indian Ocean Island as part of a church planting team. We asked her, why?

09 SENT FROM RAYNERS LANEBAPTIST CHURCH

Emily Smuts from Rayners Lane Baptist Church shares Andrew Wallace’s path to Africa.

18 THE BARA ANDTHE NEED FORJESUS CHRIST

This is the story of Petera, from the Bara people and the need for gospel transformation in his life.

Manyattas in Northeast Uganda, where the unreached Ik people live - www.aimint.org/eu/ik | page 10

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Reflecting on her time in Africa, one of our Short Termers shares “I’m thankful that God has taught me what sacrificial going looks

like in the lives of my brothers and sisters in Africa, and that he charges me to ‘send’ just as sacrificially, until he bids me ‘go’”. Wow! What a challenge. Reading Mariel’s comments above and her longer article (page 32) I have been reminded once again of the sacrifice that is asked of us as Christians. We’re not called simply to pray, or just to give; no, we’re asked to follow Christ’s example and give our lives, ‘presenting our bodies as living sacrifices.’ In this edition of Connect, we’re privileged to share with you many stories of our mission partners and those whom they are reaching with the gospel, as they do just that.

Whether that be Joel, an Alagwan convert from Islam, who despite opposition is known in his community as a ‘man who just stands firm in his faith’ (page 26). Or veterinary students, taught by James Gibson in Uganda, who seek to make a difference in their communities by offering their skills where they are needed, regardless of whether they can be paid for them (page 16). Or even an AIM Air pilot (page 28), prepared to spend time in prison in Central African Republic so that the message of God’s healing can be shared with trauma victims. All of these very different stories display the willingness of those who know and love Jesus to sacrifice their own lives for the spread of his gospel. Powerful stuff, isn’t it?

At the start of this new year, we hope that you will be inspired, challenged and enlightened as you read of the unreached being reached by the gospel and of lives being transformed by God across Africa. We pray that all that we share with you through this publication will strengthen your own walk with Jesus and encourage you in your own sacrificial living. And for us all, for 2015 and beyond, we pray for more opportunities to share ‘not only the gospel, but our lives as well.’

“I’m thankful that God has taught me what sacrificial going looks like in the lives of my brothers and sisters in Africa…”

by Lindsey Davies

AS LIVING SACRIFICES

This is Tobias, one of the team members seeking to reach the Shepherds of Lesotho. To do that they are giving up most western comforts. Here Tobias is eating maize ‘pap’ – the only food available.

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Amy lives and works on an Indian Ocean Island as part of a church planting team. We asked her, in the context of her work, why bother with church planting and what benefit it has in reaching the lost with the good news of Jesus Christ?

NOT WHERE I THOUGHT I’D END UP

Not so very many years back I probably wouldn’t have been

reading an article on church planting, let alone writing one! Yet here I am, part of a church planting team on a tiny tropical island, listening to the Muslim call to prayer as it floats across the capital. I live and work amongst a people whose national anthem states that they are one blood, one people, one religion. A people who believe that to even consider following Jesus is tantamount to disowning your family, your village and your culture. I live amongst a people who have little or no chance of hearing of a God who loves them.

This, however, was not where I thought I would end up! After university I

had spent six months in Uganda, had loved it and been back for three consecutive summers and felt like Africa was where God wanted me to be. But what exactly was I supposed to do, where could I make a difference? Teaching in a school, working in an orphanage maybe? No, God had different plans. He led me to join a Training in Ministry Outreach (TIMO) team working amongst the unreached. I was excited about being part of a team, loved the idea of being trained on the field and not in a classroom, but Muslims, what did I know of them?

IN FAITH, I KEEP WALKINGIn faith I stepped out and it

turned out to be a long journey and a steep learning curve of language and culture learning, of spending lots of time out in the community, of slowly beginning to figure out how to share the good news so it would be received as just that. And praying. Praying that God would take my feeble efforts, which might not even be the church planting equivalent of five loaves and two fishes, and do what only he can do.

I’ve been here for about six years now. Have we seen droves of people coming to Jesus? Not yet. Is the local language still a struggle? Absolutely. Are there some days I just want to go back to England and work 9-5 like everyone else? Oh yes. Do I feel out of my depth most of the time? Without a doubt. But in faith I keep walking out that door knowing that God is at work here, that he is preparing people’s hearts. And whether I see a mighty harvest or otherwise I know that for some strange reason I have been given one of the greatest privileges on earth: partnering with God in his work here.

by Amy

WHY BOTHER:WITH CHURCH PLANTING?

MEET AMY

Amy is part of a team working on the Indian

Ocean Islands, seeking to practically share the love of Jesus, in ways that Islanders can relate to. This involves living in community with Islanders, spending time in their homes and inviting them into hers. She also teaches English to adult learners.

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AN IMPOSSIBLE VISION?We ‘bother with’ and are

passionate about church planting, because we are not here to make converts but disciples. Disciples who are baptised and taught in the context of healthy island-led churches dotted across this country. Worshipping communities that worship God in their way and in their language, who are committed to one another, who grow together supporting one another in the difficult path of following Jesus in a hostile land. Communities that will continue the work of extending the kingdom here, long after we’ve gone; who, following in the footsteps of Paul, seek to fulfil the Great Commission by gathering

Gods people into kingdom communities, in their Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and not stopping until they reach the ends of the earth.

And so we lift our eyes to see that greater vision, a vision that is far beyond us, a vision that sees little churches springing up across the islands. A vision that sees every market woman, every religious teacher, every child in Qur’anic school, every old man sitting in the village square playing dominos having a chance to hear Jesus calling to them. And to hear not just from the mouths of foreigners, who garble their words and use strange ideas that don’t quite connect, but to hear from their brothers and sisters, their mothers and fathers, from their neighbour who has been set free from an evil spirit. A vision that sees new believers unable to keep the good news to themselves, uncowed by threats of beatings or prison, of losing their jobs or being thrown out of their homes. A vision that dares us to do more, and dares us to pray for the impossible!

“…I have been given one of the greatest privileges on earth: partnering with God in his work here.”

Download a prayer sheet:

aimint.org/eu/islands

ISLANDWOMEN

Heather works amongst women on the Indian Ocean Islands, seeking to share not only new skills, but something of Jesus…

The women of the islands are not obligated to stay

indoors, or have their faces completely covered, but they are basically viewed as child-bearers responsible for domestic work. Many also share their husband with another woman in polygamous relationships.

Often illiterate and struggling with low self-esteem,we have heard women say in our classes that they ‘don’t know anything’ and that ‘they won’t be able to do it’. But over time we’ve seen confidence grow, and it’s a privilege to affirm these women as people of value, created by God.

They have no understanding of a relationship with God as Father, and look for help from the spirit world. This in turn keeps them in darkness, blinded to the truth. Asking questions is not permitted and although this is changing as younger women are educated, for many life is limited to the home.

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AND THEY’RE OFF…

The ‘Extreme TIMO Team’ reaching the Shepherds of Lesotho has finally begun! The international team is made up of five

energetic and adventurous young men; Caleb, Spencer, Tobias, Mark and Chris, with Sam as their team leader. The team has built their shepherding huts by hand with materials from the land - hard, hard labour, even for five fit

guys! They have made their rock shelves which they will use as beds in their huts and have constant companions of bed bugs, mice, rats and ground squirrels! The team is perfecting cooking their two simple meals of pap a day over an open fire, but enjoy their luxury items of tea and coffee. The shepherds are excited and pleased with the company of these “white men” and have heard about missionaries going to their villages but never living amongst them.

ABOVE: On the way to their ministry location, the team pull over to “gear up and get their shepherd on”. On return, they don’t all take the time to westernise themselves again, which makes for some funny looks at the border!

RIGHT: Two meals a day. One at 6am and the other at 6pm. The meal is called “pap” and is made from maize meal. While there is no shortage, there is absolutely no variety!

Download a prayer sheet on the Lesotho Shepherds: www.aimint.org/eu/shepherds

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Keith Waddell has been serving as a doctor in Uganda for 50 years. Last October at St James Cathedral, Mbarara, a celebration service was held for Keith, his work and for God’s goodness in not just restoring physical sight, but spiritual sight too.

IN EVERY GOOD WORK

‘And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having

all that you need, you will abound in every good work.’ (2 Corinthians 9:8)

These were the words prayed over Doctor Keith Waddell in his commissioning service in St Mary’s Church, Islington in 1964 as he prepared to go out to the mission field. He was supposed to be going to Congo but it was in the midst of its first civil war. Keith was stopped in Uganda,

and that has been his base ever since. In the early years, under Idi Amin, Keith was ‘the’ Doctor, doing ‘anything and everything’ as he sought to serve Ugandans in the best ways possible. Through this work Keith saw the need for a specialist eye surgeon in Uganda. He observed that many of the eye problems and blindness he’d encountered were treatable or preventable.

So, Keith came back to the UK, retrained in eye work and then headed back into the field. He comments, ‘We have this wonderful technology now: lens implants to treat cataracts; surgery that can take a person from complete blindness to sight in just ten minutes; technology that can be made available to the most remote and disadvantaged areas of our world.’ Today, there is a main teaching base in Mbarara, Uganda but

Keith and his team also focus on travelling out to where people live, including to South Sudan, Rwanda and even the Democratic Republic of Congo. Keith says, ‘bottom line though we’re not an aid agency, we’re a Christian mission, committed to spreading the gospel.’

TO GOD BE THE GLORYKeith’s commitment not just

to restoring physical sight, but also spiritual sight, was evident through the celebration service for his 50 years of service, led by both the current and former Bishop of Ankole District. Paul & Di Allcock, currently serving with AIM in Uganda, attended the service and noted ‘many people spoke of how Dr Keith had operated and given them sight again. Yet one blind man spoke with joy on his face that although Dr Keith could not restore his sight, he had been given vision and hope as he had been shown love and value by God, through Keith. The whole day was quite inspirational and did bring glory to God which is so what Dr Keith wanted.’

Please join us in giving thanks for Keith, for all that God has done in and through him in Uganda and further afield. Pray with us too for Keith’s continuing work, that he may have more opportunities to share the gospel with those he treats and works amongst.

14-15 MARCH‘GO’ MISSIONS EXHIBITION

Chadderton, Manchester

28 MARCHSCOTTISH CONFERENCE

Perth Baptist Church, Perth

28 MARCH - 6 APRILWORD ALIVE MISSIONS EXHIBITIONPrestatyn, Wales

25 APRILSOUTH OF ENGLAND CONFERENCESt Patrick’s Church, Wallington

DATES FOR YOURDIARY

KEITH WADDELL’STHANKSGIVING

For the latest information on each of these events, see our weekly email, facebook or website: eu.aimint.org

NEW MEMBERS January 1-3

Andrew Wallace from Rayners Lane Baptist Church has recently joined AIM and is planning to work amongst the unreached Laarim in South Sudan. Here he shares his call to overseas mission.

THE SHAPE & DIRECTION

A call to overseas mission was never something I anticipated growing

up. When I began my degree at London School of Theology (LST) in September 2011, overseas mission was certainly not on my radar. I had no idea that in these next three years God was going to completely transform the shape and direction of my life. Through LST, I was introduced to Rayners Lane Baptist Church (RLBC), a church with a long history of partnership with AIM. God planted a seed through a visit from Tony & Cath Swanson around April 2012, who came to RLBC to talk about their work with

AIM and to encourage others to get involved. My response to this was not immediate, but over the summer of 2012, I spent a lot of time in prayer about the future and God began to reveal his plan for me.

CENTRE OF GOD’S WILLIt was through reading

an AIM magazine about the work of Training in Ministry Outreach (TIMO) teams that I realised God was calling me to work with AIM. It was hard to accept; in fact my first response was to spend a long time in prayer pleading with God not to ask this of me. However, I soon learned that the centre of God’s will is the most wonderful place to be, even when it means suffering. God worked in my heart, the call was tested and approved and I now long to go and share the love of Jesus with the unreached in Africa. At this time I am hoping to work amongst the Laarim in South Sudan for two years from July 2015. I have heard the gospel message countless times, yet there are so many people who haven’t heard it even once. Jesus gave up everything for me, and he has called me to do the same so that others might know salvation.

THE LAARIM

The Laarim live in small settlements in the rugged Boya Hills of

South Sudan, amongst rich savanna, high grasslands and scrub bushes. Life is centred around cattle: they breed them, eat their meat, use them as dowry, drink their blood and milk and sleep on their hides.

Spiritually, the Laarim incorporate Catholic influences into their animistic beliefs. They are highly aware of spiritual forces and believe in a supreme being who controls all of life. They believe they can communicate with the spirits of their ancestors through prayers and offerings which they perform collectively in designated ritual places.

Download a prayer sheet on the Laarim people:

www.aimint.org/eu/laarim

Photo © A

lex Voets

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“The seed was further watered when Andrew and some other LST students visited Uganda…”

Emily Smuts is the Training Coordinator at London School of Theology (LST) and the Minister’s wife of Rayners Lane Baptist Church. She shares with us Andrew’s path to go and serve in Africa

GOD’S PATH TO MISSION

I have only known Andrew for just over a year but can clearly see the depth of

godly passion that drives him to serve his Lord.

At London School of Theology we place a high value on practical theology; integrating what is learnt in the classroom about Christ with living for him in the real world. First year students do a practical placement in a

church setting to experience what it is to be a serving member in a different part of the body of Christ. For

Andrew, that placement was at Rayners Lane Baptist Church (RLBC) in 2011. His time with the church opened his eyes to the power of mission, as he experienced the vibrant missional emphasis at RLBC.

THE MISSION SEEDThe mission seed was

firmly planted when Andrew met Tony & Cath

Swanson, supported by RLBC and serving with AIM in Tanzania. Hearing their story and

asking them many questions about their experience and their sending agency obviously had a profound effect on Andrew.

The seed was further watered when Andrew and other LST students visited Uganda in their second year. Through his third year at college he looked at sending agencies and their missional intent, entering into conversation with AIM. At the same time he began to meet with the RLBC Missions Panel and they have prayerfully walked the path of preparation with him, culminating in supporting his application to AIM.

Throughout his time at college and beyond, Andrew has continued to worship and serve at RLBC.

We at RLBC and at LST have every confidence that the Lord has gone before Andrew and prepared a place for him to serve in Africa and that he is preparing Andrew as a servant of Christ for his people.

1 JANUARY | THURSDAYPlease pray for all involved

in the planning process as we work out the details of my assignment. Pray that we would have God-given wisdom and be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit as we seek to discern God’s will.

2 JANUARY | FRIDAYPlease pray for God’s

strength for myself and all my loved ones as we prepare to spend two years apart from each other. Pray that we would all fix our eyes on Jesus’ sacrifice and count the cost in light of what he has done for us.

3 JANUARY | SATURDAYPray for the Laarim people

whom I trust I will go to later this year. Pray that God would be working in their hearts, by his Spirit, to enable them to receive the gospel. Pray that all of them might come to know Jesus as Lord.

WEEKLYFOCUS

Please pray for our new member, Andrew

Wallace as he prepares for his assignment among the unreached Laarim. Pray for his preparation as he seeks to raise the necessary support. Pray too that his passion and enthusiasm for reaching the unreached with the gospel would continue to grow.

SENT FROM RAYNERS LANE BAPTIST CHURCH

Photo © A

lex Voets

For over nine years, AIM has been praying for the 7000 unreached Ik in Northeast Uganda, with the desire to place a Training in Ministry Outreach (TIMO) team amongst them and tell them the good news of Jesus Christ. But why bother with such a small and forgotten people?

FROM EVERY SIDE

For many years and for many reasons the Ik have been marginalised and

forced up onto a tiny ridge in Northeast Uganda. Any closer to the edge and they’ll fall the 3,000 feet down into Kenya. Just north of them is the Kidepo National Park and in the south, the Timu Forest. Both are rich in resources and protected

by the government, which means the Ik are continually at risk of being banned from accessing these areas. They are also caught up in the ongoing cattle raids between the Kenyan Turkana in the east and the Ugandan Karamojong from the west. As a result, they are often beaten, killed, raped and plundered. Everywhere they turn they face opposition. Their weakness, isolation and vulnerability has also meant there is poor healthcare, extremely low educational levels and a massive problem with alcohol. Yet the biggest concern is that they have believed the lie that in the face of the worst of life, there really is no hope. And that just isn’t true.

January 4-10

The Ik people live on a small ridge in Northeast Uganda.

PEOPLE FOCUS: THE IK

4 JANUARY SUNDAY

A TIMO team is planned to start amongst the unreached Ik in mid 2016. Pray for team leaders, Christoph & Heidi Rauch from German mission, Diguna that they would demonstrate Christ in the way they lead and serve other team members. They begin in mid 2015, to prepare for the rest of the team and start language learning.

5 JANUARY MONDAY

Please pray for churches’ willingness to send men and women to join the Ik team. People with skills in agriculture, teaching and health care would have great opportunities to integrate with the community.

6 JANUARY TUESDAY

In September, a survey was carried out

amongst the Ik. Praise God that leaders of the Ik community were positive and open about a TIMO team coming to live amongst them.

7 JANUARY WEDNESDAY

Praise God, that as a result of the survey, a location for the team leaders’ house was found. Negotiations with local land owner, Angarab Zachary, were made for a plot of land and as a result, Angarab

WEEKLY FOCUS

Give thanks for the progress that has

been made towards placing a TIMO team amongst the Ik. The Ik are open to a team coming, team leaders have been agreed and a location for their home has been found. Pray for this marginalised and forgotten people that they may be open to the liberating work of Jesus Christ.

COMMUNITY VALUESLast September, a survey

was carried out to obtain the local leadership’s approval for a TIMO team to work amongst them. One of the TIMO team’s values will be to share the Ik’s identity by living amongst them. What’s instantly obvious about the Ik is their strong community values. They live in small clusters of houses called manyattas, with their homes and protective fencing made from African Juniper. They provide great protection from the outside and a strong sense of family within – so it was a great answer to prayer that the Ik leaders were open for a team to come, live amongst them and share their lives with them. We were also excited

that Team leaders, Christoph & Heidi Rauch from Germany were able to locate an area to build their home and agree with local land owner, Angarab Zachary to build a house there.

LIGHTS ON A MOUNTAINIt’s exciting to see progress

being made to reach the Ik, but why have a vision to see a small, vulnerable and forgotten mountain people reached at all? Let us not forget the beauty, pattern and power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. God so often uses the small things to show us he’s big, the vulnerable to demonstrate his strength and the forgotton to make himself known.

Please join in praying that God would shine in the hearts of the Ik and give them the light of the knowledge and glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

For more information and photos from the survey, visit eu.aimint.org/ikjan2015

“…it was a great answer to prayer that the Ik leaders were open for a team to come…”

FINDING TEAMLEADERS

Working in Arua, Uganda with German Mission

Diguna, Christoph & Heidi Rauch were approached about leading a TIMO team. Initially reluctant, they later agreed to talk more with AIM. At the same time they were looking at a map of Northeast Uganda and saw two mountains whose name in German means ‘tell something’. This provoked them to pray for that region. Later, when talking with AIM about where a team might go, they pointed to the mountains and asked if there were any unreached there. Yes, was the answer. In fact, AIM had been praying for over nine years for leaders to go to the unreached Ik who live in that area. And so – team leaders were found.

will adopt Christoph & Heidi into his clan. Pray for future plans for all the other team members’ homes.

8 JANUARY THURSDAY

Terrill & Amber Schrock from SIL, have been living amongst the Ik since 2008. Terrill is involved in Bible translation and Amber is involved with community health. Give thanks for their faithfulness

and continued help in setting up the TIMO team. They have been an enormous blessing.

9 JANUARY FRIDAY

Pray for the Ik to be open to the saving work of Christ. They live along the border with Kenya and are often caught up in cattle raids between the Karamojong and the Turkana. As a result, they are often beaten and plundered.

10 JANUARY SATURDAY

Pray for the love of Jesus to dwell in the hearts of the Ik. To drown their misery, many drink maize beer and spend the little money they have on cheap gin. This has a devastating effect on their society, especially families, where children often aren’t cared for properly.

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Loots & Nancy Lambrechts from Dundonald Church, Wimbledon are working at the Preach the Word training course in Kigali, Rwanda. Here they talk about the need and vision for Bible training…

GOD’S WORD FOR RWANDA

Rwanda is a religious society, with churches on almost every street corner and where most people profess a

Christian faith. However there are questions that need to be asked about the depth and conviction of the Christianity in a country that recently experienced one of the worst genocides in modern history. In 1994 nearly 100,000 Tutsi were killed at the hands of Hutu militia.

Loots visited Rwanda in 2008 on a short-term mission trip with his father-in-law. During this trip he saw for himself the country’s great spiritual. Despite the great number of churches, most pastors are not trained or shown how to read and teach the Bible. A Bible teaching church, that has the true gospel of Jesus Christ as its foundation is rare in Kigali and Rwanda as a whole. What has resulted is a lethal combination of Catholicism, legalism, traditional religion, and the prosperity gospel. There are many

MINISTRY FOCUS:BIBLE & THEOLOGY

January 11-17

If you would like to find out more about the ministry of PTW please visit their website:

www.preach-the-word-rwanda.com

MEET INNOCENT…

My name is Innocent Manirafasha and I am a graduate of the Preach the Word training course (PTW). I joined PTW

because I knew I needed a place to spend time ‘just with this book’.

During my time at PTW I was taught a Bible overview which helped my study of the Bible to flourish. The study of Exodus was a door to enter the Old Testament. Paul’s letter to the Romans explained the gospel to me and the book of Revelation was ‘demystified’.

At PTW, I was caught by the profoundness of the Bible and the shallowness of ‘the church’ in Rwanda. I realized that if we want to send missionaries from Rwanda to reach the nations we first need gospel churches in Rwanda.

I am currently studying at George Whitefield College In Cape Town. My hope is to return to Rwanda and plant a gospel church together with like-minded brothers from PTW.

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true believers within Rwanda but they are not fed on a diet of solid food or built up in the gospel and these believers are hungry for real food, for Biblical teaching.

PREACH THE WORDPreach the Word (PTW) is a Bible

training course situated in Kigali. It has arisen out of this great need and also through a friendship between Loots Lambrechts (AIM mission partner) and Determine Dusabumuremyi (Rwandan Minister). The conviction at PTW is that God will use his word as written in the Bible for his purposes in Rwanda. PTW is a practical course helping those involved in Christian ministry to correctly and faithfully handle God’s word. The ultimate hope is that God would use PTW students to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to their own people and even go beyond their borders to other nations, as well as to encourage and build up the church in Rwanda through faithful Bible exposition and application. In order to accomplish this the Bible is studied as a whole unit, focusing on key Bible books and the application of those books into Rwandan life. PTW is both training in God’s word and discipleship. It is a family, where there is a strong emphasis on living life together and applying biblical truth into each other’s lives.

11 JANUARY | SUNDAYPray for the students

who attend Preach the Word (PTW) that they would grow not only in their knowledge of God’s word, but also in their love for God and each other. Pray that they would be bold and effective witnesses for Christ in their own contexts.

12 JANUARY MONDAY

Pray for Loots and Determine as they teach each week, that they would be faithful to God’s word. Also pray that they would walk closely alongside the students, discipling them and applying Biblical truth into their lives.

13 JANUARY TUESDAY

Pray for Innocent, one of our graduating students currently studying Theology at George Whitefield College in Cape Town. Pray that the Lord would prepare him to come back and plant a Bible teaching church in Kigali.

14 JANUARY WEDNESDAY

Pray for the ‘Five Brothers’ who have come alongside Innocent to support him in a future church planting movement. Pray for unity among them and that the Lord would lay it on some of their hearts to be future church planters.

15 JANUARY THURSDAY

Pray for Nancy as she meets with the female students, that she may encourage them and build them up to be Biblical women of God.

16 JANUARY FRIDAY

Pray for many of our students who are newly married and starting families. Pray that their marriages would be a reflection of Christ’s sacrificial love and that they would raise children to know and love Jesus.

17 JANUARY SATURDAY

Pray for the Lambrechts family that they would love the Lord with their hearts, minds, souls and strength. Pray that their children develop a deep and genuine faith in Jesus.

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 2:15

WEEKLY FOCUS

This week we are praying for Preach

the Word (PTW), a Bible training course in Kigali. Pray that the body of Christ in Rwanda would be built up to maturity through God’s word and be established in Christ, knowing him genuinely and serving him faithfully.

See People & Places p15Follow the index key for more infomation on mission partners working in Bible & Theology.

www.aimint.org/eu/peopleandplaces13

MOBILISINGMISSION

We asked the New Zealand mobilising team what they were doing to help send people to reach the unreached…

EXCITING TIMES

It is an exciting time in the New Zealand office. Over the last

year we have had a full time member of staff, Pamela Nares, working in Auckland. We’ve also had the privilege of sending two long term mission partners to Africa, Marlene Van Tonder, serving on a Training in Ministry Outreach (TIMO) team in South Sudan and Amy Hudson, who will initially be serving in Congo, then joining a Focus team in the Central African Republic in mid-2016.

A RENEWED ZEALIn December we

celebrated the bi-centenary of the gospel coming to New Zealand. We hope that this anniversary will lead to a renewed zeal amongst

New Zealanders to share the gospel among Africa’s unreached, especially as we were reminded that our country once had the highest number of missionaries per capita in the world! We have already been encouraged this year by interest and support from churches across the country, and our mailing list has increased by more than five times in the past year. Please pray that this translates into more enquiries about mission, and also more financial support to allow us to maintain our New Zealand presence.

January 18-24

See page 22 for the weekly focus on the Lopit or find out more about TIMO:

www.aimint.org/eu/timo

ABOVE: Marlene from New Zealand is serving on the Lopit TIMO team.

“…Our country once had the highest number of missionaries per capita…”

BREAKING DOWNBARRIERS

Marlene van Tonder, a teacher from New Zealand is serving on the Lopit Traning in Ministry Outreach (TIMO) team in South Sudan. For many years, the Lord had put on Marlene’s heart a desire to reach the unreached and after a Short Term trip to Tanzania, she joined TIMO.

She said that one of the things that attracted her to TIMO was “just being able to have specific

time set aside to learn the culture and language, rather than teach or think that I know everything.” The team has already faced many challenges, including being evacuated ten days after arriving, so it was so encouraging to hear Marlene say that one of the things she appreciated most was “living with the people, not being separated, just trying to break down as many barriers as we can to reach the Lopit for Christ.”

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18 JANUARY | SUNDAYPraise God for three

Australian workers preparing for service in Africa. Pray for Laura Sleeman joining the Digo Focus team in Kenya and Peter & Catherine Gitau and family going to youth camp and leadership training ministry in Rwanda.

19 JANUARY | MONDAYPray for workers raising

support and preparing to go. Pray for Norm & Noeline Scott preparing to offer administrative support in Tanzania and Craig & Helen Waldock going to the Training in Ministry Outreach (TIMO) team in Namibia in June.

20 JANUARY | TUESDAYPray for God’s leading

for workers starting diaspora ministries in Australia. Chris & Tabitha and family are based in Geelong near Melbourne. Rachel is commencing in Sydney. Pray that God will open connections for a proposed focus on Nubian, Darfurian and possibly other unreached people groups.

21 JANUARY | WEDNESDAYPray for Rachel attending

the Sydney and Missionary Bible College (SMBC) as an AIM representative of the academic year. Pray for fruitful connections with students. Pray God will raise workers from SMBC and other Bible colleges for service in Africa.

22 JANUARY | THURSDAYPraise God for the home-

based orientation in Australia in early November 2014 with 19 long-term and short-termers from Australia and New Zealand preparing for service. Please join us in praying for God to send out workers into his harvest.

23 JANUARY | FRIDAYPlease pray for the

small office team seeking to facilitate more Australians to serve among unreached people groups in Africa. The team is: Len Lesleighter (Director) and wife Robbyn (Finance), Nita Finger (Admin Assistant) and Judy Carter (Volunteer one

day a week). Pray as we seek to fill a vacancy of Short Term Coordinator, and recruit a part-time Finance Assistant.

24 JANUARY | SATURDAYPraise God that in 2017,

there’s the opportunity to have an AIM cross-cultural worker based at the Sydney Missionary and Bible College. They will facilitate the missions programme, and help represent AIM. Pray we can find the right person.

WEEKLYFOCUS

This week, we are praying for the Australian

mobilsing team. Please pray for AIM programmes like Challenge 9:38, calling Australian churches to partner and pray Matthew 9:38; and a proposed program to encourage churches in reaching out to their Muslim neighbours. Pray that God will raise more workers for Africa from Australia.

Over 300 million people in Africa are unreached. Alan Cousins, Mobiliser for Ireland, shares some of his challenges in mobilising people to go, and retells one conversation from a mission partner working in North Africa…

Mobilising in Ireland is like serving two

very different countries; the North, with many evangelical churches, and the Republic, with very few. The whole of Ireland however has a great heritage in mission, in sending, praying and generous giving. My heart’s desire

is to mobilise more people to share the gospel, and I pray that in doing that we will serve the church in a way that pleases the Lord. We long to re-ignite that passion for reaching the unreached and sharing mission partners’ stories, like this one:

‘A few months ago, I visited a friend for a special meal to break her fast. A comedy in the local dialect was on TV, specially produced for the month of Ramadan, a time of feasting and fasting, and of searching. A lot of things are special about this time of year, including a special openness to spiritual

matters. We laughed and joked around, and then my friend went quiet. Somehow I sensed what was coming. “Hard... hard... It’s so hard,” she said. “How can I know God? Is it possible? I used to search and ask these questions, but I’m growing tired now. People say I should stop thinking, that I will make myself go crazy. What do you think? Can I know God?”’

Would you like to respond to such a question? For more information, contact Alan, or any of our regional mobilisers.Contact details are on the back cover.

CAN I KNOWGOD?

The dream of many Ugandans struggling in poverty is of a successful poultry farm. Unfortunately, many of these ‘would-be’ farmers often find themselves plagued by unhealthy animals. In desperation, these farmers turn to their community vet. But an honest vet is hard to find.

ALWAYS ON OUR SIDE

Since 2012, James Gibson has been an honorary lecturer at Makarere

University, Uganda’s only school with a veterinary programme. Besides lecturing in the classroom, he invites small groups of his students to accompany him on trips to rural areas. On these trips James and the students give vaccinations and teach the owners proper feeding, hygiene, and mating practices, along with other general husbandry topics. I joined them to find out more.

“What I love best is studying surgical treatment and procedures,” Patrick, an older and eager student explains as we watch James operating.

“That [training] is making me complete. Dr. Gibson is a person who encourages us a lot, even during challenges in our practicals. He is always on the side of the students and wants to help out when we are stuck.”

LOVING SACRIFICEIt’s not just in the

professional areas that James wants to help these students, however. “It’s the side chats and the talks in the car that I see as God-given opportunities and the main point of what I’m doing all of it for,” James says.

“I know the word is disciple, but it’s more like guiding, provoking, and making them question what their beliefs are or why God might want them to do certain things… As I build more and more relationships, things become more real, and that’s very African. The

January 25- 31

MINISTRY FOCUS:COMMUNITYDEVELOPMENT

more they get to know me, the more they trust me—not just in relation to the work side of things, but also in relation to the spiritual side of things.”

In the evening, after an exhausting but successful trip, the group discussion turns to spiritual matters, openly

EMMANUELSAYS…

Emmanuel, a fifth year vet student shares: “We are so grateful to

God for Dr Gibson and all his help. He is so patient and encouraging and we actually get to do hands-on practical surgery. I feel confident now that I can do these surgeries myself in the future. God bless you for sending him to us.”

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25 JANUARY SUNDAY

Please pray for the veterinary students at Makarere University, that they would make use of the opportunities available to them to become the best vets they can be. Pray that they would be ambassadors for Christ in their profession, showing love to people and providing quality care to animals, with integrity and compassion.

26 JANUARY MONDAY

Pray as the students are bombarded by many differing theologies here in Kampala, many purporting to be Christianity. Messages of prosperity and blessing can be seductive when struggling with finances. Pray that they would not be trapped by one of the many cults who seek to control students and promote their own agendas.

27 JANUARY TUESDAY

Please pray for our girls as they live and grow up in Kampala. Pray for good friendships in school and that a love for God would grow within them. Pray that

they would love Uganda but also maintain contact with friends and family in the UK.

28 JANUARY WEDNESDAY

Please pray for Acacia school, that the staff and students would create and sustain an environment where Christ is central and where children grow to love the Lord and deepen their faith. Pray for Claire as she steers the senior school and supports the staff to provide the best education they can.

29 JANUARY THURSDAY

Pray for our partners Community Livestock Development (CLIDE) Consultancy as they endeavour to be God’s hands and feet, showing love through livestock projects and the Timothy Project, a child sponsorship programme.

30 JANUARY FRIDAY

Pray for Banunule School, where Claire is the Chair of the Board of Governors. Pray for Vanessa, the Head Teacher as she runs the school, which caters for children from a local slum area. Thank God for the Christian environment the school offers and the love the teachers show the children.

31 JANUARY SATURDAY

Pray for our family that we would continually focus on God and not be so tied up with work that we lose sight of what he wants to do in us and through us. Pray that in all things we will be obedient to him.

See People & Places p15 Follow the index key for more info on mission partners working in community development.

WEEKLYFOCUS

Please pray for the Gibson family. For

James as he teaches at Makarere University Vet School in Kampala. Thank God for the good relationships he has with a number of Muslim students. Pray for opportunities for him to speak about Jesus with them. Pray too, for Claire as she uses her teaching skills in the community.

discussing the act of giving and how they can benefit their community through loving sacrifice. “Generally in veterinary practice, the things we use cost money,” a student named Alex mentions from his seat by the window. “Even getting the skills costs money. So, as a Christian, if I meet someone who cannot necessarily raise the money but I really think their animal needs help, I can help them. Even if there’s no way I can make a profit. Sometimes, you make a loss, but as a Christian, I can give it up as a sacrifice. God provides for me, and I think I can also provide for someone else.”

A SHINING LIGHTGod is working in the hearts

of these young men, and James feels blessed to be a part of their professional and spiritual growth. “All of the students realise the benefits of coming with me on these trips, even though I tell them it’s a Christian activity. A Muslim guy came along this time, and he fitted in really well. He participated in things I didn’t think he would. If people are open, we can pray that God’s Holy Spirit will speak to their hearts and show them that Christians are not the enemy or that they are not so different; show them that God loves them individually. We can pray that Jesus’ light will shine for them.” By Heidi Thulin On Field Media

“God is working in the hearts of these young men, and James feels blessed to be a part…”

PEOPLE FOCUS:THE BARA

February 1-7

This is the story of Petera. From the outside, life seems simple and idyllic, from the inside, life is complex, troublesome and in need of deep restoration…

A STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE

Born in a small village outside of Betroka, Madagascar, Petera’s

childhood was typically Bara. From an outsider’s perspective it seems an idyllic existence, like stepping back in time to a more carefree life where families work together in a communal setting. However, upon taking a closer look, one finds that although simpler in some ways, it is also a life centred on a struggle to survive. With constant illness and deaths of loved ones, never enough food to eat and years spent being shuffled between relatives while his father divorced his mother and went from one woman to the next, childhood was not easy for Petera. While difficult, it was a very typical life for a child growing up in this context. Petera spent many days out watching the family cattle herd, leading them to better pastures on the hot and dry savannah lands of southern Madagascar.

TIME TO MARRYIn his teenage years, when it

became time for him to marry, the fighting began with his

uncle, who didn’t want to give cows for the marriage sacrifice. In a fit of rage, Petera murdered his uncle. After that time, he was tormented by demons, manifesting themselves as the spirit of his uncle, who nearly strangled him to death. With a severely swollen neck, not able to eat or drink anything, his family brought him to the Lutheran Church Care Centre in Betroka. It was here that he was delivered from the demons and committed his life to Christ.

THE NEED FOR CHRISTAbout that time, his

grandfather sent the authorities to arrest him and he was sentenced to ten years in the Betroka prison for the murder of his uncle. After serving one year of his sentence, the prison guards released him on the condition that he pay them two sacks of charcoal a month for the duration of his sentence. That was a year ago and Petera moved to the Church Care

“Though he truly desires to live a changed life, certain aspects of Petera’s old life continue to creep up…” Centre upon his release. Though

he truly desires to live a changed life, certain aspects of Petera’s old life continue to creep up and he falls back into patterns of behaviour that do not honour God. Petera hopes to attend the Adult Literacy Programme our team plans to begin at the care centre in November so that he can learn to read the Bible for himself. Pray that Petera will stand firm in his faith and that God will use him and his testimony to share Christ among the Bara, starting with his own family.

Petera lives just outside Betroka, Madagascar.

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ADULT LITERACYPROGRAMME

We are thankful for the progress our team has made toward starting

an Adult Literacy Programme here in Betroka. In July, some of our team and Malagasy partners were trained to teach literacy using the Bible. Since then we have spent time preparing materials so that, hopefully by the time you read this, we will have begun teaching. We plan to teach at the Lutheran Church Care Centre that offers help to people with physical, emotional and spiritual problems. Pray that this would help meet a felt need for the Bara in this area and would also be a tool for evangelism and discipleship for local churches. Pray for depth in relationships and for God to open people’s hearts.

Download a Bara prayer sheet:

www.aimint.org/eu/bara

1 FEBRUARY | SUNDAYA huge barrier that has

prevented the Bara from hearing and understanding God’s word is that it isn’t available in their heart language. A team of Bara translators has finished the book of Luke in Bara and is currently working on Acts. Please pray for the translators to remain dedicated to the work.

2 FEBRUARY | MONDAYThe majority of Bara

people are illiterate. Telling stories is a part of their daily lives, connecting generations of people to the traditions of the past. Pray that believers will use Chronological Bible storying to share the gospel in a way the Bara can understand.

3 FEBRUARY | TUESDAYDue to their animistic

beliefs and daily interactions with the spirit world, spirit possession is a constant reality for the Bara. Tied in with that is the lack of medical care available to them, leaving many people searching for healing. Pray that local churches would use these opportunities to minister to the Bara.

4 FEBRUARY WEDNESDAY

Bara people love to listen to music. Recently, a Bara musician has begun to write songs that share God’s story using the popular musical style. We hope these songs can be used for evangelism and discipleship. Pray for continued creativity as well as other musicians to join in the work.

5 FEBRUARY THURSDAY

There are several radio stations that serve the Bara area, reaching far into the

countryside. Most Bara have radios and faithfully listen to broadcasts in the evenings. Pray for favour with radio stations so that even in remote areas people will have opportunities to hear God’s word in their homes.

6 FEBRUARY | FRIDAYBeing able to read

God’s word for ourselves is something we take for granted. Pray the church will take an active part in using literacy to reach the Bara. Pray that many Bara will learn to read in order that they can know God’s word for themselves and share it with others.

7 FEBRUARY SATURDAY

God desires every area of Bara life to be transformed. Pray for wisdom as believers grapple with how to respond to situations in which they would have previously followed their ancestors. Pray for effective discipleship that addresses issues including marriage, parenting, health, stewardship of resources and care for creation.

THE BARA

The Bara live in small village communities of 50 to 300 people, scattered

across the grasslands of south-central Madagascar, not very accessible by road. Much of their lifestyle revolves around the care of their cattle and their rice fields.

WEEKLYFOCUS

Pray that God would prepare Bara hearts

for his message of love, forgiveness and hope. Pray for Malagasy believers to develop a passion for reaching the Bara and be intentional about breaking down the barriers that have prevented them from hearing, understanding and responding to the word of God.

Northern Region encompasses 18 countries with a total population of over 362 million people.

AREA FOCUS:NORTHERNREGION

February 8-14

Northern Region encompasses 18 countries with a total population of over 362 million people. Only 0.05% of this total are evangelical believers, 90% are Muslim, 200 million form 472 unreached people groups.

WHAT DOES REACHING THE UNREACHED LOOK LIKE IN NORTH AFRICA?

Many of these countries have an ancient Christian history.

Through decadence, politics, war and Islamic conquest though, this has been all but extinguished. Today, they are buried deep in darkness, desperately in need of the light. AIM’s vision is to bring the life-giving light of Jesus to these unreached people. We are praying for opportunities to share the gospel and see populations of evangelical believers across this region.

To accomplish this vision we will find creative ways that enable followers of Jesus to live amongst these hard to reach peoples. We trust that where the gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed, both in word and

deed, the result will be disciple making and church planting movements, by mission partners and by Africans.

So what is our strategy? First is prayer! Secondly, we are researching every unreached people group across Northern Region then, based on that information we will seek to place teams where the Lord opens doors for us to work. Thirdly, we will focus on caring for our personnel by providing clear vision, strategy and support, under good leadership. Fourthly, we are seeking to partner with like-minded organisations across North Africa as well as engaging with the incredible resources of the African church, so more can participate in reaching the unreached in Africa with the light of Jesus.

THE COST IS HIGHThe cost will undoubtedly

be high. Jesus reminds us that though he will never leave us or forsake us, obedience to him requires sacrifice and suffering. We are praying for workers who are passionate for Christ and his honour, who are ready to rise to these challenges by the power of the Spirit and who are hungry for the millions who are blind to come to sight through faith in Jesus.

OUR CURIOUSMINDS

For security reasons, each of this week’s prayer requests,

representing a country in Northern Region, have been randomly assigned a number instead of printing their name. As inconvenient as it is for our curious minds, God knows exactly which country that number represents. Please don’t let the lack of detail keep you from fervently praying for these unnamed countries and the requests provided.

“We rest on God’s word that assures us his plans will prevail whether we do the right thing or not…”

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8 FEBRUARY | SUNDAYPraise the Lord for

new work starting in NR10, opening doors for workers to be there to proclaim! Please pray for three new workers establishing themselves in this country. Pray as they immerse themselves in language and culture learning in order to clearly and appropriately share the truth of Jesus.

9 FEBRUARY | MONDAY NR12 continues to try to

find political stability. Pray that upcoming elections will be accomplished peacefully with results that will allow greater freedom for the proclamation of truth. The few believers in one area of NR12 are not meeting together regularly as they fear betrayal. Pray that there would be unity in the body and a desire for growth and spreading of the truth.

10 FEBRUARY TUESDAY

Ask that God would make a way for workers to enter and stay in NR23. Pray against a spirit of fear. Pray too for the

Diaspora from this country who have fled because of violence, that they may have more opportunities to hear truth in different countries and contexts.


Pray that the existing Church in NR6 would catch a vision for reaching out, particularly to the unreached in their own country. Ask that economic hardship and political disillusionment in this country will create hearts hungry for truth. Pray too for our workers looking to settle through various professional opportunities.

12 FEBRUARY THURSDAY

Ask that God would allow for strategic relationships between our workers and the young ladies’ club that has been established in NR14. Praise God for a young lady who has become a Christian who is involved in this club. Ask for wisdom in knowing how to accomplish our Kingdom business in NR14.

13 FEBRUARY | FRIDAYPraise God that the

door remains open in NR9, for opportunities to share the light in a professional setting! Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out new workers whom he desires for this harvest field. Pray for the professionals and others who are currently working there.

14 FEBRUARY SATURDAY

NR8 is considered one of the most difficult countries for Christians to live and work in. Continue to ask God for wisdom in finding the work that will allow our workers to settle in NR8. Ask that God would send new workers to go, live and work there!

THE BODYOF CHRIST INACTION

The book The Insanity of Obedience by Nik Ripkin states that there are

three things common in the conversion process of Muslims: dreams and visions, significant encounters with the Bible, and encounters with local believers or believers from neighbouring countries (known as ‘near-culture’ believers). We have seen this in action as the Father has been using ‘near-culture’ believers from NR7 to impact people in NR6, as well as in other North African countries.

‘At just the right time’ an NR7 believer called Abraham*, came into the lives of our workers in NR6. We had discovered a young NR6 believer online, called Abdul* who had found Jesus on his own through the internet. We were able to meet with Abdul and give him his first ever copy of the Bible. But then, Abraham was able to meet and connect with him in his heart language in a way that our workers were unable to. Our workers, in turn, have been able to consult and work together with Abraham as he seeks to get a business off the ground so he can stay in NR6. Praise God for his church, the body of Christ!

*names changed

For a prayer sheet on Creative Access Nations, visit:

www.aimint.org/eu/creativeaccess

WEEKLYFOCUS

Pray for spiritual, physical and

emotional health for our workers, many of whom live in difficult environments. Pray for boldness and opportunities to proclaim truth fully and pray that divine illumination would take place for those reading and listening.

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Andrew Chard writes: In June last year I was thankful for the opportunity to spend some time with the Training in Ministry Outreach (TIMO) team working amongst the Lopit people of South Sudan. Reflecting on that time, there are four things that particularly encouraged and inspired me.

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP

The team leaders, Joshua & Justina Musuva are Kenyans

who were members on the previous Lopit TIMO team. TIMO has always had the philosophy of having national team members on teams, and now we are seeing those team members becoming team leaders in increasing numbers. That is fantastic but what is even more significant here is that the Masuvas are team leaders from Kenya serving in South Sudan.

MULTICULTURAL TEAMOn the team there are

Kenyans (Joshua & Justina and Robert & Carol), Brazilians (Guilherme & Marina), an American (Ashley) and a New Zealander (Marlene). This is a powerful demonstration of the diversity of the Church. It is a very powerful witness to the Lopit to see believers working in unity together!

SERVANT HEARTEDI was struck by the

way in which the team members were proactively looking for ways to serve their neighbours and

“The team is committed to sharing the gospel with the Lopit. They are doing exactly what Paul wrote…”

Download a prayer sheet about the Lopit people in South Sudan:

www.aimint.org/eu/lopit

A PRODIGAL SONThis past spring, Abel*, decided to leave the church. However, after leaving the church, he fell into a downward spiral of drinking and quarrelling, ultimately ending up in jail. Despite the efforts of church members reaching out to him, he no longer wanted any association with the church.

Yet recently God did something amazing in his heart. One night, Abel had a dream of

Jesus, calling him back to himself and to the church. Disturbed, he woke up and began praying for several hours, asking for meaning from God. As he went back to sleep, Jesus came to him again in a dream to call him back to himself. The next day, Abel came to our team leader to seek forgiveness. He then came back to the church to share his testimony and how he wants to follow Jesus again. He continues to be excited about reading God’s word. Abel also continues to come to church, is active in helping, and has joined a Bible Study with Guilherme. Pray for God to continue to reveal himself to him and help him, as he wrestles between the Lopit culture and the life God desires him to lead.

PEOPLE FOCUS: THE LOPIT

February 15-21

*name changed

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WEEKLYFOCUS

Pray for the team as they have started their

ministry work in a variety of areas. Pray for God’s guidance each day and that through all things God’s glory will be seen. Pray for the softening of the Lopits’ hearts that they may come to a saving relationship with their Creator.

the wider community. Some members had started to cultivate a small allotment next to their house. This allotment not only provides vegetables for their own family but also produces enough seedlings to give to their Lopit neighbours so that they too can plant and have extra food for their families.

GOSPEL FOCUSThe team is committed

to sharing the gospel with the Lopit. They are doing exactly what Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 2:8, not only sharing the gospel with their lips (in the Lopit heart language) but with their lives as well. This is a powerful way to share; not an easy way, but a very effective way.

Their work is happening in the context of instability and conflict in South Sudan so please continue to pray for that nation as well as for great gospel opportunities and much fruit among this people group who are dearly loved by our Lord.

15 FEBRUARY | SUNDAYPray for the Musuvas’ role

as team leaders in guiding and supporting the team through the TIMO curriculum and in their ministries. Pray that they may establish relationships with both Lopit villages, Ibonni and Ohilang. Also, please pray for their three children schooling in Kenya and one being home schooled in Ohilang.

16 FEBRUARY | MONDAYPray for the team’s health.

Life in the bush has its challenges and physical, emotional and spiritual consequences. We’re so thankful for the way the Lord has been taking care of us, but we need people praying and supporting us here.

17 FEBRUARY | TUESDAYOhilang village suffers

with a lack of good leaders and consequently disrespectful youth decide for themselves what would be the best way of life for them.Tradition plays a big role to Lopit people and the difference between generations is a challenge for the villages. Pray that we may develop good relationships in the village and a better understanding of the language and culture.


Guilherme has started a Bible study with men who have been involved with the church here. Their first meeting was great and six men came to study the Bible together. Pray for full understanding and open hearts and pray for wisdom for Guilherme as he gives the studies.


Pray for Marlene’s language learning as she teaches the young children at a local school, and that she may communicate effectively. Please also pray for Carol and Marlene as they work

in the school, that they may build good relationships with students and fellow teachers and share Christ’s love with them.

20 FEBRUARY | FRIDAYPray that the Lord opens

doors to share Christ and that the community sees the love of Christ as Robert works with them in their farms. Pray too for Ashley as she works in the local clinic. Pray for wisdom on how she can support and motivate clinic staff as well find ways to educate them on health/medical issues.

21 FEBRUARY | SATURDAY Pray for Marina’s ministry

in art education through Bible stories for kids. Her first meeting was really good and many children came. Pray that the Holy Spirit will really talk to these kids and transform their hearts.

Joshua & Justina from Kenya are the Lopit TIMO team leaders. They both studied at the AIC Missionary College in Eldoret.

LEFT: The Lopit inhabit the Lopit hills in Torit district, South Sudan, practise traditional agriculture and rear livestock.

“Guilherme has started a Bible study with men who have been involved…”

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MINISTRY FOCUS:HEALTHCARE

22 FEBRUARY SUNDAY

Pray for humility among the AIM South West Uganda Team. Praise God for good friends and partners in Mbarara who can speak into our lives and work. Pray that we will always seek to be mentored and discipled by those we work with.

23 FEBRUARY MONDAY

Pray for St Luke’s Chapel. Praise God for the godly leadership of Reverend Polly and his

team. Please pray for the identification of a new chaplain to replace Polly on his retirement and for all the students who juggle leadership roles along with their studies.

24 FEBRUARY TUESDAY

Pray for the hospital physiotherapy department. Praise God for the hard working and caring approach the staff take. Please pray for them as they contend with limited staffing and space constrictions

that prevent them from providing the service they wish to.


Pray for the university physiotherapy department. Praise God for progress so far and a team which desires to invest in individuals not just academics. Please pray for more staff and that we will be good witnesses and mentors to our students. Please pray particularly for Herman who heads the department.


Please pray for the physiotherapy students that they will develop a joy for the profession and that the Christian students will be excited by how they can be used for God through their work. Praise God for the compassionate care of patients already demonstrated by the pioneer students and pray for the development of a good career pathway for these students.

February 22-28

Healthcare professionals are often privileged to share in people’s most critical life events: birth, illness and death.

Zillah Whitehouse has lived in Mbarara, Uganda since 2009, working in the Physiotherapy Department at the local hospital and university. Here she talks about some of the positive changes that have happened to her since coming to live in Uganda.

A RECENT CONVERSATION

I work as a member of the Physiotherapy Department at the local hospital and

university, developing and teaching a degree course in Physiotherapy. I also attend

St Luke’s Chapel, the large Anglican church on the university campus, attended by about 300 students. My life is a busy mix of lecture planning and teaching, meeting with students, time with friends and speaking at church.

In the course of a conversation with a friend recently, I was asked whether I had changed positively since coming to live in Uganda. It was a good challenge. These were some of the answers I gave her as I reflected on my life as a mission partner.

POSITIVELY CHANGEDImproved recognition

of my sinful nature - I have realised that some of my ‘fruit of the spirit’ characteristics were behaviours learnt from godly parents and mentors, not actually from a changed heart. In a different culture I realised how I can be impatient and lacking in self control. Now I can work on this and be increasingly thankful for God’s grace.

Improved ability to share my life - people here are great at doing life together, doors are open and problems are shared. This

has helped my ability to be a disciple as well as to disciple. I pray that God will use the different relationships I have to build up the others in the same way I am being built up.

Improved ability to talk about God openly - it is definitely easier to talk about God here because the majority of people recognise he exists! It has been good practice for me to speak more freely in lectures, in one-to-ones with students, with patients and in conversations with friends.

The AIM team here are seeking to work with local churches, like St Luke’s, to see students discipled and embrace their part in God’s mission. It is our prayer that some will be called to unreached people groups across Africa. I realise that my own part in that can only be possible if I am willing to share my life, recognise my own need for God and openly talk about him.

27 FEBRUARY FRIDAY

Pray for the Vineyard Fellowship, a group made up of the ‘non-students’ in St Luke’s. Praise God for the many ways in which the members are seeking to serve him in their daily lives. Pray for us as we develop better support for the student leaders

and seek to develop good two-way discipling relationships.

28 FEBRUARY SATURDAY

Pray for the South West Uganda team as there are many changes in personnel and leadership. Please pray for us as we seek to explore how we can be more involved in outreach to unreached people groups (both in Mbarara and further afield) and in encouraging others to do the same.

HELPING THE HEALERS

After a hard day’s work what could be better than sitting down with your Granny,

sipping tea and looking at the stars as the moon rises? Life in Chad is often hard, and working at Bebalem Hospital presents more than its fair share of challenges for Catherine Grier. But Granny Rebecca provides a support network and a place to be, away from the busyness of work. Catherine shares: ‘Granny prays for me, feeds me and is always there for me. After a church meeting or Bible study, we can open the Bible together and encourage each other. We do this in Ngambai too, so not only am I built up in my faith and life, I’m learning more of the local language, as we spend time together.’

WEEKLY FOCUS

Please pray that all of us in

Mbarara, the AIM team, our church partners, university and hospital colleagues, the university students and graduates, will be constantly transformed into the likeness of Christ and be challenged to continue developing our role in God’s worldwide mission.

See People & Places p15Follow the index for more info on mission partners working in healthcare.

www.aimint.org/eu/peopleandplaces

“…People here are great at doing life together, doors are open and problems are shared.”

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PEOPLE FOCUS:THE ALAGWA

March 1-7

Owen & Miriam Pugh and their children, returned to Ga/ara last September to continue their work amongst the unreached Alagwa. Here they share about fitting back in, the spiritual atmosphere and new opportunities…

THE SAME THINGS

Many things are the same; the same neighbours, the same house. We had an amazing welcome home,

including a number of retellings of the (true) story of what happened when they discovered we had gone to England and left our back door wide open (oops, nothing changes there, then). The story includes a gang of neighbours, sticks brandished in case of intruders, the elders being called, a padlock borrowed to secure our door. We are grateful for our loving community, and it is certainly good to be back. Nearly the whole team is back, and we are still meeting weekly to encourage one another and pray together.

Also, we continue to learn by our mistakes, such as choosing thorns to guard our rainwater tank pipes. It turns out the thorns are a type that is taboo to lay near one’s house… who knew?

THE DIFFERENT THINGSBut things are also different. We now

have two children in Ga/ara full time and two sharing their time between Rift Valley Academy, Kenya and Ga/ara. It’s an adjustment. This is on top of the

STANDS FIRM IN HIS FAITH

We thank God for a family of local believers. The husband, Joel*, is Alagwa, and has many relatives in

the area. It has been encouraging particularly to see Joel grow in his relationship with Jesus and in his witness. He is illiterate and had struggled to understand the Swahili Bible, and therefore some aspects of his faith. Some of the team have been discipling him and his wife for a few years, reading from the Swahili Bible, but also using the Bible stories in Alagwaisa. They received an audio Bible this July and have listened avidly to it since. Joel has now heard the whole Bible. He quotes it and applies it to his own life and the lives of others in his community.

In August, they hosted a Christian version of a traditional service for a rite of passage. It was risky; would the neighbours join in knowing it was a Christian service? They did, and it was a wonderful example of culture redeemed and God’s love shared. One relative of Joel’s is a religious leader, and persistently asks him difficult questions to try to convert him back to Islam. However, he has recently said he has given up trying because Joel just stands firm in his faith.

Download a prayer sheet on the unreached Alagwa of Tanzania:

A Christian version of a traditional service for a rite of passage.

www.aimint.org/eu/alagwa

*name changed

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WEEKLYFOCUS

Please pray for courage for those in the

community who want to follow Jesus. One lady was told by her brother that he would beat her in front of her children if she decided to follow Jesus. All those choosing to follow Jesus face the real possibility of rejection by family and community.

“We have shared with many people and have seen that it is only by God’s Spirit that people can know him.”

1 MARCH | SUNDAYPlease pray for the

ministries of the whole team; in agriculture, education and Chronological Bible Storying, as well as the ongoing relationships and community involvement. Pray that we would be guided by God in every decision, and that the projects would always serve the grand project of sharing Jesus.

2 MARCH | MONDAYPlease pray for many

Alagwa hearts to be open to the good news of Jesus. We have shared with many people and have seen that it is only by God’s Spirit that people can know him.

3 MARCH | TUESDAYPlease pray for us as a

family as our children are in different places. Pray for good communication between us in Ga/ara, Tanzania and our children in Kijabe, Kenya with the challenges of bad network and coordinating schedules! Pray for the staff at the Rift Valley Academy as they support and nurture all the children and young people in their care.

4 MARCH | WEDNESDAYPlease pray for the new

teachers in the Madebe Primary School. Some have joined the church here

and are sharing and also growing in their faith. Pray for their hearts to be on fire to share the gospel with those around them.

5 MARCH | THURSDAYPray for the believers

and the church in Madebe. Pray for their growth and continued discipleship. Thank God for the ways they are growing and learning to share their faith. Pray that God’s mission to the world will be in the DNA of the church.

6 MARCH | FRIDAYPray for the local

religious leaders, some of whom are actively engaging in sometimes aggressive conversations with team members. Pray that as they hear about Jesus, they will come to know and love him.

7 MARCH | SATURDAYPray for us as a family,

and for our teammates, that as we work we keep a good balance between work and rest and so continue to seek to serve God with all our heart, mind, strength and soul.

readjustment of leaving our family and friends after being with them for ten months. We dearly love them and are built up by them.

Things also seem different in the spiritual atmosphere. More people seem open to talk about Jesus, and ask more questions. As a team we feel it is a good time to focus on prayer into seeking opportunities to intentionally share the gospel in conversations and by sharing the Alagwaisa Bible stories. Opposition is still very present, seen and unseen, and we need your prayers; we know this is God’s work, and any victories are his, not ours.

The routine is different too. The chance to reflect on three years of Training in Ministry Outreach (TIMO) has given us confidence in God and a fresh perspective on our community.

THE NEW THINGS Post-TIMO, there is also no

curriculum, leaving more time for projects. Owen is starting to farm using the conservation principles of “Farming God’s Way”. It is challenging introducing something different here, as people are very set in their ways, both spiritually and physically. Owen is encountering many reactions to the plot that he is preparing for the rainy season. These include ridicule, confusion and non-committal interest in a “let’s-see-how-this-works-out” way. The theme of perseverance is applicable in every area of our lives.

In all, we are thankful to God for the chance to join him in sharing his message of eternal love with the Alagwa; for another chance to work and witness amongst these precious people who so badly need Jesus.

Two of the Pugh children are in Ga/ara full time with the older two split between Rift Valley Academy in Kenya and Ga/ara.

v

See People & Places p15Follow the index key for more info on mission partners working in support.

MINISTRY FOCUS:AFRICA BASED SERVICES

8 MARCH SUNDAY

Pray for wisdom and strength for Mark Judy, Africa Based Services (ABS) Director as he oversees the many ministries of ABS and also serves as Interim AIM Air Manager. Pray for wisdom for Terri (Mark’s wife) as she provides member care to the spouses and families serving in ABS.

9 MARCH MONDAY

The search for a new ABS Director is in process as Mark and Terri will complete their term of service early in 2016. Pray for discernment as the ABS Board seeks God’s leading regarding a new Director.

10 MARCH TUESDAY

The team in ABS Finance handle hundreds of financial transactions each day for personnel from AIM and other like-minded missions. Pray for daily keenness of mind and continued great team work within the ABS Finance Department.

11 MARCH WEDNESDAY

ABS Finance is also spearheading the process to renew AIM International’s Tax Exempt Status in Kenya. This is an intense, time-consuming process but vital for AIM entities based in Kenya to continue to function as charitable organisations. Please pray for wisdom as they deal with government authorities.

AIM Air is apart of Africa Based Services. This is just one story where AIM pilot, Mike Palmiter was willing to serve even when that meant ending up in prison.

REFLECTIONS ON A PILOT IN PRISON

‘Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.’ Psalm 37:3

Reverend Jean-Baptiste shared these verses with Wendy Atkins as

they waited for Mike Palmiter to return from detention in Bangui. Wendy shares, ‘These verses remind me that God

brings along brothers in Christ to help us in the middle of difficult times. I praise our Father for this experience and for the church in Bangui to demonstrate love to a brother because of their common faith.’

SO HOW DID A PILOT END UP IN PRISON?

AIM were in Central African Republic to facilitate the training of 37 church leaders in a Bible-based method of healing the wounds of trauma. We went, compelled by the love of God to minister to his people.

March 8-14

28

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However, flying into CAR was complicated for various reasons; the insecurity throughout the country, the lack of a strong, central government and very few US Embassy personnel on the ground in Bangui. On arrival, AIM’s pilot, Mike, was asked for documentation that he didn’t have with him. Documentation that he didn’t need to have. And then, correctly, he refused to pay a bribe.

INCREDIBLE PARTNERSThat meant spending

the night in an abandoned shipyard police post on the river. Mike shares, ‘Thankfully, Désiré Mboligassie, a church leader in CAR, was with me in the airport advocating

on my behalf with all the officials. He stayed with me at night when they took us to a warehouse-type building and

‘checked’ us in. There was a fire burning on the floor, but no lights, water, toilets, beds or power.’

A day of meetings and arguments followed. ‘The US Embassy staff came and tried to help but ultimately we got nowhere. I wouldn’t pay a bribe; they wouldn’t let me go. Another night at the warehouse. This time, Daniel Aniwe, the Pastor of the church in Bangui, checked in with us and brought food.

The morning dawned and Désiré and Daniel supported me as we met with yet more officials. This time we had a breakthrough and found someone who wanted to uphold the law. We were freed and told to “forget the whole incident.” All of it, over, just like that.

Much of my life as a pilot is about serving and supporting mission. This incident showed me what incredible partners we serve.

12 MARCH THURSDAY

Pray for grace for each of our ABS personnel to walk closely with the Lord each day. Pray for wisdom for our Personnel Coordinator as she oversees the many details of receiving and caring for AIM Personnel serving with ABS and our Human Resource Department who oversee the many details of caring for the employed staff.

13 MARCH FRIDAY

The need for a full time AIM Air manger is increasingly urgent. Please pray for God’s provision of the right person soon. Pray for the current team as they continue to fill the gap. As always, pray for wisdom and strength for the team that ensures the many details necessary for safe flights are in place for every flight.

14 MARCH SATURDAY

Pray especially for the personnel and operations at AIM Air’s two Out of Nairobi Bases: Lokichogio, Kenya (providing air support to northern Kenya and South Sudan) and Arua, Northern Uganda (providing air support to CAR, parts of Congo, South Sudan).

MISSION TOMISSIONARIES

Mission couldn’t happen without support services.

In fact, our International Director likens the work of support services to being like the shaft of a spear. Mission partners on the field are like the tip of a spear, unable to be effective without the shaft. In equipping mission partners for the field or caring for them whilst they are there, AIM’s support services form a vital part of our vision of reaching the unreached in Africa with the gospel.

Africa Based Services (ABS) working largely out of Nairobi, Kenya provides a portion of the support services necessary for our work.

WEEKLY FOCUS

Pray this week for Africa Based

Services (ABS). ABS works mostly out of Nairobi, Kenya providing a portion of the support services necessary for our mission, covering AIM Air, Finance, On Field Media (OFM), AIM Care, Personnel & Human Resources and Mayfield Guesthouse.

“That meant spending the night in an abandoned shipyard police post on the river.”

29

OUR LIVES AS WELLPaul & Di Allcock say; we have just returned to Mbarara in the south-west of Uganda for a second ‘short term’ spell serving in this beautiful country. So why are we going back?

It was only a few months into our first year that we became convinced that the Lord would want us to stay in Mbarara beyond

our initial commitment of one year. The Lord quickly gave us relationships with Ugandans alongside the work we were doing in giving support and pastoral care to the AIM team. Many of these Ugandan brothers and sisters expressed a great enthusiasm to meet with us and to study the Bible together – and this has been a great joy for us. As we shared in their lives we grew to love them and to see the value of coming back to continue this work. We have truly experienced what Paul expresses in 1Thessalonians 2:8:

‘Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.’

We pray that this second stage will be even more fruitful than the first as the Lord leads and equips us.

COUNTRYFOCUS:UGANDA

March 15-21

MEET THE GIBSON CHILDREN

The Gibson family live and work in Kampala, Uganda. We asked Ruby (9); Jessica (7) and Florence (4)

their thoughts on living in Uganda.

WHERE DO YOU LIVE? CAN YOU DESCRIBE IT FOR US?

R: In Makindye, Kampala. There are lots of friendly people. We have a nice garden. We have four pets.F: I like our cat, Ginger.J: We grow bananas in our garden.

WHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE?

R: Matoke is horrible! But I like beans with chapatti. Mango, pineapple and passion fruit are good if it’s not too sour.J: I love matoke and beans! Salad is nice too. Small bananas are great.F: I like beans! I like apples and mangoes too.

30

WHAT’S IT LIKE LIVING IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT JESUS?

J: Weird, I am shy.R: Good, when people listen.

WHAT IS SCHOOL LIKE?

R: Very good, especially the food!J: I like my teacher.F: I like the toys and my friends.

DO YOU GO TO CHURCH?

R: Yes we go to Kampala International Church (KIC)F: I like Sunday school

WHAT DO YOU GET ASKED MOST BY FRIENDS AND FAMILY AT HOME?

R: Do you like school and is it hot all the time in Uganda?J: What is it like in Uganda?

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO LIVE IN THE FUTURE?

J: AmericaF: EnglandR: Lots of places

DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVOURITE BIBLE VERSES OR STORIES?

R: Jesus speaking to Saul on the road to Damascus, when he lost his sight then became Paul.J: Noah’s arkF: Joseph and his coloured coat.

See People & Places p4-5For more information on mission partners working in Uganda

www.aimint.org/eu/peopleandplaces

“Matoke is horrible! But I like beans with chapatti.”

15 MARCH | SUNDAYThe Focus team

in Tororo in the East of Uganda are working closely with SMILE, a children’s centre ran by Pr Ruth, a godly Ugandan lady for whom we are thankful. Pray for the team as they grow together as a team and disciple children, young people and widows in the community.

16 MARCH | MONDAYIn Kampala we are

thankful for missional minded men and women who run Global Link Afrika, an organisation that hopes to mobilize the church to missions. Pray for a conference planned by them for August 2015 to envision church leaders on missions.

17 MARCH | TUESDAYIn South West

Uganda AIM has worked closely with the university and hospital. This has opened up many doors to come alongside students and young professionals. Pray for more opportunities to disciple and equip these people to share Christ in their workplaces and across cultures.

18 MARCH WEDNESDAY

North Uganda is a new AIM unit with new unit leaders. This is a large unit stretching across the north of the country and part of the east. The new unit leaders are passionate about developing more national partnerships. Pray for these discussions to bear much fruit for effective ministry in these areas.

19 MARCH THURSDAY

The Ssese Islands are a dark, needy and hurting place, HIV and Aids figures are extremely high. The team there work in HIV and AIDS education and seek to equip church leaders for this task. In the midst of the darkness we are thankful for the stars that do shine.

20 MARCH | FRIDAYThe Church of

Uganda has had, and continues to have, a big influence in the country. One third of the people in Uganda are Church of Uganda members or affiliated with them. Give thanks for the far reaching impact of the church and pray for more godly leaders to be raised to impact the nation for Christ.

21 MARCH SATURDAY

We are praying for opportunities to reach the unreached in Uganda. There is a large Hindu population of mainly South East Asians which accounts for approximately 40% of the economy. They are largely unreached so pray for more workers to serve amongst them, both missionaries and nationals.

WEEKLY FOCUS

AIM has been in Uganda for many

years now and God has blessed us with strong partnerships with national organisations and churches. Give thanks with us for these and for the godly leaders we work with. Join us in prayer that God would mobilise the church in Uganda for missions.

SHORT TERMMarch 22-31

AIM’s Short Term programme offers anyone over the age of 18 the opportunity to get involved with cross-cultural mission in Africa. Find out more about opportunities online:

www.synergyafrica.com

AFRICA BASEDORIENTATION

AIM’s Long-Term missionaries begin their service with

a three-week Africa Based Orientation (ABO). While parents enjoy the adult orientation, their children also enjoy a structured programme designed to immerse them into life and ministry in Africa at an age-appropriate level. Helping with the children’s programme is a great opportunity for short termers to serve the long term work amongst the peoples of Africa.

In the middle of her law degree at Durham University, Mariel Nonis chose to spend her summer break exploring her calling to mission, working with the children at AIM’s Africa Based Orientation and then spending time in Marsabit, Kenya with Anna Kloninger.

LEARNING ABOUT LONG TERM

I was first convicted to give up my life for the gospel about six

years ago. Since then my understanding of the gospel and missions has deepened, especially as I have pursued opportunities to grow in this area of ministry. About five months of correspondence with different missionary organisations, and many opened and closed doors, led me to AIM and a trip to Kenya. The process of waiting was a really significant part of the journey, and I’m thankful for the lessons in trust that it gave me.

The summer of 2014 found me in Kenya with the hope of sharpening my understanding of overseas mission, learning from mission partners and of getting a feel for what mission is actually like on the field. I knew that being in the midst of mission partners, each with their different stories, would fan the flames that God had placed in my heart.

SERVING FAMILIESThe opportunity that arose

through AIM was to help run the children’s programme

“But it was wonderful to know that through serving families in this way, God was using me in the greater cause of missions.”

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for new missionaries going through the Africa Based Orientation (ABO). The point of the programme was to equip both parents and children for the work that God had called them to do. Working with children can be a scary thing. Most of the work I did was trying to keep toddlers’ attention spans for more than a minute, distracting them from crying, and changing their nappies. But it was wonderful to know that through serving families in this way, God was using me in the greater cause of missions. In the long run as well, I was so blessed to get to know the mission partners there, to hear the kind of work they were doing in North Africa, Mozambique, Uganda, Kenya and Madagascar and to see how wide the scope of mission really is. From the family moving to work

22 MARCH | SUNDAYTom Lott is currently

overseeing the running of the Short Term programme with Rosemary Rettie helping out with administration. Pray for them as they work together to organise placements for those being called to serve with AIM for 12 months or less.

23 MARCH | MONDAYCaroline Bell is serving

in Adi, DR Congo alongside Annemarie Boks, treating people with HIV/Aids. Pray for Caroline as she gets to grips with language in order to build meaningful relationships with her patients and seeks to share the love of Christ in word and deed.

24 MARCH | TUESDAYNow is the time of year

when many students and young people contact us wanting to use the time they have in their summer holidays to serve in some way. Pray as we work with these enquirers to discern how God might have them use their summer holidays serving him.

25 MARCH WEDNESDAY

Ruth Willis returned earlier this month from Kenya following a year serving at Kijabe Hospital. Pray, as she adjusts to life in the UK and seeks to process all that she has seen and done in the last 12 months, that she would continue to know God’s presence with her.

26 MARCH | THURSDAY Paul & Diana Allcock

are over halfway through their 2nd year serving as part of AIM’s team in Mbarara, Uganda. As well as looking after the team pastorally they also work with the local church to teach, train and encourage leaders in their ministry. Pray for them as they seek to support our team and local church leaders.

North Kenya, Marsabit: Mariel Nonis had the opportunity to travel to the North, to help out in a church’s teens camp.

Mariel Nonis helped run the children’s programme at Africa Based Orientation (ABO) for new long term mission partners.

ONE SMALL DESK HOP…

Hello, my name is Tom Lott and I am the new Short Term

Coordinator for AIM Europe. I am stepping into Amy Birwistle’s shoes whilst she is on maternity leave for the next twelve months. I have been at AIM for the past six months working as the Personnel Administrator. So it is one small desk hop, but one giant leap into a new adventure for me. I am excited to start this new role and to see what God has got planned over the next twelve months for the Short Term Programme. If you are interested in serving short term in Africa, feel free to contact me. [email protected]

PEOPLE & PLACES

If you’d like more information about the current Short Termers

serving in Africa with AIM, view and download the Short Term People & Places from our website:

Short Term People & Places can be found online at:

aimint.org/eu/shortterm

on IT services for mission partners, the lady pilot, teachers of missionary kids in RVA, to the many doing the slow, often lonely, work of living among locals to reach them with the gospel, I saw the love of God and the joy of serving him through these amazing people. Such an experience is irreplaceable.

FOR THE GLORIOUS CAUSE

God also gave me the chance to live with Anna Kloninger in Marsabit, to experience her life in rural Kenya and to help in her church’s teens camp. Having spent the first half of my trip mostly with non-Africans, it was very different being in a town with a grand total of four of us among the peering eyes of local Kenyans. It was here that I wrestled more with my personal willingness to serve in a different culture, having seen firsthand the struggles of loneliness and isolation that some have to go through for the glorious cause of missions. And glorious it still is, in spite of

my own weakness which I felt keenly in Marsabit. “For we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing… And who is sufficient for these things?” As the Lord continues to lead me in my personal journey of sanctification for his glory, I’m thankful for his abundant grace. But I’m also thankful that he has taught me what sacrificial going looks like in the lives of my brothers and sisters in Africa, and that he charges me to ‘send’ just as sacrificially until he bids me ‘go’.

“…having seen firsthand the struggles of loneliness and isolation that some have to go through for the glorious cause of missions.”

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SERVING AGREATER GOAL

Emma Foxall has been serving at AIM’s office in Antananarivo, Madagascar. She shares with us one exciting project she’s been involved with…

The vision of AIM’s mission partners in Madagascar is not only to teach about

and show the love of Jesus, it’s to equip Christian nationals to

carry on this work among their own people and abroad.

I have been involved in this very exciting venture in Antananarivo, Madagascar, working with mission partners to develop a training course that can be used well and easily by Malagasy believers. Setting this up was quite an undertaking as the mission partners were having to write the training course in English to begin with and then translate it into Malagasy. Some mission partners are from countries where English is not their first language and one of my roles was to help prepare the initial English version with them.

A training room has been set up in the AIM headquarters there and the first course will begin in April 2015. I was working to help create the literature to promote the course and the necessary application forms.

Presenting the literature posed another challenge because of the translations that had taken place. The result was that there were often twice as many words as the English version, so some redesigning was necessary.

For me this experience has been a reminder that with God’s help nothing is impossible. To see how mission partners are approaching this challenge is a real inspiration, I could clearly feel God’s presence through the way that they are tackling this initiative. I feel very privileged to be involved in this project at such an embryonic stage.

27 MARCH FRIDAY

AIM’s desire is to have all of our Short Termers working alongside and supporting long term ministries, using their unique gifts and skills to meet needs identified by our Long Term mission partners. Pray as we work in partnership with those serving in Africa to meet the needs they flag up.

28 MARCH SATURDAY

Sarah McArthur, Bethany Sinclair and Günter Springer are currently serving in Bunia, DR Congo, teaching English to church leaders. Good resources in this location can often be difficult to come by, so

pray they would be able to make use of what they have around them to establish a good and useful programme.

29 MARCH SUNDAY

Today another session of Europe Based Orientation begins for those preparing to serve with us in the next few months. Pray for each of the attendees that they will enjoy sharing fellowship together and that they will learn lots as they prepare for their assignment.

30 MARCH MONDAY

In February, Emma Foxall returned from Madagascar where she spent six months serving in the AIM Office whilst the Office

Administrator took home assignment. Emma’s assignment is a great demonstration of how Short Termers can support long term ministries. Pray for Emma as she processes all she has learnt and been involved in during her assignment.

31 MARCH TUESDAY

One of last year’s Short Termers who served as part of a ten day team to a Creative Access Nation, is hoping to join a TIMO Quest team this summer to the Indian Ocean Islands. The four week experience will give a taste of life on a TIMO team. Pray that this experience would help her to discern God’s direction for her future.

LEFT: The missionary training course is due to start in April 2015. Shipping containers have been converted into small classrooms.

WEEKLY FOCUS

It is our prayer that each Short Termer’s

experience with AIM would begin a long term interest in mission, either through serving or sending. A number of our Short Termers have expressed an interest in future long term service. Pray for each individual person to determine what God might be calling them to.

REACHING THEUNREACHED IK

MAGAZINE & PRAYER DIARY

Africa Inland Mission’s JAN-MAR 2015

Christ-centred churches among all African peoples

Opportunities to serve

European headquartersAim InternationalHalifax PlaceNottingham NG1 1QNUnited Kingdom0115 9838 [email protected]

@aimeuropefb.com/aimeurope

Scotland0115 [email protected]

South England/Wales0115 [email protected]

Ireland0115 [email protected]

North England/Wales0115 [email protected]

French speaking [email protected]

Netherlands [email protected]

Editor | Lindsey Daviescommunications.eu @aimint.org

Design | Joe [email protected]

© AIM Europe | January 2015Africa Inland Mission International, a company limited by guarantee (04598557), a registered charity in England and Wales (1096364) and a charity registered in Scotland (SC037594) Registered Office: Halifax Place Nottingham NG1 1QN.

eu.aimint.org

Are you passionate about seeing gospel centred church communities planted

amongst the unreached?AIM are seeking to place both a Training in Ministry Outreach (TIMO) team and short term team amongst the Ik. If you or someone you know is interested, visit:

WWW.AIMINT.ORG/EU/IK

January - March Connect 2015

Documents

bara people

family focus

weeks ministry focus

bara of madagascar

north africa

faith page

aim air pilot page

church planting team