In This Issue: Mobilising Africans Into Mission Page 3

AFRICA Christ-Centered Churches Jun-Sept 17 Among all African Peoples www.aimint.org news

Christ-Centered Churches Among all African Peoples

In this issue: Mobilising Africans into Mission Page 3

Training Youth in Rwanda Pages 4-5

Reaching the Gabbra and Myths about Mission Page 6-7 to represent AIM to their home church. Just Briefly This can involve making people in your church aware of AIM and providing New Members In Call for New Zealand AIM magazines and literature on Uganda Board Member opportunities of prayer and service with Nita Finger, and Bruce and Christine A new member is required for the AIM. Contact Eva E: admin.nz@aimint. Turner have joined their mission teams Africa Inland Mission International New org or Len [email protected] in Uganda among the Karamojong Zealand Trust board. The board operates Support A Project people. They have started learning as an AIM committee in the Asia Pacific. Africa Inland Mission has some the local language and are starting to This is an opportunity to help grow priority projects needing support on connect with the local communities. and shape the ministry of AIM in New our website www.aimint.org/au. These The weather has been dry with little rain Zealand. Please pray for the right people include the International Famine Relief so far this year in the country. Pray for to inquire. Initial inquiries can be made and Crises Response fund providing people suffering from famine here and to E [email protected] first-response aid in crises situations elsewhere in Africa. Vacancies On The in Africa. You can donate online or Prayer Day In October Australian Council through your local AIM office. The next Africa Inland Mission Vacancies exist on the Council of Short-termers Set for International day of prayer in Australia Africa Inland Mission International Africa and New Zealand is on Wednesday 25 (Australia) Inc. This body provides Two new short-termers from Australia October 2017. Praise God for all the governance for the ministry of AIM are set to depart for Africa in June. friends and families of AIM who are so in Australia with oversight of work in Vunaki Wong is a nurse from faithfully collaborating in God’s works the Asia-Pacific. Initial inquiries and Nambucca Baptist Church in coastal NSW. She will join the Mediquest team in Africa. Join other prayers in our expressions of interest can be emailed to Gosford office from 2pm to 4pm or in to Tanzania and Kenya. This one-month [email protected] or phone team will visit medical ministries in the Auckland office from 11am to 1pm. 02 4322 4777. these two countries and explore ministry Gather a small group of prayers together opportunities in Africa. at your place. Urgent Request For Ben Wirth from Gunnedah Anglican Personnel In Chad Church is joining a GO mentoring and The newly forming N’Djamena training program in Kenya. This will TIMO team in Chad is urgently looking include a month’s training at Moffat for two single men/women or a family College in Kijabe. Ben will spend two months ministering to youth through to join them. We are excited about the the Sports ministry team near Korr in possibilities on this team, teaching northern Kenya. English to Ms UPG’s through bible Please pray for Vunaki and Ben in storying. This team will begin in Jan their separate assignments. 2018 so we need to know by this July who is part of the team. Church Representatives Needed Vunaki Wong, Ben Wirth and AIM Africa Inland Mission in Australia finance officer David McGowen. and New Zealand is seeking volunteers

Africa Inland Mission Africa Inland Mission International (Australia) Inc. International, Hong Kong AFRICA PO Box 328 Gosford NSW 2250 Australia PO Box 70238 Kowloon Central Hong Kong Jun-Sept 17 T (852) 2770 5380 www.aimint.org news T 02 4322 4777 E [email protected] Africa Inland Mission English-language magazine of International New Zealand Africa Inland Mission Asia-Pacific Mobilising Region. PO Box 13457 Onehunga Auckland 1643 New Zealand Editor Len Lesleighter Christ-Centered Churches E [email protected] T 09 281 4595 E [email protected] Among all African Peoples

Cover Photo Camp game at 3D Christian Camps, Kigali Rwanda.

• Africa Inland Mission — www.aimint.org Christ-Centered Churches 2 Among all African Peoples

Christ-Centered Churches Among all African Peoples

Christ-Centered Churches Among all African Peoples missionaries. Therefore, the Hub Mobilising Mission is designed to be cheaper than the traditional mission agency approach, Tony Swanson has taken on the role of our church partners, helping them to with individuals and churches working Africa Inland Mission’s African Mobilising build that vision into their ministries, as out what reasonable support rates Consultant. So how are we seeking to well as developing structures that mean look like without being burdened by mobilise Africans to mission, and why is it they can send and support missionaries. large administrative fees. Without a important? For this to work effectively we realise traditional mission agency approach Waking the Sleeping that we need to broaden our horizons it also means that English is not Army and develop our mobilising ne of the major challenges for efforts through the 21st century is to see the partnerships growing church in Africa fulfil and networks, Oits responsibility of taking the gospel to rather than the remaining unreached peoples of Africa through a single and beyond. organisational So how do we go about it? AIM has structure. This will traditionally been effective in sending mean that AIM overseas personnel for church planting doesn’t necessarily and pastoral ministry. But whilst our have to do the African partner churches have grown training, sending locally among their own people groups, or receiving of they have not readily adopted the missionaries. necessarily a requirement — opening up missionary vision to go “to the ends of Instead, we can connect potential more opportunities for more people from the earth”. missionaries with our partners. This different backgrounds to get involved in With the number of Christians on approach means that we can better meet mission! the continent increasing daily, there is people’s needs and incorporate them at Our biggest need in the Hub is for a move of God’s Spirit to envision this any stage of the mobilisation process. Regional Mobilisers on the ground, part of the body to take up the baton who will play an important role in and go. The AIM Mobilisation Hub is Contagious Faith implementing the vision. As the Hub our organisation’s response to this move. Yohana Pam is a wonderful African develops and grows, our hope is that we It is based on a partnership model, missionary from a Nigerian organisation will see kingdom change in Africa. We providing services that will help facilitate called CAPRO (Calvary Ministries). long to see a new focus on cross-cultural the mobilisation of African missionaries. Together with his family (Cheche, mission in local churches and viable The Hub is run by a virtual team, Faithful and David), he has been opportunities for those Africans God is seeking to take into account the many working in Tanzania for the last ten calling into mission to be able to obey areas of mobilisation that are not yet years, raising awareness concerning the his calling. being addressed. importance of mission. He has a close relationship with AIM, having spent his “We long to see first two years on a coastal TIMO team in Tanzania. He has also taught at the a new focus on Institute of Bible and Ministry (www. institute.ipages.biz), accompanying cross-cultural us on our regional seminars as well as preparing African-appropriate materials mission in local for churches. His desire to serve the Lord is contagious, and given his Nigerian churches…” background he is a walking challenge and advertisement to the African church Tony & Cath Swanson Meeting Mobilising that the missionary endeavour is not Tony is coordinator of the Institute Challenges only for Westerners. of Bible and Ministry and has taken One of these key issues is the need A further barrier to cross-cultural on a new role as African Mobilising to mobilise the whole African church mission for the African church has Consultant under the International to mission, rather than just scattered traditionally been the cost. Raising Office. Cath is Child Safety Officer for individuals. So we are looking to support support can be challenging for African AIM.

AFRICA news — June to September 2017 • 3 Training Hungry Youth in Rwanda by Peter and Catherine Gitau. Unfortunately, many of the churches Peter co-ordinates the 3DCC ministry in Rwanda do not see investing in youth Pete (right) and Theo Kigali Rwanda; Catherine supports as a priority, and struggle to meet the Peter in the 3DCC ministry and has unique needs of the older teens and Theo is a young man who comes from a small, rural village in Northern been teaching at Kigali International young adults in their congregations. Rwanda. Community School. This is an American For many in this demographic, being a He came to camp in 2015, a Curriculum school prioritizing missionary Christian is something you say you are. relatively new believer with a heart kids. If you would like to keep up to date Reading the Bible, if you have one, for the children in his village. Theo with the camping ministry in Rwanda and going to church are just things you became involved with the children’s please email them at [email protected] do because that is what Christians do. ministry in his church. After coming to join their mailing list, or follow them Very little translates into a life lived for to camp he expressed his excitement on Facebook at 3DCCRwanda. Peter and Christ, or a heart transformed for Christ. about taking some of the new skills he Catherine are sent with Africa Inland Africa Inland Mission started the 3D had learned back to his community. Mission by Nowra Baptist Church. Christian Camps (3DCC) in 2011. The We have been so excited to see outh in Rwanda are hungry. camp centre is now run in partnership the progress Theo has made in the They are hungry for with the Anglican Diocese of Kigali. children’s ministry in his church. knowledge, and a better life. The camp rationale is twofold. First, This is due largely to the mentorship YThey are hungry for jobs and stability in to give young adults who have a passion he received from AIM Australian relationships. for leadership and are emerging leaders teammates of ours, Chris and Fiona in their churches, universities and Tyrrell, who work with the church in communities, the opportunity to further his community. Many Christian develop their leadership knowledge and We see many enthusiastic young skills. people come to camp and leave youth are Second, to provide the opportunity even more enthused and excited to for young people to learn about the implement what they have learned in hungry for importance of trust, the healing their churches and communities. in forgiveness, and most of all, to However, the sad reality is spiritual strengthen their relationship with that they are often not supported, Christ. mentored, or even given opportunity growth through The 3Ds stand for: to use their skills. Their enthusiasm • Discover — the truth about God, a deeper slowly turns to frustration and themselves & others, eventually dies. knowledge of, • Decide — to live a life that pleases God, • Do — go & put into practice what camp) is held in July and focuses on they have learned. and relationship the young leaders, mentioned above. Currently 3DCC facilitates two The Teens Camp in December is camps a year. Forma’Camp (leadership with God. more evangelistic but provides the Forma’Campers with an opportunity to use their leadership skills in a camp situation. In between camps, Peter works one- on-one with some of the Forma’Campers and small Bible study groups. These opportunities help develop the young leaders’ discipleship and mentoring skills so they are able to take on mentoring roles with future campers and with the youth in their churches. chore time — prepping veggies Continued on page 8.

4 • Africa Inland Mission — www.aimint.org morning devotion time

Introductory whole group camp game Gitau family

Forma’Camp 2016 group photo

AFRICA news — June to September 2017 • 5 Reaching the Gabbra People in Kenya — the work continues everal years ago Eddie and Rachel Each morning, 30 Andersen began giving away audio men and women come Scriptures to the Gabbra people. to the Bible study. On SAfrica Inland Mission in Australia, many occasions, when and donors from the ReachOut Missions anyone begins to talk too Conference in 2014 supported this loudly, the men stand up project. More than $12,000 was given and say, “Keep quiet! We through AIM Australia to fund the want to hear!” audio Bibles. If a vehicle drives in, the older men quickly ask the vehicle to shut off This work the engine so that they meant the do not miss a word of the study. Many people who nomadic, already received food assistance have returned pastoralist to the study to hear more of the Word of God. people could Isaiah 55:10-11 states that the Word of God is listen to the like rain, it cannot help but produce fruit when it Word of God. waters the earth. Then God opened the door for the The Gabbra live in Andersens to move to a new outreach a perpetual, spiritual location among the Gabbra in a town drought and the physical asked him, “Do you understand what called Dukana. After a year of house drought has drawn them to the people you are reading?” The Ethiopian replied, building and well drilling, the Andersens who want to share with them from the “Well how could I, unless someone moved to live with the people of well that does not go dry. guides me?” Dukana. They have just begun to hear the “How will they call on Him in When the rain did not come this Word of God for the first time, but they whom they have not believed? How will last year, the animals, which the Gabbra need someone to explain it to them. they believe in Him whom they have not depend upon for their livelihood, began They need people, willing to share in heard? And how will they hear without a to die. life’s trials with them, and to share what preacher” Romans 10:14. Seeing the desperate situation, the the Bible says. Please pray for the Gabbra people Andersens became a part of an effort to In Acts 8:30,31 we read that Philip and the Andersens. Pray for more workers to come and share Jesus with the provide food relief for the community ran up to the chariot of the Ethiopian Gabbra. through a work for food program. Many eunuch, who was reading Isaiah, and people, who had also received audio Scriptures, came to the Andersens for food for work. Taking advantage of the moment, the Andersen family invited these people to join the daily Bible studies at the shop by the Andersen’s home. These simple studies involve listening to the Bible. Then Eddie, Rachel, or a local church leader, explains what they are listening to.

6 • Africa Inland Mission — www.aimint.org Busting some MYTHS about being a missionary in Africa’s bush We need missionaries in Africa! We need people take the Gospel and make disciples of the unreached, like the Gabbra people of Kenya. Often people are put-off by misconceptions about being a missionary. Here we bust 10 myths about being a bush missionary. by Rachel Andersen, Kenya. We are all laid back. Bush We are all adventurous. After missionaries are not usually crossing a very muddy plain, a 7laid back at all. They are strong fellow missionary stated, “I am willed, submitted to God people, who 1 have dug in, anchoring themselves to not a pioneer!” He wasn’t someone who enjoyed getting stuck in the mud, in God’s grace, and chosen to keep on a remote area with few resources. He keeping on. We have strong opinions served in the bush because the need was and ideals, based on the Bible and our greatest in the bush, not because of a experiences. desire to go two tracking. We are all farmers or We are all good at fixing people who can do stuff.A few years ago a man 8anything and take on came to work in the bush who anything: Who are those people? They 2 are not living in the bush with us. No didn’t carry any tools in his car. He stated that he couldn’t work on the car, one can do everything! that he didn’t have a clue how to turn We don’t freak out. a wrench (spanner), so he drove around Crying is a daily, weekly, or without tools. When his car predictably 9 monthly thing for most bush broke down, he would sit by the car and missionaries. Many bush missionaries pray. He never ended up stuck anywhere live with headaches, stomach ulcers, or for very long. Another vehicle always frequent counseling sessions. came along with the right person with We are extra the right tools. talented. We all love camping. I have 10Most of us have heard fellow missionaries say singular talents. Business people, 3“Why would I want to go relax teachers, nurses, midwives, by camping in the bush. I live in the doctors, mechanics, pastors, bush.” athletes, artists, builders, and It doesn’t bug us when administrators, make up some things break. When things of the people living in the break it is disheartening, bush. Most bush missionaries 4 have marginal talents but serve frustrating, and demoralizing. Whether we know how to fix it or not. Seriously, an exceptional God who uses what kind of saints do you think we are. inabilities to show His ability. We are super spiritual. It doesn’t take super spirituality to 5Biblically submit to God and say I will go where you want me to go. We don’t need comforts like other people. 6 Missionaries living in the bush love comforts. A cozy chair, good coffee, quality chocolate, or decent internet. All of us have a comfort we enjoy. We often horde our comforts and ration them out in order to keep our sanity.

AFRICA news — June to September 2017 • 7 Another important part of the 3DCC ministry is the monthly reunions, which take place in Kigali. These are an opportunity for former campers to get together, encourage and support each other, share a devotion and be further equipped in leadership skills and resources. For many campers this monthly reunion is where relationships are deepened, trust is built and they are spiritually refreshed in a way that does not happen in many of their churches. Please pray for this unique ministry in Rwanda. Pray for wisdom as we prepare for the Forma’Camp 2017. Pray that the Lord will prepare the hearts and minds of those Craft activities He knows will come to camp. Pray for Peter as he juggles many roles within the ministry co-ordinator position. Pray for him as he strives to build positive, open and trusting relationships with the young men he is mentoring. This is not easy in the Rwandan context with the history of mistrust and trauma. trust and team building game

the camp facilities

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