FEB-MAY 2014

news www.aimint.org “Christ-centred churches among all African peoples”

INTERNATIONAL | ASIA-PACIFIC

In this issue: New AIM International Director ... Page 3.

Pray for AIM’s TIMO team in Chad ... Pages 4-5.

Make short-term ministry count ... Page 6.

Focus on Central Africa , the Democratic Republic of DRC (page 2), or go short-term and entral Africa has many the Congo and South . A new make a difference (page 6); or pray for challenges. But God is touching TIMO team is living among the Lopit the TIMO team in Chad (pages 4-5). lives — in places like Chad, people of South Sudan (pictured above). God can use you in His work in Central CCentral Africa Republic, Rwanda, See the story on page 7. Join a team in Africa! JUST BRIEFLY OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE

AIM Australia’s Annual Why Not Join a Team — and basic medical care, teaching, Conference 2014 is on 29-31 Opportunities exist in several new AIM mentoring and vocational training. August 2014 at Naamaroo Uniting teams: Skills needed: Teachers, Trades people, Venues, Lane Cove. Connect with Democratic Republic of the Congo Vocational Educators, Doctors or Nurses returned short and full-term workers. — Join a team from July 2014 to Meet new AIM International Director March 2016. This team will train Luke Herrin. To register contact members for ministry in the Banda Robbyn at AIM on 02 4322 4777 or area. As members learn language, they email [email protected] will minister alongside the CECA 20 church. Team leader Wendy Atkins is a Towards 2016 — AIM Australia long-term worker in the areas of ethno will celebrate its centenary in August arts, leadership training, trauma healing 2016 at a dinner in Sydney. This will and supporting national outreach to the follow the celebration in August 2015 Mbororo people. of 120 years since the foundation of Madagascar — AIM is looking for AIM International. Watch this space men, women and families who love Jesus for updates on these events. and love youth to reach out to young New AIM staff worker for people! This unique team now starts in January 2015 to December 2016. New Zealand — Applications are There are opportunities for: swimming being considered for a new position of instructors, song writers, wood workers, Administration Officer in Auckland. bike riders, farming and development This position will help represent AIM workers, sailors, surfers and qualified in New Zealand and will provide a women for ministry to young girls and range of administrative and recruiting Coastal — Professionals are prostitutes. functions to help achieve the goals of needed for a team among the Digo Lesotho — TOUGH SINGLE MEN AIM. For more information contact people. Starts early 2015 to late 2016 ONLY are needed for this X-treme Len on Skills needed: Agricultural Specialist, TIMO team. Experience harsh E: [email protected] or Literacy Project Officer, High School mountain conditions to reach and T: 09 8899 406 (NZ). Teacher, Sanitation and Hygiene disciple the shepherd boys. Starts in AIM’s new film: “The Namibia — The Tsumkwe TIMO team September 2014. Distant Boat” was launched starts in January 2015 to mid-2018. • Live simply in November. This film is a story of Live among and reach the San people • Learn a new language young man touched by a kind favour (also known as Bushman). Learn the • Share the Good News of Jesus with the by strangers. He is challenged that Tsumkwe culture and the challenging least reached his new friends have not heard about San “click” language. Focus on youth • Learn and minister as part of a team Jesus. The film is designed to encourage For more information contact Len Lesleighter in Australia: the African church and others into [email protected] or in New Zealand on [email protected] mission. See the W: distantboat.com

Director: [email protected] Korean Council Personnel Coordinator: Hanwool Church, 952 Woonjungdong [email protected] badndangku Sunnam City, Kyungkido FEB-MAY 2014 Finance: South Korea 463-440 English-language magazine of AIM [email protected] Email: [email protected] INTERNATIONALAsia-Pacific | ASIA-PACIFIC Region Published three W: www.aimint.org/au Website: www.aimkorea.org times a year. New Zealand Hong Kong Committee Editor: Len Lesleighter PO Box 56290 Dominion Road PO Box 70238 Kowloon Central Hong Kong Asia-Pacific and Australia Council Auckland 1446 New Zealand T: (852) 2770 5380 PO Box 328 Gosford NSW 2250 Australia T: +64 9 8899 406 E: [email protected] T: 02 4322 4777 or +61 2 4322 4777 E: [email protected] W: www.aimhk.org 2 • Africa Inland Mission — www.aimint.org AIM’S INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS

Africa Inland Mission welcomed I understood this to mean that if we, a new International Director on 1 as AIM, intend to remain as effective January 2014. Retiring International for the Lord in the 21st century as we Director, Lanny Arensen looks back at may have been in the past, we must what God has done. New Director Dr be prepared to ask hard questions and Luke Herrin calls for a foundation of seek new answers. I appreciate the way in which the leadership and members prayer for the future. of AIM have asked the hard questions Carla and Lanny Arensen Change is Foundational to and made decisions which led to new Success ministries being started. this ministry to succeed we need staunch by Lanny Arensen , retiring AIM We have seen significant changes in prayer warriors who will stand with International Director AIM’s organisational structure and the us. We will also need workers who are way in which leadership is encouraged. committed to stay for extended periods s I step aside after 12 years as At the same time we have sought to keep of time in order to learn the language AIM’s International Director, the purpose and values for which AIM and cultures so as to clearly proclaim the I have taken some time to look has been known from the beginning— truth. Aback and consider where we have come. namely obedience to Jesus’ commission In AIM International we have a great In 2002 I challenged the leadership of to “go and preach the gospel to all history. We follow in the path of giants AIM with these words: nations…” and the family nature of in the faith. We have seen God do many AIM. These changes have allowed AIM miraculous things and have been blessed “For AIM to to move quickly into eight new countries to play a small part in planting a huge and amongst 32 as yet unreached people growing and maturing church on the remain the groups. continent. But the way in which we We are in the early and often have done things may not be the way we same, we must very difficult and dangerous stages of need to do things in the years ahead. So ministry as we seek to proclaim the I repeat, “For AIM to remain the same, change.” gospel where it is not yet known. For we must be prepared for change.” AIM’S FUTURE FOUNDED ON PRAYER by Luke Herrin, New International love of Jesus. We have served in several neglected and unevangelised peoples of Director (blog: herrin.aimsites.org) locations in East Africa during the past Africa. he role of International Director 20 years, all of them creative-access • increased efforts towards mobilising of AIM is a huge responsibility nations, among Muslim people groups. and equipping African churches, for a field missionary like me! These have been great years! Sometimes including our current partner churches, TBut I look forward to following Him difficult and painful, sometime joyous for reaching the unreached. We must along this part of the journey, and trust and fruitful. The Lord has always led partner more with African and Western that He is with us, “even to the end of and been faithful to us. mission boards. the age.” Well enough. But where is He • expansion of our work so that it The Lord called me and my wife taking AIM? Where would I like becomes truly pan-African. Reaching Jenny into missions through our AIM to move in the future? We have the unreached among the Diaspora involvement in Intervarsity Christian made significant strides in the recent (emigrants to western countries) and Fellowship in our university years. I past, with regionalisation, leadership in areas of Africa where we have never studied medicine, finishing my training development, and clarification of our worked. in 1990. I love being a doctor, and using goal: “Christ-Centered Churches among • all of it led, empowered, and supported medicine to demonstrate the love and all African Peoples, with priority for the by prayer. Unceasing and persistent compassion of our Savior, especially in unreached.” I believe that we should prayer; group and individual prayer; places where He is not known. continue to strive for this. In particular: focused and general prayer; and God- We joined AIM in 1990, with a • more and more emphasis on the honoring and trusting prayer. desire to reach Muslims with the saving unreached. Engaging and reaching the Will you join us? AFRICA news — Feburary to May 2014 • 3 PRAYER IS THE FOUNDATION OF MINISTRY IN CHAD by Kath in Chad relationships and sharing God’s love and authorities pledged their full support for ive times a day the call to His word through our relationships with us and asked that we bring even more prayer reverberates out from the our new friends. It is exciting to see the people in the future to help the people mosques around my home in boldness God has given my team as we of D’town. So I invite you to come FChad. have had many opportunities to share and join us in the privilege of sharing Surprisingly, rather than being a the truth from the word of God. truth to people who have no other distraction, it is a constant reminder Memorizing scripture verses in way of hearing. The authorities were to me of the power of prayer and that Arabic requires hard work, especially encouraging people to take advantage of people who are truly surrendered to God when I barely understand the individual the opportunity that God had brought have a life that is centred on prayer, time words in the verse! However, it is to them. My team leader Justin used with God and time in His word. well worth the commitment when the parable of the Good Samaritan to opportunities come up regularly to share share how Christ has called us to love all Listening to the these verses. What better way is there to people — even those who are different share but with words God has given us from us. call everyday in the Bible? It is exciting to see how God will “Markaz al-Muna” (Centre of Hope) change the lives of people in this town is slowly is a facility we have opened for teaching through the knowledge they gain as well English, French, and computer skills to as changing their hearts and opening producing an the people of D’town. Hope represents their lives to true hope and ultimate what many who will be coming to the truth. It will be amazing to see how God inner change in centre have as they hope that learning brings us into relationships with the English, French, or computer skills will different people who come to classes. It me. give them a better future. does remind me though Five times a day I am reminded that all we that I and my team must continually True, do needs to surrender to the true and living God and come before Him in prayer if we are to everlasting hope be centred have any influence here as followers of around Jesus. is also what we prayer, as we I am on a TIMO (Training in surrender Ministry Outreach) team living in hope everyone daily to God D’town, central Chad, living amongst and immerse Chadian Arabs. As a team, we are will find as ourselves striving to show God’s love, truth and thoroughly hope to the people of the town. they come to the in His word. Our time in D’town has been full of centre. I am being language and culture learning, forming reminded of After this journey many weeks into prayer of painting, and into God varnishing, five times a cleaning, day. What scraping, and are you being organizing we reminded of opened the throughout centre at the your day? end of August What call are and to our you hearing, delight about and for what is 150 people God preparing came. The local you? 4 • Africa Inland Mission — www.aimint.org AFRICA news — Feburary to May 2014 • 5 who have come out for months at a time to allow God to use them in furthering ARE YOU WILLING TO GET MESSY? His kingdom here in Africa. Each has their own joys and struggles, but each Short-Term Mission Redefined has lived life with others; they came to by Cassandra Luontela, AIM Short- Jesus in, The Great Commission, be with rather than do. Because of their term Coordinator, Uganda stresses going and making disciples. sacrifice of time and willingness to be n the past 10 years there has been After working on the beautiful, complex vulnerable, both they and their African an explosion in missions – especially and hurting continent of Africa, it is community were changed. short-term missions. There has been clear there is a history of converts to the Some short-term missionaries have Ia wave of individuals, churches, NGOs concept of Christianity. However, there is lived life with others by cleaning urine and others flooding areas of the world a vast void of “being a disciple” of Christ. off their therapy room floor for the for a few weeks at a time, all in the name Discipleship is life, and life is messy. hundredth time; still, they sit and play of Jesus. AIM’s Central Region has made with the child who has cerebral palsy. discipleship the focus of its ministries. Others have eaten field rat in the bush Every placement, whether long or of South Sudan in order to spend more I am astonished short-term, centres on discipleship. We time with their students, talking about that many live life with each other. AIM’s view of Jesus. All have been out of their comfort “short-term” not only exposes people to zone while learning how to be vulnerable Christians the joys and pains of mission but stresses and humble as they live in obedience to the importance of discipleship. It allows the Word by making disciples, no matter believe people to experience the power of truly how messy life is. living life with others for the sake of the So the question that is posed is this: “missions” Gospel. This takes time! Are you willing to get messy? Short-term in AIM is equals weeks, three to 12 months, rather than 2 weeks. It is living rather than a life with each other. Living life with someone does way of life! not genuinely happen in a few short weeks. Rather, it From where I sit I see that it is comes from being in a place time — time to redefine “short-term where you learn how to do missions.” everything. In a way, you Yearly, thousands of people and, become like a child again, equally, thousands of dollars are used an act that binds you to the for flights, projects and events related to people around you. short-term missions. Short-term mission that really lives out Jesus’ More than words, needs a meaningful amount of time where one 2.2 million is living life with others in community. Time, to Americans went not only express the love of Jesus physically, but to on a “mission share the Word with them, praying they will know trip” in 2006. Jesus as their personal One to two week trips have become saviour! the new definition of “missions.” I ask, I am truly blessed to see “How effective can a 14-day trip be many people coming out at making disciples?” I wonder who to Central Region through benefits from these short trips — the the short-term program goer or the person they are hoping to who not only believe in help? short-term missions, but 6 • Africa Inland Mission — www.aimint.org THE LOPIT TEAM IS A STORY OF GOD’S MERCY by Kathy de Smidt, AIM Central Region Office “God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that Marlene van Tonder gives forth the perfume... it is Peter, weeping, bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.” from New Zealand is on the Lopit TIMO team. Vance Havner he story of the Lopit II TIMO tanks, windows and filters. team has been a lesson in We were thankful when Marlene van Strangely a humility and how little we can Tonder from New Zealand was accepted Tcount on our own plans and strength. as the last member of the team… and pre-condition The team began in South Sudan in was able to raise her support. The final December 2013. roll-call for the team are Joshua and for showing the • The first team leader was not able Justina and family from Kenya (team to continue (for very good personal Lopit people leaders); Ashley from the USA; Marlene reasons), and we had to find alternate from New Zealand; Guilherme and team leaders or face cancelling the that this all Marina from Brazil, Robert and Carol team. • Plans for personnel to build the houses and family also from Kenya. surpassing had to be adjusted due to the changes As the team settle into the village, in partner organizations. begin making relationships and learning power is from • Logistics in such a setting are always the Lopit language, they will no doubt challenging and have brought many have many opportunities to realize again God is the stresses to people already over- that they are made of clay. God has weakness of His stretched — unit leader, team leader, determined the earth would be filled TIMO logistics (setting up a number with people knowing His glory. people. of other teams this year) and our Central Region office. • Numerous team members were accepted, and then pulled out for a number of reasons, leaving the team dynamics uncertain. It has also been a story of God’s mercy and goodness being shown through the limitations and cracks of our own lives. We rejoiced when Joshua and Justina Musuva agreed to be team leaders for this team. They were Kenyan team members on the first Lopit TIMO team, and have served among the Lopit people since then. We gave thanks to God for His provision through His people for the building of the houses and for another Kenyan builder who came to help with some of the main construction. And what a blessing to have a short term team and some other individuals come to help with some of the final building — laying cement floors, putting up gutters and rain-water AFRICA news — Feburary to May 2014 • 7 GOD AT WORK IN MADAGASCAR by Kirsten Wade, Australia new English-speaking church, planted closer to God through the necessity of recently returned from my four- and run by local Malagasy people. relying on Him for everything — safety, month short-term mission trip to Their long-term vision is to reach out to wisdom, energy, comfort — in this new Madagascar where God graciously English-speaking tourists and foreigners place. I was immeasurably encouraged by Iallowed me to join in the wonderful in the region. I was able to teach them the Malagasy Christians who adopted me work He is doing amongst this island some new songs which they incorporated into their families and shared their lives nation. My assignment took me to the into their worship and also explained the and faith with me. As well as confirming regional city of Antsirabe, less than lyrics of many other songs to them. We the value of AIM’s short-term mission 150km from the capital of Antananarivo, started a youth Bible study after worship program for both receiving community but a journey that could take anywhere practice on Saturday mornings, which and missionary, God also opened my between three hours and a whole day, is continuing through the involvement heart to the future possibility of doing given the state of the roads and — more of other church members. I was really missions long-term, something I would significantly — the state of the run- encouraged to see more and more young never have considered a year ago! down but always entertaining taxi- people join this group and witness brousse (bush-taxi) used to get there. how God has given them such a desire Having arrived via France, I found to know Him more. Over four short Madagascar is a my on-field orientation enormously months, God opened my eyes to a huge helpful. It was great for me to be able to number of things. country in great spend dedicated time reflecting on my I saw how He is using the wonderful expectations, personal goals and fears, as capabilities He gives to all people, well as talking through various aspects and how AIM’s transformational physical and with Sarah and Daniel before travelling development programs were working to to my place of ministry. bring about positive change. I saw the spiritual need. My role in Antsirabe was to support incredible faithfulness of local believers, Please join me in praying that peace the English teaching of two language willing to lay everything they had on the will remain after the final round of schools through teaching a number of line to obediently serve their Lord. God elections this past December. Pray for classes, working with the teachers to used this to challenge me to take bigger positive political, economic and social improve their language skills as well as steps of faith, even when I may have changes. You can also pray for both AIM the curriculum, and encouraging the been unsure of the future, or how things missionaries and the Malagasy Church, students in their faith through regular would work out, I knew I just needed to that God would continue working times of prayer and Bible reading. I also trust and obey Him and things would through them to see His Kingdom come had the incredible opportunity to join work out. in Madagascar. in the music and youth ministries of a On a personal level, I grew so much Would you like to explore some of the exciting Short-term opportunities that AIM has in Africa? Then contact Hilton on [email protected] or T: 02 4322 4777. In New Zealand, contact Len on director.nz@aimint. net or T: 09 8899 406. Our list of opportunities is also on our website: aimint.org/au/serve Or in New 8 • Africa Inland Mission — www.aimint.org Zealand on aimint.org/nz/serve RESPONSE FORM PROJECT Yes, I would like to support AIM’s Advanced Training Fund ministry This is your opportunity to train I want to give monthly African Church leaders from your own home! Your gift to the Advanced $50 $25 $100 $ training Fund will make a difference for Give a one off gift of $ God’s Kingdom in Africa. Please complete the payment authority sections AIM’s Advanced Training Fund below. assists African church leaders to do Please make cheques payable to Africa post-graduate training. This helps them Inland Mission Int. (Aust.) Inc. or provide a strong evangelical foundation complete card details below; or and inspired leadership for the African donate online: www.aimint.org/au/give.html church. (PayPal fees apply to online gifts) In 2013, 95 students from South Please use my donation Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Where Most Needed , Congo, Mozambique, AIM’s Ministry $ Namibia and South Africa received Advanced Training Fund $ partial scholarships. Here is what one Safina Street Network $ student said: My Own Option $ “The most important courses for me this year were Africa Christian Theology, My Total Donation $ Hebrew Exegesis and, Working with My Address Boards and Committees. I have learned Mr/Mrs/Miss/Dr/Rev about new and contemporary approaches Family Name used by African theologians to make the First Name gospel more relevant to African people. Address The course on Africa Christian Theology has totally changed and Postcode challenged my approaches to preaching to Email African people. Now I know how I can Phone use the African context to reach out to African people without compromising the Payment Authority scripture. I now know ‘how to wear their (Card payments processed in Australia only) Card Type Visacard / Mastercard shoes’ and show them the truth without Card Number compromising the Word of God.” Edwin Mihigo, Tanzania Africa International Expiry Date University, Nairobi, Name on Card Kenya — Master’s in Theology Signed Other student Date / / testimonies can be found on our website: www. Periodical Payments/Internet Deposits aimint.org/au/explore/stories. You may wish to arrange with your Bank to set up Periodical Payments from your account Please donate to the ATF using the directly to the Africa Inland Mission bank response slip overleaf or donate online account or to transfer monies directly via at www.aimint.org/au/give. Quote internet banking and direct deposits: “Advanced Training Fund” or ATF. Please contact Robbyn for details. Africa Inland Mission International (Australia) Inc. PO Box 328 Gosford NSW 2250 Australia T: 02 4322 4777 E: [email protected]