FEB-MAY 2015

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

INTERNATIONAL | ASIA-PACIFIC

In this issue: New workers with AIM... Page 3

New opportunities in AIM… Pages 4-5

Working with a church in Rwanda… Page 6-7

eaching the Mbororo (pictured) mid-2016. This team is one of several term and longer-term opportunities to in the new two-year Focus and TIMO teams share Jesus Christ with those who have with the Gospel is the aim planned among unreached people not heard. See pages 4-5. ofR a new Focus Team set to begin in groups. There are other amazing short- PIONEER AIM WORKER REMEMBERED

er obedience to God is While nursing, Betty came to know people: Kapsarbet, something amazing. She Jesus as her Saviour. Betty wrote in her with a Bible trusted the Lord with all journal: “After I became a Christian Training College; “Hher heart, mind and soul.” I commenced going to the Manifold and, Kessup and These were among the memories Heights Baptist Church with a group of Kaprapita, with shared of former AIM missionary, Valma Christian nurses. During those years I a Girls’ Boarding ‘Betty’ Thomas, at a memorial service had responded to the Lord’s voice within School and in Victoria on 29 September 2014. me to be willing for mission work”. churches. Betty helped in the medical Betty died on 21 September, leaving Betty committed herself to mission dispensary, the Girls’ Boarding school four children, two children-in-law, 11 work during a Belgrave Heights Mission and with the church ladies. grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren Conference. In the early 1970s Norman was and one grandchild on the way. Betty graduated from the Melbourne elected Mission Secretary of the Betty was born on 23 September Bible Institute in 1957. Early that year Field office. He later became 1926 at Wycheproof in Victoria. She was she met Norman Thomas, a Methodist International General Secretary of AIM, the second child of Ernest and Elizabeth Home-Mission Pastor at Bannockburn, based in Nairobi. Their children Brian, Barker. They moved to Devonport, and they were engaged in March. Leanne, Ruth and Shirley went to AIM’s Tasmania when Betty was 14 months old Betty finished her Bible course and Rift Valley Academy for their schooling. and later moved to Melbourne. was accepted by AIM. They married in Retired AIM worker Alan Checkley Betty completed two years of September 1957 in Geelong. fondly remembered Betty Thomas. secondary school before going to work Betty and Norman left for Kenya “There are many expressions of her faith in knitting factories. While Betty was on 26 November, 1957. They went to in action but the most outstanding ill in hospital, she committed to train Kapsabet Mission Station to learn the for me was when she, with Norman, as a nurse. In November 1945 she Nandi language. Their first 10 years pioneered a new work amongst the commenced nursing at the Victoria Eye of work in Kenya centred on three Sabaot people on Mount Elgon. They and Ear Hospital in Brunswick. mission stations, among the Nandi served the Lord with distinction.”

Today, perhaps more than at any other time, there is a need for understanding and engaging with Islam and Muslim people. Africa Inland Mission is offering the Bridges course to

AFRICA INLAND MISSION INTERNATIONAL churches in 2015, starting in Sydney. Concerned by Islam? This short course will inform you about what Muslims believe Know Muslims personally? and how they ‘do’ religion. It is clear and practical. As you begin to understand and see Muslim people through God’s BRIDGES: eyes, you can explore how you might relate and engage with Christians Connecting with Muslims them in Jesus’ name. For more info www.crescentproject.org A study for Christians to Interested? Contact Len at AIM share the Hope with Muslims T: 02 4322 4777 or E: [email protected]

New Zealand Korean Council PO Box 13457 Onehunga Hanwool Church, 952 Woonjungdong Auckland 1643 New Zealand badndangku Sunnam City, Kyungkido FEB-MAY 2015 Courier: South Korea 463-440 E: [email protected] English-language magazine of AIM Office 16 The Christian Ministry INTERNATIONAL | ASIA-PACIFIC W: www.aimkorea.org Asia-Pacific Region published three Centre 297A Church Street Onehunga times a year. Hong Kong Committee Auckland 1061 New Zealand Editor: Len Lesleighter PO Box 70238 Kowloon Central Hong Kong T: +64 9 281 4595 Asia-Pacific and Australia Council T: (852) 2770 5380 PO Box 328 Gosford NSW 2250 Australia E: [email protected] E: [email protected] T: 02 4322 4777 or +61 2 4322 4777 W: www.aimint.org/nz W: www.aimhk.org E: [email protected] T: + 64 9 8899 406 W: www.aimint.org/au E: [email protected] 2 • Africa Inland Mission — www.aimint.org NEW AIM WORKERS PREPARE FOR MINISTRY

od is continuing to call term member of AIM serving in Africa Craig is an electrician and Helen is workers into ministry in and Australia. He changed to Affiliate a Radiographer and trained teacher Africa. Here are three families membership to marry Tabitha, from with a heart for evangelism. They were —G one engaging in ministry among South , four years ago. They are both previously involved in ministry Africans in Australia and two set to now both full-term AIM workers with a in Malawi for two years. Their home go to Africa mid-2015. Please pray for heart to reach unreached African people church is New Vine Baptist Church. them, their final preparations and their groups from their home base in Victoria. ministries. Norm The Machar family is hoping to spend a and short-term of about six months in Africa Noeline during the next couple of years. Scott from Craig Wyoming and Church Helen of Christ, Waldock Gosford, are of Newcastle, planning NSW, are set to go to to join the in Tsumkwe mid-2015. Norm is an accountant and TIMO Noeline works in aged care. They visited team which Tanzania in November 2014, to see two Chris and Tabitha Machar, will live ministries where they could serve. Pray with Hope and Faith are now full-term among the San people of Namibia from as they finalise their choice of ministry, members with AIM and serving among June 2015. Craig and Helen will leave complete some application requirements Africans in Australia. Chris was a long- their three adult children in Australia. and build their support team. AIM AUSTRALIA’S CENTENARY IS COMING!

Africa Inland Mission began in 1895 In 1916 the Australian committee of under the leadership of Peter Cameron AIM was formed and a short time later a Scott, with a party of seven others. sending office was established in Sydney. Scott landed in Kenya in October with Another Australian couple, Stuart and a vision to see a gospel ministry to Elise Bryson, went to Kenya in 1919 and unreached peoples supported by mission eventually settled among the Nandi in stations from Mombasa to Lake Chad. 1927. Through their efforts the Bible was In 1908 the first Australian member translated into Nandi; this was the first of AIM arrived in Kenya. Albert Barnett from Wellington, NSW, and his wife complete Bible published in one volume 100 in a language of Kenya. Elma added another link in the chain n August 2016 AIM will celebrate of mission stations to Lake Chad by See future issues of Africa News for the centenary of the formation of an establishing the work around Eldama more glimpses into the history of AIM IAIM committee in Australia. Ravine in central Kenya. Australia and the Asia-Pacific. New Zealand Australia DATE CLAIMERS! Saturday 6 June 2015 Saturday 22 August 2015 North Island Sydney Hear about trends in world mission First-hand report of TIMO in Chad CelebratingAIM Asia-Pacific New directions for AIM Reaching Africans in Australia For Information and bookings For information and bookings contact Pamela: contact Robbyn: Conferences 2015 E: [email protected] P: 09 281 4595 E: [email protected] T: 02 4322 4777 years AFRICA news — February to May 2015 • 3 Opportunities New TIMO NEW DIRECTIONS FOR AIM CREATES with AIM in Teams in Africa NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU the Asia-Pacific New TIMO Teams in Africa AIM’s proven training and church Hong Kong by Len Lesleighter, Director AIM planting program — TIMO, Training Australia / Asia-Pacific Mobilising A Mobilising Officer is required to in Ministry Outreach, has new Region promote opportunities with AIM. This opportunities in 2015-16. ew opportunities for is a paid position. Duties include liaising Niger — A team among the Fulani ministry in Africa and with Hong Kong Churches, Bible people starts in early 2016 (Date to be around the world are Seminaries and inquirers, and leading confirmed), in partnership with SIM. emergingN in AIM. In a series of a ministry to Africans in Hong Kong, — A team begins among the Ik new planning initiatives, AIM is including prison ministry. This person people in mid-2016. sharpening its focus to reach the will be proficient in Cantonese and have Northern parts of Africa — a team a heart for mission among the unreached begins in 2016. For more information remaining 1008 unreached African peoples of Africa. see www.timo.aimint.org people groups. Not only those located Inquiries to Dr Hung, E director. in Africa, but those dispersed around [email protected] the world, including the Asia-Pacific. South Korea Join a New This is leading to new and exciting English Teachers are required for a Focus Team short-term, and long-term openings. missionary training program. Training AIM’s NEW Framework New outreach initiatives in AIM and cross-cultural experience in teaching of Ministry has defined four have led to new Focus Teams. Focus on English as a foreign language is desired. areas of future service in AIM: Applicants are required to be self-funded. language learning, studying a variable 1. Disciple-making among Inquire at your local AIM office or curriculum to suit your location; and unreached African people groups; on www.aimint.org. sharing the gospel. Use story-telling; English teaching; medical and other 2. Mobilising local churches and Australia skills. Teams are two to three years. believers to make disciples among A Finance Assistant is required to work Madagascar: Diego Suarez, starts mid- African unreached people groups; part-time in the Australian office in 2015. A single lady is required here. 3. Equipping African church leaders; Gosford. This person will assist in book- Madagascar: Tulear story-telling / and keeping using Reckon and in financial youth outreach team. One female is 4. Serving and supporting those operations. still required for mid-2015. doing the above. A Short-term Coordinator is required Central African Republic. Focus on in Gosford to promote and manage the the Zande and Mbororo, mid-2016. AIM’s Vision 2020, has set Australian short-term program. Indian Ocean Islands. Need two the direction for the next five years to Both Australian positions are families to join in October 2015. achieve bold objectives, only God can contracted positions, and open to suitably North-East Uganda. Focus on the make happen. qualified Australian resident-citizens Karamoja people; dates to be advised. only. Contracts may be extended subject South Sudan. Focus on the Laarim to performance. For information please people. Coming soon. contact Len on 4322 4777 or director. Take the challenge, get focused and [email protected]. share Christ with the unreached.

4 • Africa Inland Mission — www.aimint.org NEW DIRECTIONS FOR AIM CREATES New Short- New GO Short- Term Teams Term Initiative NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU South Sudan Construction and GO is a two month discipleship Discipleship Teams are exciting new and mission training program to help 1. Reaching 20 currently engaged options for 2015. you develop Christ-like character and unreached people groups; Join a construction team in instil basic skills for outreach among 2. Engaging 20 new unreached Kimatong; or make disciples on a team unreached people groups. people groups in Africa; in Chukudum or Torit. GO is based in Africa and facilitated 3. Use 40 new teams to engage Teams will comprise three to six by experienced missionaries and African unreached African people groups members. Construction teams will leaders. living outside of Africa, including take members for one month or longer. The first GO program is on 14 June Australia and the Asia-Pacific. Discipleship teams will run for three to to 12 August 2015. This involves partnership with six months. Each team will complement Three-weeks of discipleship training an existing ministry, mostly among an church partners; will be held at Sunrise Acres in Eldama unreached people group. Outreach and 4. Mobilise 400 new African workers Ravine, Kenya. This is a missionary language learning will be priorities. for ministry to unreached people retreat centre and the participants will groups; be housed in cabins while participating 5. Equip 4,000 African church Join a TIMO- in group sessions throughout the day. leaders; Develop your character as you 6. Meet the challenges of spiritual Quest Team learn about spiritual disciplines; opposition and warfare; understanding spiritual warfare; Biblical Experience cross-cultural ministry insufficient leaders in AIM; and a foundations for mission; the commands for just one month on a TIMO Quest. lack of training in church planting of Christ; spiritual gifts; and the culture AIM currently has more than 18 and mobilising for mission. of AIM. TIMO teams that will host a one-month Global strategies are being Develop your skills for working TIMO Quest. TIMO Questers will developed. But already we see some pair up with a TIMO member of the in an outreach location. Learn the exciting opportunities outlined in same gender and do as they do. Learn basics of Islam; language acquisition this issue. language, read the scriptures with locals, tools; how to live cross-culturally; do discipleship. Explore the challenge story telling; security; team dynamics Inquiries: For more and see the potential of cross-cultural and relationships; mentoring and information on how you can ministry among the unreached. contextualization. be part of this exciting new TIMO Quest teams include: Then for four weeks, live among vision, complete the ministry- Lopit in South Sudan, June 2015. an unreached people group. You will interest form on our website Sakalava in Madagascar, July 2015; experience on-site mentoring from www.aimint.org; or contact INTERNATIONAL | ASIA-PACIFIC Clove island, Indian Ocean, July 2015; missionaries and national leaders. your nearest AIM office or in Samburu, Kenya, August 2015. Experience ministry among the Australia E: personnel.au@ Ebonite Team in Tanzania, Sept 2015; unreached. aimint.org and in New Zealand Don’t just think about it! Experience it! Get ready and GO! E: [email protected]

AFRICA news — February to May 2015 • 5 leadership stood with us in everything, until all requirements were satisfied. WORKING WITH AN AFRICAN Ultimately we were free to work again, but this time things would be LOCAL CHURCH IN RWANDA different. by Chris and Fiona Tyrrell was owned and run by a local church, here are plenty of horror Evangelical Church and Ministries This time we tales of serious breakdown in International (ECMI). Thus we could are a ‘TEAM’ relationships between cross- be contributing to the needs of local Tcultural workers (missionaries) and an youth, meanwhile doing the work of an and there’s no African local church. evangelist as well. Would the people remember us, “I” in TEAM. Our story, so would they receive us? These questions and other emotions swirled around as This time we can’t meet exclusively far, is one of we hiked the narrow and upward path with the HMP. We work under the through the potato and bean fields. One authority of ECMI, and we have optimism. by one the people came out, curiously a Rwandan leader. God gave us hopeful that their future might look Samson, the VTC headmaster, his wife We came to Rwanda in 2009 brighter. Pheranady, another ECMI pastor, Aloys to teach English in a Bible college. We began visiting more frequently, and a single man Vedaste to be part However, during 2010 we caught when the pastor had time, aiming to of the team. We the missionaries are a vision to reach out to Rwanda’s gradually build trust and a relationship dependent on the Rwandans. Historically Marginalised People through which to present the Gospel. The first big expression of this (HMP). These people were rarely on the Consistent with much of East Africa, newfound freedom and fresh enthusiasm churches’ radar. We knew of only one even the HMP were religious; be was to visit an unsaved HMP man dying missionary trying to engage them, and that a mix of traditional beliefs and with cancer. David was so close to death, even that effort was concluding. Catholicism. yet he responded in simple faith to An unexpected reunion with a Pastor Aloys’s challenge from John 3:16. pastor friend was an opportunity to Just days later we buried that man, the share with him what was on our minds. They could sing first fruit of what God is doing on the He confirmed our observations and hills of Nyabageni, having started long supported our convictions. He also just Christian songs before we arrived. happened to know some HMP and and repeat the was able to introduce us. The location These days was breathtaking. Together, we asked jargon, yet the them questions they’d never before been we rent a asked, such as religion they small adobe “Who are you” knew had not and “What is set them free in building to hold your dream?” any sense. meetings. Up We were about to go on home With our pastor friend we’d to 150 people assignment in Australia, so we promised sometimes drop in to a local government them we’d come back to share God’s office, on the way to Nyabageni. We squeeze in each story with them. thought we were being open; so they Sunday, to sing It took us almost a year to return to could get to know us and exactly what the green grassy slopes of Nyabageni. We was our motivation. However, one day together and had moved to Musanze, a large regional we were abruptly instructed to stop town in Rwanda’s north. Chris had work, followed by five suspenseful listen to another accepted an invitation to volunteer in a months of interviews and supplying vocational training centre (VTC) that documents and information. The ECMI Bible story. 6 • Africa Inland Mission — www.aimint.org We pray that they are hearing, and week to revisit the stories. The team Biblical truth, a method that they can understanding too. We pray that there acknowledge that the HMP are a see is actually leading to understanding. will be real disciples of Christ and a mission field right here on our door Partnering with the Rwandan Christ-centred church at Nyabageni, not step. They acknowledge that the typical church has given us the opportunity just more religious converts. preaching content and style they to participate in mobilising Africans We observe change, slow change inherited hasn’t led to heart change and towards mission. Evidence of this is that in each of us. Among the people on transformed communities, in spite of the the hills, and among the team. Locals huge number of Rwandan church-goers. I’m writing this on in Australia while on mention a greater sense of community They speak of how great is our God, home assignment, and yet the Nyabageni and peace, and a working-out of their and have embraced storying the Bible outreach hasn’t stopped in our absence: growing faith. They meet during the as an effective means of communicating it’s growing towards maturity.

AFRICA news — February to May 2015 • 7 A GAP YEAR IN MADAGASCAR IS A GREAT WAY TO LEARN

hree months in Madagascar teacher’s assistants do not teach, but assist has been a life-changing and the Malagasy teachers in their regular learning experience for Laura lesson planning and teaching. An AIM TJennings. orientation is a key activity before visiting Laura, from the Australian Capital teacher’s assistants commence at MCA. Territory, is doing her gap year, having “As part of my orientation, I spent time visiting the markets, catching completed year 12 in 2013. She became buses, getting to know the area where a teacher’s assistant at the Madagascar I am living and working, going into Christian Academy in Antananarivo Antananarivo (Tana) itself and having from September to November 2014. my first language lesson. “I settled well into the school where I “While it has been great to get to am a teacher’s aid. I know all the kids in know the city a little bit, the poverty my class, some of the parents and some here is very confronting.” of the other teachers. Spending nearly When we went into Tana, we bought five hours per day, five days per week a kilo of strawberries for less than with 20 four year olds is pretty intense A$1. As we were leaving the market, and tiring, but it is also fun! three children with no shoes who were obviously hungry came up to us. “It is very common to see children “I am getting begging, but these three children weren’t asking for money, they just asked for one used to the strawberry each. When we gave them each their strawberry, they said “merci” Malagasy way so politely I was blown away. of doing things, “The contrast which is a lot between the rich more relaxed and the poor here than Australia! is quite extreme. One of the main challenges is that While this is quite hard to handle almost all of my students are Malagasy, sometimes, it has also been lovely to so English is their second language meet the locals who are all so friendly which can make communication hard. and ready to help. They are very patient “Similarly with the other teachers which is a good thing!” at the school, communication can be In February 2015, NSW teacher Lara difficult because of the language barrier. Dikha, plans to join the team at MCA But I am learning to speak slower for four months. For more info on short-term and more clearly, and I think my English opportunities at MCA, or other has probably improved!” opportunities in teaching or home Madagascar Christian Academy is schooling missionary children, please one of three English-medium schools in contact AIM in Australia or New Madagascar. The school of about 200 Zealand. Complete the ministry interest students from kindergarten to grade eight, form on our website www.aimint.org. uses a Christian curriculum. The staff are This is an important work in supporting all Malagasy teachers. Visiting teacher’s AIM workers engaged in outreach assistants are in high demand. The activities. 8 • Africa Inland Mission — www.aimint.org RESPONSE FORM THANK YOU Yes, I would like to support AIM’s Thank you to all our prayer and financial ministry partners for your ministry in 2014. You have made a difference! You have I want to give monthly enabled AIM to continue sharing the Gospel in $50 $25 $100 $ Africa. Give a one off gift of $ One result of your prayers is a growing team Please complete the payment authority below. of Asia-Pacific workers in Africa. In November 18 people from Australia and New Zealand Please make cheques payable to Africa Inland Mission Int. (Aust.) Inc. or attended AIM’s Orientation in Gosford. The complete card details below; or group was 50% full-term appointees preparing donate online: www.aimint.org/au/give.html to go to Africa in 2015. Others included short- (PayPal fees apply to online gifts) termers set to go. Please use my donation Where Most Needed Thank you for AIM Australia $ AIM New Zealand $ praying. Please African Worker Support$ My Own Option $ continue to pray. My Total Donation $ Your generous giving has enabled workers My Address to continue in Africa and in our Australian and New Zealand home offices. Thank you for also Mr/Mrs/Miss/Dr/Rev giving to specific projects in 2014, including: Family Name (Unaudited figures in $A, 1 December First Name 2013 - 30 November 2014) Address Missionary Support $534,900 General Donations $41,500 Postcode Chairman’s Appeal (staff support) $7,000

Email e-Bibles, Gabra outreach $12,860 Phone Dukana outreach $4,511 Payment Authority Safina Street Network $2,419 (Card payments processed in Australia only) Radio Nuru, Mwani outreach $1770 Card Type Visacard / Mastercard Card Number New Vision 2020 AIM’s Vision is to mobilise 400 African

missionaries by 2020, to take the gospel to Expiry Date unreached people groups (see pages 4-5). AIM’s Name on Card African National Workers Support Project is your opportunity to help this happen. Signed Date / / Your gifts will help Periodical Payments/Internet Deposits support African You can make direct payments into AIM missionaries on Australia or New Zealand bank accounts. For Details, Contact: TIMO teams. New Zealand: Pamela T: 09 281 4595, or Australia: Robbyn T: 02 4322 4777 The balance will come from their African Response slips can be mailed to AIM in: churches. New Zealand: To join this exciting partnership, use the PO Box 13457 Onehunga 1643 response form overleaf, or donate online, quote: Australia: TIMO-111-U. PO Box 328 Gosford NSW 2250