JUN-SEPT 2015 “Christ-centred churches amongnews all African peoples” www.aimint.org

INTERNATIONAL | ASIA-PACIFIC

In this issue: “Sharing the Hope with Muslims” events… Pages 2-3

New workers with AIM… Page 3

Training national missionaries in Madagascar… Page 5

oung farmers in Lesotho are Nondumiso (pictured) to be influential This would repeat what their Basotho being trained to lead like Jesus. leaders who will live out the Gospel in ancestors did more than 100 years Australian short-term workers their own communities. Ken and Julie ago, when they took the Gospel to the Ywith Africa Inland Mission, Ken and are praying that some of the Basotho Barotse people along the Zambezi River. Julie James from Sydney, are training farmers will catch the vision to take Full story on page 6-7. young Christian famers like Kuenelo and the Gospel to other parts of Africa. PAST AIM WORKERS REMEMBERED

Tribute to of service, especially as new Churches up my eyes to the hills-where does my Ken York were formed. Teaching scripture and help come from? My help comes from Veteran Africa geography at the girl’s mission school the LORD, the maker of heaven and Inland Mission worker and preaching, was challenging and earth.” Ken York died on 22 satisfying. Bernice Dalziel January in Western A short time at Eldama Ravine Remembered was followed by more than 20 years at Australia, having served Bernice Dalziel passed away on with AIM from 1974 to Moffat Bible College at Kijabe. He loved 2 March, aged 94. Retired Africa 2004. teaching different subjects and his sense Inland Mission worker, Alan Checkley Ken first left of humour endeared him to the students remembers Bernice as AIM’s first Australia for and carried him through some difficult Western Australia committee secretary, in 1974 with his situations. Ken also served at times as who did a wonderful job. wife Barbara and Dean of Admissions, Outreach Dean for “Her mother, Bessie Stephenson, two young children, the students’ practical ministries and the travelled to Kenya with Stuart and Elise Andrew and Suzanne. Ken initiated soccer coach. Bryson in 1919 to marry Ernest Dalziel, evangelistic safaris with pastors from During the past three years of who was in Kenya with another mission. different villages, as part of his ministry retirement he developed heart failure Ernest joined AIM on the field. at Kapsowar among the Maraquet which greatly limited his physical Bernice was a very competent people. Sleeping on the floor of a mud activities. He was always aware of his secretary to the Governor in Kenya up hut, packed in like sardines with the weakness and his need of God’s help so to the time of independence. They then pastors was enjoyable in the early years Psalm 121: 1-2 was special to him “I lift retired to Cottesloe, Perth.”

Have you ever wondered about making friends with Muslims?

presenta el Seminario Puentes AND Un taller para capacitar a cristianos sobre cómo HOPE WORTH SHARING compartir con los musulmanes el amor de Cristo Sábado 7 de marzo de 2015 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Iglesia “El Buen Pastor en Getsemani” Present special events on Plutarco Elías Calles #1220 Col. Marte, C.P. 08840INTERNATIONALChristian’s | ASIA-PACIFIC sharing the Hope with Muslims Hear InternationalMéxico, D.F. Guest Speaker, Author and President of the Crescent Project, Fouad Masri speak about effective communication with Muslim people Costo: $250.00 por persona Sydney Contacto:22 August 55 4344 4217 Brisbane 25 August Adelaide 27 August Melbourne 29 August

www.crescentproject.org/puentesFor information and to Register: AfricaInlandMission.org/au or 02 4322 4777

Puentes Mexico City 2015 Card.indd 1 2/3/15 9:19 AM

New Zealand Korean Council PO Box 13457 Onehunga Hanwool Church, 952 Woonjungdong Auckland 1643 New Zealand badndangku Sunnam City, Kyungkido JUN-SEPT 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: AfricaInlandMission.org/nz W: AfricaInlandMission.org E: [email protected] T: + 64 9 8899 406 W: AfricaInlandMission.org/au E: [email protected] 2 • Africa Inland Mission — AfricaInlandMission.org INTRODUCING NEW WORKERS WITH AIM

came from Melbourne where they aimint.org) and building a team of attended Mooroolbark Baptist Church. prayer and financial supporters prior to Both Jeremy and Felicity are trained departure to Africa. nurses, with Jeremy specialising David in theatre nursing and Felicity in McGowen, midwifery. Jeremy has also worked as a joined the Australian wildlife officer. They previously joined office team as Finance an AIM medi-quest team in East Africa Assistant in March. in 2010. David will work two Jeremy and Felicity share a passion to days a week, and his Jeremy and Felicity Aitken, reach and disciple the unreached peoples main roles will be with Orlando and Caspian, of Africa. They are currently considering receipting income for have recently been approved as new joining a Focus Team among the Laarim AIM and replying to donors. people of South , starting mid- full-term workers with Africa Inland David is an accountant and is member 2016. Mission. of EV Church in Gosford. David is The Aitken family currently live in Both Jeremy and Felicity are completing originally from Orange in NSW. He Adelaide where Jeremy is completing some Bible-knowledge requirements. has a keen interest in mission and is study at the Adelaide College of They will also be completing AIM’s eager to serve the Lord. David provides Ministries. They attend Clovercrest Australian-based orientation program welcomed assistance for Robbyn Baptist Church. The family initially including the new Equip training (equip. Lesleighter in the Finance office. AIM EVENTS FOCUS ON SHARING THE HOPE WITH MUSLIMS

frica Inland Mission in Australia has been ministering to Muslims since M.A. from Fuller is holding events in August 1979. He has trained more than 18,000 Theological to help Christians share the Christian to sensitively and purposefully Seminary in AHope with Muslims. These begin with share their faith with Muslims. He has Islamic Studies. the AIM Australia annual conference served as a guest instructor at several Fouad lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, in Sydney on 22 August, followed by universities and Christian ministries and with his wife Lisa and their two evening seminars in Brisbane, and has been featured in media publications, children. Adelaide, and an all-day seminar in including Christianity Today, Melbourne. Newsweek, Mission Network News, and These special events will also Guest speaker is Fouad Masri, on CBN, TBN, the Janet Parshall Show, highlight some of AIM’s ministry to founder and president of the Crescent and Prime Time America. unreached African people groups, Project in the United States. Fouad is He is the producer and teacher in including Muslims. Events are in an author and lecturer and was born the DVD study, “Bridges: Christians Sydney, at the Collaroy Center on 22 and raised in the war zone of Beirut, Connecting with Muslims.” In Bridges, August; in Brisbane at Beenleigh Baptist Lebanon. As a third generation pastor, he further exposes Christians to the Church on 25 August; in Adelaide at he has a passion for sharing the love of urgent need for understanding about Tabor College on 27 August and in Christ with Muslims and has spent most Islam and Muslims. In 2014, this Melbourne at the Melbourne School of of his life doing just that. course was offered by AIM to churches Theology on 29 August. In 1993, Fouad founded Crescent in Sydney. A number of churches have For more information or to Project to nurture transformational already participated. relationships between Christians and Fouad is author of “Is the Injeel register for these events, contact AIM Muslims and overcome misconceptions Corrupted?” and “Ambassadors to 02 4322 4777 or register online via about Islam and Christianity. Muslims”. Fouad holds a bachelor’s AfricaInlandMission.org/au. Early bird Fouad is an ordained minister and degree in Mass Communication and an registrations close 30 June. AFRICA news — June to September 2015 • 3 August 2016 will mark the Centenary of the Africa Inland Mission Committee in Australia. The stories below tell of how the first Australian and New Zealand workers with Africa Inland Mission, took the Gospel to Africa. Thank God for firm foundations for the ministry, which today is still focused on sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with the 100 unreached peoples of Africa. FIRST KIWI MISSIONARY WITH AIM IN BELGIUM CONGO

Celebrating forced them home to New Zealand. Mubuti was brought in to the Bennett and Esther are pictured in station hospital and under the very 1934, with Verna, about to return to capable care of Doctor Carl Becker he the Congo in good health and heart. was operated on but urgently needed a Esther, Verna andyears Bennett Williams, 1934. Source: Verna Bush (nee Williams), They lovingly served the Lord, on many blood transfusion. There were no blood Tauranga, NZ. different Stations in the Congo, until banks out there in those days, and there their final evacuation due to severe wars was a reluctance to share blood between ennett Williams became Africa in 1964. people groups. Bennett, whose blood Inland Mission’s first New Bennett was a true Kiwi farmer and was compatible, shared his blood with Zealand missionary when he and loved sharing his many skills with those his friend. Bhis American-born wife, Esther landed in need but most of all he was a loving Mubuti later came back looking very in Kenya. They hiked into the Belgium Preacher-man with a special love for sad and worried. Why? He was still not Congo with a pioneer group to open up the deep forest nomadic “Pygmies”. This white and still not tall! From there God’s a new field for service in 1927. came alive when his special local friend love was shared and a special work was Shortly following the birth of their Mubuti was critically wounded while out begun and carried on way out in the daughter Verna Ruth, in 1929, illness hunting. forest. FIRST AUSTRALIAN AIM WORKER CALLED TO SHINE LIKE A DEW DROP

lbert Barnett grew up in country mission stations. the millions of little dew drops that were New South Wales and was saved In 1908, Albert and Elma were around him were beginning to sparkle and in a small Methodist Church. assigned to work among the Maasai at shine as the sun caught them in its rays.” AAs recalled in the book “From Death Rurumuti. In 1913 moved to Eldama It was there God spoke to him and to Life — the birth of the Africa Inland Ravine with many of the Maasai. told him he wasn’t called to be an apostle Church” by Richard J Gehman, Albert Ministry was extremely slow. Many of Paul, a Moody, Billy Sunday or Sankey. travelled to the United States. Here the pots and things they had brought God asked him to be like the little dew he felt the call to be a missionary. He from the US “disappeared”. Albert drops, reflecting His glory. God was attended Moody Bible Institute for two became extremely discouraged. going to shine His light through Albert years of preparation. One Sunday morning, Albert rose and reflect God’s glory. Albert’s future wife, Elma Nicher early and decided it was time to have it Within 10 days they saw the first was born in Sweden and attended a DL out with God. He asked God why He Maasai convert. Albert was instrumental Moody Bible school in New England. had ever led him into a place like this! in leading the second President of Both were recruited by Africa Inland “Suddenly it was though a million Kenya, Arap Moi to the Lord. Mission. It was travelling to Africa lights began to shine around him. He was The book “From Death to Life- the these two missionaries met. They were startled and looked up and wondered what birth of the Africa Inland Church in required by the mission to wait one this was. He became aware that the sun Kenya, 1895-1945”by Dr Richard J year before marrying. During this time was just beginning to come up over the Gehman was first published in 2013 and is they were given assignments at different horizon and was shining on him and all printed by CM Books, Michigan. 4 • Africa Inland Mission — AfricaInlandMission.org TRAINING NATIONAL MISSIONARIES IN MADAGASCAR TO REACH THE UNREACHED by Daniel Zagami, Following this, they will return to Haja, Emahafetse, Petera, and Paulette. AIM Unit Leader, Madagascar Madagascar and be placed in an There is opportunity for you to be frica Inland Mission in unreached Malagasy village for two years involved in the financial support of this Madagascar has long had of church planting ministry together. project. If you would like to be involved a vision for mobilising and AIM will provide a follow-up and give to this Malagasy Missionary Aequipping Malagasy missionaries for training every three months while they Training initiative, please use the response cross-cultural church planting mission to are in the village. slip on page seven or give online on www. unreached people groups in Madagascar AfricaInlandMission.org/au/give Please and beyond. This vision is about to be use the project name: Malagasy Missionary realised. After the church Training or quote SR-Mad-128-u. Thank The Malagasy people trace their roots in the lands across the sea to the plant, the you for your support. distant east. They claim their heritage in the islands of Polynesia. Indeed, the trainees Malagasy language and culture bears striking evidence to this background. will While there are several unreached people groups in Madagascar, there are also thousands of evangelical churches then be throughout the island and some strong church denominations. Generally available though, churches in Madagascar have yet to catch a vision for reaching the lost in to go other nations, but the potential is there. abroad – The Tana hopefully missionary bringing training team the gospel is seeking to message accomplish back to the vision their of training roots in Malagasy Indonesia. The training team workers. will be led by Sam Adem, On 27 April 2015, seven people a CAPRO missionary began a six-month formal training in joined to AIM by a church planting and cross-cultural partnership agreement, communication. and several AIM and non- At the completion of the formal AIM workers. Please pray training, the trainees will have an for Sam and the trainers, opportunity to travel to another country and for the trainees — for a month-long practical outreach. Mady, Aurelie, Melias, AFRICA news — June to September 2015 • 5 that work and were back in Lesotho a few months later. Our service is now TRAINING AFRICAN LEADERS taking the form of multiple short-term visits of four to six weeks every three to IN LESOTHO TO BE LIKE JESUS five months. There are two core components to our service, both of which are about Helping African leaders practice developing leaders and pastors. Godly servant leadership as modelled by Jesus, is The principal and competent servant leadership is a the goal of Australian short-term workers key need in all countries but especially Ken and Julie James. Ken and Julie have activity of the in countries like Lesotho where there had several trips to Lesotho and report on are many social and economic issues to their ministry: mission in this urgently address. mong the Basotho who call The challenge is to help local leaders themselves Christian, there are project is to develop in a way that does not impose many whose faith is strong and western-style management on Africans, Atheir commitment unwavering. We seek, train Basotho but rather allow them to develop their by God’s grace, to grow this number, own style shaped by that form of servant strengthen their resolve and widen their farmers in leadership modeled by our Lord Jesus in vision. We want them to be equipped to the gospels. be more influential in transforming their “Farming For the agricultural students community, church and nation. studying Farming Gods Way and living We pray many will catch the vision God’s Way”. at the mission, we have prepared and to carry the Gospel elsewhere in Africa, This is a form of agriculture that teach a 12-lesson leadership course called just as some Basotho did more than 100 “Leading God’s Way”. years ago. These Basotho ancestors took is built on the model of God’s own management of soils and plants as seen In much of this course the students the Gospel to the Barotse people along engage directly with the gospels to learn in His creation. the Zambesi River. how Jesus leads and equips his disciples, The training at Growing In December 2012, at the invitation particularly Peter, to be leaders. Nations is underpinned by Biblical of Africa Inland Mission worker, August They then have the opportunity to transformational-development teaching. Basson, we visited Growing Nations reflect on that learning and practise it This aims to ensure the work of the which is situated at the Bethesda Mission through role plays relating to relevant mission is not just to make the Basotho in the Maphutseng valley in the south- situations requiring leadership. west of Lesotho. We had both recently better farmers. It is also to help them retired from professional employment in come to understand that both we and Sydney. Julie had been a primary school the land are God’s, part of his creation, Our other teacher and Ken had been an engineer and that he has called us to witness to and manager in an oil company. his Lordship and saving grace. We are significant Our purpose of visiting was to see to live in joyful and trusting obedience first-hand the work of the mission and to Him and be careful stewards of his ministry is to test the calling we believed we had creation. been given by God to serve there in some We came away from that visit with mentoring and capacity. a clear vision of how we could support encouraging pastors working in other areas of Lesotho. These pastors are usually on their own without a great deal of support and are facing significant challenges in their communities from traditional ancestor beliefs and a high level of nominalism in their congregations. For us this ministry is a great joy, as we see God at work answering prayers. 6 • Africa Inland Mission — AfricaInlandMission.org Julie, teaching Leading God’s Way.

Ken and students on a farm inspection.

AFRICA news — June to September 2015 • 7 PRAYER TEAM MEETS UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS IN

n January, a prayer team visited their cattle. Cattle are revered and Prayer team, (L-R, ) David Love, Krys Cassels, Heather Love, Nita Finger, unreached people group locations in indicate a person’s wealth. Karamojong Bruce and Christine Turner. Uganda. This team was part of Africa are proud warriors who steal cattle from IInland Mission’s short-term program. It neighbouring tribes. The Karamojong included Nita Finger, and David and generally resist the gospel. Prayer and the Heather Love from Australia, and Bruce Holy Spirit are needed for them to be and Christine Turner from New Zealand. open to the gospel. An AIM Focus Team Leaders were AIM workers Krys and John is planned for the manyattas or rural Cassels. The team encouraged workers housing compounds outside of Moroto. and prayed for the Ik, Nubian and the Karamojong. Nita Finger introduces us to Pray: these people groups to help us pray. • For people to join the Focus team planned for the manyattas of Moroto, Nubians • Hard and stubborn hearts will be We visited the Nubian Cultural softened by the gospel and love of Information Centre in Bombo and met Christ. women selling crafts to earn a living. • Pray people will be liberated from Besides living in Bombo, Nubians live excessive alcohol consumption. in Kampiswahili in Moroto, Gulu, and other parts of Uganda, as well as Ik in Kenya, and Mozambique. We spent two days visiting the The Nubians of Uganda descend from ridge where the Ik people live. The Ik soldiers recruited from Sudan. They are caught between the raiding of the married local women. They settled Karamojong and Turkana peoples. Nubian Woman Basket Weaving near military bases and in areas where They have retreated to the hills. They they have been granted land. They were no longer own animals, but now are trained as soldiers or taken as slaves by hunters and gathers. This lifestyle is Arabs. They learnt to follow Islam and threatened by deforestation for firewood developed their own language which and building. AIM is planning a TIMO is an Arabic Creole. They now have or Training in Ministry Outreach their own culture and consider that to team along the ridge. At the site of the be Nubian is to be Muslim. They were team leaders’ house, we prayed for the named Nubians after the Nubians who team to come. Team leaders, Heidi once ruled Egypt. and Christoph, will arrive mid-2015 to Pray prepare for the team. Housing has to be built for the team. They will also begin • Nubians will be reached with the Karamojong Youth to learn the language and understand gospel. Pray Christians who know the culture. Nubians will share their faith with them. Pray • Nubians consider themselves to be • For people to join the AIM TIMO Muslims, and that if you decide to team to the IK starting mid-2016. Pray stop following Islam, you are no longer for leaders Heidi and Christoph and Nubian. Pray as Nubians respond to African members, Steve and Regina, the gospel, they will identify with from Arua in north-western Uganda. Christ, but will be able to retain • For the choice of location, and building relationships in their community. the houses and latrines for the team. Karamojong • A lack of desire for the scriptures has The Karamojong live in north-east stopped translation of the Bible into Uganda in the sub-region of Karamoja. Iktod. Pray for the Ik to hunger for There are five clans of the Karamojong the Scriptures in their own language — the Matheniko, Pian, Bokora, Jie and and for local people to help with Dodoth. Their culture revolves around translation. Ik Woman 8 • Africa Inland Mission — AfricaInlandMission.org RESPONSE FORM AIM CHAIRMAN’S Yes, I would like to support AIM’s ministry APPEAL 2015 I want to give monthly $50 $25 $100 $ Staff Support — New Zealand and Give a one off gift of $ Australia Please complete the payment authority below. by Rae Price, Chairman AIM Australia / Asia- Please make cheques payable to Africa Pacific Mobilising Council Inland Mission Int. (Aust.) Inc. or complete card details below; or Thank you so much for your donate online: AfricaInlandMision.org/au/give support of my 2014 appeal. (PayPal fees apply to online gifts) This has contributed Please use my donation to the financial support or salaries of home workers in Australia and New Where Most Needed Zealand. 2015 Chairman’s Appeal $ In 2015, I am again inviting you to continue AIM New Zealand $ and help us specifically support the staffing Malagasy Missionary Support $ of our home offices in Australia and New Advanced Training Fund $ Zealand. We currently have one salaried staff, My Own Option $ Pamela, in New Zealand. In Australia we My Total Donation $ have three supported workers in Len, Robbyn My Address and Nita, and a recent addition of a part-time salaried worker, David. Mr/Mrs/Miss/Dr/Rev As God blesses the work of AIM in this Family Name region, with more workers for Africa, this home First Name staff needs to grow. Therefore, we are now facing Address a need for increased funds to support staff.

Postcode Would you stand Email Phone with me and help Payment Authority (Card payments processed in Australia only) support our home- Card Type Visacard / Mastercard Card Number based workers and home-office Expiry Date operations! Name on Card May God bless you for your support. Signed Gifts to the Chairman’s Appeal can be made using the response slip over leaf. Date / / Donate on-line www.AfricaInlandMission.org/au/give or Periodical Payments/Internet www.AfricaInlandMission.org/nz/ Deposits givedesignating “Chairman’s Appeal” You can make direct payments into AIM Australia or New Zealand bank accounts. For Details, Contact: Advanced Training in Africa Africa Inland Mission’s Advanced Training New Zealand: Pamela T: 09 281 4595, or Fund, offers partial scholarships for post Australia: Robbyn T: 02 4322 4777 graduate degrees to African leaders working Response slips can be mailed to AIM in: with AIM’s partner churches. Currently there is New Zealand: an urgent need for funds to help train the future PO Box 13457 Onehunga 1643 leaders of the African Church. If you would Australia: like to be part of this ongoing initiative please PO Box 328 Gosford NSW 2250 donate online or by using the response form overleaf. Thank you.