around the world tl,tU,t9on Italy - Steve Chalke international W indow o n the W orld

January 1996 Missionary Herald ~ Baptist Theological Seminary Library Prague Czech Republic fflissionaryherald C O N T E N T S

A happy and peaceful New Year to all our readers. As promised, mh enjoys a fresh look with an expanded content Richard Wells looks at world mi ss ion for 1996, and much of the inside is in colour. 204 years after Carey ...... 4 We welcome Steve Chalke, television personality and Baptist minister, to our team of specially commissioned Feature writers; he'll be contributing a regular column to ANOS ACROSS THE SEA challenge and inform. John Passmore, the BMS Europe Eastern Europe and beyond, Clive Doubleday ...... 8 representative, brings wit and humour to a new column with some tales of the unexpected ... News Section And David Pountain adds strength to the mh ideas REIGN AND HOME NEWS section courtesy of some fascinating research. Take a look at the world from a global perspective ... 11 Every month, mh focuses on a country in which BMS is working and on an issue to make you think and inspire Centre Page you to pray. In fact, we hope you find the whole MS CO-ORDINATORS Meet the people who promote the work of BMS ...... 18 magazine provides you with fuel for prayer support for those who have answered the call to make Jesus known Country Focus throughout the world. Richard Wells H LOOKS AT ITA Y Jan Kendall gives a overview of the nation ...... 20

Resource Section

Facts, figures and background ...... 24

Personal prayer HOANDWHATT Miss ion digest: Information and prayer points Missionary Herald, the maga zine of the Baptist Missionary Society, from BMS missionaries around the world ...... 30 PO Box 49, Baptist Hou se, Didcot, Oxon, OXl 1 8XA. Action Teams: Life after training ...... 33 Telephone: 01235 512077 Fax: 012 35 511 265 John Passmore E-mail: [email protected] John Passmore steps out of the bushes ...... 34 General Director Director for Missionaries Reg Harvey Sian Williams Waves (for inquiries about service overseas) Managing Editor N INDEPENDENT VIE Richard Wells © Copyright 1996 John Weaver looks at this month 's them e ...... 35 Baptist Missionary Society Consulting Editor David Pountain Printed by Stanley L Hunt Ltd Rushden, Northamptonshire IN THE NEXT ISSUE Designer (CROSSING CULTURES) Anthony Viney Subscription for 1996 Mark and Marian Rudall on top of the world £5.40 through church mh distributors Illustrator £9.90 by direct mail line p&p) Sarah Prentice Nine issues plus the BMS Annual Review. Post and packing overseas at the rate Za ire and Angola PLUS supporting features Production Supervisor applicable Jan Kendall FRONT COVER: Hands across the communist divide. BMS missionary Ryder Rodgers prepares a new Albanian Christian for baptism in the sea •

.. JanuarY1996 Miss ionary Herald

..,_ Mizoram, once a district of north-east slow growth in the first 60 years from Where will it all lead? Next we'll be India and, since 1972, an official state. its birth in 1907, during which the seeing evangelised people evangelising Significantly, the fledgling Zoram World Mission Board of the Brazilian their own nation! Baptist Mission became active just as Baptist Convention placed missionaries And that is what is in its infancy in the door was closing in that part of first in Portugal, then in Bolivia and Indonesia, a product of a movement of India to the Western missionary later in Paraguay, belies the clarity of the Holy Spirit in the tribal areas of presence owing to political instability. vision which they have held since the Asia during this last decade of the 20th The last BMS missionaries to leave - first Baptist church met in Salvador in century. Joy Knapman, who first Edith Maltby and Joan Smith, nurses October 1882. visited Muslim-dominated Indonesia at Serkawn Christian Hospital - Once Brazilian Baptist missionaries for the BMS in 1992, speaks of the brought to an end 74 years of activity set foot in their fourth field, powerful vision held by the Kerapatan by the society pioneered by J H Mozambique in 1971, it seemed to set Gereja Baptis Indonesia (Convention Lorrain and F W Savidge in 1894. in motion a period of rapid expansion of Indonesian Baptist Churches). Now on their own, the Mizo and during the 1970s Uruguay, "Their vision is to evangelise the Christians grasped the baton and ran Argentina, Venezuela, Spain and_ whole of Indonesia - that's 13,000 with it. Joy Knapman, BMS Asia Canada received missionaries from the islands with 180 million people," says Representative, says: "These people South American giant. By the 1990s Joy. "But they're only a small group may be quiet and unassuming but they there remained only two South and they're going to need help from have a passion for mission. They American nations to be reached by the other Christians." Thus a partnership believe God has chosen them to be Brazilians; Suriname and French with the BMS was born. bearers of the gospel to the world." Guiana are still priorities. Working with the support of For the Mizos, the world started on Today, with the urge to reach Baptists from Britain, Australia, the their doorstep and in the first 20 years unreached people across the world, and USA and Canada, the 2,000-member of their mission society they had called a 10-year strategic plan to match, the Indonesian Baptist convention has 88 home missionaries to work with Brazilian Baptist World Mission Board started work to plant a church in every non-Mizos in Mizoram and 50 to work is not only continuing the break new district of the nation's 27 provinces. · in India. With 18 in training and other ground but also consolidating existing The Indonesians see the involvement home ministers, the 41,076-strong work, training national Christians to of Britain and Australia as an answer Mizoram Baptist community was reach areas and cross cultural barriers to prayer for a "Macedonian call" to supporting 581 full-time workers. foreign mission agencies to partner Between 1971 and 1988 the mission them in a work on Sumatra, an island recorded 12,000 baptisms and 100 new The passion for of eight provinces and a population of church plants, and its working plan for outreach is driven by an just over 36 million. the years to the turn of the millennium Joy was clearly touched by their is a progressive strategy for evangelism expectation of great things response to such a mammoth in neighbouring India, Bangladesh, from God - an echo of the challenge, reflecting a passion for Burma, Thailand and Nepal. historic words spoken by outreach driven by an expectation of In 1996 the Mizos' vision has lost William Carey great things from God as they attempt none of its zest, propelling them to enlarge their borders. forward with church planting projects, Carrying the torch onwards, living sending out evangelists, leadership which would take foreign workers expectantly and attempting big things training and refresher training for years to accomplish. echo the powerful message Carey gave leaders. Theirs is a process which does In all this the BMS provides not the Northamptonshire Baptist not stand still; when a church has been only financial support for Brazilian Association 204 years ago in May 1792: established by a Mizo missionary, they missionaries, but experienced people. "Enlarge the place of thy tent and let move him or her on to plant another BMS missionary David Brown plays a them stretch forth the curtains of thine church. The emphasis is on training key role in administration, personnel inhabitations; spare not, lengthen thy for native workers to replace them. and training at the World Mission cords and strengthen thy stakes ... " The BMS, on which the Zoram Board in Rio de Janeiro. To Carey, who expected God was Baptist Mission is modelled, supports "The Lord continues to call many," about to do great things by extending the Mizos as they eagerly tackle the says David, echoing the passion for the kingdom of Jesus throughout the challenges. With BMS funding Ringa mission still ablaze in the heart of the globe, it followed that Christians were and Diki Lalringa and Tiana and Brazilian Christian. "But the financial bound to go big for God. Fuelled by Laldinpii Laltlankima are serving in burdens are very great and we're only this expectation, he thundered words Nepal with the United Mission. able to send a small number of new which have rung in the hearts of many With an equal passion for mission workers every year. But the work is the a Christian since: "Expect great things, on the other side of the globe the Lord's and so are the riches of the attempt great things." Brazilians and not standing still. The world; our task is to remain faithful." And they have. •

January 1996 Miss ionary Herald ~ Challenge to maintain momentum

Hands across Europe Aid for the Romanians

satellite countries. THE TRANSFORMATION OF EASTERN EUROPE The primary response of Western But SIX YEARS AGO BROUGHT A FLOOD OF AID, churches to this open door of encourage opportunity has been a reactive one, as one BUT WHAT OF THE POSITION IN 1996? initially individuals, churches, CLIVE DOUBLEDAY THROWS DOWN associations and unions rallied to another TODAY'S CHALLENGE transport aid to these desperatdy daily as needy families and churches in the long as it East. In 1990 it seemed that all roads ver the past six years, the that things would change only when led to Romania. is called , world has witnessed a the present generation of hard-liners, Undoubtedly, many mistakes were 'today' radical transformation the old guard, had died or retired. made through lack of co-ordination Hebrews 0 throughout Eastern In 1989 the face of Europe changed and indeed co-operation between Europe, which has had a profound forever, as government after independent and insul~r churches and 3:13. effect upon every aspect of its society - government collapsed like a house of organisations. It was not uncommon politically, economically, socially and cards under the brave pressure of the for trucks loaded with aid to arrive in not least spiritually. people's revolution demanding that Romania without any contact or true To deduce that the collapse of democracy replace dictatorship. This destination point for their precious Communism has merely created domino effect swept through Poland, cargo. political change in Eastern Europe East Germany, Hungary, Naively some aid was off-loaded at would be a gross understatement. The Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and Romania. the front door of orphanages and advent of Gorbachev led to hopes that The following year the fight for immediately disappeared out of the the attitudes of the East European freedom behind the Iron Curtain back door and on to the black market satellite governments would soften spread to Albania, former Yugoslavia, to earn the leaders and staff of the with time, but the general opinion was Russia and the former Soviet Union orphanage a handsome profit, without

.. January 1996 Mi ss iona ry Hera ld Hands

the children ever seeing one item of aid. Fortunately, these reports were not as common as the media would have us believe and most of the aid was gratefully received, checked, lists made and distributed carefully and wisely, particularly if the recipient was a pastor of a local church. During those early euphoric months of freedom in 1990, there was a wonderful time of fellowship among the fraternity of truck drivers into Romania or while staying in the large city hotels, courtesy of the Romanian government, with hundreds of aid workers, reporters, TV crews and medical teams. While waiting at the Hungarian­ Romanian border, it was not uncommon to be in a queue of 100 or Today, a very small percentage of equipping , encouraging and 200 lorries waiting for documentation Christians, churches and missionary enterprising projects, both socially and approval, guarded by machine-gun­ organisations support our Eastern spiritually. The old premise still carrying Romanian soldiers. The European brothers and sisters. The applies: "If you give a man a fish, you unique international fellowship among long-awaited change in Eastern Europe feed him for a day. If you teach a man Christians from Sweden, England, has not brought the hoped-for how to fish, you feed him for life." France, Switzerland, America and economic rebirth and instant relief to Those tireless and determined every Western country imaginable was poverty, and there is much disillusion­ individuals, churches and missionary as rewarding as the fellowship enjoyed ment and despondency among the organisations who have been faithfully with our Eastern European Christian committed in their equipping and brothers and sisters. encouraging programmes are to be It is amazing to realise that over two Today, a very small commended. years - while still a full-time student at percentage of Christians, More than two-thirds of European Spurgeon's College - I had the joy of Baptists ~re to be found in Eastern being involved in delivering £1 churches and missionary Europe and they still desperately need million-worth of donated aid to organisations support our our encouragement, as they proclaim Baptist pastors and churches who Eastern European brothers the good news. of Jesus Christ to their distributed it to the needy. Similar and sisters. fellow countrymen. Throughout expeditions and trips in subsequent Eastern Europe at present there is a years have been made to Albania, tremendous battle for the mind and . Bulgaria, Poland, Russia and more once-hopeful Eastern Europeans. soul, as every modern religion and cult recently former Yugoslavia. Young people throughout Eastern peddles its belief and prescription for After six years the world's focus and Europe dream of amassing a sufficient happiness and meaning to life. spotlight have moved on to other amount in American dollars to travel to Theologically trained pastors and countries and crises, and much of the the West for education, employment church leaders need to be equipped in reactive aid support has long since and eagerly sought-after wealth. the handling of God's Word to enable ceased. What the East needs now is the amazing growth and church

January 1996 Mi ss ionary Herald «i» planting that has taken place Clive Doubleday throughout Eastern Europe to be meets children at a sustained in the decades and centuries Romanian orphanage that lie ahead. Creative Christian social, medical, educational, employment and child care enterprises are to be encouraged, as churches and people equip themselves for the future. Throughout any workable relationship there needs to be integrity, accountability and mutual respect for any East-West project to be successful. As the West gives of its wealth and abundant experience, we should be prepared to receive lessons in spiritual fervour, commitment, humility and insight from our long-suffering brothers and sisters, and, as partners in Christ, work together for the glory of God and the furtherance of His Kingdom.

Revd Clive Doubleday, BA, is the minister of Poverest Road Baptist Church, Petts Wood, Kent and a member of the Baptist Missionary Society General Committee.

January 1996 Missionary Herald I need help to pray effectively for those in the front line of w·orld mission

Please send me a BMS Prayer Guide r~------, I I I I would like ...... Prayer Guide( s) and I enclose a I : cheque for£...... payable to the Baptist Missionary : I Society. I I I I Name ...... I

} Address...... ~ ...... Po stcode ...... Prayer Guides are £1.00 each (inc p&p). Post this form with your payment to: BMS, PO Box 49. Baptist House. Didcot. I Ox on, OX118XA. I L------J January 1996 Missionary Herald Cii) BMS

Among adults around our churches is an unhealthy image of mission. I believe there's little understanding that mission is a partnership between local churches and churches around the world." The video presents in a TV current affairs style a programme illustrating the value of church members' active Steve Chalke launches BMS The Video involvement in prayer, financial and practical aspects of mission, using examples from churches in Scotland, Wales and England. It is available, priced £7.95 including a free illustrated teaching manual, from BMS Didcot. 1-iiMUtMltel a Baptist minister, is director of the Oasis Trust and appears regularty on breakfast television.

THE MAN DRIVEN INTO FULL-TIME CHRISTIAN WORK BY A PASSION FOR TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT JESUS SET A DYNAMIC TONE AT THE NATIONAL LAUNCH OF THE NETWORK BMS, THE NEW VIDEO New guidelines for care CONCEPT IN COMMUNICATING WORLD Fresh poli cy and guidelin es fo r pastoral care of MISSION TO CHURCHES. missionari es have been adopted following a year-long research project by a BMS wo rking group chaired by Alan uest keynote speaker Steve Chalke stood in Pain, minister of Sutton Coldfie ld Baptist Church. London's National Film Theatre and told T he group's research ex pl ored pastoral needs, invited guests before the premiere screening that examined the current care and co llated in fo rmation from Gthe new video, You Can Make the Difference, a comprehensive ques ti onnaire to missionari es. was breaking fresh ground; it dispelled a myth that was Presenting the group 's JO-page report to the BMS alive when he was a child that if you WANTED to work General Committee, Alan Pain highlighted the shared full-time for God, it surely couldn't be his will! pastoral duties of sending churches, partner churches, He recalled Sunday school tales of missionaries on BMS co-ordinators, regional representati ves, training furlough visits who appeared as ordinary people - nothing co ll eges and missionari es themselves. like the superhuman images conjoured in small boys' "We're concerned in this report with improvement, imaginations - and who hadn't WANTED to be being more specifi c, precise and practi cal," he said . missionaries, but God had SENT them .. . to places like the General Committee members expressed concern about Congo. And they didn't look too excited about it, he said. the workability of suggested guidelines, principall y those "So every Sunday school kid grew up with the idea that in vol\'ing BMS regional representa ti ves in a six-monthly they were in this terrible place called the Congo, sent out missionary \'isitati on programme. for years at a time by those awful people at the BMS," said BMS Director for Missionaries Sian Williams says it is Steve. recognised tha t the means of providing care will depend Top left: And there was his dilemma. As a desire for on missionari es' locati ons and accessibility and while Steve Chalke communicating the gospel grew in Steve over the years, he regiona re presentati ves will not be able to provide all of discusses the BMS was beset by the mental picture of a God whose will wa:s to the suggested pas toral ca re personall y, they will be Video with General send people who didn't want to go. "But I wanted to do it, responsible for overseeing that care is gi,·en. Director Reg and I thought this meant it wasn't God's Regional representati ves have welcomed the new Harvey will," he said. "If I DIDN'T want to guidelines. Derek Rumbo!, representati ve for Africa says: do it, then it probably WAS God's will. "They will help us to improve our pastoral care fo r ,.. ._ "It took a long time to work through missionaries and although they' ll wo rk out differently in s.::::~ this misconception of mission work," he di ffe rent areas, I hope that missionari es will be better admitted. "This video is an important served as a result." tool because it helps to dispel these myths.

a. January 1996 Miss ionary Herald Fresh bid to WOW the youngsters Dramatic changes to mission motivation for young youth, says the club package will be supported by a people are introduced this month with the aim of children's video towards the end of the year. educating youngsters about world mission, Older youth work by the BMS will focus on a summer stimulating their interest and encouraging their camp, a touring roadshow next year, a new year party to participation. welcome 1997 and a new fund-raising project, as well The Window on the World club is the vehicle on which as a youth culture video. f \I \I BMS is pinning its hopes of world mission inspiration for Phil, who has ~ ~\lJ ,I \1 the sixes to thirteens. It sweeps the traditional monthly Look magazine for ~::;:nsibili- - ~ ~fJ ' ,,.. ~ \! children into a 21st century full colour support publication ty for BMS rl d rJ. '1 '~ 0 for club activities and resources which include, for each ~ct_io~ Teams, '1 1 he W 0 0 child who joins: ts atmmg to • d O w 0 * A large colour world map and 24 stickers to collect. W I expand the project to embrace * A summer action day. UK Action Teams, more summer Action Teams and special * A club badge. Action Teams to accommodate young people whose post­ * An annual 44-page action pack of resources for leaders. studies plans are not confirmed until well after the * A new WOW fund-raising project. qualifying date for the 28: 19 overseas teams. "The WOW club will now have an open membership "Several youth leaders have said that children's and and be the umbrella for all our future children's work," say,s youth work has fallen behind and needs a higher and serious Phil. profile," says Phil. "We need to act quickly and positively if Phil, who has spent the past six months preparing the we're to effectively reach today's young people with the club material, as well as working on resources for older challenge of world mission." • Angola fund could help Zaire

The Charity Commission has been aksed to grant the fund contained eight times as much as was permission to widen the use of the BMS Angola required to satisfy the needs of Mbanza Kongo Hospital Fund. hospital.• Sanction is required quickly to enable the fund to satisfy a pressing need in Zaire for repairs and renovation to hospitals run by the BMS partner church, the Baptist Community of the River Zaire (CBFZ), at '" r . ""' ~ Bolobo, where 500 children died of measles earlier this year, at Ntondo, Pimu and Yakusu. Communication between these hospitals, necessary at the best of times but critical during epidemics such as the Ebola virus in May, is non-existent and BMS Director of Operations David Martin says that essential radios, computers and modems to allow national and international contact could be financed from the fund. Some of the £400,000 in the fund may be needed for the rehabilitation of the hospital at Mbanza Kongo, in Angola, the original beneficiary, and for repairs and Angola: People exist in a equipment at hospitals in the north of the country but fragile peace because of the results of the long internal war - landmines, civil unrest and impassable roads - it has not been possible to assess the needs. BMS General Director Reg Harvey estimated that

Janu ary 1996 Missionary Herald CD s Confirmation for Candidates

Baptist minister Paul Ellis, his wife Linda, and staff nurse She married Gordon in 1985 and both felt the call to mh. Susan Campbell are preparing for mission work with the mission work. But tragically he died in a road accident three BMS following their acceptance by BMS General. years later and Susan's route to mission work was put on subscription Some confusion Committee. And the committee has also confirmed re-offers hold. However, from 1992 Susan began to be involved in may have ari sen of service from John and Valerie Furmage. church youth ministries and led two Scripture over the mh 1996 For Paul (49) and Linda (51) Union camps. In 1993 she co-led a Task subscription there is a definite Belgium Force team for Tear Fund to Uganda and revision, owing to connection because his mother a year later led a team to Brazil incorrect information was born there and he feels a Described by Joyce Wainwright, published in strong calling to take the chairman of BMS Candidate Board, as October's issue, gospel across the Channel. a dynamic leader and pioneer, Susan which had gone · Paul and Linda (right, top) feels the time is right to pick up the to press before the det ail s were say the stirrings of a call to mission call again. finali sed. The Belgium began in 1991 after a visit with Susan, a member of Leven Baptist Church correct prices his mother. Later a friendship developed with Samuel since 1991, studied at Glasgow Bible Training Institute and appear on Page 3 Verhaeghe, President of the Belgian Baptist Union, and the Liverpool Bible College, Ormskirk. She has been closely of this issue and couple forged links between their church at Hemel involved with HIV/ AIDS and drugs work for Grampian we apologise for Hempstead and Samuel's in Middelkerke. Health Board. the erro r. The turniilg point in their lives came John and Valerie Furmage (left below )will through Acts eh 16, v6-10. Paul says: "The return to pastoral work in South West Parana, apostle Paul found that various openings Brazil, next August after four years at were being blocked by the Holy Spirit until Fishergate Baptist Church, Preston. The couple he finally head the appeal from the man of came home from Brazil in 1990 after 19 years Macedonia. Linda and I believe that this service and the following year John was called to was clearly also the way for us." the pastorate at Fishergate. After preparation courses they will start BMS Director ministerial service in Belgium for Missionaries Susan Campbell (32), who has been at Sian Williams Aberdeen Royal Infirmary since 1993, spoke of the high trained at Dumfries and Galloway College esteem with which of Nursing and Midwifery with missionary the couple were work in view. held in Brazil. • Family off to Asia

Former management accountant David Kerrigan and his wife, Janet, are due to fly to Sri Lanka with their family where David is to work as one of the BMS Asia representatives. He will relieve current Asia representative Joy The New Year means new volume two of Fool's Gold characters, and selected Knapman of much of her workload, publications from the BMS. - How About it Mr missionaries. Strong which has grown over the years as The new video, You Can Millman? - is well worth graphics make this leaflet BMS activities have expanded and new Make the Difference - one considering at just £6. It's very readable for all ages. partnerships formed. of the Network BMS series a collection of 10 short Watch out for Around David and Janet, whose re-offer of - is proving very popular. plays with a mission theme the World in 80 Ways, the At £7.95, including free and small groups will have BMS's colourful new-look service was accepted by BMS General workbook, the video is great fun rehearsing and catalogue for 1996. It's a Committee in June, had been in great value and can be performing them. user-friendly guide to ministry at Pinhoe Road Baptist used for personal viewing Let's Take a Look at everything the BMS Church, Exeter, since 1991. David or to start a group BMS is a free four-page publishes for sale and hire. trained at Spurgeon's College and discussion. It presents, in leaflet aimed principally at Many mission resources current affairs format, the young people, which tells are free. And so is the spent his student pastorate at Forest strong partnership between the story of the society and catalogue! Row Baptist Church in East Sussex. • Baptists in Britain and the brings you up-to-date using e Call Christine, BMS global work of the BMS. Globetrotter and Boomer, Literature Secretary, on If you're into drama, the new WOW Club 01235 512077

~ January 1996 Miss ionary Herald Gratitude for children's holidays Baptists throughout Europe, who helped provide holidays for children suffering from radiation sickness, have recieved a letter of gratitude from the leaders of the Belarus Baptist Union. For the past three years the European Baptist Federation (EBF) has sponsored the programme Children of Chernobyl which locates churches in A strong desire to extend the Baptist evangelistic work . Western countries willing to witness into Romania's under­ Gacea , who is working closely with host holidays for children evangelised east has been expressed the Romania Baptist Union president from Belarus and other areas by the country's Baptist Union . Vasile Talos, says: "These churches affected by radiation fallout Baptist work has been strong in could support missionaries in these from the Chernobyl nuclear western Romania and in the capital, places and provide a place to meet for catastrophe. Bucharest, but the east has very few the new congregations which will be Hundreds of children Baptist churches. established." have been helped so far and Under their new general secretary, The general secretary, who feels he it is thought that even a one­ 40-year-old father of three Pastor was elected because Baptists were month respite from Aurel Gacea, the strategy is to looking for people interested in radiation is challenge strong, wealthy Baptist mission , is known for his heart for New moderator sufficient to churches in western Romania to evangelism. He is pastor of one of the in North India improve the choose few eastern Baptist churches, at health of K areas in the south and west where Tulcea. • The Rt Revd Dhirendra children. they could begin church-planting and Mohanty has become the Belarus Baptist moderator of the Church churches, which of North India (CNI) support three following a decision by miss10nanes Lost tribe setback in instead of meeting members of the Ninth Synod of the working in the tribe, they encountered Church in Delhi. Bishop children's Brazil government agency representa-. Mohanty, from a Baptist hospitals and A nine-year search by missionaries for a tiny lost tives who guard the vast region's family, grew up in the clinics, also Amazon tribe has been halted within sight of isolated Indian groups from state of Orissa where the contribute to their success. Government officials forced a team of three approaches by outsiders. denomination agreed to union's summer explorer-evangelists camping in the rainforest to YWAM's Transcultural join the CNI when it was camp programme leave a restricted area only days away from Ministry leaders, Braulia Ribeiro, formed 25 years ago. He for the children in anticipated contact with the isolated Himarima based at Port Velho, Rondonia, was Bishop of the a former military people. says this setback was not only a Cuttack Diocese with base near Kobrin. Youth With a Mission has been spearheading disappointment but could create which the BMS has However, further efforts to take the gospel to the small tribe. Efforts to difficulties in working with other special links. • finance is needed trace the Himarima began in 1986 when the first Indian groups. "Our workers to enable the 1996 team began exploring the remote jungle lands of the enter restricted areas because we fear that otherwise camp programme to go Amazon, since when several months-long some of these small tribes could be destroyed before ahead and the Belarus expeditions have been made resulting in sightings they ever get the chance to hear the gospel," he says. Baptist Union is also aiming from the air and traces on the ground. The Himarima live nomadically, making to raise (US)$30,000 to The latest expedition found fresh footprints and temporary shelters in the trees and hunting or begin work on a second discarded clay pieces around the Piranha River but fishing for food. • camp.•

January 1996 Mi ss ionary Herald a. Update Iandmines and refugees

uncensored - offering a free Mutual home study kit to recognition in respondents were reported UPDATE Italy to have "caused quite a stir" according to the Bible LANDMINES The Italian Baptist Union Correspondence Course Whilst receiving quite a bit of media has joined with two other organisers, a joint project coverage on the day itself Action Day protestant denominations - between WEC (World To Ban Landmines, 23 Sept 95, the Methodists and Evangelisation for Christ) sadly did not have much effect on Waldensians - to grant each and Youth With a Mission the corridors of power. David other full and mutual (YWAM). Davies, the Foreign Office minister, recognition. The course organisers writing a week later, in the Guardian Recognition includes say many Muslims are eager said , ------PICTIJRED ABOVE: people, ministires, churches to learn about Christianity "Why does the British government not support a total Victim of a landmine and "ordinamenti", which and the home study kit ban? blast learns to move covers ecclesiastical allows them to learn in The answer come back to reality. We want a policy around again practices, constitutions and private without fear of which works • not one that simply catches the (Christian by-laws, like, for example, discovery or threat of being headlines. Landmines remain an effective defensive Aid/NicDunlop) believers' baptism. cut off from families. weapon. Our own armed forces have them and need , Renato Maiocchi, In nearby Turkey up to them. If they had to do without landmines, our forces pres.ident of the Italian 10,000 requests for the kit would be wea kened. They would risk taking more Baptist Union, said no one were received in a year and casualties. wanted to create a rough several churches have been We do not believe it would be right to deny other copy or mixture of the planted. In this republic - responsible countries the right to have landmines too." diverse "ordinamenti" but · unnamed for security The UN Weaponry Convention meeting in Vienna, that a full recognition of reasons - fewer than one per which coincided with the media coverage, was not able each independent body cent are Christians. • to reach any conclusion . should be achieved. "We recognise that in the REFUGEES New Testament there are Poles celebrate Four members of Victoria Baptist elements of both the Church, Eastbourne, (pictured presbyterian and congrega­ recognition right) Ian Coup land, Steve Jupp, tional systems," he says. Polish Baptists had cause to Antony and Maree Miles, and "Both have productive celebrate at their assembly. Baptist pastor Revd Oliver elements to be valued. This After more than two years of Vellacott from Caithness recognition allows each negotiations they had journeyed to Sloven ia at the group to keep its own secured full legal status with invitation of Pastor lzet Veladzic. systems, regulatio'ns and the help of a Baptist As a church , Victoria Baptist have ecclesiastical traditions but Member of Parliament. prayed for and supported Pastor no longer will anyone say or The new status enables lzet in recent years. Pastor lzet think that one is inside and Baptists to retrieve property was brought up as a Muslim and the other outside the which belonged to them he and his family have suffered Biblical perspective." • before World War II, allows persecution . They will also be Baptist pastors the same tax visiting the Life and Peace Center ...______status as Roman Catholic in Croatia, which has as its Director, Revd Stevo Dereta , Bible studies priests and opens the way described as a dynamic Baptist pastor. Since August for them to serve as 1993 over 2,000 refugees, especially women and stir Muslim chaplains. children, traumatised by the war have been to this interest The Polish Baptist refuge for a short period of rest, relaxation, good food Union comprises 61 and Christian compassion. • An advertising campaign churches; currently 18 inviting people to write in to congregations are without LEFT: learn more about Jesus has pastors and 16 Polish Being a refugee at attracted interest in a missionaries are working in 20-20 Vision · Muslim republic in the new areas to establish former USSR. churches.• Newspaper advertise­ ments and television commercials - surprisingly

CD January 1996 Mi ss ionary Herald Dates for your diary If you are organising a world mission event open to visitors, and would like it publicised in this diary, please let us have details three months in advance. Write to: World Mission Link Diary, BMS PO Box 49, Didcot, Oxon, OXll 8XA.

February 3/4 Salisbury Area Fellowship BMS Event Details: Gill Pembleton (Tel: 01722 412163) March 2/3 Western Link-Up Group BMS weekend Details: Pauline Trounson (Tel: 01297 442583)_ March 5 I... Newport and District WMA meeting and annual gift day Details: Kathleen Wilkie (Tel: 01633 89442 7)

even children wh o Confessions t'ro1n the World attend Pandy village Mission l.iinlt. Desk! chapel were so It is Friday and I don't appear to have a map of the town. touched by the work Am I sure it didn't come in today's post? I'm speaking being done by the school there on Sunday morning so I really ought to have some for blind girls and young directions. women in Dhaka that they Check the fax. That's it, it probably came by fax. held a Bangladesh party to No fax ... raise some money to OK, I'll phone them. support it. No answer. No map. No directions. The school features in Help! this year's BMS Children 's Still, I suppose this is better than not knowing which Project Deka Bangladesh church raising the plight of church I'm speaking at. for which the target of villagers who waited hours That's my colleague's problem ... £4,000 has been broken for their water buckets to already. fill , drop by drop. So they He congratulated himself on the fact that he was really The seven children, aged placed a bucket in the well prepared . church foyer every Sunday He had the hymns chosen, sermon written, the time of between five and 13, sent service clear. invitations to every house in and invited people to put He arrived at the church an hour before the service was their village in the Ceiriog their "drop in the bucket" due to start, pleased with his time management and map Valley, in Wales , and put in the form of loose change reading . . posters up around the to help Sue 's work. "Welcome! Oh, by the way, could you do the children's neighbouring village of The result: £551.16. talk?" Glyn Ceiriog. At Tottenham Baptist Their party features Church , north London , Don't stalls including cakes, bric­ Sunday school children a-brac, platns, hot dogs, were so shocked to learn of If you have booked a BMS speaker, please: teas, a lollipop game and the plight of the youngsters • wait until the week of the meeting before contacting sweets. Village riding stable of the "rag picking" village the speaker. owner John Payne lent a near Vellore, in southern • assume the speaker knows your church circumstances. pony for rides and parents India , that they asked • expect them to always be at home when you ring. and friends helped to man teacher Janette Whitehead • assume they will use a car. the stalls. if they could hold a sale. The party raised £280 Janette says: "When they for the blind school work. read in their BMS Look • contact your speaker at. least two weeks beforehand. More fund -raising for magazine that these Indian • discuss the meeting and what you would like them to Bangladesh has been going children had to sort do. on at Woodley Baptist through rubbish tips to find • if you want them to choose worship songs, tell them Church near Reading, things to sell , they wanted which hymn book you use. Berkshire. A Drop in the to sell their old comics and • check how they are travelling and give 1clear written Bucket was their way of toys, and cakes that they directions. getting funds to families in would make, to help them ." • make sure they know the time and length of the Chittagong village. Their With donations, £237 meeting. link missionary, Sue was raised . • Headlam, wrote to the January 1996 Mis sionary Herald C!l, WML Inspiring the young Envisioning young people for world mission is a challenge for any church. Chris Binstead explains how they tackle it at Exeter

ABOVE: Over the past four years members of the Sunday Club at St Thomas mission committee metl)bers adapt resources A wave of thanks - complete Thomas Baptist Church, Exeter, have been on their travels - to to their own situations. But good resources are only part of the with coloured buckets • from Honduras, Nepal, the Seychelles and, most recently, Brazil. All equipment. Enthusiasm is essential; it rubs off on to the the children of Woodley this has been without a passport and, indeed, without leaving children and they will pick up quickly the signs of a lack of Baptist Church the church . enthusiasm. Further, those making presentations need to have TOP RIGHT: A pupil at the Dhaka School Once a term the seven to 11 age group is led by members of prepared thoroughly so that they know what they are talking for the Blind learns to read in the church Mission Committee. These are sessions enjoyed not about. Braille only by the children - who are learning something of mission When the children travelled to Brazil recently, they looked at RIGHT: and of what God is doing in the world - but by the regular life in the favelas (shanty towns) and tried to build their own St Thomas youngsters in their teachers ... and the committee members. shanty houses. They thoroughly enjoyed this and experienced own favela shack Resource materials are readily available these days and the frustration of roofs and walls falling down. They also speakers have in the past made realised the need to work together and probably learned more use of BMS Bubble and than had been anticpated when the lesson was being prepared. Squeak packages - you say The aim of the St Thomas mission sessions is that the what you need, the BMS youngsters will become world Christians, aware that "God so comes up with the loved the world ... " and able to encourage older Christians to resources. With the launch catch their vision. of the WOW (Window on A comment made by a seven-year-old from the group led to the World) Club, even the organisation of a coach trip from the church to visit Logos more resources will be II, thje Operation Mobilisation ship, when it docked at available. St Thomas Southampton. also use materials from Children will enjoy learning that God is alive and active, and other mission working tflrough his people in the 1990s, worldwide. They will organisations, some of be excited by it and you will be encouraged. So why not which work in introduce your Sunday Club to mission?• partnership with the BMS. Chris Binstead is chainnan of the Mission Committee at St Thomas Baptist While ready­ Church, Exeter made programmes are available, St

a. January 1996 Miss iona ry Hera ld Working Together for World Mi!

Teamwork is the key to a successful world mission church event. That's where BMS co-ordinators can make all the difference, says Andy Stockbridge

t the heart of BMS support in Surrey, says of London and South are the local churches of East Co-ordinator Derek Mucklow: Scotland, Wales and "He is an invaluable resource for me. A England. And to all but a He is always available for advice, he is a handful, the resources of the BMS at useful local source of information on Didcot might as well be a million miles the BMS and always keeps me away. informed of matters of direct To bridge the gap and make those interest." / resources more accessible, BMS Co­ Whether you are a mission secretary ordinators work in partnership with wanting to make a display for the churches and together for the church noticeboard, or a housegroup promotion of world mission. As with leader looking for a set of studies to "Derek any good partnership, all sides bring use over a number of weeks, or a 1s an different skills, qualities and resources church speaker seeking additional enthusiastic world mission resources, help is just a person. He is able to Questions telephone call away. Co-ordinators get people excited about hold lists of speakers who can be the BMS when he How can I get more involved in world mission? in vited to take part in a church world speaks. It's easy for me to be I want to have a mission ce lebration · what can I do? mission event on a Sunday or at a mid­ excited but it's difficult to Is God calling me to missionary service? week meeting and local teams are being pass on that excitement." What new materials, videos and resources are available? set up to help with larger meetings and Caroline looks forward How can I get training as a mission speaker? What is PIPS and how do I find out more about it? events. to Derek's visit to her church: Who can help me · I want to enthuse my church for Display boards, self-help kits and "I feel I wouldn't be able to get mission? leaflets on all aspects of BMS mission across in one meeting all the work in four continents are available work in all the countries which together achieve much more from the local co-ordinator. And if you BMS does. Derek has a lot of than can be gained on their own. think God is calling yo u to be more things available - in one The eight co-ordinators are acti,·e in yo ur own church, or you are night he can get all strategically placed around the UK so considering missionary service, then the work across." that help with organising an event, the local co ordinator should be the As well as their booking a speaker, arranging a first person to contact. resource, information conference, or whatever, on a world Apart from their "product and encouragement roles, co­ mission theme, is never far away. knowledge" - they know BMS insi de ordinators also provide But with almost 3,000 churches to out - co-ordinators are highly skilled training for World cover, personal visits don't happen communicators who make it their Mission Link very often. Instead, they're available to business to absorb local knowledge so contacts, mission support church mission secretaries, that they can tailor-make the right secretaries and organisers and leaders chiefly as promotional services for the right leaders. enablers, encouragers, motivators, people to use in the right situations. Hundreds of world resource providers and advisers to The result is an economical use of mission event organisers have already make the difference to their church time and resources. benefited from the co-ordinators' activities. Caroline McLuckie, missionary network. As Alan Prosser, mission secretary secretary of Oban Baptist Church says Andy Stockbridge is BMS Director at Oaklands Baptist Church, Surbiton, of Scottish Co-ordinator Derek Clark: for Constituency Support

Januar·y 1996 Mi ssiona ry Herald CE, S100■ ft , . . : '. ~ '·.

• i

Jim Clarke PHIL HINDLE The new BMS co -ordinator for the South and South West is Chipping Cambden Baptist Church Deacon , Phil Hindle. He says: "Having spent more than 20 years in telecommunications, computing and Scotland banking, I fe lt that the time had come I •• for a change from the business world. The opportunity arose to apply for this 41 Newton Road , Lenzie, Gl asgow, G66 2LS post with the BMS and Christine, my Tel : 0141 7751201 Gareth Hutchinson and Derek Mucklow wife, and I gave th'is carefu l consideration , worried that ii may have been just a mid-life crisis. But the Lord 's calling was very clear! "I am excited about this change and my hope for the future in this region is that we will see growth in prayer, emotional and financial support for the BMS, with each church developing a deep and 49 Allerton Road , Bradford , BD8 0AY lasting interest in the society's work. Tel : 01274 487341 am looking forward to developing friendships in as many churches as possible. "If time al lows, I also hope to be able to continue my hobbies outside working hours, of reading, gardening and riding my trials motorbike." Phil and Christine hope to move to the LE2 SUE Taunton area in the New Year.

Dingley Dell , Church Road , Wentworth , Ely, Cambs, CB6 3QE Tel : 01 353 778984 DELYTH WYN DAVIES The new BMS co-ordinator for North and Mid-Wales is wife of Baptist Minister and teacher, Delyth Wyn London and South East England Davies. She says: "Cyfarchion o Gymru 1 Greetings from 51 Glandon Close, Epsom , Surrey, KT17 2NH Wales . I was brought up in the seaside Tel : 0181 393 6017 town of Llandudno, which is fairly anglicised but Welsh was the language of our home. Our fami ly attended a small Welsh Presbyterian Chapel where I enjoyed going to Sunday school and playing the organ. After completing a degree course in education at The Normal College, Bangor, I taught in a few primary schools in the area . Roseban k, Sheep Street, Chipping Campden , Throughout this time I felt a cal l to do Glos, GL55 6DR Christian work with children and spent Tel : 01386 840238 (movi ng in 1996) much of my time doing this voluntarily. "I was then appointed Children's Work I· I. . Organiser with the Presbyterian Church Borth Rd, Porthmadog, Gwynedd , LL49 9UP of Wales Youth Service and during the Tel: 01766 512957 eight years I became involved in mission education. Now I look forward to serving God in this new role and to the cha llenge of enthusing those in local situations to put mission work high on 20 Southward Lane, Langland , Swansea, their churches' agenda. My main hope is to see churches looking outward and SA3 4QU discovering the th ri ll and enrichment of Tel: 01792 360909 being involved in the work of the church throughout the world ."

CE) ,lanuar-y 1996 Mi s~ io nary He1'81d Italy Equal freedom for religions

BEGINNING A NEW SERIES IN WHICH JAN IffiNDALL TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF THE COUNTRIES IN WHICH BMS HAS A WORKING INTEREST

uperficially Italy is very British Youth for Christ and had been religious, with churches a youth worker for his local authority. everywhere. The Vatican is He'd also been a home help, and been Sin the centre of Rome, but involved in church work, and although Roman Catholicism has its completed his theology degree from hold, most only have a nominal Spurgeon's College in 1993. allegiance and their outlook is basically Claire has a degree in history, secular. Others, disillusioned with the worked as an assistant careers officer church have sought refuge in Marxism, and has undertaken part-time the cults or witchcraft. Only 1,500 of theological studies at Spurgeon's. Italy's 33,000 communities have an , They have a daughter, Elizabeth, established evangelical witness. aged two. In 1984 Roman Catholicism ceased Just over a year ago they started to be the state religion, and all their language study in preparation for religions now have equal freedom. work in Italy. When Mark wrote the However the Protestant church is still following article they had only been in weak, and considered a foreign sect, Genoa three weeks. despite the existence of the Waldensian Church, the world's oldest Protestant denomination. One hundred and fifty years ago At present BMS has three missionary Charles Dickens described Genoa as "a couples working in Italy: place that grows upon you every day. It abounds in the strangest contrasts, Ann & David Macfarlane things that are picturesque, ugly, mean, Ann & David are based at Altamura, in magnificent, delightful and offensive, the southern tip of Italy, (near the top break upon the view at every turn." of the heel on the 'boot'). They come Although we have lived in the city from Scotland and their home church for only three weeks, the description is Falkirk Baptist. Before going to Italy seems to have worn well. David, who is a minister, worked as a Looking across the port the residential social worker. They are in buildings which stand out from the Italy with their three children, Diann crus4 of flats and houses range from aged 19, David aged 18, and Elizabeth ancient cathedrals to disused dockside aged 14. warehouses to glistening, new high rise office complexes. The overall Mark & Claire Ord impression is that this ancient city has Mark and Claire are members of seen better days. Clapham Baptist Church. Mark had Genoa is Italy's fifth largest city and previously spent a year with Oasis and is home to around one million people.

January 1996 Missionary Herald @) It feels typically, chaotically Italian. just been baptised, told us how on the Baptists form a very small part of the night of his son's birth he had run community, even the Christian through the streets of the city shouting community, which is of course, that he had a son. He was so animated predominantly Roman Catholic. There that you half expected him to do the are two Baptist churches with a same about his son's baptism. He combined attendance of less than 100 preached so loudly that I imagine half people. Unfortunately both churches of Genoa got the message. will lose their pastors by next easter as In the evening the church was full they are due to retire. again, this time with young people. It Given this, it was exciting to be at was the Baptist church's turn to host church twice on Sunday (normally the monthly youth service. The church there is only one service) and find it was transformed; the organ was hidden packed to capacity on both occasions. behind a huge amplifier and an OHP In the morning three young people screen, and along the front of the were baptised and the church was platform was a row of microphones crammed with church and famify which fortunately had not been members, friends and people from available to the morning's preacher. other Protestant churches in the city. The whole service was led and enjoyed The feeling of crampedness was by young people from virtually all the heightened by the fact that the entire churches in Genoa: Baptists, congregation had to move downstairs Methodists, Waldensians, Roman for part of the service to a room which Catholics, Pentecostals, Brethren and houses the baptistry. Adventists. It is difficult to imagine In the sermon the pastor, a former such a gathering taking place in Roman Catholic priest whose son had Britain. In this large and diverse group the feeling of being in such an extreme minority is quelli::d for a time - which I Facts and figures imagine is part of the idea. It was a good day and such occasions will be as important to us as Religious allegiances to any protestant in Genoa. A welcome Roman Catholic 78% antidote to the difficulties of bearing a Protestant 1% credible witness to Jesus in a city, and a Non religious 18% (almost all were country for that matter, which looks on baptised in the Catholic church) most Protestant churches as sects. A Orthodox 1% fact that was brought home to me Sects eg Jws , Mormons 1 % when I was looking for a flat in Genoa. Muslim 2% On hearing I was a Baptist, the estate (Figures have been rounded, agent asked if I would be performing so do not make 100%) any strange ceremonies in the flat, and ended by asking me if I believed in Population: Jesus Christ. A novel question to ask a 57 ,868,000 (1994); estimate for Baptist missionary. year 2000 58 million The Protestant churches in Genoa -Children per woman: 1. 3 ( 1991) have a difficult task in mission, perhaps Health services: One doctor per every due as much to their perception of 210 people themselves as other people's Calorie consumption: 138% of perception of them. Discussing some required intake of Genoa's social problems with a Literacy 98% male; 96% female Waldensian churchleader, he told me Communications: 106 newspapers, that unemployment was 10% , which is 421 TV sets & 791 radio receivers high for northern Italy. When I asked per 1,000 people if any church was working with Economy: Annual growth 2.2% unemployed people he replied, _"We Annual inflation 9% are a small community; we are not the (1980-92) Roman Catholic church. What can we do?" A good question. Mark Ord

~ Janu ary 1996 Mi ss ionary Herald l'oCII§

PRAYER POINTS

Lord , Many years ago when Paul wrote his letter to the Church in Rome,

I many people in Italy worshipped Christopher & Sarah Mattock WAf_,OENSIANS you , and they sent missionaries all Chris and sarah are members of The Waldensians were founded as a over the world . Basingstoke Baptist Church. After reform movement within the Roman Nowadays Lord , in modern Italy, leaving school Chris studied Catholic church by Peter Waldo, a people think you're out-of-date; that horticulture, worked as a VSO in merchant of Lyons in the late 12th religion is just a lot of beautiful Papua New Guinea and then in the century. Waldo gave away his worldly churches and superstition. People family's rose growing firm near goods and led a simple life of poverty are a lot more interested in the "3 Oxford. He is also a qualified driving and preaching. Others rallied to him Fs" : football, family and food; faith instructor. He trained for the Baptist and his lifestyle and at first this group has got left out. ministry at Regent's Park College, was given papal approval. Their lives Lord God make the Christians in Oxford from 1990 - 93. of poverty however served to Italy channels of your peace: Sarah, who comes from Cheam, emphasise the worldliness of many • Bring honesty where there is trained for Occupational Therapy in . clergy. Both the Archbishop of Lyons corruption; Oxford. After getting married she and a new Pope prohibited their • Bring faith in Jesus where there worked in hospitals in Basingstoke, preaching and excommunicated them. is trust in crying madonnas; mostly in Community Health, and in In less than a decade the pendulum • Bring unity where there are two 1991 spent three months as a volunteer had swung from applauding their divided nations, North and South; at the Christian Medical Hospital, enthusiasm to branding them as • Bring compassion for the poor Vellore, India. They have a son, heretics. The Waldensians fled from and outsiders where they are oft en Simon, who is two years old. Lyons to two regions: Lombardy despised and ignored. They first went to Italy in 1993, (north-central Italy) and Provence beginning their work with language (south-east France), and with Lord breathe the life of your Spirit study. continued persecution by the end of into the Church in Italy and to the 13th century they had infiltrated overflow into the people. Close-up on Saverio Guarn~; BMS practically all of Europe except for In Jesus Name. Amen. Missionary in Albania Britain. (Than ks to Claire Ord) Married in Rome in 1965 to Betsy, They were now convinced that the Saverio immediately enrolled at the Catholic church was indeed the Baptist Theological Seminary at 'Whore of Babylon' and rejected all Roschlikon to prepare for the ministry, paraphernalia associated with church whilst still carrying on his Law studies as being totally unnecessary, eg. the at the University of Rome. A couple of buildings themselves, cemeteries, years later with a Bachelor of Divinity, altars, holy water, liturgies, Master of Theology and a Doctorate pilgrimages, Catholic feast days and in Jurisprudence from Milan indulgences. However, they did keep University under his .belt, God led confession, absolution and the Saverio into a church planting ministry eucharist ( which seems to have been which resulted in a congregation of held once a year.) There also seems to Italian immigrants being accepted into have been some kind of Waldensian the Italian Baptist Union in 1968. baptism. After that, a pastorate in Switzerland, Although they spread throughout then back to Italy (now with three Europe they were stronger in some children) where Saverio pastored a regions than others, and were congregation as well as being part-time particularly strong in central and Secretary of Evangelism within the eastern Europe and it was here that Union. The work of Evangelism their work was later to influence the developed, and became a full-time post course of the Reformation, and in the with Saverio director of it from 1981 - 16th century Waldensian beliefs. • 1990.Then in 1990 Saverio was elected President of the Italian Baptist Union, but in 1992 he declined a second term in order to go back to pastoral ministry

Jan uary 1996 Mi ss ionary Herald fD Summer Year Teams SOMETIMES A 28: 19 SUMMER TEAM OR YEAR TEAM WILL BE SENT TO ITALY. HERE'S AN EXTRACT FROM SOMETHING A 28: 19 ITALY SUMMER TEAM WROTE :

"The three of us fo rmed a mission door-to-door visitation and lea fletin g. apologised to the Protestant team with the MacFarl anes, plus three The leafl ets invited people to a service denominations fo r not acknowledging Italians, one Scotsman and someone whi ch we held at the Churches every them as Christians, we fo und that who wasn't quite sure who he wa ! We evening. At these services we gave Catholics were very hostil e and wo uld spent fo ur days in each of the fo ur testimony to our fa ith through word, not accept this. We also fo und that different Churches in the region. Our song and drama. We tried to get the many Italians are so caught up in the main aim was to try to revive the church members in volved in our street tradition of the Catholi c culture, that Churches' vision for evangelism . work in order to give them experience Christ an d the Bible are not at the "We broke the ice by goi ng out onto in evangelism. centre of their faith. In fac t, 50% of the street singing choruses in Engli sh "In the Italian Baptist Church there Italians do not believe there is a God." and Italian. So constant was our is a real reluctance to evangelise. This Esther, Robert and Nicola repetition of the songs we did know in is partly due to the problems of Italian that, after three weeks, we were witnessin g in a society where singing them in our sleep! Catholi cism dominates and Protestants "We also perfo rmed sketches from are not recognised as Christians. our limited repertoire of seven and did Although the Pope has publicly

~ January Hl9G Miss iona ry llcrald n C riistians on Hie move

EARLY CHRISTIANS DISCOVERED THAT TRAVEL WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE GOSPEL. DAVID POUNTAIN REVEALS SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE FIRST MISSIONARIES

ravel broadens the mind, but does it do anything When Bishop Dinesh Gorai of the Church of North for Christian mission? At least one former BMS India was appointed to the Barrackpore diocese, he had no worker would have no problem in answering that transport. He was forced to travel by bus, bicycle and on T question. Whenever he arrived at Gloucester foot. This brought him close to the people of his diocese. Place in BMS's London days, he would regale staff with "When you walk all afternoon with a man, you have time to tales of his journey from Scotland. "I'm sorry I'm late," he get to know him, to talk about his problems and his hopes would say. "There was this man on the train I was talking to and to sense what makes him tick," he said. about the Lord. We hadn't finished our conversation when A few years ago a group of BMS workers at Ntondo in we arrived in London, so we sat on our suitcases for a while, Zaire discovered the truth of this. They were joining some . still talking about the Lord." American missionaries who were celebrating the tenth He was following in the tradition of those early anniversary of their Habitat for Humanity mission. They Christians who used their travels to witness to the gospel. It decided to have a celebratory walk along the 40 kilometre is no accident that the first churches were established in track to Mbandaka. As they passed through different cities and towns strung along the highways of the Roman villages on their way people came out to speak with them. Empire. People were on the move in the "We thought you 'mindele' (white people) only Roman world two thousand years ago. travelled by Land Rover," they said. For the Backwards and forwards along the roads first time they were able to talk to these folk travelled soldiers, government officials, The Roman legions who normally only waved to them as they merchants, letter carriers, artisans and others. preserved the passed by. Many of these travellers were Christians and it peace and kept Some of those early Christian travellers, like was this, perhaps more than anything else, Paul, Barnabas, Timothy and Titus, were which contributed to the rapid expansion of the brigands and undertaking specific Christian mission. Others, Christian faith in the first century. pirates at bay, like Lydia selling her purple cloth, were just The Roman legions preserved the peace and making it relatively going about their normal tasks. When Paul kept brigandJs and pirates at bay, making it wrote to Christians in Rome, which he had relatively safe to travel by land or sea. The safe to travel by never visited, he was able to greet people he Romans were also great road builders and land or sea. had met and evangelised elsewhere (Romans improvers, providing a, network of routes 16), people like Prisca and Aquila and throughout Europe, North Africa and the Epaenetus. It was natural for such Christians to Middle East. Christians took advantage of this and Paul, come together for worship and to encourage each other to with his team, probably travelled something like 10,000 share their faith. So the church grew because Christians miles during his missionary career. That doesn't seem much were on the move. by modern standards, but then he and his companions Not until the 19th Century was the world opened up covered most of that on foot at a rate of ·15 or 20 miles a again enough to enable Christian missionaries to travel day. throughout the world. However, in the late 20th century When you travel like that you meet people. You meet the ordinary people in Britain have also had the opportunity to soldiers, the merchants, the artisans, the letter carriers and travel. Year after year folk go on foreign holidays. Young the government officials. You meet fellow travellers, people are spending a large part of their money on travel runaway slaves, workers in the fields and people sitting and have become the new back-packing globe-trotters. outside their homes under their fig trees. Who can imagine Others are travelling on business. Many of these people are Paul not taking the opportunity to share his faith? That's Christians. How are they using these new travel something we've lost, journeying, as most of us do, opportunities? Are they seen as mission opportunities? insulated from the world in our metal boxes on wheels. Christians whose business or professions takes them

January 1996 Miss ionary Herald a. History Christian travel then and now

overseas, even for short periods, often find themselves in quickly to news from Jerusalem and arrange for offerings to situations and countries which are closed to traditional be taken up. mission work. Ought we not to be preparing them to live In some parts of the world, small groups of isolated and work effectively as Christians in these different Christians, almost overwhelmed by other religions, welcome cultures? with open arms Christian visitors from elsewhere. It They may not see themselves as able to preach for reminds them that they are part of a global church and this conversion, but all Christians should, in some measure, be can make all the difference. witnessing to their own conversion by their words, their However, news and ideas can flow back into the life of conduct and their life-style. Firms which send employees to local churches in the UK too, as long as churches are ready work overseas take considerable time and effort to prepare to receive them. Just as Christians on the move to other them to be effective ambassadors for their companies. Sadly countries should be properly prepared for the adventure of most churches do little than promise to pray. sharing their faith, so they should be effectively debriefed What about Christian tourists and holiday-makers? Are when they return. The lessons that individual travellers holidays an excuse for taking time off from our Christian have learned on their journeys are important for the life and responsibilities or should we see them as a means of work of the church back home. meeting new people, making new friends and sharing our Travel broadens the mind, it can also widen our faith? The opportunity to visit other countries is also an Christian horizons opening up new areas occasion to meet local Christians and to offer of Christian service. encouragement. In the early church, the movement of Christians from one place to another meant that there was a . David Pountain is Missionary Herald Consulting constant flow of news and ideas. So Paul could respond Editor and minister at Florence Road Baptist Church, Brighton

;./' . · ' ,.:,.. Pisidio /; ·••-~ , ~ - ' -1 0 '/iJ ..'. 0 Iconium LystroJ.. .._ G ,lL·~ ... Derb

G, Janu ary 1996 Missionary Herald Who's sending who to where? TAKE Countries where BMS has an involvement Statistical comparison Missionaries per 1 million ProtestantMissionaries FROM Foreign Protestants TO non christian non protestant

Albania n/a 2 Angola 9 115 37 14 Bangladesh 132 316 3 3 Belgium 65 572 550 58 Brazil 2768 3397 311 32 Bulgaria 0 77 28 9 CAR 14 208 131 99 China n/a Croatia 0 2 4 0 El Salvador 130 113 409 28 France 456 1348 85 25 India 11284 775 7 7 Indonesia 1518 1599 13 12 Ital y 198 462 41 8 Jamaica 45 209 168 134 Nepal 155 584 31 31 Portugal 174 333 382 33 South Africa 1866 1294 161 72 Sri Lanka 159 117 8 7 Thailand 117 1293 24 23 Trinidad 32 94 165 98 Zaire 2086 1470 551 66 Zimbabwe 240 630 145 98

Australia 3598 743 149 83 Canada 5336 408 53 ?3 Korea (S) 3957 409 14 13 New Zealand 1715 218 224 136 UK 7012 1021 61 44 USA 59074 2484 52 26

social work, helping with development. Do you think this Taken from Operation World is a good thing? Are there other ways BMS could work? Notes (Wht not write and tell us about your ideas. Address your Data is given only where it is expedient to do so. letters to the Editor, Richard Wells.) Missionaries include short term workers of over one 4 Following on from Q.3, missionary service nowadays is year's service and furloughing missionaries assigned to often seeking to train national Christians to minister to these countries. their own culture, in ways that are appropriate, so that The statistical comparison is a statistical reconstruction the Western missionary becomes redundant in that rather than the actual number of missionaries. The lower situation. the figure the greater need for missionaries. Operation World comments in its section on Africa that "Most Africans think missionary work to be the job of For discussion: Europeans." 1 Which figures stand out to you from this table, and why? What are your comments on this? Is it a situation to be (For example, they could be the high figures, countries welcomed or resisted? sending or receiving a lot of missionaries, or at the other 5 Mission is more than missionaries. What other things end of the scale, the low figures, countries in need of must be recognised and included in the support of world - missionaries.) mission? 2 Are the statistics from some countries a surprise to you? 3 BMS has a policy of working in partnership with other mission agencies; some will be predominantly involved in evangelism, others in other kinds of Christian service eg

January 1996 \1issionary Ht'ra lcl f1f} Total Missionary Serving Members 1980 - 1995 1980 there were five Asian countries with no known believers; today there are three (Cambodia, North Korea and Maldives). Countries with restrictions have eased TAKE 1980 1986 1991 1995 Missionary sending churches 560 469 491 508 them and more Christian ministries are possible eg in Roman Catholic Societies 1799 1588 1625 1496 Nepal , Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Asia's missions Interdenominational Societies 3058 3218 3346 4160 have increased in every way possible - in size, in maturity, Other Denominational Societies 1080 1276 1215 1261 in momentum Chinese, Korean, and Filipino missionaries Anglican Societies 1655 1384 1381 1482 are becoming an increasing component in the mi ss ionary 2 Total-- 8252 7935 8058 8907 force in many lands. EUROPE Give thanks that freedom of religion is now a Taken from Quadrant Information produced by Christian reality for all of Europe. Pray that it may continue! Research Association , October 1995 SOUTH & CENTRAL AMERICA Pra ise God for the explosive Christian growth that has been seen this TOP TEN MISSIONARY SENDING COUNTRIES century. Brazil has twice as many evangeli ca ls as there This table shows the top ten nations sending the highest are in all of Europe. ratio of Protestant missionaries in relation to their population eg for every 2,550 people in Norway one AND PRAYER Protestant missionary has gone overseas . AFRICA There is a huge need fo r leaders hip training and 1 950 Faroe Islands there is a bottleneck because of lack of funds for training 2 1,540 American Samoa and supporting full time workers. Pray for leadership 3 1,790 Northern Marianas training at all levels, and for material to be bibl ica l yet 4 1,990 New Zealand Africa orientated. 5 2,010 Tonga ASIA. In some parts of Asia the church has dec lined as a 6 2,080 Solomon Islands percentage of the population eg Sri Lanka , North India, 7 2,300 Western Samoa Hong Kong. Pray that this might be reversed. In Asia 8 2,490 Fiji there are blocs of Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists who 9 2,550 Norway are virtually untouched by any Christian contact. Pray 10 3,780 Finland that more of these countries may open up and that those Source: Operation World who hear, may believe. EUROPE The church in Europe generally has lost the POINTS FOR PRAISE younger generation . Young people with their own youth AFRICA The vision for the number of missions in Africa culture can be seen as a sub-culture which needs has grown, and the number of Afri can missionaries and missionaries specially attuned to hearing what young agencies is steadily increasing. Note especially a number people are saying. Pray for those involved with outreac.h of Nigerian missions, many reaching out to Muslims and and discipling ministries among young people. unreached peoples. SOUTH & CENTRAL AMERICA Pray for the training of ASIA as a continent has seen spectacular church growth pastors - mainly that it may happen! Some reckon there sin ce 1980 eg in countries like Korea and Indonesia. In are 175,000 evangelical pastors with no formal train ing.

suitable for any serious as well as to Scripture. Yeshua Ben David - Christian. Touching the Soul of Islam,· How fascinating to see Why do the Jewish People The author addresses the by Bill Musk Scripture through the eyes of I YESHUA i reject Jesus as their Messiah, cross-cultural complications of MARC price £8.99 Middle Eastern culture instead BENDAVID by Walter Riggans evangelistic ministry among As Christians with distinctly of the culture of the modern MARC price £10.99 Jews and the Messianic Western minds, we have very West. Jewish theologians insist that passages from Old Testament little grasp of Middle Eastern The author's thoughts, Jesus could not have been the scripture. culture. however, are not organised in Messiah of Israel. But if Jesus He covers the textual reasons In his most recent book, a very systematic way and as a isn 't Israel 's biblically and the interpretive Bill Musk explores Muslim life, result the book does not enjoy promised Messiah , how could arguments for Christianity 's thought and literature to bring an easy flow ; it's almost like he be anyone else 's Messiah? differences with Jewish to our Western minds an walking through a dark forest Walter Riggans 's book is, theologicans . He details the understanding and looking at the vegetation with perhaps, more broadly about immense sensitivity which appreciation of the Middle a torch. After reading the Jewish people and covers the Jews have concerning Christian Eastern world. book, though, the ramble is theological , historical and evangelism and he continually He demonstrates that something one begins to psychological reasons for their extends the careful and Middle Eastern culture is very appreciate. rejection of Jesus as Messiah . thoughtful evangelism . similar to the culture of the Touching the Soul of Islam It is firmly intended for the Walter Riggins is a Church of Bible and, in doing so, brings is a strong effort to do just layman and is easy to read, Scotland minister and General light to our understanding of that. but is, nevertheless , a very Secretary for the Church's the present day Middle East, Kelly Hendrick thorough book handling even Ministry among the Jews . technical issues in a fashion Kelly Hendrick

a. Janua r') 1!J9t, r. lissionar~ l krald GLOBAL CHALLENGE

excitement and inadequacy. Thex came from all parls of lhe The course was to be no respecter of intellect or UK. They have gone inlo all lhe muscle; it would expose them to tough challenges in world. Their chalrenge is lo make their personal, spiritual and Jesus known. Tne firsl reporl practical lives in preparation for the rigours ahead. from lhe J996 B.MS Aclion T earns The challenge for course leader Phil Marsden - BMS comes from Richard Wells Youth and Children's Co­ ordinator - was to weld this mismatched mixture, as or the city of September 9, 1995 - compatible as a bagful of Birmingham it heralded the beginning of ferrets and hedgehogs, into was another the most challenging year of strong teams, prepared Saturday. The their lives; the threshold of physically and spiritually for continuous stream of an experience that would front line mission tasks like morning traffic taking a change their outlook on the street evangelism, teaching legion of shoppers into the world forever. and care work . city centre under a grey These were the This was the first time overcast sky made the same successful applicants for the the 22 had met as a group. interminable buzz as the BMS 28: 19 Action Team They had come to previous Saturday. 1996 expeditions. Birmingham from places as The same passengers Whatever diverse far flung as Stirling in paid their customary academic levels they had Scotland, Teignmouth in homage to the public recently celebrated, these Devon, Swansea in Wales transport system by young people were now to and the London suburb of catching the same buses. compete on equal terms; Tooting. At the other end The same children, waiting in the reception area lay the prospect of six pockets fiscally recharged, of St Andrew's Hall months in a foreign land, made their habitual missionary college, at Selly coping with an alien culture pilgrimages to the same Oak, they anticipated the without familiar shoulders sweet shops. two-week intensive practical to lean on. But for 22 young people training course ahead with a "It was essential that we this particular Saturday - mixture of apprehension, equipped them in every way

January 1996 Missionary Hera ld G, experienced as one of the India and Sri Lanka team. "It took a few days to get over the shock of the city of Calcutta," he says. for the job," says Phil. emerged, attitudes changed, "Everything just "They needed to know the empathy strengthened. overwhelmed me, the value of working and living "We were seeing poverty, the smell and the as teams. They needed the individual lives changing squalor, and the fact that I proper practical skills to before our eyes, young was spending three survive in totally different people growing closer to months in it. circumstances, and they God," says Phil. "Young "But Wednesday certainly needed devotional people were being filled with afternoon saw a change. lives to match." the Holy Spirit for the first For some reason I just • • • • • • • And so began the time. There was confidence, took a step back and went practical training in boldness and courage in out in it. It was amazing; evangelism, street work, God." all my other thoughts communication, drama, Teams began to pray disappeared. I looked for counselling and spiritual together daily, share more the first time beyond the warfare with in-house openly with one another, city and saw the people. lecturers and guest speakers. counsel each other. The T hey are amazing." Study sessions on level of encouragement rose Persistent Nigel had servanthood, prayer and as each realised that they got to grips wi th the fasting, li ving a Spirit-filled shared similar reason for his Action life, integrity and holiness, apprehensions and feelings Team's assignment. His aimed to underpin their of inadequacy. heart had been touched, Christian faith and reaffirm Today, as the five teams compassion began to rise their beliefs, and it was here look out at the sharp end of and he realised the Holy that foundations began to mission work in France, Spirit's tutelage had added rock, inadequacies and lack Albania, Trinidad, India and a new layer in the of confidence started to Sri Lanka, they will be foundations begun at Selly emerge. drawing deeply on the Oak. "Of course we had practical and spiritual skills emotions and tears," says and knowledge built up Phil. "These were young during those two intensive • people away from home, weeks, for trouble was ,-• • • • facing a mammoth certain to strike. - challenge. They were bound And strike it did - visa to wobble." problems in Trinidad, the One by one doubts and intense irritation of He and his fellow team fears were addressed by Phil mosquito bites, the shock of members were moving and his team: living in extremes of forward in their mission to "I think I've made a big temperature, language communicate the gospel mistake." barriers, meeting people effectively, rising to the "I'm not good enough - whose needs and aspirations challenge to show it in look at the others, they're so are totally different to those their lives. much stronger than me." back home. Add to this The team were "Will my famil y still be homesickness, and it is not becoming increasingly there when I get back?" long before the challenge of aware that their strongest "Will I be able to stand simply existing stretches testimony during the through all this?" tolerance to breaking point. coming months would be For the first strenuous But, as teams have their love for each other. few days, the 22 different discovered, perseverance personalities fought an triumphs - like the Richard Wells is the BMS Pubticity uphill struggle. Then came breakthrough 19-year-old Manager the release and, as though a Nigel Cope, from Moortown mist had lifted, team spirit Baptist Church, Leeds,

@) January 1996~iss ionary Hera ld focus• prayer foe

A regular update from our missionaries around the world compiled by Sam Gibson africa and grow out of the poverty cycle they are trapped in. The scheme is also looking to equip a vehicle as a mobile dental and health care clinic from which a nurse will operate, reaching children and their families Roger and Nikki Pearce in up to ten favelas.

A 'Pioneer Package' has Please pray: been produced to support • for the appointment of a local churches prepared to health care worker consider mission work in the • for the right vehicle to favelas around Sao Paulo - become available for the an area often ignored due to mobile dental and health fear, prejudice and care clinic uncertainty about how to • for the whole scheme to tackle such varied and come to fruition profound material and • for local churches to catch spiritual need. It is a the vision and become combination of evangelistic involved in mission work in and social programmes the favelas. including a pre-school programme and ministerial student involvement. A health' support scheme is up with a basic cost of living jobs in sweatshops where being implemented for the for an average family of they work 12 hours per day. pre-school children with the something over 4,000 Six hours is the legal aim to appoint a community colones a month (£300). maximum and they receive health worker who will get They then set the minimum less than the minimum wage to know the children in the salary at just over 1,000 with no overtime pay. schools and give the families colones per month for the the health care, guidance ESAIYADOR industrial sector and about Please pray: and support that they need Parliament has recently 600 colones for different • for guidance on how to at home to create a healthy approved a new minimum agricultural sectors. Their pray for heads of state and environment for the salary level. To arrive at this 'average family' therefore those in high places, so 'that children to grow and figure, the National Council needs about four urban all in El Salvador might live develop. At the moment, for Minimum Salary took mm1mum wage earners or in peace and dignity these five year olds already account of the cost of basic seven rural earners to cross • for the Quinney Mee's suffer poor health and are foods, housing, clothing and the poverty line., An first baby which is due on 6 not well enough to make the miscellaneous items (health increasing number of 16 and January, Rachel wants to most of the chance to learn care and education) to come 17 year old girls are seeking have a home birth

January 1996 Missionary Hera ld Cl) , Science and the Christian experience, especially as Peter is also pleased to see Faith, written in Portuguese some students and a lecturer the look on the faces of non­ and arising from Peter's came to faith in Christ." Christians when they realise work over five years with After that, invitations to their arguments against the students of the Federal speak in other .parts of Christian faith are not as University, has finally been Brazil came in and solid as they had imagined! accepted for publication by eventually the chief editor Peter believes this book the ABU Editoria in Brazil. of the ABU suggested that has a wide ministry and so is ESAIYADOR Peter says, "Once word got Peter should write a book. keen to have it in print as John and Lesley Moody around that I had a degree This he did and the book soon as possible. In from Orpington have two in physics as well as being a was finished in 1994. November, the ABU agreed grown up daughters. Before theologian lecturing at the The book, which as yet to publish the book although joining the BMS, John Baptist College, I found that remains untitled, is an at the time they did not have worked for a Lloyds university students were attempt to present Science sufficient funds. They insurance syndicate for 27 searching me out with their and Religion as applied to the BMS for a years and Leslie worked for intellectual problems." Peter complementary rather than grant from the literature a housing association. They found that the intellectual . contradictory - where they fund which was agreed very have completed their biblical standard of these young overlap, Peter tries to quickly and so it finally and mission studies at All people was usually way harmonize them. It has a appears to be 'all systems Nations Christian College below that which they had dual purpose of firstly go' for this important work.' and then finished off their to cope with when they got giving Christian students a training at St Andrews, to university. They soon view of the world and God's Selly Oak. They flew out discovered that their involvement in it which Please pray: this month to Brazil with a childhood ideas of a six enables them to deal with • thank God for the story so view to becoming hostel thousand year old universe the attacks on their faith far and pray that there will parents in Sao Paulo. Both and a six day creation common in Brazilian be no further hindrances to John and Lesley are keen on neither squared with what universities. Secondly, Peter this book being published sport and are interested in they were learning at the has made the book • for its witness to golf, swimming, badminton Faculty nor with their own evangelistic so that it can be Christians and non­ and walking. changing view of the world. given as a present to Christians alike After a few years of interested friends. Peter • for Peter and Sue - thanks working with the evangelical says, "Having seen the relief for their perseverance in students at the Federal on Christian students' faces pushing this book towards University, Peter was when they discover that they publication and for Peter's persuaded to give a series of can believe in the Bible and ministry amongst the evangelistic lunch-time talks dedicate themselves fully to students of Brazil on science and the Christian their studies, I am • that Peter and Sue be faith in 1990 and again in desperately anxious to put greatly blessed as they BRAZIL 1991. Peter says, "They the book into the hands of continue in their work as A book about Modern were a wonderful students all over Brazil." hostel parents

Wayne and Wendy Hadley Wayne and Wendy Hadley are members of Sutton Coldfield Baptist Church. After working for Lucas in Training Administration, Wayne studied for three years at Moorlands College (Theology and Missiology). Before their children Ben and Charlotte came along, Wendy was involved in secretarial work as well as church youth work and other organisations. Wayne and Wendy went to Massy, France for language training this month and hope to work in France when this is completed. They both enjoy walking and swimming and Wayne likes to play sports such as rugby, badminton and football. Wendy is looking forward to being able to take the children camping and boating.

~ January 1996 Missionary Herald ousted which has led to a series of general strikes of increasing length and effect on the people - if the trend nepal continues, these strikes will cause untold suffering to thousands of daily workers and will ruin businesses. As well as the general strikes there are processions and Rural Development and released on bail and a large demonstrations which erupt Engineering and Industrial amount has already been into violence. There have Development. spent on lawyers and help even been some deaths and for the families of the the sound of gun-fire is Please pray: pnsoners. heard frequently day and • for peace to continue as There have also been night. regards to the cl;i.ange of calls from the World Hindu NEPAL government Federation for an end to Please pray: The Nepali government has • that there be no reduction Christian missionary activity • for an immediate end to been undergoing a period of in the freedom of religion in Nepal. violence and for a resolution turmoil over the past few experienced by the Nepali of the political turmoil months. A General Election church under the new Please pray: • the continued safety of was called by the communist government • that justice may be done Valerie and other PM who requested .that the • that the PM's promises to and these brothers and missionaries in countries King have parliament the poor will come to sisters released soon where violence reigns dissolved. This was done fruition • that they may continue to • for the break through of but then overturned as it • for David, Lyndsay and experience the presence of the Gospel - many are was ruled to be unconstitu­ Kirsty in general and for God coming to Christ in tional. The PM resigned Catherine as she takes on • for the continued Bangladesh but many more and two days later a extra work with her teaching expansion of God's church have still not heard Congress party leader English as a foreign in Nepal in the face of replaced him heading up a language and becomes opposition three party coalition involved in prison visiting • for the family as they face government. The handover further separation - Ruth is of power has been generally already in England and peaceful despite a few tense hopes to teach when her days of strikes and the new course is completed, Sarah PM, Mr Deuba, has finishes school in the promised justice and water summer and hopes to go to for the poor. It remains to be art college in England which NEPAL seen how this is to be will leave only Susanna in The Clewetts have felt the implemented. Nepal without her sisters call to leave Nepal where Just a few days before the NEPAL they were involved in public change of government, the Opposition to the growth of health and education work United Mission to Nepal's the Church in Nepal is in Kathmandu, and settle five year general agreement becoming more apparent. 11 back down in London. They to operate in the country Christians are still in prison have returned to their house was approved. A few days after being charged with in Plaistow and are later and a different set of 'converting' others to worshipping and finding government ministers would Christianity in September new roles at their have been involved causing 1994. There is no case home ·delays and reviews. Work against them as the said BANGLADESH now begins on getting four converts are still Hindus and Violence has erupted onto further departmental deny the charges. The the streets of Bangladesh agreements approved which Christians remain in prison due to political upheaval. will enable UMN to awaiting a hearing however. The opposition parties continue to work in the Much money would be are campaigning to fields of Health, Education, needed to have them have the government

January 1996 Missionary Herald 41D church, Memorial Baptist. education and higher JANUARY 1996 They have now officially education, in Electronic Arrivals: None resigned from the BMS Engineering and Teacher although they are keeping in Training. Hilary is a Departures: touch with many friends in registered nurse and district Paul and Hilary Drinkwater to Nepal Nepal. Both Jerry and Ruth nursing sister. Paul and John and Leslie Moody to Brazil have found jobs after Hilary flew out to Nepal this Wayne and Wendy Hadley to France Roger and Nicola Pearce to Albania encountering the Paul and Hilary Drinkwater month where Paul is to Simon Collins to Portugal frustrations of the are members of Kendal teach electronics at Jacqui Wells to Thailand employment market in this Road Baptist Church, Katlimandu University and Katie Norris to Nepal country. Ruth as a primary Gloucester and have also Hilary is hoping to get Lee and Evenlyn Messeder to Brazil school teacher in East been actively involved in a involved in medical work. Mary Parsons to Brazil London and Jerry with the church plant - Kingholm Paul and Hilary have three Overseas Visits: third world charity PLAN Christian Fellowship. Paul is children and two Carolyn Green to India and Thailand International, liaising with a teacher and has taught in grandchildren. Phil Marsden to Amsterdam the overseas development colleges of further Derek Rumbol to Kenya, Zimbabwe administration of the and Angola government and other official funding bodies, trying to get funding for BAPTIST 11/ISSIO.\'ARY SOCIFTY projects. The children have invites applications for the following post all settled into their THE BARNABAS PROGRAMME CO-ORDINATOR africa (50% full time) respective schools quite well considering the upheaval of Within the Department for Missionaries the a different society and person appointed will be responsible for co­ education system. Simon, at ordinating the Barnabas Programme, which eleven, began secondary will incorporate the selection, training and placement of volunteers both as individuals school in September and and in teams for short term service overseas. Naomi and Paul are both He/she will also provide their own administra­ attending a local primary Simon Collins tive/secretarial support and computer skill's are essential. This post is initially subject to a school. The children have three year fixed term contract and subject to joined sports clubs and the Simon Collins is a doctor who grew up in Sussex review. boys are now involved in and did his medical training at Liverpool. He is now Good holiday entitlement; occupational a GP at Bromsgrove where he is a member of New pension scheme and free meals in the staff Boys Brigade. restaurant. Road Baptist Church. Simon did mission studies at The BMS is actively involved in mission in Please pray: St Andrews College in Selly Oak, Birmingham and over 30 countries and its work is supported by then a course in tropical diseases. Simon has just churches throughout England, Scotland and • for the Clewett family as Wales from whom we look for continued they continue to re-adjust to begun six months of language training in Portugal support. • life in this country, that the before he goes out to Angola. In Angola Simon will Registered Charity number 233782. education of the children be responsible for setting up a community health will not be adversely project in a region of 150,000 people • a difficult Further information, application forms and job affected by these changes task due to the lack of infrastructure caused by the descriptions are available from: Mr M J continuing civil war. Simon enjoys the cinema, sport, Quantick, Administration Manager, Baptist • that they will quickly Missionary Society, PO Box 49, Baptist House, discover God's continuing skiing and food. 129 Broadway, DIDCOT OXll BXA, plan for their lives in Telephone: 01235 512077, ext 240. Closing date for applications is: Britain. Jill and Philip Igoe 12 January 1996.

Jill and Philip Igoe were married in 1991. Philip, who trained at Spurgeon's College, has been minister of South Ossett Baptist Church since 1989 and prior to their marriage, Jill was involved in childrens and youth work. She then went on to complete a BEd teacher training course. Jill and Philip have been accepted by BMS to work in Zimbabwe and are studying at St Andrews in Selly Oak prior to going out early in 1996. They both enjoy walking, gardening and reading and. Philip enjoys football whilst Jill is more interested in

~ January 1996 Mi ss ionary Herald here is nothing quite like sitting around an open fire on a cold winter's evening, a good meal inside you and congenial company. Stories were being T, told and events of the past relived in the mind at Naked least as the evening wore on. More logs were added to the fire and there was music playing softly in the background. It was a clear, crisp night and the stars were out but no moon. Why mention the sky. talent Well because we could see it of course. Did I forgetto mention we were not in some cosy sitting room with the curtains drawn and lights on but outside sitting around a fire in a courtyard in front of several bamboo and thatched houses in the north of Bangladesh with someone playing a bamboo flute on a nearby verandah. Eventually someone suggested bed and most of us settled for the night. Most because the men of the village took turns at staying awake on dark nights to keep guard

over their cattle against raids across the border from India. I was with the Association Secretary on a tour of churches holding meetings and meeting local pastors as we went. We had a district pastor with us who was visiting some folk in order to collect the payment for a pair of water buffalo he had sold to them. The day had been successful with a good turn out at the evening prayer meeting and the pastor had the money for buffalo in his shoulder bag. The three of us continued talking as we tried to get comfortable on the fresh straw which had been put on the · hard mud floor to act as some sort of mattress for us, I dozed off and I guess the others did too until rudely awoken by a prodding in the ribs and a very loud stage whisper in the ear telling me to get up quickly and run as the dakoits (bandits) were comin'g to the village. Never needing to be told twice about such fundamental acts of self-preservation, I got out of my sleeping bag as quickly as I could and ran following the others into the undergrowth. There was a commotion all around and eventually we heard that the robbers had been driven off Not before time as it was very cold, not to mention distinctly uncomfortable, in the bushes! We then had a problem how to return discreetly to the now dimly lit houses as one of my colleagues was stark _ naked! He had been in such a rush to get out of the blankets and away that he had grabbed his bag with the money in it but forgotten his lungi (sleeping garment). Well we got him back, rekindled the fire, no more sleep that night but more tales of daring raids and even more heroics in the defence of property and possession. I have often wondered though, had it been me, which I would have grabbed. • John Passmore, the BMS Europe Representative was a missionary in Bangladesh for seven yeras

January 1906 Mi ss ionary Herald -- ACHRIST-GIVEN PURPOSE Luke 24:36-49 What are we here for? What does being a Christian, being the church of Jesus Christ mean? After the crucifixion, Jesus' traumatized disciples must have asked what's it all about? What did he call us together for ? What should we be doing now? Jesus gives four guiding principles: Clothed with power from on high (49): We cannot witness or serve in our own strength. Spiritual gifts are given by God for his mission and ministry and we need to be open to whatever he wishes to give to us. Renewal is about new lives. It is the expectancy that God will act that I have experienced in Brazil; the sense of fe llowship, sacrifice and suffering for others which I have observed in Central America. You are witnesses of these things (48): We have read and heard some dynamic Christian speakers who excite and challenge, but these are not our authority. We must only proclaim those truths whic h we are authorised to believe by those who can say: "I saw, I heard, I touched." Preached to all nations (47): Mission is every part of our daily life - no dualism of Sunday and the rest. Not the absurdity of supporting overseas mission, while neglecting personal witness to our neighbours who know little of God's purpose for their lives. The Good News is God's rescue from this money­ mad, sex-mad, power-mad, success-driven life that so many are trying to live, only to drown in stress and disappointment. But there will be no mission without passion - if you don't believe it don't preach it, I tell my students. Understand the Scriptures (44-46): Do we believe that the Bible is God's word for our lives and the life of the church? Yes! Good evangelicals will be sure to give the correct answer. But it is not enough to believe that the Bible is the word of God - we must live according to its truth. The cross must be at the centre of our faith; the way to resurrection life in the power of the Spirit is through the cross. The way ahead is the only way we've ever had: to go and make disciples in the power of the Spirit.

After ten years as minister of Highfield Baptist Church, Northamptonshire, John Weaver is now Tutor in Pastoral Theology at Regent's Park College, Oxford. John has benefited from two periods of sabbatical study leave with the BMS: Brazil 119891 and Nicaragua and El Salvador (1995).

41D January 1996 Mi ss ionary Hera ld Helping Where it Matters

Meeting needs that don't I.I.I always hit the headlines ------, Natural disasters, civil wars, refugee crises ... they're­ images we see regularly on TV and in the newspapers. □ £250 □ £50 □ £25 □ £10 D Other But what about those that don't always hit the headlines? Like making life more bearable for children Name ...... who survived the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, or supplying medicines to fight measles in Zaire. The BMS Relief Fund is able to respond with Address ...... compassion and speed to those hit by circumstances beyond their control. What's more, we know we have control over where the money goes and that every pound donated will go to meet those needs, because nothing is deducted by BMS from gifts for Please make cheques payable to administration. Baptist Missionary Society. Please will you help us to help where it matters? Unless requested, receipts will not be issued for donations under £10. Relief Fund