Samaritan Strategy Budding in Sudan

Stephen Langa, Eastern Africa Coordinator for Samaritan Strategy Africa (SSA), is praising God for the “suddenly opened amazing doors” the movement is having in Sudan. He credits the robust relationship between the SSA offices in Kampala and Nairobi, but also a growing trust relationship between SSA and the Church Missionary Society (CMS).

Sudan, long torn by strife, is largely new territory for SSA. Stephen has worked to “harmonize and coordinate” ministry efforts there, with the goal of building one or more national teams. Dennis Tongoi and the Kenya team had developed relationships with churches in southern Sudan, while Stephen fostered relationships with leaders in Khartoum, Sudan’s capital in the Muslim-dominated north. Notwithstanding the legendary rift between the north and south, he believed it was possible to “forge a common vision and strategy to disciple the nation of Sudan.” That process got a big jump start this year.

Archbishop Dr. Daniel Deng (center) with other bishops and clergy plus traditional chiefs at the Peace & Reconciliation Conference in Juba held on September 2-4, 2010

Stephen attended a Peace and Reconciliation conference in Juba, organized by The Episcopal Church of Sudan, the country’s largest Christian denomination. He wanted to build relationships with church leaders, introduce them to SSA teachings, and explore with them how to equip all Sudan’s Christians.

The conference convened 90 participants, including church leaders from 12 dioceses from southern Sudan, but other stakeholders as well. Government leaders attended, including the Speaker of the Southern Sudan Parliament, the Governor of Central Equatorial State, and the Presidential Advisor on Religious Affairs.

Another key player was the Minister for Peace and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) Implementation. He reviewed the history of Sudan since 1947, before turning to the current status of the CPA. His report indicated that preparations for the January 9, 2011 referendum are far behind schedule. Serious conflicts between the Northern and Southern governments must be solved to provide for a peaceful referendum and a sustainable future.

The presence of government leaders at the conference gave believers the opportunity to demonstrate Christ’s love. Participants were deeply impressed by the “open, frank and non-judgmental discussions,” as well as by the good reputation of the church with the government, the people and the international community.

Conference planners also invited the leader of New Sudan Council of Islamic Affairs to represent the Muslim community. Some of the most powerful dynamic happened when this man saw Christianity in action.

“We were told by the Khartoum government that ‘the Christians in the South hate you and will kill you if the South separates,’” he said. “But now I see that all that is not true. From this conference I have seen that Christians love us and are willing to live in peace and harmony with us”.

Speaker of Southern Sudan Parliament Hon. James Igga greeting traditional chiefs

A similar reflection came from the traditional chiefs in attendance. Stephen reported that one  commented that they [the chiefs] have been marginalized in the past by both governments, but in the conference they felt recognized and empowered and feel that they “can now contribute towards peace in Sudan.”

“One even confided that if the government had invited them they would not have come,” Steven reported, “but since it was the church that invited them, they came.”

The participants were challenged to take these new perspectives to their people at the grassroots level, especially in view of the coming referendum, to equip them to vote “from a point of truth and knowledge.”

The SSA movement benefitted as well by achieving a better grasp of “the situation and challenges that Sudan is facing as a nation.” Stephen believes the SSA can now contextualize their message “from an informed point of view.”

Five ECS dioceses are planning to have vision conferences by spring 2011, and a provisional inter-denominational vision conference in Juba has been scheduled for November 9-13, 2010. Stephen is grateful for the SSA foundation and praying for “good fruit that will result in the expansion of the Kingdom of God in Sudan and beyond.”

The enormous political uncertainties in Sudan comprise a significant challenge to the work of SSA, and that of the church at large. No one knows what to expect after the referendum. Will Sudan be a one-state nation, or two? Christians are praying that God would grant peace to the Sudanese people, that the referendum will be conducted in a free and fair manner, and that both the governments and the people will accept the results.

Keep Track of All Upcoming DNA Events Worldwide!

We’ve recently updated the calendar on our website so that it will be automatically updated as soon as we hear of new events. It’s currently updated until November 2010. See if there’s any upcoming events in your area by clicking here!

Also available on that page is a PDF with all of the details of upcoming events, listed by region.  Please feel free to download and email it to anyone you think may be interested.

Bob Moffitt Addresses National Cell Church Conference in Malaysia

On June 10-12, DNA co-founder Bob Moffitt addressed a national cell church conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  Bob writes:

DNA Co-Founder Bob Moffitt

“I led a seven-session workshop on wholistic ministry. The focus of the workshop was on the theology and practice of mobilizing every member of the participating church’s cell groups for incarnational living. The conference organizers printed 1,000 copies of If Jesus Were Mayor so that every conference participant would have a copy.

“There were consistently 70-80 participants in the seven sessions. I have since heard from the organizers that the attendees evaluated the workshop very highly. My prayer now is that these leaders will return to their respective small groups and begin to implement what they learned.

“A highlight for me on this assignment was hosting an Indian evangelist named Johnson. He had read my book, If Jesus Were Mayor, and wanted to be mentored to disciple his people in the concepts he had read there. I invited him to join me for this conference to learn more and to get personally acquainted.  We roomed together and had wonderful times of fellowship.  He has a passion for reaching India. His strategy has been crusades for thousands of people. He told me that many who attend these crusades have raised their hands indicating a desire to believe in Jesus, but he has observed that the long-term fruit of these events is what he describes as “very small.” He told me that he had been able to find only about 1% of those who had indicated a desire to follow Jesus remaining faithful. He is becoming increasingly convinced that the crusade method of evangelism – by itself – is not effective in reaching his people with the transforming message of the Gospel. After reading my book he felt that the strategy of discipling believers to live out the Gospel in all aspects of their lives would be a more effective way to advance the Kingdom. I encouraged him to return to India, meet and learn from some of our team in that area of the world, and then to implement what he was beginning to learn.  I am looking forward to walking further with this brother.”

Rev. Meshack Okumu Reports Growth From Small Seeds in Kenya

What happens when seed projects infuse the life of a local church? Rev. Meshack Okumu would say that the gospel comes to life in the neighborhood.

Rev. Meshack Okumu

Rev. Okumu is Project Manager for Samaritan Strategy Africa and serves on the faculty of Carlile College in Nairobi. He recently reported some encouraging developments in his city.

In a small way the church of Christ is impacting the community where God has placed her. As we train, we again and again see the church leadership begin to see the vision of God for the church.

One evidence? Seed projects that are “becoming part of the church life.” As believers see how issues are affecting their neighbors, they mobilize to meet these needs in the name of Christ. Rev. Okumu told of one session, in the Githurai Informal settlement of Nairobi, in which the pastor challenged his people to find ways to put to work what they had learned.

The men decided to do the “women’s work” of sweeping and washing the church. They also collected the garbage in front of their church compound in the community and visited with the neighbour of the church. Through this, they were able to build a rapport with the neighbours and one of them came to know the Lord.

Rev. Okumu is a graduate of Charles University Prague of the Czech Republic. After serving with The Sheepfold Ministries and then World Vision International (Kenya), he joined the faculty of Carlile College of Theology in 2004. The school trains and equips evangelists and pastors for wholistic ministry.

Rev. Okumu also works at the Centre for Urban Mission, overseeing a wholistic discipleship training program in the Kibera and Korogocho slums of Nairobi (with a population of over 700,000 people) for local pastors.

In 2003, Rev. Okumu took a group of 12 pastors with him to a Nairoibi training conference he had been encouraged to attend. It turned out to be his first DNA vision conference.

This vision conference impacted me so much. I was heading a programme in World Vision called Christian Impact and one of the struggles I had was on the integration of proclamation and deeds. The vision conference taught me on how to do that and I committed my life during this conference to do just that.

Rev. Okumu points to another story of fruitful ministry reported by Pastor Henry Okwaro.

Gomongo Korogocho Kindergarten Class

After completing a Vision Conference in 2006, Pastor Henry began teaching the children in his Nairobi neighborhood how to read and write. Out of these early efforts, a kindergarten was born, which has since become a model of ethnic reconciliation!

Some of the worst post-election violence in early 2008 happened in the area of Pastor Henry’s church. Despite the ethnic violence and related security problems, the kindergarten has enrolled 56 children aged 3-8 years. Children from both ethnic groups in the neighborhood are together in the school, and their joint participation has given their families and the community members a picture of how to live together.

For such vigorous developments in wholistic church ministry, Rev. Meshack praises God. And he is grateful to people God has used in his life, including Dennis Tongoi. Dennis is Executive Director of Church Mission Society Africa and General Secretary of Samaritan Strategy Africa, the Africa affiliate of the Disciple Nations Alliance.

Dennis … did a Training of Trainers for me, then he mentored me and now I have been able to teach together with him in both Kenya and Tanzania. We have a number of trainers in Kenya and through their training the churches are now ministering in more practical ways.

Rev. Meshack and his wife, Rose, have five children from 12 years to three months in age.

Imam Confesses Christ at Wholism Conference in Sudan

Chris Ampadu, West Africa Coordinator for SSA

Chris Ampadu, who works with Samaritan Strategy Africa, a Disciple Nations Alliance affiliate, recently spoke to pastors in Sudan at a conference facilitated by the Humanitarian International Services Group. Chris presented DNA messages on the importance of a biblical worldview for transformation and the role of churches in ministering to the needs of the larger community, including the Muslim minority.

Chris describes a thrilling moment in the closing ceremony:

The highlight of the celebration was when a mosque preacher, an Imam, who we did not know was a participant, walked forward and said, “Having listened to the wholistic message of loving one’s neighbor as oneself, including loving your enemies, and the rest of the transformational messages, I hereby openly declare my departure from the Islamic faith and identify myself with the family of Jesus Christ. ”

Humanitarian International Services Group (or HISG) is a non-governmental organization that provides support services to US and international for-profit and non-profit organizations for crisis response and humanitarian developmental initiatives. HISG has adapted DNA messages and content for their training programs. Chris has faciltiated DNA content in several HISG training events in Africa and Eastern Europe.

DNA Affiliate Leader in Uganda Survives World Cup Bombing

Francis Mugoga is a pastor at Watoto Church, Kampala. He also serves as trainer and fund-raising co-coordinator at Transforming Nations Alliance, a DNA affiliate. He recently sent the following testimonial about the impact of Darrow and the DNA ministry.

I have always wanted to write you and just say a big “Thank You” for your committed service to the Master. You may never know how much you impacted my life, but I want to say, the message you have proclaimed the last 20+ years is the Message of Christ and there is no doubt about that. It is the message of our time. I always refer to you as the Apostle Paul of our time. I have been blessed by you and I can’t contain what God has given me through you other than to pass it on to other people.

I have all your mind-boggling materials that you gave to us during your trainings in the early nineties and whenever I look through them, they are fresh as if you wrote them yesterday. All the former staff of FHI/U are moved by your materials and each one of them has a totally different understanding of what being a Christian means. Each one of us has more than one project started as a result of your teachings. When you come over to Uganda we would like to meet with you for coffee and just share with you what God has done and what he is continuing to do as a result of the FIRE YOU started in Uganda through Food for the Hungry.

On July 11, Francis was with a group of Ugandan and American Christians enjoying an evening at the Ethiopian Village Restaurant when a suicide bomber blew himself up a few feet away. Over 70 people were killed, including three who were with Francis: Peter Mutabazi, pastor of Bwaise Pentecostal Church; Becky Tendo Nakitende, a member of the worship team; and Francis Okecho.

Six Americans were injured, including five who sustained serious injuries. They were in Uganda for summer project work and ministry at Bwaise Pentecostal Church. This church is situated in one of the biggest Muslim-populated slums in Kampala.

The group had decided on the Ethiopian Village Restaurant to watch the World Cup final game between Spain and the Netherlands.

Another worship-team member, Ugandan-Ivan, sustained less serious injuries. Francis and one American miraculously escaped injury.

Further details are available here and here.

New Wholistic Ministry Network in Thailand

Arjan Wirachai shares with the group

The Mercy Center in Pattaya, Thailand was the venue for a July 30 networking conference which became the genesis for an “initiative to form a regional alliance of like-minded ministries.”

The conference was birthed when Robin Steen, a staff member of Harvest and DNA trainer in Thailand and Myanmar, was asked by church leaders last February to “bring together churches and Christian organizations that are active in wholistic ways in Pattaya.” Local leaders sensed there were a number of churches and organizations with common interests who didn’t have a “functioning network.”

In fact, the regional discussion sparked a broader, national conversation.

“I could see an interest in what we were thinking of doing in Pattaya,” Robin noted, “but more than that, interest also for Bangkok and on a national level. It became obvious that this idea of networking churches and organizations involved in wholistic ministry might be of interest for the Thailand Evangelical Committee (TEC).”

Sanya Ladaphongpattana

When  TEC’s Mercy Track director, Sanya Ladaphongpattana, showed interest, organizers decided to add a second purpose to the original goal. Besides networking Christian non-government organizations and churches in Pattaya, they also invited other interested parties from around the country to observe and to discuss a National Network of Regional Alliances.

Fourteen organizations presented their work and shared contact information. One presenter—the San Jai Network—actually represents some 70 organizations involved with women and children at risk.

The other presenters represented the following organizations:

• Disciple Nations Alliance/Harvest
• Thailand Food For the Hungry
• World Concern
• Compassion International
• Christian Foundation for the Blind
• Mercy Center of Pattaya
• Upland Holistic Development Project
• International Justice Mission
• World Vision
• Compassion of Christ Mission Foundation (AOG)
• Step Ahead
• Think Small
• Boy’s Brigade in Thailand

Breakout group discusses national network concept

Following these morning presentations was an afternoon spent in two break-out groups. The Pattaya regional group discussed ways of connecting local churches and Christian organizations. The conversation led to the birth of the Integral Mission Network as a subset of an existing consortium of pastors. Leadership will be provided to the IM by the consortium.

Steen noted that leaders agreed to “continue discussing and forming the network at their next monthly meeting” and invite others who were not in attendance.

The other break-out session was comprised of those from outside Pattaya. This group agreed to hold forums on networking in Bangkok and Chiangmai at the end of November. Between now and then, steering committee members will prepare and distribute questionnaires to pastors and Christian NGOs to assemble information about who is doing wholistic ministry. Organizers hope to develop one or more directories, one means of encouraging the development of regional alliances throughout Thailand.

Churches in Congo Learn to be Salty

How can the church serve its community in order to see positive change?

That question set the framework when 57 participants from eight churches gathered in Idiofa, Democrative Republic of Congo, last June. The event included a Vision Conference and Training of Trainers, all in the effort to multiply wholistic discipleship and “equip God’s people for service in their communities.”

Small group session

Delegates included pastors and church leaders, as well as staff from NGOs and community development organizations. During the week they planned 11 Seed Projects to “demonstrate God’s concern to their surrounding communities” including:

• Painting the blackboards in several primary schools
• Feeding abandoned children
• Training young mothers in sewing
• Assisting marginalized people
• Building a new source of water
• Training pupils in  computer skills
• Cleaning up city streets
• Training widows to manufacture soaps and food items

In addition to the Vision Conference, 34 trainers were equipped “to spread the vision and oversee activities and Seed Projects” planned during the event.

The conference was organized by a local Baptist church, facilitated by Samaritan Strategy, and led by pastors Byamungu and Martin. Idiofa is 660 kilometers east of the capital, Kinshasa.

Churches represented included: Evangelical, Baptist, Catholic, Presbyterian, New Apostolic, Assemblies of God, Pentecostal Church, and Army chaplaincy. Nine NGOs were also in attendance.

The importance of the training was expressed by one participant who spoke of the web of lies that enslaves our villages and cities … lies have subjugated our nation. In such a reality, the truth is powerful for tearing down strongholds.

Another delegate related how God’s love erases one of those lies, related to poverty.

God’s love pushes us to take care of others. Many people use their poverty as pretext to hide their selfishness. We always have something to share with the other.

Other testimonites of the impact of the conference spoke of the role of the local church. When all other structures fail, it remains only the church to give hope in the world.

People must see God’s glory through the church. The Christian is a letter written for the world … the salt and light of the world.

Young Brazilian Launches Transformational Youth Ministry

Carlos (right) and colleagues with Darrow and Marilyn Miller

Carlos Said Pires has a dream. Since graduating from university with a degree in Business Administration in 2009, Carlos has thrown his energies into a new national effort—the National Union of Christian Students (NUCS). The vision of NUCS is Christians serving as opinion leaders in society, well grounded in Christian principles and prepared to lead the transformation of a nation. To achieve this goal, NUCS works with youth in four arenas: sports, arts, politics, social assistance.

Carlos believes it’s time for those who know the truth and believe the Bible to tell people that the problems of the world have one solution: Jesus Christ.

Sports is one natural venue for transforming society. NUCS leaders believe Christian students will respond to leadership training built around sports, and some early results confirm that hunch.

“Two months ago,” Carlos reflects, “we had our first championship soccer match of Christian schools here in Belo Horizonte. Almost 200 students in 20 teams played 45 games.”

Within four years of this first-ever national gathering of Christian athletes, Carlos expects to build a national training program to teach players what the Bible says about sports, equipping them to serve as influencers in every domain of the society. The next tournament is scheduled for September.

Carlos credits DNA’s influence in his life. When Darrow Miller taught in Sao Paulo two years ago, Carlos attended. Darrow’s material on the importance of worldview issues gripped him.

“DNA materials are the basis of our association,” Carlos notes. “[For] every training program … we are building our curriculum on DNA materials: Discipling Nations, LifeWork, The Seed in the Forest …” among others.

Another goal of NUCS is building a Christian perspective on politics and encouraging appropriate engagement in political activity.  This includes developing a curriculum including political studies, social realities and citizen involvement in serving the poor and other underserved communities.

NUCS team members

Carlos envisions every member “using their profession to develop the quality of life of the people. For example: a nutritionist helping the people use their own resources to make healthy food. Eventually our goal is to train 20,000 children, including those in poor regions here in Brazil.”

Funding for NUCS will include events, memberships and sponsors for all four fronts—Arts, Social Assistance, Sports and Politics.

Carlos represented Brazil at the 4-14 Window Global Summit in New York, September 2-5. This gathering was “to bring together some 500 Christian leaders from 100 nations who are called to mobilize the global body of Christ to reach, equip and empower the 4-14 Generation to transform their communities and nations.”