DNA Responds to Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan

On March 11, a massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake struck near the coast of northern Japan. The earthquake was followed by a devastating tsunami tidal wave. The two combined for the worst disaster to strike Japan since World War II.

The Disciple Nations Alliance national organization in Japan, Friends with the Voiceless International, and their leadership team of Eisuke Kanda, Shun Jinnai and Midori Yanagisawa, responded to the disaster with a strategy known as “For Such a Time as This: Seek the Remnants for Building His Kingdom in Fear-Stricken Areas of Fukushima Prefecture.” The project involves:

• Standing with local churches so they know they are not alone.
• Casting vision for God’s Kingdom using the Vision Conference.
• Serving affected communities together with local churches.
• Training church leaders to rebuild communities based on a Kingdom vision.

As of May 1, DNA champions, supporting churches, and national and regional leaders have sent over $100,000 USD through Friends with the Voiceless to support this vital work.

Updates on their work are available here and here.

Eisuke Kanda (left) and Shun Jinnai co-lead Friends with the Voiceless, the DNA national network in Japan. This picture was taken at the 2011 DNA Global Forum in South Africa

In Sudan, the Church Plays a Vital Role Peaceful Referendum

Stephen Langa is Director of Transforming Nations Alliance, the DNA national network in Uganda. He is also an elder at the 22,000 member Watoto Church in Kampala. In 2010, Stephen facilitated Vision Conferences in Khartoum, Yei, Juba and Rumbek Sudan. Attending these events were key church leaders from all major denominations. For more background, read this, this, and this.

Stephen challenged these church leaders to step up and play their God-given, prophetic role at this critical time for the nation. As a result, they banded together and took several strategic actions. These included convening several reconciliation meetings between various factions in Southern Sudan, conducting civic education and encouraging people to vote in the referendum, and advocating at the United Nations as well as to leaders of the United States and England, warning of attacks planned by the northern government to prevent the referendum from happening.

The result of these actions was nothing short of miraculous–a peaceful referendum after more than 50 years of civil war. 

Stephen delivered the following electrifying report at the DNA Global Forum in South Africa:

“A delegation of Sudanese religious leaders met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon October 11 to express their fear of what might happen if the general referendum of for the independence of South Sudan is not carried out as planned. “We told him we came to raise an alarm to the United Nations.” So they did that, and as a result of this advocacy, Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir was put under extreme pressure by the UN, by the US government, and by the British government not to invade the south. And we thank God that they prevailed.

“In the closing days before the referendum, things began to change. The tone of the Sudanese government toward south Sudan shifted, indicating that the government in Khartoum had accepted the eventuality of southern Sudan independence. It was an amazing thing. Nobody thought this was possible because even in those last moments there was much tension and nobody knew what was going to happen.Four days before the referendum, president Al-Bashir visited southern Sudan. Nobody imagined this was possible. This was December, just a few weeks before the scheduled vote. Finally, the miracle took place, the referendum actually happened, and the people voted overwhelmingly for secession and to start a new nation.What lessons did we learn?

“First, that God is sovereign over nations and it is his plans and purposes that will ultimately come to pass. Scripture teaches that it is what God ordains that will actually happen.

“Secondly, we learned that when the church decides to obey God and take seriously God’s command to disciple the nations, no power, no force in the universe can prevail against God.

“Thirdly, we see that it is feasible and possible today to disciple nations using the principles of the kingdom of God. In 1960, U.S. president Kennedy told the American people that by the end of the decade they should have put a man on the surface of the moon. He said it was now feasible and possible. We are saying today it is now feasible and possible to disciple nations using biblical principles.

“Why is Sudan important? Sudan is strategic for the kingdom. Sudanese Christians know Arabic and they can be used in north Africa. We are experiencing a kairos moment for the Islamic nations of North Africa. I believe that what’s happening in Egypt, Tunisia, and other places is an indication of what is happening in Islam. We believe that the backbone of Islam has been broken. That means that God can use nations like Sudan, with the wonderful potential they have, the language, etc, to actually reach northern African nations. It is exciting to see what God is doing.”

Ethiopia: The Fruit Follows the Toil

Demelash Lemma is Horn of Africa coordinator for Samaritan Strategy Africa. He recently traveled from his home in Ethiopia to the DNA global forum in South Africa where he shared the following testimony.

Demelash was first exposed to DNA teachings at a Nairobi Vision Conference in 1999. For the last 10 years, he has worked with Harvest International. In that time, Demelash has trained over 10,000 local church leaders in 4,000 congregations.

“It has been a great privilege for me to share this message,” he said. He went on to acknowledge that the first six years was difficult, like breaking hard ground.

“The idea was not welcome because of the traditional church things,” he admitted, “but the last three or four years the work has begun to pay off.”

In recent years, Demelash has had opportunity to work with a new denomination, the Emmanuel United Church (EUC), founded about 20 years ago. Today it has 130 local congregations, and all the pastors have completed a Vision Conference. Many have also finished a Training of Trainers.

“These leaders are young, professional and passionate,” Demelash says. “Whenever they plant a church, they start it not only with the idea of soul winning but they also go to the local government and ask how they can help their communities.”

God has used the EUC to serve the brokenness of Ethiopia’s families affected by HIV/AIDS. Each local EUC congregation has taken care of “at least two orphaned kids with clothing, food, school materials, and visiting.” Some churches have even started Saturday tutoring classes with professionals giving their time and expertise. Every member is contributing their time, money, gifts to heal the brokenness of that community.

One congregation in the capital city is supporting 85 orphans and poor families. Each child is “adopted” by one or two church members. Church members are also offering tutorial class every Saturday.

Improvement in church and government relations is one of the benefits of this ministry.

“The local government sees this church caring for elderly people, planting trees, caring for HIV victims and poor families,” Demelash says. “As a result, the government has changed its mindset about the church. Government officials, when approached by funders from the West wanting to help, says, ‘Please go to that church. They know what you should do!’”

This congregation also has 50 home Bible studies, and Demelash expects further stories of impact.

“I am hoping to see the seed projects going to a bigger level and bringing transformation to that community.”

DNA Asia Regional Forum Set for May 17-21

Kuala Lumpur skyline at night

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia will be the site for the first-ever DNA Asia Regional Forum, which is scheduled for May 17-21. The event is intended to convene DNA champions, trainers, practitioners and partners throughout Asia, as well as those interested in becoming involved. An information and registration website is available here.

The event will be preceded by a two-day Vision Conference for those who would like to experience the messages that are at the core of the DNA movement. Ben Wong (China) and Raaj Mondol (India) will facilitate the Vision Conference.

The Asia Regional Forum is being hosted by the DNA Asia Regional Steering Committee. Members are Ben Wong (China), Bishnu Regmi (Nepal), Raaj Mondol (India), Rey Taniajura (Philippines), Robin Steen (Thailand). Anna Ho serves as coordinator for the Asia Region.