Sustainable, amazing community transformation in Southeast Asia

One of the DNA’s seven core truths is that the ministry of the church must be wholistic. God is the Lord over all, and his sacrifice on the cross is meant to reconcile all things to himself (Col. 1:19-20). Just as Christ in his ministry addressed physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs, so must the church. The DNA exists to help local churches recognize and live out this calling.

In Southeast Asia, God is transforming individuals, families and whole communities through local believers applying biblical truth to their everyday lives. The results are stunning and long-lasting; this truly is transformation that only God could do. Here is one such report from our friends at Reconciled World, who closely worked with 30 churches in a certain rural area and returned to the region two years later to see the results.

While we have always believed that what God has started in these areas will continue, we didn’t have experience of what would happen. We were amazed to discover how much the areas have changed. Today, more than 95 percent of houses are made of concrete, whereas when we started, 95 percent were made of mud.

The community has made incredible strides in education. Only a few years ago, no one here continued school past grade nine. But during our visit, a pastor showed us a list of all the students from the area now attending university. Fifteen students (10 from the churches we worked with)  were granted scholarships by the government–a prize typically awarded to students in urban areas where there are better teachers. This is an astonishing accomplishment!

The groups were continuing to build roads opening up even more farm area. One pastor was acting as a buyer for most people in the area ensuring that everyone got fair prices. The communities were now investing in machinery to process their crops, further increasing their income.

Perhaps most startling was the news that six families now have cars! Cars are extremely expensive in this country. This is an incredible step up in a place where, only seven years ago, bicycles were considered a luxury. Families are using their vehicles to meet the community’s needs like transporting sick or injured people to the hospital.

God never ceases to amaze us with his ability to transform hearts and minds. May he receive all the glory for this wonderful work!

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To learn more Reconciled World’s ideas, approach and programs, visit www.reconciledworld.org. Read more of their stories of transformation here!

Discipling Mexico’s youth through art

This entry was sent to us by Chris McReynolds of Proyecto Amistad which disciples young followers of Jesus in México and the U.S.

At a conference in Mexico City last January, Darrow Miller, co-founder of Disciple Nations Alliance, taught that the church has a great, untapped potential for discipling nations, i.e. Christians working in the arts. Many young people are gifted in music, poetry, painting and film making but are often discouraged by the church from pursuing their God-given talents. He commented that non-Christian artists sharing atheistic-materialistic or neo-pagan values have more impact on our culture and on Christian youth than the church does.

Darrow observed that the church should be the “well spring” of the arts for our nations. He cited the notorious “Madonna and Britney kiss” as a deliberate act of discipling young people, both Christian and non-Christian, to embrace same-sex activity as legitimate. This vice was promoted as a virtue to millions of youth, including Christians, around the world using music and other art forms. Given that arts are “upstream” from politics and economics, one lamentable result is that legislators are passing laws to redefine marriage.

Darrow challenged those at the conference to call the church to create a platform for young Christian artists to use their gifts to speak prophetically to culture. Christian art does not mean “religious art” – songs about Jesus or pictures of Christ and the cross. Christians should create art that promotes Kingdom Culture – Truth, Beauty and Goodness – in winsome ways to the culture. We are to speak prophetically, to critique our cultures. Young Christian artists who catch this vision and are encouraged can become disciplers of their nations.

Impacted by Darrow’s comments, Francelia Chavez, wife of coordinator Chris McReynolds, began discussing with seminary music students, church music directors and others the idea of using music to disciple youth. From these conversations, a music ministry called DJ-MuC took shape.

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DJ-MuC – translated from Spanish – stands for Discipleship of Youth for Christ Using Music. The idea is to integrate teaching, testimony, and music that speaks to young people, and then offer follow-up counseling and communication.

To date, we have held three national-level gatherings of youth in the Presbyterian church of Mexico, one each in Monterrey, Tepecoculco (in the state of Mexico), and Playa del Carmen. At these events messages have been presented and the band has performed and provided testimony of Jesus Christ’s influence in their lives. The response has been encouraging.

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Many of the youth chose to devote, or re-devote, their lives to Christ. Several have received help with serious problems. One of DJ-MuC’s main objectives is to maintain contact with the youth through social media and other means. Another objective is to inspire and facilitate the formation of similar music ministries in various regions of Mexico.

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The youth and adults of DJ-MuC hold up their index fingers to say, “God is One, and we are one in Christ!”

This program is a work in progress, so please pray for its growth and continued fruit.

Connect with DJ-MuC on Facebook,
and e-mail Francelia Chavez or Chris McReynolds to learn more.

DNA videos airing on Nigerian state television TODAY

Starting today and airing every Wednesday night through the end of October, a new DNA video series will be broadcast across Nigeria on the state television station PRTVC, which has well over 3 million viewers.

The topic of the 7-part series is “Monday Church”–in the words of DNA co-founder Darrow Miller, “More work of the church is to take place Monday through Saturday than takes place on Sunday.” These challenging but encouraging lessons will unpack God’s plan for every Christian in every sphere of society to be a ‘missionary of restoration’ every day of the week.

Monday Church video series

Click here to watch the videos!

A local church in Jos, Nigeria called ECWA Plateau Church has purchased airtime on PRTVC and already has been showing “On Earth as It Is in Heaven,” a video series by DNA co-founders Darrow Miller and Bob Moffitt that looks at what it would really look like–what it would really take–to see God’s kingdom come here and now, on earth as it is in heaven.

Steve Chia 1“There is such a dichotomized lifestyle between what happens on Sunday and the week days,” says Steve Chia (left) who is organizing this effort through his Nigerian church. “Many profess to be Christians on Sundays, but we do not seem to see the impact in the society.”

Please pray for those who see these videos, that their minds and hearts would be opened to God’s love for them and prosperous plans for their lives, and that they would respond in obedience.

To contact Steve, please e-mail aschia06@gmail.com.

On holy ground: A night when God’s power filled the room

God is at work all the time, everywhere, day and night. Many of his efforts go unnoticed (which is not to say they’re insignificant). But sometimes, he moves so mightily that it commands awe from every witness–his power fills the room like a thick smoke you can’t ignore.

So it was one evening in May when DNA co-founder Darrow Miller fulfilled an invitation to speak to a group of 100 people in Spain. This was a gathering of Youth with a Mission (YWAM) colleagues from 21 countries, and “the whole place just came unglued,” says Darrow.

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His topic that night was “Sexism and the Spirit of Baal,” which explored the spiritual root of sexist culture in pagan, animistic religion. Baal worship led the Israelites to define husband as “owner-master.” This stands in contrast to God who is the loving, self-sacrificing husband (Ishi in Hebrew). He also taught “The Coming of the Bridegroom,” explaining how Christ treated women with dignity and respect. Jesus was the “true feminist,” breaking the mold of sexist culture in his own day.

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These biblical revelations–of God’s nature as husband to Israel and Christ’s nature as husband to the Church–penetrated many hearts, one of whom was Mikel, a Spanish pastor who then publicly declared how the Spirit of God was moving him to do something he’d never done before.

Here is Pastor Mikel’s testimony:

From the first day, I was very impacted by all that I was hearing regarding the dignity of the woman. I was being confronted personally, to the point of being challenged by God. Then I said to myself, I have to do something!

The next day, I was once again touched by the theme of the dignity of women and everything in my mind was revolving around this. That night, Darrow shared about the character of Ishi and, when the meeting ended, something arose strongly in my heart. I had to ask forgiveness to all women, especially those in Spain!

God showed me how to do this: how to use a prophetic act of washing the feet of one of the sisters there who would represent all the women in the world. I was to ask forgiveness for all the abuse, deceit and indifference that they had experienced at the hands of men.

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A sister volunteered and came forward. I began to wash her feet, and I could perceive her tenderness, but I couldn’t look her in the face. God told me that was because of our “acts of shame” as men that I was unable to look her in the face.

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Then, I kissed her feet trying to “show the tenderness” of God and express that we men want to change.

Finally, I drank the water that I had used to wash her feet as a sign of repentance. God said to me: “So it is that men must swallow their words, insults and vexations that they have been doing for so many years.

Then it was so special to see how all the sisters present fulfilled this prophetic act by offering their forgiveness. A weight was lifted, for them and for us and in Spain.

Beatriz is the woman who had her feet washed that night:

My name is Beatriz, I am 24 years old in Spanish nationality. This is my testimony about the night the Darrow spoke about the dignity of women. That night, God spoke to a Spanish pastor that he should honor woman and wash her feet. At no time did I think about going forward, but finally, I decided to take the step and be the chosen one.

From the time I took a seat in the chair, I started to feel God’s presence in a supernatural way. Never in my whole life had anyone washed my feet, much less a man. I had always had traumatic experiences with the opposite sex where the enemy had stolen my identity as a woman.

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That night, I was able to receive freedom, restoration, dignity and truth. I saw the love of God toward women through the pastor and how God returned to me all that I had lost. I felt privileged to be able to represent many Spanish women. I know that this is marked my story and it has broken many lies. I am sure this is the beginning of the return to the original culture that God created.

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“It was one of the most remarkable moments of my life; the Spirit of God met with us,” says Darrow. “Thank you, Lord, for blessing us with your presence.”

If you would like to learn more about the biblical value of women, please consider:

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PERSONAL TESTIMONIES IN SPANISH

Pastor Mikel:

Desde el primer día me impactó mucho todo lo que estaba escuchando en cuanto a la dignidad de la mujer incluso yo mismo estaba siendo confrontado.

Hasta el punto de ser retado por Dios, entonces dije en mi interior:algo tengo que hacer.

Al día siguiente se volvió a tocar el tema de la dignidad de la mujer y todo en mi mente giraba en torno a ello.

En esa noche Darrow compartió a cerca del carácter de Ishi y al finalizar la reunión subió algo muy fuerte a mi corazón, tenia que pedir perdón a todas las mujeres en este caso de España.

Dios puso la manera: como un acto profético Dios me dijo que lavase los pies de una hermana de las que allí estaban representando a todas las mujeres en el mundo,y le pidiese perdón por todos los abusos, engaños, maltratos e indiferencias que habían experimentado de parte del los hombres.

Una hermana voluntaria vino y empecé a lavarle los pies podía percibir su ternura pero no le podía mirar a la cara, Dios me decía que era por nuestros

“actos de vergüenza” como hombres que no podía mirarle a la cara.

Luego besé sus pies tratando de “mostrar la ternura” de Dios y expresando que los hombres queremos cambiar .

Finalmente bebí el agua con que había lavado sus pies en señal de “arrepentimiento” y Dios me dijo: así es como tiene que tragar el hombre sus palabras, insultos y vejaciones que ha venido haciendo por años.

Luego fue muy especial ver como todas las hermanas presentes completaron este acto profético ofreciéndonos su perdón, un peso fue quitado; para ellas y para nosotros y en España.

Beatriz:

Mi nombre es Beatriz tengo 24 años y mi nacionalidad es española,y este es mi testimonio sobre la noche que darrow hablo sobre la dignidad de la mujer;

En esa noche dios hablo a un pastor español  que devia honrrar a la mujer y lavarle  los pies,en ningún momento pensé en salir pero al final decidi  dar el paso y ser la escogida. Desde el momento que me sente en la silla empece a sentir la presencia de dios de una manera sobrenatural, nunca en mi vida nadie me había lavado los pies y menos un hombre ,siempre había tenido experiencias traumáticas con el sexo opuesto donde el enemigo robo mi identidad como mujer, en esa noche pude recibir  libertad, restauración, dignidad y verdad ,vi el amor de dios hacia la mujer a través del pastor  y  como Dios me devolvía todo lo que perdi .Me sentí privilegia de poder representar a muchas mujeres Españolas , se que esto a marcado la historia y que a quebrado muchas mentiras  y estoy segura que es el comienzo de regresar a la cultura original que Dios creo.

New 5-year program is up and running in Uganda

The DNA Local Network in Africa, called Transforming Nations Alliance, has launched a dynamic Church-Based Community Transformation project in Uganda, and preliminary reports show that transformation is on its way.

Last week, leaders from about 20 local Ugandan churches came together for an initial training, and the power of unity was easy to see:

“I have been a church leader for many years, but I have never sat or participated with other church leaders from different denominations, especially from my village, in a training. I now strongly believe that if we work together as believers, the kingdom of God will be advanced faster.” -Ugandan pastor

Brief overview of the program

Over the next five years, the DNA in Africa will partner with 40 rural and urban (Kampala) churches, equipping them to become powerful, kingdom change-agents, using their own resources to bring hope, love and healing while addressing the most critical needs in their communities.

The program will walk leaders from these 40 churches through 10 training modules that expand on these three general areas:

  1. Overcoming cultural lies with biblical truth → The program uniquely integrates a wholistic approach to ministry with an emphasis on worldview transformation that identifies and replaces satanic distortions—the root causes of poverty and brokenness—with biblical truth.
  2. Wholistic community outreach → Trained churches will apply what they’ve learned by reaching out to their communities throughSeed Projectsthat demonstrate God’s love in practical ways, using local resources.
  3. Developing basic life skills → Church members will receive trainings on health, money management, marriage and family, evangelism, and discipleship–all from a distinctly biblical perspective. They will be equipped to demonstrate these things to other community members.
A Ugandan church leader outlines a potential Seed Project for his church

A Ugandan church leader outlines a potential Seed Project for his church

A tested model of community transformation

The Church-Based Community Transformation model builds upon an exciting program in Southeast Asia that, over the past several years, has seen unprecedented community improvements and truly miraculous moves of God. Starting with 30 local churches, the program has now grown to include more than 700 churches. As a result of the training, churches and their communities have experienced an array of measurable, positive changes, including increased income, improved health, higher-quality primary education, decreased community conflict, increased conversion rates, increased church attendance, and increased tithing. Click here to read one amazing story! All of this has taken place in areas where the church is oppressed. Today, government officials acknowledge the positive impact these churches have brought to their communities.

For more details on the DNA’s Church-Based Community Transformation program,
please e-mail info@disciplenations.org.

Vision Conference in Burundi Sparks Church-Led Community Development

 What tangible impact can words of truth have on a broken society? As the recent DNA Vision Conference in Rutana, Burundi showed, the words of Scripture can begin to bring about community transformation.

Burundi, in East Africa, is a poor nation known for witchcraft, sorcery, alcoholism, and HIV/AIDS.

Burundi, in East Africa, is a poor nation known for witchcraft, sorcery, alcoholism, and HIV/AIDS.

In Burundi, about 65 percent of the population lives in poverty, and the life expectancy is only 54 years of age. Despite these unfavorable circumstances, the land is fertile and with over 60 percent of the people living in the rural areas, there is great potential for community development.

Christian organizations like the Disciple Nations Alliance and Harvest Foundation have organized Vision Conferences in Burundi to begin healing the brokenness. Through these conferences, indigenous trainers use the teachings of the Bible to train local pastors in wholistic transformation.

In 2005, the General Chaplain of the Burundi Police, Canon Onesime Nimbeshaho, attended his first DNA Vision Conference. Since then, his heart for wholistic ministry has led him to be involved in several training events and to head up the recent Vision Conference in Rutana. Forty-one participants attended this conference and, afterward, many said it was the most beneficial conference they had ever been to because it gave them practical, hands-on advice on how to bring healing to their nation.

New Picture

“Other seminars give us theoretical knowledge, but this Vision Conference has touched theoretical and practical issues to help us to solve problems in our communities,” said Pastor Pontien Ribakare of the Anglican Church.

The Vision Conference encouraged the participants to put the teaching into action by doing Seed Projects in their local villages. A Seed Project is a small, church-initiated outreach that allows Christians to identify needs in their communities and practically help meet those needs using their own resources. The goal is for Seed Projects to become ongoing initiatives working to bring wholistic restoration.

Because of this conference, local Christians planned 11 new Seed Projects, including:

  • Supporting orphans
  • Visiting 200 prisoners and providing them with food, clothes, soap and shoes
  • Visiting the sick in hospitals
  • Feeding malnourished kids
  • Cultivating lands for poor and elderly people
  • Purchasing utensils for the elderly
  • Building toilets for the elderly
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As these Christians begin to practically show Christ’s love to their communities, pray for the restoration of the province of Rutana.

Pray that the Church would begin to make positive impacts in every area of society. Finally, the Pastors of Rutana are virtually illiterate when it comes to understanding the Bible, so pray that God would raise up more educated people to train the pastors and further this ministry.

A Family Story

DNA is a family of associate ministries, and one of those family members is Harvest. Harvest staff member, Chris Ampadu, also serves as DNA coordinator for West Africa. In recent months, God has opened many doors for him to share the biblical worldview with the staff of Mercy Ships, a Christian organization that brings healthcare–aboard giant ships–to those most desperate for it.

On February 17, U.S. television network CBS aired an excellent segment on Mercy Ships. Click here to watch the full segment.

“Spend a few days as we did, aboard the Africa Mercy, and you will see how two worlds meet: at the intersection of courage and compassion,” says reporter Scott Pelley from CBS’s long-running television news program, “60 Minutes.”

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“Someone has to look at them; someone has to tell them that ‘You’re human, and I recognize that in you….’ It gets to a point where you cannot see it anymore. You don’t see the tumor, you just can see the person’s eyes … or if they only have one eye, because the other one is a tumor, you find their eye, and you find a way to connect with them.”

The ministry of Mercy Ships extends far beyond the physical realm. Last year, Chris Ampadu began training hundreds of people in the biblical worldview through this ministry. Mercy Ships crew members, local government officials, pastors and church leaders have received biblical-worldview training through this fruitful partnership.

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The majority of those trained have been from a Muslim background, making this collaboration even more exceptional.

“This week, we had a wonderful conference for pastors and church leaders with almost 600 participants,” Chris said of a recent Mercy Ships invitation to Guinea. “Interestingly, the conference was held at Winners Chapel which was attacked by Moslems last few weeks. Now, the church has a solution–to love their Moslems brothers, and they have made plans to initiate seed love actions towards them … they have no option than to love them!

In the months to come, watch for more stories about Chris and his partnership with Mercy Ships!

“Praise ye the LORD!” ~ A testimony from Brazil

My name is Mary, and I’ve been part of Disciple Nations Alliance for just about six months, now. My favorite part of working with DNA is the privilege of being immersed in God’s amazing work. Every day, I get to talk with people who are being used by God to bring restoration and new life to their communities. It’s easy to see that the devil is active in our world, but we must not forget that it’s not an equal fight! God is always in control, and with his power, his Church is on the offensive — not the other way around.

Jesus said to his disciples,  “I tell you … on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18).

Here is one example of God working in the lives of people all over the world: In João Pessoa, the poorest and least evangelized part of Brazil, a Christian non-profit called Institute One27 is ushering in the Kingdom of God through a training and mentorship school for young adults and ensuing projects in the community. This video is sure to encourage you; watch it!

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD.” Psalm 135:1

Southeast Asian church doubles in size in just one day

This story comes from our DNA partners in Southeast Asia, where more than 700 local churches are being discipled, and God is vibrantly on the move. For the safety of our partners and local believers, we are not disclosing the specific country.

In one area, there was a small church made up of 10 families. After they completed just the first training, “Introduction to Wholistic Ministry,” they wanted to show God’s love to a family whose wife was having heart surgery. The church decided to help in a very practical way: by harvesting the family’s crops while the wife was recovering and the husband was tending to her in the hospital.

About 30 people from this tiny church set out to the couple’s field — pulling up crops, bagging them and delivering them to the couple’s doorstep.

When the couple returned from the hospital, they were very surprised and moved because they had worried about what to do with their crops waiting to be harvested. Even facing high medical bills, they had assumed their harvest would have to be abandoned.

They said they wanted to believe in God because they had been seeking love but had never found any until they saw the love in the church.

The couple opened their hearts to Christ after receiving such a practical example of his sacrificial love for them. On top of that, nine other families in the community witnessed this event and also asked to receive Christ!

Praise the Lord who orchestrates all such events for His glory.

Video: Business Declares the Glory of God

A biblical worldview requires a biblical view of work: It is a blessing, not a curse, and we can use it to glorify God.

Here is a new, short video from the magazine Christianity Today about a businessman in Phoenix, Arizona who is revitalizing and blessing his city through his propensity for business.

If you liked this story, you may also enjoy From hobby to calling: An artist discovers the purpose for his talent. Also, check out DNA’s book on this subject: LifeWork: A Biblical Theology for What You Do Every Day.