Connect with God s Heart for the World FREE METHODIST WORLD MISSIONS MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA. A Cup of Cold Water During Ramadan I 15

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1 FREE METHODIST WORLD MISSIONS JULY SEPT Connect with God s Heart for the World A Dozen from Aleppo I 4-5 Leaders Tell of Growth I 12 A Cup of Cold Water During Ramadan I 15 MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA

2 Diaspora Missions ARTICLES by Bishop David Roller INSIDE THIS ISSUE 3 God Uses World Crisis by Pastor Dale 4-5, 14 A Dozen from Aleppo by a pastor in Jordan 12 Leaders Tell of Growth by Pastor Nabil 13 The Lord Wants More by Scott 15 A Cup of Cold Water During Ramadan by H.M. 16 Love Unites by Pastor Dale REGULAR FEATURES 2 Editorial by Bishop Roller 6 & 11 Global News 7-10 Daily Prayer Calendar Cover photo: Jordan More people live outside of their country of origin today than at any time in history. Realistic estimates are that some 230 million people are living in countries they weren t born in (not to mention displaced persons in their own countries). These diaspora communities are all across the world, especially in major urban settings. We re now talking about a Diaspora Missiology to label this modern phenomenon and help us grasp both the challenges and opportunities these people movements permit. Particularly interesting is how this opens otherwise difficult areas of the world to authentic ministry by followers of Jesus. We overuse the word amazing. But not when it comes to what God is doing in the Middle East, often among displaced peoples. Forget what you think you know see what s really going on in Pastor Dale s quick overview (page 3) of how Free Methodists Bishop Roller are ministering in the most complicated parts of the world. Or if that doesn t amaze you, how about the way God moves a young woman to lead her own house church in Egypt (page 13)? Or perhaps you d like to eat a date during Ramadan? See that story on page 15. If not, I dare you to place yourself, just for a moment, in the shoes of the refugees clustered on a hillside in Amman (beginning on page 4). God is at work. We re following His trail wherever it leads following His lead, whatever the trail. 2 Free Methodist World Missions Pulse July Sept fmcusa.org/fmmissions childcareministries.org SEEDLivelihood.org

3 God Uses World Crisis by Pastor Dale, MENA Area Director and Executive Director of Impact Middle East I continue to be amazed at God s blessings, His 21 church planting projects have been started among provisions and His plan! Since being named the the Arab population. We have ordained the first woman Middle East/North Africa Area Director in pastor in the Middle East, and she is one of July 2015, I have seen how God is using a world our most effective church planters. Soon work crisis to bring others to Him. will begin in Bethlehem. God is using all the News reports show us the huge refugee turmoil in this country to draw people crisis in places like Jordan and Iraq. This to Himself! movement of people groups has caused great I am amazed at Egypt! Three strong pain and separation from family, traditions networks of more than 1,000 church plants and normal life for many displaced individuals, but have been established over the last eight years. God I have seen how God has used this for His purpose has provided wonderful, capable leaders. We work in and for the advancement of His kingdom. In Amman, city centers, villages and rural areas, among all people Jordan, alone, we minister to more than 40,000 groups, with the most educated and the least educated. refugees, representing several different countries God is doing wonderful work, and it is being done from the Middle East and North Africa. The gospel amidst turmoil and political uncertainty. God is good, is advancing in places and ways that would have been and Egypt is alive! impossible without the current refugee crisis. There are countries and places where amazing God is doing amazing work among His people, ministry is taking place, but I cannot put the stories including in Iraq where the crisis has opened doors of in print. Know that the church and the cause of Christ compassion, church planting and advancement. God is advancing. I am glad the Free Methodist Church is has used the movement of people groups throughout used in powerful ways within this dynamic, changing history so His kingdom would be advanced, and He area of our world. I am humbled God is using me continues to do so today. to help give vision, direction and leadership to the Our work in Israel is young less than two years structure supporting our gifted leaders in the Middle old but it continues to grow and amaze me. Already, East as He continues to do amazing things. SEEDLivelihood.org childcareministries.org fmcusa.org/fmmissions July Sept Free Methodist World Missions Pulse 3

4 A Dozen from Aleppo by a pastor in Jordan Every day we visit refugee families. All of them have different stories, different plans, different living conditions. Some live in very nice apartments, while others live with many other relatives in a crowded room with a leaking roof. Some are very optimistic about their future. Some are so sad you can literally feel a heaviness in the air. Some families decided to change their lives dramatically and flee Iraq. Sometimes the last straw was a friend, relative or a neighbor s accident. Families often tell of ISIS kidnapping, torturing or killing a person they knew. They left as soon as possible after that. It was a quick visit because we had difficulty finding the right house. Finally we found it a place of contrasts. It was located in the slums of tiny houses topped with blankets instead of rooftops. Poor huts. But the view situated on a hill where you could see all of Amman laid out before you! The woman we were looking for, Aisha, came out to meet us. When we entered her house, two children were sitting on mattresses and watching a small TV. They were her youngest son, Yousef, and her granddaughter, Esraa. Esraa s mother was at the hospital about to give birth to her second baby. We congratulated Aisha on such good news, but she sighed and shook her head. Aisha had come to Jordan two years ago after her hometown Aleppo was bombed. She, her husband, Joum a, and their six children fled Syria by car. Her oldest daughter, Shana, stayed in Syria with her husband, Timothy, and Esraa. After some time, violence in the country escalated, and two of Timothy s brothers were killed. Timothy lost a leg during one of the endless bombings. When a rare opportunity came to flee Syria, the family moved to Jordan just a few months before our visit. They stayed at a refugee 4 Free Methodist World Missions Pulse July Sept fmcusa.org/fmmissions childcareministries.org SEEDLivelihood.org

5 camp because Joum a and Aisha s small flat already housed eight people. When Shana found out she was pregnant, Timothy insisted on moving to Amman. It wouldn t be wise to stay in the camp s poor living conditions when Shan needed medical care. So, three more moved into this house. As I tried to imagine how a dozen people could live in such a tiny flat, Aisha offered us some tea before continuing her story. Doctors told Shana she needed a caesarian section, but it was not possible to get this surgery in a government hospital without proper documents. Shana had only her passport her UN refugee identification document was still in the refugee camp. Aisha nervously checked her phone while talking to us. It was obvious she was waiting for an update from Timothy. We wrote down a list of things Aisha asked for food, blankets, mattresses, cleaning supplies, a heater and then we left. I have thought about this family a lot. How can they live in those conditions? How can children enjoy their childhood? How can Timothy cope with his brothers deaths and his own disability? Will they ever be ready to start a new protection from violence for Jordan more Christians who have a vision for compassion our monthly meetings with non-christian women, including those in the Palestinian camp, to meet spiritual, emotional, psychological and financial needs youth activities for Jordanian, Palestinian, Iraqi and Syrian refugees, including sports, crafts and discipleship God to provide support for families, including food, heaters, mattresses and fans wisdom in sharing the plan of salvation with others through English language lessons and hair-cutting ministries a Christian health center to give help for those with special needs and counseling for caregivers life? Where does Shana find strength to live and fight for her future? How can a newborn survive in such conditions? I don t know the answers to all these questions. Almost all of the Syrian refugees tell us they dream of returning to their country one day. I can only wish their dream will come true. We have heard so much about the happenings in Syria bombings, destruction and a high level of violence that has ravaged the country. There are so many organizations in play now ISIS, al-qaeda, and both the Syrian army and the Free Syrian army. But it all looks absolutely different, more real, when you meet Syrian people who have lost their homes and relatives, who had to flee their homeland in order to save their lives. It reminds you how fragile a person s life is, how priceless it is for his family. We have seen many faces of the Syrian refugees: we know we will remember them long after everything else will have faded. It is not easy to forget pain, sadness and suffering in people s eyes. I don t know how much we personally can help them, but I know for sure they do a lot for me. They have already changed my vision of refugees, washing away a lot of stereotypes about them, and made me think a little bit differently of the situation in general. The scariest and most honest thought I ve had is that everyone of us could be in their place. Nobody is protected enough to feel absolutely safe in our crazy and unpredictable world. And there is a huge difference between reading about refugees as names in an article and sitting in their houses, looking into their eyes. Continued on Page 14 SEEDLivelihood.org childcareministries.org fmcusa.org/fmmissions July Sept Free Methodist World Missions Pulse 5

6 GL BAL NEWS MISSIONS FAMILY Appointed: José and Ada Hernández, elders in the South Atlantic Conference, were appointed as VISA missionaries to Spain in January José, who has been an adjunct faculty member at Asbury Theological and Wesley Seminary, will work in leadership development and churchplanting support. Ada will work with member care and church-planting support with FM Spain ministries. José and Ada anticipate leaving for the field in August 2016.* Taylor and Katelyn Shockey have been approved for a two-year VISA assignment in Thailand. Taylor will serve as a middle school teacher for physical education and Bible and also as a coach in the athletic department at International Community School of Bangkok. Katelyn, the daughter of missionaries Don and Kathy Williams, will be actively involved in the community, exploring potential future FM ministry. The Shockeys, who have one son, begin their assignment in the fall of David and Jill Sweet were appointed as VISA missionaries to Bulgaria in January David will assist at the Petrich Community Center in organizing a sport/recreational league and will disciple league leaders. Jill will manage accounts for mission projects, microenterprise and new livelihood groups. David will graduate from Spring Arbor University (Spring Arbor, MI) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Recreation Leisure Management (spring 2017). Jill is an accounting professional. The Sweets projected departure for the field is in the summer of 2017.* Appointed for a two-year VISA assignment in January 2016, Chad and Hollie Wells plan to join the Bulgaria mission team this fall.* Chad will serve as administrator of the International Fellowship of the St. John Foundation and St. John s Home. He will also focus on building community relationships. Hollie will supervise the St. John s Home staff, providing training, counseling and oversight. She will also partner with nationals to provide family training seminars. The Wells have three daughters Olivia, Abigail and Ruthie. *Contingent on receiving the necessary financial support. Congratulations to missionary kids University graduates: Caroline Crawford (daughter of Guy and Betsy, Mexico) graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor s degree in vocal performance Michaela Williams (daughter of Don and Kathy, Thailand) graduated from Spring Arbor University, MI, with a bachelor s degree in social work High school graduate: Ikaiasha Persing (daughter of Corey and Connie, Thailand) Celebration of Life: FMWM grieves with Pastor Dale (Middle East/North Africa, IMPACT Middle East) at the passing of his mother, Betty, on April 4 in Michigan. FMWM offers condolences to Art Brown (Africa) at the passing of his mother, Mary, on March 27 in Florida. Helen Nelson (May 19, 1926-Feb. 26, 2016) FMWM celebrates the life of Helen Nelson who served in Central Africa for 14 years. Helen passed away Feb. 26 in Washington. Services were held in Boise, ID. Helen served in a variety of roles between 1972 and 1986 while her late husband, Allen, helped transform an undeveloped hillside into four major hospital buildings and missionary residences at Nundu, Democratic Republic of Congo. As the treasurer for the mission and the bookkeeper-treasurer for the station and hospital building project, Helen worked in four different currencies. She also served as the director of the conference women s work. Meeting in 13 locations, more than 1,000 women participated in women s study groups, which included Bible study literacy, sewing and other classes. Those who were in the Nelson home affirm that hospitality was one of Helen s many gifts. I remember Helen for her uncomplaining adaptability, writes retired missionary Bishop Emeritus Gerald Bates. When construction started at Nundu Deaconess Hospital, the Nelsons lived for a couple of months in a combination of tents. In this unlikely assortment of shelters, Helen could produce a nice meal for weary travelers. Helen also stepped into many gaps of service. She was a noble woman, a genuine friend, and a willing servant of the kingdom. Project Missions: FMWM will no longer be able to accept postage stamps (used or new) for Project Missions. (Project Missions was started in the early 1960s as an avenue to help FM World Missions by receiving, processing and re-selling used postage stamps to support approved missions projects.) The decision to discontinue the program was made for several reasons: stamp collecting values have gone down significantly in recent years, less stamps are available as use has become more prevalent, and we currently do not have anyone to manage the stamps. The current inventory of stamps will be sold with proceeds going toward a missions project. FMWM wants to thank Rev. Raymond Banks, who retired from managing Project Missions due to health reasons. Through the years Rev. Banks spent many hours sorting, processing and selling the stamps sent to him by individuals and churches throughout the U.S. He had the expertise, the patience and the passion to handle thousands of stamps to further the cause of missions. Also, thank you to each of you since the program started tens of thousands of dollars from the sale of stamps have been sent to touch lives in the name of Jesus. Continued on Page 11 6 Free Methodist World Missions Pulse July Sept fmcusa.org/fmmissions childcareministries.org SEEDLivelihood.org

7 Remove this prayer calendar from the magazine and use it as a daily guide to pray for mission needs around the globe. Resources available: To order prayer cards or posters of your missionary, contact Pam Sheads at , ext. 236, or send request to pam.sheads@fmcusa.org Costa Rica, Glenn & Wendy Lorenz Pray for the Holy Spirit s protection and guidance over the Lorenz family as their departure date for Costa Rica gets close. Glenn and Wendy will work alongside others to create and facilitate the pastoral formation process for Latin America. Birthday: Wendy VISA (Volunteers In Service Abroad) Pray for a VISA team focused on quizzing support as they minister in Kenya this month. Sri Lanka Pray for Superintendent Rev. G.P. Suri Jayamani as he leads the FM work and encourages pastors and churches in Sri Lanka. Taiwan, David & Sarah Clemente Pray the FMC is spiritually prepared for the evangelistic challenge within the nation of Taiwan, as well as for the churches outreaches. Birthday: David Ecuador, J.R. & Becky Crouse Pray as the Crouse family adjusts to ministry in Quito, Ecuador. Pray as J.R. and Becky get to know the Ecuador FMC family and find effective ways to partner in sharing the gospel. Pray for Marissa and Alena transitioning from homeschooling to a regular classroom setting. Malawi Pray for Malawi pastors returning home from their training module early this month. Ask the Lord to help them implement aspects of faith learned in this module and to be able to lead their people in far-reaching ministry in their respective communities. Spain, Josh & Susy Fajardo Pray for the Holy Spirit s protection and guidance over the Fajardos as they minister in Southern Europe. Birthday: Susy Thailand, Taylor & Katelyn Shockey Pray as the Shockeys move to Bangkok this month where Taylor will teach at International Community School and Katelyn will be involved in the community, exploring potential future FM ministry. Costa Rica, Dennis & Kyle Leon Pray for the Leon family while they are partnership building in the U.S. through early August. Pray for strong connections to be made with churches and for travel safety for this family of six. Global, Kevin Austin Pray for the collaborative effort of four denominations and several organizations in the Philippines to end child trafficking Hungary, International Missionaries, Gerry & Kati McNamara Pray for children to know the love of Jesus at the summer camp held at an orphanage in Győr. A team from Northgate FMC, Batavia, NY, will serve with the McNamaras. South Sudan Pray for the developing FM work in South Sudan, including 17 churches, 3,000 attendees, a hospital and a community center/school. Creative Access, Adam & Rebecca Join in prayer for opportunities and openings for the gospel in the setting where Adam and Rebecca work. Birthday: Adam Uruguay Pray for urban outreach in the city of Montevideo, where an estimated 1.7 million people live. Bulgaria Pray for lives to be changed through the Love Bulgaria Youth Evangelism Conference, July 12 to 15. Pray for attendees and trainers. Creative Access, Mark & Lena Join in prayer with Mark and Lena that many in their city and immediate community will be drawn to God in faith. Birthday: Lena Taiwan, Tim Kinkead Praise God for the Chung Lun church s opportunity to minister to their community in Kaohsiung. Hungary Pray for leader Ildikó Kóber and the development of the Hungary Set Free Movement Network and the Life Skills Program in Budapest that will provide employment and job training. Mexico, Guy & Betsy Crawford Pray for the Luz y Vida (Light and Life) church plant leadership team, including Pastor Albano and Cecy, to have a clear vision of the cell-based church. Pray more groups will be formed, and children will come to know Christ at the Saturday Kids club. Rwanda, Julie Yerger While Julie is in the U.S. for a year of partnership building, lift in prayer those filling her roles at the Rwanda mission. Also pray Julie is energized each time she shares her story in churches this year. Cameroon This month, several pastors in Cameroon begin training their two church planter-pastor students, following the Village Church Planting program. Pray for a successful beginning SEEDLivelihood.org childcareministries.org fmcusa.org/fmmissions July Sept Free Methodist World Missions Pulse 7

8 7.22 Philippines, Matt & Christine Sauder Pray as Matt and Christine begin to study the Tagalog language. Pray for their cultural adjustment when they return to the Philippines in September. Birthday: Matt Chile, Kay Stotts Godoy Pray for bi-monthly teacher training workshops held in Santiago, Chile, to prepare children s workers from four FM churches. Pray youth make positive life changes because of their teachers love Rwanda, Sheila Etherington Join in prayer for Kibogora Hospital to fulfill the main objective of its existence: good, affordable medical care, as well as staff programs and services that show the hope, love and compassion God has for all. Birthday: Sheila International Child Care Ministries (ICCM) Praise God ICCM Director Linda Adams had an opportunity to gather with national coordinators in April at the Latin America Learning Conference. Pray for a continued unity for these leaders who often work in isolation. Asia, Eric & Virginia Spangler Pray that God will use FMWM-Asia s efforts to influence one million Asians to make a decision to live for Jesus in the coming years. Pray for strategies, workers and opportunities that will lead to these ends. Colombia Pray for the growth of the church plant in Barrancabermeja and new church-planting projects in Medellin and other cities. Kenya, Roger & Deborah Varland The Varlands request prayer for flexible attitudes as they return to teach the fall term at Rift Valley Academy, knowing changes have taken place since they last taught there. Creative Access, Marie Join Marie in praying for a spiritual awakening among the university community where she serves. Birthday: Marie Kenya, Ken & Letty Myers Pray for effective showings of the JESUS Film as Ken and Letty share this evangelism tool throughout Kenya. Birthday: Letty Africa, Mike & Vickie Reynen The Reynens travel to Nigeria this month to hold meetings to nurture church and community relations in the area of one ICCM school. Pray for deepening of the church s vision for the community. Colombia, Ricardo & Beth Gómez Pray as Ricardo and Beth work with a team of key leaders to develop an urban church-planting initiative to start FM churches in Medellín. Greece, Michael & Maria Long Pray for volunteers (drivers, administrators, craftsmen) to help with the refugee crisis ministry. Pray God gives them the right words of encouragement. Ireland Praise God for work recently begin in Ireland. The church in Monaghan meets in rented facilities and has congregants that travel each weekend from Dublin and Cavan. Latin America, Dr. Delia Nüesch-Olver & Dr. Paul Olver Pray for effective follow-up and implementation from the Latin Leaders Summit in May. Each mission district and provisional conference will be refining their plan for Community Church Planting and beginning a new approach to preparing ministerial candidates for effective ministry and ordination Asia, Darin & Jill Land Pray for wisdom in planning for leadership development and collaboration in the Asia Region. Egypt Pray for ongoing growth in the more than 1,200 house churches. Pray for the gifted young women who lead one of the networks. Taiwan Pray for God s anointing on pastors who changed churches earlier this month or began new appointments recently. Pray FM ministries thrive in their communities. Brazil Praise the Lord several new families have started attending the Aguas Claras church. Creative Access, Ken & Linda Pray for Ken and Linda have quick minds to learn Arabic and Kurdish. Birthday: Ken Bulgaria, Chance & Dee Dee Galloway Join in prayer for the Livelihood Groups that have been established as a way to help alleviate the economic realities in Bulgaria. Pray these groups would connect not only on the financial level, but also the spiritual level. Birthday: Dee Dee Set Free, Ginger Coakley Pray for the positive impact of Eden s Glory as it completes its first year of inviting survivors of human trafficking into a home and journey toward healing. Pray for leadership, staff, finances and residents. Myanmar Pray God s Word will impact lives in the communities where the 22 FM churches are located. Kenya, Debbie Hogeboom Debbie asks for prayer for open doors and opportunities for the gospel to impact people. Global Join in prayer for the FMC s initiative Decade of Harvest a plan for the global FMC to double in size over the next 10 years. Pray each church pursues successful strategies to reach this goal Free Methodist World Missions Pulse July Sept fmcusa.org/fmmissions childcareministries.org SEEDLivelihood.org

9 ministry prayer directory Safety Provision Effective Ministry Peace Discernment Health Unity Vision Opportunities Connect with God s heart for the world.

10 God by Bishop David Roller rayer doesn t change some things; it changes everything. Prayer changes us as we pray, we find ourselves drawn deeper into the heart of God. Realignment with We see Him and His desires more clearly and find ourselves conforming to Him and His ways. As we spend time with Him, we become like Him. In their dramatic walk through the Old Testament, we see the Hebrew people repeatedly drifting from the one true God to worship the gods of their neighbors. Then they repeatedly are brought back to the true God. There is always prayer involved in that rediscovery and realignment with God. We are changed by prayer. But prayer isn t just a realignment of ourselves. That would perhaps be enough, but, amazingly, prayer is much more than self-help meditation or a feel-good therapy. God actually responds to our prayers. How can this be? How can the One who superintendents everything from the movement of the Bishop Roller planets to the flight of the osprey lend an ear to me and act because of my prayers? We take this for granted, certainly, only if we don t really believe it. So with great care we present you with this prayer directory. These are real people, real situations, real churches, real needs. And we ask you to join with us, to connect with God s heart and to plead with Him on behalf of these people and these ministries. We know you ll find yourself changed, but, beyond that, the world will be changed. Praying for Africa Africa Amazing Impact It is truly an amazing reality a reality non-praying people cannot fathom that through your prayers you can actually impact the world you have never seen. Whether you have or have not seen Africa, we are glad for every prayer you utter for this continent! All across this vast land, Free Methodists are serving as witnesses for our Lord Jesus Christ. Some of them live next to Muslims and may even be persecuted. Others live among people who practice traditional religion and must deal with dark spiritual forces. Many live in urban centers where populations are a mix of Christians and lost people. Please pray for Christian witness by all these brothers and sisters of ours. Specifically, you can also serve the kingdom of God by praying for the ongoing multiplication of churches though Village Church Planting efforts in several countries. Pray for the medical ministry of the church through clinics and hospitals. There are dozens of Free Methodist primary schools. Pray for these schools to have powerful influence in the lives of all young people. Pray the Lord will pour out His Spirit and work great life transformations for His glory through the day-to-day and week-to-week ministry at local Free Methodist churches. Mike Reynen, Area Director Ministry Prayer Directory

11 Art & Sylvia Brown Africa Area Associate/VISA Art and Sylvia provide pastoral care and support to FM missionaries in Africa. This role includes encouragement and spiritual nurture via s, phone calls and field visits; special care in emergencies or times of crisis; and organization of prayer networks. Art and Sylvia to have insight to develop ways to support the Africa missions team most effectively the Africa missionaries as they deal with the stress of being cross-cultural leaders far from family missionary children as they grow up as thirdculture kids safety for the Browns as they travel to Africa once or twice a year to minister to FM missionaries Sheila Etherington Rwanda Associate/FMWM Sheila divides her time between Kibogora Hospital and her home in the United Kingdom. She is the representative of the Better Together (BT) partners of Kibogora Hospital. Made up of UK and US FM Church and mission partners, CAHO, Kibogora Initiative and a German medical group, BT s aim is to help FMC leadership maintain and protect the central mission by promoting good governance in all aspects of hospital leadership and funding programs. Programs include the community program for the elderly, palliative care program, chaplaincy, leadership training and nurse management development. Appointed in 1983, Sheila was the first FM missionary sent from the UK. God to build strong spiritual leaders at Kibogora Hospital Kibogora Hospital to fulfill its main objective: good, affordable medical care, as well as staff programs and services showing the hope, love and compassion God has for all non-christian staff to see God s work in their own lives and acknowledge their need for Him people who are poor and vulnerable to understand God s special love and plans for them, and for the community to be changed by seeing God work in their lives the Rwandan church to seek God s plans and to follow closely His way in evangelism, reconciliation and building His kingdom Debbie Hogeboom Kenya Affiliate/Canada Debbie recently returned to teach at Kenya Highlands Evangelical University (formerly Kenya Highlands Bible College), an interdenominational school in Kericho. She has the privilege of teaching alongside former students; she was a teacher at the school after being evacuated from Burundi in Most recently Debbie resided in Eldoret (western Kenya) where she had established a base for Christian education ministries. adequate resources for ministering effectively God s protection while driving on Kenyan roads open doors and opportunities for the gospel to impact people Ken & Letty Myers Kenya Ken and Letty serve in Kenya and wider Africa regions by coordinating mission teams. They are also involved with the Kenya church in discipleship roles. The Myers family lives in Nairobi but visits many churches to encourage pastors, churches and schools. They use the JESUS Film as an outreach/ evangelism tool. Children: Nathan, Nasya understanding and flexibility as the Myers family experiences cultural differences continued acquisition of the Swahili language effective relationships Nathan and Nasya s personal, spiritual and educational development Mike & Vickie Reynen Africa Community Transformation... The Reynens reside in Kenya, but Mike s responsibilities as Africa Area Director take him around the continent, working with the missionary team and in partnership with national churches. Vickie is Regional Coordinator for International Child Care Ministries (ICCM), which puts her in regular communication with national coordinators in eight countries. Their children reside in the states: Kyle and his wife, Maddie, are students at Spring Arbor University; daughters Kelly and Kenzie, and Kenzie s husband, Jamie, live and work in Indiana. Swahili and French language learning protection for the Reynens as they travel in Kenya and around the continent God s wisdom and discernment as Mike and Vickie seek to provide servant leadership the Lord s provision for their stateside family Don Rogers Kenya/Africa Affiliate/ELI Don Rogers is the founder and International Director of Empowering Lives International (ELI), which began in Kenya and has expanded to the neighboring countries of Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan. Don and his wife, Amy, develop relationships with key national Christian leaders, working alongside them to establish Skills for Life Training Centers, Christian schools, orphanages and health ministries. Children: Joshua, Nathaniel new ELI businesses underway: oyster mushroom cultivation, vetiver grass, vertical gardens, steel-drum bread ovens, biointensive gardening, vermiculture and tilapia ponds Joshua and Nathaniel as they continue their educational development travel protection in Kenya and around the continent continued good strategies to empower lives by integrating biblical teaching with dynamic ideas and skills that help the poor address the challenges oppressing their lives spiritually, physically and economically Ministry Prayer Directory

12 Phyllis Sortor Nigeria Phyllis works in leadership development and International Child Care Ministries (ICCM). She is involved in ministries and activities at the eight ICCM schools throughout the country. A special friendship with a clan of nomadic Fulani has given Phyllis the opportunity to open additional schools for Fulani children and their parents. With a prominent Fulani chief, Phyllis is teaching and promoting planned grazing and grazing reserves as a way of preserving grasslands and food supplies in the country. She also works with FM women in projects such as a sewing center, poultry farm and small business loans. Phyllis health on the field God s continued blessing on Hope Academy and ICCM Muslim ministry safety in travel the Nigerian church to grow in God s grace the Sortor family stateside Roger & Deborah Varland Kenya Associate/VISA Roger and Deborah were appointed in November 2015 to serve as teachers at Rift Valley Academy (RVA) in Kijabe, Kenya. Having served three one-year terms at RVA over the past two decades, the Varlands and their two Kenyan sons hope to stay for five years. Since RVA is a K-12 boarding school, Roger and Deborah will spend as much time with students out of the classroom as they do teaching. They anticipate leaving for Kenya August Children: Reid, Sid stateside family members (adult children, Luke and Grace, and Roger and Deborah s mothers) partnership/support building for their ministry transition while straddling two continents Julie Yerger Rwanda Julie has had several roles at Kibogora Hospital. Currently, her goal is to help decrease the hospital s infant mortality rate, focusing on education and mentoring for the nurses in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). In future phases she will work with nurse midwives at the hospital and then with community nurses. Julie also helps with the program for poor senior citizens in the community. a spirit of understanding as Julie encounters cultural differences the people of Rwanda to have and show the love of God more Kibogora Hospital patients and staff to receive Christ as Savior hospital employees to have a desire to improve the hospital and provide better patient care Salvation, Training Leaders, Outreach... Angola (Brazil General Conference) FM Churches: 15 FM Membership: 4,233 FM Work Opened: 2007 The Free Methodist Church in Mozambique, a Portuguese-speaking country, began outreach to Angola, where the language is also Portuguese. A leader from Mozambique was sent to lay the groundwork for an ongoing relationship with a small church group in the capital city, Luanda. The Brazilian Free Methodist General Conference also began a work in Angola, centered in the Malanje district. Over the years, the Malanje district has become the primary Free Methodist work in Angola. lasting peace in this nation churches to help meet the needs of those who are suffering church planting to expand throughout Angola training of leaders Botswana Church-in-Formation (Zimbabwe General Conference) FM Membership: 20 FM Work Opened: 1998 An FM man living in Zimbabwe became burdened for the people of his home country, Botswana. When Zimbabwean leaders conducted a mission trip in 1998 to survey the man s home village near Francistown, Botswana, they were warmly welcomed. A small congregation now meets, and the Free Methodist Church has been officially registered in Botswana. Rev. Mapholisa is responsible for a church planting project. encouragement for the small group of believers who are meeting outreach to those affected by AIDS GUINEA BISSAU GHANA ANGOLA CAMEROON DRC ETHIOPIA BURUNDI BOTSWANA Ministry Prayer Directory

13 Burundi General Conference FM Churches: 732 FM Membership: 141,213 FM Work Opened: 1935 Bishop: Deogratias Nshimiyimana The church ministers to the whole person through medical ministry, public health education, and maternity and nutritional centers. Hope Hospital of Kibuye is highly respected throughout the country. All churches are pastored by trained Burundians. The Mweya Theological Institute and Theological Education by Extension (TEE) provide leadership training. Hope Africa University (HAU), an FM liberal arts institution, prepares Christian scholars and professionals to effectively apply economic, political and social principles in African society. Pastors are also trained through HAU at bachelor and certificate levels. Hope Africa University and its mission to give Christian liberal arts training to Africans national and international leaders in the church and university Burundian Christians living in Tanzania and Congo refugee camps to witness about Jesus to others the ICCM staff, under the leadership of National Coordinator Rev. Timothee Bigirindavyi, as they implement new systems to provide more holistic ministry to the more than 1,500 sponsored children Cameroon FM Churches: 6 FM Membership: 550 FM Work Re-Opened: 2013 Free Methodists in Cameroon are enlarging their work by starting new fellowships in Douala, as well as expanding to new cities. Their newest outreach is Ambam, along Cameroon s southern border. Pastor Wilson Esambe and his leaders are eager to minister as widely as possible throughout the country. vision for expansion, increasing FM work in a number of cities in the southern part of Cameroon growth of the new fellowships in Douala and other places training of church leaders training opportunities for lay leaders biblical values and a clear understanding of Jesus to be developed among the people Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) General Conference FM Churches: 1,603 FM Membership: 161,211 FM Work Opened: 1963 Bishop: Lubunga W Ehusha The FMC continues to minister over a large area that includes 38 different tribes speaking many different languages. Most of the work is rural, but churches are located in six provincial capital cities and in Kinshasa, the nation s capital. Nundu Hospital continues to refurbish its facilities and strengthen its medical staff. Bishop Lubunga W Ehusha as he leads this large general conference integrity and wisdom of Congolese leaders and government outreach to the growing Muslim population Refugees, Encouragement, Discipleship... Ethiopia Provisional Annual Conference FM Churches: 38 FM Membership: 8,428 FM Work Opened: 1999 The Ethiopia FMC has stepped up its churchplanting efforts and anticipates a more rapid increase of new churches and a corresponding training program to multiply church planters and pastors. Outreach ministries include International Child Care Ministries (ICCM) schools and a feeding and study program. conference leadership as they move forward with church planting and discipleship: 11 pastors working with 18 trainees who are planting churches Christians to have a continued passion for evangelism Ghana (Canada General Conference) Organized FM Churches: 14 FM Membership: 886 FM Work Opened: 1998 The Barrie, ON, FMC connected with the ministry in Accra in In 2009, the Ghana came under the oversight of the Free Methodist Church in Canada. Today there is a growing fellowship of new churches with ongoing ministerial training and organizational development. The present superintendent, Rev. Quarshie, is leading the work to greater expansion into all regions of Ghana. church-planting projects the many villages that do not have a church, particularly in the north a building for the main church Guinea Bissau Church-in-Formation FM Work Opened: 2015 Pastor Rito Mande first connected with Free Methodists when international missionary Cindi Angelo was on a mission trip to Guinea Bissau. Rito later took a mission trip to Togo where he lived with FM leader, Rev. Dosseh Takpale, about two years before returning to his homeland. Later Dosseh asked Rito, along with the work he had started, to join the FM family. That affiliation came to fruition in June Pastor Rito leads a church started largely as outreach to children, then their families. Three other fellowships, all started following the same pattern, are a part of the work. Rito and the church in his home, as well as the three other fellowships discipleship among these young groups more fellowships to be established Ministry Prayer Directory

14 Guinea Conakry Church-in-Formation FM Churches: 4 FM Membership: 623 FM Work Opened: 2013 In 2013 Pastor Belley, a Congolese Free Methodist working in Guinea, began partnering with the FMCUSA to plant FM churches. The work now includes four young churches and several small fellowships, with a plan for multiplication. the foundation of a strong church to be established support for evangelism and training development of good leaders church planters in the Forest Region (where the 2014 Ebola outbreak originated) who are actively reaching out to establish new churches economic and social recoveries needed due to the effects of the Ebola outbreak Ivory Coast (Côte d Ivoire) Church-in-Formation FM Churches: 7 FM Membership: 210 FM Work Opened: 2014 Free Methodist work in Ivory Coast was formally opened in May Pastor Bertin Tae, leader of the church, began working with FMs while he was a refugee in Liberia from 2012 to Returning to his homeland in 2013, Pastor Tae resumed working with 15 pastors serving nine churches and several fellowships. Many Ivorians are still recovering from significant losses suffered during the civil war that erupted in Bertin Tae and his leadership of church plants development of leaders recovery from the wartime losses GUINEA CONAKRY IVORY COAST KENYA LIBERIA Kenya Provisional General Conference FM Churches: 187 FM Membership: 4,320 FM Work Opened: 1994 Bishop: Hawkins Mugaya FM churches have now been established in most of Kenya s major cities. The work is also growing in several rural areas. In 2011, the Kenya church launched a village churchplanting initiative. Three church planter trainers are each training 15 church planters, each with the goal of planting a church and training two other church planters over the next three years. The Kenya church continues to support Pastor Manasseh Masiza as a missionary to Uganda. village church-planter trainers and the planting of many churches healing, peace and forgiveness for the nation the witness of our FM brothers and sisters to shine brightly as examples to others ICCM National Coordinator Rev. Daniel Shanzuh as he provides for more than 200 pastor s children and several hundred children enrolled in 12 ICCM schools; pray especially for the anticipated opening of the Dr. Buconyori FM BOYS High School in January 2017 Church Planting, Recovery, Schools... MALAWI MOZAMBIQUE Liberia FM Churches: 11 FM Membership: 694 FM Work Re-Opened: 2005 Leaders in several locations have received Bible and FM training over the past few years. The church-planting initiative continues, following the pattern of one pastor training two upcoming pastors. The Liberia church has started several primary schools in churches, with plans for more in other churches. continued formation of a healthy, strong church in Liberia recovery in all ways from the impact of the Ebola outbreak, including education and economic setbacks and loss of external investors and business evangelism throughout Liberia effective learning in the training sessions conducted by pastor-trainers the plans to establish ICCM in Liberia in 2016 Malawi North, Central and South Annual Conferences FM Churches: 110 FM Membership: 16,398 FM Work Opened: 1973 The Malawi churches have three annual conferences. These conferences have multiple circuits, each with active church-planting programs. Students in the Great Commission Bible School program in Lilongwe are engaged in church planting as a part of their course of study. The students and pastors of the Malawi FMC have planted several churches across the borders in Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia. the Great Commission Bible School in its work of training excellent pastors churches and leaders to multiply and spread the gospel Bibles to get into the hands of those needing to learn God s Word families of ICCM sponsored children preparing their fields for planting, and pray for a good growing season Mozambique General Conference FM Churches: 103 FM Membership: 11,103 FM Work Opened: 1885 Bishop: João Luis Uanela Nyaphale The church in Mozambique oversees Nhaloi Hospital, as well as the Inhamachafo Clinic and Primary School, which were confiscated by the government in the early days of independence. The Evangelist Training School at Inhamachafo, begun by missionaries, is still in operation. A new post-high-school seminary has been opened in Beira, the second-largest city. The conference started work in Swaziland and Angola. Bishop João Luis Uanela Nyaphale leadership to train pastors at Beira Bible Seminary facility upgrades and doctors for Nhaloi Hospital the few Christian workers who are ministering in the northern and coastal areas of Mozambique Ministry Prayer Directory

15 Niger Church-in-Formation FM Churches: 1 FM Membership: 21 FM Work Opened: 2009 Regarded as one of the poorest and leastdeveloped countries in Africa, Niger s population is less than one percent evangelical Christians. Canadian missionaries Rev. David and Jennifer Wright are involved in ministry and leadership development with the first FM congregation, as well as planting a church in their neighborhood. Rev. Soter Hakizimana was ordained as the first FM pastor in Property has been purchased to serve as a ministry center for the FMC in Niamey. development of the multipurpose ministry center community-based church planting coaching of ministerial candidates Nigeria Pioneer and South Central Annual Conferences FM Churches: 66 FM Membership: 6,586 FM Work Opened: 1989 The church is maturing in leadership. Leaders are trained through Theological Education by Extension and the modular school Wesley Evangelical School of Theology. ICCM has been supporting schools since Three schools serve the children of Fulani herdsmen in the north. Because ICCM schools offer a high level of education, as well as the gospel of Jesus, more schools are planned for the future. peace, unity and growth in the church expansion of church-planting work Nigeria, as a nation, in its battle against Muslim extremists Boko Haram development of both Enugu and Eket ministry centers as bases for regional ministry outreach to Fulani children and parents Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) Church-in-Formation (DRC General Conference) FM Churches: 4 FM Membership: 1,206 FM Work Opened: 2007 The FMC in the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) is being established through the Democratic Republic of Congo. The new, small congregations are expected to grow into a family of churches. this young FM work to grow people recovering from war; although peace was established in 2003, many people are still displaced this nation to find hope in Christ; the fallout from the war prompted many Christians to leave the country families affected by AIDS Forgiveness, Unity, Peace... NIGERIA NIGER SOUTH SUDAN REP. OF CONGO RWANDA Rwanda General Conference FM Churches: 681 FM Membership: 113,405 FM Work Opened: 1942 Bishop: Samuel Kayinamura South Africa General Conference FM Churches: 74 FM Membership: 5,484 FM Work Opened: 1895 Bishop: Simon Chánza SOUTH AFRICA The church has opened a small university in Kibogora that is training pastors and young people in a variety of fields of study. The medical ministry remains strong with Kibogora Hospital as a primary referral center in southwestern Rwanda. Health care is also provided in neighboring health centers. Bishop Samuel Kayinamura as he leads the church the training of pastors the work at Kibogora Hospital Kibogora Polytechnic University Christians to live out the message of love, forgiveness and reconciliation needed in this nation partners for ICCM-sponsored schools The South Africa FMC has five conferences, all led by Africans. A nationwide evangelism program is given high priority. Greenville Hospital, established in 1955, is now completely staffed by nationals and under the control of the South African government. Ubunye Urban Housing program and The Haven (a shelter caring for abused women and children) continue to thrive. A mission team from South Africa established a church in Ndola, Zambia, in Zambia FMC is now a Provisional Annual Conference led by a Zambian superintendent. Bishop Simon Chánza and his leadership the urban housing project for the poor in Pietermaritzburg strength, unity and vision for the church Christians to be able to bring truth and hope into every level of society South Sudan Church-in-Formation (Mid-America Annual Conference) FM Churches: 17 FM Work Opened: 2013 Ministry in South Sudan affiliated with the Mid- America Conference in In addition to 17 churches with nearly 3,000 people attending worship, the work includes a hospital and a community center/school. peace to come to this nation unity among churches Ministry Prayer Directory

16 Swaziland Church-in-Formation (Mozambique General Conference) FM Churches: 2 FM Membership: 119 FM Work Opened: 2007 An FM woman from Michigan had a burden for children orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, combined with a concern that an FM church be established in Swaziland. Responding to her vision and passion, her home church, New Covenant in Clio, MI, gave an offering to help. A partnership between New Covenant FMC and the Mozambique FMC has made it possible for a church to be planted in Manzini, Swaziland. The church is now registered with the government. the Mozambique church in its crucial partnership role people to find freedom in Jesus from the occult and traditional religion the nearly 50 percent of the population who live below the poverty line Tanzania Annual Conference (DRC General Conference) FM Churches: 52 FM Membership: 3,114 FM Work Opened: 1988 The Tanzanian church has three districts, plus an area in the south that is being evangelized by the Malawi FMC. The district centers are at Kigoma, on the shores of Lake Tanganika; Mwanza, on the shores of Lake Victoria; and Mugumu, near the Kenya border. A local church in Michigan has helped develop several church buildings in the Geita district. revival throughout the church leadership training for pastors Christians to be active in AIDS education and in addressing the needs of those who are suffering from or losing their families because of AIDS Togo FM Churches: 9 FM Membership: 453 FM Work Opened: 2003 Rev. Dosseh Takpale works with several leaders who have groups in six locations. Three groups are located in or near Lome, Togo s capital. Several church plants have begun in the central region among Muslims. Togo has a vibrant children s ministry, with two schools. Dosseh also has a vision for reviving a house group in Benin, the country east of Togo. The Lome church has supported the startup of FM work in Guinea Bissau. The Togo church has approximately 10 church plants in the central region of Togo and several in the south. Rev. Dosseh Takpale and Muslim outreach the leaders and churches the expanded church-planting work with its corresponding training program opportunities for leadership training children attending two ICCM sponsored schools in Tchore and Limbrini; without these schools, there would be no opportunity to benefit from formal education Compassion, Education, TOGO UGANDA Revival... ZAMBIA TANZANIA ZIMBABWE SWAZILAND Uganda (Kenya Provisional General Conference; Burundi General Conference) FM Churches: 4 FM Membership: 527 FM Work Opened: 1999 A sizable congregation has been formed in Jinja through the outreach efforts of the FMC of Kenya. The FMC Uganda is currently developing leadership structures and reaching out holistically to Ugandans. The Kenya church conducts a Bible school in Uganda for pastors in training about three times a year. Rev. Manasseh Masiza as he plants new churches in Uganda the church to find ways to address the AIDS crisis with compassion, wisdom and love believers who suffer persecution Zambia Provisional Annual Conference (South Africa General Conference) FM Churches: 6 FM Membership: 567 FM Work Opened: 1997 An FM church was organized when a Malawian pastor preached in a Zambian village where he had friends. The church is located in the northeast corner of Zambia near the borders of Malawi and Tanzania. Another group was started near Ndola by a Rwandan refugee. This second group is now under the direction of the South Africa General Conference, which has officially registered the FMC in Zambia. the young annual conference established here new work being started effective discipleship for new believers hospitals and medical personnel to be adequately equipped to deal with the AIDS crisis Zimbabwe General Conference FM Churches: 31 FM Membership: 3,179 FM Work Opened: 1938 Bishop: Abner Chauke Bishop Elect: Isaiah Masiya For several years the nation of Zimbabwe has endured terrible suffering. The nation s political leadership has been in turmoil. The economy is precarious, with the world s fastest rate of inflation. Information about the FM Church is limited. Bishop Isaiah Masiya as he begins his term in August 2016 peace to prevail within the church reconciliation and solutions to the nation s unemployment, health crisis and food shortage Ministry Prayer Directory

17 fmwm.org/asia ourhopeforasia.com facebook.com/hope4asia Praying for Asia Asia Every road leads to an endless number of villages. Every village has a need. Every city has an endless stream of faces. And every face has a name. The numbers are staggering from our earthly perspective. More than 4 billion people, the vast majority adhering to Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, or some form of animism or ancestor worship. All reach out beyond themselves for something more. We can give them Jesus. The Free Methodist Church has contacts or established ministries in at least 20 countries in Asia. Prayer priorities: Pray for open hearts to receive the gospel, for opportunities and open doors to share, and for boldness and courage to share in the face of persecution and opposition. Pray for missionaries and leaders, both national and international. Pray also for mutually beneficial partnerships to form between the church in the USA and the church in Asia to support pastors, leaders, churches and ministries. Pray for God to provide Bibles for pastors and new believers. Eric Spangler, Area Director Community Outreach, Seminary Students... David & Sarah Clemente Taiwan and Southeast Asia The Clementes vision is to provide missions training that empowers local Asian communities to participate in God s harvest. Dr. David is a professor at Holy Light Theological Seminary, teaching missions and theology courses. He mentors students in the classroom and on seminary mission trips. He also advises local church pastors as they engage in cross-cultural ministry. Children: Carmen, Jacob wisdom and discernment as David teaches and mentors seminary students FM churches in Asia as they continue to expand their vision for cross-cultural ministry more missionaries to work among Southeast Asian overseas contract workers (OCWs) and other internationals residing in Taiwan Carmen and Jacob s physical, emotional and spiritual growth Becca Taiwan Becca desires to train leaders to be involved in church planting and evangelism to their own people. She works with the tribal districts of the Taiwan FM Conference, conducting training workshops, leading discipleship groups, and preaching and ministering in local churches, as well as at the district level. She teaches classes at Holy Light Theological Seminary in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. the Lukai and Paiwan districts, where most of the churches are in aboriginal mountain villages, several of which were compromised in the 2009 typhoon the members of the Bible study groups Becca leads to mature and begin discipling others the Taiwan Conference Missions Committee as it deepens its commitment to missions abroad and at home the students at Holy Light Theological Seminary to gain knowledge and experience, giving them foundations to support a lifetime of kingdom ministry Tim Kinkead Taiwan Tim currently copastors the Chung Lun FM church plant in Kaohsiung with his wife, Lily. Tim directs the English ministries. He teaches English classes, assists with discipleship training, makes pastoral visits and preaches once a month. Tim also serves as the Taiwan mission chair, making him the representative for FMWM on conference committees. a greater zeal for evangelistic outreach and for many new believers to come to faith in Jesus across Taiwan the church s English ministry, which is reaching many people who come from Buddhist families Lily, who has many opportunities to counsel in the community the salvation of Tim and Lily s extended family and that Tim and Lily will be a light to them the Chung Lun church s opportunity to minister to their community Ministry Prayer Directory

18 Creative Access ASIA Creative Access workers are involved in education, leadership development and language study. meaningful relationships with students, friends and others wisdom, physical health, safety in travel and spiritual growth open doors to the gospel discernment in developing local leadership the children with them on the field Mark & Lena Children: Micah, Shalom Marie Associates/VISA Adam & Rebecca Children: Kaiden, Risa Keith & Julie Children: Josiah, Caleb, Hannah Darin & Jill Land Philippines Appointed career missionaries in June 2015, Darin serves as Asia Regional Assistant for Leadership Development. Once the Lands have secured adequate financial support, they expect to live in Manila where they have served faithfully since While Darin and Jill will continue their connection with Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (APNTS), their primary work will be helping to develop and implement a strategy to train and credential Free Methodist leaders across Asia. They will also help support and launch a new outreach ministry to young adults in metro Manila. their partnership building efforts wisdom for developing leadership-training strategies Darin to be effective in his teaching ministry Jill to have wisdom as she mentors young women and serves in support roles good health Bryan & Tammy Children: Sam, Ruthie, Beth, Isaac Carol R & C Randy & Jessica Children: Hannah Jason & Wendi Children: Malachi, Emmie Matt & Katherine Children: Abigail, Karis, Josiah, Bethany Sally Sue For communication guidelines Supporting a Worker in a Creative Access Country go to: Corey & Connie Persing Thailand Associate/VISA Corey has taught computer science and math at Grace International School in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Both Corey and Connie have assisted with local FM ministries. The Persings are currently in the U.S. for partnership building. They anticipate readjusting their job descriptions when they return to the field in early Children: Nathanial, Gabrialla, Ikaiasha the Thai national FMC leaders ministry to effectively grow God to continue to touch the hearts of the Thai people God to continue to bless the Thai national work the Persings health and safety Spiritual Growth, Discernment... Ministry Prayer Directory

19 Matt & Christine Sauder Philippines Matt and Christine Sauder recently transitioned from VISA Voyagers in Asia to career missionaries. The Sauders completed a one-year VISA assignment to the Philippines in They are now involved in partnership building until their anticipated return to Asia in the late summer or early fall. The Sauders will initially focus on language acquisition. Long-term ministry will be among young adults in metro Manila. Children: Chloe, Libby cultural adjustments and the ability to adapt to meet the needs of others the Holy Spirit to flow through Matt s preaching, teaching and leading Christine to find avenues of ministry Chloe and Libby s physical, spiritual and educational development Taylor & Katelytn Shockey Thailand Beginning in the fall of 2016 Taylor will serve as a Physical Education teacher and coach at International Christian School in Bangkok, Thailand. Katelyn will be actively involved in the community, exploring potential future Free Methodist ministry. Children: Everett God s guidance and power to reach the community with the gospel spiritual, physical, and emotional health and safety of the Shockey family financial security smooth transitions Eric & Virginia Spangler Asia As the Asia Area Director since June 2014, Eric oversees the missionary team in Asia; partners with Asian national leaders to build and support strategies that will grow the church; and works to more purposefully connect FMC-Asia with the FMCUSA, building partnerships and connections that will be mutually beneficial. Although they travel in Asia several months each year, home base for the Spanglers is in the Seattle area to better facilitate an alliance between the church in Asia and the U.S. Helping to manage the home office and traveling, Virginia offers support and care to Asia ministries and missionaries. the Lord of the Harvest to mobilize workers, identify and empower leaders, and bring millions to faith in Christ across Asia Eric and Virginia to abide in Jesus personally, and for the protection and ongoing strength of their marriage wisdom and discernment as Eric and Virginia seek to provide servant leadership throughout Asia safety, health and Spirit-filled ministry effectiveness for Eric, Virginia and their family clarity and love in communication and leadership across multiple cultures Roger Stone Philippines Affiliate/SIL International Roger has been an affiliate missionary since April He is involved in training and consulting with the local Bible translation committees for the Ayta Abellen, Ayta Ambala and Ayta MagIndi people. He is also an adviser for FM youth Bible quizzing in the Philippines. Roger is married to Vangie. Children: Mika, Daniel good communication and progress with the Ayta Abellen, Ayta MagIndi and Ayta Ambala Bible translation committees development of more audio Scripture materials for use among the various Ayta language groups the Aytas to begin using newly translated Scripture Seth & Hlawn Hlawn Van Tifflin Asia Newly appointed missionaries Seth and Hlawn Hlawn Van Tifflin will move to Thailand and will serve in development and church planting. Seth was also appointed as Asia Area Administrator in March The Van Tifflins have established an orphan ministry in Myanmar: In Better Hands, which operates six children s homes serving at-risk children. Currently focusing on partnership building, they, along with their son Jason, intend to locate in Chiang Mai. Children: Jason wisdom from God as they begin career missionary service in Asia health and safety for their family so that they can be productive in all their work strong partnership building for their mission service open hearts in Asia Servant Leadership, Open Doors... Chris & Yuko Wilkins Japan The Wilkins family moved from Cambodia to Japan in early June Chris had previously served as the field supervisor for the FM Cambodia work. Yuko worked with finances for missionaries serving in Cambodia, from both the U.S. and Asia Pacific FM Missions Association (APFMMA). She also developed new products for Reaksmei, the Cambodian FM development group. Yuko, an ordained member of the Japan General Conference, met Chris during his VISA assignment in Japan. Yuko was appointed as an FMWM missionary in Children: Caleb, Corey the family s adjustment to new ministries in Japan Yuko s glaucoma condition the Community Church Planting (CCP) program throughout Asia safety and good health for family, especially the children Chris and Yuko to have wisdom as parents Ministry Prayer Directory

20 Don & Kathy Williams Thailand Don and Kathy serve in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Don, having transitioned from the role as superintendent of Grace International School, is the Country Team Leader for all FMWM personnel in Thailand and Organizational Development Consultant throughout Asia. Don will travel several times a year, providing educational, leadership and organizational consultation for Free Methodist ministries. Kathy hosts and coordinates two Community Bible Study classes, co-leads Grief Share and assists with International Child Care Ministries (ICCM) in Thailand. Four of their adult children live in the U.S.; a daughter and son-in-law will teach in Bangkok beginning fall God s wisdom, discernment and power to reach Thais with the gospel of Christ resources and thriving new opportunities led by national leaders: Mam, Chan and Pastor Joshua Thailand s Church Planting Development Account to be fully committed increased intimacy with the Lord for the Williams family, FMWM national and international leaders, and in the body of Christ their adult children in the U.S. and Bangkok God s favor on FM Mission Thailand to see growing and thriving churches throughout the country David & Sherrill Yardy South Asia Associate/VISA, Cross- Cultural Consultant David assists FMWM with crosscultural issues and missiological perspectives. He and Sherrill serve as non-residential missionaries, assisting the Asia Area Director with work in South Asia. David previously served as Asia Area Director ( ). Sherrill gives active support to David s ministry. India s Umri Christian Hospital and associated ministries pastors being trained in Bible colleges and seminaries a movement of the Holy Spirit in the church throughout South Asia literature development for the growing church in South Asia rapid multiplication of churches, pastors and members Susan Yu Taiwan Associate/VISA Susan currently serves as executive secretary with an organization that serves as a platform for churches in Taiwan and Indonesia sharing love, hope and faith with migrant workers and their employers. She served as vice president of administration at Taiwan s Holy Light Theological Seminary from 2009 to She was previously a missionary to Taiwan for 20 years ( ). fruitful ministry more workers Susan s health; wisdom and discernment for keeping a good balance in her life JAPAN BANGLADESH INDIA HONG KONG CAMBODIA MALAYSIA Creative Access Countries Free Methodists are serving in creative access countries, places that are closed to missionaries but open to humanitarian or community development work. Creative Access Country C: Entered in 1904 Creative Access Country B: Entered in 2004 Creative Access Country T: Entered in 2005 Creative Access Country L: Entered in 2008 Creative Access Country VN: Entered in 2008 new believers among tribal people in isolated mountain valleys three church networks in Creative Access Country C the 23 teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL) in creative access countries believers to mature in spite of persecution outreach to Muslims Christians who face government harassment, discrimination and persecution in these countries Australia Church-in-Formation (Philippine General Conference) FM Churches: 1 FM Work Opened: 2001 Emma Agarao, a Filipino pastora, registered the FM church in Darwin, Australia, in The congregation has French, Australian, Aborigine, Malaysian and Filipino attendees. revival in this country the church as it reaches out to Asians possibilities of future work opening in three cities AUSTRALIA Revival, Health, Literature Development... Ministry Prayer Directory

21 Bangladesh FM Churches: 27 FM Work Opened: 2014 India Bishop Joab Lohara organized the Bethany Free Methodist Church of Bangladesh with 27 churches and 23 pastors on October 31, Derek, the founder and overseer, was ordained. The church in Bangladesh has grown primarily through church planting and using literature and the JESUS Film. protection for the church resources, partner churches and pastors to fund and support the work courage and boldness to share the gospel the plans to establish ICCM in Bangladesh in 2016 India General Conference FM Churches: 1,712 FM Membership: 193,796 FM Work Opened: 1881 In October 2013 the India FMC celebrated general conference status. Nearly 100,000 members and 1,000 churches came from two indigenous tribal groups within Agape Fellowship and Immanuel Fellowship. A missionary-training Bible college is located in Yavatmal. Umri Christian Hospital s expanded ministries include an English school and nursing school. Through ICCM, more than a thousand children are being cared for in 11 hostels. Microenterprise projects empower members to support their families. Other effective ministries include English elementary and secondary schools, a university, vacation Bible schools and several foundations for social ministries. evangelism ministries being conducted through hundreds of literacy centers to result in new churches and economic development for the underprivileged adequate discipleship training programs for the thousands of new believers coming to faith yearly funding and partnership for ministries and churches across the subcontinent God s care for believers who are suffering persecution the three bishops and many superintendents in leadership protection and life transformation for all the children in residential care Cambodia (Hong Kong Annual Conference) FM Churches: 3 FM Membership: 652 FM Work Opened: 1994 Many current church members have converted from Buddhism. Thriving ministries include three ICCM child development centers, church-planting and microeconomic projects to support pastors and provide income for church members. Kurmel International School, located on the Phnom Penh ministry center campus, began classes in 2011; the school will eventually provide quality education for grades K-12. A number of missionaries have been assigned to Cambodia by the Asia Pacific Free Methodist Missions Association, including missionaries from the Philippines and Hong Kong. The multicultural team also includes short-term ministry teams from FM churches in other countries serving through medical and evangelistic ministry. effective implementation of Community Church Planting (CCP) principles the three ICCM centers, specifically for the social and spiritual development of children from impoverished environments the new international school to reach more middle-class families increased spiritual maturity of national leadership Japan General Conference FM Churches: 26 FM Membership: 2,128 FM Work Opened: 1895 Bishop: Yuichi Honda The conference senses a new call to church planting in Japan, where only 1 to 2 percent are Christians. Leaders have a goal to double church membership in 10 years. They will plant churches in large cities, from which satellite units will be launched. A pastoral training program at both graduate and undergraduate levels is available at Osaka Theological Seminary. Osaka Christian College, a junior college with a strong Christian witness, is located on the same campus. The Japan FMC became a general conference in 1961, then reorganized in believers to reach out to neighbors and friends with Christ s love as the country continues to recover from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami youth to willingly dedicate themselves to training and service in ministry domestic church-planting activities and more individuals committed to world missions Bishop Rev. Yuichi Honda s leadership students at Osaka Christian College the current generation to be open to hear about God in spite of materialism and individualism Hong Kong Annual Conference FM Churches: 15 FM Membership: 1,291 FM Work Opened: 1951 The scarcity and subsequent high cost of real estate shapes the type of outreach ministries the conference has developed. Governmentapproved centers for the elderly and youth provide an opportunity for witness and service, as well as a meeting place for several churches. Study centers, primary schools and preschools are meeting places for other churches. Churches also meet in several rooms in highrise apartment buildings. The conference conducts outreach ministries to Filipinos living in the city, is responsible for opening mission work in Cambodia and is sending out several missionaries to other parts of Asia. the conference missions committee as it oversees extensive mission work, including the Cambodia Filipino churches that minister to domestic helpers who emigrated from the Philippines church-planting endeavors within Hong Kong Malaysia Organized FM Churches: 6 FMC Membership: 240 FM Work Opened: 2002 In 2008, the Malaysia FMC was recognized as a mission district. The main church in Ipoh has English-, Chinese- and tribal-speaking congregations. From the beginning, the Malaysia FMC has focused on outreach and has funded missions. Assistance includes work with tribal people in two areas in Sabah (East Malaysia). The Malaysia FMC is led by Rev. Henry Ng and his wife, Jessica, who are Malaysian. the development of Chinese- and tribalspeaking congregations endeavors to plant cell churches in the Ipoh region mission endeavors to tribes in East Malaysia Life Transformation Ministry Prayer Directory

22 Myanmar Provisional Annual Conference FM Churches: 22 FM Membership: 1,037 FM Work Opened: 1994 Free Methodist ministries include work among the Chinese and the Chin tribal people. Ministries in Yangon, the capital, include a child care center, boarding school for high school students and a Bible college. ICCM has two homes for children in Chin State. the ICCM program, which includes preschool development and homes for orphans and pastor s children Light and Life Bible College as it trains future leaders effective evangelism as changes come to the country Nepal (India General Conference) FM Churches: 63 FM Membership: 1,921 FM Work Opened: 2004 The FMC has two avenues of outreach into Nepal, serving two different regions. India s Immanuel Annual Conference has ministries among tribes in the rural east. FMWM oversees a ministry in Kathmandu, the largest city in Nepal. the organizational maturation of the church effective leadership training new believers among tribal peoples in isolated mountain valleys an appropriate process for enfolding groups who would like to affiliate with the FMC the children of volunteer church planters and pastors who are part of the ICCM Nepal program access to Bible translations Children's Ministries, Students, Teachers... Philippines General Conference FM Churches: 258 FM Membership: 29,267 FM Work Opened: 1949 Bishop: Alan Bacus The Philippines FMC, a full general conference, has five annual conferences, an urban missions district movement called Oceans of Life Ministries, and a church-in-formation among a tribal group. Established churches support and nurture new congregations. Leaders are trained at Light and Life Bible College (Butuan City), John Wesley Bible Institute (Manila) or Light and Life Graduate School of Theology (Bancasi). Schools and feeding programs provide outreach opportunities to children, about one thousand of whom are sponsored by ICCM. Philippine Social Ministries coordinates and supervises social service ministries. In addition, the Philippines FMC has become a key missions-sending church. ICCM ministries to street children in Davao, Butuan City and Manila major urban church-planting initiatives in Manila, Cebu and Davao the missionaries sent out by the Philippine FMC to Hong Kong, Cambodia, Pakistan, Australia and tribes in the Philippines the far-reaching impact of Light and Life Bible College Bishop Alan Bacus leadership South Korea Church-in-Formation FM Work Opened: 1990 FM work here serves as a base to enter one of the world s most restricted nations. believers as they reach out new contacts to be made for restarting the work in the Seoul area Sri Lanka (Canada General Conference) FM Churches: 18 FM Membership: 1,534 FM Work Opened: 2004 Current priorities include developing leaders and building an organizational structure. Ministry teams from the FMC in Canada travel to Sri Lanka twice each year to provide training and organizational support. Existing churches are located in Colombo, the capital, and in the mountainous tea-production areas in the center of the island. Superintendent Rev. G. P. Suri Jayamani has served three consecutive three-year terms, leading the work and encouraging pastors and churches. protection and wisdom for the Canadian ministry teams as many as 35,000 villages which have not had any Christian contact safety and wisdom for Christians, both lay and clergy, as they interact with neighbors and civil authorities from other religious backgrounds; physical, social and economic persecution is an everyday reality for many believers in Sri Lanka children s lives to be changed the ICCM (ICCM Canada oversees the sponsorship program) Taiwan Annual Conference FM Churches: 63 FM Membership: 8,441 FM Work Opened: 1952 Taiwan is an evangelistic, church-planting conference, dynamic and well-organized. While experiencing membership growth within its boundaries, the FMC in Taiwan has also been exercising vigorous missionary vision outside its borders. The evangelistic challenge is still great within Taiwan. It is hoped that well-placed and focused missionaries will complement the goals of the Taiwan church, as well as oversee its outreach in Myanmar. Holy Light Theological Seminary and China Evangelical Seminary are training centers for church leaders and missionaries. The first Vietnamese FM church was launched in Holy Light Theological Seminary as it develops a new campus outside Kaohsiung the many leadership development initiatives into Myanmar and creative access countries the ministry to contract workers who have come from other nations for employment after-school programs in several FM churches, which assist students with homework and provide at least one meal a day and instruction in basic education and the Bible Ministry Prayer Directory

23 Thailand FM Churches: 3 FM Membership: 80 FM Work Opened: 2000 This work has undergone dramatic change over the past year with the departure of founding leaders Art and Pat Chutong and the two churches in Bangkok, along with the Zionland Camp and Jasmine Projects. Current ministry now centers around Chiang Mai, with one healthy church, a missionary team and several key national leaders. In addition to two church-planting projects in Chiang Rai and Chaiyapum, at least three other points of ministry have been established, which may lead to new churches. NEPAL THAILAND SRI LANKA MYANMAR SOUTH KOREA TAIWAN PHILIPPINES the repositioning of the mission work and the renewed focus on church planting sponsored children in the care of the Lahu Hostel, an ICCM project pastors and leaders to be identified, equipped and deployed a new season of harvest that will lead to many Thais coming to know Jesus through the FMC Renewed Focus, Equipped Pastors Europe Opportunities in Europe The immigration crisis in Europe is presenting opportunities and challenges for the church at large. Whether it is with asylum seekers from the Middle East, economic migrants from other parts of the world, or people being transported across borders by human traffickers, God is working through the Free Methodist churches in Europe in response to these humanitarian crises. Both physical and spiritual needs are being met, even as the faith of our church members is being stretched. God is presenting us with wonderful opportunities for Christian service and witness. Please pray for wisdom, endurance and resourcing for those who are working on the front lines with refugees and immigrants. Pray also for those who are working to establish a Set Free Movement in Europe through cooperative programs of education, prevention, rescue and rehabilitation. Pray for our pastors and ministerial candidates, all of whom are bi-vocational and must constantly balance the demands of their secular work, their family and their ministry. We pray you will share in our vision of seeing all the people of Europe, regardless of their country of origin, transformed by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Larry L. Winckles, Europe Area Administrator Praying for Europe Transformation, Resourcing, Wisdom Ministry Prayer Directory

24 Europe Leadership Team David Carr Europe Bulgaria David, Europe Regional Area Director for Bulgaria since 2014, had an established relationship with churches and leaders in Bulgaria for several years before his appointment. He consistently visited FM work in Bulgaria, as well as sent teachers for pastoral and lay training. David also serves as senior pastor in Solihull, United Kingdom, at Renewal Christian Centre, which he founded. effective pastoral training and equipping for Bulgarian churches capable mentors to work together in sisterchurch relationships bi-vocational pastors to effectively balance ministry, work and family Eduardo & Cindi Angelo Portugal International Missionaries Cindi and Eduardo have planted and pastored two churches near Lisbon since They focus on planting pioneer churches and reaching the lost, then training new Christians and releasing them to be leaders of small groups and future churches. the new church plant in the center of Lisbon ministerial candidates and the strengthening of their ministry Eduardo and Cindi s health more partners to join in support of the Angelos and Portugal ministries several new believers in the FM churches Mitch Pierce Europe Northern Area Chance & Dee Dee Galloway In his role as Northern Europe s Area Director, Mitch oversees the work in four countries: Belgium, France, Hungary and Ukraine. He provides a connection between the mission field and the sending church. strong connections with the Europe mission God s kingdom to come to Europe capable mentors to work with ministerial candidates and newly ordained leaders Northern Europe to come alongside in a meaningful partnership with the North American church pastors balancing ministry, work and family Bulgaria Associate/VISA The Galloways currently live in Kyustendi, Bulgaria, and work with several churches building unity and conducting discipleship training. They are also involved with the FM team in Bulgaria, conducting regional pastor s training events and regional teen seminars. They coordinate leadership training, organize women s conferences, facilitate children s events, host church mission groups coming from the U.S., and are a part of nine new church plants and agricultural projects. Chance and Dee Dee are involved with establishing the St. John s Home, a safe house for at-risk girls, as part of the Set Free Movement. Children: Mitch, Catherine, Jessie, Alan Josh & Susy Fajardo Europe Southern Area/Spain Josh serves as the area director of FM work in Southern Europe, specifically Spain, Greece and Portugal. Based in a suburb of Madrid, Rivas-Vaciamadrid, the Fajardos also oversee a nongovernmental organization (NGO) that encompasses an after-school program and compassion ministries. Josh oversees the community church-planting program in Spain. Children: Gabriela, Isabella the Holy Spirit s protection and guidance as the Fajardos minister in Spain and Southern Europe Josh s leadership with missionaries and European nationals. Josh to have wisdom in directing FM ministry throughout Southern Europe wisdom as Susy teaches adult Sunday school and leads the women s ministry in Europe as the WMI representative the compassion ministries in Rivas- Vaciamadrid Gabriela and Isabella take important steps for their future Anna Henry Spain Associate/VISA Anna has been serving with the FMC in Spain since March She is the administrator of Logos Learning Center and provides leadership for the ESSA (Experience Spain Study Abroad) Program. She is also the administrative assistant to the country leader. Anna serves the local FM church in Rivas-Vaciamadria by leading the worship team and youth group and by assisting with compassion ministries. a special Holy Spirit anointing of wisdom and discernment strength and energy to balance all the activities and responsibilities opportunities for creating meaningful relationships and friendships Unity, Balance, Connections... continued unity for Bulgaria their work with various church-planting, compassion and microenterprise projects training to help pastors advance the kingdom through the local church Ministry Prayer Directory

25 Michael & Maria Long Greece Michael and Maria are heavily involved in refugee crisis ministry at the borders. They also lead a thriving international congregation in Thessaloniki, with members from 14 nations: Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, Afghanistan, Estonia, Russia, Georgia, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Sir Lanka, Philippines, U.K. and U.S. The Greek FM nongovernmental organization (NGO) Anagenesis Balkan helps meet the needs of those suffering from the ongoing economic crisis. Also, the Thessaloniki Prayer Room operates to raise up inter-church intercession. Hospitality services are provided by Jason s Place Christian hostel. young leadership of the Thessaloniki church to grow spiritually strong and become mature ministers volunteers for the refugee crisis ministry, including drivers, administrators and craftsmen prayer room initiatives ministers called to reach the Muslims in Europe Larry & Katie Winckles Hungary Larry is leader of the Budapest church plant, investing much time in mentoring new leaders in personal discipleship. He also serves as the Europe Area Administrator, helping to resource and equip the developing FM ministries on continental Europe. Katie serves on the leadership team of the Budapest church plant, facilitates women s ministry programs and oversees a weekly English class at the Family Help Center in Budapest s 11th District. discernment in helping the Hungarian leaders set the future direction of the Budapest church and Set Free Movement network new leaders to be raised up in Győr and Budapest fellowships new doors to open in Budapest and Győr for outreach and making disciples wisdom in dividing time between local church and Europe-wide concerns the ability to maintain close family connections with their grown sons, daughter-in-law, grandchildren and extended family Gerry & Kati McNamara Hungary International Missionaries Gerry is an Irish missionary serving as the pastor of the Győr Free Methodist Church in Győr, Hungary. He also helps supervise the ministerial education and guidance process across Europe. Kati is involved in full-time ministry in Győr where she reaches out to orphans and the very needy for Christ. Children: Csilla, Zsuzsa, Katica good health for the entire family many people to come to know Christ as Savior effective witnessing to all Gerry and Kati come into contact with travel safety Alan & Diane Mellinger Bulgaria The Mellingers serve as regional leaders in the Balkans. They oversee the work of Team Bulgaria which includes the Light and Life FMC in Bulgaria, The Anagenesis Foundation and New Start LLC (a company creative livelihood groups and microenterprise businesses). Team Bulgaria consists of four additional missionary families and many nationals. The team is developing a holistic approach to ministry that includes the spiritual, educational, economic and social programs that work together to serve people. the new FMC Bulgaria church plants the St. John s Home for at-risk girls (antitrafficking safe house) the expanded work in Macedonia and Serbia safety in travel as the Mellingers teach and meet people around the country the growing team of workers, both missionary and nationals in Bulgaria and the Balkans Travel Safety, Open Doors, Reach Muslims, Compassion Ministry Prayer Directory

26 Belgium FM Churches: 2 FM Membership: 69 FM Work Opened: 2002 The FMC in Belgium is registered with the government. It became an official FM mission district in A ministry among Latinos and youth has begun in the Oostende congregation, and Bible studies are being held in other parts of West Flanders. Ordained elders Jackie Barbier and Lawrence Abagnaba lead this congregation. Pastor Simeon Rutazihana leads the Brussels congregation and also serves as the country leader. effective spiritual outreach and witness to the Belgian community, and to spouses and family members who are not believers development of leaders, particularly native Belgians facilities that could be effective meeting and ministry centers favorable outcomes for immigrants applying for residency permits new church-planting opportunities Greece Church-in-Formation FM Churches: 1 FM Membership: 50 FM Work Opened: 2000 The Thessaloniki Balkan Church includes Greek members, and those from Bulgaria, Albania and Africa. It encompasses various language groups. This multilingual congregation has a vision to birth many other ethnic congregations. The 2015 immigration crisis in Europe has provided the church with many ministry opportunities. Members of the Thessaloniki congregation are serving at refugee camps in the Greek islands while others minister regularly to refugees passing through the Greek/Macedon border. the growing congregation in Thessaloniki, whose ministries reach beyond the city itself to touch the lives of people throughout the Balkans resources and personnel to assist with the ongoing refugee ministry complete freedom from religious prejudices and restrictions on church existence and operation a leadership team that would include Greek, Bulgarian, Albanian and African pastors the ongoing development of St. Jason s House of Prayer Bulgaria Church-in-Formation Church-Planting Projects: 7 FM Work Opened: 2007 In 2015 the Bulgaria church was officially registered as the Light and Life Church. In addition to a church plant in the southern Bulgarian city of Petrich, seven churchplanting projects have started, primarily in Roma communities, including one in Skopje, Macedonia. Regular training events are held for pastors and church leaders, and a youth training conference is held each summer. New Start LLC has been established to help provide employment possibilities. VISA missionaries Chance and Dee Dee Galloway are establishing the St. John s Home, a safe house for at-risk girls (part of the Set Free Movement). the establishment of the St. John s Home and the success of the New Start LLC the newly approved VISA workers currently seeking support in order to join in the ministry in Bulgaria microenterprise development to help pastors and congregations become self-sustaining the youth training opportunities helping shape the next generation of leaders discernment and wisdom for the Mellingers and Galloways in responding to all the needs, requests and opportunities presented to them, as well as time to devote to language study Hungary FM Churches: 2 FM Membership: 30 FM Work Opened: 1995 Two fellowships have been established in Hungary. Péter Tóth and Ildikó Kóber serve as assistant pastors of the Budapest fellowship, serving alongside missionary Larry Winckles. Community outreach events and services include English classes, women s events, men s events, a music kindergarten and weekly recovery groups. The Győr congregation, led by Gerry and Kati McNamara, focuses on home group meetings, service to the poor, and ministry to orphans. A Life Skills Training Program is being developed in Budapest, in cooperation with the Set Free Movement, to provide employment and life skills for the unemployed, underemployed, and those desiring to reenter society. spiritual growth of new believers and for new people to rise into leadership the Győr fellowship s development of additional home groups those considering a pastoral calling and those working toward ordination positive witness and trust building in both communities the development of the Life Skills Training Program Hungarians who have been influenced for God s kingdom through FM ministries but now live in other European countries France FM Churches: 1 FM Membership: 81 FM Work Opened: 2004 The church in Cergy (just outside of Paris) is primarily composed of Haitian immigrants, many of whom were members of the FMC in Haiti before coming to France. People of the church desire to find more ways to witness effectively to the community and reach more Haitian and African immigrants in the area. The congregation is led by Joel Louidor, who is a conference ministerial candidate. growth and development of new leaders the local church to reach out to other immigrants in the area spiritual development and growth for the many children and youth in the church Joel Louidor s continued studies as a Conference Ministerial Candidate while at the same time holding down a full-time job Ireland (Republic of Ireland) Church-in-Formation FM Work Opened: 2015 Originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Abwe Mulonda began the ordination process with the FMC while living in a Tanzanian refugee camp. He and several other Congolese refugee families entered a relocation program sponsored by the Republic of Ireland and immigrated to several cities there. Abwe established a church in Monaghan. He was received as a Conference Ministerial Candidate in November The church meets on Sundays in rented facilities and has congregants that travel each weekend from Dublin and Cavan. young people to sense God s call into Christian ministry musicians and musical instruments an affordable meeting location wisdom in knowing how to reach people outside of the Congolese community Positive Witness... Ministry Prayer Directory

27 Macedonia Church-in-Formation FM Work Opened: 2016 On January 28, 2016, a church plant was established in a village outside Skopje, the capital of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Pastor Lyubcho, the Bulgarian Roma Ministries coordinator, and VISA missionary Chance Galloway had worked with the people in this church plant for more than a year. Robert Kurtish and his wife, Birsena, lead the work in a predominately Muslim community, where some say as many as 50,000 Roma live. The team is investigating how to officially establish the church in Macedonia. Robert, Birsena, and their family, the community and the new church the expansion of work in Macedonia wisdom for Pastor Lybucho and Chance Galloway in mentoring Robert and exploring other ministry possibilities Ukraine FM Churches: 3 FM Membership: 18 FM Work Opened: 1999 Portugal FM Churches: 2 FM Membership: 145 FM Work Opened: 1999 The Lisbon congregations have been hit hard by the Portuguese economic crisis. Church members left the country looking for better economic prospects, forcing a reorganization of the churches. The two churches now meet at Sintra, led by Cida Matos, and at Corroios, led by Eduardo and Cindi Angelo. Two gifted couples, who are ministerial candidates, assist with church ministries. The Portuguese churches, also known for their excellent music ministry, regularly sponsor worship and missionary conferences. A school for leaders was established to train and form church planters and pastors. The Barnabas Project has provided food and assistance for poor families. Eduardo, Cindi and Cida as they nurture leaders and seek to establish new FM church plants the churches facing difficult times because of the economic crisis the ministerial candidates and for the strengthening of their faith those resistant to the gospel, or trapped in idolatry, witchcraft and magic Spain FM Churches: 5 FM Membership: 189 FM Work Opened: 2005 The FMC in Spain is implementing Community Church Planting (CCP) principles. To this end, the John Wesley Bible Institute has been established in Madrid to help train and equip pastors, church planters, and lay leaders. Pastor Vito and Mari Suarez lead the Lanzarote congregation, which has a dynamic outreach to children. Two other congregations have been established in the Canary Islands. In Rivas, the FMC operates the Logos Learning Center, helping immigrants and Spaniards by providing English and Spanish language classes, job placement services, cultural integration assistance, workshops, and individual and family counseling. Comunidad Cristiana Luz y Vida s efforts to reach those of their community who do not recognize their need for anyone or anything outside of themselves especially God community outreach efforts in the Canary Islands; many unemployed residents who rely on the tourism industry are moving away, adding stress to families the Olive Branch Christian Fellowship establishing a ministry center to accommodate retirees resources to train emerging leaders the successful translation, contextualization and utilization of CCP materials the necessary resourcing, including finances, materials and personnel for the Logos Learning Center and the John Wesley Bible Institute The FM Church is officially registered in Ukraine as Mayak Nadii, which means Beacon of Hope. This registration allows the mission team freedom to carry out a multitude of religious activities anywhere in Ukraine. The church in Rivne is based on simple, easily reproducible concepts. Emphasis is placed on going, developing new relationships, and discipling new believers under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As a result, new small groups have begun in several villages in Rivne, Chernivtsi and Buscha. The work in Ukraine is currently being led by a dedicated lay couple Misha and Lena Petrochenko. spiritual receptiveness to beginning new churches in new communities wisdom, spiritual growth and daily faith for Misha and Lena, who have committed their lives to be servants of Jesus Christ and who often face great hardship cessation of the hostilities in eastern Ukraine and protection for the ministry team IRELAND UKRAINE BELGIUM HUNGARY FRANCE BULGARIA PORTUGAL MACEDONIA GREECE SPAIN Emerging Leaders, Small Groups, Microenterprise Development Ministry Prayer Directory

28 Latin America God is moving across Latin America in and through the Free Methodist Church. Disciples, leaders, groups and congregations are being multiplied. The church is young in age, vibrant in spirituality, holistic in approach, and passionate about reaching their continent for Christ. Join us in praying for great effectiveness and fruit for eternity as many countries implement the Community Church Planting (CCP) model. God is calling many laypeople to start groups and churches and to serve as pastors. Pray for district leaders and those already ordained to grasp and implement a new approach to equip pastors for effective ministry and prepare them for ordination. There are currently more than 120 ministerial candidates in the mission districts. Pray that they will advance through the pastoral formation process and that many others will be called to vocational ministry. A clear theological and philosophical identity is emerging across the region. Pray for continued growth, depth and balance in Wesleyan theology. District leaders and missionaries are working hard and sacrificially, and there is a greater sense of teamwork across the region. Pray that together we may fuel and sustain a biblical movement to reach Latin America for Christ by coaching indigenous leaders, catalyzing clusters of church planting, and creating appropriate structures to facilitate and support the growth of the church. Dr. Delia Nüesch-Olver, Area Director Praying for Latin America Orphans, Ministerial Candidates... Russ & Sherrie Cole Haiti Associate/VISA Russ uses his skills to keep vehicles, generators, inverters and other mission equipment running at the Claire Heureuse Hospital in Dessalines and elsewhere in Haiti. He designs trusses for new buildings, as well as facilitating incoming short-term ministry teams at the hospital. Sherrie runs a guest house for these teams. The Coles have five adult children and 14 grandchildren. the country of Haiti people in Haiti to find jobs so they can feed their families and build better homes; many young people completing their education find there are no jobs available the many orphaned children to be taken in to homes Guy & Betsy Crawford Mexico Associate/FMWM The Crawfords encourage FM Mexican leaders as they chart direction for church planting and missions mobilization. Locally, they are involved in a new church plant in Nogales, Sonora. Guy has a full-time family medical practice and assists at the medical clinic in the Los Encinos church in Nogales. Betsy assists Guy in communicating with leaders. Guy and Betsy serve on the Missions Commission of the Mexican Conference, and Betsy teaches missions classes in the Bible Institute. Guy and Betsy as they encourage pastors in their vision for outreach and compassion ministries church plants in several cities, including Nogales, Santa Ana, and in Sinaloa State, Costa Azul, Mazatlan y Culiacan Pastor Eliab and his wife, Berenice, and two children who recently moved to Guadalajara (Jalisco State) to coordinate the small groups meeting throughout the city believers to answer the call to train and serve as pastors, missionaries and lay leaders Light and Life Bible Institute in Hermosillo and its extension programs J.R. & Becky Crouse Ecuador The Crouse family lives in Quito, Ecuador. J.R. serves as the field coordinator for VISA teams for much of the Latin America Area. He also works with the Ecuadorian churches in exploring creative ways to bless and impact their communities, particularly through agriculture and creation care initiatives. Becky assists with Christian education training and is part of a team of writers for the Latin America Area website. The Crouses formerly served in Haiti and Peru. Children: Marissa, Alena adjustment to living in a new country and context J.R. and Becky to have parenting wisdom and properly balance ministry and home responsibilities J.R. and Becky to be useful in building up church leaders the formation of supportive friendships and vibrant working relationships growth and impact of the Ecuadorian church in reaching Ecuador for Christ Ministry Prayer Directory

29 Kay Stotts Godoy Latin America Kay serves as Latin America Regional Coordinator for International Child Care Ministries (ICCM). Based in Santiago, Chile, she supervises ICCM National Coordinators who work alongside FM elementary school teachers and church workers throughout Latin America to share the good news of Jesus with children. Kay is married to Leonardo Godoy who shares Kay s heart for service, evangelism and discipleship. Kay and Leo participate in outreach, training and administrative responsibilities at Comunidad Vida, Santiago s first FM church plant ministering to the middle and upper class. Children: Sofia, Benjamin Kay as she carries out her regional coordinator responsibilities with ICCM in Latin America Latin pastors and leaders to strongly support and encourage the development of dynamic ministries to children in their churches children who know Jesus personally to grow strong spiritually and become godly leaders development and protection for Sofia and Ben in all areas of growth (physical, spiritual, emotional and social) Ricardo & Beth Gómez Colombia/Latin America The Gómez family is based in Medellín, Colombia, where their ministry responsibilities are threefold. Locally, Dr. Ricardo and Beth work with a team of key leaders to develop an urban church-planting initiative and open FM churches in Medellín. Nationally, they work with Director Libni Gasca to develop a similar initiative in strategic cities throughout Colombia. Internationally, Ricardo continues to assist with ordination of FM pastors and serves as a part-time, volunteer professor at the Seminario Bíbilico de Colombia, a nondenominational seminary training leaders. Children: Juliana, Jonathan God to provide human and financial resources for a very ambitious church-planting initiative in Medellín and all of Colombia wisdom, balance and a God-given vision for appropriate and effective ministry to the people of Latin America God s wisdom, discernment and anointing so Ricardo s teaching will effectively impact the lives of his students Ricardo and Beth s ministry to the seminary students and their families to be biblical, integral and effective good health and God s protection and guidance as Juliana and Jonathan continue to grow in stature and in the knowledge of Christ Mike & Andrea Green Uruguay Associate/VISA Mike and Andrea Green completed their fundraising and moved to Durazno, Uruguay, in January As VISA missionaries, the Greens are supporting the development of the Argentina-Uruguay and coming alongside a young pastoral couple who are multiplying groups throughout Uruguay. Mike and Andrea have a passion for youth, young adults and discipleship. Children: Gabriel the three house churches in motion and the two hoping to start with Pastor Sebastian and Vanessa consistency among regular attendees and commitment among the members as they discover their purpose in Christ Mike and Andrea to find a routine that allows them to be relevant in the culture but aware of Gabriel s needs more leaders ready to bring in the harvest and to prepare more workers Dennis & Kyle Leon Costa Rica Dennis and Kyle focus on developing ministries that restore hope to individuals, families and communities through endemic and sustainable church planting in Esterillos Oeste, Costa Rica. They also assist communities in improving their physical well-being through counseling, job training, microfinance, tutoring, scholarships, medical assistance, emergency aid and work opportunities. Children: Elias, Selah, Cyrus, Lucas ongoing ministries to teens and their families, including small-group discipleship, service projects, counseling, English classes and holistic children s outreach programs healthy relationships with youth as they mature into leaders the established churches Pura Vida Esterillos and Pura Vida Parrita their children: Elias, Selah, Cyrus and Lucas Glenn & Wendy Lorenz Costa Rica/Latin America Glenn and Wendy, both ordained elders, were appointed as career missionaries in April After partnership building, the Lorenzes will move to Costa Rica where they will work alongside others to create and facilitate the pastoral formation process for Latin America. Glenn and Wendy began ministry serving churches in California, Michigan and Arizona. Glenn recently led the Ministry and Theology Department at Central Christian College in McPherson, KS, while Wendy served as Pastor to Children and their Families at McPherson FMC, KS. Children: Libby, Isaac, Jakin, Ellia Glenn and Wendy s ministry to be Spirit-led and effective wisdom, balance and a God-given vision for partnership building, as well as future ministry to the people of Latin America God s protection over Libby, Isaac, Jakin and Ellia Delia Nüesch-Olver & Paul Olver Latin America Dr. Delia Nüesch-Olver serves as Area Director for Latin America, overseeing the Free Methodist Church in 13 countries. She coaches and supervises North American missionaries and national leaders to fuel and sustain a biblical movement to reach Latin Americans for Christ, with priority on empowering leaders, planting churches in strategic cities and developing sustainable systems. Dr. Paul Olver, Delia s husband, works to develop a team and a system to multiply leaders and prepare people for ordination. stamina and protection for an extensive travel schedule clarity of vision, compelling communication, and financial and personnel resources wisdom and spiritual authority in preaching, teaching, directing meetings and coaching leaders the multiplication of healthy disciples, leaders, groups and churches church planting in strategic cities, capitals and major urban areas Relationships, Youth, Travel, Communication, Stamina Ministry Prayer Directory

30 Dan & Hope Owsley Brazil The Owsleys are involved in church planting and leadership training in the capital city of Brasília. Dan disciples and counsels FM pastors. Hope is involved in Bible study, discipleship and the editing of a devotional book based on John Wesley s sermons. Both teach Bible and theology classes to church leadership and lend support and encouragement to church plants in the greater Brasília area. Dan and Hope to connect well with friends and neighbors and continue their discipleship ministries growth for the Aguas Claras church plant and maturity for the three young couples on the church-planting team continued progress on the John Wesley devotional book in Portuguese Guilherme Mota, a promising young FM leader, to not lose his focus as he prepares for ministry Dan and Hope as they teach seminary modules in Bible and theology Insight, Renewal... Argentina/Uruguay (with Uruguay) FM Churches: 12 FM Membership: 1,436 FM Work Opened: 1977 District Leader: Ricardo Guerrero The Carmen de Areco church now has almost 600 members, with a far-reaching ministry and a number of satellite congregations. Several vibrant churches have been planted in the country s southern region, and contacts are being multiplied in Buenos Aires, as well as other provinces. The Carmen de Areco church has adopted more than 50 street kids over the years, providing food, housing and education. A number of formerly abandoned kids are now serving as leaders in the church and studying in the Bible Institute. The Argentina also provides oversight to two churches in neighboring Uruguay. multiplication of disciples, leaders, groups and congregations churches to be planted in the strategic city of Buenos Aires wisdom and strength for Pastor Ricardo Guerrero as he leads this mission district with churches scattered widely across Argentina and Uruguay VISA Voyagers Mike and Andrea Green in their first year of working alongside a pastoral couple who are multiplying groups in central Uruguay Dan & Dee Ann Snyder Haiti Associate/FMWM Dan and Dee Ann currently serve as associate missionaries to Haiti. While involved in a Michigan medical practice, Dan raises funds and annually makes several trips to Haiti s Claire Heureuse Hospital in Dessalines. Dee Ann works in support ministries. ongoing ministries of Dessalines Hospital missionaries and Haitian pastors as they live with the daily stress of trying to help the very needy around them security, unity and spiritual renewal in Haiti BAHAMAS COSTA RICA ECUADOR BOLIVIA Bahamas ARGENTINA CHILE (Part of South Atlantic Annual Conference) FM Churches: 1 FM Membership: 45 FM Work Opened: 2000 The Grace and Peace FMC in Nassau is part of the South Atlantic Annual Conference. increasing numbers of new disciples, groups and leaders healthy connections with the churches in the South Atlantic Conference in spite of the cultural and geographic distance COLOMBIA Creative Access Countries Free Methodists are serving in creative access countries, places closed to missionaries but open to humanitarian or community development work. Creative Access C: entered 1996 Creative Access X: entered 1984 protection of believers from persecution leadership who oversee these ministries to have supernatural insight into the issues confronting the FM church continued growth and multiplication of churches DOMINICAN REPUBLIC BRAZIL URUGUAY Bolivia (Chile Annual Conference) FM Churches: 3 FM Membership: 181 FM Work Opened: 1994 District Leader: Superintendent Patricio Alvial Proboste The first Bolivian elder was ordained in A beautiful church building has been built in Santa Cruz, and several congregations in the greater Santa Cruz area. The Chilean Free Methodists continue to develop the work in Bolivia under the leadership of the area director. financial resources to make the monthly payments on the church s mortgage multiplication of disciples, leaders, groups and congregations growing awareness of the need and ability of Bolivian leaders to develop the church in Bolivia strengthening of the church in the city of Santa Cruz Ministry Prayer Directory

31 Brazil Brazilian General Conference FM Churches: 61 FM Membership: 7,590 FM Work Opened: 1946 Bishop: José Ildo Swartele de Mello Nikkei Annual Conference FM Churches: 29 FM Membership: 2,333 FM Work Opened: 1936 Superintendent: Daniel Seiji Abe FM ministry in Brazil began among the large population of immigrants from Japan. This work developed into the Nikkei Conference. The Brazilian FMC, a separate entity, has seen significant growth in recent years. Previously centered in the state of São Paulo, it has become a general conference with five annual conferences. A church-planting strategy is targeting the national capital Brasília. The general conference also oversees a mission district in Angola. continued growth of both the Brazilian and Nikkei Conferences through evangelism, discipleship and church planting wise and courageous leadership of each conference as they navigate the increasingly secular and liberal political situation in their country the church plants in the capital city of Brasília continued creative ministry of the Nikkei Conference churches to the Japanese and Brazilian communities the Nikkei Conference as they are involved in mission work around the globe missionaries Dan and Hope Owsley as they work to guide and resource the leaders of the new conference in Brasília students at the Monte Santo school (an Costa Rica FM Churches: 8 FM Membership: 842 FM Work Opened: 1990 District Leader: Victor Quesada Juarez The Costa Rica is experiencing a new fervor, unity and mission. A catalyst for growth has been taking responsibility for the work in neighboring Nicaragua. Teams of people have gone to Nicaragua to hold retreats for youth and women and classes to equip pastors and lay leaders. Four of the Costa Rican churches have started schools for leadership development and the district has relaunched a Bible Institute. wisdom for district leader Pastor Victor Quesada the FM Theological Institute and its leadership classes the district vision of developing leaders, planting churches, strengthening FM identity and economic sustainability continued multiplication of churches in the cities of the central valley Chile Annual Conference FM Churches: 29 FM Membership: 1,471 FM Work Opened: 1986 Superintendent: Patricio Alvial Proboste An active social outreach program to needy children, a vital youth group, and an evangelistic outreach program are helping establish the church in Chile. Undaunted by the length of their country (nearly 3,000 miles), the conference wants to cover Chile from north to south with FM churches. The conference has successfully launched church-planting efforts in the capital city of Santiago and churches that minister to the indigenous Mapuche people in southern Chile. They have also sent missionaries to begin the FMC in Argentina, Bolivia, Peru and Uruguay. the cluster of churches in the capital city of Santiago to grow small churches working to gain a foothold in their communities from the frosty southern region around Puerto Montt to the Atacama desert in the north discipleship methods that pass on the essential truths and practices of Jesus disciples to faithful Chilean followers of all ages vision and wisdom for superintendent Patricio Alvial Proboste as he balances pastoring his local church, being a husband and father, and leading the conference Dominican Republic FM Work Opened: 1889 General Conference FM Churches: 224 FM Membership: 26,938 Bishop: Cecilio Inocencio Osoria Ureña (Mid-America Annual Conference) FM Churches: 6 FMC Membership: 2,453 The Dominican Republic Free Methodist Church became a general conference in January The conference has three annual conferences, publishes its own adult Sunday school material, and sponsors more than 20 elementary or secondary schools, a lay leadership training institute, and a university level seminary. The church also oversees work in a nearby creative access country. The Mid-America Annual Conference has a cooperative agreement with the Dominican Republic General Conference to operate a district within the country. wisdom and anointing on Bishop Cecilio Osoria as he leads the large FMC in the Dominican Republic many students lives to be changed through their experiences at FM-sponsored elementary and secondary schools Colombia FM Churches: 2 FM Membership: 480 FM Work Opened: 1994 District Leader: Libni Gasca A dynamic, growing church in the capital of Bogotá is developing leaders and planting daughter congregations. The church sponsors a children s home ministering to former street children in partnership with ICCM. A daughter church in Barrancabermeja, an eight-hour drive from Bogotá, has been established and is growing. New church-planting projects are targeting Medellín and other cities. Missionaries Ricardo and Beth Gómez work part-time with the Seminario Biblico de Colombia in Medellín and part-time with the Colombia District. Ricardo also assists with ordination of pastors throughout Latin America. means to financially sustain the ministry to Bogotá s street children leaders and core groups to multiply churches throughout Bogotá and Medellín strength and health for Pastor Libni Gasca as he pastors the church in Bogotá and leads the Colombia development of fruitful partnership with the Seminario Biblico de Colombia and a new virtual program as one means to provide the educational component needed to prepare ministerial candidates throughout Latin America Ecuador FM Churches: 7 FM Membership: 279 FM Work Opened: 1981 Three churches are located in the coastal city of Esmeraldas and four in the capital city of Quito, in the central part of Ecuador. Most of the churches started through outreach to children in partnership with International Child Care Ministries (ICCM). A core group of young adults, mainly ICCM graduates, have started a new cell-based church in Quito, led by Pastora Eunice Alvarez, a missionary from Mexico. the cell-based church in Quito to reach many lost people for Christ Pastora Eunice Alvarez as she leads the church in Quito and functions as the district leader following up on contacts that could result in several new churches missionaries J.R. and Becky Crouse and their family, as they transition from Peru to Quito to assist the churches in Ecuador and lead VISA teams thoughout Latin America Ministry Prayer Directory

32 El Salvador FM Work Opened: 1994 FM Churches: 1 FM Membership: 28 District Leader: Nelson Rodriguez (Mid-America Annual Conference) FM Churches: 7 FM Membership: 179 El Salvador is one of the most violent countries in Latin America, with gangs, drugs and kidnappings. The main church in the capital city, San Salvador, has built a facility with the help of VISA teams and has mothered another church in the town of Chalatanango. The Guatemala Jesus mi Amado District of the Mid-America Conference has also started work in El Salvador. multiplication of disciples, leaders and groups other churches to be planted in San Salvador, where a high percentage of the population lives wisdom and strength for bi-vocational pastor Nelson Rodriguez protection and peace for this nation that currently exists in an environment of danger and fear Honduras Church-in-Formation FM Churches: 7 FM Work Opened: 2008 The Free Methodist churches in Honduras are led by two conference ministerial candidates and a group of emerging lay leaders with a vision to plant more churches. The existing churches were started by three different FM connections in the U.S.: Salem, MA; Miami, FL; and Rochester and Fredonia, NY. Brent and Alma Thompson, now co-superintendents of the Ohio Conference, have had long-term relationships with the church in Honduras and continue to supervise the work, representing the area director. growth and multiplication of the churches mutual cooperation and shared vision to reach Honduras for Christ appropriate structures to be put in place that will facilitate the growth of the church as Honduras moves toward becoming a mission district wisdom and direction for Superintendents Brent and Alma Thompson as they supervise the work from a distance Guatemala (Mid-America Annual Conference) FM Churches: 61 FM Membership: 1,269 FM Work Opened: 2008 District Leaders: Gregory Otzoy and Hector Escobar The Mid-America Annual Conference is working in cooperation with the Church of the Messiah and Jesus mi Amado Ministries to develop Free Methodist ministry and mission in Guatemala. District superintendent Gregory Otzoy and apostolic leader Hector Escobar oversee 61 churches, one Bible college, one elementary and secondary school, five medical clinics, and a radio ministry. The largest church, Acatenango, has approximately 1,200 in attendance and is pastored by Elmer Tezaguic, a Church of the Messiah pastor. the viability and effectiveness of the radio ministry continued spiritual growth of the FM churches Gregory Otzoy and Hector Escobar s leadership individuals attending the Bible college medical clinic patients to receive spiritual guidance while their physical needs are met Haiti General Conference FM Churches: 99 FM Membership: 26,951 FM Work Opened: 1964 Bishop: Eliodor Desvariste MEXICO GUATEMALA HAITI PUERTO RICO NICARAGUA EL SALVADOR HONDURAS PERU In spite of great tragedy caused by the devastating January 2010 earthquake, the church has seen significant growth. Many destroyed church buildings have been rebuilt in better, larger locations. International Child Care Ministries (ICCM) sponsors nearly 7,000 Haitian children. Many churches operate primary schools. Nine secondary schools, a Bible school, Haiti Providence University, as well as the Dessalines Rural Health Program and hospital, serve the educational, health and spiritual needs of thousands. Years of missionary investment are bearing fruit as responsibility and direction have shifted to Haitian leaders. The FMC in Haiti became a general conference in June Bishop Eliodor Desvariste as he guides a church that is much more than Sunday worship services in Haiti the church family is also the social safety net and is expected to help when needed missionaries from North America who would work under the leadership of the Haitian church the basic needs of the people to be met: physical safety, freedom to congregate, food to eat, schools for children and work for adults the Dessalines Rural Health Program as it continually struggles to provide care in a cash-poor environment ongoing recovery from the earthquake as infrastructure and lives are rebuilt sustained growth of the churches, in both numbers and maturity missionaries Dan and Dee Ann Snyder and Russ and Sherri Cole as they work to support and resource the national leaders PARAGUAY Multiplication, Cooperation, Direction, Mentors... Ministry Prayer Directory

33 Mexico FM Work Opened: 1917 Central Mexico FM Churches: 10 FM Membership: 396 District Leader: Héctor Pérez Mexico Annual Conference FM Churches: 33 FM Membership: 1,625 Superintendent: Juan Carlos Rodriguez Northern Mexico Provisional Annual Conference FM Churches: 15 FM Membership: 1,077 Superintendent: David Escalante Mena Northwest Mexico Provisional Annual Conference FM Churches: 15 FM Membership: 628 Superintendent: Ricardo Flores Miranda Southern Mexico (Southern California Annual Conference) (Mid-America Annual Conference) FM Churches: 18 FM Membership: 767 The third Mexican missions conference, held in 2015, demonstrated ongoing missionary zeal. Pastors, lay leaders and many university students have been challenged and equipped to reach people of other ethnic groups within Mexico and people of other countries for Christ. The Mexican church helped send and support a church planter in the Central Mexico Mission District. A pastor from Baja California has assisted the work in Costa Rica. The Mexican Conference has sent a missionary to Quito, Ecuador. Guatemalan districts of the Mid- America Annual Conference have planted FM churches along the southern border of Mexico. participants of the first meeting of the Provisional General Conference in September 2016 to discern and elect the right person as their first bishop wisdom, faith and leadership maturity as the new Provisional General Conference is formed peace and protection along the Mexico- U.S. border and in many other parts of the country where there is intense violence development of the vision and structures to send missionaries to other parts of Mexico and Latin America churches to be established and multiply in Mexico City, the largest urban area in the Western hemisphere and the second largest in the world missionaries Guy and Betsy Crawford as they work alongside the Mexican leaders ICCM sponsored children to grow in their faith Nicaragua FM Work Opened: 1995 FM Churches: 8 FM Membership: 918 District Leader: Hiuberth Zapata (Mid-America Annual Conference) FM Churches: 10 FM Membership: 95 Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the western hemisphere. The FM-sponsored school in Managua won a government award for its contribution to the health and education of children and the betterment of the neighborhood. The district leader, Pastor Hiuberth Zapata, also pastors a church in neighboring Costa Rica. FM work sponsored by the Church of the Messiah Guatemalan West District includes two Bible institutes and 10 churches. multiplication of disciples, groups, leaders and churches encouraging relationships with the Costa Rican churches stamina and wisdom for Hiuberth Zapata as he leads the Nicaragua means for pastors and churches to be able to support themselves ICCM sponsored children at two FM schools Peru FM Churches: 5 FM Membership: 667 FM Work Opened: 1993 District Leader: Miguel Algorta Since starting in the southern city of Tacna, Free Methodist ministry has spread throughout the three regions of Peru jungle, mountains and coast. The largest church in the central Andes city of Tarma is pastored by District Leader Miguel Algorta, who regularly travels six hours through the mountains to a church plant in the capital city of Lima. A Bible institute takes classes to the churches in an effort to equip pastors and lay leaders. churches to be established and multiplied in the capital city of Lima a permanent meeting place for the Brazil Avenue FMC in Lima strength and health for Pastor Miguel Algorta as he pastors a church in Tarma, plants another in Lima and provides leadership for the district multiplication of disciples, leaders, groups and churches veteran pastor and former Venezuela Conference Superintendent Casto Rojas, as he mentors and coaches the work in Peru representing the area director Paraguay Annual Conference FM Churches: 21 FM Membership: 858 FM Work Opened: 1946 Superintendent: Ceferino Ramirez Diarte The FM churches of Paraguay are clustered around the capital, Asunción, and the southern city of Encarnación. Church-sponsored elementary schools minister in both cities in partnership with ICCM. outreach activities to bring whole families to a relationship with Jesus Christ a vision to reach lost people for Christ freedom from a history of discouragement and a new vision for what God would do among them and through them in Paraguay Puerto Rico Provisional Annual Conference FM Churches: 9 FM Membership: 1,048 FM Work Opened: 1967 Superintendent: Mercedes Reynoso The church, started by Free Methodists who emigrated from the Dominican Republic, is now crossing cultural barriers to reach Puerto Rican families. The Barrio Obrero church in the capital city, San Juan, is the fastestgrowing FM church in Latin America. It is reaching people island-wide through radio, television and evangelistic campaigns. The work includes a small FM church in St. John s, Antigua, an island in the Caribbean Sea, 300 miles east of Puerto Rico. stamina and health for Mercedes Reynoso as she pastors the largest church and serves as superintendent the Barrio Obrero FMC as it continues to proclaim words of hope to some of the most problematic strata of Puerto Rican life, and for physical safety for those who minister among the housing projects the FM churches meeting in rented storefronts to find inexpensive and strategically located properties to purchase continued focus on outreach, particularly cross-cultural outreach to Puerto Ricans effective discipleship of new believers and effective development of new leaders Ministry Prayer Directory

34 Shoreline FM Work Opened: 2015 Beach communities throughout Central America attract people from the cities of the region and from countries all over the world. Following relational networks, churches have been started in Parrita and in the San Jose metropolitan area. Several home groups have potential to become churches. A new church plant hopes to reach the beach community in Panamá. Several leaders in this new district are part of Christian Surfers International (CSI). The vision of CSI is to evangelize surfers, provide a bridge from the beach to the local church, and to engage Christian surfers in intentional mission. the multiplication and preparation of leaders the strategic partnership with Christian Surfers International a healthy relationship and mutual partnership with the Costa Rica the holistic ministries Vida Raiz (Life Root), an organic garden providing food and employment for the needy, and Una Mas (One More), tutoring center for children and computer center for adults Housing Projects, Holistic Ministries, Expanded Vision Middle East / North Africa God is moving in the Middle East and North Africa! The movement of refugees throughout history has served to spread the gospel. We see the refugee situation not as simply a crisis, but an opportunity an opportunity to serve, to love and to explain who Jesus is and why Jesus is important. Because of the refugee situation, many nations, tribes and tongues are hearing the news of Jesus Christ. One could simply focus on the bad news from every country in the Middle East and North Africa, but know that all of the bad news creates untold opportunity for the spreading of the gospel. I am asking you to pray for wisdom. Pray our leaders know what opportunities will bear the greatest fruit. Pray for security. God is and has protected our leaders. We believe that by prayer, God will continue His protecting hand. Pray for resources from within the church and from around the world. Our work globally partners with many organizations to bring relief to the hurting, encouragement for the depressed and spiritual food for the hungry. Pastor Dale Praying for the Middle East/North Africa Security, wisdom... Ministry Prayer Directory

35 Pastor Dale Middle East/North Africa Dr. Dale is the Area Director for the Middle East and North Africa region. In this capacity he is also the Executive Director of Impact Middle East, through which the FMC serves in this region of the world. Dr. Dale and his wife, Dawn, have served with the FMC for 28 years as members of the East Michigan Conference. opportunities in a challenging region language and cultural learning learning strategic priorities to reach people with the gospel of Christ Ken & Linda Middle East/North Africa Ken and Linda serve in medical and refugee ministries. Ken and Linda as they learn to speak Arabic and Kurdish Ken and Linda to meet people seeking God peace between people groups provision of shelter, jobs, food and clothing for millions of refugees protection of Christians and provision of jobs and homes people to have dreams pointing them to the Way of eternal life For communication guidelines Supporting a Worker in a Creative Access Country go to: ISRAEL EGYPT IRAQ JORDAN Provisions, Language Skills... Creative Access Countries Middle East/North Africa The Free Methodist Church has emerging work in Middle Eastern and North African countries where access by foreign missionaries is strictly limited. Through our partnership with Impact Middle East (IME), FMWM is developing strategies that use workers from countries in the region who have greater access to neighboring nations. An added benefit to such strategies is that language and cultural barriers are less challenging for people from similar backgrounds. Fourteen house churches have been planted in two creative access countries. informal networks of friends, families and acquaintances that cross national and cultural boundaries to continue to grow the Holy Spirit to go before house-church planters and trainers in preparing households and communities for the witness of the gospel the restraining of spiritual and political forces that oppress kingdom work Egypt General Conference FM Churches: 60 FM Membership: 27,500 FM Work Opened: 1899 Bishop: Youssef Shehata Youssef House Churches: 1,200 Approximately 60 churches make up the General Conference of Egypt, which operates independently of the FMCUSA. Impact Middle East (IME) has more than 1,200 new house churches in several active networks. In partnership with established churches, the focus is on discipling new converts and raising up new leaders. A group of gifted young women are providing leadership in one such network. increased cooperation between existing FM churches (and other denominations) and the house-church initiatives fostered by IME the development of discipleship and training materials in Arabic, which historically have been in short supply political and economic stability for a country that has been in upheaval as the result of the Arab Spring and two regime changes since 2011 Iraq FM Churches: 4 FM Work Opened: 2003 For the present, FM Iraqi work remains centered in the provincial capital of Dohuk, less than 50 miles from the ISIS-held city of Mosul. The Iraq church has four established churches and 10 church-planting projects begun in 2015 and early The church ministers to approximately 30,000 refugees. the physical safety of FM church planters and those who gather in house churches in an area ripe for terrorism and political unrest the success of the gospel in an area of religious pluralism that includes people of Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Yazidi and Muslim backgrounds the multiplication of leaders to reach thousands of towns and villages in northern Iraq (Kurdistan) without a gospel witness Stability, Safety Ministry Prayer Directory

36 Israel FM Work Opened: 2013 The newest Free Methodist mission in the Middle East is in the Galilee region of Israel, specifically the city of Nazareth. Led by Dr. Nabil, an Asbury Seminary graduate, the work encompasses church planters serving 21 house fellowships and more than 400 people. More house churches will be launched soon. In addition, leaders anticipate establishing house-church networks in the Bethlehem area. Some 1.6 million Israeli Arabs reside in Israel and represent the target population for FM church-planting efforts. the church planters who are in the denomination s ordination track under the supervision of Dr. Nabil needed training materials for discipleship and ordination to be developed in all three languages used in Israel Arabic, English and Hebrew openness of people of Jewish background who show interest in the gospel they hear about from their Arab friends and acquaintances Jordan FM Churches: 2 FM Work Opened: 2002 Church-planting efforts in Amman, the capital of Jordan, have been divinely changed by the unprecedented influx of refugees into this tiny nation. Two congregations are heroically attempting to serve more than 5,000 refugee households, including more than 30,000 refugees. Ministry to refugees includes a medical clinic, a dental clinic and a preschool, as well as house-church networks. The United Nations projects that by the end of 2015 more than 1 million refugees were in Jordan, which has a population of 6 million in an area the size of Indiana. team members working with the seemingly unending flow of refugees to be strengthened and renewed physically, emotionally and spiritually people of Muslim background, having experienced the compassion of Christians, to be open to witness of the saving power of the gospel religious, political and economic persecution of believers to be minimized, allowing FM workers to serve without the fear of retribution or retaliation FREE METHODIST WORLD MISSIONS 770 N. High School Rd. Indianapolis, IN web: missions@fmcusa.org (general inquiries) Phone: Fax: Kevin Austin Global Associate/FMWM GLOBAL Kevin is an FM missionary working domestically and globally through the Set Free Movement to end modern-day slavery. The Free Methodist Church, with roots in the 19th-century abolitionist movement, is again championing the cause of holistic freedom. Now as then, Free Methodists have a special preference for the poor and those who are vulnerable to injustice. the mobilization of the FMC to effectively combat modern slavery Kevin and his family as he travels Kevin s emotional and spiritual well-being as he regularly experiences the tragic impact of modern slavery expansion of leaders and finances as the Set Free Movement prepares to expand beyond 40 teams in the U.S., as well as internationally God s protection for those on the front lines caring for victims an emerging strategy in the Philippines that seeks to stop child trafficking in partnership with International Justice Mission and several sister denominations God s blessing on Eden s Glory, a Set Free Movement restoration home Based in the United States, the following FM missionaries have ministries that span multiple world areas. David & Rose Brewer Global Associate/VISA communities. Children: Zephaniah, Jakobi SEED Livelihood Co-Directors David and Rose Brewer work to empower holistic, livelihoodgroup ministries in FM churches around the world to do microenterprise that makes sense in their continued growth and development for current livelihood groups increased impact of livelihood groups as they seek to bless their communities in holistic ways deeper collaboration with churches, conferences and partners greater prayer andfina n cial support for SEED s staff team and vision the church s increased understanding of the role of economic justice in living out the gospel Ginger Coakley Global Associate/VISA Ginger serves as a regional director for the Set Free Movement and team leader of the Set Free Movement Bond County (IL) Task Force. She works in partnership with others to foster transformational change in Bond County and beyond. Set Free specifically targets human trafficking/modernday slavery and works within the context of the FMC and Set Free Movement values, mission and vision. Ginger has co-founded a safe home for women survivors of human trafficking called Eden s Glory. Children: Thailer, Josiah partnerships individuals and corporate to produce strategic solutions to fight injustice those currently enslaved to know hope and be helped to freedom Ginger s family (husband Lee and sons Thailer and Josiah) as they continue in multiministry commitments financial partners for Ginger and for Eden s Glory the women who live at Eden s Glory as the Lord transforms and restores their lives Connect with God s heart for the world.

37 Taiwan, Susan Yu Join Susan in praying for fruitful ministry and more workers in Asia. David & Rose Brewer, SEED Livelihood Pray for SEED s Livelihood group partners as they look to establish and expand their businesses and provide income for their families. Thailand, Corey & Connie Persing Pray for Corey as he undertakes the responsibilities of Acting National Coordinator for ICCM Thailand. Birthday: Corey Bangladesh Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in the world with 60 percent of the population earning less than a dollar a day. Pray for God s provision so church planting, church buildings and social ministries can make an eternal difference for the people of Bangladesh. Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) Pray for vibrant children s ministries to reach the large youth population who need to hear the message of Jesus. Middle East/North Africa Praise God for the recent ordination of pastors, including one woman, serving in the Middle East Mexico Pray for the logistics of forming the Provisional Mexican General Conference next month. Pray for God s wisdom to surround the person who will be elected the first Mexican suffragan bishop. Kenya/Africa, Don Rogers Pray for continued good strategies to empower lives by integrating biblical teaching with dynamic ideas and skills that help the poor address the challenges oppressing their lives spiritually, physically and economically. Creative Access, Keith & Julie Praise God for the June graduates from Keith s teachers class. Pray doors will open for second generation classes this fall. Portugal, International Missionaries, Eduardo & Cindi Angelo Pray for the cell-group ministry to Lisbon s homeless. Members share food and the good news with many people who are living on the streets International Child Care Ministries Pray for the 3,000 enrolled children awaiting sponsors. Pray they can see how God is providing for them. Birthday: Brenda Jacobs, ICCM staff Shoreline Pray solid foundations will be established for the new Shoreline as it reaches people in beach communities in Costa Rica, Central America and beyond. Pray for continued growth of the three churches and three church plants. Togo Join in prayer for the several new church plants in Togo. Pray for discipleship and growth for these fellowships. Peru Pray for the Peru FMC as it strives to see each local church begin to plant new small groups. Pray for the training of group leaders. Global, New Missionaries Pray God s timing would be evident to the several couples and one family raising funds for field ministry to serve crossculturally. Volunteers In Service Abroad (VISA) Pray for ongoing efforts in several Latin American countries to upgrade the facilities churches use for ministry. Pray they have the resources needed and that short-term VISA teams can assist in construction work, as well as encourage Latin America ministry efforts. Spain, Anna Henry Pray for many lives to be changed through the outreach of the Logos Learning Center, located in Rivas (Madrid). The afterschool program and English classes provide much needed support to the community. Japan, Chris & Yuko Wilkins Pray for God s anointing and wisdom over each FM church in Japan. Pray each impacts its surrounding community. Bulgaria, Al & Diane Mellinger Pray for the new church plant projects and pastors entering training programs to bring life change across Bulgaria. Asia, Seth & Hlawn Hlawn Van Tifflin Join in prayer for Van Tifflin s partnership building. Also pray for Seth and Hlawn Hlawn to have God s discernment in how to manage their ministry time. Birthday: Seth Bolivia Join in prayer for growth of the churches in Santa Cruz, a city of 1.2 million people. Thailand, Don & Kathy Williams Pray for Don and Kathy as they focus fully on Mission Thailand and education consulting in Asia. Creative Access Pray for stamina and protection over 13 workers serving in Asia creative access ministries. Pray God provides wisdom in relationship building that will have a far-reaching impact. Birthday: Jason, creative access Liberia Pray the Lord will grant success in establishing two fellowships in Liberian counties where there is currently no FM work. Ask the Lord to grant national leader Rufus Kahn wisdom in launching a new pastoral training program. Philippines Pray as the Philippines FMC looks for effective ways to reach young people with passion for the Lord SEEDLivelihood.org childcareministries.org fmcusa.org/fmmissions July Sept Free Methodist World Missions Pulse 9

38 9.09 Middle East/North Africa, Pastor Dale Pray for refugees needs to be met and for them to find the church to be a place of rest, help and hope. Philippines, Roger Stone Pray for the development of more audio Scripture materials for use among the various Ayta language groups Asia, Becca Pray for revival to influence lives across Taiwan. Pray for renewed commitment of believers to share their faith with others. Global Pray FMs worldwide develop initiatives to reach the unreached in their corner of the world Haiti Lift Bishop Eliodor Devariste and the team of pastors leading the nearly 100 Haitian FM churches in prayer. Pray the love of Jesus shines through believers in spite of spiritual opposition. Macedonia Praise God for the church plant established in a village outside Skopje in January. Pray God s blessing over Pastor Robert Kurtish and his wife, Birsena, as they lead the work in this predominately Muslim community, where as many as 50,000 Roma live. Brazil, Dan & Hope Owsley Praise the Lord for Louise, owner of a bridal shop, who has invited Dan and Hope to read from the Bible and pray with her seamstresses each Wednesday before opening. Most of the seamstresses are unchurched but very open to the gospel. Birthday: Hope Hungary, Larry & Katie Winckles Pray that new believers are discipled and leaders are empowered for ministry in Hungary. Uruguay, Michael & Andrea Green Pray Michael and Andrea walk through doors God opens to lead people to a relationship with Jesus. Birthday: Andrea Haiti, Dan & Dee Ann Snyder Pray for God to provide a Haitian surgeon to work at Dessalines Hospital. Birthday: Dee Ann Europe Leadership Pray the Europe Leadership Team David Carr, Mitch Pierce, Josh Fajardo, along with Bishop David Roller is sensitive to the Holy Spirit s prompting as they oversee Europe FM ministries Nigeria, Phyllis Sortor Pray for God s continued hand of leading and growth for the church in Nigeria. Southeast Asia, David & Sherrill Yardy Pray for literature to be developed for the growing church in South Asia and that it will help believers mature in their faith. Birthday: Sherrill Spain Pray for the pastors and churches in Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Murcia, as well as the John Wesley Bible Institute where local leaders are trained to implement Community Church Planting. Uganda Pray for the ongoing success of the training partnership under the Kenyan FMC as pastors from Kenya and Uganda learn from one another. Birthday: Ken Myers, Kenya Haiti, Russ & Sherrie Cole Praise God for a new church building that serves the mountain farming community of Moreau. This building was completed thanks to the efforts of donors and team members from several Washington state churches. Pray for Russ and Sherrie as they return to Haiti next month after some time in the U.S. Thailand Pray for God s truth to mature and reign in the hearts of Thai believers so they accomplish the goal of planting a church in every sub-district in Thailand by the year Birthday: Judy Litsey, Missions Staff Ethiopia Many places in Ethiopia have been experiencing drought. FMC-USA has helped some FM churches, but recovery takes time. Pray God s help comes to the people affected by the dry conditions. Chile Pray for deep and wide church growth that will reach into every corner of Santiago, where FM presence is now in four of 32 city areas. Iraq Pray two English-speaking Kurdish women of peace will be found to work in FM ministry. Paraguay Pray for outreach activities to bring whole families to a relationship with Jesus Christ Africa, Art & Sylvia Brown Pray God will use short-term ministry experiences to call new missionaries into His work in Africa. Sign up for Missions Hotline, a weekly e-prayer update at fmcusa.org/fmmissions/pray-2/ 10 Free Methodist World Missions Pulse July Sept fmcusa.org/fmmissions childcareministries.org SEEDLivelihood.org

39 Continued from Page 6 Missionary Transition: The J.R. and Becky Crouse family transitioned at the end of June from Tarma, Peru, to Quito, Ecuador. In Ecuador, J.R. continues in his position as field coordinator for VISA teams in the Latin America area and will work with the Ecuadorian FMC in exploring creative ways to bless and impact their communities, particularly through agriculture and creation care initiatives. Becky assists with Christian education training and continues as part of the writing team for the Latin America Area website. J.R. and Becky s daughters, Marissa and Alena, will transition from home school to a classroom setting. Appreciation for Ministry: FMWM is thankful for Kali Long s contribution to global FM work. In April, Kali transitioned out of her role as a VISA missionary and as the Set Free leader in Athens, Greece. She had been bravely working on the front lines to end modern slavery, serving the needs of refugees, and witnessing to the truth found in Jesus since March AFRICA Rwanda: In April volunteers arrived on the Kibogora Mission compound to serve as interim managers while Julie Yerger is in the U.S. for a year of partnership building. Linda McGuinness, Fulwood FMC, United Kingdom, is serving for one year. Rev. Grant and Esther Teal, Rice Road FMC, Canada, are serving for six months. Esther was a missionary at Kibogora from 1976 to Linda, Grant and Esther plan to serve part-time at the mission facilities and part time in community projects. ASIA India: Umri Christian Hospital (UCH) opened an extension clinic in Adilabad in the Telugu language area to bring healing and the good news to a nearby geographical and cultural region. The idea is to provide local service to a different people group, many of whom seek medical assistance 50 miles away at UCH. Dr. Hannah is the doctor overseeing this clinic. At its 60-acre base location in Umri, UCH is in the midst of constructing a new ward and a dormitory for nursing students. EUROPE Hungary: Thanks to commitments of support from churches and individuals, Ildikó Kóber officially began her role as the Coordinator of the Hungarian Set Free Movement and as the Director of the Hungarian Bread of Life Foundation s (Élet Kenyere Alapítvány) Life Skills Program. Ildikó has previously volunteered with the foundation. Ildikó s work includes building and strengthening connections between organizations working against human trafficking in Hungary, developing awareness and sensitivity training programs, and planning and implementing a Life Skills Program to assist individuals who are unemployed, underemployed, or at risk of being trafficked. Ildikó, a former educator and school administrator, serves as an assistant pastor at the Budapest FMC. The Hungarian Bread of Life Foundation, established in 2000, is a public-service foundation that works with the poor, disadvantaged and disenfranchised in Hungary. The foundation is the legal identity for the FMC work in Hungary. LATIN AMERICA Mexico: The four principal conferences in Mexico voted in 2015 to begin the process of becoming a General Conference. The first Provisional General Conference, when the first suffragan bishop will be elected, is planned for September For approximately 95 years, Free Methodists have been worshipping in Mexico, planting churches, spreading across the continent. A revival in Los Angeles, CA, in 1917 sparked the movement for focused FM ministry in Mexico. As Mexican churches were raised up in California, workers became burdened for the unevangelized in Mexico. Mexican law forbade foreign missionaries from serving as pastors in Mexico, so Gonzalo Cisneros, a Mexican-American, was authorized by FMWM to return to his hometown in Sonora to serve as missionary-pastor. Freedom Sunday 2016 Set Free Movement with International Child Care Ministries/Ethiopia and FMC Bulgaria: As of April 15, more than 400 FM churches reported observing Freedom Sunday in February. More than $35,000 was raised for anti-trafficking projects. Because of FM involvement, more can be accomplished, from raising awareness in local churches to protecting children in Ethiopia (International Child Care Ministries) to establishing a home in Bulgaria to prevent the trafficking of vulnerable Roma teens. Freedom Sunday 2017 is set for March 5. To learn more about ICCM s anti-trafficking projects visit: Connect to Ministry Prayer Journey Opportunity: Would you be interested in exploring Africa on a prayer journey? Dr. Art and Sylvia Brown, pastors to the FM missionary team in Africa, are making plans for such an experience, possibly in the summer of For information, contact Dr. Art Brown at art.brown@live.com or SEEDLivelihood.org childcareministries.org fmcusa.org/fmmissions July Sept Free Methodist World Missions Pulse 11

40 Leaders Tell of Growth by Pastor Nabil The FM work in Israel is growing fast, in spite of being fairly new. It is healthy growth. Leaders are equipping and encouraging house church members in the faith. Some are taking a strong stand in their community. As we hear from these few leaders in Israel, join them on their journey and join them in prayer. Standing in the Community Many new families are coming to know Jesus as Lord and Savior through the efforts of the IME team. Ellen* has started a new house church in a village northwest of Nazareth. The new group is very fervent. They designed a Jesus is Love logo (see picture of logo above) and printed it on T-shirts to wear during the town parades for Christmas and New Year s. In this way, they can share with the majority of the town s population, who are Muslims. Married before God Another leader, Matthew, has helped an unmarried couple who had been living together put their lives on a right path with God. The man, Thomas, was a nominal Christian who never practiced his faith or attended church. The woman, Priscilla, was a Muslim but was distanced from her family. Matthew helped Thomas and Priscilla acknowledge the sin in their lives, and they decided to get married. Not only that, Priscilla expressed her desire to become a Christian. She received Jesus into her heart. To change her religion officially, Priscilla needed to be baptized in a registered church. She was baptized in a Greek Orthodox Church so the Interior Ministry recognizes her faith as a Christian, and Thomas and Priscilla can get married without any challenges. We praise the Lord for these two people. Their lives have changed. They are new followers of Jesus Christ. Expanding Group The house church group in a village in the West Bank is growing. Arron, the leader, says new families are continually coming to the worship gatherings. The group has grown so much the house cannot contain the group, so it has started meeting in a relatively small hall. *Names in this story have been changed. Your gift makes a global impact Two easy ways to give to Free Methodist World Missions: $ $ 1. Send a check: FMWM, 770 N. High School Rd., Indianapolis, IN Give online: Prayer Requests: Ellen asks for God to grant her wisdom in ministry and for provision of a video projector to assist in ministry. Matthew requests new young leaders to be trained for ministry. Arron asks God to send a male leader to be trained to help in planting new house churches. 12 Free Methodist World Missions Pulse July Sept fmcusa.org/fmmissions childcareministries.org SEEDLivelihood.org

41 The Lord Wants More (house church planting in Egypt) by Scott* It is difficult to go against tradition, especially if you are a young woman who lives in Upper Egypt. Anne,* a young woman who attended a house church seminar, is positive, active and hungry for the Word of God. Everyone in this seminar loved her. After the seminar, Anne asked to join a nearby village house church. We introduced her to the group five miles from her home. After a few meetings, Anne s father would not allow her to return to the house church. His list of reasons were related to Middle Eastern customs: he heard some young men also attended; he didn t know the owner of the house; the hosts weren t related to her family; and above of all, the meeting finished at 9 p.m. which is too late for a young woman to be outside her home. Anne tried to convince her father about the benefits and joys of the meeting, but he didn t understand what she said. He did not relent. I offered some solutions: We could ask the group to start the meeting early so you can be home early. Someone from your family could pick you up from the meeting, or one of the older ladies who attends could take you home after the meeting. None of my solutions satisfied Anne s father. I was disappointed. Then Anne came up with a plan that surprised some of us. A few days later, Anne s father said she could host the house church at their home. The other members of the group, however, turned Anne down for the same reasons that kept her away distance, time and the involvement of people they didn t know. Then Anne came up with a plan that surprised some of us. She decided to start a new house church with some of her local friends. Who would have thought of this solution? I believe the Lord went before us, preparing Anne to start a new group, increasing the reach of these house churches. *Names have been changed. a man who has brain cancer to come to faith safety for the people of Egypt online connection for many groups through the Facebook house church project physical, spiritual and mental protection for leaders on the road hope for young people s futures FREE METHODISTS on a MISSION... the JOURNEY begins with YOU! When God calls, we re listening too. It would be our privilege and joy to help you serve the church internationally. explore@fmcusa.org or , ext. 226 SEEDLivelihood.org childcareministries.org fmcusa.org/fmmissions July Sept Free Methodist World Missions Pulse 13

42 A DOZEN FROM ALEPPO Continued from Page 5 In Amman they applied for the refugee status and are now waiting for the approval of the resettlement plan. The old lady was angry and sad at the same time as she spoke about how unfair it was to flee their homeland. It was never easy to live in Iraq. My husband and I have suffered from several wars, then the economic blockade in the 1990s. We lost everything we had many times. We moved from city to city, but we always knew we could stay and fight and build our lives there. We had the house we built, our shops, our children, grandchildren, friends and neighbors. It is hard for me to believe that this time we had to give up. Because for me it means exactly this: by leaving the country we were born in, we show that we see no hope there. It is very, very painful for me and my husband. It is very sad to lose all the material things we had, but it is much sadder to lose hope in the country s future. Refugee ministry is extended to many ethnicities in Jordan and has encompassed many avenues for ministry. In January, the government sent all Sudanese refugees back to Sudan. We met a 31-year-old Muslim man who was searching for truth. The Orthodox Church directed him to us to get some answers. We will still connect with him through . We set up a barbershop one day a week for men and another day for women. Believers explain the message of salvation and show the Jesus Film to all at the barbershop. Many refugees have special needs. We distributed wheelchairs in a Palestinian refugee camp. A woman trained as a therapist has connected to several families in camps and in homes. She is helping a man who suffered a heart attack after he saw his son s remains from a bomb explosion. The father can now move his left leg and hand. The trainer also works with a low-functioning 21-year-old man who was dependent on his mother for everything. The trainer discovered the man understands and will respond to verbal instruction. Through the trainer s advice, the mother senses a new freedom, as well as God s love. Connect Your Legacy to God s Heart for the World Have you considered allocating part of your estate to missions? Every year, estate gifts small to large have a sustaining impact on Free Methodist World Missions ability to reach around the globe for Christ. Estate giving is one way to connect to God s heart for the world long after you leave it behind. For more information on how to make a difference through your estate, contact our partners at the Free Methodist Foundation at Free Methodist World Missions Pulse July Sept fmcusa.org/fmmissions childcareministries.org SEEDLivelihood.org

43 FREE METHODIST WORLD MISSIONS A CUP OF COLD Vol. 120 No. 3 JULY SEPT Publisher Rev. David Roller Magazine Editor Paula J. Gillespie Graphic Designer Beth Winchell Missions Promotion Director Judy Litsey Subscription Manager Pam Sheads Free Methodist World Missions Pulse (ISSN ) (Print) Free Methodist World Missions Pulse (ISSN ) (Online) is published quarterly by Free Methodist World Missions, 770 N. High School Rd., Indianapolis, IN, Periodicals postage paid at Indianapolis, IN, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Free Methodist World Missions Pulse, 770 N. High School Rd., Indianapolis, IN Canada Publication Mail Agreement # Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Station A, PO Box 54, Windsor ON N9A6J5 cpcreturns@wdsmail.com. Free Methodist World Missions Pulse, a quarterly magazine, is available upon request. One copy per household, please. To be added to or removed from the mailing list, or to give notification of address change, contact: Free Methodist World Missions Pulse, missions@fmcusa.org Website Phone Address 770 N. High School Road Indianapolis, IN Printed in the USA Copyright 2016 All Scripture quotations taken from the New International Version unless otherwise indicated. Permission is hereby granted for readers to duplicate pages for free distribution. Readers outside of the United States may translate and republish articles at their discretion. Moving? Change of address? Contact FMWM at , ext. 236, or missions@ fmcusa.org with your address change. Remember to include your full name, old address and new address, as well as your current phone number. WATER DURING RAMADAN Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God. by H.M., August 1, 2015 Prior to the Islamic holy month, our church planned for the best way to reach out to Muslims in our city who fast more than 15 hours a day during Ramadan. Our task was complicated because of the extreme heat, which made fasting even more difficult. We decided to greet every car waiting at a red light. Our plan involved offering every car a package of dates and a bottle of water. We asked other churches in various locations to help us and were able to cover Amman from north to south. The response was quite positive. Many said our timing was perfect, coming just prior to the announcement from the mosque permitting them to break their fast. Some remarked that they knew our job was not easy and they were thankful for the Christians in Jordan taking the initiative. Others even asked to take photos with us. The two verses of Scripture included with the package of dates proved very effective: Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God. 1 John 4:7 (KJV) Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the sons of God. Matthew 5:9 (KJV) SEEDLivelihood.org childcareministries.org fmcusa.org/fmmissions July Sept Free Methodist World Missions Pulse 15

44 Love Unites Focus on an area of Amman by Pastor Dale, MENA Area Director and Executive Director of Impact Middle East The group began as an outreach of another church in Amman. When this new church obtained a place to meet, it began to establish key ministries to both the dominant culture and refugees. This church has a growing and dynamic children s ministry. These children represent Jordanian and refugee children of several cultures. The ministry in this community is unique as people of different Middle Eastern cultures and backgrounds gather. As I visited, I understood firsthand the power of love. Love unites people, and the love expressed in this church is the love of Jesus Christ! The church ministers to refugees, mainly Palestinians and Iraqis. It is a joy for the church to provide some basic needs to refugee families and talk with them. The refugees come to the meeting place for clothes, food and supplies, and church members also visit in homes regularly. A key ministry is outreach to women of all cultures. God has blessed the church with a woman gifted by God with the ability to touch and reach the dominant culture. On Saturdays it is normal to find the church packed with women. They study, socialize, pray and support one another. The ministry is growing, along with the church. The rental space is becoming very cramped! Monday is To update or cancel a subscription, contact (800) , ext. 236 or missions@fmcusa.org Free Methodist World Missions Pulse I July - Sept the worship service, and space is at a premium. Prayer has been a consistent value of the church. The church regularly prays for God s healing touch and regularly sees God doing miracles. Last fall, the church faced some persecution, but God provided for the needs. Praise God for the Waypoint (Clarkston, Michigan) FMC s help with funding for security updates for the ministry.