REPORT OF YOUR INVESTMENT IN SERVENOW 2015
Dear Friends, Enclosed is a pictorial report on your investments into people s lives during 2015. This is not an annual report per see. Such a report will be available after our audit in June and include all the financial numbers. However, I wanted you to be able to see and read about some of the most amazing people whose lives were changed because of your investment financially and your prayers. Read about Nepal, Uganda, India, and Ukraine. These stories represent only a few samples of the many stories we receive every week. Lauren and I, as well as our staff here and around the world want you to know how grateful we are. As we have communicated before: You are equal partners with us and without that partnership we cannot do much on our own. So we thank you for the past year, and look forward to a wonderful year of seeing the Lord at work in what we can accomplish together. Wishing you God s richest blessings, Lars Dunberg International President
ServeNow Nepal In April of 2015, just before the earthquake struck, the first 21 women graduated from our tailoring program in Nepal. The skills they learned will help them to avoid being drawn into trafficking snares. Just a week later there was devastation all over the country, as wave after wave of earthquakes and aftershocks hit. Over 3,000 families (at least 12,000 people) were ministered to by ServeNow just within the first two months following the first earthquake. I am living under a tarp as my house is damaged (because of the earthquake) but I am still able to earn pocket money through the skills and sewing machine provided by ServeNow Nepal. It is a great help for me to survive! I really appreciate you for your investment in my life and being a channel of blessing to start a tailoring shop in my village. I didn t have any way to get training or purchase the machine but you helped me to do both. I sometimes think if I didn t get the training and machine, I would be a victim of traffickers but now I can stand on my own feet. Thank you for helping me to be independent. -Ankita, Nepal
Tailoring Program I was rescued from a difficult situation with no hope. I had a great desire to be independent but there was no means to do so. I kept praying about this and God answered my prayers. He provided me with life skill training through ServeNow Nepal. They also provided a sewing machine at the time of my graduation. I am using this machine and generating money for my daily needs. Thank you for being a blessing to me. ***Kristina has gone on to take a Biblical Leadership course as she has a great desire to lead others into the kingdom since her training! 420,000 copies of The Story of Jesus have been printed for Nepal alone! One week, we were able to distribute more than 8,000 copies of the Story of Jesus during an open air meeting on a soccer field! Every booklet is read on average by four people. People showed keen interest in these booklets. Children and adults enjoyed reading them. We praise God for these tools to reach the many people who are still living in darkness. Winter Coverings These children (about 200 in this location), walked 4-5 hours down a mountain barefoot with no food just to receive a hat, fleece jacket and warm pants. After ServeNow provided a snack and drink for them they proceeded to walk back up the mountain on foot. Normally, these children dig holes in the ground to keep warm in the winter. They could never have dreamed of purchasing the simple coverings provided to them through ServeNow.
Uganda ServeNow has provided two new classroom buildings for orphaned and disadvantaged children who know that education is their hope for a future and ticket out of poverty. Bicycles Mbabazi a pastor, said with tears of joy, I walked 30 miles to attend this seminar yet there are times I am required to walk even many more miles for the sake of ministry. Now I have acknowledged that God cares about every detail of our lives. I was in need of a means of transportation but had no hope of getting it. Thank you, ServeNow, for this blessing. God s Word for God s New People During the entire year, ServeNow has been able to provide four 32- page booklets which teach the church members about Jesus, how to read the Bible, Prayer, and Salvation. The outcome has been simply phenomenal.
At Kankanda church, Pastor Ponsiano Matovu said, Through the book about prayer, members have developed a desire to make personal altars to seek God. Some made personal commitments to come to church to seek God, while others seek him from their homes. This attitude had never existed before reading the these books. In addition, many members now come willingly to the church prayer meetings. The books have also caused a desire among members to read the Word of God. One member said, I was able to read twelve chapters of the Bible in one day. This member had never done this before but through these booklets, he was compelled by the Spirit to read the Bible. In Kayinja church, led by Pr. Steven Yiga, he commented, Members were weak in their prayer lives, but through this book they came to understand that prayer strengthens one s relationship with God. So, they were challenged to wake up in prayer. Pastor Justus Turyabahika in Kirangira, Members have a desire for the Word of God. They now attend weekly services in addition to Sunday services, to get ignited. Since only three members have Bibles in this church, the rest consider these books as key study materials because they contain corresponding scripture, which are read to them during the study. Even the few who have Bibles were initially lazy at reading them but are now very active. As a student, I face so many challenges including peer pressure, but the book has helped me maintain a godly character following the life example of Jesus as prescribed in the book. I have become bold in my witness to fellow students, including those who persecute me because of my faith. I have been able to stand strong in salvation because of the words prescribed in this seemingly little book, but one full of inspiration.
India Manjula is a 23 year old girl in a village in India where she is the only Christian. Along with a local pastor, she has been sharing the gospel with those in her village. ServeNow s current water program (where we provide clean drinking water to families) helped bridge the gap between the church and the villagers, as they were recipients of the love of Jesus in action! Please pray for Manjula as she serves her village and shares about the "Living Water" that Jesus offers to all who are "thirsty" spiritually. Your gifts have made an eternal difference by equipping believers to reach out to those unsaved! The HIV Lighthouse Center The Basic Series The Lighthouse Center for HIV positive children has now been operating over a year. We are still trying to take in another five to six children.. One of the girls (pictured on the left, celebrating her 8th birthday) said: My favorite thing about this home is the food and no one beats me here. We continually hear testimonies like this from the many recipients of the Basic Things You Need to Know booklets: I always wished there could be a simple guide to understanding the Bible and Christianity better. Today my wish has come true.
The Basic Series I am Samuel Soni, working as a pastor in Amritsar, India. I also run a small Bible school from where I prepare 20 evangelists for this region every year. They go to the most rural areas of North India for ministry. My church has been helped by ServeNow with the Basic Series materials and medical camps. The booklets that the church members have received have helped them grow stronger in their Christian faith and mature in Christ. Even the pastors and leaders are learning new things from the books. The medical ministry of ServeNow has also been a blessing. Conducting medical camps in remote villages where no one else goes and where people walk for miles in the scorching heat just to reach a basic healthcare unit is a wonderful task. After one of ServeNow s medical camp in one of my branch churches, 13 people started coming to the church and accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. Bicycles When I was saved 20 years ago, I began sharing the good news about Jesus in different villages. As a result, several house churches have been established in those villages. I have been walking 120 miles each week to share the Gospel and to visit church members. But now I can visit them more often, and I can do more in the limited time that I have! Thank you, ServeNow, for your thoughtfulness to pastors like us in remote villages. -Pastor Jonah
Winter Clothing Lata is a new believer who said her faith in Jesus became strong as she read The Basic Things You Need to Know About Jesus given to her from ServeNow. She was so interested that she read the book two three times and shared about Jesus with her non-christian neighbors! They wanted to save some money in order to buy a blanket for the family during this winter as Lata is expecting her 3rd child. But that was not possible and they could not afford to buy one. Last Sunday when she was wrapped around her with a new blanket she could not believe her eyes. She was so excited that she kept on thanking ServeNow for this surprise gift of winter covering. Delhi Lighthouse Center Kolkata Lighthouse Center Over 1,000 children s lives were touched through Vacation Bible School programs at the Delhi Lighthouse center. Phuni Seikh (45 years old): I am a beggar who lives at the Tollygunge metro station. My husband was a thief who lived a life of crime. One day, we fought, and he beat me and set me on fire. Somehow, I managed to put out the fire and run away. This year, I started coming to this center. The people here gave me a blanket and food. I have never had such kind treatment from anyone before. I pray to God that He may bless all those who helped and loved me, and that God may bless this center.
Ukraine Andrey is 15 years old and has a very severe form of cerebral palsy. He lives with his parents, grandparents, and younger brother. This family is so close-knit that you can feel the love they have for each other. Andrey dreams of being a racecar driver. His grandfather said, We really love our grandson, and we always tell him so. We are glad that Andrey can go outside, ride his wheelchair to the store, and just go for a walk. Thank you so much for the electric wheelchair. We have been dreaming of it for so long. Thank you, and may God bless you. Now Andrey has his own little racecar." Throughout the year, ServeNow was not only able to provide a wheelchair for Andrey, but for an entire orphanage with children, who all needed one each, as well as ensure that people had warm clothes for the winter. Other medical equipment together with basic furniture to the war torn area of Ukraine were provided. Bakery A bakery school has been established in Uzhgorod to keep young women off the streets and out of the hands of cruel traffickers. Diana, (18 years old) was sent to an orphanage when she was three. Her parents are alcoholics who never visited Diana at the orphanage. While she was still young, her mother died. Her father continued to drink and was not interested in Diana s life. He became homeless and died when Diana was 6 years old. Diana lived at the orphanage boarding school until she was 17 years old. At that time, she met local Christians who provided a place for her to live. Now she is learning how to bake and dreaming of a nice job. Beata, also 18 years old, is from Uzhgorod. Her mother abandoned her in the maternity ward, so Beata was sent to a baby-house orphanage, and then to Chynadiyevskyy orphanage boarding school. After graduation she was lucky to find work at sewing factory for a small wage. However, she was unhappy there and wants to become a baker.
ServeNow Ukraine Summer Camps 2015 The two children below lived a normal family life in their home in Donetsk, attending school and working towards exciting futures that were full of possibilities and ambitions. But now, all these things have been destroyed through the civil war in Eastern Ukraine. They have had to leave everything behind them. All they have are clothes, their important documents, and a few basic necessities. They were torn away from their normal lives. Daniil (15) Sveta (14), Sveta and Daniil were so happy to attend this camp. Their parents cannot give them much, because even finding money for food is difficult. So they cannot afford holidays, clothes, or fun activities. Sveta and Daniil really enjoyed all of the games and made many new friends. Sveta especially loved mealtimes. After every meal, she would finish off any leftover food at her table and even took bread for later. They are very thankful for these nine days of happiness.
Nastya Kiev Nastya was born in prison to her mother, who was a drug addict. Today, her mother s whereabouts are unknown. Nastya has spent all of her life in different social centers and orphanages. Two years ago, she was adopted. But recently, her adoptive mother became very sick and could not take care of her anymore, so Nastya had to return to live in the orphanage. She is a very difficult child with a hardened heart. Sometimes Nastya can be quite angry. She is very distrusting and is always afraid that someone will abandon or disappoint her again. Being in this camp during such a difficult time in her life was a very big gift for Nastya. She learned how to spend time and make friends with other kids and adults. She truly was happy at the camp. This was the first time Nastya had enjoyed beautiful cabins, enough tasty food, fun activities, and sincere attention. The biggest change and gift for her was to meet some Christians who will be able to help her follow Jesus in the future. Yulia (15) Lugansk Yulia lives in a refugee camp. Finding a job and earning money is very difficult for her parents because discrimination against eastern Ukrainian refugees is common. Yulia witnessed and experienced many awful events in her hometown, which is a war-zone. She and all the people she knew had to flee their homes and leave their belongings behind them. At her young age, she already carries adult burdens. That is why this camp experience was such a big gift for her. Like many other kids at this camp, Yulia and her family are not Christian. However, the kids learned about, witnessed, and received God s love here, and they took it home to their families. She learned how to pray for her parents, their life problems, and their country.
Christmas 2016 Thirteen-year old Andrey (on the right) was one of the children to receive a gift. Previously, Andrey participated in ServeNow s awareness and skill building program called Step by Step. One of our staff members, Olga, had gotten to know Andrey through this program. She told us that Andrey usually seemed distant, tired, and not interested in participating in any activities. He comes from a very poor background, has to help out a lot around the house and therefore often misses classes. Imagine Andrey s surprise and joy when he was handed a Christmas gift box! In his box, he found a screwdriver, a hat, mittens and several other items. He was so excited and immediately wanted to try on everything! Needless to say, we received many thanks from the children in the Kherson region!
ServeNow USA Humanitarian Aid During the last calendar year two containers were sent to Ukraine, and one was sent to Uganda. The Ukrainian containers included winter clothes, wheel chairs, electric wheelchairs, medical equipment and furniture. The Uganda container included enough medical equipment to set up medical clinics in all eight schools that we are working with. These clinics will not only serve the school children but the surrounding villages as well. All these materials were donated to ServeNow. However, we provided the needed arrangements and the cost for the shipment as well as customs clearance. Scripture and the Basic Series The US office continues to provide all the New Testaments and booklets for the work of ServeNow around the world. New Testaments were provided in seven languages in India. Scripture booklets were printed in Uganda, Ukraine, Nepal, and India. Twelve of the booklets are now completed. A further 18 will be written in the next twelve moths to conclude the series. The individual impact has been outstanding and each church has been revitalized. Over 100,000 copies were printed and shared last year alone.
On behalf of all the worldwide staff of ServeNow, we would like to say a heartfelt Thank You! You have made it possible for all of us to meet needs, encourage people and provide hope for many thousands of people this past year, from those that lost everything in the earthquake in Nepal, to little children who heard about Jesus for the first time through The Story of Jesus. Your prayers and your gifts set an example of people who care and want to serve the Lord in a way that have resulted in a great harvest for His Kingdom. People without hope have seen their lives transformed! Thank you. We prayerfully ask you to consider a continuing partnership with the Lord and with us in this new year. Time is short and now is the time to serve the Lord to our capacity! Thank you and God bless you, Lars B. Dunberg International President Ben S. Foley Executive Vice President Please note our new address and phone number: 5225 N Academy Blvd. Suite 206, Colorado Springs, CO 80918 719.900.1800