AFCI World News

Shoe Boxes Distributed to Churches in Paraguay

Samaritan's Purse Canada sent 18,000 shoe boxes to distribute in Paraguay to reach out to children through churches across the nation.  Over 160 churches participated in the distribution, and many children made decisions for Christ.  Pablo Mora (AFCI Paraguay National Director) and his wife, Claduete, helped coordinate the effort with the churches.  They also took on the responsibility to work with the churches in establishing discipleship programs for the children who responded.

What a blessing it was to see how this partnership was used by God to touch the lives of so many children and their families. Now the follow-up work begins to train leaders in the churches how to better work with children and youth in a nation where close to 50% of all people are under the age of 24. 

New AFCI Nation in the Americas

BY: Paul Hanak, International Director

Pablo Mora was recently named as the National Director of Paraguay, AFCI’s newest nation to be added to the the America’s Region. Charlie Hanak, Regional Director, and I visited Pablo and Claduete in Paraguay during April and officially opened this new AFCI nation.

Pablo has a long history of ministry in Paraguay and has helped to plant 42 Methodist churches across the nation. Now he plans to reach out in an even wider training ministry to pastors and church leaders of many denominations.

One of the other members of this new team is Emi Monges, who has been conducting Focus on the Heart courses for women and has a 11 groups of women training women already in motion. Chris Hanak (left), author of the FOH materials, was recently in Paraguay to work with Emi (right) as she trains other leaders in the use of these courses.

Please pray for Pablo and his team as they begin this new ministry in Paraguay.

National Day of Prayer in USA (Thursday, May 2)

The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.

It exists to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer and to mobilize the Christian community to intercede for America’s leaders and its families. The Task Force represents a Judeo Christian expression of the national observance, based on our understanding that this country was birthed in prayer and in reverence for the God of the Bible.

Like Thanksgiving or Christmas, this day has become a national observance placed on all Hallmark calendars and observed annually across the nation and in Washington, D.C. Every year, local, state, and federal observances were held from sunrise in Maine to sunset in Hawaii, uniting Americans from all socio-economic, political and ethnic backgrounds in prayer for our nation. It is estimated that last year over two million people attended more than 30,000 observances – organized by approximately 40,000 volunteers. At state capitols, county court houses, on the steps of city halls, and in schools, businesses, churches and homes, people stopped their activities and gathered for prayer.

Evangelism in the Snow of Ukraine

BY: Wally Vasylovych, National Director

Last month we did three days of evangelism. Since the weather was real cold and it was difficult to travel, we cancelled our trip to another town and had evangelism ministry in our city. We combined visits with street evangelism and were amazed how effective it can be even now.

We went to city square with Bibles and other Christian literature, and also brought with us a hot tea. People appreciated hot drinks in cold weather, stopped and asked questions. After several hours we invited people to our church. That evening we served a charitable supper for poor people of the community. All people who came that evening were served good food and then spiritual food also during Bible Club.

Teaching Ministry in Sri Lanka

BY: Vincent Devadason, National Director

God enabled me to complete a teaching ministry on Spiritual Warfare at Colombo Theological Seminary in the first week of April 2013. It was a meaningful journey with the Lord in ministering to pastors and Christian workers. Students’ evaluation showed that they were greatly touched and encouraged by this course. I thank God for those who have been praying and upholding this ministry.

Upcoming Events in St. Vincent

BY: Veral Blake, National Director

We are involved in the training and development of Church Leaders not only on the island but also within the region. This year we have scheduled leadership seminars in 8 communities targeting Churches in those communities.

In May, we will be involved in a discipleship Training Program with YWAM on the island of Myreau. It is a biblically orientation program for candidates considering and actively participating in short-term missions.

In July and October, we will be engaged in Leadership Seminars in Dominica & St. Kitts. In Dominica, we were missionaries from 1975-1980. A number of Pastors on the island are products of our Leadership Programs held here in SVG in the 1980's - 1990's. Not only will this training be like a refresher for those Pastors who participated in our training but also an opportunity for training of new leaders on the island. Interesting enough, our son Al who is now senior pastor of Harvest bible Chapel here in St. Vincent was born while we served as missionaries in that country.

Al Blake (son) and Veral Blake (father)

The conference in St. Kitts will be a Caribbean Wide Congress which is bicentennial and organized by the Evangelical Association of the Caribbean of which Veral is an executive member and on the organizing team. This will be the 11th congress where Caribbean Christian Leaders gather together to examine the religious landscape and chart a course or plan strategy for the evangelization of the region.

Remote Ministry in Myanmar

BY: Jimmy Hla, National Director

Praise the Lord! We all had a very blessed time in a recent trip to a remote part of our nation.

God used us nightly to all of us in teaching, singing and preaching.

We had to travel for nearly 7 hours to reach our destination. It is a a very remote area where there is no tar road when we enter into the forest. By the grace of God we were all are so happy to meet with all the villagers and have 5 nights in Kyar Ni village with 4 days teachings.

Almost 85 percent of the people stood up and rededicated their lives for the Kingdom of God. Five people accepted Jesus Christ and were baptized. Then on April 17 in the afternoon we moved to Ingapu city and had two days and three nights preaching, teaching and singing ministry.

All were blessed by our messages. We arrived back on April 20 in the afternoon to our homes. Thank you so much for your prayer. God Bless!

Evangelism Events in Guadeloupe

BY: Raymond Johnson, National Director

During the month of March, we set up the AFCI tent again in the town of Basse Teere. During Easter week we held a crusade every night, and during the day we had visitation. We also distributed food and clothing to the poor.

We saw 58 new people came to know the lord, and many more were being restored. On a nightly basis we had four to five hundred people present. We ended the crusade on easer Sunday night in great rejoicing, and people are asking us to come back quickly. In the month of November, I started a mission work in that same area, and God is blessing in a big way; for that I praise Him.

Also, we had held a march for Jesus in Pointe a Pitre, the capitol city. Twenty churches participated and 2,500 people joined the march.  It was a great display of God’s people standing up for Christ.

A Bar becomes a Church in the Dominican Republic

BY: Brian Hamilton, National Director

Last month a team of 11 from Western Canada and Spain visited the Dominican Republic on a mission trip.  While there, we visited a young pastor (Jonny) of a church that was planted during the past two years.  Pastor Jonny had become concerned for a small community along the north shore because it was growing and it did not have a strong Christian witness.  He and his pastoral supervisor began to visit homes in the community with the view to planting a church there. 

One evening, they entered a home and realized it was a bar.  They started a conversation with a lady they met upon entering.  The lady immediately started crying and they told her that what she was sensing was the Holy Spirit touching her life.  That evening, they were able to lead her to faith in Jesus Christ.

Unexpectedly, after her confession of faith, she told the two pastors that she now had a dilemma.  She was the owner of the bar and she didn't know what she was going to do. Without hesitation, the senior pastor said, "How about we rent this building so we can turn this bar into a church?"  She instantly agreed and by faith they started a church.  This past year, a Christian group from Eastern Canada, after hearing this story, raised enough money to put up a new structure out of cement blocks for this new growing church to worship in.

Ministering to Youth in Sri Lanka

BY: Vincent Devadason, National Director

In the month of March, we had opportunities to minister to a group of young people in Sri Lanka. More than 70 young people gathered regardless of denominational backgrounds in the central province. The theme was “God has chosen you for His purpose.” This meeting proved a great blessing and many youngsters dedicated their lives to the call of God. It was an encouraging experience to us as well. Praise the Lord!