Reaching the Unreached Among the Displaced
World Refugee Day is an annual event celebrated on June 20th to recognise the plight of refugees worldwide. This day reminds us to pray for the struggles and challenges that refugees face, including displacement, persecution and lack of access to basic human rights.
In light of this, today we want to highlight the work of Harvesters among displaced people in Mozambique and Myanmar & Thailand, and invite you to join with us in prayer. Below you will find prayer points to guide you.
Reaching the Makua in Mozambique
In northern Mozambique, Islamic terrorist action has displaced an estimated 1 million people in the province of Cabo Delgado. Among them are the Makua people – the largest unreached people group of Mozambique, and a key focus group for evangelism. They have a population of 1.3 million but only 3% are Christian.
The Makua hold pagan beliefs and engage in ceremonial body scarring and nature worship. Many have converted to Islam due to the strong Muslim presence in the region.
Harvesters is one of the few ministries operating in this area. With your support we are providing training and tools to enable the Makua people to become pastors and plant churches in their communities.
It’s truly amazing to witness the resilience, focus and love for God that these people exhibit. They understand the risks, but they say, “If we die, we die. At least we died for something. Many people die for nothing.” Harvesters counts it as an absolute privilege to serve them.
The challenges of planting churches in such an environment cannot be overstated. People get decapitated, displaced, and homes are burned down simply because of their faith. But God’s presence and power are evident. Since 2018, over 312 churches have been planted in the region!
Now these church plants are absorbing and supporting internally displaced people, such as David, who had to flee his village due to the insurgency. David is now in training to become a pastor and feels called to go back to his community in the heart of the conflict to plant churches.
Reaching the Karen people in Thailand and Myanmar
The Karen people were the first ethnic group in Myanmar to embrace Christianity when it was introduced to the country in the 1800s. Despite their strong Christian faith, the Karen Christians are marginalized due to religious persecution from the Buddhist majority. As a result, over 50,000 Karen ‘stateless’ refugees or Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are living in camps along the Thai-Myanmar border.
Harvesters Ministries is committed to working with the Karen community, and recently had the privilege of meeting a group of Karen pastors residing in Thailand, who were eager to learn more about our saturation church-planting training.
We also had the opportunity to inspire 40 graduating Bible School students to plant multiple churches among the Karen people and beyond. Our work extends to the Kayin/Karen State in Myanmar, as well as the Tak province in Thailand where many Karen reside.
Prayer Points
- Pray for God to provide for the needs of the displaced Makua and Karen people who are so loved by Him. Pray for all refugees worldwide.
- Pray for the safety and protection of civilians in Cabo Delgado, where attacks are violent and brutal.
- Thank God for what He is doing in the midst of strife and struggle. With a violent and barbaric backdrop, He is drawing people to Himself. Praise God for over 300 churches planted in northern Mozambique.
- Pray for the Makua and Karen pastors, leaders and students who are committed to fulfil the Great Commission wherever they find themselves. Ask God to fill them afresh with His strength, passion, hope, resilience and love as they pour it out to the communities they serve.
- Pray for Harvesters Ministries as we operate in challenging areas, offering support, encouragement and training to pastors.
Sources
An Underground Revival in Asia
The people of this closed Asian nation experience more surveillance of their daily lives than anyone else on earth. It has been estimated that 54% of the world’s CCTV cameras are here. The government especially monitors any online activity related to Christianity and believers are suffering harassment and persecution.
Amazingly, despite these challenges, there is a revival happening! Thanks to the support of friends like you, Harvesters Ministries has planted 11,000 house churches over the last 3 years alone.
Operating Outside of Government Control
The rapidly expanding network of underground house churches operates outside of government control. The churches are considered illegal and local authorities conduct raids, make arrests and even imprison the pastors.
Furthermore, local friends informed us that two years ago the government introduced financial rewards to anyone who reported a house-church as a method of cracking down and dealing with the uncontrollable revival. It brought anxiety and distrust to the community of faith.
Overcoming Covid-19 Restrictions
Not only are believers watched wherever they go, but Covid-19 brought even more restrictions. Christians couldn’t gather and lost that all-important community which is necessary for encouragement and support in a persecuted country. It also meant that Harvesters’ training was paused.
But since December 2022, restrictions have relaxed, new Streams of church plants have started, and believers can once again gather to pray, study, worship and encourage one another. They have even begun planting churches in nearby countries!
A Growing Revival
One leader confessed that after Covid-19 he was worried many of the churches he hadn’t visited during the lockdowns would be closed. Instead, he found many of them are alive and well… and have new believers!
“It’s like a fishpond,” explained the pastor. “In the winter you can’t see a single fish, but when spring comes you see thousands of them.”
One prayer request he emphasised was for the financial rewards and reporting of house churches to stop. If they are reported, churches must close and pastors face prison. And once the government knows someone is a Christian pastor, not only do they suffer but their children – and their children’s children – will struggle even to get a job.
“But pastors are dedicated and have given their lives to the Lord,” he says.
He is thankful to believers like you who cover him in prayer as he ministers in the face of these challenges.
Our fellow brothers and sisters in Asia face many challenges, but their faith is strong and they continue to grow and thrive. Once local Christian summed it up best: “Nothing can stop real believers from gathering to worship.”
Pray for the “Dark Villages” of India
According to recent estimates, 2023 is the year that India became the world’s most populated country – overtaking China which has held the title since 1950. Amazingly, nearly half of Indians are under the age of 25. Only five percent are Christian.
This provides the Church with an incredible opportunity to reach more souls than ever before. Can we rise to the challenge?
God is moving powerfully in India through the generous support of our donors and the dedication of local believers – but we need your prayers more than ever before.
Intolerance for any religions apart from Hinduism is growing rapidly and persecution towards Christians is increasing. In the face of this, Indian pastors are fulfilling the mandate to evangelise, make disciples and plant churches. Please pray for them using the prayer points below.
Dark Villages: The Need for the Gospel is Great
One of the pastors we are working with in a particularly challenging region of India is Pastor S*. He leads a community of believers in a district that is home to 800,000 people. He shared with us that there are only 200 Christians in that district, and most of the villages have never heard the name of Jesus Christ.
When we met Pastor S*, he was leading a church of around 20 people. However, after being trained in Harvesters’ church planting model, he started evangelising and planting churches. One year later, he came back with the testimony of having planted two additional churches, with eight and seven people each.
As we travelled with him through the countryside, Pastor S pointed out countless “dark villages,” which he described as places where there is no Christian witness. The need for the Gospel is great in these areas, and we ask you to join us in praying for the people of these villages to come to know Jesus Christ.
Evangelising Barber: A Hub Leader’s Dedication to Sharing the Gospel
In another region of India, one of our Hub Leaders is a barber with a burning passion for sharing the Gospel. He sacrificially closes his barber shop on Tuesdays and Thursdays to go from village to village sharing the message of Christ.
In one fisherman’s village a man and his family accepted Christ after hearing the Good News. Immediately knowing the power of God, they called the leader to come and pray for a sick family member. They had exhausted every other means of help.
God miraculously healed the relative which led to the extended family also becoming devoted followers of Christ. We have had the privilege to meet some of these members at their church plant in the fishing village. Continue to keep them in your prayers.
Prayer Points
- Pray for the pastors and evangelists who are risking their lives to share the Gospel in these challenging environments. Pray for their protection and for the Holy Spirit to guide their words and actions.
- Pray for the people in the “dark villages” to hear the Gospel and to respond with open hearts to the message of salvation.
- Pray for more leaders like the barber, who are willing to go the extra mile to share the Gospel and make disciples in their communities.
- Pray for all who accept Christ across India as they are discipled in local church plants. Christian communities are extremely important for support and encouragement.
- Pray for Harvesters Ministries to have the resources we need to continue this vital work in India in the face of increasing persecution against Christians.
*Names withheld for security reasons
Newsletter – May 2023
Download your copy of the May 2023 newsletter below.
In this edition you will read how sharing the Gospel has been accelerated in DR Congo and Myanmar thanks to the provision of motorbikes. Now pastors can evangelise around six times as many villages in a day.
Plus, read an article about the importance of discipleship, and be inspired by the testimonies of disciple-makers who are putting God’s Great Commission into action.
Thank you again for your continued prayers and support as we strive to plant 1 million churches, train 1 million pastors and disciple 100 million new believers by 2030.
Download your UK newsletter – May 2023
Download your USA newsletter – May 2023
Download your South Africa English newsletter – May 2023
Download your South Africa Afrikaans newsletter – May 2023
Download your Dutch newsletter – May 2023
Pray Against Animism and Ancestral Worship
Spreading the Good News to every corner of the earth poses various challenges. Different regions present unique obstacles, from language barriers to cultural differences.
One major challenge we regularly encounter is animism and ancestral worship.
Over 150 million people spread across all continents practice some type of traditional animist religion. From the tribes of North America to the jungles of South America to the villages of Africa and Asia, many share this common barrier to the Gospel.
What is Animism?
Animism is a belief that attributes a soul to plants, creatures or inanimate objects, and involves worshiping nature and ancestral spirits.
For instance, South America tribal communities see the rainforest as the home of spiritual life – with every flower, plant and animal containing its own spirit.
The traditions of animism and ancestor worship are often regarded as things of the past, but in reality, the age-old beliefs of ancestors, spirits, and communication with the dead still hold many people across the globe in great bondage.
These people are loved by God, created in His image, and He wants them to return to Him.
A Spirit of Fear
All ancestor worshippers, animists and tribal religions view spirits as the utmost power of the world. Spirits may be those generated by the earth or those who have passed from this life, but they are believed to have dominion over people, bringing either blessings or curses.
There is an extreme and unrealistic fear that the spirits or gods must be appeased and not offended – holding followers trapped in terror.
From Witchdoctor to Jesus Worshipper
Brother Banda, formerly a witch doctor or shaman in Zambia for 32 years, instilled fear into all who encountered him, including other witch doctors. As the chairman of witch doctors in his province and on the national disciplinary committee, no other witch doctors could operate in the area without his approval.
Local Pastor Thembo, who was trained by Harvesters in evangelism strategies, ministered to Brother Banda, teaching him the Word of God until he finally burned all his charms and left his old life behind.
Shortly after, Brother Banda became seriously ill and lost the ability to walk. Although multiple tests showed nothing wrong with him, Pastor Thembo recognised the battle was spiritual and prayed without ceasing.
Eventually, Brother Banda was fully delivered by the power of the Lord Jesus and recovered, as reported by Pastor Thembo. His healing became a powerful testimony, revealing to Brother Banda, who had previously made his living creating spiritual medicines, that there is only one Healer – Jesus Christ. After years of false beliefs and spirit worship, his eyes are open to the truth.
Prayer Points
- Pray for the work of Harvesters Ministries among cultures practising animism and ancestral worship on every continent.
- Pray for the hearts of people following these traditional belief systems – that they would be open to the Gospel.
- Pray for fear to be shattered and replaced with the peace and freedom of Christ.
- Pray for more testimonies like that of Brother Banda. Pray that his life will be a living witness to other witch doctors in Zambia.
Sources
A Tale of Two Churches
Currently, Harvesters is planting 100 new churches every day! An amazing feat made possible thanks to supporters like you.
Our church-planting methodology teaches local pastors to search for unreached neighbourhoods and start evangelising there. For every church planted through evangelism, Harvesters trains a pastor to lead and disciple the congregation.
Each church plant has a unique story and unique challenges to overcome, and below we highlight two of the churches that have been planted this year. One of them is located in a persecuted nation that is hostile to the Gospel, while the other serves a remote and isolated community high up in the hills of Kenya.
Church Planted in a Bar
In one region where Harvesters is working, a church was recently planted in a bar. This nation, which will not be named for security reasons, has a 97% Muslim population and is hostile towards the Christian faith.
In fact, the pastor who planted the church explained, “if a day goes by without being persecuted, we praise God. For us it’s an everyday occurrence. People here don’t understand being Christians without persecution.”
So, planting the church in a public place was a big risk.
At first, he was hesitant to plant a church in a bar. But his father, also a church planter who has sadly passed away recently, was excited by the opportunity to preach to the sinners there. “I call this my father’s last assignment of church planting,” the pastor says.
The first Sunday service was a miracle from God, as around ten villagers joined the meeting to learn about Jesus. However, not everyone was welcoming of the new church. Angry locals threatened to burn down the bar and harm the people inside.
The owner of the bar, who had generously offered the location for the new church, phoned the pastor, worried that his bar was going to be destroyed.
So, the pastor and his family began to pray, and God scattered the angry crowd. “No one came close to that bar,” says the pastor.
The church was able to continue meeting and is still thriving today. This story is a testament to the power of the gospel in the face of persecution. Despite the risks, the pastor had faith in God’s protection and was able to plant a church in an unlikely location.
Church Planted in a Field
In Kiandege, a remote village in Kenya, a new church has been planted in a field. One of the first members generously offered a corner of his hillside farmland for the church gatherings.
Bishop Paul Oyagi, the Stream Leader in the region, explained the process. “This [church] is a result [of] our teachings. We started praying for God to direct us and we came and surveyed the area. We [met with the owner of the land], the indigenous people and we did some evangelism and house meetings.”
Kiandege Church will be led by a pastor that has been trained and equipped by Harvesters.
Ps Dylan Agoye, Harvesters’ Country Leader for Kenya, visited the church within the first two weeks of it being planted. “We’ve come so many kilometres to be able to get to this place,” he said of its remote location. “Praise be to God that a church has been planted here and many souls are going to come to Christ. We praise God and we glorify Him in Jesus’ name.”
These stories provide a glimpse into what is happening around the world every day. Thanks to your support, the Kingdom is expanding.
Watch the Videos
Opening the Way for Christ in Western Europe
Thanks to the unwavering support of our donors, Harvesters Ministries is now expanding our ministry to Western Europe.
Sadly, despite being the birthplace of Protestant Christianity, Western Europe has witnessed a decline in religious affiliation and practice over the years. A recent study by the Pew Research Centre revealed that many Europeans now identify as agnostic or atheist, while the number of people identifying as Muslim is increasing.
However, our mission is to bring Western Europe back to Christ.
The Way Forward – Disciple-Making
“Churches are saying, ‘We need something new’,” explains Ian Stanton, Harvesters’ Regional Director for Western Europe. “And I believe that disciple-making is the way forward.
With this in mind, Harvesters is supporting churches in the region with evangelism and discipleship training.We are currently forming connections in several Western European countries, including the Netherlands, the UK, Spain, Belgium, France, Germany, Portugal and Scandinavia.
In fact, in April we will be presenting Harvesters vision and methodology to church planters in Spain so please pray for that.
We have also released a new version of our Disciple Makers course that has already been successful in the UK. It teaches biblical tools and principals for discipleship, evangelism and church planting which Harvesters has been implementing around the world for almost 25 years.
Our Work Among International Students
Younger generations in Western Europe are known for their liberal views, which have led them to reject many of the traditional moral stances held by the Church. While it may seem like Jesus is accepted within this ‘anything goes’ culture, many are unwilling to accept God at the cost of everything else.
Harvesters Ministries aims to change this narrative.
We are working among international students in various universities in the Netherlands. Our vision is to disciple these students, who will return home and introduce Jesus to their friends and families. We believe that this strategy will help to saturate Europe with the Gospel.
Join us in Prayer
As we embark on this mission to bring Western Europe back to Christ, we invite you to pray with us.
- Pray for strength and guidance for Ian Stanton, Harvesters’ Regional Director for Western Europe, as he works in the region. Ask God to provide the right connections.
- Pray for church leaders as they equip their congregations with Harvesters’ materials for evangelism and discipleship.
- Pray for our upcoming envisioning visit to Spain and for more pastors to get involved.
- Pray that the hearts of people in Western Europe will be open to the Good News of Jesus.
- Pray for our work among international students. Pray that they will choose Jesus at the cost of all else and passionately introduce Him to their friends.
Watch the Video
Meet the Women Planting Churches
This International Women’s Day we want to take a moment to recognise and celebrate the powerful impact that women church planters are having around the world. They are deeply committed to their calling, and we are honoured to share their stories with you. Plus, scroll down for a video.
Meet Matuso
Matuso Nyane planted a church in the mountains of Lesotho using Harvesters’ methodology. Partaking in the training has helped Matuso to evangelise more effectively, know the Word more deeply and disciple others more intentionally. “It has equipped me with the knowledge I didn’t have before,” she explains. “I am now able to plant many churches through the Harvesters programme. I hope this will help many people come to know God.”
Every Sunday she undertakes the 3-hour, uphill walk to her church. Although it is tiring, she is determined to “reach the unreached with the Word of God” she explains. You see, she is the only one reaching those people, because Harvesters trains students to go where there is no church and plant one through evangelism.
Matuso is passionate about teaching God’s Truth because people in her neighbourhood are caught in bondage to false gods. “They are being tortured” she says, because they don’t know the freedom that comes with Jesus. But “the Word of God is helping them to be free from the bondages. So, I’d like to thank the Harvesters programme very much.”
Meet Catarena
When Ps Catarena Caetano accepted Jesus in 1991, “I had a dream telling me to plant a church,” she explains. “I began to pray. Then I joined with four other people, and we began to pray and pray.”
Catarena was delighted to learn about Harvesters and began the training. In 2018, her dream was realised when she planted a church in her city of Beira, Mozambique.
“Harvesters’ training is helping me,” she says. “Now we have 53 people here. I’m so happy to see those 53 people at church! But I won’t stop here. May God give me more strength to continue planting churches.”
Meet Honorine
Ps Honorine from Kenya was introduced to Harvesters by her bishop who recognised her potential and invited her to do the training. One day, when examining a local map of unreached communities to go to evangelise, Honorine had one place on her heart.
“Bishop saw that I could do God’s work very well,” said Honorine. “We did door-to-door evangelism, and it was successful.” During the three-month long evangelising and fellowshipping stage of the church plant, Honorine had no idea that her bishop had chosen her to lead this new church.
“During the church launch, I was busy preparing food, and I was called,” she explains. “I needed to be prayed for and be anointed to become the pastor.”
She was surprised, but her Harvesters training had prepared her well. “Harvesters teachings has really given me a lot of courage and strength,” said Honorine. “I’ve been so strengthened in God’s work and as I stand, I stand with courage.”
Meet Ruth
Ruth Kabwe from the Democratic Republic of Congo has always loved studying and sharing God’s Word. She learned a lot at home from her husband who has two theology diplomas. Since becoming a student of Harvesters, she is learning more than ever before. “My husband taught me basics,” she explained. “But now I can see there are a lot more details.”
Ruth planted her church through evangelism. “Each morning I go out to make disciples,” she said. “When I’m doing it, I’m rejoicing. I meet different people and teach them. I explain to them what we learn here at Harvesters. Thank God for giving me these teachings.”
Thank you for your continued support of Harvesters Ministries and for helping us empower women like Matuso, Catarena, Honorine and Ruth to bring hope to communities in need.
Watch the Video
Pray With Us: Islamic Extremism
Islamic extremism has become a major problem in many countries in Africa, including Mali and Mozambique where Harvesters has active church planting Streams. Terrorist groups are wreaking havoc on civilians, buildings, and infrastructure and we must pray for our fellow believers.
As governments struggle to contain the insurgencies – and as cycles of poverty, unemployment, and disillusionment breed hopelessness – Harvesters sees a unique solution: church planting.
The Fight for the Faith in Mali
In Mali, which is 90% Muslim and around 2% Christian, Islamic extremists want the country to abide by stricter Muslim laws and are pressing their agenda through violence. The conflict has been terrorising locals for ten years.
“These enemies (jihadists) attack people, taking their property by force. They go village to village forcing people to follow their ways,” says Malian Pastor Andy*. “They don’t want people to follow other paths and other teachings different from theirs.”
Of course, this presents a significant evangelism problem for pastors in Mali, but they press on. Pastor Andy expressed how useful Harvesters’ Heart of Man tool has been for sharing the faith. “The teaching that Harvesters has given us helps us bring people to Christ,” he said.
Recently, they revisited a village called Mena. Although they had evangelised in Mena before, they went back after learning from Harvesters because they realised “we had believers but not disciples.”
And it’s disciples of Christ that are needed to counter the extremism narrative in Mali, bring Christ’s peace to the community, and serve the affected.
The ISIS Crisis in Northern Mozambique
Similarly, in Mozambique’s northernmost province an Islamic State-affiliated terrorist group has been disrupting the peace since 2017. Sadly though, their attacks are particularly violent and shocking. The innocent people of Cabo Delgado have suffered a five-year rampage of beheadings, mass murders, bombings, and symbolic crucifixions. It’s estimated that a million people are displaced.
Harvesters has been active in this region since 2018 and, in the midst of the chaos, we’ve seen God moving powerfully. Amazingly, 312 new churches have been planted – many of which are absorbing and supporting the exiled.
Furthermore, we are seeing leaders rising up with passionate hearts to go into the danger zones. One man is David, who fled from the area when militants came to his village. He is currently being trained by Harvesters in Nampula to be a pastor so he can go back and plant churches in Cabo Delgado.
Then there’s Pastor Maque who lives down in central Mozambique but originates from the north. He’s planted 15 churches in Beria and now feels God’s calling to move to Cabo Delgado. His heart aches for the disenfranchised youths whose lives are on a path to total destruction. “They don’t need more police and prisons,” he tells us. “They need pastors.”
Prayer Points
We want to thank you for being a prayer partner of Harvesters and praying with us against these evil attacks. Here are some prayer points for you and your church.
- Pray for the safety and protection of civilians in Mali and Mozambique who are affected by Islamic extremism. Ask God to guide governments and leaders as they work to contain the insurgencies and restore peace.
- Thank the Lord for building His church and for raising determined leaders like David and Ps Maque who are willing to serve and evangelise in dangerous places.
- Local churches in Mali and Mozambique are supporting those displaced because of the conflict. Pray for their physical and spiritual needs to be met. Pray that the militants will lose control over territories they have claimed so people can soon return home.
- Pray for Christians in Mali and elsewhere as they face violent oppression to sharing the Good News. Pray that God will provide opportunities and wisdom.
- Pray for the success of Harvesters’ church planting efforts in Mali and Mozambique, and for the growth and development of new believers and disciples.
*Names changed for protection
Watch the Video
Newsletter – February 2023
Here you can download a copy of the February newsletter from Harvesters Ministries.
Inside you will be inspired by the powerful testimony of church planter, Pastor Maque, who goes where no one else will go to bring the Gospel to the broken and lost.
We are also thrilled to report that we have recently received a royal welcome as we expand our ministry into a new country. Plus, local pastors in Vietnam have a renewed vision to reach the Hill Tribes.
Download the USA newsletter – Feb 2023
Download the UK newsletter – Feb 2023
Download the South African English and international newsletter – Feb 2023
Download the Afrikaans newsletter – Feb 2023
Download the Dutch newsletter – Feb 2023
Thank you for all your continued prayers and support. We are grateful for your partnership and pray that the Lord will bless you in all that you do.
Pray with Us: Middle East & North Africa
Thanks to your support, Harvesters is pioneering work in the Middle East and North Africa – collectively abbreviated to ‘MENA’. We are reaching those who have never been reached!
In the majority of nations in this region, Christians are treated like second class citizens and suffer persecution at work, in their families and the community. Every aspect of life is affected when they choose to follow Christ.
So, it’s important that we lift up our brothers and sisters in prayer as they face daily battles. Pray with us using the below prayer points as a guide.
God’s Fire within Committed Hearts
Despite all the obvious difficulties, God is never restricted or worried! He is moving powerfully in the lives of believers who know the joy of the Holy Spirit.
For example, the community of Christians in one North African nation has a joint vision to see 1 million souls won, and Harvesters’ task is to train 1,000 pastors over time to help accomplish this. Just imagine how many churches will be planted!
For the protection of the workers and disciples in this region, there are many stories we cannot openly share. But let us tell you about one enthusiastic youth named Essam* in his late twenties.
Essam’s Story
Essam’s pastor started discipleship and evangelism training with Harvesters before the pandemic. And although the restrictions halted the training, the pastor continued teaching the principals to the young people, including Essam, in his church.
“The youth are so enthusiastic to live their lives only for Christ, and to tell others about the enjoyment of a new life in Jesus.” came the report from the Harvesters Licensed Trainer who delivered the recent training.
Now the training has resumed, Essam’s pastor sent him along. Essam’s “enthusiasm was so evident” the Licensed Trainer said. In fact, Essam “tried with all his might to persuade the other attendants to apply Harvesters’ Model to plant churches.”
Isn’t it encouraging to hear reports like this! From a region where it’s such a personal risk to openly accept Christ as Lord and Saviour. This young man is passionate for his nation to know Jesus.
And we dream with him of reclaiming ground for God’s Kingdom across the Middle East and North Africa!
*Name changed for protection
Pray with us
- Due to intense persecution in some of the countries where we work, it is often safer to meet with local leaders for mentorship and training outside of their nations. Of course, this presents travel and financial challenges so please pray for God’s provision and protection.
- Please pray that the Name above every name will be known far and wide across all the corners of MENA! Pray for the Vision to see 1 million souls saved.
- Thank the Lord for the believers who are passionately sharing Christ. Pray for boldness and a ready harvest field. Pray for wisdom too as evangelising is often punished.
- Cover each Christian man, woman, youth and child in the Middle East and North Africa in prayer. That they would know God’s favour surrounding them as a shield.
Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favour as with a shield. Psalm 5:12
17,000 Bibles for Zambia!
Harvesters’ ‘First Church, First Bible’ partnership project with Biblica is underway! In October 2022 we were able to deliver 17,000 Luvale and English Bibles to Zambia. The pastors of each church gathered data about the translations they needed, and, thanks to your support, Harvesters was able to deliver them.
Read some powerful testimonies below from those who received their very first Bible. Plus, watch the video from the trip.
What is the Need?
The need for Bibles is huge! There are few and expensive Bibles in developing countries, and translations are often unavailable.
Holly Kawele from Chinwandumba church explained, “Many people don’t have Bibles because it’s too expensive to buy one. Other churches offer to gift Bibles, but it’s only Harvesters that has come. We are so thankful.”
Another church member, Justin, had been fortunate to own a Bible previously. “But my children tore it,” he told us. “I didn’t have the money to replace it because it was too expensive for me.”
Previously Just One Bible Per Church
In most cases, there would be one person in a church who had a Bible – usually the pastor. Time after time, the story was the same: the Sunday sermon was the only opportunity for people to know anything about what God’s Word says.
As we distributed Bibles to a remote congregation on the Zambia-Angola border, one member there, Charles Musumali, explained that the people would take that weekly opportunity to learn as much about God as they could. “Some were writing chapters and verses in their books; others were just getting the Word into their mind and hearts.”
Pastor Gershom Sakuwota, who has planted 5 churches and is training 5 student pastors, was overjoyed to receive Bibles for his churches. “I am really happy for my congregation because previously they were suffering,” he said. “The people were only listening to me. Now they can go through and read the Bible to get more knowledge.”
God’s Word in Action
John Leach trains pastors in Chavuma, in the northwest of Zambia, where over 90 churches have been planted. “We’re totally appreciative of the Bible placement,” he said. “The people have got so excited some of them even roll on the ground they’re so excited! We look forward to many, many souls being saved as these folk use the Word of God as a tool for evangelising and training and equipping disciples and church planting.”
Now that members of over 100 churches in Zambia have access to the Word of God, they can grow deeper in their relationship with the Lord. “It will help us to transform our mind into the mind of God,” said Felistus Njobvu, a student pastor of Harvesters.
Furthermore, these disciples can become disciple-makers, just as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:19 when he said, “Go and make disciples…”
“When I increase in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ through the Word of God, then automatically I will help others,” explains Pastor Given Ndumba from Monzé.
And Pastor David will equip his congregation “to minister to people who don’t have the way,” he told us. “Having the Bibles now is an advantage because it will help us explain, not from our mouths but from the Written Word.”
Nurse Joshua Kasoka is excited to share God’s Word with the patients he attends to in Chavuma. And Offre Chitale, a choir leader at his church, is thankful to have a Bible of his own to help him compose songs for worship.
“Come next year,” said Pastor Davy Chinyundu, “And you’ll find there’s church growth through the Bibles that you have distributed.”
Watch the Video of the Trip
Pray with Us: Native Americans and First Nations
We invite you to pray with us as Harvesters opens the way among Native American and First Nation tribes in the USA and Canada. You will find some prayer points below.
Where it all Began
As Harvesters is already training pastors in nearly 70 countries and in over 50 languages, we examined how our programme could be brought to North America. We asked God, “Where are you working?” and He led us to Native people groups.
There are about 570 registered Native American tribes with a population of 5.5 million in the USA, and about 1.7 million First Nations in Canada. Across both countries it is estimated that they are less than 5% reached with the Gospel.
But the Lord is kindling some flames and we are prayerfully following His lead.
Opportunities to Follow
In August we had the amazing opportunity to spend time at the 75th Indian Falls Creek Conference in Oklahoma. A gathering of around 2,100 Native American Christians. The five days were filled by celebrating rich and deep traditions such as making Fry Bread and listening to Pawnee songs and Kiowa prayers.
Many pastors and leaders expressed great interest in Harvesters’ training. Presently, in Oklahoma alone there are about 350 Native American churches and only about a third have pastors – many of whom are bi-vocational and have not had the opportunity for any formal training. Also, some older pastors sadly passed away due to Covid.
Furthermore, several feel overlooked and isolated. One Native American associate pastor, Geoffrey Cote, explained to us that since coming into ministry he has noticed many mission organisations leave the USA to reach the unreached. Meanwhile, there is a rich population of Native tribes right on their doorstep. “It seems like we are forgotten,” he said, “And the conclusion is we’re not forgotten. God remembers us.”
Pastor Gary Hawkins, the Executive Director of Fellowship of Native American Christians, sees that Harvesters’ training can provide many benefits. “To see new, healthy church plants,” he explained, “We need effective evangelism, discipleship and leadership development that is contextually relevant while remaining doctrinally sound.”
Challenges to Overcome
A number of leaders explained that presenting Jesus to their communities can be difficult. Some Natives dislike Christianity because of a fraught history between the tribes and European Christian groups. Past missionaries’ attempts to alter or remove aspects of Natives’ heritage and culture has left many unable to reconcile with Christianity.
Pastor Gary told us, “A lot of people believe that to become Christian, you’re selling out your people, you’re losing your identity. It used to be that when the Native would go to church they’d wonder, ‘How will the church accept me?’ Today the question is, ‘How will my people, how would my tribe, how would my family accept me for being a Christian?’ Those are some big issues for our Native people.”
There has been suffering, but in many cases that suffering has brought about a hunger for God. You see strong churches, small but strong, with passionate missionary endeavours to their own people.
The embers are already burning, and we are excited to see God fan a flame among the Native tribes!
Prayer Points for You and Your Church
- Join us in our prayer to find 12 key connections from Native people groups by 2024. Please pray that we hear The Lord well, know where He is at work and join Him with courageous faith!
- Pray for opportunities to present Harvesters among the Native communities, and for a three-day Harvesters’ Kick Off conference scheduled for Spring 2023.
- Let’s pray for Christ’s peace and reconciliation to be established so these communities can come to know Jesus. Pray that the one true Gospel will be adopted and not diluted with other religious beliefs.
- Pray that the next great revival for North America will come through this seed that we plant among Native peoples. That God would use Harvesters as a catalyst for another great awakening in North America.
All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name. Psalm 86:9
What It Takes to Be a Christian in India
Take a moment and put yourself into the shoes of someone trying to be a Christian in India…
…Where the Hindu religion dominates all aspects of society and culture.
…Where there are shines and idols everywhere you look.
…Where the scent of sacrifices is unavoidable.
Furthermore, persecution is intensifying towards Christians. Extremist Hindus want to rid India of the presence and influence of believers, and there is a growing ideology that to be a true Indian you must be Hindu.
Another challenge are the anti-conversion laws, which are theoretically in place to protect Indians against forced conversions but are notoriously weaponised against those who have genuinely chosen to follow another faith.
Although India is well known for its vibrancy and colour, spiritually it feels like a dark place.
And yet, there are believers faithfully following Christ, shining like candlelight in the night wherever they go.
Let us share one such story with you…
Daily Wage Workers Are Overcoming
Pastor S* works among daily-wage workers in India. Daily wage workers are usually a family’s primary earner, but they earn far below the prescribed minimum wage. Forced to survive day-to-day on the cash they receive, life is difficult – and in fact, one in four suicides reported in 2021 was a daily-wage worker.
Christ is the only answer to their hopelessness, and Pastor S* risks his own life to share the Gospel with them. As new believers come to Christ, Pastor S equips them to evangelise to their fellow workers using Harvesters’ tools and training.
Because of the anti-conversion laws, each new believer must get an official stamp on a statement that says no one coerced them. It states they were not paid or forced or manipulated or bribed to accept Jesus. It’s a vital document that protects the individual and their pastor. Particularly when they want to be baptised because it’s such a public declaration of their faith.
To get that stamp, they must wait at the police station for an officer to deal with their request. However, they are often ignored! And for each day they wait, they lose those precious daily wages. Yet they come again the next day to the police station… and the day after that because Jesus is so important to them.
God is At Work
Giving in and returning to work is not an option because once the police know who the Christians are, they turn up and arrest those trying to be baptised without an authorised document.
It’s only once they receive that stamp that they can safely be baptised.
Despite all this, Pastor S has planted four house churches and is training four student pastors. And he recently reported wonderful news… “Through those churches,” he said, “we’ve just baptised 16 new believers.”
Sixteen new believers from the daily-wage community! Hallelujah. God is at work. They will now be discipled in churches planted by Pastor S* and his student pastors. Thank you for your support to help grow the Kingdom in India.
Watch the Video
Sources
*Name withheld for protection
A New Partnership with Biblica
We are overjoyed to share the news that Biblica, formerly known as the International Bible Society, has pledged to provide Bibles for new churches planted by Harvesters Ministries!
In fact, Biblica has designated Harvesters as its number one recipient of Bibles – for every country where we are working, and in every translation available.
Isn’t that amazing! God is so good.
Alan White, Biblica’s Senior Leader in Global Partnerships, shared:
“Harvesters are part of the Biblica family. I say without reservation with all the people that we work with around the world you are probably, if not the best, one of the best church planting movements we have encountered. We are delighted and privileged to be working with Harvesters.”
Watch the video announcement
God has Provided
We really feel God’s hand in this, because one of Harvesters’ main objectives has always been to provide Bibles for believers, and this partnership will enable that to happen on a much greater scale.
So, together with Biblica, we are launching the “First Church, First Bible” project which will roll out globally over the coming months.
This partnership will open the way to provide a Bible for every family being discipled in newly planted churches, in a language that is best accessible.
In fact, 17,000 Bibles have already gone to Zambia, and 10,000 will soon head to the depths of the Amazon!
The Impact
Late last year, Biblica sent nearly 10,000 Portuguese and Shona Bibles to Harvesters’ church plants in Mozambique. Ten months later, some pastors share the impact…
Pray with Us
Join with us in praising the Lord for this partnership, and together let’s lay the foundations for this major project in prayer. Thank you.
Some prayer points for you and your church:
- Thank the Lord for this abundant provision of His Word.
- Pray for the practicalities of storage and distribution efforts and costings.
- Pray for each person who will receive a Bible. That it will deepen their relationship with their Saviour and set them on fire to share the Gospel.
Newsletter – November 2022
We are delighted to share your November newsletter with you.
As 2022 comes to a close, take a look back with us at some of the ways your support has made a difference this year. Plus, read about our recent visit to Guatemala and pray with us for an unreached village in Myanmar.
Thank you for all your prayers and support to see the World reached for Christ! It really does make a difference in lives and communities.
Continue to pray with us as we press on with our goal of planting 1 million viable churches by 2030.
Download your UK newsletter – Nov 22
Download your USA newsletter – Nov 22
Download your Afrikaans newsletter – Nov 2022
Download your South African and International newsletter – Nov 22
Download your Dutch newsletter – Nov 22
