April 2008

The Balkans - EMM workers in the Balkans share this recent story. “A woman named Fatbardha had made a commitment in the early years of our ministry here. Busyness with work and issues with her family have kept Fatbardha from having a walk with the Lord in recent years. We do not always understand what God is doing in her life. Even though we do not see her in the church pew, there are signs that He is active.

“The other weekend, after a long tiring day out in the village, we arrived back home. We really needed a walk after sitting most the day. We were only thinking of getting some fresh air and stretching our muscles, but God had another appointment for us.

“While walking, we met Fatbardha and her husband waiting for a ride to the hospital on the side walk. She was very ill, and needed some medical attention. We prayed for her, and then she went on to the hospital. A week later when I walked into her work place, with other customers around, she told me with an exuberant voice that she was healed. She expressed appreciation to the Lord and thanked us for our prayers. We were reminded to always be ready to share about the Lord no matter where we are. He still brings divine appointments in our lives.”

The Balkans - Sara Hess writes for the five-member Balkans YES team: “One of the relationships I am most excited about here is with our language teacher. She is a young beautiful mother who comes to our home five days a week to tutor us. This week during language study we began to talk a little bit about the war that took place here nine years ago. I asked her a personal question about what her family did during the war. For the next half an hour I sat there listening. With tears in her eyes and a shaky voice she told her story. It was one full of bombs, hiding, crowded ships, and terror. Finally she put her head in her hands crying. When she looked up again she simply said, ‘You cannot imagine.’ I sat there speechless. All I could say was ‘No, I cannot.’”

“Her story was so incredible. I wanted to pray for her, or give her some comforting words, but I knew I could not possibly understand her pain. And her story is just one. The market, the stores, the coffee shops are all packed with similar stories. Hatred, unforgiveness, and revenge are very real spiritual strongholds here. Although I’ve not experienced the trauma they have, I know good news about the grace to forgive – something most people here have never heard of nor experienced.”


March 2008

YNYSYBWL, WALES - In Ynysybwl, Wales, EMM worker Alan Wert recently went to a meeting regarding the new youth club which is starting in the village. People from five different churches and ministries were present, all wanting to work together to see youth coming to Christ and being discipled.

Pastor Clive Rich, a part-time minister at the local Baptist church, shared a story about when he first got involved with ministry in Ynysybwl. A large church in the south of England asked how they might be able to resource him and to help him in his work.

Clive told them, “I would love to have four or five Christian families move into the village to be shining lights for Jesus. To demonstrate and live out their faith in a practical, relevant, day-to-day way.”

The large church quickly responded, “We can’t do that.” They were prepared to give money and literature and other resources from a distance, but no one in the congregation was willing to re-locate to the desolate Welsh valleys.

Clive looked around the room and said, “Tonight I see that God is answering my prayer.” Represented in the meeting were at least four Christian families who now live in Ynysybwl, including Welsh, American, South African, and English. One family is an American/English missionary couple that recently moved into the village. Another family is a Welsh/South African couple who recently became Christians.

Isn’t it wonderful that Jesus came to earth and lived in an ordinary village – like Ynysybwl? He didn’t just send “resources.” He came and laid down his life. And we are called to follow in his steps.


September 2007

YNYSYBWL, WALES, Carol Wert writes,

“On an unsettled Saturday in May, ten women gathered in the forest outside Ynysybwl for a silent retreat. Most of them had never done such a thing before. Some would call themselves Christians and consider faith an important part of their lives; others just wanted a few hours of peace and quiet, away from the daily pressures of life.

“When the fire was stoked and the baked potatoes tucked safely inside the old cook stove, we settled around the table, drinking tea and coffee, and munching on my home-baked muffins. I shared briefly about why we need rest and silence in our lives, using the biblical creation story as one example. God rested. He made free time sacred, holy. The Jewish people took this space and called it Sabbath, adding all kinds of restrictions. The Christian church called it Sunday, and also added restrictions. Yet the sense of sacred space, of refreshing rest and peace, was often lost.

“We took the next two hours in silence. Some women walked in the forest, others sat by the warm stove reading or reflecting. We broke the silence with a prayer, a meal together, and some sharing of our experiences.

“The idea of providing an atmosphere that is conducive for God to speak into women’s lives has been on my heart for over a year. And although everyone seemed to enjoy the day, I wasn’t sure what effect it really had on people. Then I got an email from one of the participants.

“She wrote, ‘Just wanted to let you know that in the days since [the retreat] I have found a faith re-awakened that has not been with me probably since childhood/early teens. I have actually talked to God – still with a sense of trepidation as [it] is still a huge move on for me. I have in myself and at work felt a new sense of balance, of being simply more centered and calm. I have been a lot more forgiving of others when I may have previously just gotten frustrated and cross at things not moving fast enough. Still have to move things on, but now feel able to do this with less anger and stress than before. It has had such an impact on me I went back to the waterfall this Saturday. Did an hour’s silence and talked to God again.”

THE BALKANS - The EMM team has been working to establish a milk collection center. They report,

“It is exciting to see the project taking shape. We’ve focused on this business option because agriculture is the basis of the economy here and there is good potential for success. Thousands of liters of milk, which could be produced locally, are imported every day.

“We hope this business venture will allow us to model transparent, honest business practices, help local farmers improve livelihood by paying premium prices for good quality milk, and provide ongoing training and a vehicle for sustainable local economic improvement. We are proceeding with the certainty that God has called us to do this work despite the uncertainty of the future here – and the potential for violence if the international community continues to delay a decision on this country’s future as an independent state.”


August 2007

UZBEKISTAN - Workers with Eastern Mennonite Missions in Central Asia request prayer for the church in Uzbekistan. Though none of our workers are in that country, the workers hear what’s happening there. They say,

“The situation continues to deteriorate. Some bigger churches that had official registration were shut down, and many believers have to meet in houses now. The problem is that it is illegal to meet in houses according to their laws. It is also now not legal to have more than one Bible per household and no other religious material is permitted. We heard of some 30 students who were kicked out from their universities because of their faith, and the secret police is more openly watching the believers. One local pastor was put in prison and another one was severely beaten on the street. But, despite of all this the church is growing and believers whom we know personally are taking great risks to advance his kingdom amidst growing persecution.


May 2007

LITHUANIA – After a recent conference the young adults were hanging out in a restaurant sharing highlights. Barry Freed said,

“When I told the group I enjoyed the opportunity of seeing people from all over the country, they began teasing me about the large number of people I know. Just then a restaurant employee dressed like a clown came to our table and said, ‘I know you!’ I wasn’t sure who he was under all that make-up, but he quickly revealed that he was a clerk from a store in Panevežys, the city where I live. The group enjoyed the joke that I even knew a clown in a restaurant 250 kilometers from home. Truly many wonderful and unusual friendships have opened up for me here.

“On another subject, recently the church elders asked me to consider giving special attention to several troubled families in our congregation. At first, I had a bad attitude, thinking, ‘Why should the missionaries help people with problems? Where’s the rest of the body of Christ?’ Then I realized that part of what I bring is demonstrating Christian community to people who didn’t learn it from their own family or community. So, I am accepting the challenge. Please pray for me in this new role.”


April 2007

WALES - Far from the majority-Muslim country of Indonesia, Alan and Carol Wert and their family live in Ynysybwl, Wales. Carol tells this story of a recent happening in their Welsh neighborhood.

“Suihar, her husband, and two-year-old daughter moved into what they thought would be a quiet street in Ynysybwl. Several mornings later, Suihar woke to the sound of breaking glass. She thought something had fallen off the kitchen table, but as she descended the stairs to check things out, she noticed the large window at the front of the house was broken. Then the family discovered a note on the windowsill, placed there by the youths who had broken the window. “You terrorists! We’ll kill you before you kill us.”

“Suihar is from Saudi Arabia, and is a Muslim. When outside her house, she wears the traditional head covering for a Muslim woman. She is a beautiful, gracious woman who speaks in broken English. She moved here with her husband and little daughter so her husband could pursue his doctorate in computer technology at the University of Glamorgan, in nearby Pontypridd.

“They came to Britain for new opportunities. Instead, they found themselves living in fear of their lives. A believer in our Life Group heard about the family’s troubles and dropped a note through their door expressing her shame and sadness. They invited her around for tea. This friend told me about the experience so one day I visited Suihar, drinking tea, eating biscuits, and comparing stories of being foreigners in this tightly-knit little community.

“After I clearly shared who we are and why we are here Suihar replied, ‘I like. You believe God. These other people believe nothing.’

“During the few months the family lived here, Suihar spent most of her days in the house. Her active toddler often begged to go outside, but Suihar was too afraid. Occasionally, she ventured outside, wary of insensitive youth, who called ‘Monster! Terrorist!’ to her back. Twice she went along with me to the Mothers and Toddlers group, where she and her daughter were welcomed and seemed able to relax a little.

“I never dreamed of having the opportunity to reach out to Muslims here in Ynysybwl. We feel inadequate. But they came to our doorstep. So we began sharing the love of Jesus by apologizing for the behavior of others and by drinking tea together.”


March 2007

BULGARIA – From their home in southern Bulgaria, Lamar and Pat Myers report on a special Christmas party their church hosted for Turkish and Gypsy children from the surrounding villages. They were expecting 100 but 140 showed up and there were not enough seats for everyone in the sanctuary. The party included a short skit of the Christmas story by the youth and children at church. Then there was a simple quiz about the Christmas story with small prizes for correct answers, singing, and gifts. The pastor of the church, Hari, said the purpose of the party was not only to tell the Christmas story but also to let the children and their parents know that they can consider this church their own. The gathering exceeded everyone’s expectations. Hari was so enthused he’d like to plan for 1,000 children next year. One lady from the church expressed amazement that the Gypsy and Turkish children were able to answer the quiz questions about the Christmas story. Historically the Bulgarians and the Turks have not mingled socially; the Bulgarians were Christian and the Turks were Muslim – but Hari and his congregation are changing that.


December 2006

HALLE, GERMANY – Valerie Roth reported for the six-member YES team that has just arrived to assist the EMM team and the Soli Deo Church. “Last Sunday, the 19th, was our first opportunity to attend church at Soli Deo. The church is set up sort of like a coffee house. Instead of pews or chairs all lined up in rows, there are tables that you sit around. From 3-4 pm there is 'Kaffee und Kuchen' (coffee and cake) time, where there are lots of yummy treats to enjoy. The church service begins at 4 and lasts about an hour. We were able to introduce ourselves (in German!) and then the church prayed for our team. I have been very encouraged by the church and its leadership. Our team is going to have a great time serving and working with Soli Deo.”


September 2006

BOSNIA - Before EMM worker Andrea Birdsall brought her years in Bosnia to a close, she took a group of Bosnian leaders to visit Turkey. Andrea writes, “God answered our prayers for the group – that seeds of mission and global vision would be planted in their hearts. This was the first time any of the Bosnians had ever flown. They were in awe of the sea of black shawls that covered the heads of the women as they walked down the crowded streets. And we had divine contacts – like meeting a Turkish man who had lived in Bosnia and a Kurdish man selling tea who accepted a gospel of Matthew from us. We also met with local believers. Their testimonies challenged and encouraged us to believe in God's mighty work in the lives of those who seem far from him.”


April 2006

KURDJIALI, BULGARIA – Lamar and Pat Myers have recently begun an exploratory assignment with EMM. They say, “We are working with two private teachers and are actually enjoying learning the Bulgarian language. One teacher works with us on grammar and vocabulary while the other helps us with Biblical and church language. We thank God for leading us here. The evangelical church is small, and they struggle to have any kind of respect. They are opposed by both the Orthodox and the Muslim leaders. In this region the strong Muslim influence is a special challenge. A teacher in our church is currently out of work because she is not Muslim. The unemployment agency offered her a job at a local Monastery doing something other than teaching, but would require her to work Sunday mornings. She feels it is a deliberate effort to get her not to attend the evangelical church. She decided to not compromise to accept the job.”


February 2005

HALLE, GERMANY – Darrel and Miriam Weaver, who serve as part of the EMM church planting team in Germany, attended a recent reconciliation conference between Messianic Jews and the churches of Halle. During the Third Reich, Halle’s sizable Jewish population was deported and exterminated. The church is looking for ways to right this historic wrong and is seeking forgiveness from the Jewish people. Darrel says, “Repentance from these sins of the past is important for the city. I believe we will see the effects from this reconciliation event in the future.”

LEZHE, ALBANIA – Reporting for a four member YES team, Andy Hoover says, “It’s encouraging to know that once formal language study is over, our language learning doesn’t stop. After language study, we often go out with the guys from church and drink kafe ekspres or caj limon. These times are a fun extension of language study. Recently I had a good discussion with one of the youth. He shared his heart for the youth group with me. When he first came to church he was drawn by the love he saw. Now he’s concerned that that same love and unity aren’t in the youth group. We’re committing ourselves to pray for new levels of unity and love here.”


December 2005

LITHUANIA - Before leaving to return to the U.S. last month, Sheila Hooover reported for the Lithuania YES team. “We have witnessed four baptisms of people from our church here in Silute in the last two months. Adult baptism is taken very seriously by the believers here because of the strong Roman Catholic influence in the country. So it is great to see young people who are not ashamed be identified with Christ. Of the four who were baptized, three where under the age of 19.”


November 2005

LITHUANIA – Serving on a YES team in Lithuania, Sheila Hoover wrote, “I struggle with a ‘doing’ mentality, but God is showing me that if I step back and pray, he will work. Instead of only interceding for the church, we began praying that God would raise up Lithuanian intercessors. Soon we were thrilled to see how God led our pastor’s wife to start prayer meetings early Sunday mornings. We needed worship leaders, and there are gifted musicians in the church, but when I tried to organize a get-together, it flopped. We began praying for people in the church to discover their God-given gifts. Last Saturday night there was no one scheduled to lead worship, but God placed a desire to lead worship in the hearts of a mother and her daughter. They enjoyed it so much, they asked if they could do it again. Praise God! He is raising up worship leaders.”


September 2005

BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA – Andrea Birdsall writes, “The kids' summer camp I helped with was amazing! We had 70 Bosnian children with us, eight of them from Sarajevo where I am living. We were thrilled to serve the children, but it was very tiring. We did a program called, 'Wild for God' with a safari theme. Well, the kids lived up to the name 'wild.' Many of us had great conversations with them. The seeds are planted. We were also grateful that three teenagers from Sarajevo gave their lives to the Lord at the youth camp.”


August 2005

UKRAINE – Sharon Brubaker, who serves as chaplain at Lithuania Christian College, recently returned from the Ukraine, where she led a group of ten female students from the college to assist with a Bible camp. Sharon says, “It was an amazing two weeks – the relationships, the spiritual fruit, the learning from each other, and God’s provision. It was a God thing. Many got sick with sore throats and laryngitis, but they would not be stopped. In both weeks of camp, young people had a chance to receive Christ as Savior and Lord. Both churched and unchurched kids responded, about 25 each week. Being there for the gals and leading staff devotions was the most I could do, since I do not speak Russian or Ukrainian. But it was the most rewarding thing I’ve done this year.”

LITHUANIA – YES team member Sheila Hoover was living with a host family and learning the language. She writes, “My little host brother Martynas is watching every move I make. I was sick one day this week and as soon as Martynas saw that I was sick, he asked if he could pray for me. He said, ‘Just like you prayed for me when I was sick and I got better, I want to pray for you.’ Several times throughout the day I noticed him praying for me. By the next morning I was feeling well again, and Martynas said, ‘God heard my prayer!’ Now I notice Martynas is washing the dishes without being told, which is amazing! He usually would not do them even if he was told to! My prayers are already being answered as I have seen Martynas following in my example, as I follow the example of Christ. This is my constant prayer.”

LEZHE, ALBANIA – June Kropf recently had an excellent Bible study session with seven youth girls, on the subject of magic and fortune telling. The Albanian culture is deeply involved in the use of magic, and many of the youth live in non-Christian homes and find themselves in situations where these things are being done. The girls were very interested in the subject, and wondered why magic and fortune telling were wrong. June said, “At the end of our last session, most of the girls confessed their past involvement with the occult, and requested prayer for cleansing.”


June 2005

AUSTRALIA- During a recent "Alternatives to Violence" Workshop in Melbourne, Mary Hurst ministered to a man in excruciating back pain. After they had talked for several hours, Mary suggested that the pain might be caused by the heavy load he was carrying from his past. She offered to pray for him. Over the next several days, the man experienced flashes of insight as issues surfaced from more than 30 years ago. Mary says, “He is on a journey to healing, forgiveness, and God – and credited my prayers for the new steps he was able to take. I felt privileged to be a channel of God’s presence to him.”

ENGLAND- At the EMM Forum on Islam, April 18-22, 12 missionaries who work among Muslims in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East gathered with eight EMM staff members at the Wycliffe Centre outside London. They had four days of testimony, prayer, fasting, and discussion for the purpose of laying some common foundations for EMM’s presence and witness in the global Muslim community. A participant from Central Asia commented, “I was feeling tired and weary going into the forum, but came back with renewed strength. I was encouraged by the fellowship with other workers, and come away with fresh perspectives and prayer to continue to serve God in this vineyard. Thanks to those of you who gave to make this forum happen.”