Alliance Life: January/February 2024 by The Christian and Missionary Alliance

VOLUME 159

T H E M AG A Z I N E OF THEALLIANCE SI NC E 1882

No. 01

| JA N/ FEB 2024

AND HE HEALED THEM ALL

Understanding the Father’s heart for His children pg. 4

SEEDS OF RENEWAL

God builds His Church in West Africa through revival and prayer pg. 20

IN THE WAITING AND REJOICING Believing God’s will for healing pg. 24

The Power of Persistent Prayer JAN/FEB 2024

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GUEST EDITORIAL

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N o. 0 1

Founder A. B. Simpson Editor-in -ChieF Peter Burgo Managing e ditor Emmy Duddles

KNITTING UP THE BROKEN by Emmy Duddles

We often reach moments in our lives, or extended, dreary seasons, where we can no longer see the work of the Lord all around us. Our vision gets clouded by pain, grief, or lack of purpose, and our prayer life begins to dwindle as we assume that He is nowhere to be found. However, the Lord is never any further from us than He has ever been. In fact, He is desperately reaching out as a Father for His child to hold you and make Himself known through prayer. For more than 16 years, I have dealt with massive amounts of mysterious pain, often leaving me feeling like God had abandoned His post and left me to my own devices. At one point, the pain became so unbearable that I believed I had come to the end of my life. As I cried out to Him in that moment, God came so near to me that I could hardly see anything else. He let me beat against His chest and rage at Him for leaving me alone. When I was out of breath and had nothing more to say, He gently sang me to sleep and brought my soul peace. Prayer isn’t simply the rote words we recite on Sunday morning or over our meals, though those have a beautiful place in our faith as well. Prayer is a space the Lord has created for you to enter in with Him with all of your daily battles. Psalm 147:3 says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” If we are to be mended, we must not withhold our broken hearts from the One who knitted us together in our mother’s womb in the first place (see Ps. 139:13–15). He wants you to bring Him all the mess of your heart—the anger and resentment you hold against Him, the pain He still hasn’t healed, the grief you still carry that’s practically written on your bones. His greatest desire is to take you into His arms and love you, to give you all of the healing He won for you on the Cross. So run to Him—He’s never been far away. Hide away with Him in the secret place, and invite others to come with you if you don’t have the strength to go to Him on your own. He’s ready and willing to knit you back together and make you whole.

Emmy Duddles Managing Editor of Alliance Life

graphiC designer Caylie Smith a ssistant e ditor Julie Daubé staFF Writers/e ditors Julie Daubé Hannah Castro Hannah Packard e ditorial a ssistant Mandy Gove CirCulation FulFillMent Julie Connon © ALLIANCELIFE ALLIANCELIFE i s p ub li s h e d by T h e Christian and Missionary Alliance, One Alliance Place, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068. Member, Evangelical Press Association and Associated Church Press. Printed in the USA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ALLIANCELIFE, One Alliance Place, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068. When requesting a change of address, pleas e gi ve b ot h t he old and new addresses. Direct all correspondence and changes of address to ALLIANCELIFE, One Alliance Place, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068. Toll free: (877) 284-3262; email: alliancelife@cmalliance.org. Website: www.alliancelife.org.

The Alliance is committed to world missions, stressing the fullness of Christ in personal experience, building the Church, and preaching the gospel to the ends of the earth. ALLIANCELIFE carries on the tradition of more than 140 years of publishing stories of God at work through Alliance people in the United States and throughout the world.

www.alliancelife.org

Cover: Photograph by Caylie Smith. The

hands intertwined with thread are raised in supplication, illustrating how prayer lifts the tangled threads of our lives to the One who is able to order our chaos.

JAN/FEB2024 04 CHRIST-CENTERED AND HE HEALED THEM ALL Understanding the Father’s heart for His children | by Julie Daubé | pg. 4 BRING BACK THE PRAYER MEETING Why corporate prayer is essential for church health | by Maurice Irvin | pg. 8 FREE VERSE Quotes from the Kingdom | pg. 11 TOZER ANTHOLOGY compiled by Harry Verploegh | pg. 11 A NEW YEAR’S BENEDICTION by Sarah Bourns Crosby | pg. 12

16 ACTS 1:8 IN DEATH’S SHADOW Even the medical team treating her called her a "miracle child" by Julie Daubé | pg. 16 SEEDS OF RENEWAL God builds His Church in West Africa through revival and prayer | by Emmy Duddles | pg. 20 HOW I LEARNED TO PRAY FOR THE LOST Adapted by Alliance Life staff | pg. 22

24 22 CONTENTS pg.

IN THE WAITING AND REJOICING Believing God’s will for healing | pg. 24 YOUR GENEROSITY IN ACTION Looking Back, Moving Forward by an Alliance international worker | pg. 30

34 FAMILY BOARD SUMMARY LETTER by Thomas George | pg. 34

PRAYER IS PRIMARY Requests from Alliance workers | pg. 35 A BOLD NEW CHAPTER Positioning ourselves to respond to God’s call | pg. 36 ALLIANCE FAMILY NEWS Personnel changes, obituaries, and classified ads | pg. 38 FOUNDATIONS Following the Master’s Steps Adapted by Alliance Life staff | pg. 46

PLUS 02 EDITORIAL 14 | 32 INFOCUS

AND HE HEALED THEM ALL ALLIANCELIFE

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Understanding the Father’s heart for His children

a passive attitude that accepts anything that comes to them as the will of the Father. This is not scriptural.” Instead, we are to pray that earth will increasingly reflect His perfect will and the glory of His Kingdom: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). During Jesus’ earthly ministry, healing, signs, and wonders were always associated with the coming of the Kingdom of heaven. Although the Kingdom is not yet here in its fullness, many aspects are available now because of what Jesus did on the Cross. We take hold of them through prayer and by elevating what God says over the doctor’s report or the nightly news. As His people, we are not resigned to injustice, poverty, or disease but pray for His perfect will to exist on earth just as it does in heaven—where there is no oppression, lack, or sickness. Simpson wrote in The Gospel of Healing: “[Healing] is a matter about which we ought to know His will before we ask, and then will and claim it because it is His will. Has He given us any means by which we may know His will? Most assuredly. If the Lord Jesus has purchased it for us in His redemption, it must be God’s will for us to have it, for Christ’s whole redeeming work was simply the executing of the Father’s will.” Simpson and other early Alliance leaders, including MacMillan, also taught an almost forgotten biblical doctrine known as the authority of the believer. In a book by that title, MacMillan describes how he regularly exercised his authority in Christ to stop disease outbreaks, cast out demons, and remove obstacles to ministry. Much of MacMillan’s prayer life consisted of speaking directly to the forces of evil and commanding them to depart. In doing so, Macmillan was imitating Christ, who commanded lepers to be cleansed, the lame to walk, and the dead to be raised—and those in the Early Church did likewise (see Acts 3:6–8). Over the last 24 years, I have heard countless testimonies of God’s power through the prayers of Alliance workers around the world as I have gathered content for our prayer resources. Our workers have often seen God miraculously move on their behalf—including raising five people from the dead (visit cmalliance.org/raise-the-dead to read some of these testimonies). Clearly, the Lord is still working His redemptive power through His people today.

by Julie Daubé

Illustration by Julissa Matias Flores

ne of the most prevalent prayer needs in the Body of Christ is for physical healing. It should be no surprise that our adversary would seek to rob God’s precious children of their health. While the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, Jesus came to give us life to the full (see John 10:10). This should include health and healing. Sadly, for many dear saints, healing has not been their experience. As a result, they may conclude that God chooses healing for some but not others. This is not what we see in Scripture, nor is it consistent with God’s character. If an earthly father had a house full of sick children, would he seek treatment for some but not others? How much more, then, should we expect our Heavenly Father to come to the aid of His children? The Gospels testify of the Father’s heart to heal—not just sometimes, but always. In the Person of Jesus, we see the exact representation of God (see Heb. 1:3). Alliance founder A. B. Simpson wrote: “In Christ’s life on earth, we see a complete vision of what Christianity should be. . . . He healed on all occasions and in a great variety of cases. He healed without leaving any doubt or question of His will” (see Matt. 8:16, 9:35, 12:15, 14:36; Luke 4:40; and Mark 3:10). Simpson taught that healing is a provision of the Atonement through the blood of Jesus. If healing truly is God’s will, not just for some but for all, why aren’t more people healed today? For that matter, why does any prayer that aligns with a promise from Scripture go unanswered? While there’s a degree of mystery in both questions, there are biblical principles that can help us become more effective in all our prayers. I discovered many during my own healing journey spanning 17 years (see page 27 to read more). ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN Is it possible that a misunderstanding of God’s Word causes us to accept anything that happens as His will? Some of us may even embrace the evils that befall us because we believe it is more pious to accept them as our cross to bear. Pioneer C&MA missionary John A. MacMillan, who was an associate editor of The Alliance Weekly (now Alliance Life), challenges this mindset: “How many believers content themselves with a submissive uttering of the words, ‘Thy will be done’ in all matters which they bring before the Lord? Their spirits assume

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WHEN HEALING DOESN’T MANIFEST Healing and all blessings of the Atonement will manifest in their fullness when Christ returns to establish His Kingdom and restore all things. Until then, what if we have not yet experienced all that He purchased for us? This is a sensitive area for many, and we must be careful not to make assumptions about why some people haven’t seen their prayers answered.

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When it comes to anything we pray for, we must guard against elevating our experience above God’s Word. I’ve known pastors who never had healing services because they hadn’t seen much healing in their congregations. These pastors allowed their disappointment in their own experience to shape their theology. The Word of God is the highest authority in a believer’s life, and we must stand on what He says rather than what we see and feel (see 2 Cor. 5:7). Even some whom Jesus healed in the Gospels did not see immediate results. In Luke 17:14, the 10 lepers first had to go and show themselves to the priests, “and as they went, they were cleansed.” In Mark 8:22–26, the blind man’s healing in Bethsaida took place in stages, with Jesus laying His hands on the man’s eyes twice before he could see fully. Answers to prayer can also be hindered by demonic opposition. In Daniel 9 and 10, the prophet prayed two prayers. The first was answered while Daniel was still praying. After the second prayer, the answer was delayed for 21 days because a powerful demon resisted the angel whom God had assigned to bring the answer. God heard immediately and responded, but there was spiritual opposition. As believers, we may have to press in against hindrances when it seems our prayers go unanswered. The best way to respond to unanswered prayer is to worship God. In his book, Touch the World through Prayer, Wesley L. Duewel says, “Many times . . . it is more important to praise God than to continue in petition . . . . A. B. Simpson called praise both a physical tonic and a wholesome stimulant. Praise will change the atmosphere of your life, your home, and your church. . . . Praising Jesus puts the demons to flight. Expect Satan to run from you (James 4:7). . . . When the battle against Satan seems unending and almost hopeless, start praising God, and Satan’s hosts will flee.”

acles by healing the man. After Lazarus died of an illness, Jesus demonstrated God’s power over death by raising Lazarus to life (see John 11:1−44). Many believers have a testimony of seeing God use their suffering for good. While this is a beautiful demonstration of His redemptive nature, it doesn’t mean He wanted them sick. In the Gospels, Jesus never refused anyone who asked Him for healing, and He never told those who were ill that God sent their sickness to teach them a lesson. Whenever Jesus encountered someone ravaged by disease, He treated their infirmity like an enemy. He rebuked fevers and was angry with the Pharisees for prohibiting healing on the Sabbath (see Luke 4:39, Mark 3:1–6). This in no way diminishes the testimonies of devout believers who are convinced that their affliction is being used for God’s glory. He can and does use sickness, just as He can use anything the enemy intended for evil (see Gen. 50:20). Understanding God’s heart toward us as revealed in the New Covenant is vital to seeing His power manifest

A DIVINE PURPOSE? As someone who believes God’s will is always to heal, I am often asked if He can have a purpose in sickness. The Bible teaches that sickness is a result of the Fall and was one of the curses for disobedience under the Old Covenant (see Deut. 28:21–22). God’s original plan for humanity never included ill health, poverty, or other curses we were subject to because of our rebellion. He sent His Son to die so we could be forever free from all effects of sin. Sometimes, our infirmities can become an opportunity to show the world who God is. When the disciples asked Jesus who had sinned to cause a man to be born blind, He replied, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (see John 9:1−3). He then did one of His greatest mir-

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Illustration by Julissa Matias Flores

Understanding God’s heart toward us as revealed in the New Covenant is vital to seeing His power manifest in answer to our prayers.

in answer to our prayers. He loves us and longs to bless us, and He gave us authority to overcome any attack the devil can throw at us, whether on our health, finances, or families. If we approach God with confidence and expect Him to move, we will have what we say in prayer more frequently (see Mark 11:23). This was the experience of the Early Church when they prayed: “Now, Lord, . . . enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:29–30). They saw multitudes healed, demons flee in terror, and the dead raised to life—and it still happens in our world today when God’s people pray with boldness and authority. Julie Daubé is the assistant editor for Alliance Life and a writer/editor for the Development team. She has a master’s degree in English and lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Alex.

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BRING BACK THE PRAYER MEETING Why corporate prayer is essential for church health by Maurice Irvin

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fter I left my position as editor of Alliance Life magazine in 1996, I served as an intentional interim pastor in nine different churches. I wrote a book largely based on my experiences in these churches that I titled Repairing Broken Churches, and, admittedly, there is a bit of hyperbole in that title. They may not have been broken, but with one or two exceptions, these were churches that were experiencing serious difficulties— moral failures among the leadership, deep divisions within the congregation, lots of people leaving, and more. One thing was common in each of those hurting churches—a weak weekly prayer service or no corporate prayer service at all. I understand how difficult it is today to secure a large measure of support from the average congregation for a weeknight prayer service. People work long hours and barely make it home in time for dinner, let alone for a church meeting. Still, there are people in most churches who can be available to participate if the church makes it a priority. I have seen hurting churches healed, weak churches strengthened, and strong churches made stronger by the revival of a prayer meeting if the pastor and other church leaders demonstrate its importance. Let me, therefore, list some reasons why corporate prayer is important and make some suggestions about how such a service should be conducted.

WHY PRIORITIZE CORPORATE PRAYER? 1.

Photograph by Stephanie Reindel

The New Testament sets before us examples of corporate prayer. Jesus asked His disciples to join Him in prayer in Gethsemane (see Matt. 26:36–46). The Holy Spirit descended upon Christ followers who were gathered in prayer on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:42 says the believers (plural) continued steadfastly in prayer. The Apostle Peter was prayed out of prison in Acts 15 by believers. If the Early Church met together regularly for corporate prayer, should we do less? Corporate prayer focuses the attention of a church upon resources outside itself. Christ will build His Church, and praying together allows the local church to participate in His purpose. One of the churches I served was in such turmoil that the elders were meeting twice a week to sort through issues the church was facing. After I had attended several meetings, I said to the chairman, “I hear us doing a lot of talking to each other but very little talking to God. Can we spend more time praying?” At the next meeting, we devoted the entire meeting to prayer. After this, we began every meeting with an extended time of prayer, and we saw God begin to heal the congregation in remarkable ways.

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Prayer draws a congregation together. Praying together brings people in a church into unity. Differences are set aside, hurts are forgotten, and wounded spirits are healed when people devote their energies to praying for each other. Participation in a corporate prayer meeting gives people an opportunity to become aware of people who are sick and church members or programs that need support. Yes, prayer requests can be printed on a sheet in the Sunday bulletin, shared on the internet, or communicated through a phone chain. But none of these engages people in praying for one another and for their church as effectively as a prayer meeting. Corporate intercession gives God an opportunity to work in our midst. Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you” (Matt. 7:7). God wants to give, but He waits for us to ask. A man who attended a church I served told me, “When I moved into this community, I looked for a church with a weekly prayer meeting. That was an indication to me that the church depended on the Lord.” Prayer services draw individuals closer to the Lord and give underutilized people a place of service, which promotes spiritual growth. A young woman came to me after a Sunday service and said, “I don’t feel as if I am doing much for the Lord. Is there a church ministry in which I can become involved?” I said, “More than anything else, we need pray-ers in the church,” and I urged her to begin to participate in our midweek prayer meeting. Over the following months I saw her blossom spiritually. She also developed a stronger influence for the Lord in her family and among her peers. 6. Corporate prayer builds a wall against Satan’s influence. In the Garden of Gethsemane, on the night before He was crucified, Jesus asked His disciples to “stay here and keep watch with [Him]” (Matt. 26:38). Jesus used a term that meant to do sentry duty. He was asking His disciples to stand guard in prayer, not against physical enemies but against spiritual ones. Ephesians 6:18 uses the same original word when it says, “Be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Many of the failures and fractures that wounded these troubled churches were due to satanic deceptions and influences. The congregations had left themselves vulnerable to Satan’s attacks by failing to maintain a strong prayer service. Prayer is also the Church’s most powerful offensive weapon in our warfare against Satan and his kingdom. A missionary recounted how before making an evangelistic thrust into a new area of 12 villages, he asked 12 of his supporting

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churches to pray for this effort. He gave the name of a village to each of these churches, waited until they had time to pray, and then began his work in this previously unevangelized region. He had a good response from 10 villages, but in two he met resistance and was forcefully driven from one. Later, when visiting churches in the United States, he learned that 10 churches had taken his request for prayer support seriously. Two of the 12 churches had not—the two churches responsible for praying for the villages that had strongly opposed his efforts to preach the gospel there. We must use this weapon that God has put at our disposal. Prayer builds Christ’s Church.

fore us and invite people who are there to volunteer for which requests they will cover. This avoids long periods of waiting for someone to lead. The pastor, or at least a member of the pastoral staff, should lead this ministry. In two of the troubled churches I served, I heard the same story: “Our senior pastor never participates in the prayer service.” Is it any wonder that in one of those places, with a Sunday morning attendance of more than 500 people, the attendance at the prayer service had dwindled to fewer than a dozen individuals? It is important to affirm those who participate in a weekly corporate prayer service. At the end, the leader may ask everyone there to pair off and pray briefly for each other or form a circle holding hands while the pastor prays briefly for each person by name. Doing this affirms the church’s appreciation for those who participate in corporate prayer. Blessed is the church that has a good number of prayer warriors. People who know how to lay hold of God in intercession do more good for their church than the largest financial contributor or the wisest governing board member. And blessed indeed is the church that has a group of praying people who gather each week for corporate intercession.

HOW DO WE PRAY TOGETHER? Each church will have to determine when to hold its meeting. Since many churches do not have a Sunday evening service, a corporate prayer meeting could be scheduled in its place. The meeting may begin with a Bible study, but it should be short so that a maximum amount of time is devoted to prayer. It is wise to keep such meetings to one hour. Corporate prayer also works best with a group of 20 people, so larger meetings should be divided into separate groups. The person leading this prayer meeting should, if possible, prepare a printed list of requests for distribution. This enables people to pray specifically for the needs within the congregation and beyond. I always invite those who are there to add requests to the printed prayer list if they know of specific needs. In the weekly prayer meeting that I conduct, I review the requests be-

Maurice Irvin has been engaged in Christian ministries since 1952 as a pastor, conference speaker, educator, editor, and author in some 50 countries as well as across the United States and Canada.

John Stumbo

V IDE O B LO G Watch John tell a story, share a devotional, issue a challenge, or cast C&MA vision. Released on the 12th of each month

Recent Releases: Blog 123: Holding True to What We Believe Blog 124: Expressions of God’s Goodness

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FREE VERSE

T O Z E R ANTHOLOGY “I call to you, Lord, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to you. May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.”

compiled by Harry Verploegh

In the redemptive work of Christ, three major epochs may be noted: His birth, His death, and His subsequent elevation to the right hand of God. These are the three main pillars that uphold the temple of Christianity. Upon them rest all the hopes of mankind. All else that He did takes its meaning from these three Godlike deeds.

—PSALM 141:1–2

His appearance at the mercy seat is not history past. It is a present, continuing fact. To the instructed Christian it is the most glorious fact his trusting heart can entertain.

“Our task as image-bearing, Godloving, Christ-shaped, Spirit-filled Christians, following Christ and shaping our world, is to announce redemption to a world that has discovered its fallenness, to announce healing to a world that has discovered its brokenness.”

As there is now no babe in the manger at Bethlehem, so there is no man on the cross at Jerusalem. To worship the babe in the manger or the man on the cross is to reverse the redemptive processes of God and turn the clock back on His eternal purposes.

—MONTY WRIG HT

The glory of the Christian faith is that the Christ who died for our sins rose again for our justification. The crown of all our hopes is with Him at the Father’s right hand.

Paul writes of the Incarnation and the Crucifixion, yet he stops not at the manger or the cross but sweeps our thoughts on to the Resurrection and upward to the Ascension and the throne.

“I am deeply convinced that the necessity of prayer, and to pray unceasingly, is not as much based on our desire for God as on God’s desire for us. It is God’s passionate pursuit of us that calls us to prayer.”

Should the Church shift its emphasis from the weakness of the manger and the death of the cross to the life and power of the enthroned Christ, perhaps it might recapture its lost glory.

—HENRI NOUWEN

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—from Echoes from Eden. Originally published in The Alliance Witness, March 27, 1996.

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A NEW YEAR’S BENEDICTION

by Sarah Bourns Crosby

Alliance family, we bless you, and we send you. We bless you with the courage to say “Yes” to God’s invitation. We bless you with the humility to lay aside your own expectations. We bless you with the wonder to lift your eyes and see with His Kingdom vision. We bless you with the wisdom to discern your call in His great mission. We bless you with the grace to extend compassion again, and again, and again. We bless you with the urgency to take a risk and just begin.

So, Go with passion. Go with grace. Go in wisdom. Go in peace.

We bless you with the strength to go wherever He might send. We bless you with the hope to endure until the very end.

Go swiftly. Go gently. Go humbly. Go bravely.

We send you to be bridge builders on the path of reconciliation. We send you to partner with Jesus in the weighty work of redemption.

Go the distance. Go the long way. Go together. Go today.

Illustration by Caylie Smith

We send you as faithful stewards of your own unique vocation. We send you with friends who join hands in the long collaboration. We send you to build wells that won’t run dry. We send you to speak words that bring the dead to life.

May the peace of Christ dwell here below. May the joy of the Spirit well up and overflow. May the love of the Father stretch wider than you now know.

We send you with power in your hands to heal. We send you with hope in your hearts to persevere.

May the presence of the Triune God carry you as you go.

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inFocus “ . . . he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes’” (Revelation 7:15b-17). Photograph by Olivia McCash

IN DEATH’S SHADOW Even the medical team treating her called her a "miracle child"

by Julie Daubé

“W

belief is that, at some point, we lost her,” Melissa says. Then, after nearly a minute, the couple heard an awful scream—and they knew that Mia was alive. Mike ran to the car, planning to drive out of the area to get help. “I had a moment where I thought, Maybe this is the last time I’m going to hold my baby girl,” Melissa says. After running for a quarter mile, Mike remembered his phone’s SOS signal. He tried it and immediately got a 911 operator. As they waited for help to arrive, Melissa remembered the Bible story of the woman who was healed by touching the hem of Jesus’ robe. “If Jesus’ power is that strong, and if that power lives in me, then I believed God could heal my daughter; so, I put my hands on her and kept praying, ‘Heal our daughter, please heal our daughter.’” First responders finally arrived after 25 minutes, but because of the remote location, the ride to the hospital took three and a half hours. Mike followed in the car but stopped to call his church staff to pray. “We had people in Zoom calls all over the country and around the world interceding for us in different languages, asking for a

e were thinking: It’s not a matter of if—it’s a matter of when we’re going to lose her. It’s too big of an injury. I remember touching her head, and it felt like her skull was crushed.” This is how Melissa Harris describes the condition of her four-year-old daughter, Mia, after a large tree branch snapped and fell 60 feet to the ground, hitting her squarely on the head. Mia’s father, Mike, who is an Alliance pastor, adds, “I held her in my arms, and I thought she was gone.” “I WOULD BET ON THAT FOUR-YEAR-OLD” It was October 2020, and Mike and Melissa were enjoying a getaway in Ohio’s Wayne National Forest, hiking with their family. On their last day, Mike was running with the kids down a path when the branch struck Mia. She showed no signs of life. Melissa remembers praying, “Please don’t do this, please don’t take her. Four years wasn’t enough.” Surrounded by a gorge and 200 feet of solid rock with no cell phone reception, the couple knew that Mia’s only hope was for God to supernaturally intervene. “Our

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Photography by Caylie Smith

miracle,” he says. Mia was put in a medically induced coma and transported to Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Doctors confirmed she had a traumatic brain injury, a fractured skull, and bleeding in and around the brain. After a thorough assessment, the neurosurgeon determined that they would not perform surgery that night. To Mia’s parents, this seemed like a miracle given the extent of her injuries and the time it took to get her medical attention. But many questions remained. “Was Mia going to wake up? Would she still be Mia? Would she have severe brain damage? That seemed inevitable with everything we had seen,” Melissa reflects. The next morning, hospital staff brought Mia out of the coma. When she saw her parents, she immediately shouted, “I peed in my Pull-Up®!” For Melissa, it was a sign that God was restoring Mia to her normal self—she hated wearing a wet diaper. While in the hospital, Mia began physical therapy. She progressed so well that her doctor pointed to her and said, “If I were a betting man, I would bet on that four-year-old.”

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NO EARTHLY EXPLANATION But the road to Mia’s recovery was not as smooth as her parents had hoped after so many encouraging reports. Doctors needed to repair the tear to the dura surrounding her brain, which should have been a simple procedure based on what Mike and Melissa were told. After waiting eight hours for Mia to get out of surgery and the ICU, they heard the words any parent dreads: “It was worse than we thought.” Mia’s skull was severely fractured, surgeons had to use seven plates, and she needed a full craniotomy to repair her crushed skull. She also showed signs of paralysis on the left side of her body. “None of this ever showed up in scans,” Melissa says. “This was the first time in this journey that I was angry,” Mike says. “I get that we live in a broken world, but to see all these signs of improvement and how amazing God is, only to experience a roadblock . . . it was hard to take.” Despite what looked like a setback to Mia’s parents, the Lord continued to reveal His faithfulness and calm their hearts. If the tear in Mia’s dura had not been

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“JESUS MADE ME LIKE AN AIRPLANE” A dream Mia described later suggests that she may have been with Jesus while her parents were praying for her in the woods. “Jesus was with me, and He brought me back home,” she told them. When they asked her how, she replied, “He made me like an airplane.” Puzzled by the childlike language, Melissa asked, “What do you mean? How did He make you like an airplane? Did you fly?” “He was under me, holding me up—like an airplane. He was under me so I wouldn’t hurt myself again.” Reflecting on the woman who was healed after touching Jesus’ garment, Melissa was reminded that during that time, He was on His way to heal Jairus’ daughter but stopped to heal the afflicted woman. “Jairus’ daughter had died by the time Jesus could get to her, so it seemed like He was too late,” Melissa says. She and Mike believe that just as He raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead when it looked utterly hopeless, He miraculously restored their little girl. After hearing more about Mia’s dream, her parents have no doubt that she had an experience with Jesus. “And the best evidence for us is that she’s here,” Mike says.

discovered, she would have started having seizures after being released from the hospital. Throughout her recovery, she has not had one seizure. Mia overcame any deficits from the paralysis within three days and has recovered all cognitive function as well as her full personality. Although doctors have said that Mia has permanent brain damage, her brain is doing what God designed it to do. “It’s as if the damage had no effect,” Melissa says. Mike and Melissa are quick to acknowledge the role that EMTs and many other medical professionals played in Mia’s survival and eventual healing. “Believing that God did a miracle does not take away from doctors, nurses, and other medical practitioners,” Melissa says. “We believe God could have supernaturally stopped that tree branch right in its tracks, and it never would have hit Mia. We would have been like, ‘Oh my goodness!’ He can do those kinds of miracles. But the way He chose to intervene—through so many people, through medical professionals who didn’t know Him and may have never seen God’s supernatural power at work before—had an even greater impact for the Kingdom than if she had never been injured.” “I have no doubt that God healed Mia,” Mike adds. “He had His hand on her life, and He used people who don’t have a relationship with Him to restore our daughter.” Mike and Melissa are also thankful for the prayers that sustained them during what felt like an awful situation. “There is no earthly explanation as to how we had the peace that we did,” Melissa says.

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Julie Daubé is the assistant editor for Alliance Life and a writer/editor for the Development team. She has a master’s degree in English and lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Alex.

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SEEDS OF RENEWAL God builds His Church in West Africa through revival and prayer

by Emmy Duddles

t was February 2021, right in the middle of COVID-19. JD, an Alliance international worker on special assignment with East-West Ministries, was on a trip to West Africa to train local African pastors from multiple denominations, when he was suddenly asked to fill in for the main speaker of a revival festival on Friday and Saturday night. The evangelist was stuck in Seattle, trying to get on a flight overseas but couldn’t because of the pandemic.

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JD agreed to fill in, and they began preparations for him to take over the main sermon. The event had been covered in prayer by the 50 churches who were involved. A 50-person team stayed up until 3:00 a.m. the night before, praying for people to come to know the Lord, for healing, and for revival to break out. While in the car on the way to the festival, the organizers, wanting to honor their guest, told JD, “When you get there, don’t get out of the car yourself. Let them open

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the door for you.” When the car door opened, he was right at the stage in the middle of a stadium with 500 chairs overflowing with 3,000 cheering people. “It was like I was part of a movie,” JD says. His sermon was on the four barriers to people from the majority religion coming to Christ because many of those in the audience were dedicated followers of that faith. When he was finished with his sermon, he gave an altar call, and over 250 people came to the front to give their lives to Christ. He began praying over them, and soon a line was forming of people bringing their sick friends and family to the stage. JD prayed, Lord, what do I do? A local Pentecostal pastor handed him the mic and said, “Pray for this guy.” A man with a limp came forward on crutches, and JD prayed over him: “God, You’re on display. It’s not me. So I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that You would heal this man.” And the man began to walk without his crutches! JD thought, Wow, I believe in healing, and I’ve seen healing a few times, but this is amazing—this is the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, what should I do now? The Lord answered, Grab his crutches, and hold them over your head. JD grabbed the crutches, held them over his head, and the whole crowd cheered. The man was walking back and forth across the stage. He still had a bit of a limp, but he was able to walk without any assistance.

Another man approached next with two people holding him up on either side. JD prayed, and again the man was healed. Over and over again, the sick would come forward for prayer and be healed immediately. Some had demonic manifestations, falling flat and going into a catatonic seizure-like state, but JD and the rest of the pastors continued to pray and see God move among the people coming forward. On Saturday night, there were 5,000 people, and JD again gave an altar call at the end of the sermon. Once again, over 250 people came forward to embrace Jesus as their Lord and Savior with many people being healed and delivered. At the end of the service, there were too many people left who needed healing, so JD stretched his hands out over the crowd and prayed a final prayer for all who were there. When the pastors were checking in that Sunday with the more than 500 who asked for followup, dozens of people from dozens of churches gave testimony of how they were healed in the audience without ever receiving personal prayer. The following week, JD was able to conduct the pastoral training workshop that was the original reason for his trip. Forty-three pastors attended, and on the third day, they prayed that they could plant a church. During their lunch break, they led 86 people to Christ. About 12 of those people were from two households who lived right next door to each other. These two households started a house church, which is still functioning to this day. Only a few weeks later, there were 12 new churches in the area. Then there were 20, 30, 40. After a full year, there were 54 house churches all from different denominational backgrounds, full of people hungry for the gospel. “This is about building the Kingdom,” JD says. As of this writing, there are now 64 churches, spreading north toward a whole new country in West Africa. In January 2024, they are planning to do another round of training in discipleship and evangelism with more West African church leaders. Those being trained are fired up to use what they’ve learned in their towns and villages to reach more people with the life-transforming power of Christ. Join us in prayer as these believers share Jesus’ love with the lost, pray over the sick for healing, and plant even more churches. God is moving through all of His people to reach a dark and desperate land with His mercy and love.

God is moving through all of His people to reach a dark and desperate land with His mercy and love. JAN/FEB 2024

Emmy Duddles is the managing editor of Alliance Life. She and her husband, Lucas, live in Columbus, Ohio. She will be leaving her post to better support herself and Lucas as they follow God’s call to further their education.

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by L. M. Adapted by Alliance Life staff. Originally published in The Alliance Weekly, April 29, 1953.

e know that believers everywhere are burdened for unsaved loved ones. However, many are praying in a spirit of fear and worry instead of in faith, which has caused this writer to seek clear guidance from God upon which to base our faith when praying for the unsaved. The Scripture that occupied our attention with a new emphasis was this: “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:4–5). This shows the mighty power of our spiritual weapons. And we must pray that all this be accomplished in the ones for whom we pray; that is, that the works of the enemy be torn down. The solid basis for our prayers is the ground of redemption. Redemption purchased all mankind so that we may say that each one is, actually, God’s purchased possession although still held by the enemy. We must, through the prayer of faith, claim for God in the name of the Lord Jesus that which is rightfully His. This can be done only on the ground of redemption. We do not mean to imply that because all persons have been purchased by God through redemption, they are automatically saved. They must believe and accept the gospel for themselves; this our intercession enables them to do. To pray in the name of the Lord Jesus is to claim the things which the blood of Christ has secured. Therefore, each individual for whom prayer is made should be claimed by name as God’s purchased possession in the name of the Lord Jesus on the ground of His shed blood. We should claim the tearing down of all of the works of Satan, such as false doctrine, unbelief, hatred, etc., which the enemy may have built up in their thinking, so their thoughts shall be brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Claim their deliverance from the power and persuasion of the evil one and from the love of the world and the lusts of the flesh. We should pray also for the quickening of their conscience and that God will grant them repentance, hearing ears, and believing hearts as they hear the Word of God. Pray that God’s will and purposes be accomplished in and through them. Intercession must be persistent, not to persuade God, for redemption is of God, but because of the enemy. Our

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prayer and resistance are against the awful powers and rulers of darkness. It is our duty before God to fight for the souls for whom Christ died. Just as some must preach to them the good news of their redemption, so others must fight back the powers of darkness on their behalf. Satan yields only what and when he must, and he renews his attacks in subtle ways. Therefore, prayer must be definite and persistent, even after definite results are seen. And we must hold what is taken for God against the enemy until such time as that soul is firmly established in the faith.

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HOW I LEARNED TO PRAY FOR THE LOST

As we pray, the Holy Spirit will give new leads. Always follow His leads. We were interceding for a soul recently and felt that our prayers were not making contact. It seemed that there was nothing there. Then the Holy Spirit inspired us to begin to draw them unto God in the name of the Lord Jesus. As we obeyed this leading, we felt our prayers gradually take hold. It seemed that we were drawing that one from deep within the very camp of the enemy. Then we were able to proceed as usual, claiming every detail of that life for God, holding the blood against the enemy.

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This is true warfare in the spirit realm. Thank God that our spiritual weapons are mighty and that our authority in Christ is far above all the authority of the rulers, the principalities, and the powers of darkness, so that the enemy is obliged to yield. “Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him” (2 Cor. 2:14). Visit cmalliance.org/prayforthelost to view or download a copy of the original brochure.

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ast year, the Alliance video team filmed multiple Alliance family members sharing the stories of Jesus’ healing touch that they have held most dear through their own healing journeys. In this article, you will find the testimonies of five of these participants. Some have experienced the fullness of Christ’s healing power, while others are still in a period of waiting. We hope the lessons they each have learned about prayer, healing, and Christ will encourage you to walk closer with Him and trust Him to move in power through your own story.

Visit cmalliance.org/video/christ-our-healer to watch the video.

IN THE WAITING AND REJOICING Believing God’s will for healing

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Illustration hand-stiched by Caylie Smith; photography by Olivia McCash

DAVID PEP PE RS I was diagnosed with a kidney disease at 13. At that time, the doctor told me I would need a kidney transplant eventually, but not until I was in my 40s. At 24, I went in for a routine knee surgery that led to me having to go to a nephrologist, who told me that I needed a transplant immediately or I would have to go on dialysis. My dad, mom, and two brothers immediately were tested, and my youngest brother was a perfect match. The transplant was scheduled and completed in January 2001. Unfortunately, that kidney never worked and was removed about three weeks later. In May 2001, my father donated his kidney to me, and the doctors said it was deformed and that it would not work. To our surprise, it gave me four and a half years of success. In 2005, my body began to reject the kidney; at that time, my other brother donated his. This kidney worked for about 11 months. At that time of rejection, I almost died. I was in a semicoma for three days, and when I came out, I had to go on dialysis until 2011.

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In 2007, the hospital where I had the three previous surgeries would no longer consider me for any more transplants. While this was difficult to hear, my nephrologist told me not to lose hope and recommended me to another hospital. It was here, in December 2010, that I was told they would put me on the waiting list, but I would likely not receive a call for a possible match for at least three and a half years. Only six months later while I was in a leadership meeting, I had a sudden resolve within my spirit that I was going to be healed one way or another that year. On Friday, September 16, 2011, I received a phone call from Cleveland Clinic that I had missed. About 10 minutes after that call, my wife called me to ask if I had heard from the Cleveland Clinic. I listened to the voicemail, and they had said that they needed me immediately as they had a cadaver donor kidney that was a perfect match. On Sunday, September 18, 2011, I received my fourth transplant, and it has been working ever since. To God be the glory!

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LISA* “Oh, you are an interesting case. I guess you are our ‘mys- a holy time of communion with the Lord. Because of tery’ patient.” those days, my Savior is more real and more precious to I have heard these things from doctors again and me than ever before. again. I can relate to the woman with a bleeding disorFinally, a doctor reviewed my file, took in my pale der who saw many doctors, but none were able to heal skin and unexplained weight loss, and very gently told her (see Mark 5:25–34). I had an undiagnosed chronic me I was dying. He did not have a diagnosis, but he illness for over five years. I never had a dramatic mo- would help me survive while we searched for one. By ment or hospital stay. I’m not even sure when exactly to God’s grace, his treatments stopped my decline. Over a mark the beginning of my illness, but over a period of period of nine months, my symptoms faded away. But I two years, my health steadily declined. was left with debilitating fatigue. During this trial, my church organized a prayer and As my strength increased, we found our way to an encouragement train. For 20 days, I received daily en- Alliance church. To my surprise, the church readily couragement through letters and cards that helped me prayed for healing. To my greater surprise, each time feel cared for and connected to the Body. One woman, I received prayer for physical healing, the Holy Spirit referencing the paralytic in Mark 2:1–12, wrote, “I am would instead heal a spiritual or emotional wound. praying that you can rest easy knowing you have broth- The Lord is healing my whole person—spiritual, emoers and sisters holding the corners of the mat and bring- tional, and physical. Recently, an elder prayed for my ing you to the Lord.” physical healing. Nine days later, Jesus released me As my health deteriorated, my world became smaller. from the debilitating fatigue. He wants more wholeEventually, I could not do much more than lay in bed ness for me than I even knew was possible. He’s makand go to medical appointments. When I was unable ing me holy, a new creation. Jesus said, “I have come to leave my house for more than 30 to 40 minutes at a that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John time, I missed fellowship. But some of the sweetest mo- 10:10). Somehow, Jesus has brought abundant life out ments of my life were in those days of painful limitation. of a period of suffering and loss. Isn’t He amazing? Awakened by pain, the dark hours of the night became *Name and photo changed

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JULIE DAUBÉ In 1988, I developed chronic back pain. An orthopedic specialist said my X-rays revealed no spinal abnormalities and that the debilitating pain was in my head. He offered no treatment options. Soon, I couldn’t sit or walk without intense pain and became almost bedridden. I had been exposed to the gospel but did not fully understand the message of the Kingdom—a life of abundance right now. I prayed for healing, but my prayers went unanswered. Eventually, I questioned whether God wanted to heal me. The Lord used chiropractic care to help me manage the pain. My X-rays showed that my spine had lost its natural curve, most likely due to several falls I took as a child. I still suffered frequent setbacks and sometimes needed adjustments several times a week. I believed my condition was something I’d have to live with all my life. In 2001, the C&MA National Office hired me to serve on what is now the Development team. During orientation, I learned about the Fourfold Gospel, which teaches that Jesus is our Healer. One day, a colleague gave me a booklet to help me through a personal crisis. In it, I learned about the power of speaking truth and the importance of agreeing with God’s Word (see Prov. 18:21). Soon I was reading The Authority of the Believer by C&MA pioneer missionary John A. MacMillan. I was thrilled by the exploits of this man of God who continually operated in the authority that Christ had restored to His people through the Atonement. I started commanding my symptoms to leave in Jesus’ name and saw immediate improvement. But I continued to see a chiropractor because I had been told that regular adjustments were necessary. I showed up for my adjustment one day and learned that my chiropractor had left the country. When I started asking for referrals, I realized I had been doing things I couldn’t do for nearly 17 years. My husband and I were moving, and for a month, I had been carrying boxes up from our basement to load into a truck without any pain whatsoever. At the onset of my condition, I couldn’t pick up a half-gallon of milk without being in severe pain. I no longer needed a chiropractor and haven’t seen one in nearly 20 years. My healing journey taught me the importance of surrounding myself with people of faith who understand how God’s Kingdom works and how to access the promises of His Word. I am greatly indebted to my friends at the National Office and others who introduced me to the whole gospel, through which the abundant life Christ died for is available to all His people.

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JUSTIN NEVIUS Though I grew up as a missionary kid, the gospel was head-knowledge rather than something I embraced with all my heart. For 14 years after college, I bought into the lies of the enemy, making myself the center of the universe. I drank alcohol because of the way it made this awkward and shy young man suddenly feel confident and invincible. What started as seemingly innocent social drinking turned into an insidious addiction. I soon found myself in an endless cycle of misery and hopelessness; alcohol had moved from being my companion to a cruel slave master. As consequences piled up, I realized I had a serious problem and needed to quit. I was at the end of myself, having no options, and could no longer bear the pain and isolation brought about by years of selfishness and sin. Finally, one night, I mustered up a final cry for help, “Please help me, Jesus.” Over all these years, even though I was unfaithful to God, He had remained faithful to me. I then reached out to the people who were living examples of Christ for me: my parents. As with the prodigal son, they welcomed me back with open arms, not

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holding against me the years of self-centered hurt I had put them through. I vividly remember when the Holy Spirit filled my heart and prompted me to gather my family around for my confession of faith upon Jesus Christ through Galatians 2:20. In that moment, it became as real to me as the air I breathed: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” It was Christ alone who delivered me from my selfmade abyss called alcoholism, and to Him alone belongs all glory. For what was indeed an impossibility of man to restore my brokenness, He showed to be possible through His atoning work on the Cross. Now that Christ has opened the eyes of my heart to see His beauty and majesty, I am compelled to share Him and His glorious grace with others still enslaved by substance abuse. Those within the throes of addiction are awaiting the good news. Once they see and savor Jesus Christ, they will cast all else aside to follow Him and be in His magnificent presence.

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CATHY ELLIS “I believe God can heal me; I just don’t know that He will.” That’s where I began my second-time-around cancer story. But as I experienced God’s healing throughout my journey, my perspective began to change. About a year ago, when I was diagnosed with a rare recurring form of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma that appeared in at least two lymph nodes in my neck, the prognosis from my doctor was immunotherapy that requires an infusion every six weeks for the rest of my life. Having already gone through one round of treatment for this cancer in 2020 that included daily radiation for 35 days plus chemotherapy once per week, I was not too enthusiastic about jumping into more treatments with a plethora of possible life-altering side effects. I reached out to an intimate group of friends I trusted to pray for discernment and healing. What God revealed to me changed my life and set me on a course toward a deeper understanding of who He is, how He loves me, and what His will is for me—and for you. I learned that God’s Word is His will. I began to pray and claim for myself 101 verses that affirm God’s will for healing. I kept on praying and receiving His truth about me. When His Word convicted me of something I needed to do, I did it. I listened for the Holy Spirit and followed His peace. I am not a sick person trying to get well—I am a healed person fighting against something that is trying to steal my health. And I fight with every tool available to me—prayer and lifestyle changes, like diet, exercise, etc. Over the course of a couple months, the size of the affected lymph nodes decreased. The professionals said the change was statistically insignificant, but I knew it was an encouragement from God. At my request, my oncologist agreed to take a “watch and wait” approach. At the time of this writing, we are still waiting and watching. This metastatic cancer—whose nature it is to spread—has remained contained. And while those changes remain “statistically insignificant,” God is doing a bigger work. I am leaning into my faith in God, learning how to receive the power of Jesus in me, and listening for the Holy Spirit. I feel strong. I sleep like a log, my mind is sharp, and I am running circles around kids half my age. Most importantly, I have complete peace as I believe God can heal me, and He will.

I am leaning into my faith in God, learning how to receive the power of Jesus in me, and listening for the Holy Spirit. JAN/FEB 2024

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inFocus Throughout this issue, there is much imagery that references hands and the act of sewing or mending. These images are meant to illustrate prayer and healing as a mending process done by hand. Hands are a significant component in many biblical stories of healing, with the laying on of hands commanded for those expectantly coming to God in prayer for restoration (Jas. 5:14). Just as a seamstress carefully binds together fabric stich by stich, so too does God bind up the broken-hearted and bring wholeness to His children in both body and spirit. Photograph by Samo Zeal

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BOARD SUMMARY LETTER October 2023

Dear Alliance family, The Board of Directors of The Christian and Missionary Alliance met on October 25–26, 2023, at Crown College in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota. President Denton and his staff warmly welcomed the Board and worked tirelessly to ensure that our meeting went smoothly. We are grateful for their care and hospitality. The Board meeting was preceded by Alliance Days at Crown College, the annual meeting of the college presidents (Crown College, Toccoa Falls College, and Simpson University), and the meetings of the Board subcommittees. The Board spent time in Scripture and prayer several times throughout the meeting. We joined together with the students at chapel on Wednesday. Board member Jen Ashby led devotions for chapel and shared the value of friendship with Jesus from John 13. Board Chair Hazael Morell led devotions and prayer on Thursday. Through the story of Moses’ call, Hazael reminded us of God’s plan, God’s call, God’s equipping, and God’s presence with us as we step into His plan. Opening remarks were made by President Stumbo. Thankfulness was expressed for the wonderful reception from Crown College and for the first full meeting of this new Board. The Alliance Missions Committee Report included the appointment of 10 aXcess, CAMA, and Envision international workers and two marketplace ministries workers. In addition, Tim Crouch shared that the pipeline continues to fill with future workers. As is its practice, Board members prayed individually for each new appointee. The Higher Education Review Committee Report communicated the strong positive relationships that exist between the three Alliance-affiliated school pres-

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idents. Each school reported a strong financial and strategic position, though each share the challenges faced by private Christian higher education institutions in this current season. Each school shared much good news of what is occurring on campus. The Church Ministries Committee reported on the engagement with those who have struggled with the General Council decisions regarding polity changes. Work to advance church multiplication and church advance continues to be a priority for the Church Ministries team. The Committees on Development and Operations/ Finance rejoice that the Alliance family is strongly engaged in missions and continues to be generous towards Great Commission Fund (GCF) giving. We are currently keeping pace with last year’s GCF giving. Giving to One Alliance Place has also been strong since the launch of its public phase of fundraising, though we have much further to go. The relocation assistant to the president, Robb Childs, informed the Board of the status of One Alliance Place. The site preparation, including removal of pavement, grading, and the movement of inground systems is currently in process. We are thankful and stay in prayerful expectation of the work of God in and through the Alliance family across the world. In Christ’s love,

Thomas George Corporate Secretary

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PRAYER IS PRIMARY Requests from Alliance workers

TAIWAN

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

Before attending the Alpha course through our local church, 19-year-old Lin JiaAn was obsessed with online chats and games. He decided to trust in Jesus during the program and was baptized at our Alpha camp. His life changed dramatically as he started going to bed early to have time to read the Bible and pray with us every morning. Lin JiaAn’s heart is on fire for Jesus, and he is now obsessed with God’s Word instead of video games. He has solid plans for his future and is serving the church through art design, food service, and children’s ministry. Praise God for His work in this young man’s life. Pray for him as he continues to pursue Jesus.

For over a week, Ben* watched his foot grow darker with gangrene. After five days of treatment, there was still no change. He was in a dead zone with no cell phone service, but somehow, the following text message came through from his friend Mark, an Alliance international worker: “I’m praying for you.” The same day, Ben had said to himself, “Only Jesus can make a difference here.” After he read the text, he looked down at his foot and saw the black color receding until there was only a small spot on the end of his toe. Mark later said, “I had no idea what our friend was going through, but I sensed a nudge to pray for him and sent a text to let him know. The Holy Spirit is not limited by cell reception, and Jesus is greater than any medical treatment!”

—Jason and Andi, Alliance international workers

Four days later, Mark was doing yardwork at the church when Ben came by to help. He took his shoe and sock off to show Mark his perfectly pink big toe. Even the spot was gone! Praise God for His healing touch and for His faithfulness to answer prayer.

WEST AFRICA The Bible teaches that God watches over, provides for, and defends the widow. In a culture where widows are marginalized and often mistreated, this truly is good news for them.

*Name changed —Alliance international workers

When Aminata’s husband died, she continued to farm for several years. Then her son started high school, and Aminata couldn’t work the farm alone. She and her children moved to the city, but she had no skills with which to earn an income. The family was often hungry and sick. A neighbor invited Aminata to an Alliance widows’ meeting, and her life changed forever. Drawn by the promise of a good meal, she accepted Christ as her Savior that day and began to attend church and Bible studies. Despite her fear of being under water, Aminata took the courageous step of getting baptized. Her family noticed a change in her, and her daughter recently received Jesus. We are thankful that we can bring comfort and good news to widows. Pray for this important ministry that is making a difference for widows and their children. —an Alliance international worker

Aminata is one of many who have experienced the love of Jesus through Alliance international workers who minister to widows.

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A BOLD NEW CHAPTER Positioning ourselves to respond to God’s call

This photo: The work continues as we build One Alliance Place in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Opposite: We are taking intentional and strategic steps toward the pioneering work that has always defined us, like commissioning more workers to answer God’s call to the nations.

e are living in a unique cultural moment, a tipping point where change is happening—fast. How do we, as the Alliance family, position ourselves for what God is calling us to in this moment? During this next, bold chapter of Alliance advance, we are taking intentional and strategic steps toward the pioneering work that has always defined us. If you’re part of the Alliance family, you’re a part of this moment—and the time is now. Together, we courageously commit to seeing our All of Jesus for All the World vision fulfilled in our neighborhoods and the nations through five strategic goals over the next two years. From July 2023 to June 2025, we are committing to partner with God in the following ways:

tial workers are in the pipeline with the International Placement Office; so, we are currently on pace to exceed 52 new workers sent this year. One of those workers approved by the Board is Christina, a graduate of Crown College who completed her Alliance Licensed Ministry Experience at First Hmong Alliance in Olathe, Kansas. Christina has felt the Spirit leading her to serve in Cambodia and plans to deploy in February 2024. ONE NEW U.S. CHURCH PLANT PER WEEK As a Christ-centered, Acts 1:8 family, our call to preach the gospel is both global and local. Over the next two years, with God’s empowerment, The Alliance seeks to plant over 100 new church expressions throughout the United States by training and equipping church planters and helping 450 established Alliance churches develop partnering and planting postures. As of October 2023, 11 new church plants are in the developing phase, three new multisite church locations have been established, and one church has become affiliated since Council. This is a total of 15 new church expressions. There are also 22 new plant projects in the pipeline. Praise God!

ONE NEW INTERNATIONAL WORKER PER WEEK The Alliance seeks to create a meaningful, impactful gospel presence among the world’s marginalized, displaced, and least-reached. We can only establish and maintain this presence by sending new workers to places where the good news has yet to be proclaimed. Since Council 2023, 12 new international workers have been appointed by the C&MA Board, with an additional 9 expected to have been appointed in the Board’s December 2023 meeting. Additionally, 47 more poten-

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ONE NEW OPEN DOOR FOR ALLIANCE MISSIONS PER YEAR The Alliance has always gone to the hardest places. Places lacking gospel access. Places that are hard to reach—geographically, spiritually, or both. To fulfill our role in the Great Commission, The Alliance will enter one new open door each year for the next two years. In seeking God for the next open door, there are indications He may be opening several. Please continue to pray for clarity and discernment.

ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS RAISED PER YEAR The Alliance has always been a movement defined by bold, faith-filled generosity. And the gospel-advancing initiatives God is calling us to fulfill require funding. By aligning the annual needs for our GCF ministries ($75M) and Project ReImagine, the funding stream for One Alliance Place ($25M), we will prayerfully enter a season of renewed generosity and sacrifice to position The Alliance for decades of future flourishing. Since Council 2023, God has given us good momentum toward the Project ReImagine goal, although more is needed to move into the construction phase of One Alliance Place. As of December 1, 2023, giving to the unrestricted GCF had lagged, and National Office leaders were trusting God for a strong year-end giving season. We rejoice together over a strong Alliance response to GivingTuesday on November 28, 2023. Please join us in praying for Spirit-led generosity among Alliance people while resting in God’s faithfulness in providing for the ongoing advance of our mission, as He has for more than 136 years.

ONE ALLIANCE PLACE Over the next two years, The Alliance will complete phase one of One Alliance Place, a multi-use facility that will not only house the Alliance National Office but also serve as a model for changing the posture of church engagement in society. It will enable The Alliance to have a meaningful, impactful gospel presence in the greater Columbus area, provide additional revenue streams for the Great Commission Fund (GCF), and advance an innovative, transformational model for ministry officing. As of December 2023, heavy ground-moving machinery has been on site, completing stormwater systems and preparing the ground for foundational construction.

JAN/FEB 2024

ALLIANCELIFE

ALLIANCE FAMILY NEWS From around the block to the ends of the earth

TO THE FIELD AFRICA REGIONAL OFFICE Stan D. and Jayne R. Walker and family, in August. The Walkers are involved in administration. COTE D'IVOIRE Joel T. and Elin M. Bubna, in August. The Bubnas are involved in theological education. BALKANS Grant C. and Dakota J. Shaw, in August. The Shaws are involved in CAMA ministries. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Silas S. and Courtney S. Stacey and family, in August. Stephen A. and Kezia S. Wall and family, in August. The Staceys and the Walls will be involved with Envision Dominican Republic following language study in Costa Rica. EUROPE REGIONAL OFFICE Joel J. and Kristin R. Cagwin II and family, in August. The Cagwins are involved in member care and counseling students at Black Forest Academy. T. Edwin and Julie R. Mangham, in August. The Manghams are the regional leadership couple. Valary McLoughlin, in August. Valary is the regional bookkeeper for aXcess’ Europe region. GABON Eric B. and Gwen M. Hofman and family, in August. The Hofmans are involved in administration, field bookkeeping, and medical/ health ministries at Bongolo Hospital.

Zachary J. and Jennifer M. O’Connor and family, in August. The O’Connors are involved in medical/health ministries at Bongolo Hospital. Renee E. Valach, in September. Renee is involved in medical/ health ministries at Bongolo Hospital and children’s ministries.

WEST AFRICA Andrew and Esther, in August. They are involved in higher education and women’s ministries; they are also the Alliance guesthouse hosts.

PERSONNEL CHANGES Benjamin Y. Ahn, military chaplain, C&MA National Office

INDONESIA Todd A. and Deborah L. Adams and family, in August. The Adamses are involved in discipleship ministries and leadership development. MONGOLIA Daniel R. and Katlyn E. Hackett and family, in August. The Hacketts are involved in CAMA ministries. Mark D. and Cinda S. Wood, in September. The Woods are involved in theological education and leadership development. NICARAGUA Faith Pyne, in August. Faith is currently in language study in Colombia and will serve with CAMA in Nicaragua. SENEGAL

Andrew T. Babyak, interim pastor, Discover Church of the C&MA, Camp Hill, Pa. In Koo Bae, pastor, Korean District Paul T. Behnke, associate pastor of adult ministries, Alliance Church– Appleton (Wis.) Faith E. Bosland, administrative & connections pastor, Mulberry House of Hope, Springfield, Ohio Josiah A. Brake, Envision site assistant, Metropolitan District Andrew A. Brown, assistant lead pastor, Deltona (Fla.) Alliance Church Stephan V. Brown II, assistant pastor, Rockdale Vietnamese Alliance Church, Conyers, Ga. Albert C. Chang, military chaplain, C&MA National Office Isaac I. Charles, pastor, Jubilee Intercultural Alliance Church, Columbus, Ohio

Johnathan D. and Kaitlin Finkbeiner and family, in August. The Finkbeiners are involved in church planting.

Aaron J. Clymer, pastor, Huntingdon (Pa.) C&MA Church

Mary F. Anderson, in August. Mary is involved in CAMA ministries.

Milton Cruz, pastor, Riverside Alliance Church, Walton, N.Y.

THAILAND

Robert Dayzie, pastor, Shonto (Ariz.) Bible Church of the C&MA

Tou Lee and Tang J. Thao and family, in August. The Thaos are the Envision site coordinators.

Linh G. Do, assistant pastor, Vietnamese Alliance Church, Marietta, Ga.

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JAN/FEB 2024

Tyler A. Corbitt, worship arts pastor, Hillside Chapel, Dayton, Ohio

Southwest Florida Retirement Living Resort Amenities | State-of-the-art Health Care Michael Dolce, pastor, Living Waters Church of the C&MA, Parsippany, N.J. Michael P. Duffy, legacy and care pastor, Deltona (Fla.) Alliance Church Susan Garland, associate pastor, River of Life Church of the C&MA, Shoreview, Minn. Joel M. Geer, pastor, Cornerstone Chapel C&MA, Pompton Plains, N.J. Thomas George, corporate secretary, C&MA National Office Joseph D. Glover, associate pastor of inter-generational ministry, Community Alliance Church, Wickenburg, Ariz. Jason N. Herr, associate pastor, Warren (Mich.) Hmong Alliance Church Stephen M. Hoadley, church planter, Christ the King Fellowship, Stratford, N.J. Linh V. Huynh, district superintendent, Vietnamese District Stanley John, special assignment, Metropolitan District Nicholas B. Jonckowski, pastor, Mosaic Durham (N.C.)

Vibrant Faithful Joyful Living Fulfilled Artful Healthy

Charles E. Jones, pastor, Mission Mississippi Alliance, The Alliance South Num Yee Khang, pastor, Seven Stones Alliance Church, Maplewood, Minn. Heung Kwan G. Lam, pastor for discipleship, Queens Herald Church C&MA, Fresh Meadows, N.Y. Richard W. Larson, associate pastor, Alliance Bible Church, Waco, Tex. Samuel Lee, church planter, Metropolitan District Levi B. Magruder, pastor, Northland Alliance Church, Remer, Minn.

Join the C&MA Family for Your Retirement At Shell Point,® you’ll enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle where you can explore, worship, learn, grow and even continue to serve. And with new additions to our campus, like Tribby Arts Center, a sparkling centerpiece for the arts, and the state-of-the-art Larsen Health Center, you can rest on a firm foundation, knowing that your needs will be taken care of – both now and in the future. VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.SHELLPOINT.ORG

Joshua D. Mannix, youth pastor, Valley View Chapel, Long Valley, N.J. Donald A. Mason, special assignment, Ohio Valley District Douglas K. Matthews, executive pastor of ministry development, First Alliance Church, Lexington, Ky.

Unparalleled setting. Unparalleled lifestyle.™ Shell Point is located in Fort Myers, Florida, just minutes from the islands of Sanibel and Captiva.

Calvin Y. Tan, special assignment, The Alliance Southeast Ricardo Volcy, pastor, First Alliance Church, Harrisburg, Pa. Ronald C. Walborn, special assignment, Metropolitan District Nathan L. Watson, pastor, Alliance Bible Church, Prescott, Ariz.

BECAUSE OF YOU . . .

Johnathan J. Woodin, student life and worship creative arts pastor, Rome (N.Y.) Alliance Church

PEOPLE RAVAGED BY WAR KNOW THE HOPE OF CHRIST.

Daniel F. Wright, Greenhouse resident, Family Empowerment Centers, Chicago, Ill. Shilu Zhu, pastor, Melbourne (Fla.) Chinese C&MA Church

STORIES LIKE THIS ARE MADE POSSIBLE WHEN YOU GIVE TO THE ALLIANCE.

Joseph D. Zach, pastor of discipleship, Kenmore Alliance Church, Tonawanda, N.Y.

NEW CHURCHES Berwick, Pa., Foundry Church, 107 S. Market St., Suite 3, 18603

cmalliance.org/give

Chicago, Ill., South Asian Friendship Center, 6017 N. Maplewood Ave., 60659 Elkhart Lake, Wis., The Well, PO Box 676, 53020 Joshua Medina, pastor, Second Avenue Church, New York, N.Y.

Hidden Creek Community Church, Olympia, Wash.

Porfirio Medina, interim pastor, Iglesia ACyM El Encuentro, Tampa, Fla.

Donovan A. Roberts, college personnel, The Alliance South

Damian W. Mericka, other ministry, Alliance South Central

Philip A. Rodriguez, special assignment, Midwest District

W. Carl Metzger Jr., pastor, Friendship Bible Church, Keystone Heights, Fla.

Puen H. Roo, local church ministry, Grace Montagnard Alliance Church, Charlotte, N.C.

Ronald W. Mitchell, special assignment, The Alliance South

Anthony C. Roos, campus pastor, CrossWay North Shore, River Hills, Wis.

Jessica Mitchell, campus pastor, Mission Church Brooklyn (N.Y.) Nhia Moua, pastor, Alliance Church of Merced (Calif.) Suhas S. Raiborde, special assignment, The Alliance South Robert P. Reimer, special assignment, Metropolitan District Kenneth W. Rice, associate pastor,

Juan J. Sali, assistant lead pastor, Deltona (Fla.) Alliance Church

Leesburg, Fla., ACyM de Leesburg, 218 S. 14 St., 32728 Mansfield, Ohio, Really Recovered Mansfield of the C&MA, 291 W. Cook Rd., 44907

NEW WORKERS Oscar Alvarez, church planter, Western Pennsylvania District Zachariah N. Backstrom, worship director, Citylight Council Bluffs (Iowa) Church

Martin P. Sanders, special assignment, Metropolitan District

Ryan Bebee, pastor, Front Range Alliance Church, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Kathryn J. Strob, outreach minister, Dover Avenue Alliance Church, Orange City, Iowa

John Calvin, Greenhouse resident, Family Empowerment Center, Chicago, Ill.

Nicholaus R. Strob, associate pastor, Dover Avenue Alliance Church, Orange City, Iowa

Zachary K. Castor, assistant pastor of NextGen Min, Hope Community Church, Cottage Grove, Minn.

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Blaise N. Chrzastek, church planter, Metropolitan District Logan Finkey, assistant director of discipleship, Christ Community Church C&MA, Omaha, Neb.

Alliance Church, San Diego, Calif. Andrew W. Owrey, assistant pastor for student ministries, Grove City (Pa.) C&MA Church

Jeffrey D. Harris, pastor, River of Life, Idaho Falls, Idaho

Jesse G. Parker, associate pastor, Restoration Alliance Church, Tiffin, Ohio

Osman R. Hernandez, pastor, Iglesia Peniel of the Christian & Missionary Alliance, San Mateo, Calif.

Tyler J. Peacock Sr., church plant resident, Edgewater (Fla.) Alliance Church

Samuel M. Hutchinson, assistant pastor for youth ministries, Greenville (Pa.) C&MA Church

Chuck Rapp, special assignment, Midwest District

John-Paul Ilarraza, church planter, Metropolitan District Phil James, special assignment, Ohio Valley District Ashley Jarvi, kids ministry resident, Christ Community Church C&MA, Omaha, Neb. Eun Kang, pastor, San Diego (Calif.) Bethel Korean Sun Hee Kim, pastor, Grace Community Alliance Church, Flushing, N.Y.

Jake N. Santis, pastor of student ministries, Hope Alliance, Bethlehem, Pa. Shaun Singh, special assignment, South Asian Friendship Center, Chicago, Ill. Gary A. Smith, ANE director of church planting, Alliance New England Heather E. Smith, pastor of communications & connections, First Alliance Church, Lexington, Ky. John M. Solomon, worship director, Eagle Church, Whitestown, Ind.

The following 12 consecrations and ordinations took place at The Alliance Southeast District Conference, September 19, 2023, Deltona (Fla.) Alliance Church. Andrew A. Brown. Andrew is the assistant lead pastor of Naples (Fla.) Alliance Church. Lorenzo C. Carmona. Lorenzo is an assistant pastor at Hope Community Church, Jacksonville, Fla. Christian A. Dzadek. Christian is the assistant pastor at Alliance Church, Zephyrhills, Fla. Jonathan R. Germain. Jonathan is the pastor of Vive City Chapel, Miami, Fla. Steven (Steve) W. Hunter. Steve is the pastor of Fellowship Bible Church C&MA, Middleburg, Fla. Michael T. Little. Michael is the family pastor at Reveal Fellowship, Lake Worth, Fla. James N. MacFarlane. James is currently an unassigned worker in The Alliance Southeast.

Martha D. Swift, Crown College personnel, St. Bonifacius, Minn.

Slems Massolas. Slems serves in local church ministry at Christ Community Church, Fort Myers, Fla.

Louis Lam, English pastor, Brooklyn (N.Y.) Alliance Church of the C&MA

Timothy K. Thao, campus youth pastor, RiverLife Church of the C&MA, Brooklyn Park, Minn.

Ansen F. Lancaster, worship and creative pastor, Centerville (Ohio) Community Church

Logan J. Southam. Logan is the youth pastor at Park Alliance Church, Fort Myers, Fla.

Roger Waboi, pastor, Swahili Evangelical Refugee Fellowship, Clarkston, Ga.

Keith Lowder, interim pastor, First Alliance Church, Atlanta, Ga.

Adam Xiong, youth pastor, Owasso (Okla.) Hmong Alliance Church

David R. Suderam. David is the pastor of First Alliance International Church, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Ki Nam Ko, pastor, Korean District Andrew J. Kotansky, military chaplain candidate, Kodiak (Alaska) Bible Chapel

Christopher J. Metelsky, pastor of discipleship, Penns Valley Community Church, Spring Mills, Pa. William J. Motosicky III, recovery church pastor, Palm Coast (Fla.) Bible Church C&MA Christian C. Moua, assistant pastor, Hmong Seattle Alliance Church, SeaTac, Wash. Scott Newcomer, pastor, S. Philadelphia Church Plant, Eastern Pennsylvania District Yanzhao Nie, associate pastor of Mandarin ministry, Agape Chinese

Jasmine S. Young, kingdom justice & mercy coordinator, Metropolitan District

CONSECRATIONS/ ORDINATIONS Milton J. Ruiz, July 19, 2023, Pastors’ Family Retreat. Milton is an assistant pastor/church planter at Iglesia ACyM El Shaddai, New Britain, Conn. He is also an international worker candidate and will serve in Guadalajara, Mexico.

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ALLIANCELIFE

Jasen C. Wickert. Jasen is the pastor of Naples (Fla.) Alliance Church. Grant S. Yeh. Grant is an assistant pastor at Space Coast Chinese Alliance Church, Cocoa, Fla. Zachary (Zach) Jones, April 16, 2023, Staples (Minn.) Alliance Church. Zach is the senior pastor. Susan "Sue" Garland, September 17, 2023, River of Life Church of the C&MA, Shoreview, Minn. Sue is an associate pastor. Isaac Immanuel Charles, September 18, 2023, Hope

Church, Westerville, Ohio. Isaac is the pastor of Jubilee Intercultural Alliance Church, Columbus, Ohio.

King Smith, MidAmerica District

Tyler Andrew Corbitt, September 19, 2023, at the Ohio Valley District Conference, Hope Church, Westerville, Ohio. Tyler is the worship arts pastor at Hillside Chapel, Beavercreek, Ohio.

Donald A. Wiggins, North Central District

Richard Larson, September 19, 2023, Hope Church, Westerville, Ohio. Richard is pastor to the Deaf/church planter for the Deaf at Alliance Bible Church of Waco (Tex.). Kim Charles Zimmerman, September 19, 2023, Ohio District Conference, Hope Church, Westerville, Ohio. Kim is head pastor of Gospel of Faith Church, Robinson Creek Ky.

RETIRED Douglas E. Cheshier, The Alliance South William R. Hartman, The Alliance Southeast Craig A. Hofer, The Alliance Southeast Tan V. Le, Vietnamese District Tach V. Le, Vietnamese District Marvin E. Nelson, Western Pennsylvania District Tan P. Nguyen, Vietnamese District Jose M. Nunez, Spanish Eastern District Luis F. O’Bourke Jr., The Alliance Southeast John M. Perry, South Pacific Alliance Richard D. Porter, North Central District Daniel M. Puumala, North Central District Kevin R. Robbins, Northeastern District James W. Ross, Central District Michel A. Schultz, The Alliance South

Steven M. Wible, Alliance South Central

John T. Williams, Central District

WITH THE LORD Marilyn Grace (Parker) Fix August 8, 1940−April 10, 2021 Marilyn was born in Fayetteville, Ark., where her parents were missionaries for the Missionary Church Association in Winslow, Ark. She met Gerald (Gary) Fix at Azusa (Calif.) Bible College (now Azusa Pacific University). They married on September 11, 1959. The couple became involved in youth ministry in Santa Ana, Calif. Later, they traveled across country with an evangelistic team and entered pastoral ministry in 1972. In early 1999, Gary and Marilyn went to Fiji, where Gary taught at South Pacific Bible College, A/G, and Marilyn worked in the administration office. Returning home in late 1999, the couple accepted a pastoral call to the Eagle, Colorado, Evangelical Free Church. Marilyn served there for seven years as the Sunday school superintendent. Then they pastored a C&MA church in Lambert, Mont., where she led the Sunday school program. The couple served there for nine years before retiring from the pastorate. Marilyn was an anointed public speaker who occasionally accepted speaking engagements and was a gifted singer. She sang with Gary for several years as they ministered together. Marilyn is survived by her husband; children Diana, Cindy, Aryn, and Leslie; 11 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren.

Raymond E. Simon, Central Pacific District

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Glenna Jean Arnold September 12, 1931– January 2, 2023 Glenna was born in in Chicago, Ill. A skilled musician, she played piano and enjoyed teaching missionary kids and accompanying congregational singing. Glenna attended Prairie College and John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Ark. On June 2, 1951, she married Gerald (Gus) Arnold. Together they served as Alliance international workers in Indonesia (1971−1981). Glenna was well-known for her gift of hospitality. Whether living in the suburbs of Chicago or the jungles of Indonesia, she made sure her home was an inviting sanctuary to both strangers and friends. In 2022, Glenna and Gus celebrated 71 years of marriage. Glenna is survived by her husband; children Gwen, Gordon, and Gene; 10 grandchildren; and 2 greatgrandchildren; she was predeceased by her six-year-old son Gary. Floyd Richard Evers January 10, 1937– June 13, 2023 Floyd was born in Cokato, Minn., and graduated from Simpson Bible College (now Simpson University in Redding, Calif.). On August 16, 1958, he married Darlene Junkert. During nearly 50 years of C&MA ministry, Floyd served churches in Joyce (1960–1964), Seattle (1964– 1965), and Bremerton, Wash. (1965–1973); Portland, Ore. (1973– 1980); and Newark (1980–1995) and Big Bear Lake, Calif. (1995– 2005). Floyd spent many summer months ministering at Canby Grove Camp (Canby, Ore.) and Alliance Redwoods (Occidental, Calif.). He also served on the Boards of The Alliance and Simpson University.

WHERE

faith & finance M E E T. WHERE

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SCRIPTURE TEACHES US GOD OWNS EVERYTHING and that we are called to

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be generous stewards. But stewardship and generosity look differently at various stages of life. So, whether you’re just starting out or praying about the legacy you’ll leave, FaithandFinance.org is a new online resource for The Alliance. Articles,

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Floyd is survived by his wife; sons Mark, Jeffrey, and Timothy; daughter Rachel; and 6 grandchildren.

Theodore "Ted" A. Sauvé November 11, 1938–August 16, 2023 Born in French Sudan, West Africa, Ted was a third-generation missionary with the C&MA. His grandfather, Allison, and then his parents, Firmin Sauvé and Emma Allison Sauvé, all served in Africa. On April 28, l967, Ted married Linda, with whom he enjoyed 56 years of marriage. He was a graduate of Canadian Bible College (now Ambrose University, Calgary, Alta.).

Logan "Rick" Richter February 18, 1934–June 28, 2023 Born in Connellsville, Pa., Rick joined the army in 1953 at the age of 19; he was honorably discharged in 1956. He enrolled in Toccoa Falls (Ga.) College and majored in pastoral studies. There he met fellow student Alice Strock; they married in summer 1957.

Ted served as a missionary to Ecuador for over 40 years with the C&MA in Canada and the United States. He was a member of the Greensburg Alliance and Lancaster Alliance Churches in Pennsylvania. Ted enjoyed reading, preaching the Word of God, and helping others.

Prior to finding an open position in a C&MA church, Rick taught economics and math in Woodlawn (Va.) High School, where he also coached basketball and baseball. He went on to serve with the C&MA for 42 years in churches in Hazlehurst, Ga. (1961–1963); Ormond Beach, Fla. (1963–1964); Columbus, Ga. (1964–1968); Glen Allen, Va. (1968–1973); Fayetteville, N.C. (1973–1977); Lewistown, Pa. (1977–1980); Savannah, Ga. (1980–1987); Dunnellon (1987–1999) and Hilliard, Fla. (1999–2000); and Carolina Beach, N.C. (2000–2003).

Ted is survived by his wife; sons David, Paul, and Mark; 10 grandchildren; and 2 great-grandchildren. Melvin Frederick "Fred" Polding July 8, 1939−September 6, 2023 Fred was born in McKeesport, Pa., and grew up in New Castle. At the age of 16, he committed his life to Jesus during an altar call at a city-wide evangelistic crusade and later enrolled in Nyack (N.Y.) College. There he met Helen Adams. They married on June 6, 1959, at First Presbyterian Church in Peekskill, N.Y. Fred earned a BS in theology from Nyack and went on to receive an MS in theology from Wheaton (Ill.) Graduate School and a doctorate in missiology from Trinity Evangelical School in Deerfield, Ill.

Rick is survived by his wife; daughter Cyndi; son Timothy; 8 grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren; he was predeceased by 1 grandchild and 2 great-grandchildren. Norman Clifford Nelson August 20, 1926–August 9, 2023 Norman was born in Steele, N. Dak., and attended a one-room school through the second grade. A drought and the Great Depression caused the loss of the family farm. After receiving training at a teachers’ college, Norman taught in a one-room school for five years.

For more than 45 years, Fred served in numerous, varied ministries with the C&MA, including 12 years as a missionary to Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa. There he was the youth director and field leader and eventually became the regional director for Africa. At the end of his first term in Côte d’Ivoire, Fred was honored with the title “Outstanding Young Men of America” for his missionary service. He also organized 15 Bible classes in public high schools there and saw 300+ youth come to Christ through the Bible classes and youth rallies.

At age 22, Norman committed his life to Jesus while visiting family at the Hood River Alliance Church. After hearing God’s call to ministry, he enrolled in Simpson Bible Institute (now Simpson University, Redding, Calif). There he met his wife, Carmen. After graduating, Norman spent six months traveling with a singing group and evangelists.

Later, Fred was chair of the Missions Department at Crown College (St. Bonifacius, Minn.), where he helped found the football program and was the school’s first head coach. He was also the C&MA field director for France, a pastor at Hope Church (Apple Valley, Minn.), and superintendent of the C&MA’s Midwest District. After retiring, he pastored churches in Miami and Osteen, Fla., and was an interim pastor in Wayzata and Lake Crystal, Minn., and Hillsborough, Kans.

During 47 years of C&MA ministry, the Nelsons served churches in Sherman Oaks (1952–1953) and El Monte, Calif. (1953–1956); Dragerton, Utah (1956–1961); and Rosemond (1961–1968) and Paradise, Calif. (1968– 1980). Norman then served for four years as a missionary in Australia. Upon his return, he served churches in Fort Wayne, Ind. (1985–1987), and Fullerton, Calif. (1987–1990). He retired in 1991 and was an interim pastor for many years. Norman was predeceased by his wife; he is survived by children Curtis, Eric, and Yvonne; 6 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

ALLIANCELIFE

Fred is survived by his wife; sons Jon and Andrew; and 2 grandchildren.

JAN/FEB 2024

Your gifts to the undesignated GCF fuel global missions. Through all of our expenses in The Alliance, your gifts to the XQGHVLJQDWHG *&) DUH XVHG WR IXOŵOO WKH *UHDW &RPPLVVLRQ LQ VLWHV across the United States and in over 65 countries around the world.

2023–2024 GCF EXPENSES

A significant portion of your GCF giving keeps your workers on the field, equipped for gospeladvancing ministry. What is covered varies from worker to worker, but all worker benefit from the undesignated GCF giving in more than one of the following ways:

•

Compensation, housing, benefits, and taxes;

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Third culture kid ministry, childcare, and schooling;

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Home assignment housing and travel;

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Visas/passports;

72% Alliance Missions

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Conferences/retreats;

13% Church Ministries

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Language study;

Development

Operations/Finance

•

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Governance/Other

•

And more!

13%

72%

Thank you for your generous giving to the undesignated GCF that provides vital support toward our All of Jesus for All the World vision. JAN/FEB 2024

ALLIANCELIFE

FOLLOWING THE MASTER’S STEPS —by Spurgeon R. Jones Adapted from “Testimony of Spurgeon R. Jones” Originally published in The Colored Quintette, a booklet published in 1937 about the Cleveland Gospel Quintet.

little over a year after the Cleveland Gospel Quintet was organized, God gave me a fine Christian wife—Blanche Jones. About 11 months after I was married, the door was opened for a three month’s tour through the Canadian West. It was difficult for me, but even more so for my dear wife, who was soon to become a mother, to be separated at a time like this; but no complaint came from her. We had gone to the farthest point of our journey and were working our way back, having finished a successful campaign in Edmonton, Alberta, and had come south to Calgary where God was giving us a gracious time. A telegram arrived telling me our first child was born in Cleveland, nearly 2,500 miles away—“A fine baby boy; Mother doing well.” To say I was thrilled and overjoyed is putting it mildly, but within the next 24 hours, I received another telegram, “Come at once; Blanche at the point of death. Come.” Then came another wire—“No hope; three specialists have given up all hopes. Sixteen convulsions in the last 24 hours.” Dear reader, what would you have done? You say pray. Stricken with grief such as this, it was a hard matter to even pray; but pray we did; our party and the church to whom we were ministering and hundreds of friends. But what should I do? My heart was bleeding, my young wife at the point of death, and I had told God He could count on me. I wired back that we were taking hold of God for Blanche. But suppose God should fail me? But God never fails. No

ALLIANCELIFE

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one can ever know the misery and heartache I suffered in those hours, and even now I do not feel to write it all, but to say, to the amazement of three of the best doctors in Cleveland, “My wife did not die but God raised her up again.” Spurgeon Jr. was three months old before I saw him or my wife again. Praise God for His mercy and never-failing faithfulness. I have a fine family of eight children—four boys and four girls. I have been privileged to be at home when two of the children were born, but I was again thousands of miles away when the others were born. It has not been easy to bear, but has it ever been easy to follow in the steps of the Master? We have given this account with the hope and prayer that it shall bless and encourage some soul to draw nearer to the blessed Savior.

Above: 7KH &OHYHODQG *RVSHO 4XLQWHW PDGH PDQ\ VDFULƓFHV WR VLQJ RI *RGōV IDLWKfulness all over North America—resulting in eternal impact for the Kingdom. Jones appears on the far right.

Visit cmalliance.org/thecleveland-gospel-quintet to read the testimony of their work and hear a few of their songs.

W H E R E faith

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TO DAY A N D A B R I G H T E R F U T U R E F O R TO M O R

R OW •

DID YOU KNOW a gift benefiting The Alliance or other ministries you love can also give you the security of income for life? If you’re over age 65, you can give a gift of appreciated assets, and receive a tax deduction today, avoid capital gains tax, and receive additional fixed income for life. With payout rates higher than they’ve been in a decade—ranging from 5.4% to 9.7% based on your age—now is the time to lock in your rate. To learn more and find out how high your payments could be, please call us at 866.824.4172 or email service@orchardalliance.org.

Curious what YOUR rate would be? Try the gift calculator at orchardalliance.org/incomeforlife or call 866.824.4172.

8595 Explorer Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80920 / Toll Free 866.824.4172 / orchardalliance.org Charitable Gift Annuities (CGAs) are issued by Orchard Alliance (Orchard) or as agent for The Christian and Missionary Alliance (the C&MA). Orchard or the C&MA, respectively, is responsible for and liable for the CGAs that are issued in their individual names. The Christian and Missionary Alliance issues annuities in the states of NY, NJ and CA.

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As we seek after a fresh anointing over the Alliance family in this now. moment, we invite you to join us in 40 Days of Prayer, starting January 1, 2024. Through daily devotionals written by Alliance leaders and family members, we will focus on our theme, now. pray, reorienting our hearts to His vision for the coming year. We look forward to uniting with one another as a fully engaged, Christ-centered, Acts 1:8 family.

email: ALLIANCELIFE@CMALLIANCE.ORG

Visit 40days.cmalliance.org or scan the QR code below to subscribe to the daily devotionals.