VOLUME 160 | No. 02 | MAR/APR 2025 THE MAGAZINE
The journey toward radical humility pg. 4
A glimpse into the persecuted church pg. 20
A legacy of harvest in Indonesia
pg. 24
A. W. Tozer once wrote, “Every notable advance in the saving work of God among men will, if examined, be found to have two factors present: several converging lines of providential circumstances and a person.” As a young dentist starting a family, that quote confronted me with a question: Am I willing to be “the person” amid the circumstances and saving work God is carrying out?
At that crucial point in my life, many believers in our local C&MA church, including family, invited us to serve alongside them and continued to develop us in practical ways and through their examples. A group of friends in our local Bible study spurred each other on to live out our faith in our community.
Later, as we stepped into full-time missions with The Alliance, I was confronted with another question: How am I developing, equipping, and preparing others to respond to what God is showing them? Christ’s example throughout the Gospels is clear—to preach and heal, invite others to participate while equipping them along the way, and send them into the opportunities and the work He ordained in advance for them to do. In living my life, whether as a dentist in Ohio, an international worker in West Africa developing medical workers in the inner city, or now through Envision, I should be committed to the same.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s at the district level, in local churches, working with believers providing health care to underserved populations, or on Alliance Missions teams operating around the world, the need is great for more called and equipped leaders to come alongside ministry. That is why we, in part, call out to God along the lines of Luke 10:2 to raise up more workers for the harvest. Each of us feels it acutely.
We have an impressive history in The Alliance of developing and preparing called people for ministry. But this leaves us, in a sense, “competing” for the relatively few with a clear call that fits our existing processes and programs. Our untapped potential might well lie in discipling and developing those yet without a clear sense of how they might fit into what God is doing. The breadth and diversity of believers within The Alliance is already positioned to see the development of many, many new workers from multiple backgrounds, abilities, and cultures respond to what God is doing—in your life and ministry and those of others around the word. We can, in a sense, choose to be net consumers of those already called and equipped or we can choose to be net producers by developing and releasing new called ones to be “the person” amid the circumstances and saving work that God has for them.
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GOING LOWER
The journey toward radical humility by Zach Meerkreebs | pg. 4
A CALL TO TRANSFORM LIVES
Testimonies of biblical discipleship by Hector Belen | pg. 8
FREE VERSE
Quotes from the Kingdom | pg. 13
TOZER ANTHOLOGY
Compiled by Harry Verploegh | pg. 13
16 Acts 1:8
TURNING LOST SHEEP TO SHEPHERDS
The realities of discipling emerging leaders by Becca, an international worker serving with marketplace ministries in Africa | pg. 16
FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST
A glimpse into the persecuted church by Hannah Castro | pg. 20
NOT TOO MUCH TO GIVE
A legacy of harvest in Indonesia by Hannah Packard | pg. 24
YOUR GENEROSITY IN ACTION
The Farm with the Real Eggs by Stephanie, an Alliance worker serving with Envision | pg. 34
38 Family
PRAYER IS PRIMARY
Requests from Alliance workers | pg. 38
Personnel changes, obituaries, and classified ads | pg. 39
FOUNDATIONS
by Alliance Life staff | pg.
by Zach Meerkreebs
Excerpted and adapted from Lower: Igniting Spiritual Awakening through Radical Humility. Used with permission.
“One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. . . . When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: ‘When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, “Give this person your seat.” Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, “Friend, move up to a better place.”
Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’”
—LUKE 14:1, 7–11
Ican be a prideful man, but I’m writing on humility. You’re asking, “Who is this guy? Who does he think he is to write a book on humility?”
I hear you, and I’ve asked the same questions. I feel uncomfortable—but compelled as well.
This is a bit awkward. If I had to guess, I’d guess you might be a wee bit prideful too.
But it’s okay, it’s okay. Let’s stay at “the table,” prayerfully in the conversation.
I know there are many aspects of this journey that will surprise us, like the beautiful lowliness of Jesus but also the icky, subtle, and religiously acceptable ways pride shows up in our lives.
As we dive into this conversation, we must stay malleable and submitted, like clay on the potter’s wheel (see Isa. 64:8).
What if Jesus is waiting for us when we are going lower in humility?
Tim Keller wrote, “Humility is so shy, if you begin talking about it, it leaves.” I read that with a bit of fear and trembling. I read that as a fragile jar of clay . . . a bit intimidated.
But we need to talk about humility—and we need to prioritize the pursuit of it.
I may be an unlikely author for this book. Pride is something the Lord has convicted me of before, but I am captivated by Christ’s loving humility and would love to invite you to chase Jesus and His humility with me. As we look toward this journey, I would like to share with you a definition for humility that we can unpack and discuss: Humility is the simple and freeing agreement of the biblical assessment of who God is and who I am. It is rooted in our belovedness and adoption of the Father. This humility is walked out in friendship with Jesus, relying on His example and grace when we falter, and initiated and empowered by the Holy Spirit because we could not do this by pure will or our own hard work.
When you set your mind on the peak of a mighty mountain, let’s say Everest or K2, there is a season of preparation, study, and training. Not only do you prepare your lungs, legs, and mind to make the trek, you also gather a team of guides and comrades for the journey. There are moments, amid the adventure preparation, when you decide the starting place, where you rest, regroup, and strategize for the next stretch. The base camp, where this all gets started, is a really significant place in the story of a mountaineer. This is the launch pad for the expedition upward.
We are now at a base camp, but before ascending, would we consider what might be waiting for us in the lower places, lower with Jesus? Culture, inside and outside of the Church, uses words like ascend, climb, conquer. Culture can cast a vision of trekking up your leadership mountain and planting that flag victoriously on the summit, like a boss. In Christendom, I have heard a disproportionate amount of teaching about going higher and higher with Jesus in worship, preaching, or prayer. It feeds our desire to win, conquer, and so on, but we are invited as followers of Christ to go lower. Lower gets a bad rap, like we are going to lose character or morals. Descending makes me think of a sketchy basement or even hell.
One of my favorite places on earth is my sweet KP and my college friends’ lake house. You have to climb a little hill and then after a gasp and pause to take in the beauty, you descend carefully down steep steps to one of the most beautiful and precious beaches I’ve ever enjoyed. So, instead of looking down creaky steps with a flickering light into an unfinished basement in a horror film, what if you see going lower as the careful walk lower into beauty. What if Jesus is waiting for us when we are going lower in humility?
Jesus challenges us to consider the concept of lower and all it entails in a short teaching in Luke 14, verses 7–11. Christ, in the home of a well-known religious leader, saw guests taking seats of honor, possibly out of prideful ambition or posturing. Jesus confronts this with a parable about a wedding feast. At the feast, instead of calculating and posturing to get the best seat, which could result in being called out and embarrassed, He says to take the lowest seat at the table. Take the lowest seat and wait for the host to invite you to a more distinguished seat.
Jesus even uses the world recline, or in some translations lay back, when talking about the lowest seat. So many times (confession here), I might take the lowest seat, but in no way is my posture or priority in those moments
focused on reclining and lying back. I might be at the lowest seat, but I’m on the edge of my chair, eager to get invited “higher,” eager to be noticed and thanked. I’m not settled and resting in the lowest seat totally confident in who I am and trusting the Master to put me in the seat I need to be sitting in. How could we, while at “base camp,” consider going to the lowest seat and rely on the Master to invite us to a seat of honor? What if this sort of humility, straight out of the mouth of Jesus, was reclaimed by the Church today? This is a radical humility, or better defined, biblical humility.
What will it take to go lower? To enter the sweet depth of Jesus and all of who He is? Enduring surrender, humble hunger, and vulnerable participation will be tested. In Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis speaks of these first steps: “If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realize that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.”
Lord, give us enduring surrender . . . keep us on the potter’s wheel, keep our egos on the altar, help us keep our minds and hearts surrendered during the hard, humbling work we are stepping into.
Lord, give us humble hunger . . . hunger to look more like You and fullness, not to claim it and flex how humble we have become (and negating our work) but a humble hunger for all that You have for us.
Jesus, we want to experience Your kindness, humility, and gentleness as we say yes to vulnerability, fragility, and a ready yes for what You want for us. Help us not self-protect but vulnerably participate in Your deep formation.
Zach Meerkreebs has the goal to be the most grateful person in the room. His gratitude is founded in Jesus and the gospel, the joy of being married to Kristin, and being the proud father of three girls—Eden, Esther, and Mercy. Zach currently lives in Lexington, Kentucky, and is excited to continue to watch and participate in what God is doing around the world.
You can order Zach’s book, Lower, now from your favorite book retailer.
Photograph by Stephanie Reindel
by Hector Belen
Donna, Texas, a rural town near the border with Mexico, is home to Iglesia Cántico Nuevo. This church has become a beacon of hope in this economically challenged community, offering physical and spiritual nourishment. Iglesia Cántico Nuevo has reached many families through its weekly food pantry ministry, leading some to join the church.
When Moises and Rosa Vazquez joined the church’s ministry team, they brought a fresh passion for discipleship. Two years ago, at the General Council in Spokane, Washington, Rosa heard about the new church-based discipleship program for The Alliance, Project 2819, and immediately began imagining the potential within her community. She started using its materials with the church’s youth group during Sunday morning sessions. The results were remarkable. The students memorized Bible verses each week, applied what they learned, and shared it with their friends. Attendance averaged between 11 and 17 students.
“I have seen a big change in the lives of my students,” Rosa shares. “There is a strong desire to know God more personally. Some have even become more active in the church.”
Rosa’s discipleship efforts have extended beyond the church walls. As a registered nurse at a hospital in McAllen, Texas, she shares the gospel with her coworkers. Using Project 2819 materials, she launched a weekly prayer meeting during lunch breaks. The group, which includes individuals from various religious backgrounds, has grown to an average attendance of 12 to 15 participants.
One group member, Azeneth Saenz, stood out for her curiosity and leadership potential. Rosa invited her to take on a leadership role in the prayer meetings, and Azeneth’s passion for Christ has since blossomed. Under her guidance, the group continues to thrive, serving as a testament to the multiplying effect of discipleship.
When asked about her hopes for Project 2819, Rosa says, “I desire that more people come to know who Jesus is, that they may know more about what the Bible says, and that they can practice what they have learned. Project 2819 has been an excellent tool that has opened the door to sharing and becoming disciples of Christ, willing to disciple others for His glory!”
Discipleship is a word that is often used casually within the church world, yet it holds a profound and transformative purpose. When we think of discipleship, the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:19–20 immediately come to mind: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” This Great Commission challenges believers to embrace discipleship as a divine mandate, not an optional endeavor. But what exactly is biblical discipleship? Simply put, it is learning from Jesus Christ, imitating His life and teachings, and becoming more like Him. This process is the heartbeat of spiritual growth and the cornerstone of Christian living. Understanding and implementing biblical discipleship is essential for both individual believers and the church as a whole.
Rooted in the Great Commission, Project 2819 seeks to partner with churches to develop disciples committed to spiritual growth and guiding others on their faith journeys. The goal is not just to create followers but to
This Great Commission challenges believers to embrace discipleship as a divine mandate, not an optional endeavor.
cultivate disciplemakers who will carry the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Why is disciplemaking so crucial? Acts 6:7 highlights the transformative impact of discipleship: “So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.” Biblical discipleship achieves three key objectives:
1. Identifying and Developing Leaders—Jesus modeled this by choosing 12 disciples to follow Him closely (Mark 3:13–14). Through intentional mentorship, He prepared them to lead and expand His mission after His Ascension. Today, discipleship continues to raise faithful leaders who are deeply rooted in Christ.
2. Creating a Missional Culture—Discipleship fosters a missional mindset, motivating believers to share the gospel with the lost. It instills a
passion for evangelism and equips disciples to reach their communities and beyond.
3. Expanding the Church—When disciples make disciples, the Church grows exponentially and spiritually. This multiplication leads to a thriving, vibrant Body of Christ.
One example of discipleship’s transformative power can be found at Altoona Alliance Church (AAC) in Altoona, Pennsylvania. This congregation is “a loving and compassionate family of believers dedicated to sharing all of Jesus with all of the world.” Through intentional discipleship, AAC encourages its members to engage in spiritual mentoring with more mature believers who can help them grow in the deeper life.
Pastor Tim McGarvey discovered Project 2819 in Spokane and began implementing its resources shortly after. Since then, AAC has completed five of the six-week series
provided by Project 2819, covering topics such as Christ our Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King and sharing Jesus. They are currently engaged in the series titled “All of Jesus for All the World.”
Pastor Tim has utilized these teachings within an adult Bible study group, which meets every Sunday evening. Attendance has ranged from 12 to 30 participants, with the studies on Christ as Sanctifier and Coming King generating the highest interest levels. According to Pastor Tim, the resources have deepened participants’ understanding of Alliance theology and sparked spiritual growth within the church. “We have people coming to our church who are new to The Alliance,” he says. “These studies have helped them learn more about The Alliance and helped all attending dig deeper into these themes.”
The stories of Iglesia Cántico Nuevo and Altoona Alliance Church illustrate the profound impact of biblical discipleship. Through intentional teaching, mentorship, and practical resources like Project 2819, these churches have witnessed spiritual growth, community engagement, and the development of new leaders.
Discipleship is not merely a program, but a lifestyle rooted in obedience to Christ. It drives the Church’s mission, holds faith communities together, and catalyzes spiritual transformation. When believers embrace their role as disciples and disciplemakers, the ripple effect
extends beyond their immediate circles, touching lives and shaping eternity.
The call to discipleship is clear, urgent, and universal. As followers of Christ, we are all commissioned to make disciples, teaching others to obey His commands and live for His glory. When we take this calling seriously, lives are changed, communities are transformed, and the gospel spreads with power.
As you reflect on the Great Commission, consider how you can participate in this life-changing work. Whether it’s mentoring a new believer, leading a small group, or sharing the gospel in your workplace, every effort counts. Tools like Project 2819 can provide valuable resources to guide and equip you on this journey.
Remember, discipleship is not about perfection; it’s about progress. It’s about walking alongside others as we strive to become more like Christ. As we engage in this sacred mission, we hold onto Jesus’ promise: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Dr. Hector Belen serves as assistant director for the Alliance Center for Leadership Development at the National Office. Hector holds a doctor of ministry degree from Alliance Theological Seminary and has served as an official worker with The Alliance for 34 years. He and his wife, Carmen, have been married for 42 years and have three grown boys and 10 grandchildren.
The sun never sets on the Alliance family, spread out across the globe. Wherever we find ourselves, we can be certain that we are each sent. Just as the Father sent Jesus to proclaim the upside-down Kingdom of love, so He’s sending us.
tch John tell a story, share a devotional, issue challenge, or cast C&MA vision. Released on the 12th of each month. Recent
Brian Scott and his wife, Susan, live in Nicholasville, Kentucky. He currently serves in the office of the Ohio Valley District.
cmalliance.org/stumbo-video
“What makes authentic disciples is not visions, ecstasies, biblical mastery of chapter and verse, or spectacular success in the ministry, but a capacity for faithfulness. Buffeted by the fickle winds of failure, battered by their own unruly emotions, and bruised by rejection and ridicule, authentic disciples may have stumbled and frequently fallen, endured lapses and relapses, gotten handcuffed to the fleshpots and wandered into a far county. Yet, they kept coming back to Jesus.”
“He said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.’”
—LUKE 9:23
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
—JOHN 13:34–35
Compiled by Harry Verploegh
Adapted by Alliance Life staff
Every believer has had or will sometime have the experience of leaning hard on the example of someone wiser and more spiritual than themselves and looking to them for counsel and guidance in the Christian life.
Every person has some contributions to make in your life if you know how to receive it; certain people will astonish you with their ability to answer your unexpressed question and tell you what is in your heart. But never attach yourself to any person as a parasite.
Adopt no person as a guru. Apart from the inspired writers of Holy Scriptures, no person is worthy of such confidence. The sweetest saint can be mistaken.
I repeat, never let any person become necessary to you. Christ alone is necessary. Apart from Him we are completely wretched; without Him we cannot live and dare not die. Our need of Him is real and vital and will outlast time and go on into eternity. That deep and desperate need is met by Christ so completely that when we have Him we need no one else.
We may receive help from our fellow Christians as they from us, but our need for them is relative and fleeting. Let anyone become spiritually indispensable to us and we have deserted the Rock to build on shifting sand.
—from The Warfare of the Spirit. Originally published in Alliance Life on January 4, 1995.
“The path of discipleship is narrow, and it is fatally easy to miss one’s way and stray from the path, even after years of discipleship. And it is hard to find. . . . But if we behold Jesus Christ going on before step by step, we shall not go astray.”
—Dietrich Bonhoeffer
This is Zionskirche (Zion Church), where Dietrich Bonhoeffer worked as a pastor in Berlin, Germany, from 1931 to 1932.
by Becca, an international worker serving with marketplace ministries in Africa
“What has he done now?” I asked my husband, Dan, after watching his expression shift from compassion to frustration while receiving a phone call from our emerging leader. This new leader, Bruce,* began as Dan’s translator but soon became like a spiritual son to us. Yet like natural children, there’s no guarantee that those we are discipling will always seek or heed advice before taking action.
Bruce’s background was marked by severe abuse, abandonment, and rejection, all of which made him hypersensitive to constructive criticism. Misunderstandings often cut him deeply. But these same wounds from his past also cultivated a deep compassion in him—a burning desire to help young men who had suffered as he had.
At just 18, Bruce was living on the streets, struggling to survive. It was there, amid his loneliness and hunger, that he encountered Jesus—first through the mercy of a Brazilian missionary and later through a direct encounter with Christ. One rainy night, as he lay down in a makeshift shelter, hungry and desperate, he remembered what the missionary had told him: “If you ever need anything, just pray to Jesus.” Despite his pride, Bruce dared to ask Jesus for help. Moments later, a meal arrived. Later that night, Jesus appeared to Bruce in a dream, confirming that He was the source of both the meal and the gift of eternal life.
From that moment, Bruce dedicated his life to Jesus and to helping others on the streets. He trained with Child Evangelism Fellowship and sought various skills
to support himself. However, his unresolved wounds and fiery temper often sabotaged his relationships, causing him to drift from ministry to ministry.
Despite the challenges, we tried to help Bruce, offering advice and support when he needed it. But we were careful not to enable behaviors that could hold him back. It seemed that misfortune always found him, and each time we met, we prayed, listened, and worked through his struggles. At one point, in a season of doubt, Bruce took a Muslim wife and had a child—named after my husband—without us even knowing about his new family until after his son was born.
Bruce’s journey was full of setbacks, but God never released us from the responsibility of mentoring him. There were moments of deep frustration, but each time, we sensed God’s confirmation to continue walking alongside him. He lived a couple of hours away but would often visit us after his time with the street kids. We would teach, encourage, and pray with him. One day, God instructed me to support him every time he asked. I was unsure, given his history of poor financial decisions, but God was clear, and over time, we saw a change in Bruce. His discernment sharpened, his relationships grew healthier, and the fruits of righteousness began to show.
We invited Bruce to a soul care conference where he experienced profound healing from deep wounds and received deliverance from lifelong struggles. For the next two years, we continued to meet regularly, praying together and supporting his ministry. We sent him
resources, and God provided for all our needs as we supported him. At the same time, Bruce shared the gospel on the streets three times a week, rehabilitated young men who came to Christ, and even helped them reconnect with their families after years of estrangement. He had a profound impact, returning over 30 young men and a few young women who had been living on the streets to their families.
Bruce’s transformation was nothing short of miraculous. Once an outcast, he became a respected leader in his church and community. His compassion for orphans and prisoners became contagious, and his courage and passion for evangelism inspired others. He planted a church near his village and became the leader of a national prison ministry that reaches 25 out of the country’s 27 prisons. For years, Bruce had dreamed of this kind of impact, but without the support to make it happen, he had been unable to realize it.
Through the guidance and mentoring he received, Bruce’s wife also came to faith in Christ and embraced his ministry. They endured the heartbreaking loss of their son, Daniel, to a heart condition before his third birthday. But in the midst of their grief, their lives
became a testimony of God’s grace, touching everyone around them. The man we once knew has been transformed into someone who truly reflects Jesus, both in his heart and his actions.
Dan has continued to share leadership principles with Bruce, who in turn passes them on to his wife and team. He’s so grateful for the teachings he’s received from the College of Prayer and on soul care that he has facilitated seminars to pass them along to his own leadership team. What we poured into Bruce is now multiplied in ways that are deeply relevant to his culture.
In the past, some of our colleagues thought we were foolish or even irresponsible in our support for Bruce. We had to constantly check in with the Holy Spirit to ensure we were hearing His voice correctly. But today, we have no regrets. Bruce is now a respected leader, both in the Christian and Muslim communities, for his work with street children. He’s known in the prisons, where he’s led many inmates to Christ. His wife recently graduated from nursing school and continues to grow in faith and service alongside him.
As we work toward sustainability in ministry, we’re collaborating with our CAMA and Envision teams to help Bruce and his team build a rehabilitation center for street boys and former inmates. This will be part of Bruce’s nonprofit, A Home for Everyone, and will help further his vision to transform lives.
Mentoring emerging leaders can be a roller coaster of emotions, testing your endurance. There are disappointments, setbacks, and moments of doubt. But with love, listening, and sacrifice, the fruit is always worth the perseverance. God has given us an incredible gift in Bruce. Through this journey, we’ve learned to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, to trust His guidance, and to exchange our disappointments for His hope. God’s pursuit of the lost is relentless— and He is in the business of turning lost sheep into shepherds.
My name is Lila,* and I live in a country where family is everything. Mine worships the majority religion here, which teaches us to value hospitality highly and to take care of our extended families during difficult times.
When my husband was in a coma after suffering several seizures, my entire family—brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins—rallied to my side. During his hospital stay, they descended upon our home to prepare a hot meal, play with our children, and ensure our every need was met. This enabled me to be at the hospital. While at the hospital’s café, I had more visitors to help me feel loved, supported, and cared for. A woman of our majority faith prayed at my side; another friend, who is a Christ follower, prayed on the other side. I was struck by the prayers of my Christian friend—they were full of a hope that I had not experienced before. I wondered how anyone could feel hopeful when things seem so dark.
My husband has now passed, and I am left alone to care for my two children. I would love to have the kind of hope my friend has as I walk through this crisis.
*Name changed
A glimpse into the persecuted church
by Hannah Castro
“Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in? For sighing has become my daily food, my groans pour out like water,” Job said, lamenting the greatest tragedies he would ever face. “What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me. I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil” (Job 3:23–26).
All Job had, all he had known, all he had loved was wrenched from his grasp. There is perhaps no greater example of head-on suffering in all of Scripture— barring the Savior’s sacrifice on the Cross.
Perhaps we turn to Job as we walk through times of hardship—to make our circumstances feel less severe or to remind ourselves of true all-encompassing loss in comparison to our own.
Or maybe we turn to his story so that the Lord can speak to our hearts again and again, reminding us that suffering bred from sacrifice is servanthood.
There is often purpose in suffering, and dare I remind us that suffering is biblical. Job is a reminder that even the blameless and upright are no exception to trial.
The Psalms, too, are full of laments:
“Hear my cry for help, my King and my God” (Ps. 5:2).
“Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Ps. 10:1).
“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?” (Ps. 13:1).
Scripture is no stranger to showcasing suffering.
Adam and Eve suffered the death of a child. Joseph suffered injustice and betrayal. Moses suffered through the responsibility of leading a rebellious people. Jeremiah suffered rejection and persecution. Hannah
suffered infertility. Ruth suffered widowhood and loss. Daniel suffered exile. Several of the disciples suffered violent deaths due to their commitment to their faith.
The list is never-ending.
Our perfect Jesus experienced the utmost brutality, bearing our suffering, prophesied even within the Old Testament: “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem” (Isa. 53:3).
The Bible is full of aching, agony, and affliction, but all of these experiences are not simply held between its pages.
We experience suffering ourselves. It is our reality in the here and now, the reality of our fallen world.
The Bible makes it clear that we, as Christians, are not exempt from hardship. In John 16:33, Jesus forewarned and promised His followers: “In this world you
will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Suffering is not an anomaly, but a part of our human experience. However, the nature and intensity of such varies depending on geographic, cultural, and political contexts.
We read of the Early Church, of biblical experiences—and yes, those were realities we must come to acknowledge and learn from—but we need to be aware of the realities around us even still. Suffering is not just a historical experience. It is active in ways we often cannot even imagine—especially those of us in the West.
For many, myself included, the idea of such deep tribulation is often still associated with biblical stories or whispers of such from around the globe. I find it difficult, in my present reality—particularly in the West and as part of the Western church—to truly have a deep-rooted, holistic perspective on what it means to suffer for my faith or as a testament to my beliefs.
Yet persecution in the global Church is real.
For many parts of Africa— and other regions of the world—the very same suffering that is foreign to us in the West is simply a part of the human experience, especially for believers.
One of our Alliance worker couples in the region says that unfortunately, “these are the kinds of stories we’re hearing on a daily basis.” They personally knew some of those who were killed in the attack.
They reflect on the circumstances of their country: “You go 50 miles or more in any direction and you’re right in the thick of where the terrorist attacks are taking place. It’s very, very sad, and everyone’s hearts here are crying out, ‘How long, oh Lord, how long?’”
The attacks are increasing, yet the global reports often don’t reflect the complete story or number of tragedies.
Here’s a bit of the reality in these West African countries: terrorist activity abounds, attacks are prevalent, and violent outbreaks are not a surprise. Schools are closing, medical facilities are shutting down, and terrorists are taking over.
The national church president in Burkina recently said that the greatest need is to pray for the terrorists, that they would come to know Jesus.
In fact, though a bold statement, I don’t believe it to be too far-fetched to say that most Christians around the world—particularly outside of the West—expect suffering. Our Alliance brothers and sisters in West Africa are no exception.
This past year alone, just within the Alliance national church in Burkina Faso, over 19,600 Christians have been displaced, including 189 pastors; 163 churches have closed, 17 of which were destroyed; nine pastors have been killed and two are currently missing; and 37 Alliance believers have been murdered.
And those are just the numbers from our own Alliance family—the total numbers are far greater.
To put it in perspective, on a terrible Sunday afternoon this past August, terrorists came to an Alliance church in Burkina, told all the men to gather in the building, proceeded to tie them up, and brutally murdered 26 of them. Not only are husbands and fathers now gone, but wives, children, and other family members are left abandoned, often needing to flee.
If people aren’t killed or held hostage, they are often being run out of their villages and homes, and their livelihoods are being destroyed.
Imagine living every day in fear for your life, your family’s lives, and for your home and church’s existence to be no more.
People are fleeing to internally displaced people (IDP) camps, where the money has run so low that they can only expect one meal a day. Oftentimes, there’s just simply not a choice. Fleeing for their lives is reality.
Most of the reported pastors and families who are being persecuted already live in the context of poverty as farmers. Some 80 percent of the people live off what they farm, so when they flee, they are losing not only their homes and belongings— let alone family members at times—they are losing their only source of food and sustenance. Food insecurity is at an all-time high, and families can’t afford to move. These IDP camps are sometimes the only option.
It has been reported that these circumstances present as one of the fastest growing humanitarian crises in the world.
The harsh realities of the current situations are not always the first, second, or third signs of suffering. Many of these believers have already been martyred for their faith for becoming followers of Jesus and been persecuted by their families and by their communities.
One of our international worker couples serving in Senegal reflects on the martyrdom they’ve witnessed: “I think there already is a resilience, a dedication, and a commitment to their faith even before all of this that has sustained them in the midst of even more struggles and trials.”
The national church president in Burkina recently said that the greatest need is to pray for the terrorists, that they would come to know Jesus. May it be so. God is still sovereign.
The Church has not been stagnant—The Alliance has partnered with the national churches in these countries to distribute food, work with those in the IDP camps, provide vocational livelihood opportunities and education for displaced children, work toward rehabilitation, and so much more. But they need help.
Not only are we, as the Body, called to partner in prayer, to get on our knees before King Jesus and plead for redemption and care for our brothers and sisters who are suffering, to intercede on their behalf, but we are also able to give tangibly.
Our giving matters and is making a real difference in the lives of those who are suffering in ways we can’t even imagine. Thank you for partnering with our brothers and sisters facing trials of many kinds.
Amid the suffering in Burkina and around the world, many are not hiding the fact that they serve Jesus—they are prepared in that aspect to suffer. They take some comfort in recognizing that they are not the first to go through these tragedies, to experience such hardships— they follow in the footsteps of the Early Church and biblical history.
For the sake of Christ. If there is one thought that sums it up, it would be that.
We have a suffering servant in Jesus, who informs how we understand and live out the gospel. We can recognize that suffering, an inevitable part of our human existence, has redemptive purposes. God refines us, deepens our reliance on Him, forms our character, and strengthens the faith of others through our obedience, all while promising ultimate restoration.
We are active participants in Christ’s mission.
For the promise of the end of suffering is this: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Rev. 21:4).
Until then, we wait on Him to redeem and restore— but we do not do so idly. We pray fervently. We give to our brothers and sisters in need. We support them in as many ways as we can and remain aware. We stay steadfast in our obedience to the Lord. We
To give aid to the suffering Alliance national church in Burkina Faso or to the internally displaced peoples in West Africa, visit cmalliance.org/give, select “a project you love,” type in “Burkina Relief Fund” or “Church Construction Burkina,” or give through CAMA at secure.camaservices. org/camagive by selecting “Aid for West Africa’s Displaced People.”
expect suffering because it was forewarned, though it takes on many different forms. We praise Him through it all.
For the sake of Christ.
Hannah Castro is the story & editorial manager for the Alliance National Office. She has her master of theological studies from Asbury Theological Seminary and is passionate about cultivating stories that glorify the Lord.
by Hannah Packard
It’s impossible for us to see the entire scope of God’s work—how He makes things beautiful in His timing (see Eccles. 3:11). But there are moments when, after periods of extended and enduring obedience, we are able to see a harvest.
In the remote, lush green jungle of Papua, a province of Indonesia, God has been weaving a story such as this—one of persevering faith and His love for those without gospel access in the hardest parts of our world. Many people groups living in Papua had no known contact with the outside world until 1945, when a U.S. military plane crashed into the Baliem Valley, a part of the central highlands of Papua.
Soon after, The Christian and Missionary Alliance began to send missionaries to these newly discovered people groups. Two of those Alliance international workers, Ed and Shirley Maxey, began their ministry in the Baliem Valley in the 1950s, embarking on a potentially dangerous and highly difficult endeavor of bringing the gospel to the Stone Age tribes of the region.
When Ed and Shirley initially settled in the valley, there was significant violent conflict occurring between most of the clans in the area and a culture permeated by fear. As the Maxeys endeavored to learn the language of the local people, it was not a written one; they had to learn
entirely by speaking with their neighbors. Instead of being discouraged, Shirley simply took her small son, Buzz, with her to the sweet potato fields, planting alongside the local women in order to learn.
Progress was most often very slow. The Maxeys’ presence was new and aroused suspicion in some of the tribespeople, but they were committed to holistic ministry. Many of their early days were spent removing arrows from people, treating spear wounds, and doing dental work. They brought in penicillin and medicines to treat sickness and sores, animals and fruit trees, and even taught the local people crafts like basket weaving. Their ultimate goal was always to share the gospel— which made learning the language, and creating writing and literacy materials, a foundational step for them to get the Word of God into these peoples’ hands.
By the time Ed and Shirley returned to the United States on their first home assignment, years after arriving in Papua, no one had yet turned to the Lord. This kind of waiting can be so discouraging—but God was at work in ways they couldn’t yet see. Like the local peoples’ staple crop of sweet potatoes, growth was happening underground.
The Maxeys had been praying for one of the village chiefs to come to Christ, but the first breakthrough came in an unexpected way when a local boy showed up at their home wanting to pray. He became the first believer—a surprising and unforeseen harvest. In
another village, it wasn’t until the Maxeys had been praying, witnessing, and working for 30 years that openness to the gospel finally came, with villagers sending word that they were ready to “receive the Jesus talk.”
In 1963, Ed traveled with another missionary over the southern Baliem mountains to make contact with a new tribe—the Ngalik people. As they finally came over the mountains and arrived in the village of Silimo, they were unaware that there were Ngalik warriors lying in wait in the surrounding brush, ready to kill them. Ed, exhausted from the journey, laid down in the middle of the trail. Seeing this, the warriors were baffled and unsure about killing a man lying in the mud. So, they decided to spare the lives of the missionaries. Soon after, Ed and Shirley moved their young family up to Silimo, to live among the Ngalik people.
Opposite, left: Ed and Shirley Maxey with their four children.
Opposite, right: Shirley, and all of the Maxeys, dedicated a significant amount of time to teaching literacy.
Below: Ed preaches the gospel to Papuan tribespeople.
Ed and Shirley had a great desire for the Ngalik to have a Bible in their heart language. But this isn’t a simple task in an unwritten language among a people without literacy. So, in tandem with Bible translation, the Maxeys had to accomplish this work.
They developed simple primers and taught people how to read—but every dialect they worked among needed its own literacy program. It was a complicated and difficult process, and the Maxey family was faithful in this task for decades. “As long as I can remember, my parents have been learning the language, teaching people how to read, and translating the Bible,” Buzz would later say.
In the 1970s, they were finally ready to begin the Bible translation work in earnest. Ed and Shirley enlisted two local young men, Amos and Enos, to help with the weighty task. This help was crucial because the work of Bible translation usually isn’t as simple as word-forword equivalencies. In order for the Scriptures to be as
meaningful as possible, theological ideas and images often need to be contextualized in a way that people can understand. For example, “Lord” may not have a contextual meaning in Ngalik, but “Chief” certainly does.
Amos, Enos, and Shirley faithfully worked on the New Testament translation, and portions of the Old Testament, nearly every day for 25 years. All the while, they greatly anticipated the moment they would be able to get the Scriptures into people’s hands.
In 1990, Ed and Shirley had been laboring in Indonesia for decades, and their son Buzz and his wife, Myrna, were beginning their first term serving as Alliance international workers with them in Indonesia. At that point, an entire network of churches had been established among the Ngalik—a harvest of joy and fulfilled prayers.
None of the Maxeys would forget the day they finally had the New Testament completed and held a dedication service to honor the occasion. Standing before everyone, Shirley said, “I don’t have gold to give you, and
“What kept me going was knowing that it was God’s Word, and I had the opportunity to participate in a historical moment—to provide God’s Word in the heart language of the Ngalik people.”
Opposite:
Buzz gives the full Ngalik Bible to these believers for the first time.
I don’t have silver—but I want to give you something much more valuable.” Then everyone gathered received a copy of the New Testament in Ngalik.
“We had a dance to celebrate,” Buzz shared. “On the old dance ground where they used to dance to celebrate killing their enemies, we danced celebrating a different kind of victory.”
Ed and Shirley retired in the mid-90s after spending nearly 40 years serving in Indonesia. Though they had immense satisfaction in their work, as Shirley neared the end of her life in 2010, she shared with Buzz and Myrna that she had one regret—not being able to finish the full Ngalik Bible. She asked if they would talk to the Ngalik church leaders about continuing the project.
While Ed and Shirley had laid a tremendous foundation, the rest of the Old Testament still needed to be translated into Ngalik. So, Buzz and Myrna, well established as Alliance workers in Papua doing development and relief work for over two decades themselves, took up the baton. After church leaders agreed to completing the project in 2011, Buzz and Myrna sought out Amos and Enos, hoping that they would be willing to use their invaluable experience to complete the entire Bible translation into Ngalik. Amos and Enos, now church leaders among the Ngalik, gladly agreed to help with the translation.
The work was never easy, requiring Amos and Enos to sometimes spend weeks away from their families to work with the translation team, which included Buzz and Myrna. For the first eight years, after much difficult work, Amos and Enos’ handwritten translations of the Old Testament were transported out of the Papuan jungle to where they could reach their next destina-
tion—Canada. A small team of people from RockPointe Church, an Alliance Canada church in Calgary, met weekly to type out each verse and digitize the manuscripts. Then, they were printed out and taken back to Amos and Enos for corrections. This entire process was repeated three times.
Then the difficult process of reading, editing, and correcting the translation began. With the help of an Indonesian consultant, a Wycliffe Bible consultant, the Indonesian Bible Society, Amos and Enos, and a group of other Ngalik men and women, several rounds of editing and proofreading were completed. During the entirety of this process, while not working on the translation, Buzz and Myrna were doing their own holistic ministry in AIDs awareness, a youth soccer team, animal husbandry, sustainable farming, and disaster relief through their work with CAMA Services.
After decades of work, difficulties, and perseverance, finally, at the end of 2023, the Ngalik Bible—Old and New Testament—was finished and printed. “What kept me going,” Buzz says, “was knowing that it was God’s Word, and I had the opportunity to participate in a historical moment—to provide God’s Word in the heart language of the Ngalik people.”
“It was so much work,” Myrna says through tears. “Especially Amos and Enos, who sacrificed a lot—they were away from their homes a lot—but it was worth every day.”
As Indonesians from other more crowded areas of the country are currently being resettled on Papua through government initiatives and sponsorships, there is hope that God’s Word—now in their own heart language—will burn brightly among the Ngalik believers, leading them to sow the seeds of the gospel among their new neighbors.
Shirley, who went to be with Jesus in 2010, and Ed, who joined her in 2022, never got to hold the full Ngalik Bible in their hands. They never got to see what they and others had worked so hard toward fully realized. And yet, as Ed had said before, none of their work was too much to give to see God exalted among a previously unreached people group. Because of their labor, people like Buzz and Myrna—and Enos and Amos—were able to carry on the work, more thriving local churches were established, and even more people without gospel access were reached.
Three generations of the Maxey family have served or are currently serving with The Alliance in Indonesia.
Buzz and Myrna serve with CAMA Services along with their son and his wife. Buzz’s brother, Chris,* and his wife, Melissa,* serve with aXcess along with their son and daughter-in-law. Each of their ministries—which are all holistic, creative, and varied—continue to expand with time. Buzz and Myrna, as well as Chris and Melissa, have all recently found God calling them to extend their work to new regions or among new people groups who so desperately need gospel access. “We feel like God has given us a second wind, an excitement, a joy.” Myrna says. What a legacy of faithfulness to the long journey of obedience in following God. And what a joy to see what God continues to do as the Maxeys go on steadfastly pioneering His work.
In archival video footage, when reflecting on the nature of waiting on God to bring about a harvest, Ed and Shirley both agreed that if they had a life to live over again, they wouldn’t have changed a thing. They would have done the same work and served the same peoples.
Specifically remembering the village where it took 30 years for there to be openness to the gospel, Ed shared, “Sometimes it takes a long time before the seed germinates. And yet, 30 years is not too much to give and too long to work.”
“When the harvest is reaped, it’s for eternity,” Shirley added.
*Name changed
To watch the video of this story, visit
cmalliance.org/video/ until-the-king-returns
Hannah Packard is the managing editor of Alliance Life magazine. She earned her master of divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2021 and is pleased to serve the Lord, and The Alliance, through storytelling.
by Stephanie, an Alliance worker serving with Envision
In many pockets of our world, there is a need for quality, culturally appropriate food, employment opportunities, and relationships. No different are the needs of our resettled refugee community nestled outside Atlanta, Georgia, in a small suburb called Clarkston. A vibrant hub for refugee resettlement, Clarkston has welcomed tens of thousands of refugees over the past four decades. Within the small city, sometimes called “the most diverse square mile in America,” there are more than 150 ethnic groups and 60 languages spoken. Because of the people who sustain our work through their prayers and giving, we have the privilege to assist and love so many who have experienced hardship, trauma, loss, heartbreak, relocation, and resettlement.
Envision Acres Farm, a ministry of Envision Atlanta, exists to educate, employ, and empower our local refugee community while developing and training missional leaders creatively through agriculture. This ministry began with a dream to welcome the foreigner to a place
of provision, familiarity, and peace. Over the years, we have seen God multiply our efforts and extend His love to those who do not yet know Him. For our ministry, it started with eggs.
We strive to provide our community with quality food that meets the needs of people from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. Because of our shared vision to provide quality food, a member of another local organization partnered with us by gifting our ministry a starting flock of laying hens. With this flock, we began collecting and giving eggs to those in need in our community. Our reach began slowly, but word spread quickly.
Many now ask for eggs and refer to us as “the farm with the real eggs.” This makes us chuckle, but we learned quickly that many were unsure of eggs in grocery stores because of their white coloring and their identical appearance. It is a joy to bring our multicolored, differ-
ently shaped eggs to those in need. We are so thankful that now we are on call for food provision from a health clinic and resource center in Clarkston to provide this protein for those struggling with food scarcity.
Through your support of Envision Acres Farm, you don’t just feed people in need. You also create opportunities for us to connect in meaningful ways with our neighbors. As we’ve built trust with others in our community, family visits to the farm have become popular. When our first visitors arrived, we could barely communicate with one another. This family had recently come from Afghanistan and was overwhelmed by new things in our country. As their comfort level with us increased, we spent the afternoon walking through our garden, petting goats, and snacking under pecan trees. When the visit came to an end, we provided eggs as a parting gift. The mother of the family was so grateful and had her children translate that she missed farming—that she was the one who cared for the family farm back home. A visit to the farm, the gifting of fresh eggs, and a connection to home opened a door for relationship. Since then, this family has returned to the farm for many events and regularly receives assistance from our team.
It is a pleasure to offer our farm as a place of peace and familiarity to those first visitors and so many others. It is not uncommon to hear visitors say our farm reminds them of farms in their home countries or to hear the laughter of children as they offer grain to our livestock and their parents watch with big smiles. It is also not uncommon to be welcomed into refugee homes because of the gift of eggs and produce and time spent on the farm. We love this community; we love the friends we’ve made; and we thank God for using us—and our worldwide Alliance family—to extend His love to displaced people outside Atlanta.
We also love that we have had many opportunities for gospel-centered conversations through farm goods and employing two young refugee men. We now have the great opportunity to expand our reach by expanding our property and its uses.
Our desire is to steward this property as best we can to serve the needs of our refugee community. The farm currently reflects the diversity of cultures in Clarkston as we raise chickens, goats, and sheep and grow an annual garden. We believe God is asking us to expand into the remaining untouched 50 acres of our land to make an even greater Kingdom impact. The excitement of providing for more families and walking through more open doors for gospel-centered conversations empowers us to plan strategically while trusting God to direct our steps.
The challenge is daunting. Expanding into the remaining acreage will require long hours and additional resources. With your continual support of Envision Acres Farm, we will seek to develop the property (including fencing and pasture planting), provide employment opportunities for our refugee community on the farm, add to our livestock herds, and cover basic operating costs of the expanded farm.
Our world is changing, and people are moving. The circumstances of a refugee’s journey are unimaginable and wearisome. Because of this journey, though, many are now in places with gospel access. Our team interacts with individuals from 17 countries, including Afghanistan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nepal, Sudan, and Syria.
God has blessed our reach into this community, and we look ahead to how He will continue to use your generosity and prayers to provide quality, culturally appropriate food, offer employment opportunities, and cultivate relationships with our refugee friends whose journeys for peace, stability, and hope will never be complete until they find a new home in His Kingdom.
Since opening in 2020, Envision Acres Farm has never produced as much food or employed as many refugees as it could— but that can change now through your giving. To maximize the gospel impact of this vital ministry serving neglected and hurting people, visit cmalliance.org/ gift-catalog-alliance-strategic-projects/ envision-acres-farm/. Learn more about Alliance strategic projects throughout the world in need of your prayers and financial support by accessing the 2024–2025 Strategic Giving Opportunities Gift Catalog at cmalliance.org/gift-catalog or by calling toll-free (866) 443-8262.
“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’”
—Matthew 19:14
At the beginning of the full-scale conflict here, people were leaving the occupied area and virtually abandoning their buildings and homes. One of our pastors then started to remodel an unused part of their church building and installed more water wells with an expensive filtration system. It has turned out that the church’s wells have often been the only water available in their small city, and they have given the water out for free to everyone in need. Their facility now houses military chaplains and others who care for soldiers, those on short-term leave from the military, and workers from various ministries as they travel to this area for humanitarian purposes. The church has become a true light for the gospel to their entire community. Praise God for how He has worked in this situation to bring light out of darkness. Pray, too, that many people in this area will come to know Jesus through the church’s kindness.
—an Alliance worker couple serving with aXcess
As Envision workers who serve in a large urban center, we’ve had some incredible opportunities to work with those seeking asylum. We are blessed by the stories of people having dreams and visions of Jesus and those who are so open to hearing more about Him. We are delighted to see young believers from a West African country grow in their faith and continue to tell their friends about Jesus.
A short-term team came for several days last fall. Highlights included praying over Muslim-background believers and with men and women in overwhelming situations. Many were in tears as we prayed for them. On another occasion, an immigrant who is staying with us shared the gospel with a friend from Africa we had over for dinner. Our friend was intrigued by the gospel and said he wanted to learn more. Pray for our Envision team as we seek the Holy Spirit about what relationships to invest in more deeply amid the many opportunities before us.
—an Alliance worker couple serving with Envision
There was almost no rain last year in the village where my wife and I serve with CAMA, the relief and development arm of The Alliance. So, the big question from the farmers was this: “What have we done that has caused God to stop sending the rains?” How do you answer that question?
Earlier that day, I had asked the Lord to give me an opportunity for a deeper conversation with the people we serve. When I heard that question, I knew it was an open door. For the next 30 minutes, the small group of farmers and I talked about how sin had affected our relationship with God, each other, and His creation. I asked the group if I could offer a solution to this sin problem. They all responded, “Yes!” I told them that Jesus is the One who can forgive us and reconcile all our relationships. God is giving me many opportunities to share the message of Jesus. Please continue to pray for the many people here who are so engrained in the majority religion here that they find it very hard to commit their lives to Jesus.
—Seby and Jeana, an Alliance international worker couple serving with CAMA
From around the block to the ends of the earth
Nicolas A. and Claudia M. Serrano Escalante Rendon and family, in October. They serve with Envision as site coordinators.
GABON
Wayne G. and Suzanne L. Van Arragon Spronk, in October. The Spronks serve with aXcess and are involved in medical/health ministries at Bongolo Hospital.
GUINEA FOUTAJALON TEAM
Jacob S. and Sarah N. Howard, in October. The Howards serve with aXcess and are involved in discipleship ministries and church planting.
Mark B. and Susan M. Davis and family, in October. The Davises serve with CAMA and are involved in business, health care, community wellness, advocacy, and development in Guadalajara.
Danciel Rivera and Yarilou Morales, in November. They serve with aXcess and are involved in church planting, creative arts, and multimedia in Guadalajara.
Milton J. and Awilda Ruiz, in October. The Ruizes serve with aXcess and are involved in church planting, evangelism, and leadership development in Guadalajara.
TAIWAN
Christopher S. and Jamie J. O’Dell and family, in October. The O’Dells serve with Envision as site coordinators. They also serve in
church ministries and are business managers.
Mark D. and Kitiya Murphy and family, in October. The Murphys serve with aXcess and are involved in church planting and serve as the team leaders.
Aaron D. Alaniz, assistant pastor, Fellowship Community Church, Midland, Tex.
David K. Bennett, chaplain, The Alliance Southeast
Danial J. Bowers, executive pastor, South Pacific Alliance
Larry M. Burg, institutional chaplain, North Central District
Scott P. Calentine, special assignment, Madison Community Church, Everett, Wash
Leng Cha, pastor, Calvary Hmong Alliance Church, Spartanburg, S.C.
Wayne K. Cho, non-Alliance assignment, Metropolitan District
Ngaitun T. Chow, Cantonese associate pastor, Seattle (Wash.) Chinese Alliance Church
Wayne Chu, interim pastor, Grace Alliance of Norwalk (Calif.)
Jhon H. Cortes, assistant pastor, True Vine Church Community, Philadelphia, Pa.
Samuel Q. Donica, executive pastor, Crossroads Neighborhood Church, Bremerton, Wash.
Jonathan D. Dueck, non-Alliance assignment, Central District
Steven A. Fischer, lead pastor, Anchor Church, Sylvania, Ohio
Crystal Garnett, church planter, Catalyst Life Alliance Church, Bend, Ore.
Jesse Garnett, church planter, Catalyst Life Alliance Church, Bend, Ore.
Emily R. Geoffroy, worship pastor, Living Water Community Church, Bayville, N.J.
Timothy C. Hall, military chaplain candidate, C&MA National Office, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Mang T. Her, pastor, Trinity Alliance Church, Paris, Ark.
JeanBaptiste Lamisere, pastor, Elim Alliance Church, Valley Cottage, N.Y.
Linh D. Le, interim pastor, Vietnamese Evangelical Church, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Nathan B. Lenstra, special assignment, Hope Chapel, Belleville, Ill.
Christopher Li, high school director, South Pacific Alliance
Joshua Medina, military chaplain candidate, C&MA National Office, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
William G. Miller, pastor, Lewistown (Pa.) C&MA Church
Sheri Morgan, special assignment, Alliance Northwest District
Trevor W. Morris, lead minister, Buckhannon (W.Va.) Alliance Church
Marshall K. Mullinax, military chaplain, C&MA National Office, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Dao T. Nguyen, pastor, Vietnamese Evangelical Church of Long Beach (Calif.)
John H. Nguyen, other ministry, Living Word Community Church, San Jose, Calif.
Sara Nishimoto, special assignment, Ohio Valley District
Daniel J. Ockrin, interim pastor, Adirondack Alliance Church, Saranac Lake, N.Y.
Tien Dat T. Ong, pastor, Tacoma (Wash.) Vietnamese Alliance Church
Harrison D. Owczarek, lead pastor, Adventure Church, Kalispell, Mont.
Judy Pilgrim-Hector, assistant pastor, Alliance Tabernacle, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Nigel G. Probert, transitional lead pastor, Bloomingdale (Ill.) Alliance Church
David E. Prosser, pastor, Onamia (Minn.) Alliance Church
Scott A. Reitz, special assignment, Metropolitan District
Miguel X. Vargas Rivera, associate pastor, Iglesia y Academia Alianza Theopolis, Mayaguez, P.R.
Briana L. Russell, hospital chaplain, Midwest District
Luis F. Sanchez, special assignment, Alliance Northwest District
Kevin A. Schafer, pastor, Christ Community Church, Fort Myers, Fla.
Monu Shinchoury, military chaplain candidate, C&MA National Office, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Daniel J. Stringer, missions intern, Deltona (Fla.) Alliance Church
Karis M. Stringer, missions intern, Deltona (Fla.) Alliance Church
Peter P. Teng, transitional senior pastor, Grace Chinese Alliance Church, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Cristobal Tong, lead English pastor, New York (N.Y.) Chinese Alliance Church
Mauro W. Venegas, pastor, Iglesia Resurreccion y Vida, Salinas, Calif.
Olivia H. Vinson, assistant campus pastor, Crown College, St. Bonifacius, Minn.
David W. Wilson, lead pastor, Harvest Downtown, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Weili Xie, non-Alliance pastor, Metropolitan District
Daniel Xiong, military chaplain candidate, C&MA National Office, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Toua J. Yang, assistant pastor, Twin Cities Hmong Alliance Church, Maplewood, Minn.
Ngoeun Yoeun, men’s ministry, Grace Alliance of Norwalk (Calif.)
Columbus, Ohio, Jubilee Intercultural Alliance Church, 3750 W. Henderson Rd., 43220
Culebra, P.R., ACYM Culebra, Carr 251 Via Playa Flamenco, 00775
Elk Grove, Calif., Elk Grove Risen Hope, 3133 Dwight Rd., 95758
Louisville, Ky., All Glory Church, 3726 Bardstown Rd., 40218
Memphis, Tenn., Bridge of Hope Church, 3076 Kirby Pkwy., 38115
Springfield, Ohio, First Haitian Evangelical Church, 1530 Yellow Springs St., 45506
Williamsport, Pa., Common Places Newberry, 901 Diamond St., 17701
David E. Augustine, associate pastor, Wayside Chapel Community Church, Rosamond, Calif.
Gauthier Bakatukanda, pastor, Rhema Faith Church, Lawrenceville, Ga.
Craig Benson, military chaplain candidate, C&MA National Office, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Michael Bitonti, military chaplain candidate, C&MA National Office, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Ryan L. Brown, associate pastor, Compassion Church, Anoka, Minn.
Robert E. Bruce, assistant pastor, Fervent Church Sewell (N.J.)
Jacob C. Carr, associate pastor, Wind River Community Church, Lander, Wyo.
Kelly L. Carraher, adult ministry director, Fairhaven Church, Dayton, Ohio
Christopher S. Chen, assistant pastor, Great Commission Community Church, Falls Church, Va.
Noah Z. Dennis, assistant youth director and mission coordinator, South Pacific Alliance
Brett DeRoss, family and worship ministries resident, Citylight Southwest Iowa, Emerson, Iowa
Jacob M. Diamanti, assistant pastor, Riverside Chapel, Florence, N.J .
Natalie S. Doughty, pastor, Neighborhood Church, Rockville, Md.
Nathaniel Friesen, other ministry, Salem (Ore.) Alliance Church
Cabella T. Fritze, other ministry, Salem (Ore.) Alliance Church
Andres Garcia, military chaplain candidate, C&MA National Office, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Jeremy D. Garland, kids pastor, RiverLife Church, St. Paul, Minn .
Micah Glasby, military chaplain candidate, C&MA National Office, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Eric Gregory, student community director, Community Fellowship, Lancaster, Pa .
Javier Guevara, pastor, Alianza Bonita Springs (Fla.)
Daniel Gutekunst, associate pastor, Citylight Church Delco, Drexel Hill, Pa.
Vincent Harris, assistant pastor, Fordham Manor Church, Bronx, N.Y
Brendan Horner, assistant pastor, West End Church, Allen, Va
Colby D. Hull, ministry resident, Common Places Church, Lock Haven, Pa.
Patrick Johnson, pastor, Hope Community Church, New Brighton, Minn.
Kong Cheng Kong, outreach pastor, True Life Church, Hickory, N.C.
Brett Krohn, tech and creative arts assistant pastor, Riverside Church, Big Lake, Minn.
Anthony T. Kurtz, pastor, Marion Hill C&MA Church, New Brighton, Pa.
Rogelio Ledesma, church planter, Alliance South Central
Trenten Long, military chaplain, C&MA National Office, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Luis O. Mantilla, pastor, Iglesia Hispana Alianza de Frederick (Md.)
Rose L. Matzek, youth minister, Grace Church, Middleburg Heights, Ohio
Henry V. McWatters, youth ministries director, Long Beach (Calif.) Alliance Church
Jordan T. Merendino, youth pastor, Awakening Alliance Church, Ridgway, Pa.
Brenna Modine, children’s ministry director, Mercer Creek Church, Ellensburg, Wash.
Alisa Mose, military chaplain candidate, C&MA National Office, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Kevin L. Nguyen, assistant pastor, Vietnamese Alliance Church, Austin, Tex.
Timothy L. Nguyen, military chaplain candidate, C&MA National Office, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Mike Patterson, pastor of youth and discipleship, NorthGate Community Church, Cathedral City, Calif.
Phung Phan, associate pastor, Alderwood Vietnamese Community Church, Lynwood, Wash.
Glauzair Pierre, pastor of student ministries, Uplift Church, Jacksonville, Fla.
Billy S. Quintanilla, interim pastor, Iglesia ACyM Arca de Salvacion, Bronx, N.Y.
Branden R. Root, pastor, Warren (Pa.) C&MA Church
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Logan J. Shafer, Greenhouse resident, Fairhaven Church, Dayton, Ohio
Johnny H. Spence II, lead pastor, Chinook (Mont.) Alliance Church
Mona M. Suen, assistant pastor, Peninsula Community Alliance Church, San Mateo, Calif.
William Thomas, lead pastor, Greybull (Wyo.) Alliance Church
Joy L. Trachsel, non-Alliance assignment, Central District
Teshome Wagari, non-Alliance assignment, MidAtlantic District
Joe E. Ward, associate pastor for youth ministries, Verndale (Minn.) Alliance Church
James M. Wilson, pastor of ministries, Hillside Community Church, Vermillion, S.Dak.
Xuechao “Simon” Chen, August 25, 2024, Los Angeles Chinese Alliance Church, Alhambra, Calif.
Simon is an associate pastor.
Olivia Vinson, November 20, 2024, Crown College, St. Bonifacius, Minn. Olivia is the assistant campus pastor and chapel worship coordinator at Crown College.
Stephen P. Cutter, Eastern PA District
Benigno Diaz, The Alliance Southeast
Gary C. Fairchild, Alliance New England
Francis Y. Fung, Metropolitan District
Gabriel A. Galdo, The Alliance South
Joel L. Getts, Ohio Valley District
Claude H. Hazard, The Alliance Southeast
Richard W. Koskela, Alliance South Central
Joseph T. Lim, The Alliance Midwest District
Michael P. Lorey, Ohio Valley District
Lesley R. McDannell, Alliance South Central
Daniel G. Niebling, North Central District
Donald P. Sappington, Alliance Northwest District
John W. Steele, Central District
H. Bradford Stephenson, The Alliance Southeast
Seng O. Sy, Alliance South Central
Wayne G. Yee, Central Pacific District
Grant S. Yeh, The Alliance Southeast
Joan Elizabeth (Johnston) Israel May 7, 1931–August 31, 2024
Born in Albany, Ore., Joan (pronounced “Jo-Ann“) attended Simpson Bible College in Seattle, Wash. (now Simpson University, Redding, Calif.). There she met Ronald “Ron“ George Israel; they married on June 20, 1953. Following graduation, they served two small pastorates in Seattle and Redmond, Wash. During their ministry, the couple began to sense God’s call to overseas missions. In 1960, they were appointed as C&MA missionaries to Africa, and they attended language study in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1961.
For the next 35 years, Joan and Ron served in Africa, first in Guinea (1962–1971) and then in Gabon (1972–1996). Following their first eight years of service, they were dorm parents for missionary children at boarding schools in Mamou, Guinea, and Bongolo, Gabon. Joan acted as a mother to many children at both schools, planning meals and activities, listening to their woes, imparting her wisdom, and providing daily structure to their lives. Later, Ron and Joan were assigned to Libreville, Gabon, where they served as the business manager/hostess for the Gabon field. Joan was an excellent hostess, providing meals and lodging for numerous missionaries and guests. Following their retirement in 1996, the couple settled in Dallas, Ore., where they attended Dallas Alliance Church and became involved in many aspects of the church’s life.
Joan was predeceased by her husband; she is survived by children Dawn, Steve, Diane, and Doreen; 12 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.
Leila M. Grout
July 3, 1930–September 7, 2024
Leila was born in Esbon, Kans., and initially worked at Back to the Bible Broadcasting. She then completed a semester at Kansas City Bible College (now Calvary University, Kansas City, Mo.). On August 26, 1949, Leila married Wendell K. Grout; they enjoyed 74 years together.
During 20 years of C&MA ministry, Leila served alongside her husband in the U.S. MidAmerica District and in Calgary, Alta., Canada. Leila enjoyed being a Sunday school teacher and would accompany Wendell during his hospital visitation ministry. She died in Aurora, Calif., at the age of 94. Leila was predeceased by her husband; she is survived by children Claudia, Daniel, Nathan, Philip, and James; 11 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
where faith & finance
On a late November afternoon in 1881, several adults huddled around a small heating stove in a “cold and cheerless” New York City dance hall. Rev. Albert Benjamin Simpson had called the meeting, inviting all believers who supported “an aggressive spiritual movement” to reach the city’s neglected nonbelievers. He felt the Holy Spirit leading him to begin a world missions movement.
Today, as a committed Alliance believer, you long to use your Godgiven resources to send the Good News into the last remaining unreached corners of our world. As The Alliance’s trusted financial services arm since 1959, Orchard Alliance is here to help guide you where Faith & Finance meet. Contact us today!
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• Watch a short video summary of the year by president Scott Kubie
• Read an impactful ministry story featuring Living Rock (C&MA) Church in Norwood Young America, MN
• Review the 2024 financials
where faith & finance meet
Alice J. Lemons Bollback
June 28, 1943–October 12, 2024
Alice was born in Aliquippa, Pa. She earned her BA in Christian education from Nyack (N.Y.) College (later Alliance University, New York, N.Y.) in 1965. On June 10, 1966, Alice married James A. Bollback of Hong Kong. During more than 50 years of C&MA ministry, the couple served in Buzzards Bay, Mass. (1967–1968); Warren, Pa. (1969–1972); Norfolk, Neb. (1972–1974); Pearl River, N.Y. (1977–1979); Nyack (N.Y.) College, later Alliance University, New York, N.Y. (1983–1988); Edina (1988–1990) and Nowthen, Minn. (1990–1992); Duluth, Ga. (1992–1999); Lancaster, Pa. (2002–2005); Pinehurst, N.C. (2006–2011); the Alliance South District Office (2011–2016); and Eagan, Minn. (2016–2017). The Bollbacks were also international workers in Taiwan (1974–1976) and Hong Kong (1999–2002). Early in her ministry, Alice was active in children’s work, and she later developed a broad mentoring ministry for women.
Alice is survived by her husband; sons James, Jonathan, and Jason; and 6 grandchildren.
Sharon Wilson Mangham
December 31, 1945–October 24, 2024
Sharon was born in Nyack, N.Y. Growing up as the daughter of an Alliance pastor, she had a profound encounter with God that led her to answer His call to Christian ministry. Sharon studied Christian education and missions at Toccoa Falls (Ga.) College, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree. On August 5, 1967, in Richmond, Va., she married G. Edwin Mangham, whom she had met in college.
For 35 years, Sharon and Ed served with the C&MA in overseas and pastoral ministry. The places they served include the Dalat School, Penang, Malaysia (1973–1976); Ypsilanti (1978–1980) and Saginaw, Mich. (1980–1984); Westmont, Ill. (1984–1988); the Alliance Academy, Quito, Ecuador (1988–1990); Houston, Tex. (1990–1994); Nyack, N.Y. (1994–2001); Dubois, Pa. (2001–2002); and Hong Kong (2002–2008). Following retirement from vocational ministry, Sharon and Ed continued to serve the Lord through leading worship, church planting, prayer ministries, mentoring, and church leadership coaching.
Sharon was a faithful intercessor with a fervent passion for evangelism. She died at the age of 78 in Wilmore, Ky., after a courageous battle with a recurrence of breast cancer.
Sharon is survived by her husband; children Lorrie, Ed, and Kent; 12 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren.
Lewis “Jay” Mapstone
February 3, 1931–October 27, 2024
Born in Southfork, Pa., Jay received his bachelor of religious education from the Missionary Training Institute (later Nyack [N.Y.] College and Alliance University, New York, N.Y.). He earned his MA in Hebrew culture and education from New York University in 1964. On December 19, 1952, he married Iris McKaig, whom he had met while attending Nyack. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in December 2022.
During 40 years of C&MA ministry, Jay was an assistant pastor in Hamilton, Ont., and then pastored churches in Stoney Creek, Ont.; Southampton, N.Y.; and Windsor, Ont. He also served at Nyack College as director of admissions, registrar, director of financial aid, director of institutional research, and vice president and dean. Jay was especially proud of starting the Adult Education Program that allowed nontraditional students to earn their college degrees. He died at the age of 93 in Reno, Nev.
Jay is survived by children Virginia, Cheryl, Karen, Judy, and Jay; 10 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren.
Clara Lou Stucky
November 20, 1926–November 9, 2024
Born in Fort Wayne, Ind., Clara Lou trusted Jesus as her Savior at the age of 15. By the time she was 16, she knew that God was calling her to missions. Clara Lou attended Fort Wayne Bible Institute (1944–1947) and graduated from the Swedish Covenant Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago, Ill., and Preston Maternity Hospital in Philadelphia, Pa. She also studied in Paris.
For 19 years, Clara Lou served as a nurse in Gabon, Africa, under the dual appointment of the Missionary Church and the C&MA. She retired from the Lutheran Hospital’s Oncology Unit in 1991 and then volunteered for 10 years at Matthew 25 Health Clinic, which provides health care for low-income people. Clara Lou was an active member of First Missionary Church and a former member of the Woodburn Missionary Church. She was known for her generosity and genuine love for people.
Clara Lou is survived by nieces Beth, Debbie, Vicki, and Jan; nephew Rob; and many great- and greatgreat-nieces and nephews.
Beverly “Bev” Marsella Hendrickson
December 16,1938–November 20, 2024
Born in Waukesha, Wis., Bev attended St. Paul Bible College (now Crown College, St. Bonifacius, Minn.), where
she met Craig A. Hendrickson. They married on August 15, 1959, in Minneapolis, Minn. During their 65 years of marriage, Bev served with the C&MA for 54 years.
After serving at a church plant in Brooklyn Park, Minn. (1962–1964), Bev and Craig sailed to Indonesia in response to God’s call to missions. They completed language study in 1965 and then served in Flores doing pioneer missionary work (1966) and Tanah Toraja, where Bev taught at the Bible college (1966). They were also dorm parents for third culture kids in Bandung (1972), pastored churches in Jakarta (1973), were missionaries in residence in St. Bonifacius, Minn. (1974 and 1981), and served in church ministries in Jakarta (1975–1978). In 1979, Bev was involved in shortwave radio ministry, and in 1983, she was the mission secretary. She was a teacher and the librarian at Canberra (Australia) College of Theology (1985–1997) and in Ungaran, Indonesia, at Simpson Bible College (1998). Bev also served in women’s ministry in Hong Kong (2000) and Palm Coast, Fla. (2006–2016). While at Canberra College, she used computer tech to organize the library under the Dewey Decimal classification system. Bev especially loved teaching Old and New Testament history.
Bev is survived by her husband; children Eric and Heidi; 8 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren.
Richard J. Barker
May 13, 1933–December 2, 2024
Richard was born in Philadelphia, Pa., and attended a C&MA church. He accepted Christ as his Savior and was baptized when he was 13. Sensing God’s call to ministry, Richard attended the Missionary Training Institute (later Nyack [N.Y.] College and Alliance University, New York, N.Y.), where he graduated in 1955 with a degree in theology. Further education included courses by extension from Canadian Bible College (now Ambrose University, Calgary, Alta.) and Emmanuel Bible College (Kitchener, Ont.). In 1954, Richard married Peggy G. Tingley, who predeceased him in 2007.
Richard pastored for over 50 years with the C&MA in Ont., Canada; California; Florida; the Bahamas; and Georgia. He had radio ministries in several pastorates and led three congregations in major building programs. In addition, he served on district committees, was district director of Christian education in eastern Canada, and was the executive director of Lake Swan Camp in Melrose, Fla. He was also an adjunct professor of comparative religions at Emmanuel Bible College. During retirement, Richard was an interim pastor for six C&MA churches, including Good Samaritan Community Church at Good Samaritan Village in Florida, where he was
active in various ministries. All of Richard’s children are followers of Jesus. Two of them have served with the C&MA, and one is a missionary with Trans World Radio.
Richard is survived by children Denise, Della, Debbie, Rick, Derilyn, Robert, and Joe; 24 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.
Gerald “Jerry” Edwin Otis July 8, 1936−December 6, 2024
Born in Lexington, Ky., Jerry earned an engineering degree from the University of Kentucky (1954–1959) and attended the Toronto (Ont.) Institute of Linguistics (1966), the Jaffrey School of Missions in New York (1965–1966), and Nyack (N.Y.) College, later Alliance University, New York, N.Y. (1964–1965). He received his doctor of missions from Fuller Theological Seminary.
On August 23, 1958, Jerry married Joanna Elizabeth Johnson in Port Huron, Mich. He began a career as an engineer for the Department of Ships in Washington, D.C., but his life took a meaningful turn when he was called to missions. During his 42 years of C&MA ministry, Jerry served in Basilan and Zamboanga City in the Philippines for 35 years. Upon returning to his Kentucky roots, he pastored Virgie (Ky.) Alliance Church (2008–2013).
Jerry is survived by his wife; daughter Carrie; son Kenneth; 2 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren.
NOTICE OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE CHRISTIAN AND MISSIONARY ALLIANCE
It is my privilege to announce that the regular meeting of The Christian and Missionary Alliance is hereby called to take place beginning at 7 p.m., Monday, May 26, 2025, and ending Friday evening, May 30, 2025, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St., Columbus, Ohio 43215. It will be a delight to share these days with you in Columbus and a great joy to be identified with you in our joint labor to change the world for Jesus!
Dr. Thomas George Corporate Secretary
Left: Russel Deibler and local guides trek through the jungles of New Guinea.
by Darlene
Deibler Rose, excerpted and adapted from The Stone Age Speaks Again, a pamphlet published by the C&MA about early Alliance work among the Stone Age tribes on the island of New Guinea.
When Mr. Deibler came down the gangplank of the ship after returning to Makassar, it was like meeting a stranger. In just 18 days on the trail, he had lost over 30 pounds and had difficulty in walking. On our arrival at the house, we found that there was no skin on his instep, the ball of his foot, or any of his toes. Trekking through the mud of the jungles, he had gotten an infection caused by a water germ, which few pioneer missionaries ever escape.
One morning while I was dressing Mr. Deibler’s feet, Dr. Jaffray, our field chairman at the time and in whose home we were staying, walked into the room. He watched me as I tore off every layer of dead skin until I got down to the raw, throbbing flesh, then the medicine was applied. Suddenly tears started in his eyes. He turned and walked out of the room.
His only thought, he later said, as he looked at Mr. Deibler’s feet, was, What a repulsive sight! Then the Lord seemed to whisper to him, But to Me they are beautiful feet. “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings . . .” (Isa. 52:7a). For several hours after, he closeted himself in his bedroom. What he
wrote during that time, I quote:
The reference to the feet on the mountains may be well interpreted as setting forth the necessary sufferings involved in missionary work. The feet of the messenger proclaiming salvation are called beautiful. They represent the toilsome travel uphill and down, through swamps and over rugged, treacherous, dangerous trails. Many a missionary has come at nightfall at the end of a day’s tramp with sore, bleeding feet, but in His sight such feet are beautiful—beautiful because they bear the marks of suffering in carrying the glad tidings of such great joy to sin-sick, weary souls.
One day it will all be finished and the weary feet, all scarred, bleeding, and sore, will cross the last mountain and tread the last trail, reach the last tribe, and win the last soul, and then He Himself will exclaim: “Well done, good and faithful servant! How beautiful are the feet of the one that has brought good news and proclaimed salvation to perishing souls!”
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