Issuu

Reaching Europe with the Gospel

A Word from Dustin

When God calls a person to Himself, He simultaneously calls them to service. I do not mean necessarily that this call is to vocational service, but there is a call to service nonetheless. Through the indwelling Spirit, God bestows gifts to every believer that we are to use to edify His people. At salvation, we are surely freed from the penalty of sin, but we are also granted the privilege of serving our King. And it truly is a privilege. Every true Christian delights in knowing that God uses those He redeems.

Yet there is something else that is true of all Christians; we all know that the power to effect real change in another person’s life is not our own. This is why we pray for the Lord to save, or to heal, or to provide. We know that the ability to comfort a mourner, to encourage the desperate, or to evangelize someone dead in their trespasses and sins is not found in our power, but only in the power of God who mightily works in and through us.

At DTN, we work only with those missionaries who believe this truth with conviction. Too many people minister in their own power. Far too many believe that they are something special and should be especially honored simply because God has called them to service. When Paul was dealing with a church who improperly honored their ministers, he asked the rhetorical, and honestly slightly sarcastic questions, “What then is Apollos? What is Paul?” (I Corinthians 3:5) Not “who?,” but “what?”. He quickly answers the question; “servants.” Paul may plant, Apollos may water, but it is God who gives the increase. God is the One who must be held in highest esteem, and no man should be elevated near to Christ’s level of honor.

At times, like in this issue, our Acts 14 Reports will share the stories of our missionaries; stories of victories and struggles. But in no fashion are these stories meant to ever elevate man, nor to make any of you, our supporters, ever think that God’s servants are to be elevated above the level that God calls you to honor them. We share these stories because we want to elevate Christ as He is at work in this world redeeming a people unto Himself from every tribe, tongue, and nation. We seek to drive your attention to Him, and encourage you all the more to ask Him to work through these servants, for the growth of His kingdom and the glory of His great name.

In this issue of Acts 14, will look at Europe and the reach and impact of the gospel on that continent. Then, we will look into how DTN and its missionaries are striving to be a light in a very dark world through a deep engagement with the languages and cultures of the peoples there. We will share their efforts of church planting, theological education, publishing ministries, and will even discuss how the enemies of Christ are fighting against Him, yet have not yet, nor will they ever stop Him. As Job said, none can thwart His plan (Job 42:2).

Europe needs the gospel, which means Europe needs missionaries. Please pray for our missionaries who are serving there. They need co-laborers. They need resources. They need wisdom and encouragement. Hear their stories. They are a faithful bunch, and I am very thankful to have them on our team. May their tribe increase!

Dustin Meadows

Dustin Meadows, President/CEO

THE STATE OF THE GOSPEL IN EUROPE

15 5 17 18

BUILDING A NETWORK OF CHURCHES IN PORTUGAL

EUROPE: THE FIELD OF DREAMS

THE IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE LEARNING IN MISSIONS

GOSPEL PROCLAMATION IN POLAND

WINNIE KATE’S KIDS UPDATE

THE STATE OF THE GOSPEL IN EUROPE

Percentage of Evangelicals in Population

Less than 2%

Christ commissioned His apostles to take the gospel to the nations. They obeyed, and the gospel spread to Europe. Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost reached the ears of many Europeans who believed. Before he died, he preached all the way into Rome, where they crucified him upside down. Paul and his companions preached and planted churches in Europe on his second and third missionary journeys. The gospel continued to spread throughout the centuries - though not without its enemies - until, at the beginning of the 20th century, 95% of Europe’s population professed some form of Christianity (this includes a large Catholic and Eastern Orthodox population).

Since 1900 though, Europe has undergone one of the most drastic declines of professing Christians in history. One missionary has called it the “fastest de-christianization in the world.” The advancement of modern travel brought an influx of migrants coming in from North Africa and Asia. The effects of wars, natural disasters, and socio-economic issues caused a steep incline in the number of refugees from the Middle East, South Asia, and central and southern Africa. These outsiders brought with them the religions of their countries and cultures, mostly from the Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist faiths. Though many would say that this was the cause of Christianity’s decline in Europe, in reality, migration played a small role in it.

Christianity’s decline was heavily impacted from within as the western world embraced modernism, and then eventually postmodernism. Both of these worldviews are hostile to the truth found in the Scriptures, and their followers elected to separate themselves from Christianity, often choosing the secular labels of ‘agnostic’ or ‘atheist.’

Within 100 years, Europe’s Christian population dropped to 76% from 95%, with many leaving from the non-evangelical traditions. Though the departure hasn’t been as drastic from evangelicalism, still today, evangelicals only make up 2.5% of the population of Europe.

There has been a generational aspect of this de-christianization. To missiologists, when the vast majority of adults in a country are Christian adherents, that country is considered a Christian nation. When the majority of adults have parents and grandparents that practiced Christianity, it is called post-Christian. What is happening in many European countries today, is that the majority of adults do not have the memory of Christian practices or ideals in their families at all. When this occurs, these places are called pre-Christian nations. The challenge for us is that we must take the gospel back there again, for what will seem like the first time for those who will hear our message.

Our churches must understand the state of the gospel in Europe if we are to make the necessary adjustments to reach this desperately under-served continent. When many in our churches think of missions and missionaries, European countries and cultures are rarely the first thing that comes to mind. We typically think of Africa or the jungles of South America or Asia. Though many countries in Europe are “first-world,” many still have not heard the gospel. Many have heard of the Catholic’s Jesus who needs assistance to save the world, but many have never heard that they can only be saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

Most European countries hover around that 2% evangelical Christian population, a mark that would make them be considered an unreached people group. Christ called us to make disciples of all nations, and that means that we must consider well what it would take to make disciples of Europeans. May God raise up more workers to this field!

IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE LEARNING IN MISSIONS

Language learning is simultaneously one of the most exciting and daunting aspects of going into missions. It is exciting to think about being able to communicate with people you have never spoken with before. At the same time, language learning is a long process. Like any new skill, it takes lots of practice. The amount of time that it takes to learn a new language has caused many missionaries to go back to the States and many others to look for ways around it. Why waste time learning a new language if there is a faster way to get the gospel out? Or why spend years learning a language thoroughly if it’s possible to get around after 6-12 months of language school?

There may be some missionaries who truly do not need to learn a language for the work that God has called them to, either because they are in a location that speaks the same language as their native country or because of the specific work that God has called them to. In general, though, missionaries need to prepare for many years by focusing primarily on language learning and continue studying the language for as long as God has them in that location. There are probably dozens of reasons why this is important, but the following four are what I believe are the most important reasons.

First, one of the more forgotten reasons for paying close attention to language is the respect of the locals you’ll be working with. This is something that I have recognized as I continue in language learning. When I arrived in the country, I was unable to say much more than the name of the city I moved to. Since then, I’ve been able to grow significantly in my use of the language. I will always remember the first time I was able to pray in the local language in a prayer meeting (switching from English in the middle of the prayer once I felt confident enough). As I keep learning the language, the shopkeeper seems a little happier when I walk in, and the elderly people in the church have stopped asking when I’ll be going back home.

Evangelism and discipleship are reasons two and three to press into language learning. These are also great motivations for missionaries as they continue to struggle with the language for multiple years. While it can be tempting for a missionary to view a new language as a hurdle getting in the way of ministry, I am continuing to learn that this is a pessimistic way of viewing language learning. Instead of viewing language as an obstacle, we should view it as a tool to glorify God. The languages that missionaries work so hard to learn are the languages that are mentioned in Revelation 7:9:

“After this, I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’”

When it comes to evangelism, missionaries should seek to understand the language of their host countries deeply so that they can share the gospel in their host language with greater depth. In the beginning years of ministry, a missionary may not be able to do more than share the gospel in a series of simple sentences. Yet with intentional language learning in the first term as a missionary, you will be able to engage in deeper gospel conversations and follow Peter’s instructions in 1 Peter 3:15, “Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”

The importance of learning the language is possibly more important when it comes to discipleship relationships. Imagine having to counsel someone through the death of a loved one or a sin struggle, but you can only use the vocabulary of a kindergartener. The knowledge of the language needed to be active in church-level ministry is certainly beyond a couple of semesters of language school. Much of the vocabulary needed for discipleship is not going to be taught in any language school, but can only be learned through years of being actively involved in the local church.

This family is passionate about strengthening the church in Hungary through evangelism, discipleship, and church planting As they fully submerge themselves in the culture and language, they will serve in the local Hungarian church. They are humbled and excited to see God move in this land.

g g y g

stay in-country for years or decades if possible.

While years of textbooks, reading kids' books, and maybe watching SpongeBob in a new language don’t sound like exciting work, the many years of ministry afterward make it beyond worth the effort that went into language learning.

Missionaries

A DTN Family in Hungary

BUILDING A NETWORK OF CHURCHES IN PORTUGAL

Since December 2005, we have been based in Portugal, where we initially arrived with the mission of revitalizing a church on the western coast of Lisbon, in a town called Cascais. The congregation was small and mostly comprised of elderly members. During our first year in Cascais, we officiated nine funerals of church members. This was an incredibly challenging and heartbreaking experience, as we watched the church go through a painful process of loss and mourning.

Despite these difficulties, we held on to our faith, trusting that God was with us. Gradually, we began to see changes within the church. New people started joining, and we witnessed several baptisms. Our small church building soon became too crowded, leading us to rent an additional space. We then embarked on a renovation project, expanding our meeting hall by removing walls and installing new pillars. Slowly but surely, we transformed the space into the church building we needed.

Once we moved into our new space, we focused on discipling the congregation according to biblical principles. The atmosphere within the church was filled with joy and happiness, as members grew in their faith and relationships with one another. While we still faced serious challenges, such as the continued loss of older members, something new and fresh was taking root among us.

During this time, we also felt a calling to extend our mission beyond Cascais. We sent a family as missionaries to Angola, where they spent six very productive years. Their work there was fruitful, and we began to feel a burden to pray for Portugal, specifically for the many towns across the country that lacked a church presence. There are dozens of such towns, and we felt compelled to do something about it.

When the missionary family returned from Angola, they felt led to move to Alentejo, one of the least evangelized regions in Portugal. We prayed with them as they prepared to relocate to Portel, a small village in Alentejo that was strategically located to reach surrounding areas such as Reguengos de Monsaraz, Beja, Portalegre, Moura, and Elvas. Upon arriving in Portel, they had much work to do. They spent considerable time praying and researching where to begin their church-planting efforts.

Soon, a small group of people from Reguengos de Monsaraz began gathering with them for Bible study and fellowship. It became increasingly clear that this was where they should establish a new church. After two years in Alentejo, we were able to rent a public space in Reguengos de Monsaraz to officially launch the church plant. It had taken seventeen years to bring the church in Cascais to a level of maturity where we could begin planting a new church, and another two years to secure a place to meet publicly in Reguengos de Monsaraz. Now, after nineteen years of labor, we are nurturing this newborn church.

Both the work in Cascais and Reguengos de Monsaraz are progressing well, though there is always room for improvement. We recognize that it is God who ultimately causes growth, and we continue to rely on His guidance and provision. We ask for your prayers as we continue this journey.

Please pray for the new church in Alentejo, that it may grow and thrive as we minister to the community there. Pray also for the church in Cascais, that we may have the necessary resources to invest in both churches. Most importantly, pray for the conversion of people in Portugal, because we believe that God has a plan to save many in this country. We long to see more churches being planted in Portugal in the near future, as we continue to fulfill the mission that God has placed on our hearts.

As we reflect on our journey, we are filled with gratitude for all that God has done and for the support of our brothers and sisters in Christ. The road has not been easy, but we have witnessed God’s faithfulness every step of the way. We remain committed to His calling, trusting that He will continue to lead us as we seek to spread the Gospel and plant churches throughout Portugal.

Mother’s Day 2024 at the church plant in Reguengos de Monsaraz

Thank you for standing with us in prayer and support. We are excited about what the future holds and look forward to seeing how God will continue to work in Cascais, Alentejo, and beyond. May His name be glorified in all that we do.

The Brancos have served in missions since 1995 in Brazil, India, New Zealand, Norway, and Portugal. Their ministry in Portugal began in 2006 with the Cascais Baptist Church in a revitalization project

Alex Branco

Alex Branco, Missionary and Pastor in Portugal

GOSP IN PO

Poland’s long history is inextricab with the Roman Catholic Church. called “Rome’s Most Faithful D predominantly Roman Ca evangelicalism is nearly nonexiste evangelical, ten times less than considered an Unreached People million people living in Poland, les evangelical Christians.

An article in Evangelical Mission “Where are Pioneer Mission missiologist Martin Visser asserts with the greatest need for pione Poland.

Over the last 23 years, we have focused on church planting, serving in three church plants in the cities of Kraków, Siedlce, and Łuków. We left the Kraków church plant with a national pastor, Robert Sulik, in 2004 and began the church planting work in Siedlce. God has blessed the work in Siedlce, which has now grown to forty members, led by three elders. I continue to serve as the pastor of the Siedlce church. In 2012, we began church planting work in the city of Łuków, 20 miles south of Siedlce. A Sunday worship service has taken place each week in Łuków for the last 12 years. God has blessed, and over those years eight souls have been baptized and added to the church. There are currently nine members of the Łuków church plant with another handful of regular attendees.

One of the greatest challenges in Unreached People Groups like Poland is not just that there are so few local churches, but also those local churches do not have theologically-sound resources. Very often, pastors and teachers have no theological training. Almost no curricula for Sunday School or children’s ministry exists. There are limited resources on matters of Christian counseling like depression, abuse, or trauma. There are also very few resources on parenting or marriage.

In an effort to help and encourage local churches around Poland, we started a publishing ministry in 2020 called Gospel at the Center. This ministry exists to provide local churches with the resources they need as they do ministry. Pastors of small churches around Poland sincerely desire to feed their flock, care for them well, and help them mature as disciples of Christ. Gospel at the Center exists, not to do that job for the local pastors, but to provide them with theologically-sound resources that they need in order to do the work of the ministry.

Publishing Children’s Curriculum

We are extremely excited about our new publishing project. We desire to help Polish children grow in their knowledge of God for years to come.

The ABCs of God is a year-long Sunday School curriculum for elementary-age children on the greatness and worth of God. Students discover a new attribute of God each week and are challenged to consider how they should respond to an amazing God who is worthy of their greatest love, honor, trust, and obedience. Each lesson asks and answers three key questions; "Who is God?," "What is He like?," and "How should I act toward Him?" as it presents a theology of God for children.

Training Pastors

This spring we launched an initiative to train Polish pastors in expository preaching. This past month, 20 pastors gathered for three days to participate. Although this was only the first step in a four-year program, we were extremely encouraged by the number of pastors who participated and the great feedback we received. We were blessed to have Sean Martin, a representative of Word Partners, lead the workshops.

Our vision is to serve these pastors in this initiative over the next four years. We hope to include:

• Interactive workshops twice a year

• Immersion in a different book of the Bible in each workshop

• Simple, transferable principles

• Multiplying the training to others

As these pastors grow in their ability to handle the word of God, this will be a blessing to each of the congregations that these pastors shepherd. We believe that this initiative has the potential to produce much fruit in the church of Jesus Christ in Poland for many years to come.

Ben Layer

Ben Layer, Missionary and Pastor in Poland

Ben and Sarah Layer have been church planting in Poland since 2001 They were sent out as missionaries under the oversight of Bible Baptist Church in Romeoville, Illinois. They joined DTN in the spring of 2024.

EUROPE: THE FIELD OF DREAMS

The mention of Europe invokes a dreamy place, filled with old castles, unique food, and a rich history. It’s a field of dreams! Within this rich history, we can see that Europe was once the missionary sending capital capitol. The chronicles of evangelistic European missions tell many stories that inspire and motivate people to evangelism. Stories of European missionaries sent out, such as Samuel Dyer, David Livingstone, and William Carey, recount the days the gospel held a prominent place in Europe. Yet now, the Dyers, Livingstones, and Careys of missions must return to Europe to create stories that see Europeans coming to Christ. Stories that create iron in the veins for other missionaries to recognize the utmost need for missions to Europe. Are these stories occurring now? Indeed, they are! Natives in every European country fight daily for the gospel's advancement. But they need support. They don’t need to be told what to do. They need brothers and sisters to join, learn from, and fight alongside them. What lessons can we learn from the European missionaries in the past for present and future missions in Europe? Three commonalities appear in these European missionary stories: the predicament of the people, the persecution from the people, and the proclamation to the people.

A Biblical Example

These three commonalities aren’t new revelations in the life of prior missionaries but appear in the Scriptures as well. In Acts 21, Paul goes to Jerusalem. While there, he receives a word of advice to make peace with the Jews (Acts 21:20–26). Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles stirred the Jews and lies formed about Paul. To dispel these lies, he proceeded to make peace by following some of the Jewish purification customs. This scene unfolds the predicament of the people. The Jews held a self-righteous worldview. They misunderstood the law and treated the works of the law as how they laid claim to salvation. They prided themselves on their heritage and hated the Gentiles. Their predicament was sinners living in their sin, seen explicitly through their selfrighteousness and racism.

Paul’s attempt to make peace failed as the Jews stirred up the crowd. They captured Paul and incited others to join them through lies and misperceptions. Paul then experienced persecution. They dragged Paul out of the temple, beat him, and planned to kill him (Acts 21:27–32). Though Paul followed the Jewish customs, he still experienced persecution by the people. The tribune came, and instead of dealing justice rightly with the mob, Paul continued to face persecution by being arrested.

After Paul’s arrest, the guards were hauling him off when Paul spoke up. Paul remained soberminded and composed, for it dispelled the tribune’s assumptions that led him to arrest Paul. Paul’s calmness even led the tribune to let Paul speak. Paul then began a proclamation to the people. He wasted no opportunity and preached. At first, the crowd listened, but it wasn’t until the very end they went ballistic. What happened? Paul touched on their sin. Every Gospel proclamation must describe the nature and work of Christ, but it must also identify the sins of the people who need the grace of God to cover them. For the Jews, they responded wrathfully to Paul’s proclamation. This short narrative in Paul’s life models the work needed for European missions.

The Predicament of Europeans

The ravages of secularism appear around every street corner, from the excessive graffiti in many public places to the hopelessness deep in the European’s eyes. Secularism’s left hand feeds the people with humanism, while its right hand governs the people with statism. It controls the education in the public schools and maneuvers the powers in the state churches. It seeks to take control of children while killing them in the womb. It claims to love and care for women while objectifying them and destroying their bodies. It tears down masculinity and aims to replace the man’s role as leader in the community, home, and church with the bureaucrats. Worst of all, secularism proclaims to be the way of freedom, but it chains people and proves to be a cruel master. The results involve a population that despairs, idolizes health and safety, and is more concerned with experiences and entertainment than reality, especially the reality of the people’s eternal state. Most churches are empty. Even in those that have people, the gospel is not preached, and the Bible is not opened. Secularism controls many pulpits and has wreaked havoc in Europe. Many people have never been exposed to one verse in the Bible, even more, the good news and hope of Jesus Christ.

The

Though secularism has brought about hopelessness and unrest, most Europeans have not softened to the gospel. Part of the deceitfulness of secularism is to harden people towards the Scriptures. Christians and gospelcentric churches aren’t welcomed or given social status in Europe. In my country of service, Italy, an Italian church fought a long, hard battle with the Italian government over whether its location could be considered a church. The final ruling went against the church, claiming that the church lacked images and altars. Therefore, a gospelcentric Protestant church does not qualify as an actual church in the eyes of the state. In this case, the government has taken the authority to determine what is a church. Likewise, my church has experienced persecution by being forbidden to meet where we gather for worship. We’ve had to take legal action in order to not suffer fines and other potential consequences. In Northern Europe, a Finnish MP (a representative in the Parliamentary system) faces criminal prosecution for posting a bible verse against homosexuality on social media. In the UK, a pro-life advocate stood outside of an abortion clinic and prayed silently, but the police arrested her for this. She disturbed no one and prayed silently, but she was apprehended.

“Never

concede to doing something so small that it could be accomplished entirely in your lifetime. Be a part of something that began before you were born, and will continue onward toward the fulfillment of all that God has purposed to accomplish.”

Ralph Winter

The Proclamation to Europeans

Like Paul and the missionaries of the past, the predicament and persecution of Europeans provide an opportune time to proclaim the gospel. True gospel churches in Europe don’t shy away from preaching the true gospel. They don’t water down the truth. They engage with the sin of the culture and demonstrate the need for grace. They show sin's horrendous nature while magnifying the Triune God's glorious nature. They see the bride of Christ built slowly but faithfully.

Across Europe, the Lord has a remnant, but they need the global church’s support to make disciples. With sober-mindedness and compassion, the need for missionaries to come and proclaim the gospel proves great. Missionaries must come and join with the local national Christians who are already deep in the fight. They must come with humble hearts and a willingness to learn from the context. They must be courageous to preach the gospel. They must come with hearts that desire Christ, are repentant towards sin, and have compassion for those trapped in secularism. Europe is a place that desperately needs the gospel. Next time you hear the mention of Europe, try not to consider it a field of dreams, a place with sites to see, food to eat, and beauty to behold. Sure, those things are here and are enjoyable. But adjust your perspective to what matters most; an eternal viewpoint. Reams of people need the gospel brought to them. So, next time you hear of Europe, think of it as a field of reams.

The Lord instilled a passion in the Hendrix Family for serving those who find themselves out of their native context He led Chris and Kristan, along with their children to Italy in 2017 to plant and serve in an international local church.

Chris Hendrix

Chris Hendrix, Missionary and Pastor in Italy

WE WILL GLORIFY GOD BY SHARING THE GOSPEL AND LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST WITH CHILDREN OF EVERY NATION.

The Lord has accomplished some remarkable things through Winnie Kate’s Kids (WKK) since its founding. He never ceases to amaze us by the opportunities He gives us, and in how He faithfully provides the resources for every situation. We are excited to share about these opportunities over time and give God all the glory for the work that He is doing.

When Winnie passed, her parents had asked that in lieu of flowers, donations would be given to DTN. As money was donated, DTN leadership prayed about how to best utilize these funds. Wanting to honor Winnie’s memory, it was her love of children, the church, and Christ that compelled them to help 4 pastors’ daughters in Malawi to go to secondary school.

In this impoverished country in Africa, most children can only attend school until the age of 12. Secondary schools are available, but very few families can afford the four years of tuition. Those who can attend and graduate have a much better opportunity to find jobs and help with the family’s finances, drastically changing their lives. Young girls in the country who cannot attend school are often put in difficult positions, which have only been made worse by terrible famine over the last four years. Many 12-year-old girls who cannot attend school are forced to marry, often to a man with multiple wives, and others are forced into other abusive situations.

In the fall of 2022, when DTN contacted these African pastors about the possibility of WKK sending their daughters to secondary school for the semester, they were extremely surprised and overwhelmed with gratitude. Since the fall of 2022, WKK has continued to cover their tuition, fees, supplies, and uniforms. One of these pastors had a female from his extended family become orphaned in 2023. They took her in, and WKK committed to send her to secondary school as well. Recently, three of the 5 girls graduated from secondary school. We praise the Lord for this grace! The other two girls continue in their studies, striving for graduation as well. With God’s help, Winnie Kate’s Kids will see that they all graduate from secondary school.

In March of 2023, Kyle and Patricia Jones, Winnie’s parents, started a monthly WKK Story Hour at their local library. One of Winnie’s favorite pastimes was reading with her mom at bedtime. Winnie was learning to read on her own, which really advanced her love for books and going to the library. Her parents created this story hour as a time to read gospel-centered books, play games, sing songs, and have refreshments with any families that attend. They also share opportunities that the Lord has brought to WKK and how He is using them to help children of every nation. At each story hour, WKK bracelets, stickers, coloring sheets, and flyers are handed out to everyone.

Last July, the Jones family was asked by a pastor friend in Bainbridge, Georgia to come and kick off a WKK Story Hour at their local library. They were able to give away books, WKK items, and share the love and gospel in that community as well. Since then, a team from Faith Community Church in Bainbridge has led several story hours at their local library and the Friendship House, an after-school program for kids. These story hours have been such a blessing. The Jones family hopes these Story Hours will continue to spread, as the Lord allows.

well as Easter booklets, were handed out to each family. The WKK team spoke about WKK and shared the gospel with the families in attendance. Winnie loved children of all ages. When she grew up, she wanted children of her own, as well as, to adopt all kids. She was a “little mama” to any child, especially babies, that were around her. Therefore, this was a special event to be able to provide a day of fun for all the kids involved.

The Lord continues to bring opportunities for WKK to share the love and gospel with children. We can’t wait to share more of what the Lord has done through this ministry and give Him all the glory.

Winnie Kate’s Kids (WKK) is a ministry program of Disciple the Nations. WKK was founded in honor of Winnie Kate Jones, a member of the DTN family who passed away at six years old, according to the sovereign plan of God. Winnie Kate’s Kids exists to glorify God by sharing the gospel and love of Jesus Christ with children in every nation.

Kyle & Patricia Jones

Kyle & Patricia Jones, WKK Ministry Coordinators

PARTNERSHIP WITH REFORMATION HERITAGE BOOKS

Without faithful partnerships, our work in gospel ministry would be as effective as a car with no wheels. Partnerships help get us where we need to go and help us do what needs to be done. Recently, a partnership with Reformation Heritage Books (RHB) helped us share the gospel around the world. RHB is a “publisher and bookseller whose mission is, by the Spirit’s grace, to aim for the conversion of unbelievers and equip the saints to serve Christ and His church through biblical, experiential, and practical ministry, via books, tracts, and other resources.” RHB provides solid, quality resources. We recommend their books to all who are serving Christ.

RHB very generously gave DTN 2,000 copies of the booklet called “The Gospel of Jesus Christ” by Paul Washer, with the intention that DTN workers would distribute them through our evangelistic efforts. Here’s a short breakdown of where and how these books are being used:

Casper, Wyoming Casper is heavily unchurched and is influenced by Mormons and a Libertarian philosophy that says, "Don't tell me how to live." Though gospel work is difficult here, these booklets are being used on a college campus, and by a short-term missions team that shared the gospel door-to-door in June. They canvassed an area of several thousand homes where there is no healthy church.

Vicenza, Italy Our English-speaking church in Vicenza, Italy is using these booklets with Englishspeaking internationals, and also to evangelize US military personnel stationed at a nearby base. They also used these booklets as gifts for those visiting their Easter Lord’s Day service.

Chicago, Illinois Our Latin-American church there has both English and Spanish services. The pastor, Manrique, said, "These booklets became an important part of our Good Friday and Easter celebration. We have been promoting good literature and motivating believers to read, plus helping believers understand the gospel's role in their day-to-day lives. These books helped so much!"

Indianapolis, Indiana A church planter is using these booklets to supplement his street preaching efforts as the Lord allows for deeper conversations with his hearers.

El Dorado, Arkansas Though our church plant is surrounded by churches, very few of those churches teach the biblical gospel. Our planters were led by God to plant and shepherd a biblically-healthy church that was faithful to the Scriptures. It is a difficult work because most people in the Bible Belt are convinced they are saved due to the false gospel that has been proclaimed there for 200 years. These booklets are being used through one-on-one evangelism to teach the difference between just "praying a prayer" and true conversion that comes through repentance and faith in Christ alone.

WKK Other booklets will be used through our ministry program Winnie Kate's Kids (WKK). Though it is a ministry for children, it plans to use these resources as a way of helping WKK teach parents how to biblically evangelize their children.

Please pray with us that the Lord would use these booklets for much fruit for His glory!

GIVING

Disciple the Nations is completely funded by the generous support of partners like you who share our desire to see Christ glorified among the nations.

If you’d like to partner with us, recurring or one-time gifts can be made online through ACH or credit card payments to any of our ministry partners and projects. Use the QR code below or visit: https://disciplethenations.org/give

Or, you can make checks out to Disciple the Nations and mail to:

Disciple the Nations P.O. Box 201 Magnolia, AR 71754

NOTE: To preference your check to a specific fund, missionary, or staff member, write “Preferenced for” and the name in the memo line.

www.disciplethenations.org