May EHC Newsletter

Jesus said "But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst" John 4:14

May 2019

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Every Single One

God's love is all-encompassing. He loves the single mother begging in India. He loves the atheist reading in a Parisian cafe.

He loves the inmate counting the days in an Argentine prison. And he loves you and me. No matter who we are, where we come from, or what we have done, God loves us.

Every single one of us.

This exhaustive love is most clearly seen in Jesus. He went out of His way to find the one everyone else overlooked.

Jesus talked to a Samaritan woman who was drawing water at a well alone (John 4:142). He crossed the Sea of Galilee to free a prisoner who was oppressed by demons (Mark 5:1-20). And He stopped in the middle of a crowded street to pay attention to a woman everyone else saw as "unclean" (Luke 8:43-48).

But one display of God's love rises above the rest: He gave Himself on the cross. As Jesus hung with arms spread wide, He communicated a message that rings throughout all history: "I love every single one of you."

God's love is for everyone.

That's why we're excitied to invite you into the Oikos Initiative. Oikos is the ancient Greek word for a dwelling or a family. It's a word that means "home".

The Oikos Initiative, therefore, is a strategic plan to reach every home on Earth with the message of Jesus' love over the next 20 years - within this generation.

This bold endeavour recently launched in January, which means the countdown is on. It breaks our heart to think of anyone living and dying without an awareness of Jesus' saving love for them.

So we are committed to taking the Gospel to everyone - and we're doing it together. You know the value God places on one person, because He places that value on you. At some point in your life, someone reached you, pointing to the Saviour, and He changed your life forever. Now, we invite you to be that person for someone else.

Our God goes after the very last one so we do the same.

For the harvest,

Dick Eastman International President

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?" - Luke 15:4

BRINGING JOY TO AFRICA

For many years now Every Home for Christ has been bringing joy to men, women and children in poor communities in Malawi and Zambia.

Before ... subsistence farming only produced enough food for one meal a day.

Now ... families are eating three meals a day.

Before ... in times of drought people starved and sold their animals just to survive. Now, farmers have been trained in conservation farming methods which enable them to maintain their crops during a drought.

cook many different food groups and they and their children are healthier as a result.

Before ... young children orphaned by Malaria and Aids relied on the kindness of already extended families for food and shelter. Now ... Supplementary feeding centres give food and pre-school education to orphaned children under 5 years old.

Before ... women and children walked many kilometres to fetch water. Now ... wells have been built close to their villages and clean, fresh water has meant less disease and improved health for the whole family.

We need your help so that this program can continue to bring joy to men, women and children in Africa.

Before ... women prepared only one type of food for their families - maize porridge. Please see the Reply Slip if you are Now ... they have been trained to plant and able to help with a gift.

COUNTRY FOCUS:

Argentina

Carlos, Third Generation Disciple

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Rino, First Generation Disciple

Francisco, Second Generation Disciple

James Holt

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t was like a scene from the book of Acts: God's people entering a new community to share His love, and the community members responding by bringing their needs to the Lord. But this didn't happen in the ancient Mediterranean. It's happening in modernday Argentina.

While travelling through northern Argentina's wooded wilderness, Rino Bello and Francisco Mendez, as pictured on the opposite page, stopped at a group of shacks that weren't there when they last visited the area. Children came running while women carrying babies walked behind. Men stepped away from their work

and slowly drifted closer. These families were all from the indigenous Wichi tribe, just like Francisco.

"Hello," Rino said with a smile. "We come to bring you an invitation from our Father in heaven!"

The crowd grew as more people appeared from their homes. A man named Mr Moreno asked for prayer for his son who had crashed his motorcycle. A mother named Marcelina wanted prayer for her sick son Nicolas. As Rino and Francisco laid hands on the people to intercede for them, some had tears of gratitude in their eyes.

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This beautiful moment was small, but it was one of the many similar moments among the Wichi people - and connecting all of them is the friendship between Rino and Francisco.

And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

- 2 Timothy 2:2

In many ways, Rino and Francisco are an odd pairing. Rino immigrated to Argentina from Italy as a child. Now 80 years old, he has a charming, youthful energy.

Small in stature, Rino is always talking and always on the move.

His granddaughter describes him as "Peter Pan". Having worked with Every Home for Christ for 38 years, Rino serves as National Director of Argentina and Zonal Director over South America.

Francisco, on the other hand, is the head of the Wichi village of La Esperanza.

Younger and larger than Rino, Francisco moves slowly and speaks even more slowly.

He considers his words carefully.

Typical of the Wichi people, his composure is reserved and relaxed.

Francisco serves as an EHC leader among the Indigenous people of Argentina.

Despite their differences, Rino and Francisco have one important thing in common: their passion to share the Gospel and to see their nation changed by Jesus' love. It's a passion that has resulted in

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10,000 of the 25,000 indigenous people in Francisco's area accepting Jesus as their Saviour - and it's a passion that Rino has imparted to Francisco through discipleship.

"Remember the end of the Great Commission," Rino says. "First is to go. Then Jesus said to teach and make disciples. If you only teach without discipling, it's just left there. It's a monument. We don't need any more monuments... we need living people."

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

- 1 Corinthians 11:1

Rino and Francisco met in 1991, after Francisco read a piece of EHC gospel literature. Francisco describes La Esperanza at the time as violent and influenced by witchcraft. The love of Jesus, however, offered hope. With the little Spanish he knew, he wrote to Rino - the first letter in a correspondence that would continue for decades.

10,000 of the 25,000 indigenous people in Francisco's area have accepted Jesus as their Saviour.

A close friendship grew between Rino and Francisco. Rino baptised Francisco, and he even officiated Francisco's wedding. He also taught Francisco to share the Gospel.

Today, the Wichi people celebrate a legacy of taking the Gospel to other indigenous tribes. It's a legacy that has grown from the Christ-focused friendship of Rino and Francisco, a friendship formed over 20 years ago.

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Francisco would visit his neighours' home with EHC gospel literature, and for those who were illiterate, he would read the message aloud. Though some were resistant at first, they were soon won over by the change they saw in Francisco's life.

His character had strengthened, and he had become more cheerful.

Meanwhile, Rino saw himself as a servant to the Wichi. When he first visited La Esperanza, the people were living in cardboard shacks. There was no water and no electricity, and some didn't even have clothing. A marginalised people, they were not even considered Argentinian citizens for many years.

Rino rallied churches in Buenos Aires to meet the physical needs in La Esperanza.

He also went to the local government and advocated for the community to be given access to water and electricity. Rino was there for Francisco and his community, not only as a teacher, but as a friend demonstrating the heart of Christ for His disciples.

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Slowly,the community of La Esperanza changed. Though work remains to be done, the cardboard shacks have been replaced by cinder blocks, electrical wiring has been set up, and water is regularly delivered.More importantly, a church now stands at its centre.

"We are following God's way," Francisco says of his community. "There is a high value on helping people. Being there for them."

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.

- Luke 6:40 Francisco didn't stop sharing the Gospel in La Esperanza. He loaded up his motorcycle with boxes of literature and travelled for miles to find new settlements.

He even crossed a river multiple times with his motorcycle in a canoe to take the Gospel into the dangerous wilderness of "El Impenetrable". Soon, the believers in La Esperanza were taking the Good News to other indigenous communities as well.

Australia: PO Box 168 Penshurst NSW 2222 Telephone: (02) 9570 8211 Facsimile: (02) 9570 4738 ABN: 88001276240 www.everyhome.org.au E-mail: ehc@everyhome.org.au New Zealand: PO Box 31-260 Milford North Shore City 0741 NZBN: 9429043322862 Telephone: Free call 0800 900 200 Facsimile: 0061 2 9570 4738 www.everyhomeforchrist.org.nz

As more people put their faith in Jesus, Francisco set up Christ Groups to disciple them. In these groups, new believers gathered for worship, prayer, Bible study and evangelism training.

The ones who had been discipled were now discipling others.

One of these communities Francisco still visits is called Fraga. There, 19 families live in crowded conditions with no electricity. They hunt for their food, and their only water source is a stagnant reservoir.

But rather than using their resources to improve their circumstances, the people have chosen to build a church instead.

Leading the church is a young man called Carlos Mendez - someone Francisco is discipling just as Rino discipled him.

In that time, 40 percent of the indigenous community in the area has come to faith. But this wasn't the result of a major enterprise or a complicated evangelism campaign. It happened simply, through friendships like Rino and Francisco's.

This is how the Kingdom of God spreads.

One believer disciples another, and that believer reaches someone else. It's about having a servant's heart, forming a genuine connection and being there to

demonstrate God's love in a personal way.

In Argentina and all over the world, the Gospel is spreading through Christ-centred relationships.

Carlos says the church has been a priority in his community because it is his hope that, like La Esperanza, Farga will become a launching ground for missions.

Together, the three men represent three spiritual generations of discipleship, evidence that the Spirit works through relationships.

Personal connection has always been the way of Christ's Kingdom. When Jesus called the twelve to be His disciples, He also called them to be His friends. They spent years by His side, travelling with Him, eating meals together and sharing both laughter and tears. Most importantly, Jesus served them - and they changed the world by doing the same.

In October, La Esperanza celebrated 21 years of taking the Gospel to other indigenous Argentinians.

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Nigerian Christians escape Boko Haram firing squad Local pastor claims God intervened to save 72 people

A group of 500 Nigerian Muslimbackground Christians, who gathered together for safety after a string of Boko Haram terrorist attacks, were later attacked again by the Islamist militant group. Most escaped, apart from 76 men, women and children who were taken captive, according to sources close to charity organsiation Barnabas Fund.

The 76 were taken to a Boko Haram camp where they were tortured. The four male leaders of the group were told at gunpoint to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ and revert back to Islam. When they refused, the men were shot in front of their families and friends.

The following week, the wives of the four martyred men were also ordered to renounce their faith or their children would be executed. These schoolchildren are from families who were forced to flee their homes because of attacks by Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen. Eternity recently published reports of Nigerian Christians being murdered by Fulani herdsmen, a troubling situation described by some as "genocide" that has been ongoing during the past few years.

As the mothers held at the Boko Haram struggled under this terrible burden into the night, the children came running in and said that the Lord Jesus had appeared to them and said "all would be well". According to

the account, the Lord Jesus then appeared to all of the group and told them not to fear, that He would protect them. They should not renounce Him, but stay strong knowing that "He is the way, the truth and the life".

The next morning the children (including one girl as young as four) were lined up against a wall by the terrorists.

Their four mothers were told they could save them if they renounced Jesus Christ and returned to Islam. The mothers refused. The soldiers cocked their rifles and prepared to take aim when they suddenly started to grab at their heads, screaming and shouting "Snakes, snakes!" Some ran away and others dropped dead where they stood. As one of the soldiers fell down dead, a Christian captive reached down to pick up the soldier's gun to fire at the fleeing Boko Haram militants, but the youngest child put her hand on his arm and said, "You don't need to do that. Can you not see the men in white fighting for us?"

All 72 lives were spared and the group is now living in other regions of Nigeria that are safe for Christians. When our English speaking contacts asked their pastor why Jesus appeared to them and not others he replied, "He does not need to. You have over 200 versions of Scripture and many people able to explain the Bible for you. These people do not."

- Barnabas Fund

MAY 2019

Bible Readings: This month the daily text will be taken from the Isaiah. For those wanting to do the one-year Bible reading program these chapters are in brackets.

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PRAY FOR DICK AND DEE EASTMAN. Dick is the International President of Every Home for Christ with a large responsibility for EHC ministries across the world.

Isaiah 6 (Judges 6-8) PRAY FOR DIPLAVE POKHREL Please continue to pray urgently for the Immigration Department to approve Every Home for Christ's application for a Labour Agreement so that we can sponsor Diplave to continue working with Every Home for Christ. He needs permanent residency and without the granting of a Labour Agreement he cannot continue in his application for permanent residency. Pray for favour on Every Home for Christ's application which was submitted in 2017 and still hasn't been approved.

Isaiah 7 (Judges 9 -12) PRAY FOR YOUR FAMILY Sons, daughters and grandchildren, plus others to come to Christ. Get a piece of paper and write down their names. Get their photos and pray every day for their salvation; eternity without Christ is a long time!

Isaiah 8 (Judges 13 - 16) SOLOMON ISLANDS Pop. 600,000,000 Map. 152 Pray for Namaan and his family, who have volunteered to move to the least-reached island of this country. Every Home for Christ is serious about reaching every home. Thank God for Namaan and his obedience to go where God has called him. Isaiah 9 (Judges 17 - 21) CREATIVE ACCESS An EHC leader recently challenged 120 young people to get involved with local churches and Every Home for Christ to win people in their own circles for Christ. He felt a great hunger from this group of believers. Pray that God will use many of them for His glory.

Isaiah 10 (Ruth 1 -4) CROATIA Pop. 4,200,000 Map. 69 Praise the Lord!

Over 50 people have responded positively to a recent outreach and are asking for New Testaments.

Pray that God will speak to them through His Word and bring salvation to their households.

Isaiah 11 (1 Samuel 1 -7) GUYANA Pop.780,000 Map. 213 People in this nation are hopeful as they see their government taking small steps towards freedom of religion.

Pray that they will soon have the liberty to worship the Lord openly and to share the Gospel of His love with others without fear.

Isaiah 12 (1 Samuel 8 -12)

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MONTENGRO Pop. 600,000 Map. 73 Pray for a new worker, Andrija, who will go to an area populated mostly by Muslims. The people in this area can be very unpredictable - some very open and some very hostile to the Gospel. Pray that God will prepare Isaiah 13 the hearts of the people Andrija will visit.

(1 Samuel 13:1 to 16:3) ROMANIA Pop. 19,600,000 Map. 78 Pray for EHC workers involved in the seed project. They place gospel literature and response cards in a bag along with a packet of seeds. Pray that the good seed of the Gospel will reap a plentiful harvest in this needy country.

Isaiah 14 (Psalms 23) CREATIVE ACCESS Pray for peace and stability in this nation so EHC workers may continue sharing the Gospel. Pray for unity, strength and faith for all the EHC teams, and pray that the Lord will provide protection, grace and boldness as they share the love of Jesus.

Isaiah 15 (1 Samuel 16:14 to 19:11) COTE D'IVOIRE Pop. 24,300,000 Map. 41 Pray for the wife of the Muslim chief in Kotouagnoan. She was locked in a house and physically abused after she gave her life to Christ.

She and other new Christians are in danger of strong persecution in the village. May God surround them with His angels and give them peace. Isaiah 16 (Psalm 59) PAPUA NEW GUINEA Pop. 8,30,000 Map. 146 Pray for wisdom, provision and protection for the team of EHC missionaries sent to Sugar Valley for the Oikos Initiative. Pray that God will go before them and prepare hearts to receive and believe the Good News of Jesus' love. May they experience signs and wonders.

Isaiah 17 (1 Samuel 19:12 to 21:15) NIGERIA Pop. 190,900,000 Map. 35 EHC workers are going to the southeast area of Nigeria, a region they have not yet worked in. Please pray for sufficient grace, burning zeal, divine wisdom and guidance for the entire team. Pray that the message of God's love will be eagerly accepted by hungry hearts.

Isaiah 18 (Psalm 34, 56) MALI Pop. 18,500,000 Map. 49 Thank God that EHC workers were able to reach out to some of the darkest areas in the nation.

Workers had many great encounters with people who claimed never to have heard of Jesus. May God shine the light of His glorious face on these people.

Isaiah 19 (1 Samuel 22:1-2, Psalm 57, 142) CREATIVE ACCESS N., a vegan, started to read the New Testament to see its approach to eating meat. Instead he found the person of Jesus and started to follow Him. But he is not connected with other believers and is struggling to know the will of God. Pray for him.

Isaiah 20 (1 Samuel 22:3-23, Psalm 52)

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SPAIN Pop. 46,500,000 Map. 60 Pray that God will raise up fearless believers to preach the Gospel without shame or fear of rejection.

Jesus gave His all for us, and we need to give our all to Him. Pray also for hearts that are open to the truth of Jesus' sacrifice for all who believe.

Isaiah 21 (1 Samuel 23, Psalm 54, 63 )

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CREATIVE ACCESS Praise God for the refugee family of four that accepted Christ into their hearts. May God bless them and visit them with His peace and joy in their new journey of faith. Pray that they will find other believers to help them as they grow in their knowledge of Christ. Isaiah 22 (1 Samuel 24-26) BURKINA FASO Pop. 19,200,000 Map. 40 Pastor Andre has trained workers to present the Gospel in homes of Tiebele Department.

Pray for God's protection over every worker as they venture out. May God send the revelation of His Son to people and open their hearts to accept Christ.

Isaiah 23 (1 Samuel 27-31) HONDURAS Pop. 9,300,000 Map. 182 Pray for Brother Rigoberto, an EHC worker in Morazan. He is going to visit a community that is drowning in alocoholism. Pray for protection for him as he shares the message of hope in Christ and for the salvation of many.

Isaiah 24 (2 Samuel 1- 4)

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MYANMAR Pop. 53,400,000 Map. 135 EHC missionary Zaw Zaw was able to show the Jesus film in several villages and had many opportunities to preach the Good News. Praise God for this very effective tool in sharing Christ. Pray that those who heard the Gospel will repent and accept Jesus as Saviour.

Isaiah 25 (2 Samuel 5 -7, Psalm 30) LIBERIA Pop. 4,700,000 Map. 42 Praise God that EHC workers were able to reach 6,009 homes with gospel literature in the predominantly Muslim Suehn Mecca District. God showed Himself as their protector. Pray that many will come to accept Christ through the labour of these workers.

Isaiah 26 (2 Samuel 8:1-14, Psalm 60)

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INDONESIA Pop. 264,000,000 Map. 143 Pray for pastor Y. He is asking for wisdom, strength and safety as he embarks on several weeks of travel to share the vision of the Oikos Initiative. Pray that God will speak through him and inspire many to join in reaching this country with the Gospel.

Isaiah 27 (2 Samuel 8:15 to 10:19)

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CREATIVE ACCESS Radical Muslims are very active in this particular area. Pray for protection for all EHC workers as they share the love of Christ. Pray that the seeds which were planted in this area may bear fruit in God's timing.

Isaish 28 (2 Samuel 11:1 to 12:14, Psalms 51, 32)

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BURUNDI Pop. 10,900,000 Map. 18 The governor of Rumonge is a believer and is so happy to hear of the Oikos Initiative. A three-day training will be held in this region. Pray for God to call many believers to take the Good News to their own cities. May the Lord prepare many hearts to receive the hope of the Gospel.

Isaiah 29 (2 Samuel 12:15 to 15:37) SWAZILAND/ESWATINI Pop. 1,400,000 Map. 3 The king recently appointed a prime minister who is a committed Christian.

Pray that God will give this man courage to change things that need to be changed. Pray that this appointment will usher in a new day for the nation so the Word of God may run swiftly and be glorified Isaiah 30 (Psalm 3,69) BULGARIA Pop. 7,100,000 Map. 77 God has laid it on the hearts of Pastor P. and his church to reach every home in their whole region with a gospel message. Please pray for this pastor and his congregation. May God give them grace and courage to accomplish all that they desire.

Isaiah 31 (2 Samuel 16-20) MAURITIUS Pop. 1,300,000 Map. 6 EHC staff are providing four weeks of training on how to present the Gospel to Muslims.

Please pray that many churches and workers will take part in these trainings. Pray for God's grace and protection over all these courageous believers who are willing to share with Muslims.

Isaiah 32 (Psalms 3,69) CREATIVE ACCESS Pray for Brother D. as he holds discipleship training and prayer seminars with the believers in a rural village.

Pray that this training will encourage believers in their faith. May God encounter all who attend.

Isaiah 33 (2 Samuel 21- 22, Psalm 18)

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CYPRUS Pop. 800,000 Map. 113 Pray that God will use some new printed literature to expand His kingdon in Cyprus. May this nation glorify His name and give Him praise. Pray that local churches and Christian organisations will join with Every Home for Christ in presenting these gospel messages.

Isaiah 34 (2 Samuel 23 - 24)

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SERBIA Pop. 7,000,000 Map. 71 Praise God that the Oikos Initiative has been launched and has great success in the opening months.

Pray for all of the new workers in the field as they share the truth of a loving Saviour. Pray for open doors and open hearts.

Isaiah 35 (Psalms 4 - 6)

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ALBANIA Pop. 2,900,000 Map. 75 Every Home for Christ has partnered with churches in giving out seed packages and a short Bible message in the villages of Albania. Churches are pleased to have this support of their evangelism ministries, and there have been many requests for partnership. Pray for more open doors.

Isaiah 36 (Psalms 7 - 9)

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