SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY EDITION
THE FRONTIER journal
FALL 2021
NEWS + STORIES FROM THE MINISTRY OF FRONTIER FELLOWSHIP
MULTIPLYING IMPACT IN EGYPT + BEYOND AN ALGERIAN ALLEGORY PAGE 13
40 YEARS + COUNTING PAGE 16
PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS PAGE 20
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MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RICHARD HANEY
It is hard to believe that the autumn season is upon us and we are nearing the end of our 40th year. It has been a joy to celebrate Frontier Fellowship’s legacy with our friends both near and far! One of those friends was Andrew Walls, who passed away in August in Aberdeen, Scotland, at the age of 93. Professor Walls was one of the first scholars to notice and study the demographic shift of Christianity to the Global South. His keen historian’s eye called attention to the rich ways local non-Western communities not only received the Gospel but expressed it within the worldwide community of Christ-followers. Frontier Fellowship has been blessed by this emphasis upon indigenous churches articulating the Good News in their unique settings. We are passionate about drawing people who care about the frontier into friendship. We believe that facilitating relationship-driven partnerships between followers of Jesus and indigenous partners in least-reached places is vital to the expansion of God’s Kingdom and more people gaining access to the Good News of Jesus. You will read about one such partnership in our feature article on page 4. After visiting Community Church of Hendersonville (near Nashville, Tennessee) for the first time, Associate Director Dan McNerney took George and Pamela Pendergrass on a vision trip to Egypt. There they met Fayez Ishak, a pioneering mission leader. Upon returning home, George and Pamela felt God tugging at their hearts. Today they are among Frontier Fellowship’s newest mobilizers, with a special call to engage churches of color in God’s mission to unreached peoples. As part of this special anniversary edition of The Frontier Journal, I have contributed a reflection on Frontier Fellowship’s ongoing vision to see leastreached peoples gain access to the Good News of Jesus (page 16). Join us in thanking God for His continuing grace and mercy toward us. Thank you for being a part of Frontier Fellowship’s family. We look forward to the next 40 years of frontier mission mobilizing ministry as, together, we seek Gospel access for every nation, tribe, people and language!
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© 2021 FRONTIER FELLOWSHIP
CHRISTMAS
GIFT CATALOG
This Christmas, give a gift with eternal significance. LOOK FOR YOUR CATALOG IN THE MAIL THIS NOVEMBER, OR SHOP ONLINE NOW AT FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM/CHRISTMAS.
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MULTIPLYING IMPACT IN EGYPT + BEYOND FRONTIER FELLOWSHIP TEAM WITH GLOBAL PARTNER FAYEZ ISHAK + ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS DAN MCNERNEY, GEORGE PENDERGRASS + PAMELA PENDERGRASS
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DURING THIS 40TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR, WE RECALL COUNTLESS STORIES OF GOD USING FRONTIER FELLOWSHIP TO ADVOCATE FOR LEAST-REACHED PEOPLES AND ACTIVATE THE CHURCH TO ENGAGE IN MAKING THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS KNOWN. IT IS OUR JOY TO SERVE AS A LINK BETWEEN INDIGENOUS PARTNERS AND MISSION-MINDED CHRISTIANS, SEEING THE BLESSING GOD BRINGS WHEN PARTNERSHIPS FORM AND FLOURISH. IN THIS ISSUE OF THE FRONTIER JOURNAL, WE CELEBRATE GOD'S FAITHFULNESS TO CONNECT US WITH NEW CHURCHES AND DENOMINATIONS, ALLOWING US TO GO BEYOND OUR CURRENT NETWORKS FOR THE SAKE OF GOD'S KINGDOM. WE WILL LOOK AT THE FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENTS OF PARTNERSHIP FORMATION THROUGH THE LENS OF ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR DAN MCNERNEY'S EXPANDING FRIENDSHIP WITH MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY CHURCH OF HENDERSONVILLE (TN) AND FAYEZ ISHAK, ONE OF FRONTIER FELLOWSHIP'S LONGTIME PARTNERS IN EGYPT. (continued on page 6)
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“The goal of Frontier Fellowship is to find where Christ is on the move in frontier regions of the world, where there is no indigenous church. When we discover these areas, we get so excited! We look for the leaders of these movements and we partner with them. Then we have the joy of introducing our friends in churches to our new friends on the frontier, following the Holy Spirit together to advance God’s Kingdom—friends together working for the sake of the unreached people groups of the world.” —Associate Director Dan McNerney BUILDING RELATIONSHIP: LOCAL CHURCHES When Dan got the phone call inviting him to preach at Community Church of Hendersonville’s (CCH) upcoming Mission Sunday, he knew the Holy Spirit was up to something. Frontier Fellowship’s team had been praying—sensing that God wanted to stretch the ministry beyond its historical engagement with Presbyterians to include new denominational networks. The voice on the other end of the phone was that of Ann Crittenden. Dan knew Ann and her husband Don from his visits to Second Presbyterian Church (Bloomington, IL). They had been on vision trips with him to Mexico and the Middle East and were tireless advocates for frontier mission. The Crittendens had relocated to Tennessee and were eager to connect Frontier Fellowship with their new church community. Dan accepted the invitation and was soon on his way. “The church that Mission Sunday was filled with song and dance. I remember thinking to myself, ‘I’m in Nashville. There is quality worship here!’ At the center of the stage was George Pendergrass. He really captured my heart with his quality and passion. “When I got up on the stage, I felt so relaxed preaching and told stories of the great movements of Christ in the Middle East and of how Muslims’ hearts are being softened by Christ, the Prince of Peace, and attracted to His grace, forgiveness and love.” George and his wife Pamela were riveted by Dan’s sermon. Both had grown up in New York, and Pamela’s father, an electrical engineer, had worked on projects at the World Trade Center. Like many Americans, their knowledge of the Muslim world had been filtered through the events of 9/11. “When Dan came to speak at our church,” George said, “I was so intrigued by his message. Americans have so much trepidation around the Middle East, and yet here was a man who had committed his life to work in this region.”
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Pamela shared, “All I had ever known about the Muslim world was related to that fear from 9/11. But when Dan spoke at our church, something happened in my heart. I can’t explain it. Seeing him speak so lovingly about the people and his experiences began to open my eyes and my heart to consider ministry in that part of the world.” Dan, George and Pamela were drawn to one another after the worship service. Noticing their curiosity and openness, Dan asked if they might like to come with him on a vision trip to Egypt that was just weeks away. They said they’d consider it. Two months later, George and Pamela departed for a vision trip that would radically alter their lives. BUILDING RELATIONSHIP: GLOBAL PARTNERS Egypt, bordering Africa and the Middle East, is uniquely positioned within the Arab world. Amidst an unprecedented movement of Muslims toward Christ, the Egyptian Church is growing and thriving. The world’s most populous Arab country, approximately 15% of Egypt’s 100 million people are Christian (both Coptic and Protestant), the highest number of any Middle Eastern nation. It’s one of 22 Arabicspeaking countries, giving Egyptian followers of Jesus incredible potential to impact least-reached communities throughout the region with the Gospel. Frontier Fellowship began exploring partnerships in Egypt on a 2002 vision trip. Dan and a delegation of American church leaders visited several ministries there. In asking about who was involved with unreached people groups, everyone they met pointed to Fayez Ishak, the mission director at the time of Kasr El Dobara, the Middle East’s largest Protestant church. Fayez credits the beginning of his faith journey to the faithful witness of cross-cultural Christian missionaries who left behind the safety and security of home to learn Arabic and share the Gospel in Egypt. Years later in his journey with Jesus, Fayez visited a neighboring nation to help provide relief after a natural disaster. For the entire month he was there, he didn’t meet a single person who had heard about Christ. “In the Egyptian Church, we had good teaching and conferences, but I wondered, ‘How come we live and don’t share the blessings of Christ?’ God took me into ministry and continued opening my eyes. We started taking Egyptian Christians on short-term outreaches in Europe and the US, and then helping people go to other places.” ONCE A MISSION FIELD, EGYPT HAS BECOME A MISSION FORCE. MINISTRIES ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO TRAIN, EQUIP AND SEND EGYPTIAN MISSIONARIES TO LEAST-REACHED COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD WITH THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS. FAYEZ IS AT THE CENTER OF THIS MOVEMENT.
(continued on page 8)
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Dan recalls meeting Fayez for the first time: “My heart was immediately attracted to his passion for frontier mission. He had been equipping and sending missionaries out to various unreached communities where there was no Gospel witness whatsoever. That’s precisely Frontier Fellowship’s mandate—to mobilize ourselves and others toward the frontier. Our hearts were joined immediately, and I asked, ‘How can we come alongside you, Fayez, to help support the vision God has given you?’” INTRODUCING OUR FRIENDS TO OUR FRIENDS George and Pamela met Fayez during a 2019 Frontier Fellowship vision trip led by Dan. Little did they know that their encounters with God in Egypt would lead to a significant shift in the trajectory of their lives. George shared, “We noticed that God was doing something in Egypt amongst the unreached that our hearts connected with. Among our team of 15, Pamela and I were the only African Americans. Every time we’ve been on short-term mission trips, we’ve noticed that there were very few people of color involved. That was distressing to us, and we kept wondering, ‘What is God trying to tell us through this experience?’” “FAYEZ HELPED US THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX,” PAMELA ADDED. “WE WERE ENERGIZED BY HIM AND SAW THE CONCEPT OF MISSION IN A TOTALLY NEW WAY. THAT VISION TRIP TO EGYPT OPENED THE DOOR TO THE POSSIBILITY OF US GETTING INVOLVED IN FRONTIER MISSION.” “We need mature Kingdom partnership to stand with the Egyptian Church,” Fayez said, “people who would come and say, ‘How can we help?’ This is what Frontier Fellowship has done in a great way. It is very relational. They are bringing people like George and Pamela close to us, asking how we are doing, praying with us, uniting with us, asking questions, and then jumping in to help where it is needed, when it is needed. It is so encouraging to know that we are not alone. This is a rare kind of partnership that is very needed in the Middle East these days.”
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THE MULTIPLYING IMPACT OF MOBILIZATION One of the things flourishing partnerships have in common is this: their impact on the frontier multiplies. More Christians are drawn by God’s Spirit into frontier mission engagement. More indigenous leaders are encouraged and empowered through friendship and collaboration. And ultimately, as Fayez reminded us, least-reached peoples gain greater access to the Gospel. “As a result of this partnership and the support we received from Frontier Fellowship, we have seen so many seeds planted and people coming to know the Lord in different places. I remember preaching and reaching out to Syrian refugees in Lebanon. One man came with so many questions. He didn’t really know the true image of God in Jesus Christ. Through the encounter and the preaching he heard, he gave his life to the Lord—just by being exposed to the knowledge of who God really is. We have seen these stories repeated over and over again, especially among refugee communities in nearby nations. “THE HARVEST IS AMAZING. THE HARVEST IS GREAT, IS PLENTY. IT’S THE WORKERS WHO ARE NOT ENOUGH. I REMEMBER A STATEMENT I HEARD ONCE FROM A MAN OF GOD: ‘IT’S VERY EASY TO KNOW HOW MANY SEEDS ARE IN EACH APPLE. YOU CAN COUNT THEM. BUT IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW HOW MANY APPLES ARE IN EACH SMALL SEED.’ “This is what we’ve seen along the years. Every small seed that was planted for the Kingdom with love and respect has resulted in an amazing harvest. We don’t even know all the stories, but we believe that every seed and work of God that has been done has resulted in a great, great harvest that we can all—together— rejoice about.” Nearly twenty years and ten Egypt vision trips later, Frontier Fellowship’s partnerships in Egypt are flourishing. Leaders are being trained and equipped. A new colloquial Arabic translation of the Bible is in progress. And more than 300 Egyptian missionaries are now being sent by a variety of Christian denominations and mission organizations to share the Gospel throughout the unreached communities. (continued on page 10)
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Fayez was recently led by God to begin a new frontier mission mobilizing and sending ministry—Jossour, meaning “bridges of hope” in Arabic. His goal is to serve smaller, less-resourced congregations, helping them establish a frontier mission vision, organizing short-term mission trip opportunities and helping launch more Egyptian followers of Jesus into the mission field. Back home in Tennessee, George and Pamela prayed, asking God to show them how to respond to their experience in Egypt. They sensed He might be calling them to leave their jobs as educators to enter full-time ministry. Dan was a present, prayerful companion and steadily asked, “What does the Holy Spirit seem to be saying to your hearts?” Fayez was also an important partner in their discernment process. While visiting the US that year, he stayed a week with George and Pamela. He had recently launched Jossour, a big step of faith, and had faced many of the same questions and concerns the Pendergrasses were facing. His story and friendship gave George and Pamela courage to trust God with all the unknowns. George and Pamela joined Frontier Fellowship’s staff just one year after meeting Fayez on their first vision trip to Egypt. They are now actively mobilizing congregations with a frontier mission vision and have a particular passion to engage churches of color with God’s work among the world’s least-reached people groups. They will return to Egypt in November to spend several weeks with Fayez and some of Frontier Fellowship’s other ministry partners in the region, another step in the journey as they discern where in the world God is calling them to help Frontier Fellowship cultivate existing and new partnerships. Community Church of Hendersonville, through frontier mission advocates like the Pendergrasses and the Crittendens, has been abuzz with mission interest and involvement since Dan’s visit. “Our hope,” Pamela said, “is that many more churches will get involved in frontier mission and collaborate and partner together, so that those two billion people who still have not heard the Gospel can have access to it.”
+++ “When Frontier Fellowship meets people like Pamela and George Pendergrass in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and tells them about what Christ is doing in a place like Egypt and the Middle East, their minds are expanded, and their souls and hearts are opened to get involved with what Christ is doing in the world. Fayez and people like him, partners in the Middle East, when they hear that there are churches in the world that want to come alongside them and help them expand their efforts, they are so encouraged, and together, all of us, as friends in the Gospel, are helping those in the world who’ve never heard the Good News before gain access and develop their own indigenous church and enjoy Christ’s Kingdom for the first time.” —Associate Director Dan McNerney
READ MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF FRONTIER FELLOWSHIP'S PARTNERSHIPS IN EGYPT AT FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM/EGYPT
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DISCOVER
THE FRONTIER
FRONTIER FELLOWSHIP INVITES BELIEVING COMMUNITIES TO ENGAGE PEOPLE GROUPS WHERE THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS AND HIS KINGDOM IS NOT YET KNOWN.
OUR TEAM OF MOBILIZERS IS READY TO HELP YOU + YOUR CONGREGATION ENGAGE WITH GLOBAL LEADERS IN PARTNERSHIPS MAKING AN IMPACT ON THE FRONTIER. TO TAKE THE NEXT STEPS IN FRONTIER MISSION ENGAGEMENT, CONTACT INFO@FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM.
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AN ALGERIAN ALLEGORY BY GEORGE PENDERGRASS ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
People often ask me, “What does it mean to be a mission mobilizer?” My wife, Pamela, and I had that same question when we felt God call us into ministry with Frontier Fellowship. As we considered our role as mobilizers, we recalled meeting Fayez Ishak in Egypt. He had shared with us an Algerian allegory about the various obstacles that keep people from truly connecting with one another. "In a far distant land, a man came out of his home. And as his custom was, he looked around his home, looked around his village and then looked far, far down the road. "As he strained to see, he noticed a shadowy figure moving in his direction from a distance. And so he shouted, 'There's a lion coming down the road!' "As the lion got closer and closer, someone else yelled out, 'That's not a lion, it's a man. It's our enemy and he's coming toward us!' "And as the man moved closer and closer, someone else exclaimed, 'That's not our enemy. It's my brother!'" This allegory reminds us of the important work frontier mission mobilizers do in bridging gaps and bringing people who are distant—geographically, culturally and ideologically—closer together. Now, when we’re asked what it means to be mobilizers, we tell people that God has called us to make connections and bring people nearer to one another—to help them overcome obstacles and form friendships in order to build relationships where the Good News of Jesus can be shared with those who haven’t heard it yet. God brings clarity from nearness. As we help followers of Jesus and least-reached peoples draw nearer to one another, the hazy outlines of strangers become the recognizable frames of friends.
READ MORE ABOUT GEORGE + PAMELA'S EXPERIENCES IN AFRICA AT FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM/AFRICA-BLOG
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LEBRATING 40 YEARS CELEBRATING 40 YEARS CELEBRATING 40 YEARS CELEBRATING 40 YEARS CELEBRATING 40 YEARS CELEBRATING
FRONTIER FELLOWSHIP >
CELEBRATING
40 YEARS of FRONTIER MISSION MOBILIZING MINISTRY
Since 1981, Frontier Fellowship has connected countless followers of Jesus to the world's leastreached peoples and places. What began as a conversation around a dinner table between Ralph Winter and Harold Kurtz (see photo on facing page) soon became a global ministry with deep roots among frontier peoples and mission-minded churches around the world. Now, 40 years later, we continue building on the vision that has compelled us for years: for every people, an indigenous church; for every church, a mission vision. We celebrate God's faithfulness to Frontier Fellowship all these years and look to the future with expectation and hope!
GET INVOLVED
JOIN US ON THE FRONTIER! LEARN HOW YOU CAN GIVE, GO, PRAY + CONNECT AT FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM.
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WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US IN A JOYOUS, DETERMINED GROUNDSWELL OF SUPPORT FOR A NEW DAILY PRAYER AND GIVING DISCIPLINE FOCUSED UPON THOSE HUMAN COMMUNITIES LEAST TOUCHED BY THE WORD OF PEACE, TRUTH, LOVE AND RECONCILIATION IN JESUS CHRIST. —RALPH WINTER, IN FRONTIER FELLOWSHIP’S FIRST OPEN LETTER TO THE CHURCH, MAY 1981
thank you!
WE COULDN’T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU.
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LEBRATING 40 YEARS CELEBRATING 40 YEARS CELEBRATING 40 YEARS CELEBRATING 40 YEARS CELEBRATING 40 YEARS CELEBRATING
40 YEARS + Counting BY RICHARD L. HANEY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
In the remote southwestern Ethiopian town of Maji, our first executive director Harold Kurtz experienced a life-changing moment when he had the opportunity to share the Good News of God’s Kingdom with the Dizi people. He stumbled through the presentation in Amharic, which was then translated by a schoolboy into their tribal language. When Harold finished sharing with them, one of the elders paused for a moment and looked him directly in the eye and said,
“THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE ALWAYS HOPED GOD WAS LIKE.” Those words moved Harold to believe that in every people group there are those who already have hopes of what God is like—hopes that can be summed up simply: like Jesus. God used this moment among the Dizi people, a seminary class taught by Donald McGavran and a stirring challenge issued by Ralph Winter to compel Harold to build a mobilizing movement among Presbyterians— what is now Frontier Fellowship. THIS MOVEMENT, FORTY YEARS OLD THIS YEAR, ENVISIONS INDIGENOUS CHURCHES DEVELOPED AMONG UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS. IT IS A MOVEMENT OF INVITING CHURCHES TO ENGAGE IN THE MINISTRY OF LISTENING, ENCOURAGING, VISITING, PRAYING AND GIVING—FORMING FRONTIER MISSION PARTNERSHIPS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE GLOBAL CHURCH. + + + I am deeply excited that the movement of Frontier Fellowship is continuing to reach new regions of the world where people groups are still waiting to learn of our great God. Ninety-five percent (95%) of unreached peoples today are Buddhists, Hindus or Muslims. There is a lot of contact work to be done, a lot of connecting. God is calling Frontier Fellowship to continue moving forward—to find new friends and forge new partnerships to introduce more people to the Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim worlds. We are praying for and working toward
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more partnerships with indigenous followers of Jesus in places like North Africa, the Middle East and East and Southeast Asia. When I joined Frontier Fellowship’s team in 2014 the ministry already had a tradition of looking for new people groups and new partners, but we were working mostly within the Presbyterian tradition here in the US. In the past five years, we have committed ourselves to engaging new denominations and mission-minded communities of faith with a frontier mission vision. New relationships are forming. New staff members are helping us invite churches of color and multicultural fellowships to go with us and engage with frontier peoples and places. We have learned that it makes a difference when you travel to someone else’s country and home. When you become friends with a Buddhist, a Muslim, a Hindu, you care in a new way—87% of Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists have never met a Christian! When I visited South Asia for the first time, we traveled through Dalit villages. In one I was invited to speak. My mind began to race. “What should I say?” Tell them about Jesus. “What do they know about the Gospel?” Nothing! My host asked the crowd of 200, “Has anyone heard of Jesus?” Silence. Then he asked, “Who wants to hear the story of Jesus?” Every hand shot into the sky. Wow...I think I understand a little bit of how Harold felt that day in Maji. He ventured forth in Amharic, I spoke in English; we both relied on an indigenous translator. That’s what Frontier Fellowship is privileged to do: we partner with people on the ground who know the language and culture. We come alongside them in humility and boldness—humble about ourselves but bold about the Good News. We pray that these near neighbors of frontier peoples will bear witness with Holy Spirit power and that new believers will be changed by grace through faith. THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS IS FOR EVERYONE—EVERY CULTURE AND EVERY PEOPLE GROUP DESERVE TO HEAR ABOUT JESUS IN THEIR OWN HEART LANGUAGE AND THROUGH THEIR OWN CULTURAL LENS. AS WE CONTINUE ON OUR JOURNEY—SEEKING TO BE A BLESSING TO THE NEXT PEOPLE GROUP, AND THE NEXT ONE AND THE NEXT ONE—WOULD YOU JOIN US? BILLIONS ARE WAITING TO HEAR ABOUT THE GREAT GOD WHO SENT HIS SON. “THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE ALWAYS HOPED GOD WAS LIKE.” JUST LIKE JESUS. .
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COMING THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON
AN ALPHABET ADVENT A DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR ADVENT
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ARRIVING IN YOUR MAILBOX THIS NOVEMBER! TO ACCESS A DIGITAL DOWNLOAD FOR YOUR FRIENDS, SMALL GROUP OR CHURCH, VISIT FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM/ADVENT. A LIMITED NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL PRINT BOOKLETS ARE AVAILABLE TO ORDER VIA EMAIL AT INFO@FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM.
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—PARS THEOLOGICAL CENTRE STUDENT
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PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS
“PRAY FOR OUR DEAR COUNTRY SO THAT THE LOVE AND GRACE OF THE LORD WOULD BE KNOWN HERE. MAY WE SING NEW SONGS FOR OUR LORD AND MAY WE LIFT HIS GLORIOUS NAME IN OUR COUNTRY. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.”
ETHIOPIA Continuing political and ethnic conflict has led to growing food insecurity throughout Ethiopia. The United Nations estimates that over 400,000 people are facing famine, with an additional 2 million people experiencing food shortages. Pray for lasting peace to settle throughout the region and that God would provide in abundance for all who hunger. Light of Hope Ministry Ethiopia recently received test prints of the completed Arsi Oromo Bible! This new translation will allow more than 10 million Arsi Oromo people to have access to the Good News in their heart language. Praise God for His faithfulness throughout the translation process, and ask that He will provide every resource needed for Light of Hope to produce and distribute these Bibles. As our three-year commitment with the Suri Literacy Project (SLP) comes to a close, our partners are ready to transition the work into the hands of Ethiopia's Ministry of Education, where it will be integrated into the standard school curriculum for children. Praise God for the work of SLP to create avenues of both literacy and Gospel access among the Suri peoples! Thank you for your partnership! CONTACT: FRONTIER FELLOWSHIP NATIONAL OFFICE INFO@FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM
SUDAN + SOUTH SUDAN Ethnic conflict continues near the western border of Darfur in Sudan and millions are facing food insecurity throughout the region. Pray that God would bring stability in the midst of turmoil. Our Darfur Outreach partners have recently hired a new Academic Director! We rejoice that they were able to fill this critical role before the start of the fall semester. Pray that he would be filled with energy and wisdom. COVID-19 rates and food insecurity have prompted the Bible school in Sudan to participate in more frequent outreaches to their local community. Ask God to bless them as they serve their least-reached neighbors. Through our Sudanese + South Sudanese Refugee Ministry partners, twenty Sudanese men will be traveling to attend a church planter training school this fall. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide and protect them as they prepare to establish churches throughout their region.
CONTACT: ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR DENISE SCIUTO DSCIUTO@FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM
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NIGER Eglise Evangélique de la République du Niger (EERN) recently completed a feasibility study to determine how a commercial farm might be established on the property of one of their Bible colleges. This farm would provide income to support God’s work through EERN. Pray that God would guide them as they discern next steps, including the search for investors to help purchase necessary equipment for the new farm. EERN is celebrating the completion of two new school buildings: a K-12 school in the capital city and an elementary school in a town in southern Niger. Thank God for His provision! Many Muslim families throughout the country send their children to these Christian schools due to the high level of education they receive. Pray that teachers and faculty can clearly communicate the light and hope of Jesus to these children and their families. A pastor in Niger is looking for a permanent home where he can plant and host a new house church. Pray that God would lead him to the perfect location and that this church would be a refuge for neighboring communities. CONTACT: ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR DONALD MARSDEN DMARSDEN@FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM
SOUTH ASIA In addition to ongoing pandemic concerns, South Asia was hit by a devastating cyclone this summer. With many out of work and struggling to support their families, our partners stepped in to distribute food and other necessary supplies. Fear and uncertainty caused by the pandemic have opened doors for God to bring healing and hope to least-reached peoples. Our partners report that many are encountering Jesus and choosing to follow Him! One of our partners in South Asia is working with a local Bible college in a region that is predominantly Muslim and Animistic. Pray that many who are currently without access to the Gospel would soon find new life in Jesus. Schools in the Sand—our partner in Pakistan— continues to seek the best way forward with their educational ministry amidst changing pandemic protocols. Ask God to give them wisdom and grace as they love and serve least-reached children and families.
CONTACT: FRONTIER FELLOWSHIP NATIONAL OFFICE INFO@FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM
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EGYPT Steady progress is being made by the Bible Society of Egypt to translate the Bible into colloquial Arabic. A team of ten translators is faithfully working to accomplish this goal in the next four to five years. This translation will provide, for the first time, access to the Good News of God's Kingdom in the familiar, conversational form of Arabic. Pray for these translators, that God would bless them with perseverance and energy as they complete this crucial task! Classes have begun at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo. Pray for students and faculty as they prepare for Kingdom work in Egypt and beyond. Ask God to be with the Rev. Dr. Hani Hanna, who begins his first semester serving as the seminary's president. A small team from Jossour recently traveled to a nearby nation to spend time with and encourage followers of Jesus there during an especially challenging season. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide Jossour as they cultivate and expand relationships throughout the region, and as they mobilize Christians to share the Good News of God's Kingdom with least-reached peoples in Egypt and beyond. CONTACT: FRONTIER FELLOWSHIP NATIONAL OFFICE INFO@FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM
THE ARABIAN PENINSULA + IRAN On the Arabian Peninsula, new followers of Jesus living in tumultuous contexts need the love, prayers and support of the global Church. Ask God to make a way for them to find fellowship and community with other followers of Christ. Pray that they would also find employment to support themselves and their families amidst economic disarray in their home nations. A student of Pars Theological Centre was recently sentenced to eight years in prison for her involvement in helping establish new house churches in Iran. Pray for her and other followers of Jesus who continue to boldly proclaim Jesus. Ask God to grant them protection and resilience in the face of hardship and challenge. Thank God for Pars and the work they do to equip servantleaders who bravely carry the hope of Jesus to leastreached people living in challenging contexts.
CONTACT: FRONTIER FELLOWSHIP NATIONAL OFFICE INFO@FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM
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FRONTIER STORY: NIGER Around the world, Frontier Fellowship’s indigenous partners are working tirelessly to serve least-reached communities, extending opportunities for those on the frontier to hear about Jesus. Our partner in Niger, Eglise Evangélique de la République du Niger, uses creative outlets such as radio broadcasts and print publications to share the Good News throughout far-reaching villages. They recently shared this story: “Amira*, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl, first heard the Good News on the radio. So moved by the love of Christ, she immediately accepted Jesus as her Savior and committed her life to Him. Her parents opposed her decision and she faced a lot of persecution from them and other members of her family. “In keeping with her family’s traditions, Amira was forced to marry a Muslim man, and she soon became pregnant. Local followers of Jesus began regularly visiting her home and spending time with her, sharing words of encouragement. They prayed together as she anticipated the birth of her child. “Over time, God has been moving in the hearts of her family members. Her parents no longer oppose her for her faith in Jesus. Despite persecution, Amira is winning the battle and will continue in faith. Pray that God will open doors for her whole family to know Christ.” Time and again we see God’s creativity in bringing the Good News of Jesus to those on the frontier. We praise Him for His faithfulness to bring Kingdom transformation and reconciliation to all peoples— and that He invites us to join Him in this work. May we be quick to tell others what He has done for us (Psalm 66:16). *name changed for security
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LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GLOBAL PARTNERS AT FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM/PARTNERS
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CENTRAL ASIA Central Asian Migrants Ministry leaders recently met on Zoom with Associate Director Donald Marsden. Pray that they would continue to be encouraged and find community with one another, as many of them live without access to local Christian fellowship opportunities. Our Central Asian Youth Ministry partner held camps this summer in rural parts of the region. Many Central Asian youth were given an opportunity to hear the Good News of Jesus for the first time! Ask God’s Spirit to continue revealing Himself to them in the weeks ahead. Springs of Water continues to train church planters and equip them with water filtration systems. Four church planters recently established small businesses selling affordable drinking water in four Central Asian locations. Ask God to give these church planters opportunities to share the Good News of Jesus, the Living Water, with their least-reached communities! Our Women’s Shelter partners are celebrating the expansion of their facilities, including added space for vocational training and more beds for at-risk families! CONTACT: ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS RITA JOHNSON (RJOHNSON@FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM) + DONALD MARSDEN (DMARSDEN@FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM)
INDONESIA In the course of their work sending church planters to distant villages and islands in Indonesia, Light of the Islands (LOTI) has encountered seven individuals— each from a different people group—who are interested in learning more about Jesus. Pray that God would reveal Himself to these inquisitive people and that they would encounter the living God in a new way. Pray also that, as these seven individuals come to know Christ, they would serve as beacons of hope in their respective communities and people groups! LOTI recently established a new house church among a least-reached people group. We thank God for calling indigenous leaders from throughout Indonesia to carry the hope of the Gospel to their communities and neighbors. Our partner’s team has been growing, but they are still looking for more church planters to join them. Ask God to raise up workers to come alongside them in this effort to establish churches and transform communities through Christ’s love.
CONTACT: FRONTIER FELLOWSHIP NATIONAL OFFICE INFO@FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM
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MONGOLIA After a period of increasing COVID-19 rates led to a national lockdown, Mongolia is finally experiencing a decline in cases. Over the summer, one of our contacts contracted the virus, as did his entire family; thank God they are recovering well. Pray for complete healing and no lasting side effects. Our Mongolia Frontier Mission Initiatives (MFMI) ministry friends recently spent two weeks visiting a partner church in the northern part of Mongolia where nomads live. They helped teach and preach at a summer camp the church was hosting. Pray that the Good News of Jesus would permeate this least-reached region of Mongolia and that many would come to faith in Christ through the faithful witness of Mongolian Christians. Ask God to bless our MFMI ministry friends with wisdom and rest, especially as they navigate ongoing pandemic challenges. Pray that the work of this initiative will inspire many more followers of Jesus in Mongolia with a frontier mission vision.
CONTACT: ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR KRISTIN HUFFMAN KHUFFMAN@FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM
ADDITIONAL UPDATES Our new partner in Brazil, Amazon Outreach, recently held a five-day intensive training class for indigenous mission leaders in their area. Ask God to bless these leaders as they process and implement all that they learned. Pray for Amazon Outreach as they continue to guide and equip indigenous mission leaders. In July, many of our staff were able to attend the New Wilmington Mission Conference, where we had the opportunity to share about frontier mission. After more than a year of meeting virtually, it was a great time of fellowship and encouragement to meet in person! We recently welcomed two new staff members: Bradley Long and Jim Truesdell. Both come with years of pastoral experience and frontier mission passion. As veteran mobilizer Cody Watson steps into retirement, we are honored to have him transition to a new role on our team as Senior Associate, Emeritus. We thank God for the expertise, insight, innovation and passion each of our team members brings to Frontier Fellowship! LEARN MORE AT FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM
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JOURNEY WITH US THIS ADVENT NOVEMBER 28–DECEMBER 25
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