HistoryMakers Magazine Issue 02

>FREE

CASTING CROWNS

MISSIONARY

UNREACHED PEOPLES

E X C LU S I V E I N T E RV I E W

THE JUDSONS

THE FINAL ERA OF MISSIONS

BHUTAN

APOSTLE PAUL

MARTYRS

ROOFTOP OF THE WORLD

M I S S I O N A RY & M A RT YR

JESUS FREAKS

INTRODUCTION Dear HistoryMaker, Welcome to the second edition of H I S T O R Y M A K E R S magazine. Please take time to read through the articles, pray about what the Lord is saying to you in your walk with Him and discover how to get involved in the awesome challenge of evangelism and missions.

The encompassing theme of this issue is unreached peoples. Hopefully by the time you have finished reading this magazine you will have a passion to make a difference to the world we live in.

Many assume missions is all about one or two scriptures from the New Testament. For example, Matthew 28:19 says; ‘Go and make disciples of all nations’. It may well have been referred to as the Great Commission but there’s far more to it than that! From the beginning God has been unfolding His plan and purpose to bring the nations back to Himself. As far back as Genesis, missions has been central to all God does. It’s all about the nations being glad in Him! Every tribe, tongue and people need to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ if they are to have any hope of receiving the blessing that God spoke of five times in Genesis alone. That blessing was God’s promise to redeem many through Jesus. He never intended it to be just for a few nations on the earth.

It was to be all peoples, not geographical groups like China, England or the USA but literally all people groups within each nation – and there are thousands!

The problem is, as we shall see, there is a huge task still to do if the Great Commission is to be completed in our lifetime. But it’s not all bad news. God is moving at an immense level across the planet. Thousands are coming to Christ in the face of suffering and persecution.

We want to help you make the right decisions as you seek involvement. There are many ways to do this: being informed, donating, telling your friends at church about missions or maybe going short-term. These are all great ways to join in. Most effective of all is praying!

You might pray for Christians inside Laos or the Maldives perhaps or you may pray and ask God to use you in actually going to a mission field or perhaps mobilizing others to go instead.

In this issue, we will look at ways to do this. You are the NeXt Generation of missionaries. The task is huge and the workers are few and that is why we are passionate about informing you on how to be involved!

Will you help complete this final era of mission? It can be done, it HAS to be done and more importantly, it WILL be done! Don’t miss out on the awesome privilege of serving God in missions – be a world changer. Be a H I S T O R Y M A K E R .

CONTENTS C L O S E S H AV E W I T H M I S S I O N S ?

02

B H U TA N

03

M A R T Y R S (Jesus Freaks)

04

M I S S I O N A R I E S (The Judsons)

06

H I S TO RYM A K E R S C O N N E C T

07-08

C A S T I N G C R O W N S (Interview)

0 9 -1 0

4 W AY S T O G E T I N V O LV E D

11

A P O S T L E PA U L (World-changer)

12

RESOURCES

13

UNREACHED PEOPLES

14

CLOSE

SHAVE?

HAD A

CLOSE SHAVE W I T H

MISSIONS?

Okay, so you’re sitting in church and this lady comes in. At first glance, she looks just like everyone else but on closer inspection you notice she is very tanned. After a word of prayer and a short video, you discover she’s a missionary home on furlough.

Then, with the aid of Powerpoint, she starts talking about unreached groups, cross-cultural evangelism and indigenous people. Forty minutes later, she’s left the building and you’re left feeling very challenged and inspired but not sure exactly what to do about it all!

It can be exciting to hear about the amazing places that missionaries go but is that as close as you can get? Just how can you be involved? What exactly is a missionary and more to the point, what is missions?

Missions is calling the world to do exactly what it was created to do, namely, to enjoy making much of God… and to do it forever! Failing to share that Good News is a failure to glorify God. He is dishonoured…and people will be lost.

HOW DO WE DO IT? There’s no other way but to go out beyond our own cultures and share the Good News with others. That is what it takes.

Missions is a cross-cultural movement aimed at helping people stop making much of themselves and start making much of their Creator. It’s a cross-cultural effort to transform people's hearts so that God is felt to be more praiseworthy than sports stars or military might or artistic achievements or anything else that God has made. Missions is a cross-cultural endeavour to help people forever experience God as their Treasure above all earthly treasures. It is a life and death struggle to give people eternal life, which consists in knowing and enjoying God forever.

W H O ’ S I T FO R ?

Wake up! It’s for You! The Great Commission might have been a command given by Jesus to all Christians everywhere and through all generations but thousands of years before, a promise was made by God to Abraham and repeated to Isaac and then to Jacob – that through their descendants all peoples on earth will be blessed! That includes you! Through faith in Christ, we have become children of Abraham. That ancient blessing given in Genesis is the foundation of the missions task, a confirmation that the undeserved favour you received when you become a Christian isn’t for you to keep to yourself; it’s to share with all mankind.

M I S S I O N A RY ?

There is a tendency to define “missions” as any Christian work that takes place somewhere far away. To make things clearer – it's sometimes better to understand a missionary to be someone working hard to reach people of a significantly different culture. By contrast, an evangelist is one who works hard to reach others of their own culture – the work of evangelism may have a lot of missionary intentions. But to best distinguish the different roles, it is best to reserve the term “missionary” for those doing, mobilizing for, or working hard in direct support of those doing cross-cultural work.

GET INVOLVED There are many ways to be involved. Begin by praying and reading this magazine to see how you can play a part.

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BHUTAN PERSECUTION INDEX: 6TH With just over 2.5 million inhabitants and 15 different languages the Kingdom of Bhutan presents a considerable challenge to Christianity. It is one of the world’s least evangelized nations. 63% of the population are Drukpa (Tibetan related) and strongly Buddhist. Another 30% are of Nepali background. They have suffered immense persecution and ethnic cleansing for over ten years now as a result of their efforts to obtain more democracy.

The Bhutanese government is implementing a one nation/one people policy based on one religion and one culture. It has been practicing a number of racial and discriminatory policies against other cultures and religions believing that Christians represent a western culture/influence.

Prior to 1965 there was complete restriction on the Gospel.

There then followed 25 years of relative opportunity for witness by expatriates through relief agencies. Seeds were planted and in 1990 opportunities were again limited.

There are very few permitted congregations in Bhutan.

Indian believers living on Bhutan’s frontiers and also working in the south of the country have been largely responsible for evangelizing and bringing Bhutanese to Christ. Some Nepali Bhutanese have come to know the Lord in refugee camps. Careful literature distribution is one of the few avenues for ministry. The New Testament is available in Dzongkha, the national language.

All evangelism of Buddhists or Hindus is banned. It is a difficult situation for Christians in Bhutan with very harsh persecution being practiced. The Royal Government of Bhutan has been systematically persecuting the Christian population. The practice of Christianity by Bhutanese citizens was banned by a law of National Assembly (Parliament) of Bhutan in 1969. Bhutanese Christians have been denied the right to freedom of religion, worship, observe and practise their religion in community, in public, or even in private by the government. Christians are asked either to leave their religion or leave the country. There are also many cases of severe physical abuse.

W H AT W E D O 1 Work is being conducted both inside Bhutan as well as along the border area. The project assists with the support of several evangelists 2 The New Testament is available and is currently being distributed. Pray for the work of translation on the Old Testament.

W H AT Y O U C A N D O 1 Please pray for bibles to reach the right people and that through the Word, many more will come to a saving faith in Christ 2 You can also help fund the training of evangelists in neighbouring Nagaland by donating online. go to www.asialink.org.uk/giving_media Pictures – Top right: Some children are required to leave their families at the age of six to become a monk. Bottom left: Bhutan has the reputation of being one of the most scenic countries in the world.

ROOFTOPOFTHEWORLD

MARTYRS

JESUSFREAKS

GIRL, 16 YEARS OLD, ASIA 1970s The Communist soldiers had discovered their illegal bible study. As the Pastor was reading from the bible, men with guns suddenly broke into the home, terrorizing the believers who had gathered to worship. They shouted insults and threatened to kill the Christians.

The leading officer pointed his gun at the pastor’s head.

“Hand me your bible” he demanded.

Reluctantly the pastor handed over his bible, his prized possession. With a sneer on his face, the guard threw the bible to the floor. He glared at the small congregation. “We will let you go” he growled, “but first you must spit on this book of lies. Anyone who refuses will be shot.” The believers had no choice but to obey the officer’s order. A soldier pointed his gun at one of the men. “You first”. The man slowly got up and knelt down by the Bible. Reluctantly, he spat on it, praying, “Father, please forgive me.” He stood up and walked to the door. The soldiers stood back and allowed him to leave.

“Okay, you!” the soldier said, nudging a woman forward. In tears, she could barely do what he demanded. She spat only a little, but it was enough. She too was allowed to leave.

Quietly a young girl came forward. Overcome with love for her Lord, she knelt down and picked up the bible. She wiped off the spit with her dress. “What have they done to your Word? Please forgive them,” she prayed. The Communist soldier put his pistol to her head and pulled the trigger.

ROY PONTOH, 15 YEARS OLD, INDONESIA 1999 The teens could tell that the shouts and chanting were getting closer. An older teen looked nervously at his friend.

“The Muslims are coming. We’d better hide the kids”, he said. Others, following his lead, helped the smaller children find places in the buildings nearby. Then, they hid themselves.

It was January and a crowd of mostly Christian children had gathered for a bible camp at Pattimra University in Ambon, Indonesia. When the camp was over, cars came to take the joyful children back home, but there were not enough cars to hold them all.

Mecky Sainyakit and three other Christian men had gone to Wakal village to try and rent additional transportation to take the rest home but they had not returned yet. What the waiting kids didn’t know was that the men were attacked by a Muslim mob on the way to the village. Mecky and another were stabbed to death and later their bodies were burned by the mob. The two other men escaped with their lives.

Before long the mob reached the University. They found many of the teens and forced them out from their hiding places. Roy Pontoh was made to stand before the mob.

“Renounce your Jesus, or we will kill you,” they threatened.

Roy was terribly frightened. Though trembling he answered, “I’m a soldier of Christ”. At this, one of the Muslim attackers swung a sword at his stomach. The sword hit the bible that Roy was holding, knocking it from his hand. The next swing of the sword sliced open Roy’s stomach. His last word was “Jesus.”

Extracts taken from ‘JESUS FREAKS’ by DC Talk with Voice of the Martyrs.

Used with the kind permission of Eagle Publishing Ltd & Baker Publishing Group.

IN FACT, EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO LIVE A GODLY LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS WILL BE PERSECUTED, 2 TIMOTHY 3:12

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Illustration taken from ‘Conventional Wisdom’ by A. Auderset Used with the kind permission of Monarch Books.

MISSIONARY ANN & ADONIRAM JUDSON The Judsons were among the first missionaries to leave the US. In 1813, they began their mission in Burma. They set a goal of translating the Bible and founding a church of 100 members before their death. By 1850, they left the Bible, 100 churches, and over 8,000 believers.

Many of her friends and neighbours thought Ann was wild and romantic when she went off to India in 1812. It was unthinkable then that a young woman would travel to some little known spot on the globe to work among the unsaved in primitive surroundings. It meant leaving behind her family with little hope of seeing them again in this world. But Ann Hasseltine Judson insisted on going; she knew this was the work God had called her to do.

Ann accepted Christ as her Saviour at the age of 16 and began to spend time in Bible study and prayer. She wanted to be used by God and prayed, “Direct me in your service, and I ask no more. I would not choose my position of work, or place of service. Only let me know your will, and I will readily comply”. At the age of 21, Ann wanted to become a missionary to foreign lands. So did the Congregational minister named Adoniram Judson that she married on February 5, 1812; two weeks later, the newlyweds sailed from the US for Calcutta, India.

After opposition from the Indian government, the Judsons began their missionary work in Burma, located between India and China. The gospel had never reached that land of over 15 million people.

They settled in Rangoon and began learning the language.

The Burmese frequently told the Judsons, “Your religion is good for you, ours for us.” After nine years in Rangoon there were only eighteen converts.

Adoniram translated the Scriptures. The Burmese had no idea of a God who was eternal, without beginning or end, and it was difficult to find words to accurately describe the Christian truths. Nevertheless, within three years the Judsons had prepared a Burmese grammar, printed two tracts, and translated the Gospel of Matthew. Ann had formed a society of indigenous women who met together on Sundays to pray and read the Scriptures.

In 1823, war broke out between Britain and Burma, the Burmese thought the Americans to be friends of the British and Adoniram was thrown into a death prison.

Ann, then two months pregnant, became a prisoner in her own home. She courageously pleaded with government officials for her husband’s life and was secretly able to bring supplies and food to Adoniram and his fellow prisoners.

Adoniram was moved secretly to another prison, he was forced to walk barefoot eight miles over sand and gravel – he was near death when he finally arrived at Oung-pen-le.

Ann took her three-month-old daughter and followed after her husband. Adoniram was eventually released and united with his wife and infant daughter. Ann, however, was still weak. She died of a fever on October 24, 1826. Her daughter died within six months. Ann Hasseltine Judson was the first woman missionary to leave America; her story of constant love for Christ encouraged many other women to serve Christ on the mission field.

CHINA

BURMA

VIETNAM

(MYANMAR)

Faces have been disguised to protect the Burmese Christians, due to the current political situation.

“SO DO NOT BE ASHAMED TO TESTIFY ABOUT OUR LORD, OR ASHAMED OF ME HIS PRISONER. BUT JOIN WITH ME IN SUFFERING FOR THE GOSPEL, BY THE POWER OF GOD” 2 T I M O T H Y 1 : 8

6

M I S S I O N S Q U OT E S “THE GREAT COMMISSION IS NOT AN OPTION TO BE

“IF TEN MEN ARE CARRYING A LOG – NINE OF THEM ON

CONSIDERED; IT IS A COMMAND TO BE OBEYED”

THE LITTLE END AND ONE AT THE HEAVY END – AND YOU

HUDSON TAYLOR, MISSIONARY TO CHINA

WANT TO HELP, WHICH END WILL YOU LIFT ON?”

“THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST IS THE SPIRIT OF MISSIONS. THE NEARER WE GET TO HIM, THE MORE INTENSELY MISSIONARY WE BECOME” HENRY MARTYN, MISSIONARY TO INDIA AND PERSIA “THE BIBLE IS NOT THE BASIS OF MISSIONS;

WILLIAM BORDEN, AS HE REFLECTED ON THE NUMBERS OF CHRISTIAN WORKERS IN THE U.S. AS COMPARED TO THOSE AMONG UNREACHED PEOPLES IN CHINA “THE GOSPEL IS ONLY GOOD NEWS IF IT GETS THERE IN TIME” CARL F. H. HENRY

MISSIONS IS THE BASIS OF THE BIBLE”

“YOU CAN GIVE WITHOUT LOVING. BUT YOU CANNOT

RALPH WINTER, U.S. CENTER FOR WORLD MISSION

LOVE WITHOUT GIVING”

“IF JESUS CHRIST BE GOD AND DIED FOR ME, THEN NO SACRIFICE CAN BE TOO GREAT FOR ME

AMY CARMICHAEL, MISSIONARY TO INDIA “WE MUST BE GLOBAL CHRISTIANS WITH A GLOBAL

TO MAKE FOR HIM” C.T. STUDD

VISION BECAUSE OUR GOD IS A GLOBAL GOD” JOHN STOTT

“NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO HEAR THE GOSPEL

“TELL THE STUDENTS TO GIVE UP THEIR SMALL

TWICE, WHILE THERE REMAINS SOMEONE WHO HAS

AMBITIONS AND COME EASTWARD TO PREACH THE

NOT HEARD IT ONCE” OSWALD J SMITH

GOSPEL OF CHRIST” FRANCIS XAVIER,

“EXPECT GREAT THINGS FROM GOD; ATTEMPT GREAT THINGS FOR GOD” WILLIAM CAREY “IF YOU TAKE MISSIONS OUT OF THE BIBLE, YOU WON’T HAVE ANYTHING LEFT BUT THE COVERS” NINA GUNTER

MISSIONS SCRIPTURES I WILL GIVE THANKS TO YOU, O LORD, AMONG THE PEOPLES; I WILL SING PRAISES TO YOU AMONG THE NATIONS... BE EXALTED ABOVE THE HEAVENS, O GOD; LET YOUR GLORY BE ABOVE ALL THE EARTH." PSALM 57:9-11 “SEE, I WILL BECKON TO THE GENTILES, I WILL LIFT UP MY BANNER TO THE PEOPLES.” ISAIAH 49:22 “THEREFORE HAVING OVERLOOKED THE TIMES OF IGNORANCE, GOD IS NOW DECLARING TO MEN THAT ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE SHOULD REPENT, BECAUSE HE HAS FIXED A DAY IN WHICH HE WILL JUDGE THE WORLD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH A MAN WHOM HE HAS APPOINTED” ACTS 17:30-31 “THESE I WILL BRING TO MY HOLY MOUNTAIN AND GIVE THEM JOY IN MY HOUSE OF PRAYER. THEIR BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES WILL BE ACCEPTED ON MY ALTAR; FOR MY HOUSE WILL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS.” ISAIAH 56:7 “LET THE HEAVENS BE GLAD, AND LET THE EARTH REJOICE; AND LET THEM SAY AMONG THE NATIONS, ‘THE LORD REIGNS.’” 1 CHRONICLES 16:31 “LET THE PEOPLES PRAISE YOU, O GOD; LET ALL THE PEOPLES PRAISE YOU.” PSALM 67:3 “THEREFORE I WILL PRAISE YOU AMONG THE NATIONS, O LORD; I WILL SING PRAISES TO YOUR NAME.” PSALM 18:49 “AFTER THESE THINGS I LOOKED, AND BEHOLD, A GREAT MULTITUDE WHICH NO ONE COULD COUNT, FROM EVERY NATION AND ALL TRIBES AND PEOPLES AND TONGUES, STANDING BEFORE THE THRONE AND BEFORE THE LAMB.” REVELATION 7:9

MISSIONARY TO INDIA, THE PHILIPPINES, AND JAPAN

U N R E A C H E D P E O P L E S FA CT S 2,906 PEOPLE GROUPS TOTALING 148,000,000 INDIVIDUALS HAVE NEITHER SCRIPTURE, THE JESUS FILM, CHRISTIAN RADIO OR CHRISTIAN RECORDINGS AVAILABLE IN THEIR LANGUAGE. 50 OF THE 81 PEOPLE GROUPS IN AFGHANISTAN DO NOT HAVE EVEN BIBLE PORTIONS AVAILABLE IN THEIR PRIMARY LANGUAGE. 86% OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA'S 872 PEOPLE GROUPS HAVE CHRISTIANITY AS THEIR PRIMARY RELIGION. NORTHEAST ASIA HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS PRACTICING ETHNIC RELIGIONS (146,752,000), FOLLOWED BY EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA (72,128,000).

1,672 PEOPLE GROUPS IN THE 10/40 WINDOW HAVE NEITHER SCRIPTURE PORTIONS OR GOSPEL RADIO AVAILABLE IN THEIR PRIMARY LANGUAGE, COMPRISING 309,000,000 INDIVIDUALS. THE UNITED STATES, CHINA, NIGERIA AND BRAZIL HAVE THE GREATEST NUMBER OF EVANGELICALS ACCORDING TO OPERATION WORLD. UGANDA HAS THE HIGHEST PERCENT EVANGELICALS AT 46%.

312 OF THE 500 PEOPLE GROUPS IN CHINA DO NOT HAVE EVEN BIBLE PORTIONS AVAILABLE IN THEIR PRIMARY LANGUAGE. INDONESIA HAS THE GREATEST POPULATION OF MUSLIM GROUPS (189,599,000), FOLLOWED BY PAKISTAN (156,143,000) AND INDIA (149,347,000).

9,168 PEOPLE GROUPS HAVE THE NEW TESTAMENT AVAILABLE IN THEIR PRIMARY LANGUAGE, TOTALING 5,631,000,000 INDIVIDUALS.

CASTING CROWNS EXCLUSIVEINTERVIEW

Mark Hall before and during their performance at the Edinburgh ‘Frenzy’ festival in June 2007.

M I N I S T RY , M I S S I O N S , M U S I C Casting Crowns are not your average Christian rock band.

First and foremost before the music, comes ministry and missions. In their own churches, each band member is involved in full-time youth ministry. Mark Hall, the lead singer is a Youth Pastor at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in the US and is also Senior Director of Global Youth Ministry, an organization that focus on training and equipping young leaders in global missions.

HistoryMakers met with Mark, Juan and Chris in June 2007.

What’s the most important question you want to get across to Christian youth?

M A R K : “As a youth Pastor with my students, the thing I want

them to notice first is their own walk with Jesus – not their Youth Pastor’s or favourite band’s walk with Jesus. I think sometimes we tend to take a group-approach to God. When we’re together we can really ‘feel it’ but when we’re by ourselves we can’t. That’s the first step before missions can even happen – they have to develop their own friendship with Jesus. After that, I want them to see they can have a ministry with the people around them. Often, we don’t think we are good enough, worthy enough or maybe feel we’ve made too many mistakes or we’re not talented enough – but God can use all of us and has called all of us into a ministry”.

NORTH KOREA

How can Casting Crowns be a platform for challenging youth about missions?

J UA N : Our music in general challenges people in their relationship

with Jesus to be a growing one. If you look at ‘We Are The Body’ – the surface of the lyrics talk about reaching out to people who are hurting, the hands of Christ are hands that heal”.

Do you think that when the majority of young people decide to go abroad to the mission field, they are going for the right reasons rather than some kind of adventure or vacation?

C H R I S : “On my first mission trip I didn’t know what to expect.

We went to Kenya last year and took about a dozen students from our church. Before that, we went to a town in South Africa and because it’s a third world country we expected to see poverty to a small degree. It was worse than I thought. At that time, I wasn’t even thinking about vacation. When we first left the States and we all talked about going on this really cool ‘Jeep Safari’ that was really exciting about that part of the trip but when we were in this little town and seeing the people there – the exciting things were the last thing on my mind. When your really focused on what you’re there to see God do, it makes the vacation or adventure part take a back seat”.

FO R R E G U L A R N E W S O N S I G N U P AT : www.asialink.org.uk/contact W E O F F E R M O N T H LY E - M A I L U P D AT E S F O R N . K O R E A . T H E S E P R O V I D E N E W S O N T H E W O R K T H E R E , G E N E R A L I N F O R M AT I O N A N D S P E C I F I C P R AY E R C O N C E R N S .

You’re involved in Global Youth Ministry which has these Evangelism Values: 1 Action: Everyone is a missionary, first to his own Jerusalem, then to the uttermost parts of the earth.

2 Focus: Our task is finish the job of taking the gospel to the globe In view of this, does Global Youth Ministry equip young people and youth leaders to be involved in reaching the remaining 6,500 un-reached people groups?

M A R K : “Yes we do, in several ways. Firstly we organize youth camps

in the summer so that the average teenagers can see that they’re called to ministry and have gifts and value. At these camps, we start to see some who already feel a calling in their life and we begin spending time with them. After that we train youth on weekends. The problem we face is that often when youth see a calling on their life, they think it’s for the future; but when God puts a calling on your life, it’s for now. So if God’s calling you to be a missionary, your a missionary now – you need to be a missionary to your high-school class or whatever grade you’re in. At Global Youth Ministry we also train students and young adults to go to another country and live there. We take mission trips to these countries and we stay for 2 or 3 years so that we can train the local church. We have mentors in Moldova, Kenya and other countries.

Can you tell us a bit about your involvement in North Korea?

M A R K : “Casting Crowns were invited to be part of a Spring

festival that they hold every year honouring their leader. It was unbelievable when we heard that they were even thinking of us just because we know that the message isn’t hidden in our music and we knew that it might not fit very well with their

beliefs! When we sent our music and our lyrics we thought it wouldn't happen. But we were invited to go and be a part of it.

We played three different times to over 1500 people each time and it was broadcast over the entire country, Songs like ‘Lifesong’, ‘Voice of Truth’, ‘Who Am I’ and ‘Amazing Grace’. We saw pretty interesting things happen there. To me it was a relationship building trip – let’s just go and be friends, love people and serve them. It wasn’t a ‘planting the seeds trip’ – it wasn’t even a ‘tilling the soil trip.’ It was more like tilling the concrete!

HistoryMakers aims to encourage and challenge young people to be passionate for Christ and Mission. ‘Passion’ comes from the Latin word ‘to suffer’. Do you think that the vast majority youth that you come across in your ministry are prepared to suffer for the Gospel, as Paul suggests in 2 Timothy 1:8?

M A R K : “The Apostle Paul said ‘not many of you have suffered to

the point of shedding blood’ – I think that most teenagers suffering is being laughed at in the lunchroom for wearing a Christian shirt, but I still can’t look down on a student that does see that as suffering because in their world and culture, they’re trying and getting beat down. That’s where the importance of the body of Christ comes in, to be a part of a group that goes into the world to love, serve and speak truth and if you get pounded on you come back to the body, get encouraged, pray for one another and go right back out. The trick is to start understanding what a ‘win’ is, and the trouble is that most believers think that a ‘win’ is if the person drops to their knees and repents. The ‘win’ is the obedience of doing what you were called to do. If you go sit by the person all alone – that’s ministry. If you stand up in class and share something about your faith and everyone laughs – that’s victory. > The full interview can be listened to or downloaded at www.historymakers.info

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FOUR WAYS

TOGETINVOLVED

BE INFORMED 1st base of involvement in missions is to be informed. This is the way that you can connect with what’s happening on the mission field whether it’s the latest news on the persecuted Church or frontline news from places like N.Korea, China, Maldives or Laos. Begin by

joining HistoryMakers – either return the form on page 10 or join through the website. We will send you free issues of the HistoryMakers magazine and e-mails each month. Also, you can check the website for frontline news and loads of other stuff!

PRAY Once informed about world missions you can begin to pray for specific areas – prayer is the life-blood of Missions.

The Lord may burden you with a particular country or project. It may even be that you start a prayer group with your friends or in your church.

DONATE The price of printing a bible inside Communist China is about the same as a cheeseburger in the UK! What a great way for you to be involved – invest in God’s kingdom by donating to the work of AsiaLink online. Go to www.asialink.org.uk/giving AsiaLink guarantees that 100% of all donations will be used for the mission field. Another way to get involved is by raising funds or by taking part in a sponsored event of some sort – maybe a marathon or something far less strenuous like a sponsored car-wash-athon!

One church in England climbed the three highest mountains in England, Wales & Scotland in under 24 hours to raise funds for AsiaLink!

GO! Can you spare two weeks during your holidays? If you are over 18, there are opportunities to serve short-term in Asia. Please e-mail historymakers@asialink.org.uk for more details. If you can spare 4-8 weeks or a year out of university or college, go to the ‘Resources’ page in this magazine to read more about Action Partners / Pioneers.

For evangelism and other mission opportunities – Scripture Union have a wide selection of choices.

Go to www.scriptureunion.org.uk

APOSTLE PAUL ACTS 26:17-18

THEFIRSTMISSIONARY

I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.

PA U L FA C T F I L E Born Saul of Tarsus and raised in Jerusalem under the training of Gamaliel, a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin and renowned teacher of God’s law. During the period of the early church, Saul wrought havoc and persecuted many believers. Five years after Christ’s Ascension, Saul was gloriously converted on the road to Damascus and became Paul, Christ’s chosen witness to the Gentiles. Paul’s name comes from the Greek, Paulos, meaning ‘small.’

T H E H I S TO RYM A K E R Paul may have been small in stature but his effect on millions of people through the ages has been enormous.

There isn’t enough room in this entire magazine to speak of the accomplishments and inspired teachings of Paul, yet alone this small section – but one thing for sure is that Paul has set an example in his life and ministry that all Christians should follow. Not only was he the greatest missionary ever but he was also a martyr for Christ – he was persecuted and suffered for the Gospel like no other and his display of faith and his works are so deep and profound that it would benefit any Christian to take a closer look at this great man of God.

13 books of the Bible were written by Paul, not including Hebrews.

He wrote ‘epistles’ to the following Christian communities where he had planted churches: The Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians. He also wrote letters to the following people: Timothy, Titus and Philemon.

Paul was officially the first missionary – along with his companion Barnabus. His missions, firstly to the Jews and then to the Gentiles in Asia, N.Africa and Europe have literally changed the face of the world we live in.

The scale of the impact of his work is incalculable. He had a passion to preach Christ where he was not known (Romans 15:20). Paul evidently was willing to suffer for the Gospel. So, what was the secret to the ‘success’ of Paul’s ministry? – was it stature, strength, knowledge and riches or was it something far more contrary to the way the world views the requirements of success?

Paul was persecuted and suffered for what he believed and preached – together with his humility, servant nature, obedience, holiness, long-suffering and perseverance, he transformed the world we live in – all through faith in Christ.

He told Timothy to ‘not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God’.

He also admonishes all Christians that in order to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus, persecution will come! These few pointers on Paul give us some clues as to why he was such a H I S T O R Y M A K E R

HOW CAN A YOUNG MAN KEEP HIS WAY PURE?

BY LIVING ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD. I SEEK YOU WITH ALL MY HEART; DO NOT LET ME STRAY FROM YOUR COMMANDS. I HAVE HIDDEN YOUR WORD IN MY HEART THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST YOU. P S A L M 1 1 9 : 9 - 1 1

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RESOURCES

INFORM_DEVELOP

STUDY / PERSPECTIVES Perspectives on the Worldwide Christian Movement is the single, most comprehensive source of information on the unfinished task of global evangelism. Taught at over 150 locations internationally each year, over 60,000 Christians have completed the course since it’s introduction in 1974.

• Partner with God to make an impact in this generation

• Learn more about God’s purposes and work on the earth so you can find where you fit in

• Explore or prepare for cross-cultural service.

• Catch a big-picture vision for serving, reaching and discipling all peoples – at home and abroad • Invest your gifts in the church, community and world

• Support missionaries with prayer, encouragement, finances, etc

Participants may sign up and begin when convenient. Learners have one year to complete the course from the sign up date.

www.icmusa.org/perspectives

• Equip yourself to support and contribute effectively to Christian education and global/local discipleship teams

www.perspectives.org/locations

CAUTION! THIS COURSE CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE Alternatively, course information, essay questions, and exams can be done through the Web. This class has an open enrollment.

EVANGELISM / TRAINING The Way of the Master Basic Training Course is specially formatted to train believers in a group setting to simply and confidently share the gospel with family, friends, and strangers. This eight-session course is the cream of the crop — it includes the best of the TV series plus brand new footage.

If you’ve been wanting to help a small youth group, Sunday school class or your entire church learn how to witness using The Way of the Master, this comprehensive course is the ideal training tool!

These lessons will teach you to overcome your fears by using a proven, powerfully effective way to make the gospel make sense. You won't be at a loss for words. You don’t need to be an expert in apologetics.

Using a captivating teaching style, Kirk and Ray not only tell you how to witness, they show you, through fascinating on-the-street

www.wayofthemaster.com

conversations with gang members, atheists, cult members, intellectuals, etc. Weekly homework assignments will gradually coax you, step-by-step, out of your comfort zone to reach your loved ones for Christ. You will be inspired and motivated as you learn, watch, and then do.

MISSIONS / SHORT-TERM Opportunities for two week trips in Autumn, Spring and the Summer Holidays.

L AO S : There are very few opportunities for mission work inside Laos. The provision of Bibles, literature and other media by our teams is a marvellous boost to local evangelists and pastors.

I N D I A : In Krishna, Children’s ministries aim to relieve poverty and hardship among orphans through clothing, food and basic education. Children’s work, prayer walks and also local evangelism.

U K : Action Partners / Pioneers is an innovative and youthful mission movement that mobilises teams to glorify God among unreached peoples by initiating church planting movements in partnership with local churches.

By mobilising committed Christians into existing or new teams, using their myriad of vocations and skills, we aim to initiate Church planting movements amongst those people and places of greatest need and least opportunity.

www.pioneers.org/edge

U S A : Enter the Movement through Pioneer Edge teams. Experience a new culture, prayer walk, share the gospel through your gifts – children's work, building projects, sport, teaching, health, agriculture, music, development... learn how others have moved cross-cultural and test and see if perhaps God is calling you to invest your life in making Jesus known to those where there is no active church. Trips are normally 4 or 6 or 8 weeks in length.

UNREACHED

PEOPLES

L E T T H E N AT I O N S B E G L A D While there were many amazingly significant events, people and groups prior to the eighteenth century, there have been three main eras of mission history beginning with William Carey in the late 1700s. The goal of this era was to reach the coastlands of the world. A second era began almost a century later in 1865, focusing on the inland areas and was pioneered mainly by Hudson Taylor and later by the Student Volunteer Movement. Then, in the 1930s, two men – Cameron Townsend and Donald McGavran pioneered a third era of missions. Townsend focused attention on the languages lacking bible translations across the world while McGavran pointed out all the bypassed social groupings. This is where Ralph Winter and other mission leaders in the USA coined the term ‘unreached peoples’.

The term ‘people group’ is “a large group of individuals who have in common either their language, religion, ethnicity, residence, occupation, class or caste or a combination of these”. The term ‘unreached people group’ is “a people group within which there is no group of local believers able to share the gospel with the rest of the people group” These terms have been designed to help bring clarity to the remaining missionary task.

JOB DONE?

But progress is being made. One third of the world would at least claim to be Christian, another third are nonChristians that live within reached peoples. The final third are non-Christians within unreached peoples.

We are in a third era of missions and God is moving throughout the world to fulfil his promise to the nations. More so than ever, missions has become a global, cooperative movement.

No longer is this just a western task. On the contrary, the impetus now is from the so-called two-thirds world. The centre of gravity of Christianity has shifted away from the West and those who for years were receiving missionaries are now sending out some of the world’s most passionate, dynamic and spiritual missionaries. Worldwide, the potential is there to get the job done. And now, obedience to the Commission is needed more than ever – Rev 7:9 assures us that worshippers from every nation, tribe, people and language will be standing before the throne of the Lamb.

The question remains as to what part you will play in His Story?

DISTRIBUTION OF MISSION FORCE WITHIN THE MAJOR CULTURAL BLOCS

We can be grateful to the pioneers and others who are responsible for bringing missions to where it is today. But, the remaining task is still huge and the workers are few.

According to Ralph Winter and others, the workload is unbalanced. The pie-chart opposite illustrates that the majority (74%) of missionaries today are currently working among people who have already been reached with the gospel.

The inspiration for this page is taken from ‘Perspectives on The World Christian Movement’ For more details on the Perspectives course, see the ‘STUDY’ section on the opposite page. To see a short introduction video go to www.historymakers.info and click ‘inform’ and ‘Perpsectives’

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JOHN PIPER

C.T. STUDD

HistoryMakers is a ministry of AsiaLink.

Registered Charity No. 327165

HISTORYMAKERS WEBSITE

In June 2007, the HistoryMakers website was launched – go to www.historymakers.info You’ll find 4 main sections: Inform, Develop, Inspire and Disciple. It’s easy to use. For instance, if you want information on North Korea, the persecuted Church or latest frontline news, then click ‘Inform’.

Or, maybe you want to develop your understanding of missions from a historical and biblical perspective, click ‘Develop’. To be inspired by well-known missionaries, martyrs and evangelists from years gone by, click ‘Inspire’. And to discover how you can get involved in local evangelism, learn about sharing your faith, serving in mission in your own country or short and long-term world missions, click ‘Disciple’.

On top of that there are great web resources to be looking at including places to study missions at College or University. There are also ‘Zones’ where you will find downloads like videos, audio sermons and bible studies – get browsing!