Creatively Reaching the World Together

NEWSLETTER | ISSUE 75 | November 2023

Creatively Reaching THE WORLD TOGETHER

THIS ISSUE: FROM THE DIRECTOR > LOOKING TO THE FUTURE > HEALTHY CHURCH PARTNERSHIPS > KEEP PIONEERING > SINGING THE GOSPEL > SIGNING THE GOSPEL > CREATIVELY REACHING THE WORLD TOGETHER > FINANCIAL SUMMARY > OARF > PIONEERS HOME FAMILY NETWORK > PRAYER - THE DRIVING FORCE OF MISSION

From

The Director Creatively Reaching the World Together

Thank God for those called to serve in places where churches are thriving. Making disciples is a task that never ends. Every follower of Jesus plays a role in helping people trust in Him and helping people grow in their faith. God has wired some people to pastor and mentor believers in existing churches. Wonderful, this is important!

In contrast, Pioneers great concern is that people with the very least access to the gospel will hear it, understand it, and have the opportunity themselves to grapple with the claims of Christ.

This is our passion. To share the gospel where there are no thriving churches and few followers of Jesus. Everything we do is to this end.

I can’t say we are doing it perfectly. We make mistakes. If it’s true that we learn by our mistakes, I must know more than most people. To say that I am embarrassed by some of the things I have said and done is itself an embarrassing understatement. But consolation is found in the words of D.L. Moody who said…

‘Our greatest fear should not be fear of failure, but of succeeding at something that doesn’t really matter’.

We want to stay relevant and effective in global mission… because it matters. It’s the most loving thing in all the world to tell people the truth about the way of salvation.

Pioneers International has 2,150 ‘field members’ from 88 countries (including 230 Australians) serving on 390 teams in 105 countries among 259 distinct people groups. Fifty-three percent are female, 47% are male, 83% are married, and

our average age is 44. Every day, they aim to tell people about Jesus. They are creative and agile, heavenly minded and down-to-earth. They are sowing gospel seeds, making disciples and planting churches.

And they’re not doing it alone. More than ever before, there’s a priority to partner with others for the sake of greater impact. If God has already raised up people ‘on the ground’, we want to serve alongside them so that more might be saved. If a church is present, we can serve under their leadership so that Christ is glorified.

Our mission statement and core values serve a unifying and motivating function in both our growing and culturally diversifying global family and in our ever-expanding partnerships. We are creatively reaching the world together.

Do little things as though they were big things, and God will do big things as though they were little things. So said my friend and counterpart at Pioneers-UK, Stephen Carling, in a recent meeting of Pioneers leaders. That is good counsel! As we play our relatively small part in God’s mission plan, without a doubt, He will do more than we could ever ask or imagine.

And He will do it easily.

As we reflect on the past 25 years, we give thanks to God. As we look forward to the next 25, we can’t wait to see what He will do. Give me a call and let’s talk about the future of mission.

Mission through Pioneers. Mission through you.

Wishing you a blessed Christmas!

‘She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.’ Matthew 1:21 2 | XPRESS

All around the world, the Lord Jesus is still saving people today.

Save the Humans

PIONEERS MOBILISES TEAMS TO GLORIFY GOD AMONG UNREACHED PEOPLES

BY INITIATING CHURCH PLANTING MOVEMENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL CHURCHES.

Looking to

the Future Steve Richardson | Director Pioneers USA I am intrigued by Jesus’s words in John 14:12, “Whoever people have been forcibly displaced from their homes.3 believes in me…will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” What could be greater than walking on water, feeding 5,000 people, or raising Lazarus from the dead? Yet here we are in 2023 experiencing things that would have left the disciples utterly amazed. We live in the most dramatic and fruitful chapter of redemptive history. Let me mention some of the dynamics which I believe will continue to shape the future of global missions.

Many of them are more open to the gospel than they’ve ever been before. Are we ready for the harvest God is bringing in unlikely places?

Multiplication: God’s worldwide family is growing.

The number of evangelical believers in the world grew almost 500% between 1900 and 2020. In Latin America, evangelicals grew from 825,000 to 51 million in that same span of 120 years, while the Church in Africa grew from 1.8 million to 161 million. 1 God is at work! Prepare to be amazed as momentum continues to build.

Celebration: We don’t know when Christ’s return will occur, but we know it’s closer than ever. Jesus spoke of the Kingdom as a great marriage banquet. He promised that “people will come from east and west and north and south and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God” (Luke 13:29). What a celebration that will be!

Mobilization: God is answering our prayers that He would “send out workers into his harvest field” (Luke 10:2). Between 2005 and 2020, 3,158 people groups were engaged for the first time by 5,159 missionary teams. 2

I believe the future of missions involves a growing global church and missionary workforce joining hands to complete the Great Commission amid severe opposition and disruption. Are your eyes lifted to the harvest fields (John 4:35)? We know the story of the Church ultimately ends in glory with the nations worshipping before the throne of God (Rev. 7:9). The challenge for all of us is to live accordingly.

Collaboration: The Great Commission has always had a global scope. Now it also has a truly global workforce.

At Pioneers, we support missionaries from more than 80 passport countries. We have unprecedented opportunities for partnership.

Disruption: God is shaking the nations socially, geopolitically and economically. A hundred million

Opposition: Opposition is not new, and it won’t stop until the Lord’s return. Open Doors estimates that one out of every seven Christians worldwide experiences “high,” “very high” or “extreme” persecution. 4 I’m confident the testimony of persecuted saints will continue to be a powerful force in global missions.

This article is a condensed version of Steve Richardson’s chapter, “A Piece in God’s Global Mission Puzzle,” in Mission in Praise, Word, and Deed, edited by Edward L. Smither and Jessica A. Udall (William Carey Publishing: Littleton, 2023).

Found at missionbooks.org.

1 Todd M. Johnson and Gina A. Zurlo, World Christian Encyclopedia, 3rd ed. (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2020), 25.

2 “Global 2020 Update,” Finishing the Task, accessed January 3, 2023, https://finishingthetask.com/wp-content/uploads/FTT-Global-2020-Update.pdf.

3 “Global Trends,” UNHCR, accessed January 6, 2023, https://www.unhcr.org/globaltrends.

4 World Watch List 2023 (International ed.), Open Doors, 6, accessed October 9, 2023, https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/theadvocacyreport/.

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of Healthy

Church Partnerships When I was a pastor, I enjoyed seeing the fruit of healthy partnerships with Pioneers and other mission agencies.

But this is not every church leader’s experience. Local churches often feel mission organisations view them as mere sources of money and personnel. There are many pressing ‘local’ demands on the resources church leaders steward, and lots of ‘local’ ministries to oversee.

In 2004, the Lausanne Movement commissioned a paper entitled, ‘The Local Church in Mission’. The paper lists 28 characteristics of ‘missional congregations’, or local churches. The last characteristic listed is, “missional congregations connect with mission organisations”.

Having rightly affirmed that the local church is frequently the ‘centre point of God’s redemptive strategy’, the authors mistakenly then write, ‘mission organisations must merely use the local congregation as a supply of finance and personnel’. Oops! Did you spot the error?

The missing word is “not”. They should have written ‘Mission organisations must not merely use the local congregations as a supply of finances and personnel’.

Since cross-cultural mission necessarily requires crosscultural workers and financial support, pastors can fear losing members to other spheres of ministry far

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away and thus added financial pressure on already stretched budgets. Local needs are great, which makes prioritising time in the context of busy pastoral ministry to connect with mission organisations a challenge. This accidental omission of one single word in the Lausanne statement above serves to remind us of the importance of building healthy partnerships between agency and church.

Pioneers is committed to effective partnerships with local churches. They come alongside local churches to provide support through their collective experience, gifts and skills to help those churches extend their gospel reach; to help churches here reach people elsewhere by sending and caring with excellence. They stand fully committed to local churches and exist to help those churches do the work of world evangelisation.

My prayer is that in partnership Pioneers would continue to ‘send people on their way in a manner that honours God’ (3 John 6) and see Him glorified.

Wayne Forward | CEO Peacewise (peacewise.org.au) | Former Pioneers Australia Team Member

Pioneers International Director encourages us to Keep Pioneering!

It is amazing to think that Pioneers missionaries now come from around 90 passport countries and serve among unreached peoples in more than 100 countries. Our founder, Ted Fletcher, had a vision that Pioneers would mobilise from all over the world, and this is our reality today, by God’s grace.

The harvest workforce is very different to what it was 40+ years ago when Pioneers was birthed in the USA, and changes in the global mission landscape have led us to ask how can we remain effective ministers of the gospel in this generation.

We continue to ask questions of ourselves, including “what does it take to maintain our pioneering spirit and remain in pioneering mode as we grow?” And, “how do we continue to serve effectively alongside the local churches around the world to see churches planted among unreached peoples?”

We believe these three ways will help us continue to pioneer…

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The first dimension of pioneering which continues to be our primary ministry over the years is to continue sending longterm missionaries to engage the least reached. There is, of course, a place for short-term strategies, but many of the people groups we serve are those with little witness and/or meagre fruit.

It takes people willing to go deep and long into the culture to see gospel breakthroughs in these communities.

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The second dimension we prioritise is to help emerging mission movements around the world to mature. God is raising missionaries from many countries that were, until fairly recently, seen as missionaryreceiving countries (and in some cases expatriate missionaries still serve there). An example of this is a recent gathering where we had the privilege of attending with dozens of heads of denominations in an East African country. Africa is now the continent with the highest number of Christians, and they realise a responsibility to send the gospel beyond Africa. They are looking for partnerships to help them develop systems and training to mobilise their members for missions.

and Latin America are also starting to send their own missionaries. What was previously a trickle is growing into a flood, and God is truly ‘sending from everywhere to everywhere’ We believe Pioneers has the opportunity to serve these new mission movements with what we have learned from over 40 years of mobilising missionaries.

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The third dimension is to serve individual churches around the world and to see them mature in their mission-sending capacity.

We are called to help churches engage in the Great Commission, and many of our mobilisation offices and teams already do this, coming alongside the church to serve in discipleship and evangelism and with special cross-cultural skills as they begin to send their own missionaries.

Ted wrote in his book, When God Comes Calling, “When God came calling in my life, I knew I wanted to be part of a movement that was stamped by a sense of destiny. I still want nothing less. My passion is to see the Lord of the harvest raise up a body of men and women who are an elite force, risking all and willing to die to take Christ where He is not known.”

These words continue to resonate with us and fuel our commitment to be a movement serving alongside local churches all over the world to raise up and release men and women who will desire to take the gospel where Christ is not known, where the church has not been planted. All this for God’s glory.

Mark Syn | Pioneers International Director and Pioneers Australia Member

Missionaries are not just being sent from the legacy Western countries, but countries in Africa, Asia

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25 Years and Still Thin Whatever it takes. For as long

Pioneers members serve to make Christ known across the world. We continue to be inspired people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the market place ministries, and friendship evangelism to disciple-making, a Our heart’s desire is to know Christ and to make Him k

Singing the Gospel Music and the Message

Eight reasons I produce (and co-produce) worship songs in the languages of least reached people groups.

1. God is Worthy God alone is worthy of all worship. All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen!

Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honour and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” (see Revelation 9:7-12) 2. Scripture Engagement There are many language groups which have the New Testament, or even the whole Bible translated, but often those Bibles are never read. Turning scripture into song helps more people hear God’s Word. Translators often find very few people make use of their backbreaking work. Local believers and cross-cultural workers who spend countless hours interacting with the Word of God as they translate it, can compose Christian songs by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and make them available online so that many more hear the gospel. Many who may never read a Bible in their own language, gladly listen to songs.

3. Catalytic Influence As I have produced and co-produced music in other languages, more people have been inspired to do the same. When I came to my current location almost four years ago, I could only find three worship songs online in the national language. Since producing new songs in this and other languages, some local believers have

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produced songs in their own particular languages too!

Catalysts speed up reactions.

4. Evangelism People on mission sometimes tell me how they are using ‘my songs’ in evangelism. They have been played at weddings, included with audio Bible content on solar players, used in unreached peoples language outreach podcasts and on outreach websites, played in a cafe in the Himalayas while monks drink coffee, shared with taxi drivers, passed onto non-Christian friends and family, and used as a conversation starter to raise the gospel message. These new songs have made their way deep into some of the most unreached places in the world – with some people hearing the name of Jesus for the first time through a song.

5. Encouraging Christians Every Christian can attest to the encouragement worship music has been for learning, comfort, drawing close to God, and strengthening our faith. Imagine if there was no accessible Christian music in your mother tongue! This is the case in many ethnic groups with few believers. So far, the ‘Crimson Worship’ youtube channel has more than 100 worship songs in more than 20 unreached people group languages. The songs are mostly from Tibetan Buddhist background ethnicities.

6. Enabling Indigenous Worship When Christians from unreached ethnic groups gather, they often meet with believers from majority cultures and therefore struggle to meaningfully engage in worship. Christians across the Himalayas, for example, may worship in churches where Hindi, Nepali or Mandarin is the dominant language and worship songs in their mother tongues are unheard of. Singing in one’s mother tongues is an immeasurable blessing for linguistically isolated Christians.

nking Outside the Box as it takes. Wherever He leads

d by the words Paul wrote to the church all those years ago: I have become all things to all gospel, that I may share in its blessings (1Corinthians 9:22-23). From medical work to and small Bible study groups to theological education, and much more. known. So that all might hear. So that God is glorified.

7. Cultural Relevance Many people are unaware there are Christians in their own ethnic group. They think Christianity is pertinent to other groups, not theirs, and have never heard of Jesus. When they hear a song about Jesus in their own language they want to know more about the singer and how they came to believe in Christ. For the first time they are forced to consider the legitimacy of someone from their ethnic group becoming a Christian.

8. Language Preservation Some of the languages I’m producing and coproducing songs in are in decline. Bible translation helps preserve languages. Having songs available online in these languages can keep them alive and relevant for future generations.

An Aussie Worker with a gift for music, love for people and passion for God

Some interesting facts: •

Worldwide, there are some 70 million Deaf.

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The Deaf face common challenges no matter where they are in the world, but sign language is not one single global language.

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Complete Bible translations are not available to many Deaf in their heart language.

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The Deaf are not ‘needy’, they just have different needs.

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Those who are born deaf often have hearing parents who lack fluency in signing.

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Facial expressions and body language help communicate what is being signed, and line-ofsight is essential for effective communication.

Every country has a Deaf community with its own language and culture. Pioneers is privileged to partner in Deaf ministry in Mexico, Tunisia, Croatia, Peru and, we pray, in the future, Japan!

Not only singing... but

Signing the Gospel That All Might Hear

Imagine how tiring and frustrating it must be to always struggle to be understood. Imagine trying to understand the daily news or office banter or to follow a joke with family and friends when there is a constant language barrier. Imagine how easy it would be to be misunderstood every day!

...continued on page 11 Image source: Deaf Children Australia.

Have you ever visited a country where no one spoke your language? Did you feel out of place? Did you need to either guess or gesture to communicate?

Was it a challenge to ask for help, order a meal or share an opinion? If so, I suspect you were quite relieved when you finally got home and could seamlessly communicate again!

To be unheard or misheard is very unpleasant, yet this is an invisible daily reality experienced by the Deaf. Indeed, since most people in society are not fluent in sign language, this leaves the Deaf excluded and disadvantaged even in their own home countries.

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Creatively Reaching the World Together As Pioneers of Australia celebrates 25 years of ministry, we look forward to new and exciting ways to be part of God’s glorious mission. These new opportunities require change.

The fatal words, “we never tried it that way before” must not hold us back from new things God is leading us into.

Financial Summary for the year ended 30 June 2023 Once again, we acknowledge God’s provision, just as we do each and every year. His faithfulness is unfailing, and we cannot adequately express our deep gratitude for all He has accomplished in 2023. And we are thankful to all who partner with us through the sharing of their finances in this ministry which has incalculable benefits for many people throughout the world!

Shifts in technology provide new opportunities to help people meet and walk closely with Jesus. Embracing these opportunities requires new skills. People who previously thought they didn’t have the gifts to be a missionary may be perfectly shaped for these ministries. Digital natives who are at home in the virtual world have a vital role to play.

Every gift is precious when it is given joyfully and received thankfully. Our donors generously steward what God has entrusted to them and we serve to do the same.

Furthermore, the ongoing shift in global Christianity brings other new opportunities. Mutual partnerships with our brothers and sisters from Africa, South America, and Asia must be embraced with humility as we step together into God’s mission. We come as learners but without compromising our core convictions.

It is a privilege to be part of the incredible stories of transformation, seeing God at work as individual, family and communities are impacted as we relentlessly pursue the task of taking the gospel to all peoples everywhere.

These convictions include our concern for the billions of people who are unreached by the good news of grace.

We must continue to do all we can to ensure they hear that same gospel message that saved us and has been transforming hearts and minds for over 2000 years. Finally, we must continue to walk in total dependence on God. Only in the power of His Spirit, will anything of value be achieved.

Holding onto these truths will keep us faithful in this ever changing world.

Tim Silberman | Pioneers Australia Board, Vice Chair

Please continue to pray with us as we seek to mobilise and equip many more workers into the field which are ripe for harvest!

‘Declare His glory among the nations, His marvellous works among all peoples!’

(1 Chronicles 16:24)

Overseas Aid and Relief Fund (OARF) This fund is the tax-deductible arm of Pioneers Ministries Foundation. Overseas work specifically developmental in nature is supported by OARF. During the 2023 financial year, $1.7 million was received into this fund.

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Financial Position at 30 June 2023

Income and Expenditure

Property, Plant & Equipment

$7,911,595

Support for Workers and Ministry projects $10,522,167

Investments

$12,523,060

Legacies

$225,185

Cash in hand

$1,293,105

Investment Income

$693,160

Other Income

$21,872

Other Assets

$248,914

Total liabilities including funds held for various ministries, employee entitlements and other payables were $0.7 million.

Pioneers has various sources of income to sustain the objectives and assist in the activities of the mission.

Equity including Reserves amounted to $21.2 million, represented by the following funds: $million

Leaving a gift in your Will is a way of supporting the ongoing work. Legacies can be specified for use in certain areas of ministry or can be a general gift to be allocated by Pioneers towards identified needs.

10.465

We look forward to God’s favour as we continue to mobilise mission workers.

Workers ministry support, Project funding, Specific legacies Training and Development, Mobilisation and Ministry strategies

6.165

Revaluation Reserves - Property and Investments

4.588

Financial support received from churches, individuals and organisations help facilitate the work of Pioneers missionaries and various ministry projects.

Use of Funds

$million

Global Ministries, Projects and Church Partnerships

9.178

Operational Support and Administration

1.771

Mobilisation Initiatives and International Strategies

0.293 11.242

Funds are disbursed to Pioneers workers towards Christian evangelism, discipleship ministries and a wide range of community projects.

Presently we have 19 OARF projects operating in 11 developing countries involved in long term community development projects, engaging in medical work, clean water provision, disability access, radio transmission, literacy and vocational education.

Gifts from Australian donors are income tax deductible when given towards these international relief and development programs.

Some expenses are more regular in nature and any one off or non-recurring expenses are set aside as provisions for future disbursements.

Operational support represents expenses associated with equipping and training, providing pastoral, finance and administration support for missionaries.

Our desire is to see workers thriving in effective ministry, wherever God has placed them, fulfilling His work.

In accordance with regulatory requirements, our financials and internal controls are audited annually by an independent auditor. Please contact the Pioneers national office if you require a copy of the audited Annual Financial Report for the financial year ended 30 June 2023.

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OARF

Global Mission through overseas aid and relief projects

Some Pioneers workers are involved in aid and development work through OARF projects that reflect an acknowledgement and understanding of the UN Sustainable Development Goals through a Christian faith perspective. These projects work with communities, seeking to improve conditions in a sustainable way and redress inequalities by promoting fairer and impartial systems of services, often for the least privileged and most marginalised members of that society.

Engaging the Vulnerable and Disadvantaged In 1988, a development fund called the Overseas Aid and Relief Fund (OARF) was established by Asia Pacific Christian Mission (now Pioneers) to conduct activities overseas of a specifically developmental nature. The operation of this fund is in accordance with a properly documented set of Fund Rules and has tax-deductible status.

The primary purpose of Pioneers is to advance the Christian faith in all parts of the world to the glory of God. Glorifying God has many facets including the advancement of individuals and communities to live in just and equitable societies; living in peace and harmony with God, and with one another. To this end some Pioneers members are also involved in aid and development work. These projects seek to improve the conditions of communities in sustainable ways, and work with, rather than for or on behalf, of communities.

Projects are designed to redress the inequalities within those communities by promoting fairer and impartial systems of services, often for the least privileged and marginalised members of that society.

Governance of OARF is provided for by the Pioneers Board which delegates operation and management of the fund to a committee of individuals and Pioneers staff. The OARF committee is charged with overseeing the provision of aid and development to persons in developing countries through approved projects. The responsibilities of the committee include: Operating in accordance with the Fund Rules, ensuring Pioneers carries out appropriate overseas aid and development activities, inviting members of the public to contribute finances and materials to the fund, assessing and approving newly proposed projects, distributing finance grants and material received in accordance with the objects of the fund, dissolving projects as necessary, ensuring compliance with Australian government

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authorities, shaping policies and procedures, and ensuring compliance.

OARF currently supports 19 projects in 11 countries where our members serve, including…

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Vocational education (Africa, South Asia)

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Water provision and disability access to village communities (Island SE Asia)

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Literacy and educational development (Africa, Middle East, Island SE Asia)

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Prisoner rehabilitation and support (Fiji)

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Rehabilitation of orphans with developmental delay (Thailand)

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Micro-Finance initiatives/economic empowerment (Island SE Asia, Africa, South Asia)

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Rural health training clinics (South Asia)

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Hospital supervision and health care (Africa and South Asia)

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Humanitarian Emergency Relief (Ukraine)

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Education (Island SE Asia, Africa, South Asia)

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Medical development (Madagascar)

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Sustainable building (Africa)

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Child-focused development (Island SE Asia)

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Disability Services (Central Asia)

Transformational development through youth sports and life skills training (Africa)

The Pioneers Home-Family Network A new initiative of Pioneers coinciding with Pioneers 25th Anniversary What is it? A dynamic relational network of concluded members (missionaries and staff) of the Pioneers Aussie family connected for mutual care, support and encouragement, and contributing to the ongoing ministry of Pioneers to the glory of God.

lot to Pioneers and Pioneers means a lot to them. As they reconnect into life in Australia, what most people call ‘normal life’, many in their friendship groups and communities struggle to understand and appreciate their global mission experiences.

What is its goal? The twofold goal of the Network is for participants:

That’s our story too. Such was the case with us when we returned from the Philippines in mid-2022. We were not looking forward to being separated from the Pioneers family and the loving relationships we deeply valued. And we still desired to somehow contribute to God’s global mission.

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2.

To be blessed by meeting together and staying abreast of mission matters.

To be a blessing to applicants, appointees, and current field members.

Here’s a common story. Someone has returned to Australia following formal missionary service with Pioneers or has concluded as a staff member. Now Pioneers is 25 years old, increasing numbers are in that category today. They are jewels in the Pioneers crown, valuable members of the Pioneers family. Too valuable to lose. They served as channels of gospel blessing to people who otherwise might never have heard of the Lord Jesus and all He accomplished for them through His sacrificial death and His resurrection. They mean a

To bless and be blessed, the Pioneers Home-Family Network was birthed.

This is another way Pioneers is looking ahead to the next 25 years. The potential is huge: a place for all former members and former staff to stay engaged, to contribute more widely, to be blessed and to bless others. Contact Narelle & Gary at homefamilynetwork@ pioz.net for more information.

Narelle & Gary Barkley | Network Coordinators

Signing the Gospel continued from page 7 Hailey, who has served in the sign community in Japan, writes…

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In 2006, law was passed to recognise sign as an actual language in Japan.

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The deaf-mute I have met are very capable and independent. Obvious differences aside, they live ‘normal lives’, working, getting married, having children, they watch TV and use smartphones.

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There are sign Christians and even a few sign churches! I’ve found books teaching sign Christian jargon. Sign communities seek community and are great at supporting each other. It’s not difficult to join and be welcomed into sign language circles to learn the language and meet people (even foreigners like me!). They love it when people come.

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Sign communities recognise there’s a cultural difference between them and the hearing community in Japan. They are far more expressive in their body language because so much of the communication happens through expression.

They speak more directly because sign doesn’t allow for as much nuance as Japanese.

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Grammatically, Japanese sign is much easier to learn than the Japanese language!

Do you have a passion, experience or interest in learning to communicate and understand the Deaf? Could your passion be channeled cross-culturally to reach the otherwise unreached?

Jude Yap |Pioneers Australia Team Member and Signing Exact English signer

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Prayer the Driving Force for Mission Thank God the Lord Jesus taught his disciples to pray. In this way, he has taken the guesswork out of the equation.

Rather than worry about what we should pray in light of global challenges, we turn to Jesus. Although our prayers do not need to be at all limited to certain words or phrases recorded in the Bible, it is helpful to look at God’s word when we pray. By praying in harmony with Scripture, we can be sure that no prayer is wasted. This is true, too, when we set out to pray for people who live in places of the world where access to the gospel is severely limited. With them in mind, we pray “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:10).

Jesus would not have issued this instruction unless he intended for our prayers to bring about change; to be an instrument in the coming of his kingdom. How incredible! Our supplications in the quietness of our hearts, or with a handful of others, or in the context of a noisy church service – made on behalf of people we are likely to never meet this side of heaven – can make a lasting difference in the world.

‘And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.’ John 14:13.

In honour of our 25th anniversary, here are 25 Prayers to the glory of God Ask God to glorify His holy name as Pioneers plays a role in reaching people everywhere with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

2. Ask the Lord of the harvest to raise up more workers who will serve in the hardest places of the world.

3. Ask that our 240 members serving today will have opportunities to point people to Jesus.

4. Ask for churches in Australia to prioritise identifying and sending cross-cultural workers as a natural part of church ministry functions.

5. Ask our Heavenly Father to protect His people as they faithfully and honourably proclaim the gospel in hostile settings.

6. Ask for ears to be unstopped and hearts to be softened as people hear ultimate truth and unmatched grace.

7. Ask for geopolitical leaders around the world to make decisions in the very best interests of the people they lead.

8. Ask for Pioneers to remain prayer-saturated and gospel-focussed year by year.

9. Ask God to provide for every worker the constant supply of finances and other resources needed.

10. Ask the King of kings to draw missionaries close to His side that they might know Him better even as they make Him known.

11. Ask for our many children living among other cultures will thrive in their spiritual development, education, friendships and relationships.

12. Ask that new workers will develop cultural insights and language fluency in their contexts.

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13. Ask that people in war-torn places will cry out to God for help and salvation.

14. Ask for purity and integrity of every follower of Jesus who serves with Pioneers.

15. Ask the God of all comfort to bless family members in Australia as their loved ones serve elsewhere in the world.

16. Ask that teams will enjoy open communication and mutual submission with one another.

17. Ask that all people will know that Pioneers members are disciples of Jesus as they love one another.

18. Ask God to bless partner churches around the world as they grow in their God-given mission endeavours.

19. Ask for fruit that will last.

20. Ask that Pioneers workers will be wise and serpents and harmless as doves as they serve.

21. Ask the Lord to grant wisdom in strategic thinking and implementation in creative access countries.

22. Ask for courage for people who come to faith when they are opposed by the very people they love.

23. Ask for blessing of our members when they feel lonely and isolated.

24. Ask for our children throughout the Pioneers world to be blessed as they make sacrifices for the sake of the unreached.

25. Ask the Lord to stir more people to pray fervently for global mission.

Pioneers of Australia Inc. ABN 39 080 211 730 Incorporated in Victoria A0035283T Liability of Members is Limited Pioneers Ministries Foundation ABN 65 004 281 690 Member of Missions Interlink

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1/39 Railway Rd Blackburn, 3130 PO Box 151 Forest Hill VIC 3131 Australia Tel: 03 8814 4444 Fax: 03 9877 3826 Freecall: 1800 787 889 Email: info@pioneers.org.au

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