digest - World MAP

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WORLD MAP
WORLD MISSIONARY ASSISTANCE PLAN
Fall 2008
DIGEST
A Chorus of
Thanksgiving
IS ECHOED AROUND THE WORLD
BY LEADERS RECEIVING ACTS
MAGAZINE & THE SHEPHERD’S STAFF
During a recent Philippines seminar,
this leader was equipped with sound
World MAP training resources –
strong reasons for thanksgiving!
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Chorus of
Thanksgiving
by Frank R. Parrish
FRANK R.
PARRISH
“For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may
cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God” (2Cor 4:15).
t is a joy to be writing to you as
we enter into yet another busy
fall season for the ministry of
World MAP.
We are partners in three church
leadership seminars in Nigeria in
November; still translating, printing and mailing the “double-sized”
issue of ACTS Magazine, a very
important and biblically-thorough
study on The Anointing Of The
Holy Spirit; writing yet another
biblical study for ACTS Magazine;
coordinating ongoing Shepherd’s
Staff distribution worldwide; and so much
more!
I
King of all kings, who is working
powerfully by His Spirit, through
His eternal Word, to bring life, wisdom, salvation and hope to countless souls around the world!
Though not of our doing, I can
share with you the impact of World
MAP’s ministry around the world
with absolute surety and confidence. First, because I know without doubt that it is our Lord’s
desire – and His right as the inheritor of the nations (Ps 2:8) – to
bring glory to His Father as He
moves in the hearts of every
tribe, tongue and nation in
these days.
Second, because we
receive so many testimonies and heartfelt
thanks from church leaders all over the world.
They express again and
again that the materials
we are sending to them are
producing much fruit in their
lives and the lives of those they
shepherd.
Many of those testimonies
and sincere words of gratitude
have been included in this
Thanksgiving issue of DIGEST for
your enjoyment.
nks
tha
d
n
a
e
is
pra
f
o
m
Anthe
In over 140
nations around the world,
multiplied tens of thousands of
pastors are receiving World MAP’s
equipping and training materials.
These important teachings have
wide-reaching impact – on the pastors’ lives and families, their ministries, their churches and cities,
and even their nations!
Let me say quickly and
adamantly that we are fully aware
that this impact is not our doing.
We have the grateful privilege of
partnering with the Lord – the
2
•
WORLD MAP DIGEST
Honored To Serve
With You
All of what I’ve shared is likely not new to you, as a long-time
partner and member of the World
MAP family.
So why, then, am I writing to
you about this?
For the simple, yet very sincere, reason that Wendy and I want
to join our voices and hearts with
those thousands of church leaders
who have already testified and proclaimed their gratitude. Though
they may be saying how grateful
they are to World MAP and our
staff, the reality is that they are
thanking YOU! For without your
prayers and faithful, often sacrificial, giving we could not fulfill
God’s call to “send portions to
those for whom nothing is prepared” (Neh 8:10).
It is because of you – and your
commitment to the cause of Christ
– “that grace, having spread
through the many, may cause
thanksgiving to abound to the
glory of God”. Your partnership
allows God’s grace to be multiplied into the hearts of people
around the world. Together with
them, we join the never-ending and
ever-growing anthem of praise and
thanksgiving to the One who
makes it all possible! Hallelujah!
Some of you give out of your
abundance, and for that we are
grateful. Others have written to
explain your circumstances of limited income or recent illness, or
even the loss of a loved one, and
yet continue to give what you can –
and for that we are immensely
humbled, and still very grateful.
In either case, we are overwhelmed with thanksgiving for
your willingness to do all you can,
to reach all you can, while you still
can! Even in these days of seeming
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uncertainty and challenge in our
world, you have been faithful to
partner with us in the Gospel.
The words of thanksgiving
that we have received on your
behalf could not be contained
even in several issues of
DIGEST! But we have gleaned
from the testimonies, and in this
magazine you will read some
amazing stories and some profound expressions of thanksgiving. Since they are written
to you, I trust you will take
time to read them – and
receive them! I know you
will be blessed, as we also
have been encouraged and
blessed.
Church leaders are thanking
you for caring about them enough
to pray for them and regularly
allow your heart to be touched by
their circumstance. They are
grateful that you have responded
faithfully to the prompting of the
Holy Spirit, and have been the
Lord’s hand extended to them to
help.
Your help equips and trains
the church leaders in some of the
most desperate and difficult
places – giving them confidence,
hope, strength, boldness and a
building up of their faith. Truly,
God’s grace is being multiplied to
them through you!
Wendy and I, in this season of
thanksgiving, pause to express our
thanks to you. We are honored to
serve with you in assisting the
Vol. 48 • No. 4
Fall 2008
World MAP
World Missionary Assistance Plan
DIGEST
CONTENTS
2 Chorus Of Thanksgiving
4 Praise The
Lord For Your
Work & Effort
Thank
you, W
orld M
AP!
Body
of Christ in so
many nations.
Please know that the words of
gratitude you will read are from
real people who are living – and
sometimes suffering and even
dying – for their faith. Their faces
you may never see on this side of
Heaven. But be encouraged that
on that Day, when we all join in a
glorious song of praise and thanks
to our Savior, Lord and King, you
will meet them.
And you will know that all
that you have done for Jesus’ sake,
whether large or small, will have
counted for the glory of God and
the salvation and blessing of
countless people. Now that’s
something to be thankful for!
That all may know Jesus,
Frank Parrish, Director
WMAP
VISION AND MISSION OF WORLD MAP
World MAP (Missionary Assistance Plan) is a transdenominational, nonprofit ministry dedicated to fulfilling the Great
Commission – making disciples of all nations – by:
• Equipping indigenous church leaders in Third-World nations
through biblically-based, Spirit-filled teaching resources and
practical ministry training so that they can be more effective, and
in turn raise up and equip still more leaders (2Tim 2:2).
• Sharing the triumphs and trials of these front-line ministers with
believers in Western nations, to inspire the Body of Christ to
fervently pray and sacrificially give, so that “this gospel of the
kingdom will be preached in all the world” (Matt 24:14).
The Third-World church stands poised and ready to reach the
nations with the Gospel, if they could just be equipped to do so.
Thank you for partnering with World MAP to supply this urgent need!
9 Shepherd’s Staff
Distribution
10 The Galilee Zone
11 ACTS Magazine Excerpt
12 “World MAP Has Trained
You Very Well”
12 They Learn By Lantern
WORLD MAP
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jon Cook, Skip Mahoney, Hank Morris,
Frank Parrish, Vic Torres.
WMAP CANADA
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Paul Dreher, Helmuth Lange, Dave
McTaggart, Frank Parrish, Wendy Parrish,
Horst Senkbeil, Alex Tingstad.
DIGEST STAFF
Frank and
Wendy Parrish .......... Directors / Editors
Gayla Dease.... Publications Coordinator
Keith Balser......................... Copy Editor
World MAP DIGEST is published
quarterly by World Missionary
Assistance Plan, whose editorial and
business offices are at 1419 N. San
Fernando Blvd., Burbank CA 91504.
The subscription price is $5.00 per
year. Receipts for contributions are
tax-deductible. Periodicals postage
paid at N. Hollywood, California
91605 and additional mailing offices
(USPS 692240). Postmaster: Please
send form 3579 to 1419 N. San
Fernando Blvd., Burbank, California
91504.
HOW TO CONTACT US:
Visit us at our website on the Internet at
www.world-map.com
• Email us at [email protected]
• Call us at 1-818-843-7233
• Fax us at 1-818-845-5000
WORLD MAP DIGEST
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World MAP
Director Frank
Parrish, right,
leads
staff in
prayer
African church
leaders rely on The
Shepherd’s Staff
“Praise The Lord For Your
F
rom the foreign office managers and round-theworld translators who help carry ACTS and
Shepherd’s Staff teachings to the developing
nations, to the World MAP staff and the faithful supporters who make the ministry possible, all hearts
share the same mission: to fulfill the Great
Commission by making disciples of all nations.
Working together they equip indigenous church leaders to be more effective, and in turn raise up and equip
even more leaders for Christ. This united effort is
much appreciated by hundreds of thousands of church
leaders in Asia, Africa and Latin America whose ministries are often built on the foundation provided by
World MAP supporters and teams.
“It is our greatest privilege to do our part in fulfilling the Great Commission by serving our brothers
and sisters around the world,” said Frank Parrish,
director of World MAP, following one of the daily
World MAP prayer meetings where staff members
pray for church leaders, World MAP supporters and
nations around the world. The church leaders in
developing nations “are truly heroes of the faith,”
added co-director Wendy Parrish. “We’re honored to
assist them with equipping resources.”
As we approach the holiday season, we would
like to share with you some words of encouragement
and thanks for those of you who fund ACTS
Magazine and The Shepherd’s Staff.
CHINA: Co-Working In God’s Kingdom
While the world’s eyes were on Beijing and the
Olympics this past summer, China has had the attention of World MAP supporters for nearly two decades.
In conjunction with Revival Christian Ministries
International, World MAP has provided 356,313
Chinese copies of The Shepherd’s Staff to underground house church leaders, many of whom are persecuted for their Christian faith.
Filipino cell leaders (left) and
the Indian church leader above count on
World MAP to provide training material
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WORLD MAP DIGEST
U
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Sig & Joy Feser
oversee WMAP’s
East African operations
he
ff
In places
where identities
must be hidden
ur Work And Your Effort”
By Gayla Dease, World MAP Publications Coordinator
“World MAP has been a great blessing to our
work in China and to the Chinese churches,” an
RCMI spokeswoman recently said. “The Shepherd’s
Staff has been a great tool book for all Chinese
church leaders.”
“This book,” she said, “is also considered as the
other ‘must-have’ book – other than the Bible – to all
Chinese house church leaders, and even now the
Three-Self Government official church leaders find it
useful, too. The Shepherd’s Staff has a lot of practical
and useful teaching material, which helps Chinese
church leaders understand more about God’s Word,
thus helps a lot in shepherding their flocks.”
The book is “a great blessing,” she explained,
since “many church leaders do not have chances to
receive systematic Bible training.”
“We are very grateful for World MAP’s generosity,” she added, “and we look forward to more chances
of co-working in God’s kingdom in the future.”
INDONESIA: Reaching The Remotest
Meanwhile in Indonesia, where roughly 88 percent of the population is Muslim, Robert and Eliana
Mambu have worked with World MAP since 1987 to
print and distribute ACTS and The Shepherd’s Staff to
a small but growing group of Christian leaders.
“Publishing ACTS Magazine has been a great blessing
to many pastors in Indonesia,” said Robert, who was
happy to share this recent unedited testimony from
long-time ACTS reader Pastor Y. Halim from North
Sulawesi:
“I really thank the Lord because until now ACTS
is still visiting me in Tagulandang, a small and desolated village in North Sulawesi. Through this magazine I receive many lessons, my faith is strengthened,
especially when I face the work of darkness such as
witchcraft and black magic. There was ever happened
an epidemic disease in my village; in four or five days
the patient died. My children were often attacked, but
Vander Santos, right,
shown with his family,
manages ATOS
Used in remote
villages!
Robert & Eliana Mambu,
managers of Indonesian office
WORLD MAP DIGEST
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in prisons and more,” he added. “All of them affirm
that World MAP material is a true seminar for them,
that the material has been vastly enriching their ministry, and they can offer much more with the knowledge
that they have been acquiring with the material of
ACTS and The Shepherd’s Staff. ‘Praise the Lord for
your work and your effort’ is what all of them say.”
In Pakistan (above) Alex Sarfraz hands out an Urdu
Shepherd’s Staff during a conference in Lahore. Below, the
Emmanuel Press staff in South Africa reviews ACTS
mail.
praise the Lord for ACTS; when I practiced the lessons
I received, ‘How to Face and Overcome the Power of
Darkness’, God’s power really worked and my children
were healed!
“Once one of my children was almost paralyzed; it
happened many times; we were confused; however
when my wife and I practiced the lessons from ACTS:
to praise and worship God, to drive out the devils, suddenly a black creature run away and until now the sickness is gone. Praise the Lord!
“Just recently we also faced a problem that tested
our faith. We thank the Lord for ACTS. At that time we
had no money anymore; and we practiced the lessons
of faith, and God really poured His blessings. Thank
you for your prayers and ministry to us.”
Testimonies such as this, said Eliana, encourage
them and assure them that their work for the Lord “is
never in vain”.
“We cannot visit every pastor individually because
of distance and time, but through ACTS magazines we
can reach distant and remote places and be a blessing to
them,” Robert added.
BRAZIL: “What All Of Them Say” To You
Vander Santos, who oversees the production and
distribution of ATOS, the Portuguese edition of ACTS,
said, “For me, [it] is a great pleasure to participate in
this ministry, because I know that many leaders here in
Brazil have been receiving spiritual food of quality.
I receive a lot of letters of leaders of churches, cells,
biblical schools, distant and poor communities, leaders
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WORLD MAP DIGEST
PAKISTAN: Tower Of Light
World MAP’s Pakistani office manager Alex
Sarfraz recently shared this message of appreciation
from church leader Younas Zia: “God bless you with
spiritual blessings abundantly. Praise God for every
thing which we receive in the name of Jesus Christ.
Except Gospel, ACTS is the magazine which opens the
eyes spiritually of mankind. I have been benefited by it
greatly. Your organization has really a wonderful purpose to publishing it in Pakistan. It is like a tower of
light for church leaders specially. It has changed my
life as I have learned many things by reading it.” (Read
more from Brother Alex on page 12.)
SOUTH AFRICA: Vibrant Partnership
Emmanuel Press – in White River, South Africa –
has partnered with World MAP for more than 30 years,
once as a major printing and distribution point but over
the past decade primarily as “a depot” that receives
World MAP mail from African Acts Magazine and
Shepherd’s Staff readers who cannot afford a postage
stamp to mail a letter to the World MAP headquarters
in Burbank, California.
“These requests are often accompanied by testimonies of great blessing received through the World
MAP publications,” said Margaret Hooker, who pointed out that church leaders who write to World MAP’s
South Africa address get an added benefit: “We here at
Emmanuel Press, on our part, make contact with all
those who have sent in ACTS and Shepherd’s Staff
requests, by sending them a small set of Gospel tracts,
which often then leads to them becoming tract distributors and/or people who do our free Bible
Correspondence course.”
EAST AFRICA: Quality Ventures
Elim missionaries Sig and Joy Feser, serving on the
African continent for many years, provide World
MAP’s vital link to East African nations. Sig also provided the topical concordance material included in The
Shepherd’s Staff.
Joy recalls: “We started with World MAP in 1989
when Marvin Fast [the late president of World MAP
Canada] picked up on the one sentence Sig wrote about
the Topical Concordance he intended to write. That
became part of The Shepherd’s Staff and paved the way
for the Swahili translation of The Shepherd’s Staff and
ACTS Magazine. According to Operation World,
Christianity has grown from 33% to 54% during the
time we have been distributing books and magazines to
church leaders.... They send us wonderful testimonies
of church growth, and of changed lives due to the
teachings. What a privilege to be part of this wonder-
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Maria Franz, shown above left with husband Roy, has worked
on the Spanish ACTS nearly 25 years. At right, a couple
enjoy HECHOS, largely the result of Maria’s labor. Below
left, Edith Maglipon in WMAP’s Manila office coordinates
shipment of Shepherd’s Staff books to leaders such as the
Filipino pastor (below, right) who received his copy during a
conference hosted by missionary Paul Adams.
fully effective gift to the church in Africa and the
world!”
The Fesers’ own ministry has also grown and
expanded. “For many years Pamoja Ministries has partnered with World MAP to bring quality materials to
tens of thousands of church leaders in East and Central
Africa,” said Sig.
“Recently the door has opened for us to connect to
many other African countries and we anticipate that
many tens of thousands more leaders will be asking for
The Shepherd’s Staff and ACTS Magazine in English,
Swahili, French and Portuguese,” Sig added.
Swahili leaders
receive copies of The
Shepherd’s Staff
in Tanzania
SPANISH Proofreader:
“Blessed Every Time I Work”
Maria Franz also enjoys a long-running relationship with World MAP, having worked with World MAP
for 24 years, first as “office help” in 1983, then later –
after she and her husband started a family – working
from home as the proofreader of HECHOS (Spanish
ACTS). “At first it was difficult to do, for the material
was so good,” she recently recalled. “I just wanted to
read and study, but what I really had to do was proofread!” For years she also translated letters from
Spanish-speaking church leaders. “The reading of the
letters was encouraging. It allowed me to hear firsthand what God was doing through HECHOS all over
the world. I loved that God let me be a small part of
their lives. I continue to be blessed every time I sit to
work with a manuscript, knowing that from my home I
can be a part of God’s plan all over the world.”
Maria and Roy (also a former World MAP staff member) are serving as associate pastors at New Life
Community Church in Pomona, California.
PHILIPPINES:
“You Are A Blessing To All Filipinos”
Edith Maglipon in World MAP’s Manila,
Philippines office has similar feelings of gratitude, and
feels “really blessed” each time a Filipino church
leader acknowledges receipt of The Shepherd’s Staff,
which Edith has personally mailed or delivered to thousands of church leaders since 2000. “We often get comments like this: ‘The book which you have sent to me
is really of great help. I can now teach with confidence
about the Word of God.’”
“May the good Lord continue to bless us,” Edith
recently said. “I know in our own little way, we have
helped those people who are in need of the Word of
God. I thank God because I find my work so interesting and at least I was able to do work that glorifies God.
Let us pray together for the continued success of World
MAP and the very precious Shepherd’s Staff books and
Acts magazines, which I consider the service and ministry of World MAP to humanity.
“I applaud our dear boss, Mr. Frank Parrish, for his
undying love to promulgate the Word of God to all people of all races.”
“May the people continue to give their donations to
World MAP so that the Shepherd’s Staff book and Acts
magazines will reach the ends of the earth,” said Edith,
who recently shared this collection of appreciative
comments from Filipino readers:
• It’s a great tool for my ministry. God Bless.
• The book is very inspiring. It changes lives. God
bless.
• The book is of good quality materials. Glory to
God.
• The book is very integrative. It contains everything in one.
• The book is full of wisdom. Thanks from the people of the Philippines.
• The book is a great blessing to us. May we also
request for ACTS magazines.
• The book is great. May the Lord continue to bless
World MAP.
• May the Lord continue to bless World MAP.
You’re really a blessing to all Filipinos.
WORLD MAP DIGEST
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India staff members process applications and letters from around the world - and fill Shepherd’s Staff book orders
• The book is well developed and catered for all.
Thank you and God bless.
• We find the book very useful. Can we ask for a
dozen for our other church workers?
While the book has already been published in 17
languages, Edith said the church leaders in the
Philippines are praying for one more edition: “We’re
looking forward to having the Shepherd’s Staff books
in Tagalog [Philippine-language] version because this
is the dominant request of our leaders, pastors, missionaries and men of God here in the Philippines,”
Edith said, noting these additional reader comments:
• “The book is of great help to enhance my learning about the Word of God. Can we request also
books in Tagalog version?”
• “How we wish and pray that you have available
Tagalog version. The book is really good if it will be
translated in Tagalog. Thank you and more power to
you.”
INDIA: New Heights
The Shepherd’s Staff books for China – and other
parts of the developing world – are printed in India,
where World MAP partners with India Bible
Literature to produce and distribute not just the
books, but also many editions of ACTS Magazine,
including French, Spanish and Swahili as well as
English and seven Indian dialects. Because of low
printing and postage costs, and economical wages for
efficient Christian workers in India, World MAP is
able to stretch its resources to reach a larger number
of church leaders.
IBL was founded in the mid-1950s by Dr.
William Scott and his wife, the late Dr. Joyce M.
Scott; their vision and burden was to place a portion
of Scripture in every home in India – a country with
1.1 billion population. Their own innovative programs, reaching 20 million people on an annual basis,
target the needs of India in such a way as to bring
about a long-term impact. In a relationship with
World MAP that has grown steadily since 1980 and
now includes annual seminars as well as publishing
ventures, IBL reaches beyond the borders of India; it
now impacts the world. “It is always a joy and privilege to partner with the wonderful people at World
MAP,” said IBL Executive Director E. Velayutham.
“We pray and hope that it would grow to new heights
in the days to come.”
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WORLD MAP DIGEST
Indian pastors agree, as evidenced by these recent
letters:
Pastor N. Samuel, of Khammam, Andhra Pradesh
State, South India writes: “The Shepherd’s Staff is
wonderful and very much helpful in my ministry.
Each and every article is inspiring, motivating,
encouraging and edifying and it lifts me up to be
strong in the Lord”.
Elder L. O. Panwok from West Bengal says: “The
Shepherd’s Staff is a treasure of rich subjects and
more and more as I study, I feel inadequate and [it]
makes me humble. It has been a great help to my
spiritual life and ministry”.
Pastor S. F. Thanga of Mizoram notes: “I
continually use The Shepherd’s Staff in the Crusades
– very helpful to prepare messages”.
Pastor M. Ninghor from Manipur shares:
“The ACTS Magazine helps me a lot in teaching as
well as in spiritual life. It is also very easy to
understand and the topics are valuable in our daily
lives and profitable in giving the sermon during
church service”.
Rev. Prabal J. G. Minz of Ranchi, in Jharkhand
State, says: “I am associated with the ACTS
Magazine and World MAP since 1980, which has edified my spiritual growth and enlarged my biblical
knowledge to a great extent. These in turn have
helped me to serve my congregations more effectively for His Great Glory. I thank you whole-heartedly
and pray that God bless the ACTS Magazine through
the coming years”.
Editor’s Note: With your ongoing prayers
and financial support, World MAP will continue to
provide ACTS and The Shepherd’s Staff in current language editions and possibly new ones,
such as Tagalog and Arabic (a project that is
underway). During the upcoming holiday season, please remember that your $5 gift will provide a subscription to ACTS or a copy of The
Shepherd’s Staff to a church leader who will
indeed “praise the Lord for your work and effort”.
You may use the coupon on the back of this
magazine to designate your support. God can
work miracles through the ministries being built –
and leaders strongly built up – by the God-glorifying equipping your partnership provides.
WMAP
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From the printing press in India...
In partnership with World MAP supporters and Pastor
John Morrow of Living Word Christian Ministries, Intl., more
than 25,000 copies of El Cayado del Pastor (the Spanish edition of The Shepherd’s Staff) have been placed into the hands
of Latin American church leaders. This fall, 10,000 leaders in
Honduras and Guatemala were the most recent leaders to
receive the book because of this valued partnership.
To church leaders in Latin America
To date, World MAP has given away
870,317 copies of The Shepherd’s Staff to
readers in 140 developing nations!
The Shepherd’s Staff Distribution
293,627
ENGLISH
Chinese
356,313
English Int’l
222,903
Spanish
56,872
English Philippines 40,225
Swahili
33,912
English India
30,499
Portuguese
24,692
French
22,057
Telugu
16,898
Russian
Urdu
Tamil
Malayalam
Hindi
Indonesian
Oriya
Bengali
Marathi
16,057
8,987
8,929
8,670
8,537
7,500
3,067
2,475
1,724
COLOR LEGEND
356,313
CHINESE
English
Spanish
Swahili
Russian
Tamil
Malayalam
Bengali
Oriya
Portuguese
French
Urdu
Chinese
Telugu
Hindi
Marathi
Indonesian
WORLD MAP DIGEST
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THE GALILEE ZONE
ACTS Hopeful Maps Out Vibrant Ministry Landscape
by Keith G. Balser
“I am a church worker in Asia, Africa or Latin
America and I preach or teach from the Bible to 20 or
more persons at least once a week” is a key qualification on the ACTS Magazine/Shepherd’s Staff application form. A church leader in Tanzania captured the
spirit of that requirement in especially eloquent form
when he wrote us this letter of request:
“Praise the Lord!! It’s my hope
that everything is going on well at
World MAP. Pass my sincere greetings to all. May God bless you all in
serving our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Recently I came across your
ACTS publication (Swahili version).
After carefully reading that publication, I was delighted and came to a
conclusion to be one of your recipients. By reading your lessons in
ACTS, I’m sure my knowledge of the
Word will be enhanced so as to lead
me to live a victorious Christian life.
Also to share with others the knowledge of the Word, thereby serving
our Lord Jesus Christ.
“My relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is as
follows: I’m a born-again Christian. I’m a member of
a Bible church in Arusha town. In serving our Lord
Jesus Christ, churchwise Arusha town is divided into
five zones. Each zone is led by a zonal leader who
works under the church senior pastor. A zone comprises a minimum of three sections headed by section leaders. A section is made up of at least two
home churches headed by home church leaders.
“I’m one of the zonal leaders. My zone goes by
the name, Galilee Zone. As a zonal leader, my duties
in serving our Lord Jesus Christ are as follows:
• to make sure those under my leadership live
in harmony as Christians;
• to help each other at times of trouble and to
rejoice together at times of joy;
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WORLD MAP DIGEST
• to make sure everyone strides forward in
faith, to strengthen the lukewarm and to make a
follow-up of backsliders and put them back on
course;
• to make sure everyone is engaged in winning
souls for Jesus Christ;
• to make sure each home
church conducts weekly prayers
(held on Thursdays) and home
church gatherings (held on
Saturdays);
• any other duty which may
arise in serving our Lord Jesus
Christ.
“Besides being a zonal leader,
I’m a section and a home church
leader too. At present my zone
comprises three sections and six
home churches. They average 30
members. Our goal by God’s
grace is to double in the near
future.
“At the central church every
Tuesday, classes are conducted
for the newly born again. I do teach one of the
classes and I really enjoy it.
“Due to these facts, I feel I qualify to be one of
your recipients of your ACTS publication. It is my
hope I’ll be considered.”
And it is our joy and privilege to add him to our
ACTS Magazine mailing list, and to send him a free
copy of The Shepherd’s Staff, World MAP’s “Bible
School in a Book”.
What an honor to partner in the Gospel with faithful and diligent saints such as this brother. We thank
God that we are able to assist him in his very fruitful
ministry efforts.
And we’re thankful for your help in making this
possible!
WMAP
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Page 11
The Evangelist And Evangelism –
Taking The Gospel Into All The World!
By Julie A. Young
Edited for ACTS by Frank and Wendy Parrish
Part Eight-A
How God Prepares an Evangelist
Editor’s Note: As the evangelist seeks to be used by God to make the Body of
Christ grow, it is important that he not neglect his own growth. This section offers
detailed guidelines for prayerful self-examination, with the goal of seeing the fruit of
the Spirit manifest in and through the evangelist’s personal and ministerial life.
God Desires Full Devotion
When Jesus Christ became
the Lord of your life, He became
Lord of everything. Your plans,
your talents and skills, your
thoughts, your feelings, your
family, your body, your life – all
these now belong to Jesus Christ,
not to you. If you have not given
Him everything, from your heart, to
do with as He wills, then do this
today. Tell this to the
Lord in prayer.
Then every day,
pray to be searched by
the Holy Spirit, who
brings conviction. Let
Him show you the things
that you need to freshly
surrender to God. Confess
and repent when you recognize
sin or failure, selfishness or fleshly desires.
Disciplining your flesh will make you a much
stronger disciple of Christ. The Bible says to “humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God…”
(1 Pet 5:6).
Following is a list to help you examine your
life. This is not about rules or outward conformity.
This is a way to honestly evaluate your life and
ministry, from the heart. These questions are
meant to help you grow in your personal life and
become a better tool in God’s hands. Be honest
with yourself; and above all, be honest with God.
We cannot fool God. He knows what is in our
heart, and He sees everything about our lives. It is
always best to approach God humbly, asking for
His help and grace so that we can grow into
stronger and more faithful servants of His.
If some of these things are not yet true of
you, but you want them to be, ask the
Lord to help you.
Then make time to actually do them!
It has been said that we make time for
what is truly important. If these things are
important to you, you must begin to make
time for them.
•
•
•
•
•
•
An Evangelist’s Growth List
• Do I spend regular time in prayer
and Bible study each day?
• Do I take time to listen to
God, to wait for Him to speak
and reveal His thoughts and
plans to me?
• Do I ask the Holy Spirit to
search my life? Do I confess my
sins regularly?
Do I study the Bible and plan carefully any
preaching work I am to do?
Am I trying to improve myself in speech,
appearance, knowledge of the Bible and my
skills?
When I go to preach, do I have other believers
with me?
Have I asked God to attend the ministry He
has given me with His anointing and power?
Am I filled with the power of the Holy Spirit
according to Acts 2?
Do I have people who will pray every day for
my ministry and for me, especially when I go to
preach or share the Gospel with others?
Continued on page 14
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Page 12
"World MAP Has
Trained You Very Well"
orld MAP’s Pakistan publications manager
Alexander Sarfraz has grown and benefited
from the 13 years of service he has given to
World MAP. A former employee of an engineering
firm, Brother Sarfraz chose to devote more of his life
to ministry work after serving as a translator on the
Urdu version of The Shepherd’s Staff. “I completed it
in three years,” he says of the translation project. “I
think it was God’s plan and way to bring us into fulltime ministry.”
Today he coordinates the printing and mailing of
the Urdu Shepherd’s Staff, as well as the translation,
printing and mailing of the Urdu edition of ACTS
Magazine.
“The ministry has also blessed me and my family
a lot,” he says. “I have become a full-time Gospel
preacher. Different churches and para-churches invite
me to deliver sermons, as a seminar speaker, and as a
chief guest in their programmes.”
He recalls with fondness one seminar in the
northern part of Pakistan where he was one of two
speakers addressing a group of 50 participants. His
topic was “God’s Plan of Salvation”. Sarfraz turned to
ACTS and The Shepherd’s Staff to prepare his material, and was pleased when one participant later told
him, “World MAP has trained you very well.”
Sarfraz listens to God’s voice when making
ministry decisions. Twice he was offered jobs in
churches; but he refused them, he explains, “because
I don’t have calling of pastor.”
Because World MAP is an interdenominational
W
Brother Sarfraz presents
The Shepherd’s Staff to Pastor
Albert in Karachi, as Bishop
Bashir Mall looks on. At right,
Alex and Amina Sarfraz.
organization, Sarfraz says
God is providing him with
“many opportunities to
witness among Muslims, Hindus and national
Christians.”
“If I had been a worker or pastor of any denomination, churches and other communities would have
not invited me to speak in their gatherings,” he points
out.
“I want to follow Jesus daily so that I become like
Him and serve Him with the humble spirit of a child
till death. May God use me to expand His Kingdom
in Pakistan to bringing many people far and near to
Him.”
In addition to other challenges, economic problems are pervasive in his country, and Sarfraz asks
that World MAP supporters join him and his wife,
Amina, in praying for the economic condition of
WMAP
Pakistan and its people.
They Learn By Lantern... Overjoyed To Have The Shepherd’s Staff
One pastor in Ghana says he has a vision similar to that of World MAP.
“It was my vision to set up a Bible school program which could support young missionaries in their desire
to share God’s Word over the world,” Rev. Kwame Darkwa recently
wrote. Step by step, he said, the Lord led him. Today he is training 24
students for the mission field – and the number is set to grow. Today,
his Bible Institute continues to make progress both in Israel and Ghana!
Recently, three of his African students received The Shepherd’s
Staff and “they were overjoyed!” said Darkwa. “Many thanks for your
love, prayers and support. These young ministers are sharing wonderful testimonies of what God is doing in their lives.”
Medie, a town in southern Ghana, is home to the Sar Shalom
Congregation, where the pastor oversees a congregation of 70 people.
Although his new auditorium is still being built, he said “the
Shepherd’s Staff is helping bring LIGHT into the places of darkness.”
Local medical school students have also been training for missions as well as medicine, and Brother
Kwame worked with World MAP to see that they also received a copy of the Shepherd’s Staff. “These young
people have a heart for missions both in Ghana and the world,” he said. “They have applied themselves to
months of hard study. The Shepherd’s Staff ministerial manual will be a key tool in their desire to spread the
Gospel of God’s forgiveness and righteousness by faith in Yeshua the Messiah.”
“They learn by lantern but are overjoyed to have at their disposal The Shepherd’s Staff,” he wrote. “Thank
you so much for these precious items. Please keep them coming. Your love and support is expanding the
WMAP
Kingdom and is very much needed! Blessings to you!”
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Praying for the World
Join the World MAP Prayer
Corps as we circle the globe
with intercession for
the advance
of God’s
Kingdom.
ZIMBABWE:
WASHING AWAY
THE CHAFF
Population: 12,382,920
50% professing Christianity while holding to native superstition
25% Christian
24% spiritist, ancestor-worshipping
1% Muslim, Hindu, other
Chief of State of the Republic of Zimbabwe: Executive President
Zimbabwe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe (since 1987; Prime Minister 1980-1987)
Vice President: Joseph Msika
Vice President: Joyce Mujuru
Commissioner General of the Zimbabwe Republic Police: Augustine Chihuri
Life expectancy: 40 years
Zimbabwean dollar inflation rate: estimated 4,000,000%
The wrong lesson: Robert Mugabe, who has dominated his landlocked country since its violent transformation in 1979 from
Rhodesia, a British colony, into Zimbabwe (meaning “houses of stone”), spent 10 years as a political prisoner under British
rule. While incarcerated, he earned degrees in law and administration via correspondence courses from universities in London
and South Africa. He also learned to despise white European colonialism – with, many believe, a bitterly racist intensity. Yet his
hatred is not limited to color-prejudice. While quelling a 1980 uprising, his North Korean-trained 5th Brigade – an elite unit under
his direct command, independent of the normal Zimbabwean Army hierarchy – massacred 20,000 civilians of the minority Ndebele
tribe (Mugabe being of the majority Shona). Mugabe termed his campaign to quell the uprising gukurahundi – Shona for “the early
rain which washes away the chaff before the spring rains”. Chaff is indeed how Mugabe seems to view any opposition or dissent,
and his national police are infamous for their cold brutality.
PRAY FOR:
• Economic relief for the suffering people of Zimbabwe.
• A reformed government that tolerates dissent and encourages free political debate.
• True regeneration among Zimbabweans professing Christianity, with the chaff of religious syncretism peacefully washed away.
UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUP
The SILVER
PALAUNG of
MYANMAR
Home: Rugged, well-watered Shan State in eastern Myanmar (Burma).
Population: 20,000
Religion: Buddhism, with a strong undercurrent of spiritism.
Dark tyranny: The Palaung have five traditional enemies: fire,
famine, flood, pestilence… and government. War, civil strife,
strong-arm rulership and dark political intrigue have plagued Burma
for centuries. The Palaung traditionally look to a far darker
governance: nats, malevolent spirits they believe inhabit rocks,
mountains, rivers, other natural objects and dead ancestors – spirits
that must be repeatedly appeased to hold back the floodgates of
calamity. The “silver” in “Silver Palaung” refers to heavy silver hoops
Palaung women wear around the waist, supposedly for spiritual
protection.
PRAY FOR:
• A joyful Gospel witness in this fear-infested spiritual landscape.
• The Myanmar government to become a shining outpost of
benevolence.
• Wide dissemination of Scripture, the pure silver found only in the
Word of God (Ps 12:6).
WORLD MAP DIGEST
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Page 14
ACTS excerpt, continued from page 11
•
Do I pray for more boldness, in order to best
preach Christ?
• Have I fasted and prayed this month?
• Do I know what the Bible says about praying
and trusting God for finances, so that the
provision will be there to provide for my family
AND my ministry?
• Do I have a mentor to help me? Have I asked
God for someone to train me?
• Is there a man or woman I should ask to invest
time and work into my life and ministry?
• Have I prayed and asked God to show me
other men or women I must train and help in
evangelism? If so, what am I doing about it?
• Am I disciplined in my walk with God or am I
lazy?
• Do I spend good, nurturing time with my
spouse and children?
• Do I put things off or do I work hard, keep my
commitments and honor my word?
• Is my thought life pure? Does my thought life
belong totally to God?
• Do I read the Bible and other Christian books
to help me grow?
• Do I work with pastors to help fill their churches or plant new ones?
• Have I read and studied – and do I follow – the
qualifications in Scripture for those who are
called to leadership in Christ’s Church?
(1Tim 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9)
Use this list to give yourself – and fellow evangelists – reminders and encouragement.
A Cost To Be An Effective Evangelist
It is not easy to be in ministry, but the rewards
of obedience to Christ’s call far outweigh the hardships. Seeing people come to Christ is one of the
greatest rewards we can have
on earth. The Bible teaches that he who wins
[brings] souls is wise (Prov 11:30).
There are eternal rewards awaiting all who are
obedient and faithful to Christ. For those who influence others for righteousness, Daniel 12:3 states:
“Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many
to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.”
The fruit of the Gospel and telling others about
Christ is eternal fruit that will remain! God will both
comfort and reward those who serve Him with faith
and devotion.
Jesus understands better than any other the
trials and opposition that we face in this life as His
disciples. But we have His great example and can
endure, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before
Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and
has sat down at the right hand of the throne of
God” (Heb 12:2).
Christ’s joy included knowing that His death
would bring us back into relationship with God, His
Father – our heavenly Father! We believers are
also Christ’s joy, His beloved Bride for whom He
anxiously waits (Eph 5:25-27; Rev 19:7-9).
Bringing other people to salvation through Jesus
should be our joy, also.
Fulfilling God’s call upon your life may cost you
a great deal. There is a cost to every believer to
give up riches, selfishness and fleshly desire and
become like Jesus.
As you give up your life to live Christ’s life of
sacrifice, you will do more of what Your Father is
doing. You will see more of God’s power and
presence with you. As you remain disciplined and
faithful, you will become more skilled at winning
souls, and in becoming a “fisher of men”
(Matt 4:19). You will grow in wisdom, and be rich in
the things of God. Serving God with our lives is
well worth any cost to us! (1Cor 9:19-22)
Personal Life Of The Evangelist
An evangelist – like all believers – must
strive to live pure and upright before God.
He or she must have right relationships
with their family and community.
Fruits of the flesh, such as wrath or
being judgmental, will reflect badly
in your preaching. Treating your
wife or children poorly displeases
God, and affects the reliability of
your witness to others. Cheating
someone gives Christ, whom you
represent, a bad name. Saying you
will do a thing and then not doing it
is dishonest and ungodly. Your sinful behavior must be dealt with in
order that you represent Christ for
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Every relationship of business, family, church or friendship must be above
reproach so that the work of Jesus is not compromised or spoken of in a bad
way. Many of us have heard of someone resisting Christ’s salvation because a
believer they knew was unkind, untruthful or unfaithful. They have “stumbled”
because of the believer’s sinful actions (1Cor 10:32,33).
who He is and for what His redeeming power can
do!
An evangelist loves the Bible and reads it and
studies it. He looks for opportunities to share the
truth of the Lord, but he does not neglect his other
responsibilities such as his family or work. An
evangelist prays much – on the train, walking, in
the company of others or alone, always praying
and listening to God.
The heart of the evangelist must be soft and
teachable. As you wait upon God, He will help you
know Him better. As you grow to know Him more,
you will be a better evangelist because you understand your Father. Jesus did only what the Father
did, said only what the Father said (John 5:19;
8:26). Our goal as ministers is to know God so intimately that we are led by His voice and know His
will.
If you are married you must treat your spouse
the way Jesus would treat them, and love them as
He loves His Church (Eph 5:25). Treat your wife
with gentleness and understanding (1 Pet 3:7).
Treat your husband with honor and respect
(Eph 5:33).
If you are not married, you
must keep pure in mind and in
body (1Thess 4:3-5). The
Lord knows what you do in
private beyond the eyes and
ears of others. The single
minister must strive for purity
in both thoughts and actions.
They must quickly confess any
failure and keep themselves
from bondage to sinful behavior.
Every relationship of business,
family, church or friendship must be
above reproach so that the work of Jesus is
not compromised or spoken of in a bad way. Many
of us have heard of someone resisting Christ’s salvation because a believer they knew was unkind,
untruthful or unfaithful. They have “stumbled”
because of the believer’s sinful actions
(1Cor 10:32,33).
As a minister, you represent the King of kings.
Your words must be true; you must do what you
have promised. If you do not live up to your words
but instead make excuses, it may be a point of
stumbling for another, causing them to resist
Christ. You represent Jesus every minute of the
day, not only when you preach, but through every
action. Let your speech be encouraging, not foul
or full of criticism (Eph 4:15,29; Col 4:6).
God desires us to be useful vessels of honor
(2Tim 2:21). You would not serve your guests with
dirty dishes. You would want to offer them food on
clean vessels. God receives honor when you are
clean and made ready as His vessel. If sin, evil
speaking or bad habits dirty your life, you will not
be as effective for God.
Take time now to
ask the Holy Spirit
to search your
heart. When He
speaks to you,
confess, repent
in prayer and
allow Jesus to
remove the dirty
things.
You will be free and much more useful to the
Master. Repent before God often. Take the low
place so that God may lift you into His higher purposes. Make repentance and confession part of
your daily prayer: Ask God to search you; ask for
His forgiveness; ask God to make you whole.
Next issue: Strategy and vision.
WMAP
WORLD MAP DIGEST
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Page 16
THE
WORD
AT PRESS TIME
we learned that our postage
rates for mailing ACTS and
The Shepherd’s Staff from a
key location have
quadrupled. Thousands of
church leaders hope to
receive World MAP
publications before the end
of this year. Please pray with
us as we research options;
and help as you are led.
Thank you!
DELIVERED
“I am much grateful for ACTS Magazine, which has put me deeper in searching,
holding and delivering the Word of God to the children of God,” a Kenyan pastor writes. Latest
Delivering the Word is their calling; delivering the equipping for that is ours. $5 delivers poiksetawgeill
h
one free ACTS subscription to a church leader. $10 supplies that and a free Shepherd’s Staff. increaosset!
is c
$25 does both plus funding a week at a World MAP Spiritual Renewal Seminar. Please th
help us equip them to “Preach the Word!” and keep them fully equipped “in season and out of
season” (2Tim 4:2).
In Canada, send contributions
and correspondence to:
World MAP
P.O. Box 75420
White Rock, B.C. / V4B 5L5
All others write to:
World MAP
1419 N. San Fernando Blvd.
Burbank CA 91504
USA
Thank you. We are grateful for your donation to WMAP!
$1,000
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Please use where most needed.
Please add my email address to receive an
online link to future issues of DIGEST:
_____________________________________
Dear Frank and Wendy:
Yes! I want to help pastors as they
shepherd and equip believers to
CB4
Credit card in USA only
bring in the Harvest!
Please place a gift of $ _________ on my:
Account No: __________________________
Exp. Date: _____/_____ Phone: (____________) __________________________
Please print your name below as it appears on the card, along with your address:
Name: ____________________________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________________
City: _____________________________ State: __________ ZIP: _____________
__________________________________________________________________
Authorized signature for credit card donation.
You may also donate by phone. Please call World MAP USA at 1-818-843-7233.