Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2009 Yearend Total Mag Small
2009 Yearend Total Mag Small
MISSIONS
contents
From the
Heart of Alan
page 2
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Brazil
pages 3 & 4
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Cover Story:
Guyana
page 5
journeyingF TO THE RONTLINE
w BRAZIL
March: Alan, Harry school dedication/opening
Guyana May: Alan, Harry
July: Manna Church, Alan, Heidi
CETRAM Intensive Class
church planting, children, construction
page 6 Monthly during school year: GCI one-week intensives
w GUYANA
February/March: Bethel SSNM, Alan, Heidi ministry, prayer, and evangelism
April: Alan, Harry leadership development
Honduras June: Peachtree Christian, Alan, Heidi prayer and evangelism
page 7 July: St. James Episcopal, Harry children’s Home, VBS
w HONDURAS
January: Redeemer Lutheran, Alan clinics, construction
February: Ballardsville Baptist, Luis evangelism, construction
Chavarria February: Jabez Ministries, Luis exploration
April: Landmark Christian School, Alan, clinics, evangelism, ministry
Ministry Heidi, Harry
April: Alan, Luis leadership development
page 8 May: First Baptist Atlanta, Luis leadership development,VBS
June: Crossroads Douglasville, Luis clinics, construction
July: Beulah Baptist, Alan construction, VBS
July: First Baptist Atlanta, Luis leadership development, VBS
Cover photo:
Alan Winter, Rosia Hussain, and NICARAGUA
January: Cumberland Presbyterian, Luis clinics, construction
John Pitzer in Mahaica Creek,
June: Crossroads Douglasville, Luis construction, evangelism
Guyana.
Taken by Mary West. For more information about this schedule and other Frontline news, visit www.fmusa.org.
Top Right and Back Cover photo: To receive regularly emailed updates and prayer requests from Frontline,
Taken by Jayson Mapes. please contact us at info@fmusa.org.
Page 1
FROM THE HEART OF ALAN
As we reach the end of this ing, working and worshipping to-
year, I find myself asking the Lord, gether as one family in Christ for a
“What have You taught me this year whole week encouraged and ener-
that will help me bring You glory gized the Wai Wai. They envisioned
next year?” I was hoping for some the same life of brotherly love for
grand and exciting revelation, but their own communities, and asked
naturally I did not get the answer I Frontline to visit their villages to in-
expected. Instead, my spirit heard spire and rejuvenate the rest of their
Him speak that old familiar verse: people.
“Therefore, as you go, disciple all The Wai Wai are a joyous peo-
the nations, teaching them to obey ple, and their welcome song lasted
all that I have commanded you. ” three hours as they led us up the
(Matthew 28:19). path from the river to the village of
With this in mind, I began to re- Konashen, when at last we reached
flect back on 2009. The year began the end of our journey. Every mem-
with a 560-mile trip in a dugout Fishing Wai Wai style: getting the ber of the village participated in the
canoe up the Essesquibo River and piranha before they get you. enthusiastic celebration of our ar-
through the rainforest on the bor- rival—singing, dancing, and hugging
ders of Brazil and Guyana. I was on all of us. They overwhelmed us with
my way to see the Wai Wai people, Therefore, as you go, their warmth and love.
who had asked Frontline to come to disciple all the nations... At the conference in 2007, we
their villages and to teach them how Matthew 28:20 were privileged to witness each peo-
to fulfill the Great Commision. ple group worship the Lord with
With me were five college stu- their own unique cultural expres-
dents: Matthew Yeager and Alan even days on end; eating piranha be- sions, which is why we were sur-
Bradfield from Atlanta, Georgia, fore they could eat us; filling our prised to find that the village of
and Brandon Jones, Chris Mandel, water bottles from “water vines”— Konashen—home to one of the old-
and Justin Brezee from Fredericks- that’s life in the jungles of Guyana! est churches of all the tribes—did
burg, Virginia. Three gracious The Wai Wai’s invitation had not actually have a truly indigenous
Amerindian guides, Peter Jefferies, come two years before, after Front- church. Instead, we found a “west-
José de Silva, and Charlo Hen- line organized a conference of in- ern-styled” church in the middle of
dricks, who led us safely along the digenous leaders in Roraimi, Brazil, a native settlement.
dark river into the deep forests of in 2007. In their eagerness to be a We were puzzled by this. The
Guyana, accompanied us. part of God’s work, fifteen Wai Wai Wai Wai love to sing and dance and
It was the adventure of a life- family members made the grueling are generally very animated. Most of
time. I can’t even begin to describe fourteen-day journey to the village their cultural activities take place in a
the experience: landing on the river of Agua Fria for the conference. “round house”—a large round build-
bank for the night and smelling a Representatives from eight other in- ing with lots of room for all this
very poisonous snake; learning how digenous tribes were present, along singing and dancing and other tradi-
to stay comfortable when sitting in with some Brazilians and a few tional events.
the bottom of a canoe for hours or Americans. The fellowship of eat- (continued on page 9)
Page 2
BRAZIL
MESEF training center to open in March
by Alan Winter
Page 4
GUYANA
The lame shall walk: A healing in Guyana
by Alan Winter
“Alan, I know if you go to my head hung low—the posture of 28 The team passed her heavier and
house and pray for my granddaughter, years of shame and suffering. heavier objects to hold as they contin-
she will be healed,” exclaimed Mrs. The team surrounded Rosia, re- ued to pray; Rosia tested her wrist
Hussain. She was speaking of Rosia peating her grandmother’s declaration with each one—a tomato, a rock—and
Hussain, a 28-year-old woman whose of faith: “I know if you pray for her, told us the pain was disappearing.
traumatic birth resulted in permanent she will be healed!” We were strength- With increasing astonishment, we
nerve damage watched Rosia
and paralysis in flex her bad leg,
her right side. lifting it up and
She had lived her down. To her fam-
entire life with ily’s shock and joy,
cripping immo- she began walk-
bility and debili- ing—a straight,
tating pain. strong, healthy
The Hussains walk, not the
live in Mahaica dragging limp
Creek, Guyana, a she’d always had.
small village She walked 400
amid vast rice yards away from
fields with only a us, turned
few believers. I around, and sud-
was in the area denly broke into a
with a team of run! We couldn’t
thirteen from the believe our eyes!
The thirteen-member team from the Bethel-Atlanta School of Supernatural Min-
Bethel-Atlanta istry witnessed the healing of Rosia Hussain first-hand during their trip to Guyana
The air was
School of Super- this past summer. electric; we felt
natural Ministry; God’s power surg-
we had spent the trip reaching out to ened by that unshakeable faith, and ing through us and radiating from
predominantly Muslim and Hindu prayed fervently for Rosia’s recovery. Rosia’s face. We laughed with joy, eyes
communities, pouring our hearts As we watched, Rosia’s right eye full of tears, amazed at the Lord’s mar-
into evangelism. rose and began to move. Her mouth velous deeds. We joined Rosia, who
When Mrs. Hussain heard I was in slowly lifted from its immobile droop ran triumphantly with her arms lifted,
Guyana with a group of believers, she to a smile. We rejoiced to see such like a champion crossing the finish
was extremely eager for us to visit. miraculous signs and began to pray line. She was a captive freed from a
To reach the Hussain farm, the again. Soon, she was lifting her bad long bondage, reaching out in surren-
team and I walked a mile in the hot arm and making a fist with fingers der and gratitude to her great Lord,
afternoon sun and found Rosia and that had never been strong enough to giving Him praise and glory in the
her parents waiting for us. Rosia’s hold anything. midst of her unspeakable joy.
Page 5
GUYANA
How I spent my summer vacation
by Teena Martindale
This summer I went to Guyana with a mission team screen saver and my refrigerator right along with my girls and
from St. James Episcopal church; while we were there, we my grandson!) They enjoy playing games, being read to,
had the opportunity to minister to some surrounding vil- learning, laughing, being held, and giving and receiving love
lages and spend time at the Save’R’Kids Children’s Home. and attention. The Campbells enjoy the encouragement of
We stayed in missionary knowing there are brothers and
dormitories attached to the sisters in Christ who care about
Save’R’Kids Home, which them and the children.
houses 28 boys and girls, many It’s easy to talk about what
of them siblings, and all of we did. It’s harder to put into
them from unfortunate situa- words how the trip touched
tions. To honor Michael and each of us. Like Moses coming
Michiel Campbell, who direct down from the mountain top,
the children’s home, we wor- we pray not to lose the glow of
shipped at their church and having been intimate with the
hosted three days of Vacation Lord for a couple of weeks.
Bible School for 208 children On the trip, we had to
from their church family. In ad- leave behind our day to day re-
dition to a trip by boat to an The children of the Save’R’Kids home put on a show sponsibilities and concerns.
Amerindian village, and a brief for their visitors. There are currently 28 boys and girls
Phones didn’t always work, the
visit to Mahaica to fellowship at the Guyana children’s home.
with Pastor Fizul Hack, the internet wasn’t dependable,
team also worked on some contruction projects. and the electricity went off sporadically. But we could see
When not working on site or at VBS, we simply spent all the stars in the sky and we played musical chairs with
time with the Save’R’Kids children and teens and the Camp- the children by moonlight. We provided our own music
bell family. I could go on for hours telling you about the chil- and entertainment. One evening, the children and
dren. (If this tells you anything, I have their photos on my
Campbell family put on an amazing variety show for us.
We went to bed early and got up early with the cow
and the sheep (or are they goats) and the monkeys and the
birds. We went barefoot. We worked hard but there was
peace and spiritual refreshment.
It made me think of Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to
Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am
gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your
For more information about Save’R’Kids, souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
please call or visit the website: Someone asked me if I plan to return to Guyana
Pat Jackson 770.969.0127 again next year for a third trip. My answer: “Yes, if the
Lord is willing and the creek don’t rise.” I want to see
Donna Shuford 770.251.5309
“my” children. I miss them. I want to spend time apart
www.saverkidsinternational.org with the Lord and my church family. I want to learn and
play and love and feel as light as a prayer.
Page 6
HONDURAS
Christ and the international sport
by Joe Cochran
A team from Landmark Chris- After the uniforms were to play as though it were a World
tian School in Fairburn, Georgia, handed out, the Landmark Cup match.
found a unique way to share team invited The Hondurans proceeded to
Christ’s love during their mission defeat the Americans 3 goals to 1,
trip to Honduras: soccer! despite a good effort by the Land-
This sport, mark students. It’s tough to beat fút-
called fútbol bol players who have grown up
in Latin coun- living and breathing the sport their
tries, is aptly whole lives!
named “the inter- Someday, we hope those
national sport” young men will be as serious
because of its ex- about the Lord Jesus Christ as
traordinary popular- they were about their soccer.
ity. Using fútbol to That day, a dozen young men
reach out to Hon- heard the Gospel because of
durans provided the their love of fútbol and the
Landmark team with a generous do-
unique opportunity to nation
minister to those who from out-
did not get treated at the side min-
medical and dental clinics. istries of
Outside ministries provided uniforms
soccer uniforms and balls to give and balls.
out to villages the team visited. In Now that the
one small village outside of El Car- seed has been
rezal, an entire soccer team com- planted, per-
posed of about a dozen young men haps their hearts
ranging in age from mid teens to will be more
late twenties came to get uniforms. open to God’s
While being given their uniforms, this group of mercy and love.
each of these young men (none of young men to play a fútbol
whom were believers) heard the match. The villagers gladly accepted
Top: Honduran boys play soccer with
Gospel of Christ. and all proceeded to the soccer
donated equipment.
These men listened intently to field. While the field was mostly
the message about human sin, the dirt with many humps, the Hon- Bottom: A group of Honduran boys
nature of God’s holiness, and duran team immediately changed show their new donated uniforms and
Christ’s death and resurrection. into the uniforms and were as eager Spanish-language, soccer-themed Bibles.
Page 7
CHAVARRIA MINISTRY
First year in retrospect: blessings and challenges
by Luis Chavarria
(continued from page 2) rived in Guyana and shared the to themselves, missionaries carried
Imagine our surprise when we Gospel with the Wai Wai. Praise God the Gospel to foreign cultures, where
attended their church service, where that the Wai Wai gladly received the they often planted Westernized con-
everyone sat in rows singing Western Word of the Lord and established gregations instead of fostering indige-
hymns, led by a motionless choir and churches within a few of their com- nous communities of believers.
a pastor at a podium. When I asked munities. Unfortunately, the church But the Great Commission is a
them why church was so different movement—like many missionary en- mandate to make disciples of “all na-
from the rest of their day-to-day lives, deavors—never became indigenous. tions,” or people groups. I believe the
they said, “This is how the missionar- Christ was preached and accepted, emphasis on “all nations” was not an af-
ies taught us!” but the message also included a lot of terthought in that statement, but a key
When I heard that, I thought of western cultural baggage. component in nurturing a vibrant com-
the Apostle Paul and his simple, Fortunately for the Wai Wai, their munity of believers represented by every
straightforward purpose: to win as many remote location has allowed them to nation, tribe, people, and tongue. Reve-
people as possible to Christ. This mis- retain their cultural heritage. They lation 7:9 describes this diverse body of
sion shaped his evangelist lifestyle, and have not been troubled by doubts Christ worshipping before the throne of
made planting and nurturing churches about their identity as a people group God—how can we, as missionaries, hope
his only focus. What’s more, the scrip- (as so many other ethnic groups across and pray for anything less?
ture shows us that Paul became all the world have after being evangelized). The Chinese church is an excellent
things to all men, so that by all possible Now the Wai Wai want to learn how example of an indigenous church move-
means some might be saved (1 to reflect Christ through the prism of ment. In the 1940s missionaries were
Corinthians 9:19-23, Romans 15:16-21, their own remarkable culture. imprisoned, church buildings destroyed,
and 2 Corinthians 4:3-15). Paul was the I recently read Searching for the Bibles burned, Christian gatherings out-
first apostle who labored on the front- Indigenous Church: A Missionary lawed—but in spite of this constant per-
lines, recklessly abandoning everything— Pilgrimage, by Gene Daniels. The au- secution, the Chinese church has
even his cultural predispositions—to thor records similar experiences emerged as possibly the strongest, most
rescue the perishing. among native peoples. With the best vibrant church in the world. How can
Fifty years ago, missionaries ar- of intentions, and often at great cost this be? One of the answers is simply
Page 9
FROM THE HEART OF ALAN
ownership. The church is not consid- our unannounced arrival in each of us piles of their own produce—we de-
ered a foreign movement by its mem- the three villages we visited, we asked parted with enough food to feed a
bers; rather, it is inherently Chinese. to meet with the leaders and offered to small village! The generous people of
A quick overview of church his- serve them in any way possible. Their Puerto Rico fed us with the very last of
tory will show that wherever the local astonished expressions were priceless, their own supplies, but because of La
culture took ownership of a newly and always followed by a flurry of Libertad’s gifts, we were able to leave
planted church, it thrived. Wherever questions. Why? them enough food for several days.
missionaries exported Western cul- At our third stop in Briones, we
ture with Jesus, the movement encountered folks who were skeptical
was considered foreign and of this group of Americans. But on the
remains a stagnant group. second day, as we worked in the hot
This principle was rein- sun repairing the washed-out road to
forced by my trip with New River their village, one by one the men of the
Community Church to Honduras community joined us. By the end of
in June. This year’s trip (New the day, all of the men had come out to
River’s seventh annual trip) took work. Not only did they bring picks,
quite a different turn. We felt the shovels, and wheelbarrows—they also
Holy Spirit instructing us to go as the bought food and drinks to share with
first disciples were sent in Luke 10:2-9: us. After we had sweated, laughed,
with nothing. So we headed into the and joked together, they finally asked
mountains without food (and our why we had come just to serve
r C o m-
beloved cook Alfoncina!) or plans for Rive d- them, and listened intently while
r o m New a w ashe
shelter, and with nothing to give but son f lps re
pair we spoke of Christ’s love.
r e d Gilke h h e
the love of Jesus. We went not as mis- F hurc Goodbyes on both sides were
ity C
sionaries, but as servants. mun sad as well as joyful—what a rich ex-
oad.
out r
It was, to say the least, a bit scary, Who sent you? perience, connecting with other
especially for our Honduran col- Who’s paying? What do you want human beings in that way! We did
leagues—they were expecting chilly wel- from us? Finally, after convincing not come as emissaries of Western
comes at best and outright rejection at them that we were only there to serve, culture or a particular mindset; in-
worst. But to everyone’s surprise, we all three villages came up with projects stead, we came as servants of a loving
were received more warmly than we for us. And as we worked, without fail, Savior who is Lord of All Peoples.
had ever been before. In the past, al- the men of each village eventually Lord, thank you for teaching me
though many villages welcomed us came out and helped us. Our servant these things in 2009. Help me to enter
with open arms, the men of those vil- approach helped us earn the trust of 2010 actively bringing Your love and
lages were generally unenthusiastic these men, and as a result we had an presence to other people through acts
about our efforts to plant a church in opportunity to share Christ with them of servanthood. Help me to recklessly
their town. They accepted treatment in a way we never had before. abandon my own cultural mindset,
from our clinics and permitted their And God did not fail to provide and give me instead a deeper passion
children to attend VBS, but otherwise for us. In La Libertad de Norte we ar- to reach the perishing, and an evangel-
they mostly kept their distance. rived with empty pick-up trucks. As we istic zeal to see Christ reflected in all
This time, it was different. Upon prepared to leave, the villagers brought the cultures we touch.
Page 10
Youhave multiplied,
O Lord my God,
Your wondrous
deeds and Your
thoughts toward
us; none can
compare with
You! I will
proclaim and tell
of them, yet they
are more than
can be told.
Frontline
MISSIONS
5600 Short Road, Fairburn, Georgia
Contact: 770.774.0641 w info@fmusa.org