World Partners Update: February 2013

select another issue from the archive:

Transformed Lives: From Muslim to Minister

Pastor Ibrahim Abakar and his wife Claudine live in a small house at the edge of a Central African Republic village called Lambi, north of Bangui. They minister to the Fulani, a nomadic, cattle-herding tribe of Muslims.

Ibrahim was living a very different reality when Encompass missionary Ginger Hock met him in 2004. He himself grew up in a Muslim home. Through a dream about the one true God and His Son, and through the ministry of Claudine’s family, Ibrahim became a believer. Pastor Mboi Andre and former Encompass National Ministry Partner Werner Kammler both discipled him in what it means to truly follow Christ. After Ibrahim became a Christian and began growing more and more in his faith, Claudine’s father gave him permission to marry her. Continue...

Dream Bigger!

by Dave Guiles

I frequently tell the story of an encounter a few years ago with a leader from the Central African Republic. He was requesting assistance from Encompass in the training of a man for a key leadership role.

“Tell me again,” I asked, “How many churches are there in the CAR?”

“More than 2,000,” was his reply.

“And how many pastors are urgently needed?”

“More than 1,000!”

“And how many professors are needed immediately at our four Bible Schools and Seminary?”

“More than twenty!”

“Then please help me understand,” I gently asked, “how training one more man will make a difference?”

Continue...

On Mission: Impacting Africa One ‘Like’ at a Time

Millions of people use Facebook and Twitter every day. But how can a Like or a Tweet become something that has eternal impact on the life of someone halfway around the world? Only God could take a regular guy like Scott Feather to birth the beginning of a movement that will impact Africans in the Central African Republic forever.

Mike Taylor serves with Encompass by leading multiple medical trips to the CAR each year, providing Christ-centered medical care to thousands of Africans in need. This arm of ministry to Africans is called Three Strands. Continue...

Windows to the World: CAR

Understanding Spiritual Soils: CAR

The Central African Republic is located in the heart of Africa. Formerly part of French Equatorial Africa, it became an independent state in 1960. It is home to nearly 5 million people, divided between 80 ethnic groups, with one out of six living in the capital city of Bangui. Though rich in natural resources, it is the third poorest nation on earth. Since its independence the country has known political stress, including a coup in 2003, and rebel activity in the north and east of the country. Continue...

Breaking News: February 2013

breakingnews-africa

The rebel conflict in the CAR has affected our missionaries, but they are all safe.

Click here for an update on the urgent situation in the CAR.
BreakingNews-Europe

A new Ministry Center has opened in Dublin, Ireland! Crossroads Church, led by Scott and Rebekah Becker, is partnering with Irish ministry Zest4Kidz which helps children in difficult situations around the world. The center will enable creative outreach through kids’ activities, a counseling ministry, and possibly a volunteer-run café. Please pray for several volunteers experiencing trials in their personal lives, and for funds to finish the building renovation.

BreakingNews-Asia

In early January, Encompass workers in Asia convened for their Family Conference in Thailand, which occurs every three years. Team members from Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, Turkey, Japan, Vietnam, Philippines, and Cambodia met to spend time in worship, prayer, and encouragement. Praise God for the spiritual refreshment of time spent with fellow believers!

NewsHeader-LatinAmerica

Praise God for protecting Walter Testa and Gerardo Peyrera, missionaries from Argentina serving in Mexico City. Traveling through Guatemala on December 12, they were robbed and abducted by nine armed men. Walter and Gerardo are unharmed but lost valuable material possessions. Both testify to God’s faithfulness, and the body of Christ has come together to care for them. What a joy to be in God’s global family!
BreakingNews-UnitedStates

In January, ethnic minority church leaders from across the USA met at Encompass headquarters in Atlanta for encouragement and training. Under the guidance of Jesus Munoz and the sponsorship of GBIF, this group meets to promote stronger links among our ethnic minority congregations. Praise God for His blessings and pray for His guidance as leaders seek to reach minority groups with the love of Christ.