Recently, DNA trainers from CMS Africa ran two first-ever Vision Conferences in an Asian country where Christians account for only about 1.5 percent of the population. Here, church bombings have increased in the past year, and Christians and other minorities are prevented from holding political office. Still, God is building his church in this place.
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” -Jesus (Matt. 16:18)
“Where have you been all these years? [Our country] needs this message,” one pastor remarked at the Vision Conference.
Fifty-three leaders from various Christian denominations attended the five-day conference which established a strong, mutually beneficial partnership between local church leaders and the CMS-Africa trainers.
Exciting results:
- In response to the teaching on “Disciplines of Love,” one conference participant shared God’s love with a relative who then asked Christ into his/her life.
- Several potential opportunities for Business As Mission projects were discussed.
- The local team of Christians in this country plans to conduct four more Vision Conferences in the next year.
- Participants planned several Seed Projects to address drug/alcohol abuse and addiction, basic hygiene and disease prevention, English-language classes, and a cultural trend of interfaith marriages that pull young women away from their Christian faith. In a few months, the trainers who conducted these conferences will follow up on these projects.
Please pray
Each of the participants has returned to his/her church congregation to implement the Disciplines of Love and Seed Projects learned at the Vision Conference. Please pray for these brothers and sisters as they lead others in exemplifying the sacrificial love of Jesus to their friends and enemies.
The next step is to translate DNA training materials into the local language. Please pray for this urgent need as the process can be long and expensive.
“Indeed, one sows, another waters, but God gives the growth,” says our partner from CMS Africa.
2 Responses
I would love to know if this was in Pakistan. Has any conference been held in Pakistan, or is one planned? I am a missionary in southern Pakistan, and worked with Darrow many years ago. We need more of DNA’s teaching here!
Dear Pat, I will e-mail you with more information. Many blessings!