All The Latest!

by Wendy Tatro

International Director

Living Word Missions

Our content is wildly varied this month. Lately, when we pull together material to update our viewers, we find in our hands an over-abundance of ministry news to share with you! Although that means more work for us, we think it's a good problem to have! Enjoy these tasty tidbits for August. We're excited by what's going on at LWM and know you will be too!

Ethiopia Crusade! 
Gary Cooper ministered in a crusade recently in Ethiopia! View the Ethiopia Crusade Video to experience a bit of the action. Gary was moved by the exuberance of the people, dancing and raising a dust cloud by the end of each worship service. Let all the nations praise Him! 

Edinburgh 2010! 
This year marks the centennial anniversary of the 1910 World Missionary Conference, a gathering of 1,200 representatives from major Protestant denominations and missionary societies to evaluate the state of world missions. In commemoration, Edinburgh 2010 was held this year in four global locations to re-evaluate world missions 100 years later. Mission Frontiers Magazine has devoted multiple issue and articles to these two historic conferences. 

1910 World Missionary Conference

Edinburgh 2010

Edet Offong was invited to Tokyo 2010, one of the Edinburgh 2010 global events, held in May. 

Edet reported, "Some of the key decisions that came out of that conference [in Tokyo] is what LWM has been doing for more than a decade: 'closer collaboration between Western Mission and the Emerging Missions from the 2/3 world.' Also much emphasis was laid on Discipleship, investing in the next generation, and ensuring that the unreached or the least reached groups hear the Gospel."

Thank God that more emphasis is being given to these keys the Lord gave to my husband over 20 years ago!

Fula Translation of Believer's Authority! 

Alieu Bayo is overseeing another translation of The Believer's Authority! We now have permission for a Fula translation! 

The Fulani are the third staunchly Muslim people group in the Gambia/Senegal/Guinea-Bissau region, which we are targeting. 

Some Fulani have been involved in attacks against Christians as Open Doors reported on May 3, 2010:

"In early March, ethnic Fulani Muslims attacked 3 villages near Jos [Nigeria] which resulted in the deaths of about 500 Christians and the burning of about 75 homes. Eyewitnesses say the attackers used knives and cutlasses while shouting "Allah Akbar" during their attacks which were carried out not just against men, but against many women and children. Less than two weeks later, Fulani Muslims attacked two more villages in Plateau state, resulting in the deaths of 13 more Christians including a pregnant woman and children." 

                                             ________________________________

Only the Gospel can bring change to people who are walking in such darkness. If you would like to help fund a printing of The Believer's Authority in Fula, Mandinka, or Wolof, please let me know! 

These are exciting days and I'm so grateful for my vantage point. I can see the Lord working in marvelous ways! Thank you for being part of all we do. Your prayers and financial contributions enable us to keep moving ahead! 

More Breakthrough in Gambia & Guinea Bissau!

by Wendy Tatro
International Director
Living Word Missions


Our eyes are on the harvest of unreached people in North West Africa. As you know, Living Word Missions and Holy Fire Ministries have partnered together to target Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. We've been updating you on Rev. Bert Farias' travels into this region on behalf of HFM and LWM.

We also shared the groundbreaking news with you two months ago of permission received to print The Believer's Authority in Wolof and Mandinka, the two predominant Muslim people groups in the Gambia and Guinea-Bissau region. The translations are progressing and we appreciate your prayers for the translators.

Our current focus is to establish a sustainable evangelism strategy to target the Wolof, the Mandinka, and the Fulani in Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. These people groups have traditionally been staunchly Islamic. During Bro. Bert's May 25th-June 7th trip to Gambia and Guinea-Bissau, he was able to set up advisory teams in both nations to create and oversee an economic structure for sending and supporting indigenous missionaries.

Here's an excerpt from Bro. Bert's trip report: 
"In my brief time in both nations the Lord supernaturally put together a team of people to oversee the grant funding. In Guinea-Bissau the advisory team consists of two Americans...and two evangelists/church planters (Moises and Lalas) and one more yet to be added. 


In Gambia the process of setting up an advisory team was much easier because relationships were already in place. In Gambia, several Bible training center graduates (evangelists, church planters, and businessmen) were chosen, and they have already set a plan in motion." 

________________________________________________

Next return trip to Gambia/Guinea-Bissau!

DATE: November-December 2010

LOCATION: Gabu, Guinea-Bissau and Surrounding Unreached Villages

TEAMS: 2-4 Groups of Evangelists, Drama Teams, Church Planters

PLAN: Teams to to out during the day. Possibly hold seminars in the evening or daytime to begin introducing a new Bible training center in Gabu.

VISION: "Right now it is in my heart to target the Gabu region and the hundreds of unreached Muslim villages. A Bible Training Center in Gabu is very important to train laboreres in the Word and to train missionaries, evangelists, pastors, and teachers...If the training does not happen it will be difficult to send qualified laborers into the unreached villages. The BTC is a big key to our success. It is easier to get evangelists who come and go than it is to get missionaries who will stay in the villages with the people and shepherd them, teach them, and disciple them. They need training in the Word. The Gabu region is our target plan. The profits made from the selected businessmen will help finance some of this plan. Let us be in much prayer. Let us believe God for the right people to work with." -Bro Bert

PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE IF YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN BEING PART OF THIS GROUNDBREAKING MISSION TRIP!

Asia Part 2

by Wendy Tatro
International Director
Living Word Missions




Last time I mentioned that Rev. Bert Farias represented us in The Philippines in May. Following is the report from the second part of his trip to Asia: Pattaya, Thailand for the first ever LWM Asia Regional Conference!




“We were privileged to participate in the first LWM Asia Regional Conference in Pattaya, Thailand hosted by missionaries Fred and Dianne Doell. What a blessing it was to connect with them and the others who are laboring in that region!

The focus of our time together was to nurture our relationships and to impart vision, strategies, boldness, fire, and strength to these missionaries and the local workers. We ministered the Word of God in several settings. Here are some brief highlights:

We saw a number of YWAM (Youth With A Mission) people and local workers get baptized in the Holy Spirit during a “Send The Fire” service we had. These young people were scheduled to leave the next day, but decided to hit the streets that night and then attend the Sunday morning church service where they were mightily impacted again.

On Sunday morning we ministered at Victory International Family Church, pastored by the Doells where approximately 25 nations are represented. The response to the “Go Ye” message we preached was outstanding as one international worker told me that it was the largest response to any message they’ve ever had for any guest speaker since he had been a part of the church.

We spent some time ministering in the slums to the down-trodden and we walked the streets of one section of Pattaya where prostitutes, homosexuals, and transvestites are predominant and received a great burden to see the gospel preached in this sin-filled city. Much of my time was spent imparting vision for a strong evangelistic thrust into the city. I laid hands on one of the Doells’ Thai disciples and God separated her to lead the work of evangelism.

We began to lay the groundwork for an interdenominational Bible training center in Thailand. As I was sharing the vision for this BTC, the Holy Spirit began to move on another Thai disciple as she trembled under the power of God. The Lord confirmed this calling in her at that moment.

So much happened in such a short time as the Lord poured forth His grace to accomplish the assignments.”

S. Nathan, LWM’s affiliate in Malaysia wrote, “I was refreshed in vision and in spirit by our gathering in Thailand.”

Vincent and Delia Padupad, serving in the Philippines, wrote, “Thank you very much…for the time of refreshing in Thailand, a break for us. It was really a family time together, knowing how we can help and pray forone another. Relationships were built up on [another] level.

We thank God for the privilege of serving His sent ones in Asia.  We desire to do so much more for them! 

Asia Part 1

by Wendy Tatro
International Director
Living Word Missions




Rev. Bert Farias, LWM Advisory Board member, represented us in ministering with and to our Asia affiliates this month in The Philippines and Thailand. A portion of his report follows. We'll report on Thailand in our next post.

"I have never witnessed the spiritual hunger I witnessed in the Mountain Province of the Philippines. A young minister and former student of mine, Heath Young, and I were privileged to be the vessels that God sent to satisfy the incredible hunger and expectation of these precious people.

Our meetings were marked by two predominant atmospheres: joy and the fear of the Lord. Here are some testimonies from those meetings: 

“The Word of God you preached set me free from the bondage of sin. I also feel the work and the manifestation of the Holy Spirit that I didn’t understand before. Through the Word of God that you preached I really felt the love of God in my heart. It widened my love and understanding for the people around me.” ~MV

“When I played the drums I felt electricity as the Spirit came upon me. I learned to worship in Spirit and truth, and I experienced laughing and dancing in the Spirit.”

“I was inspired to stir up the gifts inside me and to maintain a pure heart in doing God’s work. I also give thanks that I experienced a heat of holy fire burning in my heart and surrounding my body. I know that God’s plan for my life is better than my own plan.”

We thank our Living Word Missions Filipino affiliates Vincent and Delia Padupad for hosting these meetings and for making our time and stay in the Philippines so enjoyable. Their desire for more fathering and mentoring was met during our times of fellowship.”
Bert was also there to minister at Bible training center graduations in two locations for 386 students representing 37 different churches. Vincent wrote:  “Bro. Bert’s visit was a VERY big help for us in the ministry...it is [a blessing] for someone to support, confirm and see the work we do for the glory of God.”

...And this was just the first part of Bro. Bert's trip! Thank you for helping us to provide ministry support and encouragement for champions like Vincent and Delia.  This was definitely a team effort.  Go team!

Asia Regional Conference!

Item for prayer: LWM Asia Regional Conference
Date: May 5-8
Location: Thailand

Fred and Dianne Doell will host in Pattaya, Thailand.
S. Nathan from Malaysia and Vincent and Delia Padupad from the Philippines will attend.
Bro. Bert Farias will represent us and will minister to LWM affiliates and other missionaries who will attend.
Thanks for praying for a great time of impartation and refreshing for these missionaries!

Translation Breakthrough!

by Wendy Tatro
International Director
Living Word Missions

In planting new works, it's necessary to provide Christian materials in the language of the people. We begin by translating our Bible training center curriculum. Second, we endeavor to translate supporting materials...messages by Rev. Kenneth Hagin being at the top of the list.

In partnership with Holy Fire Ministries (Bert Farias, Director), we've begun to press into unreached villages in Gambia and Guinea-Bissau in northern West Africa. Two largely unreached people groups in this region are the Wolof and Mandinka. Our BTC curriculum has been translated into both languages and, in fact, BTCs are operating in both languages under the direction of Alieu Bayo, LWM Gambia Director.

Recently, we received permission to begin translate a new book into both Wolof and Mandinka! Both translations are underway.

There are over 706,000 Mandinka in Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. 40% of Gambia's population is Mandinka. The Mandinka are almost entirely Muslim.

There are over 222,000 Wolof in Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. 15% of Gambia's population is Wolof. In Gambia's capital, however, the Wolof make up 50% of the population, making their language and culture highly influential. In neighboring Muslim-dominated Senegal 80% of the population speaks Wolof. It is said, to be Wolof is to be Muslim.

We would appreciate your prayers as we continue to evangelize this region, with the intent to plant churches and establish Bible training centers. Bro. Bert's next trip to the region is scheduled for May. BTCs have already been established in the capital cities of Gambia (Alieu Bayo, Director) and Guinea-Bissau (Moises Mangal, Director) and a growing church in Cuntanga Village (Bea Saydee, Overseer) in Guinea-Bissau, all by LWM affiliates.


As always, I'm so grateful for your partnership and your support, which makes all of this possible. May the Lord repay your kindness and generosity.

With love and blessings,
Wendy Tatro

P.S. Watch this exciting video of Bro. Bert's last trip to Gambia and Guinea-Bissau!

Holding the Rope!

by Wendy Tatro
International Director of
Living Word Missions




Yesterday I visited www.askamissionary.com. It's a website that offers responses from real missionaries to the various questions people ask regarding missions. I clicked on the top question, "Why do many missionaries join agencies?"

The responses warmed my heart because they represented what LWM is all about:

Membercare          
Encouragement by Team
Strategic planning  
Response in crisis
Supervision            
Administrative help
Training                
Pastoral care
Prayer covering    
Accountability

One missionary wrote, "To not have a missions agency is asking for disaster." Wow!

It reminded me of recent comments I've received from our own missionaries:

"Thank you once again for helping us when we needed you the most." 
"I have precious few people in my life that understand where I am coming from with this kind of stuff...thank you for being there for us." 
"Thanks for the pastoral care you are providing. Thanks to all who stand with you to serve us." 
"Thank you for all of these wonderful teaching resources. We are blessed!!"
"Thanks for the updates. This shows how much you care about us on the field."
"Thank you for the iPod. It is really a blessing to my life. It is better than the dollars you could have given to us in cash."
"Thanks for being there for us. It is a pleasure."

In 1793, William Carey, now considered the father of modern world missions, was preparing to sail with his family to India. He told his supporters in England, "I will go down, but remember that you must hold the rope."

What a privilege you and I have in "holding the rope" for our missionaries! I thank God for your partnership in such an awesome responsibility.

With love and gratitude,
Wendy