Africa Inland Missions

JAN-MAR 2015

MAGAZINE & PRAYER DIARY

04
WHY BOTHER:
WITH CHURCH
PLANTING?
09
SENT FROM RAYNERS
LANE BAPTIST CHURCH
18
THE BARA AND THE NEED
FOR JESUS CHRIST

Christ-centred churches among all African peoples

04 WHY PLANT
CHURCHES?
Manyattas in Northeast Uganda, where the
unreached Ik people live - www.aimint.org/eu/ik | page 10

04 WHY BOTHER: WITH

CHURCH PLANTING?

Exploring how planting

churches helps to reach the
unreached.

06 NEWS

Updates from the Shepherd

team and we celebrate
Keith Waddells 50 years of
service.

08 JANUARY 1-3

Introducing Andrew
Wallace; a new member
heading to South Sudan.

10 JANUARY 4-10

Our focus for this week is

the unreached Ik people of
Northeast Uganda.

12 JANUARY 11-17

This week our ministry

focus is Biblical and
theological education in
Rwanda.

14 JANUARY 18-24

We share the challenges

and joys of mobilising
people for mission across
our world.

16 JANUARY 25-31

Focusing on veterinary
students as part of
community development
in Uganda.
2

Amy lives and works on an Indian

Ocean Island as part of a church
planting team. We asked her, why?

18 FEBRUARY 1-7

Our people focus for

this week is the Bara of
Madagascar.

20 FEBRUARY 8-14

We share news and stories

from North Africa.

22 FEBRUARY 15-21

We focus this week on the

Lopit peoples of South
Sudan.

24 FEBRUARY 22-28

This weeks ministry focus

is healthcare, and the
challenges of serving this
way in Africa.

09 SENT FROM
RAYNERS LANE
BAPTIST CHURCH
Emily Smuts from Rayners Lane
Baptist Church shares Andrew
Wallaces path to Africa.

26 MARCH 1-7

Our people focus this week

is the Alagwa of Tanzania.

28 MARCH 8-14

We focus this week on the

support ministries of AIM,
including AIM Air.

30 MARCH 15-21

This week we share prayer

points from Uganda
alongside our Family
Focus.

18 THE BARA AND

THE NEED FOR
JESUS CHRIST
This is the story of Petera, from the
Bara people and the need for gospel
transformation in his life.

32 MARCH 22-31

Hear from our Short

Termers serving in Kenya
and Madagascar.

Looking for more prayer resources?

Visit our website:
www.aimint.org/eu/prayer

AS LIVING
SACRIFICES
by Lindsey Davies

eflecting on her time in

Africa, one of our Short
Termers shares Im thankful that God
has taught me what sacrificial going looks
like in the lives of my brothers and sisters in
Africa, and that he charges me to send just
as sacrificially, until he bids me go. Wow!
What a challenge. Reading Mariels comments
above and her longer article (page 32) I have been
reminded once again of the sacrifice that is asked
of us as Christians. Were not called simply to pray,
or just to give; no, were asked to follow Christs
example and give our lives, presenting our bodies as living
sacrifices. In this edition of Connect, were privileged to
share with you many stories of our mission partners and
those whom they are reaching with the gospel, as they do
just that.
Whether that be Joel, an Alagwan convert from Islam, who
despite opposition is known in his community as a man who
just stands firm in his faith (page 26). Or veterinary students,
taught by James Gibson in Uganda, who seek to make a
difference in their communities by offering their skills
where they are needed, regardless of whether they can be
paid for them (page 16). Or even an AIM Air pilot (page 28),
prepared to spend time in prison in Central African Republic
so that the message of Gods healing can be shared with
trauma victims. All of these very different stories display the
willingness of those who know and love Jesus to sacrifice
their own lives for the spread of his gospel. Powerful stuff,
isnt it?
At the start of this new year, we hope that you will be
inspired, challenged and enlightened as you read of the
unreached being reached by the gospel and of lives being
transformed by God across Africa. We pray that all that we
share with you through this publication will strengthen
your own walk with Jesus and encourage you in your own
sacrificial living. And for us all, for 2015 and beyond, we pray
for more opportunities to share not only the gospel, but our
lives as well.

This is Tobias, one

of the team members
seeking to reach the
Shepherds of Lesotho. To
do that they are giving up
most western comforts.
Here Tobias is eating
maize pap the only
food available.

Im thankful
that God
has taught
me what
sacrificial
going looks
like in the
lives of my
brothers and
sisters in
Africa

WHY BOTHER:
WITH CHURCH
PLANTING?
by Amy

Amy lives and works on an

Indian Ocean Island as part
of a church planting team.
We asked her, in the context
of her work, why bother with
church planting and what
benefit it has in reaching the
lost with the good news of
Jesus Christ?

NOT WHERE I THOUGHT ID

END UP

ot so very many
years back I probably
wouldnt have been
reading an article on church
planting, let alone writing one!
Yet here I am, part of a church
planting team on a tiny tropical
island, listening to the Muslim
call to prayer as it floats across
the capital. I live and work
amongst a people whose
national anthem states that
they are one blood, one people,
one religion. A people who
believe that to even consider
following Jesus is tantamount
to disowning your family, your
village and your culture. I live
amongst a people who have
little or no chance of hearing of
a God who loves them.
This, however, was not
where I thought I would
end up! After university I

had spent six months in

Uganda, had loved it and been
back for three consecutive
summers and felt like Africa
was where God wanted me
to be. But what exactly was I
supposed to do, where could I
make a difference? Teaching
in a school, working in an
orphanage maybe? No, God
had different plans. He led me
to join a Training in Ministry
Outreach (TIMO) team working
amongst the unreached. I was
excited about being part of a
team, loved the idea of being
trained on the field and not in a
classroom, but Muslims, what
did I know of them?

IN FAITH, I KEEP WALKING

In faith I stepped out and it

turned out to be a long journey
and a steep learning curve of
language and culture learning,
of spending lots of time out
in the community, of slowly
beginning to figure out how
to share the good news so it
would be received as just that.
And praying. Praying that God
would take my feeble efforts,
which might not even be the
church planting equivalent of
five loaves and two fishes, and
do what only he can do.

MEET AMY

my is part of a team
working on the Indian
Ocean Islands, seeking to
practically share the love of
Jesus, in ways that Islanders
can relate to. This involves
living in community with
Islanders, spending time in
their homes and inviting them
into hers. She also teaches
English to adult learners.
Ive been here for about six
years now. Have we seen droves
of people coming to Jesus? Not
yet. Is the local language still a
struggle? Absolutely. Are there
some days I just want to go
back to England and work 9-5
like everyone else? Oh yes. Do
I feel out of my depth most of
the time? Without a doubt. But
in faith I keep walking out that
door knowing that God is at
work here, that he is preparing
peoples hearts. And whether
I see a mighty harvest or
otherwise I know that for some
strange reason I have been given
one of the greatest privileges on
earth: partnering with God in his
work here.

ISLAND
WOMEN
Heather works amongst
women on the Indian
Ocean Islands, seeking to
share not only new skills,
but something of Jesus

T
I have been
given one of the
greatest privileges
on earth:
partnering with
God in his work
here.
AN IMPOSSIBLE VISION?

We bother with and are

passionate about church
planting, because we are not here
to make converts but disciples.
Disciples who are baptised and
taught in the context of healthy
island-led churches dotted
across this country. Worshipping
communities that worship
God in their way and in their
language, who are committed to
one another, who grow together
supporting one another in the
difficult path of following Jesus
in a hostile land. Communities
that will continue the work of
extending the kingdom here,
long after weve gone; who,
following in the footsteps of
Paul, seek to fulfil the Great
Commission by gathering

Gods people into kingdom

communities, in their Jerusalem,
Judea, Samaria and not stopping
until they reach the ends of the
earth.
And so we lift our eyes to see
that greater vision, a vision that
is far beyond us, a vision that
sees little churches springing
up across the islands. A vision
that sees every market woman,
every religious teacher, every
child in Quranic school, every
old man sitting in the village
square playing dominos having
a chance to hear Jesus calling
to them. And to hear not just
from the mouths of foreigners,
who garble their words and
use strange ideas that dont
quite connect, but to hear from
their brothers and sisters, their
mothers and fathers, from
their neighbour who has been
set free from an evil spirit. A
vision that sees new believers
unable to keep the good news to
themselves, uncowed by threats
of beatings or prison, of losing
their jobs or being thrown out of
their homes. A vision that dares
us to do more, and dares us to
pray for the impossible!

he women of the
islands are not
obligated to stay
indoors, or have their faces
completely covered, but
they are basically viewed as
child-bearers responsible
for domestic work. Many
also share their husband
with another woman in
polygamous relationships.
Often illiterate and
struggling with low selfesteem,we have heard
women say in our classes that
they dont know anything
and that they wont be able
to do it. But over time weve
seen confidence grow, and
its a privilege to affirm these
women as people of value,
created by God.
They have no
understanding of a
relationship with God as
Father, and look for help
from the spirit world. This in
turn keeps them in darkness,
blinded to the truth. Asking
questions is not permitted
and although this is changing
as younger women are
educated, for many life is
limited to the home.
Download a prayer sheet:
aimint.org/eu/islands
5

 ABOVE: On the way to

their ministry location, the
team pull over to gear up
and get their shepherd on.
On return, they dont all
take the time to westernise
themselves again, which
makes for some funny looks
at the border!
RIGHT: Two meals a
day. One at 6am and the
other at 6pm. The meal is
called pap and is made
from maize meal. While
there is no shortage, there is
absolutely no variety!

AND THEYRE OFF

he Extreme TIMO Team reaching the

Shepherds of Lesotho has finally begun!
The international team is made up of five
energetic and adventurous young men; Caleb,
Spencer, Tobias, Mark and Chris, with Sam
as their team leader. The team has built their
shepherding huts by hand with materials from
the land - hard, hard labour, even for five fit

guys! They have made their rock shelves which

they will use as beds in their huts and have
constant companions of bed bugs, mice, rats and
ground squirrels! The team is perfecting cooking
their two simple meals of pap a day over an
open fire, but enjoy their luxury items of tea and
coffee. The shepherds are excited and pleased
with the company of these white men and have
heard about missionaries going to their villages
but never living amongst them.

Download a prayer sheet on the Lesotho Shepherds:

6

www.aimint.org/eu/shepherds

Keith and his team also focus

on travelling out to where
people live, including to South
Sudan, Rwanda and even the
Democratic Republic of Congo.
Keith says, bottom line though
were not an aid agency, were a
Christian mission, committed to
spreading the gospel.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

KEITH WADDELLS
THANKSGIVING
Keith Waddell has been serving
as a doctor in Uganda for
50 years. Last October at St
James Cathedral, Mbarara, a
celebration service was held
for Keith, his work and for
Gods goodness in not just
restoring physical sight, but
spiritual sight too.

IN EVERY GOOD WORK

nd God is able to bless you

abundantly, so that in all
things at all times, having
all that you need, you will abound
in every good work. (2 Corinthians
9:8)
These were the words prayed
over Doctor Keith Waddell in
his commissioning service in St
Marys Church, Islington in 1964
as he prepared to go out to the
mission field. He was supposed
to be going to Congo but it was
in the midst of its first civil war.
Keith was stopped in Uganda,

DATES
FOR
YOUR
DIARY

and that has been his base ever

since. In the early years, under
Idi Amin, Keith was the Doctor,
doing anything and everything
as he sought to serve Ugandans
in the best ways possible.
Through this work Keith saw the
need for a specialist eye surgeon
in Uganda. He observed that
many of the eye problems and
blindness hed encountered were
treatable or preventable.
So, Keith came back to the
UK, retrained in eye work and
then headed back into the field.
He comments, We have this
wonderful technology now:
lens implants to treat cataracts;
surgery that can take a person
from complete blindness to sight
in just ten minutes; technology
that can be made available to the
most remote and disadvantaged
areas of our world. Today,
there is a main teaching
base in Mbarara, Uganda but

Keiths commitment not just

to restoring physical sight, but
also spiritual sight, was evident
through the celebration service
for his 50 years of service, led
by both the current and former
Bishop of Ankole District. Paul
& Di Allcock, currently serving
with AIM in Uganda, attended
the service and noted many
people spoke of how Dr Keith
had operated and given them
sight again. Yet one blind man
spoke with joy on his face that
although Dr Keith could not
restore his sight, he had been
given vision and hope as he had
been shown love and value by
God, through Keith. The whole
day was quite inspirational and
did bring glory to God which is
so what Dr Keith wanted.
Please join us in giving thanks
for Keith, for all that God has
done in and through him in
Uganda and further afield. Pray
with us too for Keiths continuing
work, that he may have more
opportunities to share the gospel
with those he treats and works
amongst.

14-15
MARCH

28
MARCH

28 MARCH
- 6 APRIL

GO MISSIONS
EXHIBITION

SCOTTISH
CONFERENCE

Chadderton,
Manchester

Perth Baptist
Church, Perth

WORD ALIVE
MISSIONS
EXHIBITION

Prestatyn,
Wales

For the latest information on each of these events,

see our weekly email, facebook or website:

25 APRIL
SOUTH OF
ENGLAND
CONFERENCE

St Patricks
Church,
Wallington

eu.aimint.org

Photo Alex Voets

January 1-3

NEW MEMBERS

Andrew Wallace from

Rayners Lane Baptist
Church has recently joined
AIM and is planning
to work amongst the
unreached Laarim in South
Sudan. Here he shares his
call to overseas mission.

THE SHAPE & DIRECTION

call to overseas mission

was never something
I anticipated growing
up. When I began my degree
at London School of Theology
(LST) in September 2011,
overseas mission was certainly
not on my radar. I had no idea
that in these next three years
God was going to completely
transform the shape and
direction of my life. Through
LST, I was introduced to
Rayners Lane Baptist Church
(RLBC), a church with a long
history of partnership with
AIM. God planted a seed
through a visit from Tony &
Cath Swanson around April
2012, who came to RLBC to
talk about their work with

AIM and to encourage others

to get involved. My response
to this was not immediate, but
over the summer of 2012, I
spent a lot of time in prayer
about the future and God
began to reveal his plan for me.

CENTRE OF GODS WILL

It was through reading

an AIM magazine about the
work of Training in Ministry
Outreach (TIMO) teams that
I realised God was calling
me to work with AIM. It was
hard to accept; in fact my first
response was to spend a long
time in prayer pleading with
God not to ask this of me.
However, I soon learned that
the centre of Gods will is the
most wonderful place to be,
even when it means suffering.
God worked in my heart, the
call was tested and approved
and I now long to go and
share the love of Jesus with
the unreached in Africa. At
this time I am hoping to work
amongst the Laarim in South
Sudan for two years from July
2015. I have heard the gospel
message countless times, yet
there are so many people who
havent heard it even once.
Jesus gave up everything for
me, and he has called me to do
the same so that others might
know salvation.

THE LAARIM

he Laarim live in small

settlements in the
rugged Boya Hills of
South Sudan, amongst rich
savanna, high grasslands and
scrub bushes. Life is centred
around cattle: they breed
them, eat their meat, use them
as dowry, drink their blood and
milk and sleep on their hides.
Spiritually, the Laarim
incorporate Catholic
influences into their animistic
beliefs. They are highly
aware of spiritual forces and
believe in a supreme being
who controls all of life. They
believe they can communicate
with the spirits of their
ancestors through prayers and
offerings which they perform
collectively in designated
ritual places.
Download a prayer sheet on
the Laarim people:
www.aimint.org/eu/laarim

JANUARY | THURSDAY

Please pray for all involved

in the planning process as we
work out the details of my
assignment. Pray that we would
have God-given wisdom and be
sensitive to the leading of the
Holy Spirit as we seek to discern
Gods will.

SENT FROM RAYNERS LANE

BAPTIST CHURCH

JANUARY | FRIDAY

Please pray for Gods

strength for myself and all my
loved ones as we prepare to
spend two years apart from each
other. Pray that we would all fix
our eyes on Jesus sacrifice and
count the cost in light of what
he has done for us.

JANUARY | SATURDAY

Pray for the Laarim people

whom I trust I will go to later
this year. Pray that God would
be working in their hearts, by
his Spirit, to enable them to
receive the gospel. Pray that
all of them might
come to know
Jesus as Lord.

WEEKLYFOCUS

P
Photo Alex Voets

lease pray for our

new member, Andrew
Wallace as he prepares for
his assignment among the
unreached Laarim. Pray
for his preparation as he
seeks to raise the necessary
support. Pray too that his
passion and enthusiasm for
reaching the unreached with
the gospel would continue
to grow.

Emily Smuts is the Training

Coordinator at London
School of Theology (LST)
and the Ministers wife
of Rayners Lane Baptist
Church. She shares with
us Andrews path to go and
serve in Africa

GODS PATH TO MISSION

have only known Andrew

for just over a year but can
clearly see the depth of
godly passion that drives him
to serve his Lord.
At London School of
Theology we place a high
value on practical theology;
integrating what is learnt in
the classroom about Christ
with living for him in the real
world. First year students do
a practical placement in a
church setting to experience
what it is to be a serving
member in a different part
of the body of Christ. For
Andrew, that placement
was at Rayners Lane Baptist
Church (RLBC) in 2011. His
time with the church opened
his eyes to the power of
mission, as he experienced
the vibrant missional
emphasis at RLBC.

THE MISSION SEED

The mission seed was

firmly planted when
Andrew met Tony & Cath
Swanson, supported
by RLBC and serving
with AIM in Tanzania.
Hearing their story and

asking them many questions

about their experience
and their sending agency
obviously had a profound
effect on Andrew.

The seed was

further watered
when Andrew
and some other
LST students
visited Uganda
The seed was further
watered when Andrew and
other LST students visited
Uganda in their second
year. Through his third
year at college he looked at
sending agencies and their
missional intent, entering into
conversation with AIM. At the
same time he began to meet
with the RLBC Missions Panel
and they have prayerfully
walked the path of preparation
with him, culminating in
supporting his application to
AIM.
Throughout his time at
college and beyond, Andrew
has continued to worship and
serve at RLBC.
We at RLBC and at LST have
every confidence that the Lord
has gone before Andrew and
prepared a place for him to
serve in Africa and that he is
preparing Andrew as a servant
of Christ for his people.

January 4-10

PEOPLE FOCUS:
THE IK
For over nine years, AIM has
been praying for the 7000
unreached Ik in Northeast
Uganda, with the desire to
place a Training in Ministry
Outreach (TIMO) team
amongst them and tell
them the good news of Jesus
Christ. But why bother with
such a small and forgotten
people?

FROM EVERY SIDE

or many years and for

many reasons the Ik have
been marginalised and
forced up onto a tiny ridge in
Northeast Uganda. Any closer
to the edge and theyll fall the
3,000 feet down into Kenya.
Just north of them is the Kidepo
National Park and in the south,
the Timu Forest. Both are rich
in resources and protected

JANUARY
SUNDAY

A TIMO team is planned

to start amongst the
unreached Ik in mid
2016. Pray for team
leaders, Christoph
& Heidi Rauch from
German mission,
Diguna that they would
demonstrate Christ
in the way they lead
and serve other team
members. They begin in
mid 2015, to prepare for
the rest of the team and
start language learning.

by the government, which

means the Ik are continually
at risk of being banned from
accessing these areas. They are
also caught up in the ongoing
cattle raids between the Kenyan
Turkana in the east and the
Ugandan Karamojong from
the west. As a result, they are
often beaten, killed, raped
and plundered. Everywhere
they turn they face opposition.
Their weakness, isolation and
vulnerability has also meant
there is poor healthcare,
extremely low educational
levels and a massive problem
with alcohol. Yet the biggest
concern is that they have
believed the lie that in the
face of the worst of life,
there really is no hope.
And that just isnt true.

JANUARY
MONDAY

Please pray for

churches willingness
to send men and
women to join the
Ik team. People with
skills in agriculture,
teaching and health
care would have
great opportunities
to integrate with the
community.

JANUARY
TUESDAY

In September, a
survey was carried out

amongst the Ik. Praise

God that leaders of the
Ik community were
positive and open about
a TIMO team coming to
live amongst them.

JANUARY
WEDNESDAY

Praise God, that as a

result of the survey, a
location for the team
leaders house was
found. Negotiations
with local land owner,
Angarab Zachary, were
made for a plot of land
and as a result, Angarab

The Ik people live on a

small ridge in Northeast
Uganda.

WEEKLY
FOCUS

ive thanks for the

progress that has
been made towards
placing a TIMO team
amongst the Ik. The
Ik are open to a team
coming, team leaders
have been agreed
and a location for
their home has been
found. Pray for this
marginalised and
forgotten people that
they may be open to
the liberating work of
Jesus Christ.

FINDING TEAM
LEADERS

orking in Arua,
Uganda with
German Mission
Diguna, Christoph & Heidi
Rauch were approached about
leading a TIMO team. Initially
reluctant, they later agreed
to talk more with AIM. At the
same time they were looking
at a map of Northeast Uganda
and saw two mountains
whose name in German
means tell something. This
provoked them to pray for
that region. Later, when
talking with AIM about where
a team might go, they pointed
to the mountains and asked
if there were any unreached
there. Yes, was the answer. In
fact, AIM had been praying
for over nine years for leaders
to go to the unreached Ik
who live in that area. And so
team leaders were found.

will adopt Christoph

& Heidi into his clan.
Pray for future plans
for all the other team
members homes.

JANUARY
THURSDAY

Terrill & Amber

Schrock from SIL, have
been living amongst
the Ik since 2008.
Terrill is involved in
Bible translation and
Amber is involved
with community
health. Give thanks
for their faithfulness

it was a great
answer to
prayer that the
Ik leaders were
open for a team
to come
COMMUNITY VALUES

Last September, a survey

was carried out to obtain the
local leaderships approval for
a TIMO team to work amongst
them. One of the TIMO teams
values will be to share the Iks
identity by living amongst
them. Whats instantly
obvious about the Ik is their
strong community values.
They live in small clusters of
houses called manyattas, with
their homes and protective
fencing made from African
Juniper. They provide great
protection from the outside
and a strong sense of family
within so it was a great
answer to prayer that the Ik
leaders were open for a team
to come, live amongst them
and share their lives with
them. We were also excited

that Team leaders, Christoph

& Heidi Rauch from Germany
were able to locate an area
to build their home and
agree with local land owner,
Angarab Zachary to build a
house there.

LIGHTS ON A MOUNTAIN

Its exciting to see progress

being made to reach the
Ik, but why have a vision to
see a small, vulnerable and
forgotten mountain people
reached at all? Let us not
forget the beauty, pattern
and power of the gospel of
Jesus Christ. God so often
uses the small things to show
us hes big, the vulnerable to
demonstrate his strength and
the forgotton to make himself
known.
Please join in praying that
God would shine in the hearts
of the Ik and give them the
light of the knowledge and
glory of God in the face of
Jesus Christ.
For more information and
photos from the survey, visit
eu.aimint.org/ikjan2015

and continued help in

setting up the TIMO
team. They have been
an enormous blessing.

10

Pray for the love

of Jesus to dwell in
the hearts of the Ik. To
drown their misery,
many drink maize beer
and spend the little
money they have on
cheap gin. This has a
devastating effect on
their society, especially
families, where
children often arent
cared for properly.

JANUARY
FRIDAY

Pray for the Ik to be

open to the saving
work of Christ. They
live along the border
with Kenya and are
often caught up in
cattle raids between the
Karamojong and the
Turkana. As a result,
they are often beaten
and plundered.

JANUARY
SATURDAY

11

January 11-17

MINISTRY FOCUS:
BIBLE & THEOLOGY

Loots & Nancy Lambrechts from

Dundonald Church, Wimbledon are
working at the Preach the Word training
course in Kigali, Rwanda. Here they
talk about the need and vision for Bible
training

GODS WORD FOR RWANDA

wanda is a religious society, with

churches on almost every street corner
and where most people profess a
Christian faith. However there are questions
that need to be asked about the depth and
conviction of the Christianity in a country
that recently experienced one of the worst
genocides in modern history. In 1994 nearly
100,000 Tutsi were killed at the hands of
Hutu militia.
Loots visited Rwanda in 2008 on a
short-term mission trip with his father-inlaw. During this trip he saw for himself the
countrys great spiritual. Despite the great
number of churches, most pastors are not
trained or shown how to read and teach the
Bible. A Bible teaching church, that has the
true gospel of Jesus Christ as its foundation
is rare in Kigali and Rwanda as a whole.
What has resulted is a lethal combination of
Catholicism, legalism, traditional religion,
and the prosperity gospel. There are many
12

MEET INNOCENT

y name is Innocent Manirafasha and I

am a graduate of the Preach the Word
training course (PTW). I joined PTW
because I knew I needed a place to spend time
just with this book.
During my time at PTW I was taught a Bible
overview which helped my study of the Bible to
flourish. The study of Exodus was a door to enter
the Old Testament. Pauls letter to the Romans
explained the gospel to me and the book of
Revelation was demystified.
At PTW, I was caught by the profoundness
of the Bible and the shallowness of the church
in Rwanda. I realized that if we want to send
missionaries from Rwanda to reach the nations
we first need gospel churches in Rwanda.
I am currently studying at George Whitefield
College In Cape Town. My hope is to return to
Rwanda and plant a gospel church together with
like-minded brothers from PTW.
If you would like to find out more about the
ministry of PTW please visit their website:
www.preach-the-word-rwanda.com

true believers within Rwanda but they

are not fed on a diet of solid food or built
up in the gospel and these believers are
hungry for real food, for Biblical teaching.

PREACH THE WORD

Preach the Word (PTW) is a Bible

training course situated in Kigali. It has
arisen out of this great need and also
through a friendship between Loots
Lambrechts (AIM mission partner) and
Determine Dusabumuremyi (Rwandan
Minister). The conviction at PTW is that
God will use his word as written in the
Bible for his purposes in Rwanda. PTW is
a practical course helping those involved
in Christian
ministry to
correctly and
faithfully
handle Gods
word. The
ultimate hope
is that God
would use
PTW students
to bring the
good news of
Jesus Christ
to their own
people and
even go beyond
their borders to
other nations,
as well as to
encourage
and build up
the church
in Rwanda
through
2 Timothy 2:15
faithful Bible
exposition
and application. In order to accomplish
this the Bible is studied as a whole unit,
focusing on key Bible books and the
application of those books into Rwandan
life. PTW is both training in Gods word
and discipleship. It is a family, where
there is a strong emphasis on living life
together and applying biblical truth into
each others lives.

Do your
best to
present
yourself to
God as one
approved, a
workman
who does
not need to
be ashamed
and who
correctly
handles the
word of truth.

See People & Places p15

Follow the index key for more infomation on
mission partners working in Bible & Theology.
www.aimint.org/eu/peopleandplaces

11

JANUARY | SUNDAY

Pray for the students

who attend Preach the
Word (PTW) that they
would grow not only in
their knowledge of Gods
word, but also in their love
for God and each other.
Pray that they would
be bold and effective
witnesses for Christ in
their own contexts.

12

JANUARY
MONDAY

Pray for Loots and

Determine as they teach
each week, that they would
be faithful to Gods word.
Also pray that they would
walk closely alongside the
students, discipling them
and applying Biblical truth
into their lives.

13

JANUARY
TUESDAY

Pray for Innocent, one of

our graduating students
currently studying
Theology at George
Whitefield College in Cape
Town. Pray that the Lord
would prepare him to come
back and plant a Bible
teaching church in Kigali.

14

JANUARY
WEDNESDAY

Pray for the Five Brothers

who have come alongside
Innocent to support him in
a future church planting
movement. Pray for unity
among them and that the
Lord would lay it on some
of their hearts to be future
church planters.

WEEKLY
FOCUS

his week we are

praying for Preach
the Word (PTW), a Bible
training course in Kigali.
Pray that the body of
Christ in Rwanda would
be built up to maturity
through Gods word and
be established in Christ,
knowing him genuinely
and serving him faithfully.

16

JANUARY
FRIDAY

Pray for many of our

students who are newly
married and starting
families. Pray that their
marriages would be a
reflection of Christs
sacrificial love and that
they would raise children
to know and love Jesus.

17

JANUARY
SATURDAY

Pray for the Lambrechts

family that they would love
the Lord with their hearts,
minds, souls and strength.
Pray that their children
develop a deep and
genuine
faith in
Jesus.

15

JANUARY
THURSDAY

Pray for Nancy as

she meets with the
female students,
that she may
encourage them
and build them
up to be Biblical
women of God.

13

January 18-24

MOBILISING
MISSION

BREAKING DOWN
BARRIERS
Marlene van Tonder, a teacher
from New Zealand is serving on
the Lopit Traning in Ministry
Outreach (TIMO) team in South
Sudan. For many years, the Lord
had put on Marlenes heart a desire
to reach the unreached and after
a Short Term trip to Tanzania, she
joined TIMO.
he said that one of the things
that attracted her to TIMO was
just being able to have specific
time set aside to learn the culture and
language, rather than teach or think
that I know everything. The team
has already faced many challenges,
including being evacuated ten
days after arriving, so it was so
encouraging to hear Marlene say that
one of the things she appreciated
most was living with the people, not
being separated, just trying to break
down as many barriers as we can to
reach the Lopit for Christ.

See page 22 for the weekly focus on

the Lopit or find out more about TIMO:
www.aimint.org/eu/timo
14

We asked the New

Zealand mobilising team
what they were doing to
help send people to reach
the unreached

EXCITING TIMES

t is an exciting time
in the New Zealand
office. Over the last
year we have had a full
time member of staff,
Pamela Nares, working in
Auckland. Weve also had
the privilege of sending
two long term mission
partners to Africa, Marlene
Van Tonder, serving on
a Training in Ministry
Outreach (TIMO) team
in South Sudan and Amy
Hudson, who will initially
be serving in Congo, then
joining a Focus team in the
Central African Republic in
mid-2016.

A RENEWED ZEAL

In December we
celebrated the bi-centenary
of the gospel coming to
New Zealand. We hope that
this anniversary will lead
to a renewed zeal amongst

ABOVE: Marlene from

New Zealand is serving on
the Lopit TIMO team.

Our country
once had the
highest number
of missionaries
per capita
New Zealanders to share
the gospel among Africas
unreached, especially as
we were reminded that
our country once had
the highest number of
missionaries per capita in
the world! We have already
been encouraged this year
by interest and support
from churches across the
country, and our mailing
list has increased by more
than five times in the
past year. Please pray that
this translates into more
enquiries about mission,
and also more financial
support to allow us to
maintain our New Zealand
presence.

CAN I KNOW
GOD?
Over 300 million
people in Africa are
unreached. Alan
Cousins, Mobiliser for
Ireland, shares some
of his challenges in
mobilising people to
go, and retells one
conversation from
a mission partner
working in North
Africa

obilising in
Ireland is like
serving two
very different countries;
the North, with many
evangelical churches,
and the Republic, with
very few. The whole
of Ireland however
has a great heritage in
mission, in sending,
praying and generous
giving. My hearts desire

18

JANUARY | SUNDAY

Praise God for three

Australian workers preparing
for service in Africa. Pray for
Laura Sleeman joining the Digo
Focus team in Kenya and Peter &
Catherine Gitau and family going
to youth camp and leadership
training ministry in Rwanda.

19

JANUARY | MONDAY

Pray for workers raising

support and preparing to go.
Pray for Norm & Noeline Scott
preparing to offer administrative
support in Tanzania and Craig
& Helen Waldock going to the
Training in Ministry Outreach
(TIMO) team in Namibia in June.

20

JANUARY | TUESDAY

Pray for Gods leading

for workers starting diaspora
ministries in Australia. Chris &
Tabitha and family are based in
Geelong near Melbourne. Rachel
is commencing in Sydney. Pray
that God will open connections
for a proposed focus on Nubian,
Darfurian and possibly other
unreached people groups.

is to mobilise more
people to share the
gospel, and I pray that
in doing that we will
serve the church in a way
that pleases the Lord.
We long to re-ignite that
passion for reaching the
unreached and sharing
mission partners stories,
like this one:
A few months ago,
I visited a friend for a
special meal to break her
fast. A comedy in the
local dialect was on TV,
specially produced for
the month of Ramadan,
a time of feasting and
fasting, and of searching.
A lot of things are special
about this time of year,
including a special
openness to spiritual

21

matters. We laughed and

joked around, and then
my friend went quiet.
Somehow I sensed what
was coming. Hard...
hard... Its so hard, she
said. How can I know
God? Is it possible? I
used to search and ask
these questions, but
Im growing tired now.
People say I should stop
thinking, that I will make
myself go crazy. What do
you think? Can I know
God?
Would you like
to respond to such a
question? For more
information, contact
Alan, or any of our
regional mobilisers.
Contact details are on
the back cover.

JANUARY | WEDNESDAY day a week). Pray as we seek

Pray for Rachel attending

the Sydney and Missionary
Bible College (SMBC) as an
AIM representative of the
academic year. Pray for fruitful
connections with students. Pray
God will raise workers from
SMBC and other Bible colleges
for service in Africa.

22

JANUARY | THURSDAY

Praise God for the homebased orientation in Australia

in early November 2014 with
19 long-term and short-termers
from Australia and New Zealand
preparing for service. Please join
us in praying for God to send out
workers into his harvest.

23

JANUARY | FRIDAY

Please pray for the

small office team seeking to
facilitate more Australians to
serve among unreached people
groups in Africa. The team is:
Len Lesleighter (Director) and
wife Robbyn (Finance), Nita
Finger (Admin Assistant) and
Judy Carter (Volunteer one

to fill a vacancy of Short Term

Coordinator, and recruit a parttime Finance Assistant.

24

JANUARY | SATURDAY

Praise God that in 2017,

theres the opportunity to have an
AIM cross-cultural worker based
at the Sydney Missionary and
Bible College. They will facilitate
the missions programme, and
help represent AIM. Pray we can
find the right person.

WEEKLYFOCUS

his week, we are praying

for the Australian
mobilsing team. Please
pray for AIM programmes
like Challenge 9:38, calling
Australian churches to partner
and pray Matthew 9:38;
and a proposed program
to encourage churches in
reaching out to their Muslim
neighbours. Pray that God will
raise more workers for Africa
from Australia.

January 25- 31

MINISTRY
FOCUS:
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
The dream of many
What I love best is studying
Ugandans struggling in
surgical treatment and
poverty is of a successful
procedures, Patrick, an older
poultry farm. Unfortunately, and eager student explains
many of these wouldas we watch James operating.
be farmers often find
That [training] is making
themselves plagued by
me complete. Dr. Gibson is a
unhealthy animals. In
person who encourages us a lot,
desperation, these farmers
even during challenges in our
turn to their community vet. practicals. He is always on the
But an honest vet is hard to
side of the students and wants
find.
to help out when we are stuck.

ALWAYS ON OUR SIDE

ince 2012, James Gibson

has been an honorary
lecturer at Makarere
University, Ugandas only
school with a veterinary
programme. Besides lecturing
in the classroom, he invites
small groups of his students
to accompany him on trips
to rural areas. On these trips
James and the students give
vaccinations and teach the
owners proper feeding, hygiene,
and mating practices, along
with other general husbandry
topics. I joined them to find out
more.

16

LOVING SACRIFICE

Its not just in the

professional areas that James
wants to help these students,
however. Its the side chats
and the talks in the car that I
see as God-given opportunities
and the main point of what Im
doing all of it for, James says.
I know the word is disciple,
but its more like guiding,
provoking, and making them
question what their beliefs are
or why God might want them
to do certain things As I build
more and more relationships,
things become more real,
and thats very African. The

EMMANUEL
SAYS

mmanuel, a fifth year

vet student shares:
We are so grateful to
God for Dr Gibson and all
his help. He is so patient and
encouraging and we actually
get to do hands-on practical
surgery. I feel confident now
that I can do these surgeries
myself in the future. God
bless you for sending him
to us.
more they get to know me, the
more they trust menot just
in relation to the work side of
things, but also in relation to the
spiritual side of things.
In the evening, after an
exhausting but successful trip,
the group discussion turns
to spiritual matters, openly

God is working
in the hearts of
these young men,
and James feels
blessed to be a
part
discussing the act of giving
and how they can benefit
their community through
loving sacrifice. Generally in
veterinary practice, the things
we use cost money, a student
named Alex mentions from
his seat by the window. Even
getting the skills costs money. So,
as a Christian, if I meet someone
who cannot necessarily raise the
money but I really think their
animal needs help, I can help
them. Even if theres no way I
can make a profit. Sometimes,
you make a loss, but as a
Christian, I can give it up as a
sacrifice. God provides for me,
and I think I can also provide for
someone else.

A SHINING LIGHT

God is working in the hearts

of these young men, and James
feels blessed to be a part of
their professional and spiritual
growth. All of the students
realise the benefits of coming
with me on these trips, even
though I tell them its a Christian
activity. A Muslim guy came
along this time, and he fitted in
really well. He participated in
things I didnt think he would.
If people are open, we can pray
that Gods Holy Spirit will speak
to their hearts and show them
that Christians are not the
enemy or that they are not so
different; show them that God
loves them individually. We can
pray that Jesus light will shine
for them.
By Heidi Thulin
On Field Media

25

JANUARY
SUNDAY

Please pray for the

veterinary students at
Makarere University, that
they would make use of the
opportunities available to
them to become the best vets
they can be. Pray that they
would be ambassadors for
Christ in their profession,
showing love to people and
providing quality care to
animals, with integrity and
compassion.

26

JANUARY
MONDAY

Pray as the students are

bombarded by many
differing theologies here in
Kampala, many purporting to
be Christianity. Messages of
prosperity and blessing can
be seductive when struggling
with finances. Pray that they
would not be trapped by
one of the many cults who
seek to control students and
promote their own agendas.

27

JANUARY
TUESDAY

Please pray for our girls

as they live and grow up
in Kampala. Pray for good
friendships in school and
that a love for God would
grow within them. Pray that

WEEKLYFOCUS

lease pray for the

Gibson family. For
James as he teaches
at Makarere University
Vet School in Kampala.
Thank God for the
good relationships he
has with a number of
Muslim students. Pray for
opportunities for him to
speak about Jesus with
them. Pray too, for Claire
as she uses her teaching
skills in the community.

they would love Uganda but

also maintain contact with
friends and family in the UK.

28

JANUARY
WEDNESDAY

Please pray for Acacia school,

that the staff and students
would create and sustain an
environment where Christ is
central and where children
grow to love the Lord and
deepen their faith. Pray for
Claire as she steers the senior
school and supports the staff
to provide the best education
they can.

29

JANUARY
THURSDAY

Pray for our partners

Community Livestock
Development (CLIDE)
Consultancy as they
endeavour to be Gods hands
and feet, showing love
through livestock projects and
the Timothy Project, a child
sponsorship programme.

30

JANUARY
FRIDAY

Pray for Banunule School,

where Claire is the Chair
of the Board of Governors.
Pray for Vanessa, the Head
Teacher as she runs the
school, which caters for
children from a local slum
area. Thank God for the
Christian environment the
school offers and the love the
teachers show the children.

31

JANUARY
SATURDAY

Pray for our family that we

would continually focus on
God and not be so tied up
with work that we lose sight
of what he wants to do in us
and through us. Pray that in
all things we will be obedient
to him.

See People & Places p15

Follow the index key for more
info on mission partners working
in community development.

Photo FAO fiat panis | CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 | flic.kr/p/nhxn7N

February 1-7

PEOPLE FOCUS:
THE BARA
This is the story of Petera.
From the outside, life seems
simple and idyllic, from
the inside, life is complex,
troublesome and in need of
deep restoration

A STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE

orn in a small village

outside of Betroka,
Madagascar, Peteras
childhood was typically Bara.
From an outsiders perspective
it seems an idyllic existence,
like stepping back in time to
a more carefree life where
families work together in a
communal setting. However,
upon taking a closer look, one
finds that although simpler
in some ways, it is also a
life centred on a struggle to
survive. With constant illness
and deaths of loved ones, never
enough food to eat and years
spent being shuffled between
relatives while his father
divorced his mother and went
from one woman to the next,
childhood was not easy for
Petera. While difficult, it was
a very typical life for a child
growing up in this context.
Petera spent many days out
watching the family cattle herd,
leading them to better pastures
on the hot and dry savannah
lands of southern Madagascar.

TIME TO MARRY

In his teenage years, when it

became time for him to marry,
the fighting began with his
18

Though he truly
desires to live
a changed life,
certain aspects
of Peteras old
life continue to
creep up
uncle, who didnt want to give
cows for the marriage sacrifice.
In a fit of rage, Petera murdered
his uncle. After that time, he
was tormented by demons,
manifesting themselves as the
spirit of his uncle, who nearly
strangled him to death. With
a severely swollen neck, not
able to eat or drink anything,
his family brought him to the
Lutheran Church Care Centre in
Betroka. It was here that he was
delivered from the demons and
committed his life to Christ.

Centre upon his release. Though

he truly desires to live a changed
life, certain aspects of Peteras
old life continue to creep up and
he falls back into patterns of
behaviour that do not honour
God. Petera hopes to attend
the Adult Literacy Programme
our team plans to begin at the
care centre in November so that
he can learn to read the Bible
for himself. Pray that Petera
will stand firm in his faith and
that God will use him and his
testimony to share Christ among
the Bara, starting with his own
family.

THE NEED FOR CHRIST

About that time, his

grandfather sent the
authorities to arrest him
and he was sentenced to ten
years in the Betroka prison
for the murder of his uncle.
After serving one year of his
sentence, the prison guards
released him on the condition
that he pay them two sacks
of charcoal a month for the
duration of his sentence. That
was a year ago and Petera
moved to the Church Care

Petera lives just outside

Betroka, Madagascar.

FEBRUARY | SUNDAY

ADULT
LITERACY
PROGRAMME

e are thankful for the

progress our team has
made toward starting
an Adult Literacy Programme
here in Betroka. In July, some of
our team and Malagasy partners
were trained to teach literacy
using the Bible. Since then
we have spent time preparing
materials so that, hopefully by
the time you read this, we will
have begun teaching. We plan
to teach at the Lutheran Church
Care Centre that offers help to
people with physical, emotional
and spiritual problems. Pray
that this would help meet a felt
need for the Bara in this area
and would also be a tool for
evangelism and discipleship for
local churches. Pray for depth
in relationships and for God to
open peoples hearts.

A huge barrier that has

prevented the Bara from
hearing and understanding
Gods word is that it isnt
available in their heart
language. A team of Bara
translators has finished
the book of Luke in Bara
and is currently working
on Acts. Please pray for
the translators to remain
dedicated to the work.

FEBRUARY | MONDAY

The majority of Bara

people are illiterate. Telling
stories is a part of their
daily lives, connecting
generations of people to
the traditions of the past.
Pray that believers will use
Chronological Bible storying
to share the gospel in a way
the Bara can understand.

FEBRUARY | TUESDAY

Due to their animistic

beliefs and daily interactions
with the spirit world, spirit
possession is a constant
reality for the Bara. Tied
in with that is the lack of
medical care available to
them, leaving many people
searching for healing. Pray
that local churches would
use these opportunities to
minister to the Bara.

countryside. Most Bara have

radios and faithfully listen to
broadcasts in the evenings.
Pray for favour with radio
stations so that even in
remote areas people will
have opportunities to hear
Gods word in their homes.

FEBRUARY | FRIDAY

Being able to read

Gods word for ourselves
is something we take for
granted. Pray the church will
take an active part in using
literacy to reach the Bara.
Pray that many Bara will
learn to read in order that
they can know Gods word
for themselves and share it
with others.

FEBRUARY
SATURDAY

God desires every area of

Bara life to be transformed.
Pray for wisdom as believers
grapple with how to respond
to situations in which they
would have previously
followed their ancestors. Pray
for effective discipleship that
addresses issues including
marriage, parenting, health,
stewardship of resources and
care for creation.

FEBRUARY
WEDNESDAY

THE BARA

he Bara live in small

village communities of 50
to 300 people, scattered
across the grasslands of southcentral Madagascar, not very
accessible by road. Much of their
lifestyle revolves around the care
of their cattle and their rice elds.
Download a Bara prayer sheet:
www.aimint.org/eu/bara

Bara people love to listen

to music. Recently, a Bara
musician has begun to write
songs that share Gods story
using the popular musical
style. We hope these songs
can be used for evangelism
and discipleship. Pray for
continued creativity as well
as other musicians to join in
the work.

FEBRUARY
THURSDAY

There are several radio

stations that serve the Bara
area, reaching far into the

WEEKLYFOCUS

ray that God would

prepare Bara hearts
for his message of
love, forgiveness and
hope. Pray for Malagasy
believers to develop a
passion for reaching the
Bara and be intentional
about breaking down
the barriers that have
prevented them from
hearing, understanding
and responding to the
word of God.

February 8-14

AREA
FOCUS:
NORTHERN
REGION
Northern Region
encompasses 18 countries
with a total population of
over 362 million people.
Only 0.05% of this total are
evangelical believers, 90%
are Muslim, 200 million
form 472 unreached people
groups.

WHAT DOES REACHING

THE UNREACHED LOOK
LIKE IN NORTH AFRICA?

any of these countries

have an ancient
Christian history.
Through decadence, politics,
war and Islamic conquest
though, this has been all but
extinguished. Today, they
are buried deep in darkness,
desperately in need of the
light. AIMs vision is to bring
the life-giving light of Jesus to
these unreached people. We
are praying for opportunities
to share the gospel and see
populations of evangelical
believers across this region.
To accomplish this vision
we will find creative ways that
enable followers of Jesus to live
amongst these hard to reach
peoples. We trust that where
the gospel of Jesus Christ is
proclaimed, both in word and

20

We rest on Gods
word that assures
us his plans will
prevail whether
we do the right
thing or not
deed, the result will be disciple
making and church planting
movements, by mission
partners and by Africans.
So what is our strategy?
First is prayer! Secondly, we are
researching every unreached
people group across Northern
Region then, based on that
information we will seek to
place teams where the Lord
opens doors for us to work.
Thirdly, we will focus on caring
for our personnel by providing
clear vision, strategy and
support, under good leadership.
Fourthly, we are seeking to
partner with like-minded
organisations across North
Africa as well as engaging with
the incredible resources of the
African church, so more can
participate in reaching the
unreached in Africa with the
light of Jesus.

OUR CURIOUS
MINDS

or security reasons,
each of this weeks
prayer requests,
representing a country in
Northern Region, have been
randomly assigned a number
instead of printing their
name. As inconvenient as it
is for our curious minds, God
knows exactly which country
that number represents.
Please dont let the lack
of detail keep you from
fervently praying for these
unnamed countries and the
requests provided.

THE COST IS HIGH

The cost will undoubtedly

be high. Jesus reminds us that
though he will never leave us
or forsake us, obedience to him
requires sacrifice and suffering.
We are praying for workers who
are passionate for Christ and his
honour, who are ready to rise to
these challenges by the power of
the Spirit and who are hungry
for the millions who are blind
to come to sight through faith
in Jesus.

Northern Region
encompasses 18
countries with a total
population of over
362 million people.

FEBRUARY | SUNDAY

Praise the Lord for

new work starting in NR10,
opening doors for workers to
be there to proclaim! Please
pray for three new workers
establishing themselves
in this country. Pray as
they immerse themselves
in language and culture
learning in order to clearly
and appropriately share the
truth of Jesus.

FEBRUARY | MONDAY

NR12 continues to try to

find political stability. Pray
that upcoming elections will
be accomplished peacefully
with results that will allow
greater freedom for the
proclamation of truth. The
few believers in one area
of NR12 are not meeting
together regularly as they
fear betrayal. Pray that there
would be unity in the body
and a desire for growth and
spreading of the truth.

10

FEBRUARY
TUESDAY

Ask that God would make a

way for workers to enter and
stay in NR23. Pray against a
spirit of fear. Pray too for the

WEEKLYFOCUS

ray for spiritual,

physical and
emotional health for
our workers, many of
whom live in difficult
environments. Pray
for boldness and
opportunities to proclaim
truth fully and pray that
divine illumination would
take place for those
reading and listening.

Diaspora from this country

who have fled because of
violence, that they may have
more opportunities to hear
truth in different countries
and contexts.

11

FEBRUARY
WEDNESDAY

Pray that the existing

Church in NR6 would catch
a vision for reaching out,
particularly to the unreached
in their own country. Ask
that economic hardship and
political disillusionment
in this country will create
hearts hungry for truth. Pray
too for our workers looking
to settle through various
professional opportunities.

12

FEBRUARY
THURSDAY

Ask that God would allow

for strategic relationships
between our workers and the
young ladies club that has
been established in NR14.
Praise God for a young lady
who has become a Christian
who is involved in this club.
Ask for wisdom in knowing
how to accomplish our
Kingdom business in NR14.

13

FEBRUARY | FRIDAY

Praise God that the

door remains open in NR9,
for opportunities to share
the light in a professional
setting! Pray that the Lord of
the harvest will send out new
workers whom he desires for
this harvest field. Pray for the
professionals and others who
are currently working there.

14

FEBRUARY
SATURDAY

NR8 is considered one of the

most difficult countries for
Christians to live and work
in. Continue to ask God for
wisdom in finding the work
that will allow our workers to
settle in NR8. Ask that God
would send new workers to
go, live and work there!

THE BODY
OF CHRIST IN
ACTION

he book The Insanity of

Obedience by Nik Ripkin
states that there are
three things common in the
conversion process of Muslims:
dreams and visions, significant
encounters with the Bible, and
encounters with local believers
or believers from neighbouring
countries (known as nearculture believers). We have
seen this in action as the Father
has been using near-culture
believers from NR7 to impact
people in NR6, as well as in
other North African countries.
At just the right time an NR7
believer called Abraham*, came
into the lives of our workers
in NR6. We had discovered a
young NR6 believer online,
called Abdul* who had found
Jesus on his own through the
internet. We were able to meet
with Abdul and give him his
first ever copy of the Bible. But
then, Abraham was able to meet
and connect with him in his
heart language in a way that
our workers were unable to. Our
workers, in turn, have been able
to consult and work together
with Abraham as he seeks to get
a business off the ground so he
can stay in NR6. Praise God for
his church, the body of Christ!
*names changed

For a prayer sheet on Creative

Access Nations, visit:
www.aimint.org/eu/
creativeaccess
21

February 15-21

PEOPLE
FOCUS:
THE LOPIT
A PRODIGAL SON
Andrew Chard writes:
In June last year I
was thankful for the
opportunity to spend
some time with the
Training in Ministry
Outreach (TIMO) team
working amongst the
Lopit people of South
Sudan. Reflecting on
that time, there are four
things that particularly
encouraged and inspired
me.

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP
he team leaders,
Joshua & Justina
Musuva are Kenyans
who were members on
the previous Lopit TIMO
team. TIMO has always
had the philosophy of
having national team
members on teams, and
now we are seeing those
team members becoming
team leaders in increasing
numbers. That is fantastic
but what is even more
significant here is that the
Masuvas are team leaders
from Kenya serving in
South Sudan.
22

MULTICULTURAL TEAM

On the team there are

Kenyans (Joshua & Justina
and Robert & Carol),
Brazilians (Guilherme
& Marina), an American
(Ashley) and a New
Zealander (Marlene).
This is a powerful
demonstration of the
diversity of the Church. It
is a very powerful witness
to the Lopit to see believers
working in unity together!

The team is
committed to
sharing the
gospel with the
Lopit. They are
doing exactly
what Paul
wrote
SERVANT HEARTED

I was struck by the

way in which the team
members were proactively
looking for ways to serve
their neighbours and

This past spring, Abel*, decided to

leave the church. However, after
leaving the church, he fell into a
downward spiral of drinking and
quarrelling, ultimately ending
up in jail. Despite the efforts of
church members reaching out
to him, he no longer wanted any
association with the church.

et recently God did something

amazing in his heart. One
night, Abel had a dream of
Jesus, calling him back to himself and
to the church. Disturbed, he woke up
and began praying for several hours,
asking for meaning from God. As he
went back to sleep, Jesus came to him
again in a dream to call him back to
himself. The next day, Abel came to
our team leader to seek forgiveness.
He then came back to the church
to share his testimony and how
he wants to follow Jesus again. He
continues to be excited about reading
Gods word. Abel also continues to
come to church, is active in helping,
and has joined a Bible Study with
Guilherme. Pray for God to continue
to reveal himself to him and help
him, as he wrestles between the Lopit
culture and the life God desires him
to lead.
*name changed
Download a prayer sheet about the
Lopit people in South Sudan:
www.aimint.org/eu/lopit

 LEFT: T
he Lopit inhabit the
Lopit hills in T
orit district, South
Sudan, practise traditional
agriculture and rear livestock.

the wider community.

Some members had started
to cultivate a small allotment
next to their house. This
allotment not only provides
vegetables for their own
family but also produces
enough seedlings to give to
their Lopit neighbours so
that they too can plant and
have extra food for their
families.

GOSPEL FOCUS

The team is committed

to sharing the gospel with
the Lopit. They are doing
exactly what Paul wrote in 1
Thessalonians 2:8, not only
sharing the gospel with
their lips (in the Lopit heart
language) but with their lives
as well. This is a powerful
way to share; not an easy
way, but a very effective way.
Their work is happening
in the context of instability
and conflict in South Sudan
so please continue to pray
for that nation as well as for
great gospel opportunities
and much fruit among this
people group who are dearly
loved by our Lord.

15

FEBRUARY | SUNDAY

Pray for the Musuvas role

as team leaders in guiding and
supporting the team through
the TIMO curriculum and in
their ministries. Pray that they
may establish relationships with
both Lopit villages, Ibonni and
Ohilang. Also, please pray for
their three children schooling
in Kenya and one being home
schooled in Ohilang.

16

FEBRUARY | MONDAY

Pray for the teams health.

Life in the bush has its challenges
and physical, emotional and
spiritual consequences. Were
so thankful for the way the Lord
has been taking care of us, but
we need people praying and
supporting us here.

17

FEBRUARY | TUESDAY

Ohilang village suffers

with a lack of good leaders and
consequently disrespectful
youth decide for themselves
what would be the best way of
life for them.Tradition plays a
big role to Lopit people and the
difference between generations
is a challenge for the villages.
Pray that we may develop good
relationships in the village and
a better understanding of the
language and culture.

ray for the team as

they have started their
ministry work in a variety
of areas. Pray for Gods
guidance each day and that
through all things Gods
glory will be seen. Pray for
the softening of the Lopits
hearts that they may come
to a saving relationship with
their Creator.

Guilherme has
started a Bible
study with men
who have been
involved
in the school, that they may build
good relationships with students
and fellow teachers and share
Christs love with them.

18

20

19

21

FEBRUARY
WEDNESDAY

Guilherme has started a Bible

study with men who have been
involved with the church here.
Their first meeting was great
and six men came to study
the Bible together. Pray for
full understanding and open
hearts and pray for wisdom
for Guilherme as he gives the
studies.

FEBRUARY
THURSDAY

Joshua & Justina from Kenya

are the Lopit TIMO team leaders.
They both studied at the AIC
Missionary College in Eldoret.

WEEKLYFOCUS

Pray for Marlenes language

learning as she teaches the
young children at a local school,
and that she may communicate
effectively. Please also pray for
Carol and Marlene as they work

FEBRUARY | FRIDAY

Pray that the Lord opens

doors to share Christ and that
the community sees the love
of Christ as Robert works with
them in their farms. Pray too for
Ashley as she works in the local
clinic. Pray for wisdom on how
she can support and motivate
clinic staff as well find ways to
educate them on health/medical
issues.

FEBRUARY | SATURDAY

Pray for Marinas ministry

in art education through Bible
stories for kids. Her first meeting
was really good and many
children came. Pray that the
Holy Spirit will really talk to
these kids and transform their
hearts.

23

February 22-28

MINISTRY
FOCUS:
HEALTHCARE
Zillah Whitehouse has lived
in Mbarara, Uganda since
2009, working in the
Physiotherapy Department
at the local hospital and
university. Here she
talks about some of the
positive changes that have
happened to her since
coming to live in Uganda.

St Lukes Chapel, the large

Anglican church on the
university campus, attended
by about 300 students. My
life is a busy mix of lecture
planning and teaching,
meeting with students, time
with friends and speaking at
church.
In the course of a
conversation with a friend
A RECENT
recently, I was asked whether
CONVERSATION
I had changed positively since
work as a member of the
Physiotherapy Department coming to live in Uganda. It
was a good challenge. These
at the local hospital and
were some of the answers I
university, developing and
gave her as I reflected on my
teaching a degree course in
Physiotherapy. I also attend
life as a mission partner.

22

FEBRUARY
SUNDAY

Pray for humility

among the AIM South
West Uganda Team.
Praise God for good
friends and partners in
Mbarara who can speak
into our lives and work.
Pray that we will always
seek to be mentored and
discipled by those we
work with.

23

FEBRUARY
MONDAY

Pray for St Lukes

Chapel. Praise God for
the godly leadership of
Reverend Polly and his

team. Please pray for

the identification of a
new chaplain to replace
Polly on his retirement
and for all the students
who juggle leadership
roles along with their
studies.

24

FEBRUARY
TUESDAY

Pray for the hospital

physiotherapy
department. Praise God
for the hard working
and caring approach the
staff take. Please pray
for them as they contend
with limited staffing
and space constrictions

Healthcare professionals are

often privileged to share in peoples
most critical life events: birth, illness
and death.

that prevent them from

providing the service
they wish to.

25

FEBRUARY
WEDNESDAY

Pray for the university

physiotherapy
department. Praise God
for progress so far and
a team which desires to
invest in individuals not
just academics. Please
pray for more staff and
that we will be good
witnesses and mentors
to our students. Please
pray particularly for
Herman who heads the
department.

26

FEBRUARY
THURSDAY

Please pray for the

physiotherapy students
that they will develop
a joy for the profession
and that the Christian
students will be excited
by how they can be
used for God through
their work. Praise God
for the compassionate
care of patients already
demonstrated by
the pioneer students
and pray for the
development of a good
career pathway for these
students.

POSITIVELY CHANGED

Improved recognition
of my sinful nature - I
have realised that some
of my fruit of the spirit
characteristics were
behaviours learnt from
godly parents and mentors,
not actually from a changed
heart. In a different culture
I realised how I can be
impatient and lacking in
self control. Now I can work
on this and be increasingly
thankful for Gods grace.

People here
are great
at doing life
together, doors
are open and
problems are
shared.
Improved ability to share
my life - people here are
great at doing life together,
doors are open and
problems are shared. This

WEEKLY
FOCUS

lease pray
that all of us in
Mbarara, the AIM
team, our church
partners, university
and hospital
colleagues, the
university students
and graduates,
will be constantly
transformed into the
likeness of Christ
and be challenged to
continue developing
our role in Gods
worldwide mission.

has helped my ability to be a

disciple as well as to disciple.
I pray that God will use the
different relationships I
have to build up the others
in the same way I am being
built up.
Improved ability to
talk about God openly - it
is definitely easier to talk
about God here because
the majority of people
recognise he exists! It has
been good practice for me
to speak more freely in
lectures, in one-to-ones
with students, with patients
and in conversations with
friends.
The AIM team here are
seeking to work with local
churches, like St Lukes, to
see students discipled and
embrace their part in Gods
mission. It is our prayer
that some will be called to
unreached people groups
across Africa. I realise that
my own part in that can only
be possible if I am willing
to share my life, recognise
my own need for God and
openly talk about him.

27

FEBRUARY
FRIDAY

Pray for the Vineyard

Fellowship, a group
made up of the nonstudents in St Lukes.
Praise God for the many
ways in which the
members are seeking to
serve him in their daily
lives. Pray for us as we
develop better support
for the student leaders

See People & Places p15

Follow the index for more
info on mission partners
working in healthcare.
www.aimint.org/eu/
peopleandplaces

HELPING THE
HEALERS

fter a hard days work what

could be better than sitting
down with your Granny,
sipping tea and looking at the stars
as the moon rises? Life in Chad is
often hard, and working at Bebalem
Hospital presents more than its fair
share of challenges for Catherine
Grier. But Granny Rebecca provides
a support network and a place to be,
away from the busyness of work.
Catherine shares: Granny prays for
me, feeds me and is always there for
me. After a church meeting or Bible
study, we can open the Bible together
and encourage each other. We do this
in Ngambai too, so not only am I built
up in my faith and life, Im learning
more of the local language, as we
spend time together.

and seek to develop

good two-way discipling
relationships.

28

FEBRUARY
SATURDAY

Pray for the South

West Uganda team
as there are many
changes in personnel
and leadership. Please
pray for us as we seek
to explore how we can
be more involved in
outreach to unreached
people groups (both
in Mbarara and
further afield) and in
encouraging others to
do the same.

25

 A Christian
version of a
traditional
service for a rite
of passage.

March 1-7

PEOPLE
FOCUS:
THE ALAGWA

STANDS FIRM
IN HIS FAITH

e thank God for a family of local

believers. The husband, Joel*, is
Alagwa, and has many relatives in
the area. It has been encouraging particularly to
see Joel grow in his relationship with Jesus and
in his witness. He is illiterate and had struggled
to understand the Swahili Bible, and therefore
some aspects of his faith. Some of the team have
been discipling him and his wife for a few years,
reading from the Swahili Bible, but also using
the Bible stories in Alagwaisa. They received an
audio Bible this July and have listened avidly to
it since. Joel has now heard the whole Bible. He
quotes it and applies it to his own life and the
lives of others in his community.
In August, they hosted a Christian version of
a traditional service for a rite of passage. It was
risky; would the neighbours join in knowing
it was a Christian service? They did, and it was
a wonderful example of culture redeemed
and Gods love shared. One relative of Joels is
a religious leader, and persistently asks him
difficult questions to try to convert him back
to Islam. However, he has recently said he has
given up trying because Joel just stands firm in
his faith.

*name changed

Download a prayer sheet on the unreached

Alagwa of Tanzania:
www.aimint.org/eu/alagwa
26

Owen & Miriam Pugh and their children,

returned to Ga/ara last September
to continue their work amongst the
unreached Alagwa. Here they share about
fitting back in, the spiritual atmosphere
and new opportunities

THE SAME THINGS

any things are the same; the same

neighbours, the same house. We
had an amazing welcome home,
including a number of retellings of the
(true) story of what happened when they
discovered we had gone to England and left
our back door wide open (oops, nothing
changes there, then). The story includes a
gang of neighbours, sticks brandished in
case of intruders, the elders being called, a
padlock borrowed to secure our door. We are
grateful for our loving community, and it is
certainly good to be back. Nearly the whole
team is back, and we are still meeting weekly
to encourage one another and pray together.
Also, we continue to learn by our
mistakes, such as choosing thorns to guard
our rainwater tank pipes. It turns out the
thorns are a type that is taboo to lay near
ones house who knew?

THE DIFFERENT THINGS

But things are also different. We now

have two children in Ga/ara full time
and two sharing their time between
Rift Valley Academy, Kenya and Ga/ara.
Its an adjustment. This is on top of the

readjustment of leaving our family and

friends after being with them for ten
months. We dearly love them and are
built up by them.
Things also seem different in the
spiritual atmosphere. More people
seem open to talk about Jesus, and ask
more questions. As a team we feel it
is a good time to focus on prayer into
seeking opportunities to intentionally
share the gospel in conversations and
by sharing the Alagwaisa Bible stories.
Opposition is still very present, seen
and unseen, and we need your prayers;
we know this is Gods work, and any
victories are his, not ours.
The routine is different too. The
chance to reflect on three years of
Training in Ministry Outreach (TIMO)
has given us confidence in God and a
fresh perspective on our community.

MARCH | SUNDAY

Please pray for the

ministries of the whole team;
in agriculture, education
and Chronological Bible
Storying, as well as the
ongoing relationships and
community involvement.
Pray that we would be guided
by God in every decision,
and that the projects would
always serve the grand
project of sharing Jesus.

We have
shared with
many people
and have seen
that it is only
by Gods Spirit
that people can
know him.

MARCH | MONDAY

Two of the Pugh children are in Ga/ara

full time with the older two split between
Rift Valley Academy in Kenya and Ga/ara.

THE NEW THINGS

Post-TIMO, there is also no

curriculum, leaving more time for
projects. Owen is starting to farm
using the conservation principles of
Farming Gods Way. It is challenging
introducing something different here,
as people are very set in their ways,
both spiritually and physically. Owen
is encountering many reactions to
the plot that he is preparing for the
rainy season. These include ridicule,
confusion and non-committal interest
in a lets-see-how-this-works-out
way. The theme of perseverance is
applicable in every area of our lives.
In all, we are thankful to God for
the chance to join him in sharing
his message of eternal love with the
Alagwa; for another chance to work
and witness amongst these precious
people who so badly need Jesus.

Please pray for many

Alagwa hearts to be open
to the good news of Jesus.
We have shared with many
people and have seen that it
is only by Gods Spirit that
people can know him.

and are sharing and also

growing in their faith. Pray
for their hearts to be on fire
to share the gospel with
those around them.

MARCH | THURSDAY

Pray for the believers

and the church in Madebe.
Pray for their growth and
continued discipleship.
Thank God for the ways they
are growing and learning to
share their faith. Pray that
Gods mission to the world
will be in the DNA of the
church.

MARCH | FRIDAY

Pray for the local

religious leaders, some of
whom are actively engaging
in sometimes aggressive
conversations with team
members. Pray that as they
hear about Jesus, they will
come to know and love him.

MARCH | SATURDAY

Pray for us as a family,

and for our teammates, that
as we work we keep a good
balance between work and
rest and so continue to seek
to serve God with all our
heart, mind, strength and
soul.

MARCH | TUESDAY

Please pray for us as a

family as our children are
in different places. Pray
for good communication
between us in Ga/ara,
Tanzania and our children
in Kijabe, Kenya with the
challenges of bad network
and coordinating schedules!
Pray for the staff at the Rift
Valley Academy as they
support and nurture all the
children and young people
in their care.

MARCH | WEDNESDAY

Please pray for the new

teachers in the Madebe
Primary School. Some have
joined the church here

WEEKLYFOCUS

lease pray for courage

for those in the
community who want to
follow Jesus. One lady
was told by her brother
that he would beat her in
front of her children if she
decided to follow Jesus.
All those choosing to
follow Jesus face the real
possibility of rejection by
family and community.

March 8-14

MINISTRY
FOCUS:
AFRICA BASED
SERVICES
AIM Air is apart of Africa
Based Services. This is just
one story where AIM pilot,
Mike Palmiter was willing to
serve even when that meant
ending up in prison.

REFLECTIONS ON A PILOT
IN PRISON

Trust in the Lord and do good;

dwell in the land and enjoy safe
pasture. Psalm 37:3
everend Jean-Baptiste
shared these verses
with Wendy Atkins as
they waited for Mike Palmiter
to return from detention in
Bangui. Wendy shares, These
verses remind me that God

MARCH
SUNDAY

Pray for wisdom and

strength for Mark Judy,
Africa Based Services
(ABS) Director as he
oversees the many
ministries of ABS and
also serves as Interim
AIM Air Manager.
Pray for wisdom for
Terri (Marks wife) as
she provides member
care to the spouses and
families serving in ABS.

28

brings along brothers in

Christ to help us in the middle
of difficult times. I praise our
Father for this experience and
for the church in Bangui to
demonstrate love to a brother
because of their common
faith.

SO HOW DID A PILOT END

UP IN PRISON?

AIM were in Central

African Republic to facilitate
the training of 37 church
leaders in a Bible-based
method of healing the
wounds of trauma. We went,
compelled by the love of God
to minister to his people.

MARCH
MONDAY

The search for a new

ABS Director is in
process as Mark and
Terri will complete
their term of service
early in 2016. Pray for
discernment as the
ABS Board seeks Gods
leading regarding a new
Director.

10

MARCH
TUESDAY

The team in ABS

Finance handle
hundreds of financial
transactions each day
for personnel from AIM
and other like-minded
missions. Pray for daily
keenness of mind and
continued great team
work within the ABS
Finance Department.

See People & Places p15

Follow the index key for more info on mission partners
working in support.

11

MARCH
WEDNESDAY

ABS Finance is also

spearheading the
process to renew AIM
Internationals Tax
Exempt Status in Kenya.
This is an intense,
time-consuming
process but vital for
AIM entities based in
Kenya to continue to
function as charitable
organisations. Please
pray for wisdom as they
deal with government
authorities.

However, flying into

CAR was complicated
for various reasons; the
insecurity throughout the
country, the lack of a strong,
central government and very
few US Embassy personnel
on the ground in Bangui. On
arrival, AIMs pilot, Mike, was
asked for documentation
that he didnt have with
him. Documentation that he
didnt need to have. And then,
correctly, he refused to pay a
bribe.

on my behalf with all the

officials. He stayed with me at
night when they took us to a
warehouse-type building and
checked us in. There was a
fire burning on the floor, but
no lights, water, toilets, beds
or power.
A day of meetings and
arguments followed. The
US Embassy staff came and
tried to help but ultimately
we got nowhere. I wouldnt
pay a bribe; they wouldnt let
me go. Another night at the
warehouse. This time, Daniel
Aniwe, the Pastor of the
church in Bangui, checked in
with us and brought food.
The morning dawned and
Dsir and Daniel supported
me as we met with yet more
officials. This time we had
a breakthrough and found
someone who wanted to
uphold the law. We were freed
and told to forget the whole
INCREDIBLE PARTNERS
incident. All of it, over, just
That meant spending
like that.
the night in an abandoned
Much of my life as a pilot is
shipyard police post on the
about serving and supporting
river. Mike shares, Thankfully,
mission. This incident showed
Dsir Mboligassie, a church
me what incredible partners
leader in CAR, was with me
we serve.
in the airport advocating

That meant
spending the
night in an
abandoned
shipyard police
post on the river.

WEEKLY
FOCUS

ray this week

for Africa Based
Services (ABS). ABS
works mostly out
of Nairobi, Kenya
providing a portion of
the support services
necessary for our
mission, covering
AIM Air, Finance, On
Field Media (OFM),
AIM Care, Personnel
& Human Resources
and Mayfield
Guesthouse.

12

MARCH
THURSDAY

Pray for grace for each

of our ABS personnel
to walk closely with
the Lord each day. Pray
for wisdom for our
Personnel Coordinator
as she oversees the many
details of receiving
and caring for AIM
Personnel serving with
ABS and our Human
Resource Department
who oversee the many
details of caring for the
employed staff.

13

MARCH
FRIDAY

MISSION TO
MISSIONARIES

ission couldnt
happen without
support services.
In fact, our International
Director likens the work of
support services to being
like the shaft of a spear.
Mission partners on the
field are like the tip of a
spear, unable to be effective
without the shaft. In
equipping mission partners
for the field or caring for
them whilst they are there,
AIMs support services form
a vital part of our vision of
reaching the unreached in
Africa with the gospel.
Africa Based Services
(ABS) working largely out
of Nairobi, Kenya provides
a portion of the support
services necessary for our
work.

The need for a full

time AIM Air manger
is increasingly urgent.
Please pray for Gods
provision of the right
person soon. Pray for
the current team as
they continue to fill
the gap. As always,
pray for wisdom and
strength for the team
that ensures the many
details necessary for
safe flights are in place
for every flight.

14

MARCH
SATURDAY

Pray especially for

the personnel and
operations at AIM Airs
two Out of Nairobi
Bases: Lokichogio,
Kenya (providing air
support to northern
Kenya and South Sudan)
and Arua, Northern
Uganda (providing air
support to CAR, parts of
Congo, South Sudan).

29

March 15-21

COUNTRY
FOCUS:
UGANDA

MEET THE GIBSON

CHILDREN

OUR LIVES AS WELL

Paul & Di Allcock say; we have just returned
to Mbarara in the south-west of Uganda for
a second short term spell serving in this
beautiful country. So why are we going back?

t was only a few months into our first year

that we became convinced that the Lord
would want us to stay in Mbarara beyond
our initial commitment of one year. The Lord
quickly gave us relationships with Ugandans
alongside the work we were doing in giving
support and pastoral care to the AIM team. Many
of these Ugandan brothers and sisters expressed
a great enthusiasm to meet with us and to study
the Bible together and this has been a great
joy for us. As we shared in their lives we grew to
love them and to see the value of coming back to
continue this work. We have truly experienced
what Paul expresses in 1Thessalonians 2:8:
Because we loved you so much, we were
delighted to share with you not only the gospel
of God but our lives as well.
We pray that this second stage will be even
more fruitful than the first as the Lord leads and
equips us.
30

he Gibson family live and work in

Kampala, Uganda. We asked
Ruby (9); Jessica (7) and Florence (4)
their thoughts on living in Uganda.

WHERE DO YOU
LIVE? CAN YOU
DESCRIBE IT FOR
US?
R: In Makindye,
Kampala. There
are lots of friendly
people. We have a
nice garden. We have
four pets.
F: I like our cat,
Ginger.
J: We grow bananas in our garden.

WHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE?

R: Matoke is horrible! But I like beans with
chapatti. Mango, pineapple and passion fruit
are good if its not too sour.
J: I love matoke and beans! Salad is nice too.
Small bananas are great.
F: I like beans! I like apples and mangoes too.

WHATS IT LIKE LIVING IN ANOTHER

COUNTRY, TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT
JESUS?
J: Weird, I am shy.
R: Good, when people listen.

WHAT IS SCHOOL LIKE?

R: Very good, especially the food!
J: I like my teacher.
F: I like the toys and my friends.

15

MARCH | SUNDAY

The Focus team

in Tororo in the East of
Uganda are working
closely with SMILE, a
childrens centre ran by Pr
Ruth, a godly Ugandan lady
for whom we are thankful.
Pray for the team as they
grow together as a team
and disciple children,
young people and widows
in the community.

16

MARCH | MONDAY

DO YOU GO TO CHURCH?
R: Yes we go to Kampala International
Church (KIC)
F: I like Sunday school

WHAT DO YOU GET ASKED MOST BY

FRIENDS AND FAMILY AT HOME?
R: Do you like school and is it hot all the
time in Uganda?
J: What is it like in Uganda?

WHERE DO
YOU WANT TO
LIVE IN THE
FUTURE?
J: America
F: England
R: Lots of places

Matoke
is horrible!
But I like
beans with
chapatti.

DO YOU
HAVE ANY
FAVOURITE BIBLE VERSES OR
STORIES?

R: Jesus speaking to Saul on the road to

Damascus, when he lost his sight then
became Paul.
J: Noahs ark
F: Joseph and his coloured coat.

See People & Places p4-5

For more information on mission partners
working in Uganda
www.aimint.org/eu/peopleandplaces

In Kampala we are
thankful for missional
minded men and women
who run Global Link
Afrika, an organisation
that hopes to mobilize the
church to missions. Pray
for a conference planned
by them for August 2015 to
envision church leaders on
missions.

17

MARCH | TUESDAY

In South West
Uganda AIM has worked
closely with the university
and hospital. This has
opened up many doors to
come alongside students
and young professionals.
Pray for more opportunities
to disciple and equip these
people to share Christ in
their workplaces and across
cultures.

WEEKLY
FOCUS

IM has been in
Uganda for many
years now and God
has blessed us with
strong partnerships with
national organisations
and churches. Give
thanks with us for
these and for the godly
leaders we work with.
Join us in prayer that
God would mobilise the
church in Uganda for
missions.

18

MARCH
WEDNESDAY

North Uganda is a new

AIM unit with new unit
leaders. This is a large
unit stretching across the
north of the country and
part of the east. The new
unit leaders are passionate
about developing more
national partnerships.
Pray for these discussions
to bear much fruit for
effective ministry in these
areas.

19

MARCH
THURSDAY

The Ssese Islands are a

dark, needy and hurting
place, HIV and Aids figures
are extremely high. The
team there work in HIV and
AIDS education and seek
to equip church leaders for
this task. In the midst of the
darkness we are thankful
for the stars that do shine.

20

MARCH | FRIDAY

The Church of
Uganda has had, and
continues to have, a big
influence in the country.
One third of the people
in Uganda are Church
of Uganda members or
affiliated with them. Give
thanks for the far reaching
impact of the church and
pray for more godly leaders
to be raised to impact the
nation for Christ.

21

MARCH
SATURDAY

We are praying for

opportunities to reach
the unreached in Uganda.
There is a large Hindu
population of mainly
South East Asians which
accounts for approximately
40% of the economy. They
are largely unreached so
pray for more workers to
serve amongst them, both
missionaries and nationals.

March 22-31

SHORT TERM

AFRICA BASED
ORIENTATION

IMs Long-Term
missionaries begin
their service with
a three-week Africa Based
Orientation (ABO). While
parents enjoy the adult
orientation, their children also
enjoy a structured programme
designed to immerse them
into life and ministry in Africa
at an age-appropriate level.
Helping with the childrens
programme is a great
opportunity for short termers
to serve the long term work
amongst the peoples of Africa.
AIMs Short Term programme
offers anyone over the age
of 18 the opportunity to get
involved with cross-cultural
mission in Africa. Find out more
about opportunities online:
www.synergyafrica.com
32

In the middle of her

law degree at Durham
University, Mariel Nonis
chose to spend her summer
break exploring her calling
to mission, working with
the children at AIMs
Africa Based Orientation
and then spending time in
Marsabit, Kenya with Anna
Kloninger.

LEARNING ABOUT LONG

TERM

was first convicted

to give up my life for
the gospel about six
years ago. Since then my
understanding of the gospel
and missions has deepened,
especially as I have pursued
opportunities to grow in this
area of ministry. About five
months of correspondence
with different missionary
organisations, and many
opened and closed doors, led
me to AIM and a trip to Kenya.
The process of waiting was a
really significant part of the
journey, and Im thankful for
the lessons in trust that it
gave me.

But it was
wonderful
to know that
through serving
families in this
way, God was
using me in the
greater cause of
missions.
The summer of 2014
found me in Kenya with
the hope of sharpening my
understanding of overseas
mission, learning from
mission partners and of
getting a feel for what mission
is actually like on the field. I
knew that being in the midst
of mission partners, each with
their different stories, would
fan the flames that God had
placed in my heart.

SERVING FAMILIES

The opportunity that arose

through AIM was to help run
the childrens programme

 North Kenya, Marsabit: Mariel Nonis

had the opportunity to travel to the North,
to help out in a churchs teens camp.

22

MARCH | SUNDAY

Tom Lott is currently

overseeing the running of the
Short Term programme with
Rosemary Rettie helping out
with administration. Pray for
them as they work together to
organise placements for those
being called to serve with AIM
for 12 months or less.

23

MARCH | MONDAY

Caroline Bell is serving

in Adi, DR Congo alongside
Annemarie Boks, treating
people with HIV/Aids. Pray for
Caroline as she gets to grips
with language in order to build
meaningful relationships with
her patients and seeks to share
the love of Christ in word and
deed.

24

MARCH | TUESDAY

for new missionaries

going through the Africa
Based Orientation (ABO). The
point of the programme was
to equip both parents and
children for the work that
God had called them to do.
Working with children can
be a scary thing. Most of the
work I did was trying to keep
toddlers attention spans
for more than a minute,
distracting them from crying,
and changing their nappies.
But it was wonderful to
know that through serving
families in this way, God
was using me in the greater
cause of missions. In the
long run as well, I was so
blessed to get to know the
mission partners there, to
hear the kind of work they
were doing in North Africa,
Mozambique, Uganda, Kenya
and Madagascar and to
see how wide the scope of
mission really is. From the
family moving to work

Now is the time of year

when many students and young
people contact us wanting to
use the time they have in their
summer holidays to serve in
some way. Pray as we work with
these enquirers to discern how
God might have them use their
summer holidays serving him.

25

MARCH
WEDNESDAY

Ruth Willis returned earlier this

month from Kenya following a
year serving at Kijabe Hospital.
Pray, as she adjusts to life in
the UK and seeks to process
all that she has seen and done
in the last 12 months, that she
would continue to know Gods
presence with her.

26

MARCH | THURSDAY

Paul & Diana Allcock

are over halfway through
their 2nd year serving as part
of AIMs team in Mbarara,
Uganda. As well as looking
after the team pastorally they
also work with the local church
to teach, train and encourage
leaders in their ministry.
Pray for them as they seek to
support our team and local
church leaders.

 Mariel Nonis helped run the childrens programme at Africa

Based Orientation (ABO) for new long term mission partners.

ONE SMALL
DESK HOP

ello, my name is
Tom Lott and I am
the new Short Term
Coordinator for AIM Europe.
I am stepping into Amy
Birwistles shoes whilst she is
on maternity leave for the next
twelve months. I have been at
AIM for the past six months
working as the Personnel
Administrator. So it is one
small desk hop, but one giant
leap into a new adventure for
me. I am excited to start this
new role and to see what God
has got planned over the next
twelve months for the Short
Term Programme. If you are
interested in serving short
term in Africa, feel free to
contact me. stc.eu@aimint.org

PEOPLE &
PLACES

f youd like more

information about the
current Short Termers
serving in Africa with AIM,
view and download the Short
Term People & Places from our
website:
Short Term People & Places can
be found online at:
aimint.org/eu/shortterm
34

on IT services for mission

partners, the lady pilot,
teachers of missionary kids
in RVA, to the many doing
the slow, often lonely, work of
living among locals to reach
them with the gospel, I saw
the love of God and the joy of
serving him through these
amazing people. Such an
experience is irreplaceable.

FOR THE GLORIOUS

CAUSE

God also gave me the

chance to live with Anna
Kloninger in Marsabit, to
experience her life in rural
Kenya and to help in her
churchs teens camp. Having
spent the first half of my trip
mostly with non-Africans, it
was very different being in
a town with a grand total of
four of us among the peering
eyes of local Kenyans. It was
here that I wrestled more with
my personal willingness to
serve in a different culture,
having seen firsthand the
struggles of loneliness and
isolation that some have to
go through for the glorious
cause of missions. And
glorious it still is, in spite of

having seen
firsthand the
struggles of
loneliness and
isolation that
some have to go
through for the
glorious cause
of missions.
my own weakness which I
felt keenly in Marsabit. For
we are the fragrance of Christ
among those who are being
saved and among those who
are perishing And who is
sufficient for these things?
As the Lord continues to lead
me in my personal journey
of sanctification for his glory,
Im thankful for his abundant
grace. But Im also thankful
that he has taught me what
sacrificial going looks like in
the lives of my brothers and
sisters in Africa, and that he
charges me to send just as
sacrificially until he bids me
go.

A training room has been set

up in the AIM headquarters there
and the first course will begin in
April 2015. I was working to help
create the literature to promote
the course and the necessary
carry on this work among their
application forms.
own people and abroad.
Presenting the literature posed
I have been involved in
another
challenge because of
this very exciting venture in
the
translations
that had taken
Antananarivo, Madagascar,
place. The result was that there
working with mission partners
to develop a training course that were often twice as many words
as the English version, so some
can be used well and easily by
redesigning was necessary.
Malagasy believers. Setting this
For me this experience has
up was quite an undertaking as
the mission partners were having been a reminder that with Gods
help nothing is impossible. To
to write the training course
see how mission partners are
in English to begin with and
approaching this challenge is a
then translate it into Malagasy.
real inspiration, I could clearly
Some mission partners are from
feel Gods presence through the
countries where English is not
way that they are tackling this
their first language and one of
initiative. I feel very privileged to
my roles was to help prepare
be involved in this project at such
the initial English version with
an embryonic stage.
them.
LEFT: The missionary training
course is due to start in April 2015.
Shipping containers have been
converted into small classrooms.

SERVING A
GREATER GOAL
Emma Foxall has been
serving at AIMs office in
Antananarivo, Madagascar.
She shares with us one
exciting project shes been
involved with

he vision of AIMs mission

partners in Madagascar
is not only to teach about
and show the love of Jesus, its
to equip Christian nationals to

27

MARCH
FRIDAY

WEEKLY
FOCUS

t is our prayer that

each Short Termers
experience with
AIM would begin a
long term interest
in mission, either
through serving or
sending. A number
of our Short Termers
have expressed an
interest in future long
term service. Pray
for each individual
person to determine
what God might be
calling them to.

AIMs desire is to have

all of our Short Termers
working alongside
and supporting long
term ministries, using
their unique gifts and
skills to meet needs
identified by our Long
Term mission partners.
Pray as we work in
partnership with those
serving in Africa to
meet the needs they
flag up.

28

MARCH
SATURDAY

Sarah McArthur,
Bethany Sinclair and
Gnter Springer are
currently serving in
Bunia, DR Congo,
teaching English to
church leaders. Good
resources in this
location can often be
difficult to come by, so

pray they would be able

to make use of what
they have around them
to establish a good and
useful programme.

29

MARCH
SUNDAY

Today another session

of Europe Based
Orientation begins for
those preparing to serve
with us in the next few
months. Pray for each
of the attendees that
they will enjoy sharing
fellowship together and
that they will learn lots
as they prepare for their
assignment.

30

MARCH
MONDAY

In February, Emma
Foxall returned from
Madagascar where
she spent six months
serving in the AIM
Office whilst the Office

Administrator took
home assignment.
Emmas assignment is
a great demonstration
of how Short Termers
can support long term
ministries. Pray for
Emma as she processes
all she has learnt and
been involved in during
her assignment.

31

MARCH
TUESDAY

One of last years Short

Termers who served as
part of a ten day team
to a Creative Access
Nation, is hoping to join
a TIMO Quest team this
summer to the Indian
Ocean Islands. The four
week experience will
give a taste of life on a
TIMO team. Pray that
this experience would
help her to discern
Gods direction for her
future.

Opportunities to serve

REACHING THE
UNREACHED IK

Africa Inland Missions

JAN-MAR 2015

MAGAZINE & PRAYER DIARY

Christ-centred churches among all African peoples

European headquarters
Aim International
Halifax Place
Nottingham NG1 1QN
United Kingdom
0115 9838 120
admin.eu@aimint.org
@aimeurope
fb.com/aimeurope
Scotland
0115 8242202
scotland.eu@aimint.org
South England/Wales
0115 8242205
south.eu@aimint.org
Ireland
0115 8242203
ireland.eu@aimint.org
North England/Wales
0115 8242204
north.eu@aimint.org
French speaking
france.eu@aimint.org
Netherlands
netherlands.eu@aimint.org
Editor | Lindsey Davies
communications.eu
@aimint.org

re you passionate about seeing gospel

centred church communities planted
amongst the unreached?
AIM are seeking to place both a Training in Ministry
Outreach (TIMO) team and short term team amongst
the Ik. If you or someone you know is interested, visit:

WWW.AIMINT.ORG/EU/IK

Design | Joe Morgan

graphics.eu@aimint.org
AIM Europe | January 2015
Africa Inland Mission International, a company limited by
guarantee (04598557), a registered charity in England
and Wales (1096364) and a charity registered in Scotland
(SC037594) Registered Office: Halifax Place Nottingham
NG1 1QN.

eu.aimint.org