Africa Inland Missions

JULY-SEPT 2015

MAGAZINE & PRAYER DIARY

04
WHY BOTHER
WITH CHILDREN &
YOUNG PEOPLE?
14
CHANGE IN CHAD
MOVING TO REACH
THE UNREACHED
32
EXPLORE SHORT TERM
THE PERSONAL IMPACT

Christ-centred churches among all African peoples

04 WHY BOTHER
WITH CHILDREN
& YOUTH?
What role does ministry amongst
young people have in terms of
mobilisation for mission or as
mission in itself?

04 WHY BOTHER: WITH

CHILDREN & YOUTH?
We look at the importance
of children & youth
ministries in mission and
mobilising.

06 NEWS

The Pugh family shares

news of baptisms amongst
the Alagwa of Tanzania.

08 JULY 1-4

We share information
on the Karimojong, an
unreached people group in
Uganda.

10 JULY 5-11

Graeme & Eli Mallett

discuss their thoughts on
community development.

12 JULY 12-18

We share about the work

of the Communications
Department.

14 JULY 19-25

Information from Rwanda

about literacy and
language ministries.

20 AUGUST 9-15

A small photo essay

about the Antakarana of
Madagascar.

22 AUGUST 16-22

Read about how were

reaching the unreached in
South Sudan.

14 CHANGE IN
CHAD: REACHING
THE UNREACHED
Two doctors share about their
decision to move to eastern Chad to
reach the unreached Maba.

24 AUGUST 23-29

Claire Weddell shares about

church development
ministry in Mozambique.

26 AUGUST 30 - 5 SEPT
Gilles & Myriam Bonvallat
share about mobilising in
francophone Europe.

28 SEPTEMBER 6-12

Prayer points and family

focus from the shepherd
team in Lesotho.

32 EXPLORE
SHORT TERM: THE
PERSONAL IMPACT

Prayer points from Chad

with news of an exciting
new ministry amongst the
unreached.

30 SEPTEMBER 13-19

What does Short Term mission in

DR Congo and Madagascar have in
common? The impact to change lives.

16 JULY 26 - 1 AUGUST

32 SEPTEMBER 20-30

Looking for more prayer resources?

Visit our website:

Will you be part of sending

a team to the Ik of Uganda?
2

18 AUGUST 2-8

A snapshot of life
amongst the Sakalava in
Madagascar.
Our Short Termers share
about their work in Africa.

www.aimint.org/eu/prayer

WHO IS THE
GREATEST?
by Joe Morgan

UPTURNED GREATNESS

he unreached Karimojong people in northeast

Uganda (page 8) traditionally believe that all the
cattle in the world are their property, which goes
some way to explaining why they are constantly
raiding herds in neighbouring countries. You see, for the
Karimojong, greatness is tied up with being a successful raid
warrior, increasing your herd, and building a cattle empire.
But lets not forget that no matter where we live, the values
of obtaining greatness are often very similar. Greatness
is about human endeavour, accomplishment and status.
However, when the disciples ask Jesus, Who is the greatest
in the kingdom of heaven? (Matthew 18:1), Jesus doesnt
call a great warrior or someone with great academic success,
as you might expect. Jesus calls the most vulnerable,
unaccomplished, statusless person he knows a child.

THE GREATEST STATUS

Along with our weekly prayer focus on the peoples,

ministries and countries of Africa, we are also briefly
focusing on children & young people (page 4). Currently,
47% of Africa is under the age of 18, with that figure expected
to greatly increase over the next few decades. Many have
concerns for the maturity of Africa as the average age drops.
Concerns about its weakness, its ability to develop and
potential to be as great as it could be. But lets not forget how
Jesus responds to the disciples. Truly, I say to you, unless
you turn and become like children, you will never enter the
kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child
is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3).
Please join us in praying that as the population of Africa gets
younger, they would indeed put a humble childlike trust in
Jesus; as they feel more vulnerable, they would always look
and depend on their heavenly Father; and when they think
they have nothing to their name, they will remember that
through Jesus Christ, they are a child of God.

A young girl amongst

the unreached Ik of
Uganda, carrrying her
younger brother.

Currently,
47% of Africa
is under
the age
of 18, with
that figure
expected
to greatly
increase over
the next few
decades.

WHY BOTHER WITH:

CHILDREN & YOUTH
by Shan Barry
F.R.O.G. Fully rely on
Goddoes that sound
familiar? If it does, youre
probably in your early 20sa
slogan chanted across many
Sunday schools and youth
programmes in the 90s!
Many of those that sang
(or danced) to this ditty are
involved in missions today.

t that time, I was

working in an innercity Christian school in
Tower Hamlets, preparing to go
on the mission field. I had my
sights set on the golden African
sun, but God had me do a small
detour that still affects my life
and ministry today. I saw how
keen many youngsters are to
learn Gods word and apply it to
life, and how many are called
to ministry between the ages
of 7 and 11! Many children who
attended that particular school
are now involved in mission.
During the summer, I
was privileged to be a part
of Powerpack, a childrens
worship team. This opened
my eyes to how God just loves
to answer childrens prayers
4

and use them in ministry,

something I had never really
thought of before.
When I finally got to
the mission field in 1998,
Mozambique was recovering
from civil war. Most adults
were highly suspicious of us
coming to tell them the Good
News. My husband, John,
taught at a local primary
school, whilst I started a
childrens club. Its wonderful
to hear stories about the
children we taught. Dilinda &
Helena are now married with
their own families, working
in an unreached people group
(UPG). Emmanuel has become
a teacher, influencing a future
generation for the Gospel and
Helio distributes the newly
translated Mwani Bible.
I was recently teaching
children of mission partners
in Kenya and asked them what
their favourite part of the day
was. They answered, When
we pray for children who have
never heard about Jesus! We
would spend half an hour
each morning chatting about

a particular UPG, imagining

what its like to be a young
person in that context and then
three or four children would
pray. (Taking turns as they were
all clamouring to pray!)
Children are vitally
important in Gods Kingdom
work. Jesus said, Beware that
you dont look down on any of
these little ones. For I tell you
that in heaven their angels are
always in the presence of my
heavenly Father. Matthew
18:10

SHAN BARRY

han has been involved with

mission since she was a
teenager in different contexts
across Africa. Now based in
Johannesburg, Shan supports
her husband John as he leads
Southern Region and develops
prayer resources through the
Pray Africa website. They are
parents to three boys.

DID
YOU
KNOW

1.8

BILLION
babies in
the next

35
YEARS
will be
born in
Africa

24%
of the
planets
UNDER
18 YEAR
OLDS
live in
Africa

BY 2050
this will
increase to

40%

A DAY IN THE LIFE

OF AN IK CHILD
The unreached Ik people live in
northeast Uganda, perched on the
edge of the great Rift Valley. Terrill
Schrock gives us this insight into a
typical day for an Ik child.

t the crowing of a rooster, an Ik

child awakens from slumber,
her modod or cocoon. She
emerges from her grass-thatched hut
to huddle by the fire under a veil of
morning mist. If the family granaries
are not yet empty, she may be lucky
enough to have a mug of porridge
before heading down into the valley
for the days first heavy jerrycan of
water. After that, her baby brother will
be strapped to her back for much of the
day, as her dad takes off to check his
traps and her mum goes for weeding in
the garden. She may have to scrounge
around for her own food the rest of the
day. If her mum comes home drunk,
she may not even get dinner. She has
to learn to care for herself.
Her two older brothers, with their
little posse of friends, will roam the
land like a gang in search of food
and fun. They will hunt for birds and
rats and the latest tree to go to fruit.
If the local school is in session, they
may go for the cheap porridge or
they may dodge. For the most part,
the boys are left to their own devices,
but sometimes they are allowed

to participate in the world of men:

hunting, farming, making an aw or
homestead.

It is a life of hunger,
danger, and backbreaking labour
To grow up as a child of the Ik is
to learn how to survive creatively
on ones own in a community of
other self-interested survivors, and
in a world reluctant to give up its
life-giving treasures. It is a life of
hunger, danger, and back-breaking
labour; drama and intrigue; fear and
superstition; sickness, suffering, and
death...but also of good humour, close
community, and the simple goodness
of life lived outside under the sky.
In a world such as theirs, Ik children
can only aspire to survive on a daily
basis, fill the stomach, marry and
reproduce, and live long enough to see
ones grandchildren. They enjoy the
intricate web of relationships between
family members, friends, neighbours,
relatives, and even enemies but sadly
often have to negotiate these with
the well-honed tools of exploitation
and trickery. For an Ik child, to live is
to survive at any cost and enjoy the
process. Life beyond mere survival is
only just coming over the horizon.

To find out more about working amongst children & youth, visit:

eu.aimint.org/go/children-youth
5

 Mama Lieko is an elderly

lady amongst the Alagwa. She
has shown an interest in Gods
Word but later said that her
demons have refused Jesus.
She is a widow of a well known
witch and some of her children
are also involved in witchcraft.

by The Pughs

ALAGWA UPDATE
But we serve the same
God the differences in our
religions are very small: we
just pray kneeling down,
thats all

his snippet from a

recent conversation
demonstrates some of
the challenges when sharing

Jesus here. In Tanzania unity

is emphasised, and religious
and ethnic differences
are not. It works well in
maintaining amani (peace).
It is less helpful when trying
to communicate Gods unique
gift of salvation to the Alagwa.
Even when they see the need to

To download a prayer sheet on the Alagwa people of Tanzania, visit:

6

exclusively choose Jesus, they

face the fear of rejection by
community and family. They
may also fear retribution from
ancestral spirits and majini (evil
spirits).
And yet we see God
demonstrating his deep love for
the Alagwa in many ways. Five
Alagwa have been baptised
www.aimint.org/eu/alagwa

 The ten members of the team

working amongst the Alagwa.

over the last few months. Each

one speaks of Gods Kingdom on
the move. The first was already
a Christian before the team
arrived. It was so moving to see
him baptised in our local river,
stronger in his faith; bolder in
his witness; more understanding
of Gods word; willing to take up
responsibilities in the church.
Then there was a lady who
came to Jesus in her need for
healing from sickness and evil
spirits. She is free and following
Jesus. She smiles a lot now. Two
young people from Christian
families also got baptised,
publicly associating themselves
with Jesus. The last was a woman
who also came to Christ through
healing. She has an amazing
testimony and a complicated life.
She is currently not allowed to
come to church by her Muslim
husband.

Easter was another humbling

time of seeing God move. The
church decided to have two open
services: Good Friday in the
afternoon and Easter Sunday.
The idea was to invite friends and
neighbours and to eat together
afterwards. Friday, the building
was bursting (Cerys counted 70
altogether) and on Sunday we
met outside under a tree to give
As a team, we feel it is
us space. Everyone heard the
the time to sow seeds of the
Gospel in Swahili and Alagwaisa, Gospel generously. Through
and many seeds were planted.
the chronological Bible stories;
teaching and other projects;
living and relationships; we are
all seeking to make Gods love
known amongst the Alagwa.
Just like the rocky mountainous
paths we walk here, its a case
of experiencing the lows of
disappointment and struggle as
well as the highs of seeing seeds
start to grow and flourish

It was so moving
to see him
baptised in our
local river, stronger
in his faith, bolder
in his witness

Praise God for the five Alagwa

Christians that have been baptised
over the last few months.

DATES
FOR
YOUR
DIARY

11-12 JULY

27-31 JULY

KELBURN
CASTLE, LARGS

LLANDRINDOD
WELLS

CLAN
Gathering
2015

Keswick
Convention in
Wales

21-29
AUGUST
BANGOR, CO.
DOWN

Bangor
Worldwide

For the latest information on each of these events,

see our weekly email, facebook or website:

26 SEPT
STOCKPORT

Into Africa?
at Emmanuel
Community
Church

eu.aimint.org

July 1-4

PEOPLE FOCUS:
THE KARIMOJONG
AIMs desire for the
Karimojong of Uganda
is for them to be set free
from darkness; to be set
free from the bondage of
destructive traditions; and to
be transformed into the full
measure of Christ.

MARGINALISED & FEARED

so much. Development in
Karamoja has also been
hindered by the unpredictable
climate, resistance to adopting
agricultural practices, and
the many guns used for
raiding cattle. The current
peace is maintained by the
continued presence of the
Ugandan military and through
disarmament campaigns led by
the government.

aramoja, home to the

unreached Karimojong
people, is located in
northeast Uganda, bordered on JUST ANOTHER LAYER OF
the east by Kenya and the north PROTECTION
by South Sudan. The plan is
So why go to this difficult
to send a Focus Team to share
area where there has been
their lives with them, and in so so much conflict and when
doing, bring many into a living some observers state that they
relationship with Jesus Christ.
are already reached with the
Karamoja has historically
gospel? Because, while many
been ignored and marginalised of the Karimojong will say
because of armed conflict,
that they are Christian, sadly
often stemming from cattle
this identification with Christ
raiding. The fierceness of
does not usually represent a
the Karimojong warriors has
transformed life. For the most
exacerbated the isolation
part, Christianity is viewed as
of the region. Even Joseph
another way to protect oneself
Kony, the head of the Lords
from evil or to bring prosperity.
Resistance Army (LRA), doesnt In addition to their traditional
venture into Karamoja because African religion, Christianity
he fears the Karimojong
simply adds another layer of

For the most

part, Christianity
is viewed as
another way to
protect oneself
from evil or to
bring prosperity.
protection. The presence of
mature Christian leaders, able
to teach and disciple others,
is largely non-existent, to
the extent that the Bishop of
Moroto (Church of Uganda)
states that 98% of church
attendees do not know Christ.
In response to this, the
Moroto Focus Team has
set their vision as for the
Karimojong to be set free from
darkness, to be set free from
the bondage of destructive
traditions, to be transformed
into the full measure of
Christ, and to reproduce this
transformed life of Christ in
their fellow peoples.

 The Karimojong live in clusters

of huts called an ere

Our focus is to make disciples

among the Karimojong in
Moroto District. When practical,
we are seeking to mobilise local
churches, equipping and training
church leadership to carry the
vision of discipleship forward.
For those who already know
Christ, the aim is to encourage
and develop obedience and
transformed lives, while
showing them how to embrace
evangelism, discipleship, and
incarnational living. When this
happens and the Karimojong are
able to disciple and shepherd
their own people in a Biblical way,
Karamoja will be reached and
we will know that the work there
is complete.
Interested in serving amongst
the Karimojong? Find out more at
eu.aimint.org/karimojong

JULY
WEDNESDAY

Please pray for team

leaders Lyle & Ingrid
Lathrop. They are
already living amongst
the Karimojong and
have begun ministry.
Please pray for them as
they continue to learn
language and plan
ministries for the team.

JULY | THURSDAY

Lyle & Ingrid

share, We have two
villages the Lord has
laid on our hearts
and we are looking
for AIM missionaries
willing to live a simple

KARIMOJONG CULTURE

he Karimojong live
in circular huts made
out of mud and wood,
capped with grass-thatched
roofs. Ten to twenty people
live in a typical hut, each
with a diameter of six to ten
feet. A cluster of three to six
huts, surrounded by a thorn
bush fence, makes up a village
called an ere. An ere might
consist of family members
or non-related clan members
living together for security.
These clusters of huts are then
grouped together in a circle
and the entire grouping is
surrounded by more thorn
bushes.

lifestyle to bring Christ

to these people who
live in the bush. 85%
of the Karimojong in
Moroto District live in
villages with only basic
amenities.

JULY | FRIDAY

Lyle is retired
from 33 years in law
enforcement, working
in a variety of different
roles. Since arriving in
the Moroto Town he has
been able to start a Bible
study group among
prison guards and some
police. Give thanks
for this development
and pray that they will

Traditionally, the
Karimojong dress in distinctive
plaid wraps, called sheets.
Jewellery worn by adults holds
no significance, unless it is a
solid metal necklace, where this
indicates the woman is married.
Girls as young as five often have
metal necklaces around their
neck, which signifies that she is
booked. That is, she is already
committed to a man. When she
is older she will be given to the
one who has paid the dowry,
usually some sort of livestock.
Since this is a polygamous
society, the man the girl will
marry might already have other
wives.

understand the words

shared and live out the
truth in their lives.

JULY | SATURDAY

Ingrid has begun

a Bible study amongst
Karimojong women.
Some, after having been
in church most of their
lives, are beginning
to understand what
salvation is and what
being a Christian really
entails. Others gives
verbal assent, but no
change is taking place.
Pray that the Lord
softens their hearts to
his transforming Word.

WEEKLY
FOCUS

e are now
recruiting
team members
for the team to
the Karimojong.
Please pray for
our mobilisers and
mobilising offices
around the world
who are seeking to
find those whom God
has called to be part
of this work. Please
pray that those the
Lord is leading to go
to the Karimojong will
listen and obey.

July 5-11

MINISTRY FOCUS:
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

We asked Graeme & Eli

Mallett to discuss their
thoughts on community
development as they adjust
to life and ministry in
Mahajanga, Madagascar.

COMMUNITY LIVING

iving in community
is tied up with one of
the most important
Malagasy cultural values - that
of Fihavanana. Fihavanana
is an idea which is difficult
to translate but is basically
the importance of living in
harmony with each other.
Vaguely underpinning this
value is the concept that
all Malagasy people come
from one ancestor. As such,
many Malagasy people live
interdependent lives deeply
intertwined with those of their
larger families, neighbours and
local communities.
However, when people
normally talk about
community development they
are not talking about growing
a sense of community but
instead mean a sustainable
approach to economic and
social development driven by
10

the local community. Behind

this is an implicit faith in
progress perhaps one of
the driving forces of Western
capitalism the idea that our
society, economy, technology
and civilisation are evolving
inevitably to become better and
better. This view sees a poorer
country, such as Madagascar,
as being in an earlier stage
of evolution, and in need of
assistance to speed up its
evolution to Western levels.

COMMUNITIES
TRANSFORMED

But what do Christians

mean when we talk about
community development? Well
often we mean the same as
secular organisations but were
not sure thats really whats
on Gods heart. It is clear,
throughout the Bible, that God
has a special place for the poor.
The first public message of
Jesus that Luke records (Luke
4:16-30) has Jesus announcing
that he has come to bring good
news to the poor. If our church
planting does not address the
physical needs of the poor
we have only half the Gospel

message and are not talking

about the good news that Gods
kingdom is now (as well as not
yet).
As a family we believe
that God wants to use his
church in Mahajanga to reach
the lost and minister to the
poor here. To this end we are
currently learning Malagasy,
building relationships with
the local churches and praying
together for the Kingdom to
advance. We want to further
encourage and catalyse the
churches to develop a Biblical,
Malagasy take on community
development whilst starting
church planting movements
amongst the local unreached
people groups.
Discipling unreached
people groups, who consider
themselves to be poor, that
they are made in the image of
God, that they are important
to God, that God has equipped
them with many gifts and
resources, that God has given
them the responsibility of
caring for his creation, is all
part of the good news that we
are redeemed through the
blood of his Son.

JULY | SUNDAY

MADE IN THE
IMAGE OF GOD
Pastor Tovo has worked in
Mahajanga for many years.
As well as being one of the
leaders of the Baptist church in
Mahajanga, Madagascar, he also
heads up the Union des Eglises
Evangliques de Mahajanga
(UEEM) which includes over 30
evangelical churches of various
denominations.

Since his election in

2014, the President Hery
Rajaonarimampianina
(it is a world record as a
presidential surname)
has struggled to deliver
on electoral promises and
overcome the entrenched
political stand-off which
has existed since a coup in
2009. Pray that God would
guide the government and
lead them to make right
decisions for the country.

JULY | MONDAY

Founded on the blood

of Malagasy believers who
were put to death and
persecuted for their faith
in the early 19th century,
the church in Madagascar
has a great heritage. Today
many Malagasy Christians
say they need God to move
again in their nation as he
has done in the past.

JULY | TUESDAY

Training at the spiritual retreat for

local pastors.

e shares, One of the most

important aspects of
community development is
about training people, particularly
Christians, to realise the gifts and
resources God has given them to
provide for their needs. This comes
from a creation theology and the
profound revelation that we are all
made in the image of God. And as
part of that, he emphasises Pauls
teaching in 2 Thessalonians 3:10b:
Those unwilling to work will not
get to eat. For members of UEEM,
community development is part
and parcel of church planting.
Many of the local pastors in UEEM
have started churches in the bush
around Mahajanga amongst the
unreached Sakalava people. Often
they will start a school as part of
their church plant as this meets a
real need of the community they
are reaching.

The Malagasy church

is looking to be more
intentional in taking the
gospel to the remaining
unreached people groups
(UPGs) in Madagascar.
Pray that God would help
the church overcome
the considerable ethnic,
linguistic and cultural
barriers plus the physical
remoteness that has so far
hindered mission.

JULY | WEDNESDAY

Please pray for

Madagascar to become a
missionary-sending hub.
Pray for Madagascar to
be a strategic nation in
Gods plan, developing its
own Malagasy mission
paradigm and sending out
missionaries to advance

See People & Places p12

For mission partners working
in Madagascar.
aimint.org/eu/pandp

WEEKLY
FOCUS

ithout completely
depending on
God through prayer we
can do nothing. Pray
that God would raise
up in us (the Malletts)
and in the local church
in Mahajanga an
unwavering commitment
to pray for the lost we
live amongst so that we
are humbled and he is
glorified as his kingdom
is extended.
Gods Kingdom on this side
of the Indian Ocean.

JULY | THURSDAY

Please pray for

the transformational
effect of the Gospel to
be evident in the lives of
believers, including AIM
missionaries!

10

JULY | FRIDAY

We have seen some

examples recently of
successful local businesses.
Pray that God would
raise up godly, principled
business men and women
from the churches in
Mahajanga to start up
many more enterprises
that respect Gods creation,
use the profits generated
for good, and provide
people with a means to
support themselves and
their families.

11

JULY | SATURDAY

Please pray for more

discipleship-making
movements in the UPGs
of the region. We want to
see more than a handful
of believers or a handful of
churches; we want to see
God establishing rapidly
multiplying groups of
disciples amongst peoples
who are currently lost.

July 12-18

MOBILISING MISSION

This weeks prayer requests

come from the whole of the
Nottingham office, but in
this article, Lindsey Davies
takes the opportunity briefly
to share about the work
of the Communications
Department.

WORDS & PICTURES

ommunications.
Thats just words and
pictures, right? In part,
yes, its words and pictures
for websites, blogs, social

12

JULY | SUNDAY

These are
both exciting and
challenging times
for AIM Europe,
demonstrated through
the introduction of
our new international
framework and the
imminent arrival (2016)
of the next five-year
strategic plan. Please
pray as we seek Gods
leading on how best to
implement these plans.

12

13

The Nottingham office meet

media, magazines, emails,
every day before lunch to pray for
mobilising leaflets, support
our mission partners in Africa.
raising leaflets, postcards,
fridge magnets and even mugs. Department, but into every
Words and pictures that need
set of words and pictures
to be right for their often very
goes an element of strategic
different audiences. But its
thinking. Thinking that is
also building the website to
centred around the fact there
start with, exploring how we
are still 320 million people in
should operate on social media, Africa who have never heard
finding and researching stories the Gospel and its part of our
to share and even sourcing the responsibility to encourage
right kinds of magnets! Life
people to pray, give and go so
is varied and hectic in AIM
that those 320 million can be
Europes Communications
part of Christs glorious church.

JULY | MONDAY

Both the
international
framework and AIM
Europes strategic
plan aspire to more
mission partners and
higher concentrations
of workers among
Africas unengaged
and unreached people
groups. Please pray that
both individually and
collectively we would
make wise decisions
that facilitate Gods
plans and purposes in
all we do.

14

JULY | TUESDAY

Please pray
for continuing good
communications
between the finance
department and our
overseas colleagues.
In order to deliver a
high quality service, we
need to provide timely
and accurate financial
information, which
can be a challenge for
some mission partners
who face frequent
interruptions in their
local provision of power
and internet services.

15

JULY
WEDNESDAY

Today marks the start of

our Home Assignment
Conference for UK staff
and mission partners
on Home Assignment
to meet and pray
together. Please pray
that it will be a time of
encouragement and
refreshment for all and
will help us work better
as a team.

See People & Places p14

For more information on
the Mobilising Team

 We are very grateful for the

faithful volunteers who help pack
Connect into envelop each quarter.
Africa

ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO

CONNECTING PEOPLE

Its often said that good

communication forms the centre
of a successful relationship, and
likewise, we appreciate that if
AIM Europe is to achieve all that
God has called us to, at the centre
of what we do must be effective
communication. As part of
that, we often act as a channel
between the mission partners in
the field and our supporters in
Europe. To raise the vital prayer
and financial support that our
mission partners need, our goal
is to communicate their needs,
hopes and challenges in ways
that provoke both new and
existing supporters to respond as
God calls. This is done through
sharing their stories and prayer
requests here in Connect as
well as through individual
partnership leaflets and prayer
cards.

WEEKLY
FOCUS

he European
Mobilising Office,
based in Nottingham,
plays an often unseen
role in mobilising,
equipping, releasing
and supporting
long and short term
personnel to serve
in Africa and among
African diaspora.
Please pray that the
Home Staff may know
Christs presence and
power as they faithfully
and diligently work in
these areas.

The other half of our

responsibility is to share
information with people who
feel called to serve God in
Africa. Over the next few weeks
and months wed encourage
you to visit the Go pages of
our website, where we explain
the ministry areas that AIM is
involved in, share information
about the countries we work in
and post specific opportunities.
Working with our mobilisers,
we hope that our website and
publications provide an area
where prospective candidates
can discover more about AIM
and the work that God has
called us to as they consider the
callings on their own lives.
We hope all that we share
ultimately gives glory to God
and tells of the awesome work
he is doing in Africa. As you
read and respond to anything
we produce, our prayer is that
you will be encouraged in your
own walk with the Lord through
your partnership with us in the
Gospel.

16

JULY
THURSDAY

Member Care is
something everyone
in the sending office
contributes to; please
pray as we all work
towards serving and
caring for our mission
partners. More
specifically pray for the
Personnel Department
and Mobilisers as we
enter the busy time of
Home Assignments
and therefore lots of
debriefs of members
and their families.

17

Inland Mis
sion

JAN-MAR
2015

MAGAZIN
E & PRAYER

VISITING
THE IK

DIARY

Christ-c
entred
churches
among all
African
peoples

oe Morgan works as
a designer in AIMs
Communications
Department. Last October he
had the opportunity to visit
Africa for the first time and
join the survey team to the
unreached Ik in northeast
Uganda. The survey was a
success in terms of obtaining
permission for a Training in
Ministry Outreach (TIMO)
team to work amongst them
and find a location for the
team leaders house. Many of
Joes photos have appeared
in our publications and on
our website, including this
cover photo of a young Ik girl
who was keen to have her
photo taken. See page 16 for
the latest updates on the Ik.

JULY | FRIDAY

Give thanks
for the thousands
of supporters who
financially support
mission partners each
year, thus enabling
them to perform
the work which God
has called them to.
Please pray that each
supporter would
be encouraged by
knowing that they
play a vital part in
building Christ-centred
churches among all
African peoples.

18

JULY
SATURDAY

Please pray for

creativity and
inspiration for our
Communications
team as they seek
ways to engage with
existing supporters as
well as develop new
avenues to enthuse a
new generation about
mission in Africa.
Please pray that God
would be glorified in
all the publications
produced by AIM
Europe.

13

July 19-25

COUNTRY
FOCUS:
CHAD

MIDWIFERY
IN CHAD
Joan MacKenzie works to
train local Chadian women
in basic midwifery so they
can go on to help women
in their villages through
pregnancy and childbirth.

lease continue to
pray for the health
education project as
we finished teaching in three
villages in early June. We
have been encouraged by
the involvement and interest
of a number of women,
although not as many as
planned. It is now the hot
season so please pray for
extra energy and good ideas
for communicating to women
ways of keeping healthy in
pregnancy and beyond. Pray
for wisdom for the best date
for when we plan to broadcast
the need for every pregnant
woman to have antenatal
care. We hope to have a wall
painting, some drama and
perhaps a radio broadcast.
14

In August a team will begin

work amongst the unreached
Maba people of eastern Chad.
The team will be lead by
Ann Fursdon and includes
Catherine Grier and the
Bright family from Canada.
We asked Ann and Catherine
to share their thoughts on
this upcoming team.

ANN SHARES:

n early April I moved from

established church medical
work in Bebalem, southern
Chad (in health centres and
in Bebalem hospital training
nurses and midwives), to work
in a large town in eastern
Chad where the church has
no medical work. Why? Well,
in July 2014 I taught several
times about mission amongst
ethnic groups which have
little access to the gospel, in
the hospital and in a local
church. Teaching others about
this kind of mission made me
re-evaluate my work. Although
I still believe that the training
of African believers (medical
workers and others) is very
important, it seemed right to
go myself to unreached people

groups, as an example, hoping

to encourage others to do
likewise, or to support those
who do go.There are very few
local churches in Chad with
such a vision.
The AIM Chad team is
seeking to make the gospel
accessible to a number of people
groups who currently have little
or no witness amongst them.
This includes a group, called
the Maba, living in the region
where I now live, a group with
a population of about 300,000
amongst whom there are fewer
than 10 Christians. In keeping
with AIMs vision to encourage
Africans to mission, we hope as
a team of four to work amongst
this group and also with local
churches (currently almost
entirely made up of southerners
posted here by government or
NGOs) and in student Christian
work at the two universities
here. I personally hope to use
my medical skills in the local
government hospital which
also trains doctors, hoping to do
good there, make contacts and
encourage doctors of the future
to a broader vision of living for
Christ.

19

JULY | SUNDAY

Pray for wisdom for

Maba team leader, Ann
Fursdon as she prepares for
the team to arrive in August
and decides strategies for
ministry. Pray too for the
practicalities of settling into
the community and finding
appropriate accommodation
for each of the team members.

20

JULY | MONDAY

Pray for team

members Ann Fursdon,
Catherine Grier and the
Bright family as they start
language learning, get used
to daily life in Abch and
get used to a dramatically
different culture and climate.
Pray for safety in travel;
Abch is 554 miles from the
capital NDjamna.

21

JULY | TUESDAY

Pray that God will

speak to the Maba people
through dreams and visions,
to soften their hearts to
outsiders and to him, even
before the team arrives. Pray
for encounters early on (even
during the teams six months
of learning Chadian Arabic)
with those whose hearts God
is preparing.

for future employment and

that some of them would feel
the call to go to the unreached
in their own country.

24

JULY | FRIDAY

Please pray for Joan

MacKenzie as she works
to train village women in
midwifery. Pray that the
training will improve the
health and wellbeing of
women and babies during
pregnancy, childbirth and
beyond. Joan works with two
Chadian women, Dia and
Juliette. Please pray for these
two coworkers who have
recently had health problems.

25

JULY | SATURDAY

Give thanks for the

love and concern that Joan,
Juliette and Dia have for the
ladies they are in contact
with. Pray that the women
will ask about the hope they
have and that they would
be alert to the leading of the
Lord in sharing spiritual
truths. Pray for opportunities
to keep in contact with the
ladies after the course ends.

22

JULY | WEDNESDAY

Learning Chadian
Arabic and local culture
will be the teams first tasks.
Pray for good progress in
this. Pray that the team will
quickly gel so as to be more
effective in their work and in
encouraging each other in all
that they do.

23

JULY | THURSDAY

Pray for the

continuing work at Bebalem
hospital, where third year
nursing students will
graduate in August. Several
are in a group studying
the Bible with Andy & Cari
Robertson (USA). Pray that
this will impact their choices

WEEKLYFOCUS

n Chad, around 51%

of the population are
unreached with the gospel
of Christ. Please pray
for work amongst these
many unreached people
groups, including the
Maba whom Doctors Ann
Fursdon and Catherine
Grier are ministering
amongst. Please pray
for Joan MacKenzie
working with Chadian
women in situations
where infrastructure and
healthcare are very limited.

Ann Fursdon and Catherine

Grier will be working amongst the
unreached Maba in eastern Chad.

CATHERINE SHARES:

I worked in southern Chad from

2011 to 2014, training church-going
nursing students to go to unreached
people groups. God has called me to
go now myself and live and witness
among an unreached people group
in eastern Chad.
The Maba are one of the largest
non-Arab people groups in Chad.
They are traditionally animist,
although when they were invaded
in 1635 the people became Islamic
and this is now a large part of their
identity. The people live in fear,
using amulets and charms to ward
off evil and sickness.
I will be part of a team which will
start living in Abch in August
2015. To start with I will have the
opportunity to teach English to
adults in a school set up by WEC and
will spend time language learning;
first Chadian Arabic and then the
Maba language. Through this I hope
to start building friendships with
the Maba people who are based in
the town. Then, I hope to be able
to start translating some Bible
stories into the Maba language and
to start doing some Bible storytelling among the women. There is
a church of southerners in Abch
and I hope to be able to be able to
work with some of the members,
with the goal of them joining us
in reaching out to their Chadian
neighbours.

See People & Places p6

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

July 26-August 1

PEOPLE FOCUS:
THE IK

Were getting ready to send

a Training in Ministry
Outreach (TIMO) team
to the Ik. As we share
news of preparations, will
you consider your part in
reaching the unreached Ik
with the gospel?

ARRIVING ON THE RIDGE

e are standing on
the cusp of realising
something that
God has put in hearts across
the world for a decade. Over
the years, many from AIM
have prayed for the Ik, who
are perched on a mountain
ridge on the border of Uganda
and Kenya. Now, Jesus will be
proclaimed to them through
the Ik Training in Ministry
Outreach (TIMO) team.
Christoph & Heidi Rauch
will be the TIMO team leaders.
Theyve just arrived on the
ridge to begin the intense work
of building their own house,
learning language and culture,
developing relationships, and
organising team housing and
curriculum.
AIM and DIGUNA (a
German mission agency)
16

are now working to recruit

a multinational team. As
potential members apply,
wisdom is needed to discern if
this is the right placement for
each individual. Conditions
are harsh, and quite isolated,
but stunningly beautiful. Last
month the first team members
were accepted from Uganda.
Stephen & Rejina Embati and
their adult disabled son, Peter,
have been sent from Madi
West Nile Diocese. They bring a
wealth of ministry experience,
learners hearts and practical
skills. A monthly wage for
Stephen would be about 20.
On this team the family need
20,000 a year! To help with
these costs an AIM project has
been started. Please consider
whether God is nudging you to
become more involved in the
Ik team by contributing to this
project or even coming as part
of the team!

LOVING LOGISTICS

Some people love logistics

while others simply endure it.
The Ik ridge is remote and it
is a challenge to get sufficient
cement, timber and tools up

Relationships are
built as walls go
up even this
has the potential
to open Ik hearts
to the gospel.
the side of a mountain. But
this is necessary if our team is
going to have houses to live in
when they arrive. Relationships
are built as walls go up even
this has the potential to
open Ik hearts to the gospel.
What else would help open
doors? Short term building
teams? An Ik workforce?
A Ugandan contractor? As
we make decisions we are
asking ourselves many other
questions as well. Where
should these houses be
located? Which village gets the
privilege and the responsibility
of having an outsider live
adjacent to them? Into which
villages will team members
first get to demonstrate Jesus?
Big decisions are ahead as
we all seek to do this to Gods
glory.

26

JULY | SUNDAY

PRAYER TEAM
In January a prayer team travelled
to the Ik to pray for them and the
team who will live amongst them.
ita, a prayer team member
shares: We spent two
days visiting and praying
on the ridge where the Ik people
live. Terrill & Amber from SIL
were our guides for our time there.
They have been living there for a
number of years learning Icet d (Ik
language) and have just published
a formal grammar of the language.
The Ik have been caught between
the raiding of the Karimojong
and Turkana peoples and so have
retreated to the hills along the
ridge. In general they have given up
owning flocks and herds, but instead
their lifestyle is supported more by
hunting and gathering. This lifestyle
is under duress due to encroachment
on their lands and deforestation for
firewood and building.

Bruce, another prayer team

member noted the interconnecting
pathways of people that God is
[already] putting into place. He
prays: May these partnerships go
deeper so that we can walk these
paths together, light great fires and
so reveal the glory of Christ.
If youre interested in serving amongst
the Ik of Uganda, or praying for them,
visit our website:
eu.aimint.org/ik

Pray for
Christoph & Heidi Rauch,
the Training in Ministry
Outreach (TIMO) team
leaders who returned
from Home Assignment
in June. They travel to the
Ik ridge in early July and
then have a year to build
houses, learn language,
make relationships and
develop curriculum.

27

JULY | MONDAY

Praise God for

the first confirmed team
members. Stephen &
Rejina Embati are a
Ugandan couple. Pray
for them as they seek to
raise support. Many of
their expenses will be
paid through an AIM
project. Please pray that
this project will be well
funded - perhaps God is
calling you to contribute?

28

JULY
TUESDAY

Pray for the TIMO

logistics personnel as
they visit the Ik ridge
in July to assess the
situation and to help
make critical decisions
about the location and
design of team housing.
Pray for Christoph &
Heidi as they coordinate
this. Pray for openness
within the Ik community,
that even during this
construction phase they
may see Jesus in the setup personnel.

29

JULY
WEDNESDAY

Wisdom is needed as
potential team members
apply and are accepted.
Pray for the right people
to join. Pray for unity
among the team and that
those who are currently
strangers will quickly

demonstrate love for one

another.

30

JULY
THURSDAY

Praise God for the very

real help the SIL couple,
Terrill & Amber Shrock,
will be to the team as
they learn the Icet d (Ik
speech) language. Ask
that God will put into
the hearts of the few
Ik believers a hunger
for Gods word to be
accessible among them.

31

JULY | FRIDAY

Peace and
safety are not always
guaranteed on the
Ik ridge as conflicts
sometimes arise between
the Ik, the Turkana and
the Dodoth. Pray for
Gods protection of the
team and that they may
bring peace and model a
love of ones neighbour.

AUGUST
SATURDAY

Pray that the Holy

Spirit may be already
preparing the hearts of
the Ik people to receive
the good news of Jesus
Christ.

WEEKLY
FOCUS

arlier this year

an AIM Prayer
Team visited the Ik.
Please give thanks
for their willingness to
participate in ministry
in this way. Please
pray that the Bible
readings and prayers
uttered on Ik land will
begin to soften the
hearts of the Ik to the
team and the Gospel
that they will share.

August 2-8

MINISTRY FOCUS:
LITERACY & LANGUAGE

MEET JEREMIE
Bikorimanu Jeremie has shared
the following testimony in
English, a direct result of the
literacy & language work
carried out by Bridget Howard.

was born in 1982 in the

west of Rwanda. In 1992 I
came to live in Kigali. I was
a motorbike taximan. In 2009,
on Tuesday, 7 October at 12:45
pm, I was driving my motorbike
with a passenger. Suddenly
a car came from the opposite
direction and hit the motorbike.
I fell down on the ground and
landed on the rocks. My left
leg was cut and broken in two
places. However, my passenger
was unhurt. Somebody took
me to hospital where the doctor
amputated my leg. When
people heard the story of my
accident they said it was the
saddest story. This was a very
bad accident but God helped me
to trust more in him and today
I am very happy. God has made
me an evangelist. I am very
excited about the power of God
and I thank God for his mercy.
18

Chris & Fiona Tyrrell went to

Rwanda in 2009 to teach
English in a Bible college.
However, during 2010 they
caught a vision to reach out
to Rwandas Historically
Marginalised People.
Here they share how a new
methodology is helping to
reach this people group and
others across Rwanda.

A MUDDLED MIX

ur desire is to teach
the marginalised
people well, so that
theyd know the truth of the
gospel and be transformed.
However, in Rwanda there are
misunderstandings about the
Bible and although people
enjoy singing Christian
songs introduced by earlier
missionaries, what they
actually believe is often
muddled, a mix of truth
and fable, and seldom has
this belief led them out of
darkness.

ORAL LEARNERS

We heard of an approach
known as Chronological Bible

Storying (CBS). But surely

stories are for children, we
thought. On the other hand,
nearly four billion of the
worlds population are oral
learners, preferring to learn
through stories. Even if they
can read and write, they
find it difficult to internalise
messages that dont come
through proverbs or prose.
Maybe that partly explains
why so often when a crosscultural visitor presents a wellcrafted sermon, many become
distracted and weary, unable
afterwards to recount the main
points. Yet the moment the
same speaker begins to tell a
story, people tune in and are
able to recall that story years
later.
After learning more about
this approach, the Rwandan
team hesitantly accepted the
recommendation to adopt
CBS in their outreach to a
marginalised rural community.
The inclination to preach,
to explain and to seek the
congregations affirmation
wasnt always easy to

AUGUST | SUNDAY

Peter & Catherine Gitau

(Kenya & Australia) arrived
in Rwanda in February.
Please pray for their children,
that they will settle in the
new school system well. As
they begin work at the 3D
Christian Camp ministry, pray
they would have patience
and enthusiasm for learning
Kinyarwanda.

AUGUST | MONDAY

Pray for the Lambrechts

family that their time in the
UK this summer with their
families, both biological
and spiritual would be
refereshing. Also pray for two
Preach the Word initiatives,
the preaching class and the
discipleship training, that
they would equip students to
take the gospel out to their
communities.

Fiona Tyrrell teaching Rwandan

children.

overcome, but eventually the team

took to CBS with enthusiasm.
The people are understanding,
they are changing, and theyre
telling us how different this is to
any previous Christian learning
method!

SEEING GOD AT WORK

We have seen the power of

the gospel, and have taken part
in helping others to hear and
understand it too. How delightful
it was to witness over seventy
individuals confess their need of
a saviour and call on the name of
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Adopting this new
methodology has been hard work
and time consuming - preparing
a story in English then getting
it translated into Kinyarwanda but we believe it has borne fruit,
and we can see God generating
through us a body of new
believers, a people called by his
name.

AUGUST | TUESDAY

Pray for the Marlin

family as they move to a new
community in Kigali to share
the gospel and plant churches
through the students at the
Pastors Training School and
the Christian Leadership
Institute. Pray for Joe as
he teaches leaders using
Kinyarwanda, the local
language. Pray for Kristy who
ministers among sex workers.

AUGUST | THURSDAY

Jessica Goldschmidt is
planning a camp as part of
3D Christian Camps ministry,
as well as a training camp
this summer. Pray about
safety, logistics, unity and for
the right staff and campers.
Above all, please pray that
God would do his work in the
hearts of each one involved.

AUGUST | FRDAY

Pray for Chris & Fiona

Tyrrell in their varied
ministry opportunities,
including, outreach and
church planting among
a marginalised rural
people group, training and
mentoring local church
leaders, and teaching English
communication classes. Pray
as they decide how to invest
their time and energy.

AUGUST | SATURDAY

Pray for Bridget

Howard, that she would have
competence and creativity for
teaching a variety of English
classes, and vision and energy
to lead the Rwanda Unit,
relying on a God who is able
to do immeasurably more
than all we ask or imagine.

AUGUST | WEDNESDAY

As the Stehlik family

finish their term, please pray
for the remaining projects
that they need to complete.
Pray for creative vision,
physical stamina, emotional
endurance, and resilient
resourcefulness. Pray that
God would use the media
resources they create to
further his kingdom and
accomplish his purposes.

See People & Places p15

For the index of mission partners
working in Literacy & Language.
www.aimint.org/eu/pandp

WEEKLYFOCUS

ray that the team

in Rwanda wont
grow weary in learning
Kinyarwanda, that each
member will find his/
her best learning style
and a good facilitator to
master pronunciation and
expression. Also pray that
they would be proactive in
using the language.

August 9-15

PEOPLE FOCUS:
THE ANTAKARANA

INTO THE ROYAL ANCESTRAL CAVE

In the early 19th century, during the Madagascar wars of
the conquering Merina tribe, the Antakarana people hid
in caves near the harana rock formations. They still return to
these caves to sacrifice animals and hold ceremonies. This
path into the royal ancestral cave is about a mile long. All the
men enter first, with the women behind.

WEEKLY
FOCUS

ray for the TIMO

team as they
progress in cultural
and language
acquisition, that their
daily lives alongside
the Antakarana
would speak the
truth of the Gospel as
they learn to speak
it in their language.
Pray that our team
would discover Gods
strategy to bring
his kingdom to the
Antakarana people.

AUGUST
SUNDAY

Pray for the Willards

as they lead their
team into a deeper
relationship with
God and a greater
understanding of his
purposes and work
for the Antakarana
people. Pray for Loras
pregnancy while on
Nosy Mitsio, for good
health and energy, and
for a healthy delivery
in December.

10

AUGUST
MONDAY

The Jobes village

(Antsakoa) has a
stronger Muslim
influence. Pray that
these villagers would
seek the freedom and
peace that is found in
Jesus. The Jobes family
has experienced two
medical evacuations
in the last six months.
Pray for good health,
relief from sickness
and accidents, and
praise for Gods healing
and protection.

WHATS
GOING ON

dam & Lora

Willard are
leading a
Training in Ministry
Outreach (TIMO)
team on the small
island of Nosy Mitsio,
Madagascar amongst
the Antakarana
people. This is the
first gospel witness
that the island
has ever received.
The Antakarana
people are one of
the least-reached
people groups of
Madagascar and have
historically been
resistant to outside
influence. The teams
goal is to learn from
them and to work
alongside them with
sustainable smallscale community
development, sharing
Jesuss love with
them when theyre
ready to receive it.
Then, once received,
we want to see the
Antakarana people
take ownership of the
work of Christ among
themselves and we
want to be catalysts
to a self-sustaining
movement that will
continue to multiply
throughout Nosy
Mitsio and northern
Madagascar.

Download a prayer sheet:

aimint.org/eu/
Antakarana

IN THE
MOUTH OF
THE CAVE
At the mouth
of the cave,
the Antakarana
re-enact their
ancient tribal war
through dance and
play. The money
in the mouths of
the dancers is
their reward from
the audience for
performing well.

STILL LIVING IN
DARKNESS

INTO THE DARKNESS

hen the Antakarana

were hiding in caves,
they prayed that if they
survived, they would embrace
Islam. They later found refuge
on the island of Nosy Mitsio
and converted to Islam in the
1840s. They now believe a mix of
folk Islam and animistic beliefs
where deities and elements of
nature play a significant role.

Palm leaves are used for lighting as the

Antakarana ancestors apparently wouldnt
approve of modern lighting. Everyone needs to
get through quickly before all the torches burn
up. People have been know to wander into side
passages without a light, never to be found again.

Pray for open

ears and receptive
hearts to the
gospel.

11

AUGUST
TUESDAY

The Mayles are the only

AIM family located on
the northeast side of
the island. Pray not only
that they would deepen
their relationships
and have a Christian
influence on members
of their village but also
with the five other small
villages close to theirs.

12

AUGUST
WEDNESDAY

Pray that Kelly Segit will

remain sensitive to the

correction and leadings

of the Spirit so that she
can love as Christ loved,
serve as he served, and
give as he gave. Pray
that her ministry will
come from an overflow
of Christs love, not from
her own strength or
human efforts.

13

AUGUST
THURSDAY

Pray for the Orners

as they start
homeschooling in
August. Pray for good
time management as

15

they balance educating

AUGUST
Ruthie with their
SATURDAY
commitment to the
During dry season
ministry and their TIMO (May November) the
training.
Antakarana have less
work in their rice fields
AUGUST
and spend more time
FRIDAY
in their villages. Pray
Pray for the village of
that this increased
Andavakabiby as they
time leads to deeper
work to rebuild and
improve their well. Pray conversations and
relationships, with
as they seek help from
opportunities to share
a local NGO and for
the Gospel. Pray for
the Antakarana TIMO
open ears and receptive
team as they interact
hearts to the Gospel.
and try to help in an
appropriate way.

14

21

August 16-22

COUNTRY FOCUS:
SOUTH SUDAN

THE COST & STRUGGLE

OF FOLLOWING
For many new Christians in South Sudan,
the cost of following Christ can be so hard
when its just so counter cultural. This is just
one story and one example:

ast year a young Didinga man, who had

responded to Gods call on his life some
years earlier, was growing in Christ when
he faced a life-threatening challenge. He had
taken a wife a year previously and was expected
to pay the bride price which he had negotiated.
However his wifes family gradually increased its
demands for him to fulfil the cultural marriage
rites, most of which are anti-Christian. When
he refused he was threatened with his life and
had to leave the community and take refuge a
days drive away. This is just one very common
problem that new believers face as they struggle
to live a Christ-like life in a very anti-Christian
culture. Please pray for these young Christians,
that they would demonstrate the beauty and
goodness of Christ in their lives and would
impact the growth of the local church as
potential leaders.
22

Approximately seven people groups in

South Sudan have never heard the good
news of Christ. Why? Because they are
some of the most difficult people on earth
to reach.

DIFFICULT PEOPLE TO REACH

ome are difficult to reach because of

their location, like the Toposa. They are
migrant cattle herders so dont stay in
one place long enough for there to be a settled
ministry amongst them. Or the Laarim who
live along Boya Hills, which are extremely
difficult to access. Or they can be difficult to
reach spiritually, like the Didinga, who cling
to their anti-Christian rituals. But our call
is not to fear the difficulty but to go to the
unreached, to the difficult places; because the
Toposa, the Laarim and the Didinga, like us,
desperately need the hope of the Gospel.
South Sudans seven indigenous unreached
people groups are mainly concentrated in the
south east, ranging from 10,000 to over half
a million people in each group, while many of
the non-indigenous unreached people groups
lie on the borders with Sudan.

THE LOPIT, DIDINGA AND LAARIM

We are currently working amongst the

Lopit, Didinga and Laarim. Ministry amongst
the Lopit has been carried out by numerous
mission organisations and churches over

our call is not to fear

the difficulty but to go
to the unreached, to
the difficult places
many years. More recently, two Training
in Ministry Outreach (TIMO) teams have
worked amongst the Lopit, which we
shared about in January (eu.aimint.org/
lopitfeb2015). AIM has also been engaged
with the Didinga since 2007, but the
ministry has been fraught with numerous
difficulties and setbacks. Next year we
hope to launch a renewed emphasis on
disciple-making using a team based in
the town of Nagishot. Then in the future,
we hope to establish a more remote team
on the eastern slopes of the Didinga
Mountains. Amongst the Laarim people
we plan to establish an entirely new
ministry initiative. Andrew Wallace left
the UK to join this team last month, as
a forerunner to the new Focus team (eu.
aimint.org/newmemberjan2015). We have
been praying for an opportunity to engage
with the Laarim in a more concerted
manner for many years and it looks like
God is opening the doors for this to take
place. Our current task is to establish five
housing units in this demanding and
challenging environment.

WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER GROUPS?

We are also looking into a partnering

venture to take the gospel to the eastern
Toposa and Nangatom peoples and the
Logirr, who live at the south end of the
huge and majestic Dongatona mountain
range. During 2016 we hope to complete
surveys amongst these peoples and
develop strategies for taking the Gospel
to them. There are also new and exciting
opportunities for gospel ministry on the
northern border where tens of thousands
of unreached Sudanese people have moved
for safety, in four large refugee camps.
For all these plans we pray that God
will give us the wisdom to know how to go
about making his kingdom known.

See People & Places p5

For more information on mission partners
working in South Sudan
aimint.org/eu/peopleandplaces

16

AUGUST | SUNDAY illiterate and mobile, being

Pray for the Lopit

team finishing ministry
in December, that God
would enable them to end
well and make significant
inroads for the gospel
amongst the Ohilang and
Iboni communities. Please
pray for missionaries to
continue this ministry in
the future.

17

AUGUST |
MONDAY

Pray for the prospective

Nagishot team. We have
five possible team members
but are short of two houses.
Pray for the means to
establish additional houses
in the Nagishot community
by mid-2016.

18

AUGUST
TUESDAY

Pray for plans to partner

with the Africa Inland
Church in the Lomech area
of the Didinga plateau.
We hope to establish a
multi-disciplined church
planting team in this area
by late 2017. There are large
logistical challenges to be
overcome beside the need
for experienced leaders and
a committed team.

19

AUGUST
WEDNESDAY

Please pray for the

encouraging development
to establish a team on the
Boya Hills amongst the
Laarim. We praise God for
the Bylers who have agreed
to lead the team. Pray for
wisdom in selecting the
team and for the massive
challenge of getting the
houses ready.

20

AUGUST
THURSDAY

The Toposa are a large

people group who have
had minimal exposure
to the Gospel. They are

cattle keepers by tradition.

Pray for the complicated
challenge of developing a
partnering initiative.

21

AUGUST | FRIDAY

While we work
to minister amongst
unreached people groups,
we desperately need the
church in South Sudan to
be committed to the task
of sharing the Gospel. AIM
can only hope to have a
minimal impact, whereas
the indigenous Church has
the capacity to make huge
inroads. Please pray for the
South Sudanese church
to respond to the Biblical
challenge.

22

AUGUST
SATURDAY

There are over 14

unreached people groups
represented in the
residents of the refugee
camps in the Upper Nile
State. Access to some of
these people groups has
been prayed for decades.
Ask the Lord to enable
us to be able to respond
to this development. The
challenge is to mobilise a
team which has the ability
to engage with Muslim
background believers.

WEEKLY
FOCUS

lease ask the Lord

to sustain the
missionary team in South
Sudan. The situation
is often turbulent and
challenging. But the
opportunities for the
gospel are enormous.
Pray that God would
enable us to effectively
engage those who have
had no means of hearing
the precious gospel.

August 23-29

MINISTRY FOCUS:
CHURCH DEVELOPMENT
Claire Weddell from New
Life Church in Newcastle
upon Tyne shares about
the importance of the local
church in Mozambique and
her part in equipping and
mobilising.

Bible & Discipleship Schools,

presenting the Kairos Course,
and through other practical
ministry opportunities.
I teach both at the Bible
& Discipleship School and at
the Leadership School, as well
as having involvement with
various outreach activities
and supervising students. I
love being part of this team,
and greatly appreciate this
opportunity to work with
others who are passionate
about serving the Lord and
investing spiritually in the
Claire Weddell teaching in one
lives of others. The students
of the more remote churches.
are encouraged to reach out
with Gods love, and they
I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH regularly minister in various
s in many mission
locations, including local
situations, the work
churches, a primary school, a
here is multi-faceted.
centre for disabled people and
The church is Gods chosen
in the prison. It is a joy to see
instrument to communicate
lives touched and changed
the Gospel to every nation,
and to see people equipped,
therefore it must be strong and developing their potential in
healthy in order to serve its
God, and released to serve him
purpose effectively.
effectively.
The Mozambican church
The Kairos Course is an
has tremendous potential, but
excellent mobilisation tool to
is often inward-looking and
help believers recognise and
lacking in understanding of the fulfil their part in the Gods
bigger picture of Gods plans
plans. Here in Mozambique we
and purposes. Consequently,
have faced major challenges,
a significant part of the work
not least with the project
is to address this and to
to translate the course into
mobilise the church to fulfill
Portuguese. Hopefully, by the
the Great Commission. This
time you read this the dubbing
is done through seminars
of the DVDs for the course will
(including both urban and
have begun again, enabling
rural churches), teaching in
more Mozambicans to benefit.

24

Students lead a small group

Bible study at the Centre for
Disabled People.

IN WORD AND DEED

The Bible records many

instances where Jesus reached
out to the sick and disabled, to
the marginalized and rejected.
As his followers, he calls us to
do likewise and we encourage
the students in this. Last year
I met a group of young people
who are deaf and began to build
friendships with them. It was
much later that I learned that the
deaf community in Mozambique
is officially recognised as an
unreached people group! God
had led me to initiate outreach to
the unreached, and I hadnt even
realised!

23

AUGUST | SUNDAY

Please pray that I

would grow spiritually, go
deeper in my relationship
with God, develop increased
sensitivity to hear his voice,
and be led by his Holy Spirit.
Please pray that God would be
glorified both in my life and
through it. Please also pray
for the salvation of my notyet-saved family.

24

AUGUST | MONDAY

Give thanks and

pray for all of my prayer and
financial supporters, without
whom this ministry could
not be so fruitful. Please pray
that they will be blessed and
encouraged - they are valued
partners in the work here!

25

AUGUST
TUESDAY

Please pray that hindrances to

communication (intermittent
email, lack of electricity,
technological challenges, etc.)
would be resolved and thus
help facilitate better and more
timely communications.

26

AUGUST
WEDNESDAY

Please pray for all those who

have enrolled in the Bible
& Discipleship School and
Leadership Schools. Pray
also for the Director and the
Leadership Team as we invest
in the lives of the students
and equip them to grow and
live for Christ. Pray we will
be effective in mobilising
them to fulfill Gods plans and
purposes, especially among
unreached peoples.

27

AUGUST
THURSDAY

People with disabilities are

marginalized and rejected,
often having to beg on the

See People & Places p15

For the index of mission partners
working in Church Development
www.aimint.org/eu/pandp

streets. Please pray that

Christians will put their
faith into action and reach
out to communicate Gods
love and acceptance. Please
pray especially for the deaf
communities here, that they
will hear the gospel and
respond.

28

AUGUST | FRIDAY

Please pray for the

ongoing work to complete
the Portuguese translation
of the Kairos Course (Fourth
Edition), and for me as I look
to raise up Mozambicans to
fill key roles in establishing
this tool for mobilisation in
Mozambique.

29

AUGUST
SATURDAY

Please pray for the bush

churches as they seek to
live out their faith in areas
where witchcraft and
ancestral worship are very
strong. Please pray for safety,
especially when travelling on
the roads, and for spiritual
protection as we seek to
extend the kingdom of God in
Mozambique and beyond.

WEEKLYFOCUS

orruption is a
major problem in
Mozambican culture.
Please pray that
believers will stand
against corruption, set
an example, and not
be drawn into corrupt
practices for personal gain.
Pray for me as I finalise the
seminar Honesty, Integrity
and Truth, and that this will
effectively impact all who
attend.

THANKFUL
FOR CLARA
We asked church leaders
to share about the church
development work Claire
(Clara) has been carrying out.
They commented:

issionary Clara has

been a blessing to
us in Misso F
Apostolica Church. We had
few believers and now we have
many zones where there are
services.... and we have quality
leaders through the Bible Study
that missionary Clara teaches
us and walks with us. We thank
God for this ministry he sent
to Africa and thank you very
much.
Pastor Isidro Gimo, Igreja
Misso F Apostolica.

Missionary Clara... is a
person with lots of love, peace,
is humble and patient, she likes
to pray and she speaks the truth.
She helps anyone in Gods work
and we are helped by her in our
ministries.... With the teaching
of missionary Clara my church
is growing a lot and has many
zones through the help of this
teaching. The church does not
want her to return (to England)
now as she still has much work
to do and to go to many places
here in Mozambique.
Pastor Isaias, Igreja Revelao
Crista de Moambique
25

Aug30 - Sept5

MOBILISING MISSION
Gilles & Myriam Bonvallat first
worked with AIM in Zaire, and
then in Rwanda from 1997 to
2013. Now theyre heading up
AIMs mobilisation work in
francophone Europe. Here they
discuss the challenges ahead.

EQUIPPING FRANCOPHONE
EUROPE FOR MISSION

fter more than 15 years

in Africa we prayerfully
made the hard decision to
return to Switzerland. Our hearts
were very sad but very peaceful
at the same time! We realised
that our family was facing a
huge and painful transition. Our
dream and desire was to remain
involved in mission, so it was a
great answer to prayer when AIM
Europe asked Gilles to represent
AIM in francophone Europe
(France, Switzerland, Belgium and
others). AIM is currently working
in more than 14 francophone
countries in Africa and the need

30

AUGUST
SUNDAY

Give thanks for the

smooth transition our
family has had back
to Switzerland. Our
children, Corentin (14),
Mal (11) and Aurlien
(9) seem happy in their
new environment, enjoy
our church, and face
many new challenges
in their new world!
Pray that their love and
understanding of God
will grow and keep their
hearts.

31

for francophone
missionaries on the
field is real!

I WILL MAKE A WAY

This totally new assignment

requires new skills, which equals
a great challenge! But only a few
weeks after our return God spoke to
us strongly through a promise from
Isaiah 43:18-19: Do not remember
the past events, pay no attention to
things of old. Look, I am about to
do something new; even now it is
coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I
will make a way in the wilderness,
rivers in the desert.
Indeed, France can look like
a spiritual desert. Establishing
mature churches in France is such a
challenge that some French church
leaders seem to have forgotten that
mission is not about France only,
but unto the ends of the earth! The
lack of interest for mission rests
on a lack of vision and a lack of
relevant information about the

AUGUST
MONDAY

Pray for Gilles as

he is very busy
managing the AIM
Francophone office,
recruiting, mobilising,
administration, finance,
media, and travelling
quite often either in
Europe or in Africa
to discover the AIM
francophone fields. He
also attends staff days
with the AIM team in
Nottingham.

SEPTEMBER
TUESDAY

Gilles and Myriam

are both involved in a
training project with the
Geneva Bible Institute.
Myriam is helping Gilles
at the office two days a
week and is working as
a physio in a clinic in
town two days a week.
Pray that they can
keep quality time with
God and have wisdom
to choose the right
priorities as there is so
much to be done.

SEPTEMBER
WEDNESDAY

We praise God
for the incredible
opportunity to equip
future missionaries
through Pole Mission
Transculturel course,
in partnership with
Geneva Bible Institute.
Pray for the first
students starting in
September and all the
planning and logistics
going along with this
practical training in
transcultural ministry.

great things that God is doing in

Africa. For this, we urgently need to
work on media tools in French. But
there is hope; weve met a number of
young people passionate about Jesus
and interested in bringing his love to
unreached people groups.
Were now based in a small town
close to Geneva. God has provided
for us in many ways. Early on he
opened unique opportunities for
us to be part of important youth
gatherings, to meet with other
mission agencies, and to meet key
people in the francophone mission
world. Our desire is to contaminate
church and youth leaders with a
renewed vision and passion for
mission and AIMs work.
God blessed us with our first
long term AIM candidate recently.
Geneva Bible Institute has also
welcomed our vision for a four-year
transcultural missiology training
that should begin in September 2015.
God is doing new things! He started
long before we arrived in Geneva,
and we rejoice to enter in his plan,
to discover new paths in wilderness
and new rivers in the desert

Gilles
& Myriam
Bonvallat with
their three boys.

WEEKLY
FOCUS

ray that God

can use the
AIM Francophone
office to encourage
francophone
Christians to be
more involved
in cross cultural
mission, and then to
send francophone
missionaries to
French-speaking
African countries.

BACK IN FRANCE
Jessica Goldschmidt is back in France for her
first home assignment after three years in Kigali,
Rwanda. She was involved in the 3DCC camps
ministry, and in the WHY WAIT? project training
school teachers with a Biblical based life skill
curriculum.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN?

his might seem obvious, but just like a bottle can

only pour drink into a glass if the bottle actually
has something in it, so can we only share Gods
truth with others if we have something in us to share;
so we need to keep taking the time to fill ourselves with
Gods truth - I can get caught up in doing and need to
learn to give relationships the right place!

ARE YOU GOING BACK?

Yes, Im planning to go back after this first home

assignment; I dont think my time there is done yet! I
desire to see youth in Rwanda committing their lives
to Christ and truly living as children of God. The camp
ministry Im involved in is one way of doing this and
also walking alongside young women.

SEPTEMBER
THURSDAY

AIM in francophone
Europe needs a website
in French as well as
other tools. This kind of
work represents hours
of labour and we need
help with translation,
formatting and design.
Pray that God will bring
along people with skills
to help us!

See People & Places p14

For more information on
the Mobilising Team

SEPTEMBER
FRIDAY

Since our time in a

Training in Ministry
Outreach (TIMO)
team in Kigali we have
been praying for this
outstanding programme
to be available in
French. As AIMs
ministry develops it
would be a great tool to
train francophone and
African missionaries.
Pray that God would
raise up translators.

SEPTEMBER
SATURDAY

This summer, in July,

we took two teams
to Rwanda to work
along the 3DCC camps
ministry. Were excited
about the opportunity
for the teams to
discover Africa and
camp ministry and we
pray that as they return
they will encourage
their home churches
about mission!
27

September 6-12

PEOPLE FOCUS:
THE LESOTHO
SHEPHERDS
MEET THE
WILLIAMSON
CHILDREN

am & Leanna are

leading the Lesotho
shepherds TIMO
team. We asked their four
children, Zeke (3), Zeph(5),
Suzanna(11) and Ella(14)
whats it like.

WHAT ARE THE BEST

THINGS ABOUT LIVING IN
CLARENS?

ELLA: Fun, funny, crazy but in a

good way because theyll go to
extremes to serve God.

WHAT DO YOU THINK

ABOUT THEM LIVING UP IN
THE MOUNTAINS?
ZEKE: Hard
ZEPH: Very hard as they have
to keep running after sheep.
SUZANNA: Amazing to do
what they are doing.
ELLA: Extremely hard for them
and they show a lot of selfdenial.

ZEKE: Sitting on tractors.

DO YOU THINK THEYLL

BECOME FRIENDS WITH THE
SHEPHERDS?

ZEPH: Playing!
SUZANNA: Having a dog and
two cats

ALL: Yes. They are already

building good relationships.

ELLA: Walks

WHAT DO YOU MISS

ABOUT LIVING IN THE UK?
ALL: Grandma, Grandpa,
Granny, Ntate Moholo (Sesotho
for Grandad), friends from
church and all the after school
clubs such as Girls Brigade.

WHAT DO YOU THINK

ABOUT THE TIMO TEAM?
ZEKE: Smelly (Zeke has a point,
they are after being in the
mountains for 3 weeks with no
washing facilities).
ZEPH: I love them.
SUZANNA: Theyre good fun
and funny.
28

What do you
think about the
TIMO team?
Zeke: Smelly

WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO

WHAT THEY ARE DOING?
The shepherds TIMO team with
the Williamson family

WHAT ARE THEY DOING?

ZEKE AND ZEPH: To tell the
shepherds about Jesus.
SUZANNA: Telling shepherds
the gospel.
ELLA: Learning Sesotho,
forming relationships with the
shepherds, sharing the good
news and giving the shepherds
an example of a Christian life.

ZEKE AND ZEPH: Yes!

SUZANNA: No!
ELLA: No, Ive seen what theyve
been going through and have
given up and I dont think I have
enough faith and perseverance
to do it.

DO YOU THINK WHAT THEY

ARE DOING IS IMPORTANT?
ZEKE, ZEPH, SUZANNA: Yes!
ELLA: Very; its important that
the word of God is spread to the
ends of the earth and salvation in
Jesus is offered to all.

 60,000 shepherds can be found in

the mountains of Lesotho. They live
in isolated communities, outside the
reach of the local churches.

10

11

SEPTEMBER
SUNDAY

A shepherds diet
consists of almost
exclusively papa (maize
meal) in the morning
and in the evening. In
order to share life with
the shepherds this is
all the team are eating
too. As a result they are
struggling to getting all
the nutrients they need.
Pray that they cope with
this limited diet.

SEPTEMBER
MONDAY

CHASING SHEEP
One of the Lesotho shepherds gave
this account of the TIMO team who
are living amongst them.

heard about these white men who

were going to come to the mountains
and I didnt believe it. When they
actually showed up I didnt think they
would last long. I still do not understand
why they keep coming back to stay
in the motebong (shepherd hut). It
is funny trying to see them herd the
sheep. They have improved and help
a lot by going out with the sheep. It
was really frustrating not being able to
communicate; only one of them knew
any Sesotho. The others were babbling
idiots. They have come a long way in the
few months they have been here but it is
still hard to have a good conversation. I
look cool walking around with a bunch
of white guys. I like having them here
so Im not alone at the hut and have
someone to sit with while watching the
sheep. It is also nice because they bring
peanuts and the good maize meal with
them!
Download a prayer sheet on the shepherds:

www.aimint.org/eu/shepherds

The shepherds sleep

on a rock shelf in their
huts. The team do
the same but with the
luxury of a camping
mat. Sleeping well
though is often difficult
because of the narrow
shelf and the high
altitude at which the
team live. Please pray
that the team are able
to adjust and get good
sleep.

SEPTEMBER
TUESDAY

A shepherds day is very

lonely and isolated.
Pray for the TIMO team
members as they live
this life, finding it hard
with lack of stimulation
and activity. Pray that
they will spend the time
thinking about God and
meditating on his word.

SEPTEMBER
WEDNESDAY

The team members

are working hard at
Sesotho. Give thanks
that they are learning
the language well. Pray
for consistent language
helpers to teach them
Sesotho so they can
explain the gospel
clearly.

SEPTEMBER
THURSDAY

Pray that God would

work in the hearts
and minds of the
shepherds. Pray that
the team develop
good friendships with
shepherds who will
then receive the gospel.
Pray that the shepherds
will know Jesus Christ
as their Lord and
Saviour and live lives
obedient to him.

SEPTEMBER
FRIDAY

Give thanks for such

a great team. Pray for
wisdom for Sam &
Leanna Williamson as
they lead the team. Pray
that they will encourage
each team member
to live for God, being
obedient to his word.

12

SEPTEMBER
SATURDAY

Pray for Chris, Tobias,

Mark, Spencer and
Caleb. Pray that these
men continue to be
exceptional men of God,
that they will grow in
their understanding
and knowledge of God
through the Scriptures.

WEEKLY
FOCUS

ray that through

the TIMO team
the shepherds of
Lesotho will hear the
gospel message,
receive it and live
obedient lives to
God.

September 13-19

PEOPLE
FOCUS:
THE SAKALAVA
Elly Schoepp serving as part
of the Sakalava Training in
Ministry Outreach (TIMO)
team with her husband Jed
and children James, Elias &
Ben shares her reflections on
the practicalities of living in
a Madagascan village.

JOYS AND CHALLENGES

uring the first year of

our time on Nosy Be,
Madagascar, it felt like
every day each experience was
either a joy or a challenge.
There was no in between, no
middle ground, no monotony.
The day would often begin
with joy. An amazing sunrise,
a delicious cup of coffee and
a quiet peaceful moment
of sitting either alone, or
with my husband Jed, or
one of our sons, on the deck
soaking in our new beautiful
surroundings. This joy would
quickly morph into a challenge
upon the arrival of our Sakalava
neighbors! Language barriers,
hospitality blunders, and the
stress of not knowing how
to gracefully say, Sorry, I
just started homeschooling,
would raise my anxiety. The
daily experiences seemed to
alternate back and forth the
good days predominantly joys;
the hard days full of challenges.
30

JOYOUS EXPERIENCES

Some of the simple,

everyday joyous experiences
that stand out include watching
our older boys come home
from catching birds, lizards,
or cicadas in the back yard
with their band of Sakalava
friends. They were hot, tired
and satisfied with their
catch, smiling and laughing,
speaking in Sakalava with
their slingshots hanging
around their heads. I think
of picking rice far up on the
hill with a beautiful breeze in
my face or planting greens in
the garden by the river with
my friend Laurette. Wed joke
around and chat about life:
children, husbands, cooking
and working. I consider the
stunning beauty of Nosy Be
the lush landscape, the tropical
fruit growing right outside
my door, the vanilla vines and
coffee blossoms growing wild
in the yard, the gorgeous blue
and green shades of the Indian
Ocean and marvel at the
privilege of living here.

EVERYDAY CHALLENGES

Everyday challenges are

harder to take on some days
more than others. Depending
on what else is going on in
the village or in our family,

something like not having a

fridge can range from a mild
nuisance to the last straw.
No electricity and no running
water are my first thoughts of
challenges, though they are less
of a hardship now than they were
at the beginning. Rainy season
brings several challenges such as
mud, no solar power, and cabin
fever. Its hard to get out of the
house; difficult to get supplies
from town; and infections from
cuts, scrapes, and mosquito bites
incubate and multiply in the
humid conditions.
With less than four months
left in this village Im trying
to savour the joys, and count
the challenges as endurancebuilders. I trust that God will use
these challenges weve faced over
the last two years to help mould
me into a woman more like the
one he wants me to be.

13

SEPTEMBER
SUNDAY

TAKING ROOT

n April 2013, the Sakalava

Training in Ministry
Outreach (TIMO) team
arrived in Nosy Be, Madagascar
to start ministry amongst this
unreached people group. Now
as they finish their term, regular
gatherings of those who are
interested in hearing the gospel
have begun and the Sakalava
even have songs explaining the
gospel in their own language.

The Band are a group of

local Sakalavan musicians
who became friends with the
TIMO team. When Scripture
was translated into the local
language the team shared it with
The Band, who promptly turned
it into song. Now the band
members increasingly want to
know more about the scripture
they are reading and beginning
to understand. Gatherings of
locals continue, and the team
are leaving with the knowledge
that scattered gospel seeds are
taking root and having seen the
beginnings of what we pray will
grow into a thriving Sakalava
church plant.
Watch a video of this band:
eu.aimint.org/sakalava2015

In April the team completed

two years on the field. We
now have one month to go
before we finish in October.
Please pray that we finish
well, particularly for those
families with children.
Pray for parents as they
help prepare their children
for the transition to their
culture back home.

14

SEPTEMBER
MONDAY

We praise God that we have

been able to organise more
and more gatherings in our
villages since August 2014.
Gods word has been spoken
and shared in the Sakalava
language.

15

SEPTEMBER
TUESDAY

In May, during our regular

gatherings we asked for a
response from the attendees.
Pray especially for those
who did respond, and for
those who perhaps lacked
the courage. Pray too that
those who have regularly
attended the gathering, but
who are still working it all
through, will respond to the
Lord.

16

SEPTEMBER
WEDNESDAY

Please pray for a new Focus

team, to be recruited in
2016. Please pray for some
current team members who
are now considering Gods
call in their hearts to return
for this ministry, that the
Lord would make it clear to
them.

17

SEPTEMBER
THURSDAY

We pray that God would

raise Sakalava believers to
lead Sakalava churches.
Please pray for Franois
and Josephine his wife, a
Sakalava couple who love

the Lord, to think more and

more of Sakalava ministry.

18

SEPTEMBER
FRIDAY

Pray for the translation

work, that more Scriptures
would be translated and
printed in the Sakalava
language. The team is
already using the translation
we have done for our regular
gatherings, along with
readings and songs.

Gods word has

been spoken
and shared in
the Sakalava
language.

19

SEPTEMBER
SATURDAY

This summer, we are

hosting six young people
on a Training in Ministry
Outreach (TIMO) Quest from
Canada, the US and the UK.
They will stay with us for
a month, with each team
member being assigned one
Quester as his/her disciple.
Pray that this life experience
would help the Questers to
see and feel what mission
is, and would help them
in decisions about future
mission.

WEEKLYFOCUS

ray for the Sakalava

people of Nosy Be,
Madagascar, that they
might come to know the
true God of the world.
Pray that they would
turn from looking to their
ancestors for protection
and blessing, and turn to
Jesus Christ, their true
spiritual brother, who is
the only one able to save
them.

September 20-30

SHORT TERM

Sarah McArthur and Bethany Sinclair with the choir

from their local church in Bunia.

Sarah McArthur and

Bethany Sinclair
are serving in the
Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC) after
finishing school, using
and developing French
language skills as well
as teaching English.

CULTURE SHOCK

riting this
six months
into our
eight month placement
in Bunia, DRC, we are
now very well versed in
introducing ourselves
and our work. Bethany
and Sarah, from Scotland,
teaching English (and
picking up some extra
stuff i.e. amateur
midwifery) - thats all you
need to know, right?
Before we came to DRC
we had heard a lot about
culture shock. We knew
it would happen, but
what shocked us the most
was not how different
the culture was and how
to adapt, but it was the
32

love God gave us for this

place. We had both felt
called to DRC for this
year, and we expected it
to be very different from
normal life back home
in bonnie Scotland. We
were not nave enough
to think wed enjoy every
moment of it; in fact,
we were sure that wed
positively hate some bits
(cockroaches...). But that
was okay as that was just
culture shock and this is
where God had called us.
Wed do our work despite
the frustrations, and there
would also be parts of the
culture that we would
love.
For the first few
months Bunia lived up
to expectations. We
liked getting to know
our neighbours and
colleagues, and really
disliked the motorbike
taxi drivers trying to get
to know us. We loved
the church choirs, but
struggled to connect to
the church services

SHORT TERM

IMs Short Term programme

allows anyone over the age
of 18 to get involved in crosscultural mission in Africa for three
months to one year. Our programme
shares the same values and vision as
long term ministry: going on a Short
Term mission trip means becoming an
integral part of how AIM is reaching the
unreached and building Christ-centred
churches across Africa. Opportunities
to serve range from Training in Ministry
Outreach (TIMO) Quests, where you
will have the opportunity to participate
in church planting, evangelism and
outreach projects amongst unreached
people groups, to teaching roles
alongside mission partners or fulfilling
administrative needs. Could you be part
of the amazing work that God is doing
in Africa?
If you are interested in Short Term, get in
touch with Tom at:
stc.eu@aimint.org

20

SEPTEMBER | SUNDAY

Tamsin Drew begins a

year-long assignment in DR Congo
at the start of October. Tamsin will
be working alongside Annemarie
Boks as a doctor in Adi. She will
be working in the hospital with
two permanent doctors who treat
those living with AIDS. Pray that
Tamsin would be a good support to
the doctors and for opportunities
for her to share her faith with those
she meets.

21

SEPTEMBER | MONDAY

themselves. We enjoyed
the food (well, most of it)
but it was always a nice
treat to have something
from home. And that was
okay! That was how we
expected things to happen
and carry on until we got
home where we would
miss the things we liked
and rejoice at leaving the
things we hadnt.

THE REAL SHOCK

But then the actual

shock came: we fell in love
- with DRC. God changed
our hearts so that all those
little things that annoyed
us became things that we
are by no means ready to
leave. And it happened
so fast! One day DRC
was alright, the next
it became our favourite
place... ever. Please let us
stay!!
There are several
experiences that showed
us this change. For
example, one night we
broke down and had to
stay in a small village
by the road from Adi
to Bunia. Rather than

frustration and fear

and exhaustion (not to
mention the cold!), all
we felt was immense
gratitude for how we were
welcomed by a widow
and her family. Or when
it was Bethanys birthday
and we were surprised by
the entire English choir
from our local church
turning up at our flat and
performing three songs
they had written for her.
Sarah went very rapidly
from being relieved her
birthday would be in
Scotland to wishing it had
been in Bunia!
These are just a couple
of random examples, but
it really shows that if you
are considering going on
Short Term mission and
are worried that you wont
enjoy it, you shouldnt. It
will be amazing. And if
youre considering going
on short-term mission and
think itll be wonderful,
just you wait, God will do
even more than you could
ever expect!

In October Tom Lott will be

heading out to Spain to meet with
Short Term Coordinators from
other mobilising and receiving
regions as they discuss how to
move forward with the Short
Term work as a whole. Please pray
for wisdom and guidance in the
decisions that are made.

22

SEPTEMBER | TUESDAY

A number of short termers

are returning this summer,
including: James, Anna and Julia
from Madagascar; Bethany, Sarah
and Caroline from DR Congo and
Paul & Di Allcock from Uganda.
Pray for all of these short termers
as they readjust to life back in the
UK and consider their future plans.

23

SEPTEMBER
WEDNESDAY

Summer 2015 saw the first GO

conference take place in Kenya.
GO is a two-month discipleship
and mission training program
that seeks to develop Christ-like
character and instil basic skills for
outreach among unreached people
groups. Pray that we would see
more and more people take up this
opportunity for training in 2016.

24

SEPTEMBER | THURSDAY

We have been blessed to

see short termers end up in all
areas of Africa in a wide variety of
situations. Pray that the hunger
for short term mission would grow
in this country, and that there
would also be a desire for former
short termers to become long term
mission partners.

 Julia and Anna enjoying the

view over the city of Tana in
Madagascar.

HELP BUILD
TEAM HOMES

IM are seeking to place

a Training in Ministry
Outreach (TIMO) team
amongst the unreached Ik
people in an idyllic spot along
the north eastern corner of
Uganda.
The TIMO team will live
amongst the Ik for two years,
seeking to share the glorious
gospel of Christ with them.
For the team to do that,
they need houses and this is
where Short Term can really
help. We are looking for a
team of people willing to work
together with nationals and
the TIMO team leaders to build
houses. These houses will not
be plush and luxurious, they
will be simple and appropriate
to the community they are
living in. We dont need
experts, but servants with open
hands and hearts. Alongside
construction, there will also be
opportunities to engage and
build relationships with the Ik
community. We pray that the
impact of construction will be
much deeper than houses built
with mud and brick, leading to
the development of spiritual
houses in the hearts of the Ik,
where Christ can dwell.
The team will begin from 2016
and at various points throughout
the year. If your interested, email:
stc.eu@aimint.org
34

TWO FRIENDS
IN MADAGASCAR
Julia Howarth and Anna
Wilmshurst are friends
from Bristol, both serving
in Madagascar for six
months after finishing their
A Levels.

MUCH HARDER THAN I

THOUGHT

anahoana
(hello)! At the
point of writing
we were both three and a
half months into a six-month
placement in Antananarivo,
the capital of Madagascar.
Whilst Anna is teaching
English conversation classes
to teachers at Madagascar
Christian Academy (MCA) and
dance to the students, Julia
is teaching English lessons
at Alpha School to adults,
incorporating news about
Jesus in her lessons. Honestly,
we didnt know a huge
amount about Madagascar
before we came here; it feels
like an island forgotten by the
rest of the world, unless youre
interested in cartoon animals,
in which case there are some
films we can introduce you
to! While Madagascar is an

There is work
to be done on
the mission field
both short and
long term, but
be ready for a
rollercoaster ride!
impoverished country and
in that there are things that
we cannot relate to, there
are bonds that tie us to the
locals at both our schools
and neighbourhood that
go deeper than wealth,
social status and skin colour
because of our unity in Christ.
Anna shares: Short Term
mission is much harder than I
thought it would be. I thought
that I would change so much
and that I would love every
minute of it. The reality is that
I spend a lot of time feeling
empty and useless, and while
God is teaching me it certainly
isnt always a fun process;
its challenging and difficult.
However, I really am enjoying
it here. I can see God at work

 RIGHT: In Madagascar 41%

of the population identify with
Christianity, 7% with Islam, the
majority follow Traditional African
Religions..

every day, especially when

talking to the teachers at MCA,
who have such a passion for the
gospel.

THERE IS WORK TO BE DONE

Julia shares: Madagascar

really does feel like home.
There are many difficulties,
the language barrier being a
very big one, but its incredible
to be continually learning
and meeting so many people
thanks to teaching at Alpha and
witnessing how God is working
across this island.
Our advice to anyone thinking
of serving on a Short Term
mission trip is to be completely
confident of Gods calling and

25

SEPTEMBER
FRIDAY

Gnter Springer is
about to return to
Germany having taught
English at the university
in Bunia, DR Congo,
since October 2014. Pray
for him as he adjusts
back to life in Germany
and that the Lord would
lead and direct him in
his future plans.

26

SEPTEMBER
SATURDAY

In July a team of
students from
Edinburgh University
Christian Union went
out to the island of Saint
Marie in Madagascar
to work with the local
church. Pray for those
that were reached by
the team that what they
heard and learnt would
have a lasting impact on
their lives.

aware of the difficulties that

you might face. However, if he
is calling you, go! There is work
to be done on the mission field
both short and long term, but be
ready for a rollercoaster ride! Be
prepared to be broken down and
put back together, fall in love
with the people you meet and
work with, and see how Christs
love is available for all.

27

SEPTEMBER
SUNDAY

John & Caroline Horder

will be teaching at
Ravine Bible College in
Eldoret, Kenya, from
September this year
for a three-month
period. Pray that John &
Caroline would prepare
well and that they
would adjust well to life
in Kenya.

28

SEPTEMBER
MONDAY

Pray for Tom and

Rosemary in the
Nottingham office
as they continue to
support the short
termers throughout
the whole Short Term
process. Pray that they
would be able to deal
well with the volume
of work and balance
priorities during busy
periods.

29

SEPTEMBER
TUESDAY

Pray for Ruth Box, Tim

Matthews, Peter Oyugi
and Alan Cousins as
they meet with various
university Christian
Unions around the
country. Pray that
students who are
being called to mission
would be bold and step
forward to serve the
Lord in Africa in 2016.

30

SEPTEMBER
WEDNESDAY

Please pray for potential

short termers who are
currently considering
serving the Lord in
Africa in 2016. Pray that
the Lord would guide
them to the right place
at the right time and
they wolud play their
part in making discipes
of Jesus Christ.

WEEKLY
FOCUS

s short termers
complete their
experiences in Africa
it is our hope and
desire to see them
being called to long
term mission. Pray
for those who are
considering that
ministry; that the Lord
would make that
call clear, pray that
their ears and hearts
would be open to his
leading.
See People & Places
for the current short
termers in Africa:
aimint.org/eu/
peopleandplaces

Opportunities to serve

REACHING THE
KARIMOJONG

Africa Inland Missions

JULY-SEPT 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

o you long to see people set free from

the bondage of destructive traditions
and into the fullness of Christ?
AIM is looking for men & women to work amongst the
Karimojong in Uganda. If you, or someone you know,
is interested in long or short term service, visit:

EU.AIMINT.ORG/KARIMOJONG

Design | Joe Morgan

graphics.eu@aimint.org
AIM Europe | July 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