World Partners Update: November 2011

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Bringing Good News to Children in Chad

By Ashley Mazelin

Serving God is never easy, but for some it is a lot more difficult than others. Karina Corrales, an Argentine missionary to Chad, is one of those people who could be considered a hero for the gospel. Karina is currently fighting the difficult battle of serving God while suffering with malaria.

Though Karina is plagued with illness, she has become the first Grace Brethren missionary ever to be dedicated to full-time children’s ministry in Chad. In a culture that considers women and children inferior to men, at times treating them with disregard, Karina has been able to go beyond cultural norms. Working alongside 15 GBC Chadian leaders, Karina and her team have developed Sunday school lessons and curriculum for children ages 3-14. She is the advisor to the National Sunday School committee, a group of pastors who are in charge of children’s ministry among the Grace Brethren churches in Chad. Continue...

Spiritual Great-Grandchildren and a Legacy

by Dave Guiles, Executive Director

I will never forget the moment when I was introduced to my great-great-(add five more greats)- grandson in the faith. In a Buenos Aires shantytown not far from where we lived, our spiritual children were reproducing at an amazing rate. By God’s grace, they really believed they could lead others to Christ, and multiple generations of new believers were standing before me.

Something similar is happening on a global scale. Multiple generations of Christ-followers are taking upon themselves the responsibility of making disciples of the nations. Some of their stories are included in this edition of Kairos.
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Reaching the lost in Cambodia

By Ashley Mazelin

Every college student is faced with the dilemma of trying to find great student housing while spending as little money as possible. However, in Battambang, Cambodia, home to six universities, several colleges, and thousands of students, it is hard to come across decently priced, available apartments. Chhay Seng, a missionary who has served in Cambodia for 10 years, came up with a solution to give college students a cheap place to live. This arrangement gives him opportunities to share the love of Christ and a chance to speak the gospel message.

Chhay is burdened for college students, and believes that they are the key to reaching Cambodia as a whole for Christ. “They are students today,” said Chhay, “but in the next two or three years they will go back to their home town and start working in an organization or company…If we can train them now, they will shine their lives among the lost.”

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Day of Generosity Empowers Filipino National Ministry Partner

By Ashley Mazelin

Amidst the steamy jungles in the heart of the Philippines works a National Ministry Partner whose life is completely devoted to sacrificially following God and loving others: Olivia Ledesma. The mission coordinator of Grace Brethren Philippines, Olivia strengthens the evangelistic ministries of local churches and church planters. Right now she is working on organizing and developing three churches, hoping to have a church in Sum-ag organized by 2012, one in Caridad by 2013 and one in Kipot by 2015. She also organizes "Go Grace" Philippine trips, which are groups of Grace Brethren believers that come to the Philippines to evangelize through dramas, film showings, tract evangelism and several other methods of evangelizing. Last March, Olivia’s neighbor Anthony, his wife, two daughters and his mother-in-law all came to know the Lord on a personal level. Olivia is excited to see the fruit of sharing the gospel. Continue...