REACHING ASIA THROUGH NATIONAL WORKERS
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EFFECTIVE STRATEGY
By Mr. Jonathan D. James
Although much has been accomplished for Christ in the last 2000 years, Asia continues to be the most challenging continent in terms of evangelism. Consider the following staggering statistics:
Asia Evangelistic Fellowship International is a mission organization dedicated to the spread of the Gospel through the strategy of training Asians to reach Asia. Founded by well-known Evangelist and Missionary Statesman Dr. G.D. James in 1960, AEF currently has some 200 national workers deployed in 9 Asian countries. CULTURE SPECIFIC EVANGELISM The heartbeat of AEF's ministry is to reach the unreached in Asia through National Workers. In Myanmar (Burma), where no foreign missionaries are allowed, our workers reach out to the 75% Burman people group as well as the neglected community of tribal like the Wa, the Mru and the Dhai peoples. Some 25 Buddhist Monks have come to Christ through the ministry of our Director who was formerly a Buddhist Teacher. In Nepal, a Hindu kingdom, our 20 National Evangelists have planted 25 Churches and Mission points among the Tamang, Rai and Newari people. In these countries as well as in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, India and Philippines culture-specific strategies are being used to reach the various people groups.
INDIGENOUS TRAINING AEF has established indigenous training centres in various countries. In North East India, a modest training centre was established in one of the most hard to reach States - Arunachal Pradesh. Although anti-conversion laws exist in this state, our training centre has trained some 50 evangelists, who in turn have brought some 250 people to Jesus Christ in the last two years!
SPECIALIZED MINISTRIES Wherever possible, AEF has established literacy schools to meet the educational needs of the people in the name of Jesus Christ. In North West India alone we have close to 1,000 registered students attending our literacy schools. Many of the Hindu students and parents have been moved to consider the claims of Jesus Christ through the faithful witness of our teachers in the schools. Locally written tracts and booklets are used in all of our fields with much success. Radio is used especially in restricted countries as an evangelistic and teaching tool. SUPPORT AEF International through its network of support bases in New Zealand, USA and Australia undertakes to financially support the new missions in different Asian countries. The understanding is that as the mission field in Asia matures, local support is also forthcoming. I was moved to witness the generosity and sacrificial giving of the local Christians. One Christian lady in Nepal who works as a 'rag picker' worked hard to give 180 Rupees (approximately AUD$10) over a one month period so she could buy a large bag of rice to feed 70 evangelists during our 2 day National Workers' Conference. What a tremendous example of dedication to our Lord and stewardship of his resources!
TIME TO ACT The greatest battle for the souls of men, women and children is taking place in Asia -the final frontier of world missions. The Church in the Western World must seize this opportunity to evangelize Asia. God has raised AEF and many other likeminded groups for such a time as this. AEF has the wide network of national workers in 9 countries, the training centres and the culture-specific strategies. We invite you to prayerfully participate with us in this Asia wide ministry. Will you pray? Will you give? Will you be equipped to reach Asian migrants in your country? Will you 'adopt' a national missionary in Asia? When you respond as God would have you respond, Asia will see that 'thirty fold', 'sixty fold' and even 'hundred fold' increase and multiplication of the Gospel promised in Scripture (Matthew 13:23). |
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