Asilulu of Indonesia

Asilulu of Indonesia The Asilulu live on the island of Ambon in the villages of Asilulu and Ureng, in the province of Maluku. The Maluku Islands, historically called the Spice Islands, are a string of over one thousand islands scattered over the eastern portion of Indonesia. Fishing is the principle livelihood for the Asilulu. The Asilulu are Muslims. As such, they believe they will be judged based on their knowledge of the Qur'an, as well as what they did with their lives. The Asilulu have syncretized Islam with their traditional beliefs. Ministry Obstacles There is a lack of Christian resources available in the language of the Asilulu. Pray for resources to be developed and taken to the people. Outreach Ideas Before going to sea, the fishermen will first pray to God for blessings and protection. How wonderful it would be if oral stories of Jesus' fisherman followers could be used to help reach them. Pray for the followers of Christ There are no known followers of Jesus Christ among the Asilulu at this time, but pray for those the Lord will call to himself. Pray that even now teachers and pastors are being prepared to help them. Pray for the entire people group The Asilulu need a satisfactory means of transportation to market their produce in the cities of Ambon and Hitu, so that fish will still be fresh when they arrive. In recent years, outside provocateurs have sparked a deadly cycle of violence and revenge between various groups on Ambon. Peace, order, and restoration of the shattered island are desperately needed. Scripture Focus "Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who alone works wonders. And blessed be His glorious name forever; And may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen." Psalm 72:18-19		People Name: Asilulu Country: Indonesia 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 12,000 World Population: 12,000 Language: Asilulu Primary Religion: Islam Bible: None Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: No Audio Recordings: No Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.2

Cham, Eastern of Vietnam

Cham, Eastern of Vietnam The Eastern Cham is one of the most ancient ethnic groups in Southeast Asia. They live in the provinces along the coastline of southern Vietnam, and their villages are spread out in the coastal and Mekong Delta provinces. As a small minority group now overrun with poverty and persecution, one must remember that the Eastern Cham kingdom once reigned in Southeast Asia. The Cham are descendants from what was known as the Champa kingdom, which was located in Vietnam, areas of Cambodia, and southern Laos. The Eastern Cham are a mixture of Hindus and Muslims, but they are also highly influenced by traditional ancestor worship and animism. Ministry Obstacles Their religious beliefs contribute to their history and identity as a people group. This makes it difficult for Cham individuals to embrace Christianity, as doing so would result in expulsion from the community. Outreach Ideas Perhaps Christians in other Vietnamese tribes will be led by the Lord's Spirit to the Eastern Cham, to tell them about Christ. Pray they will be able to overcome any tribal hostilities, and be able to travel to the areas where the Cham live. Pray for the followers of Christ There are a number of individuals in this tribe who identify themselves as Christians. Pray they will grow in knowledge of what it means to live as a follower of Christ. Pray also they will be able to live as faithful followers of Christ, yet be able to stay in their culture. Pray for the entire people group The Cham are still considered to be a minority in Vietnam and are looked down upon. Because of this discrimination, the Eastern Cham people have very low self-esteem and self-worth as individuals and as a people group. Yet, they have pride in their heritage, as they vehemently point out to people who visit their villages that they are Eastern Cham, not Vietnamese. Scripture Focus "Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see." Matthew 22:9		People Name: Cham, Eastern Country: Vietnam 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 82,000 World Population: 82,000 Language: Cham, Eastern Primary Religion: Hinduism Bible: Portions Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: Yes Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.2

Hope for the Forgotten Ones

Hope for the Forgotten Ones

Southwestern China´s Yunnan Province is home to many tribal groups. They may speak different languages, but what many of them have in common is extreme poverty. Christian Aid is working with believers in one community to launch a comprehensive program that will offer a pre-school, medical care, and agricultural and vocational training. Students and alumni of a Christian Aid-assisted Bible school in China will facilitate the projects. We have the opportunity to purchase a 12-acre site where a multi-purpose facility can be constructed. The down-payment for the land costs about $300,000.

Proclaiming the Prince of Peace in Honduras

Proclaiming the Prince of Peace in Honduras

November 07, 2013

A wounded gang member is apprehended by police officers in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Over 4,700 gang members are youth or children.

It’s known as the homicide capital of the world. Shootings on the streets. Kidnappings. Twenty violent deaths on an average day.
We are not referring to Syria’s war zone, brutality between rival drug cartels in Mexico, or even ongoing bloodshed in the inner cities of the United States.
No, this claim to shame is owned by the small Central American country of Honduras, where gang violence, drug trafficking, and extortion has affected the very fabric of its society.
According to the United Nations “Global Study on Homicides,” Honduras had the highest murder rate of any country in 2011—at 91.6 killings per 100,000 inhabitants. For more than a decade, it has ranked consistently as one of the world’s most dangerous places to live.
Gang warfare has taken a particularly heavy toll on the souls of the nation’s young adult population. Out of an estimated 36,000 Hondurans who belong to gangs, more than 4,700 members are youth or children. Some are as young as 9 or 10.
Extreme poverty and fractured families are among the reasons children join gang communities. With no one to take them under their wing, they become easy targets for recruiters, who coax them with opportunities for fast money and “a better life.”

Fighting back

Leaders of Prince of Peace Mission of Honduras (PPMH) believe starting from the ground up is the best place to tackle their nation’s deep-rooted problems. That foundation is the Word of God and a transformed life through Jesus Christ.
The ministry sends out over 220 gospel workers to every corner of the country, from remote mountain villages to bustling urban centers. Through their determined outreach efforts, there are now more than 13,000 believers in fellowship with PPMH, and that number continues to increase. The believers gather in over 220 local assemblies and 75 mission posts.
In addition to planting churches, PPMH holds leadership and discipleship training to equip believers to become evangelists and pastors in their own communities. These Christian leaders, many of whom are younger men, play a crucial role as they model for children and teens what it means to follow Jesus and be a loving husband and father.

Prince of Peace Mission of Honduras holds Bible training workshops and prepares Christian leaders for service as pastors and missionaries. PPMH gospel workers have led former gang members to Christ.

Elvin is a 20-year-old man who was immersed in gang life and substance abuse as a teenager. A PPMH missionary shared the message of Christ’s unconditional love with him. He had always taken pride in being tough and self-sufficient, but Elvin realized he couldn’t break free of his addictions alone. He would need a Savior to help him clean up and redirect his life.
“He received Jesus, and the Lord transformed his life,” the missionary explained. “Elvin is eager to learn more about Jesus and is attending all of our congregation meetings.”
In another area where gang-led violence is widespread, a PPMH gospel worker met with local pastors to organize evangelistic crusades, group fasting, and prayer vigils for the restoration of peace to their communities. Fifteen people received Christ recently and are being discipled. After taking a Bible course, eight people decided to be baptized.
The worker was especially encouraged by the testimony of a young man who had been involved with gangs and was considered a juvenile delinquent in the town. He received Christ, and now this new believer shares his story with other young people in the hopes they will choose to follow the Prince of Peace.

Facing Challenges Head On

As one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, Honduras is confronted with a multitude of problems that cannot be remedied easily. The majority of people live below the poverty line. Massive devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch in 1998 only added to the nation’s economic woes.
Children and teens are the most vulnerable segment of the population. Some are left in the care of grandparents or older siblings so their parents can seek employment in neighboring countries. Others become street kids who fend for themselves by begging for food or stealing what they need to survive. They are easy prey for recruitment into youth gangs.
“Some of these kids have nowhere to go, so the gang becomes their family,” explained Rosa Hart, Christian Aid’s area director for Latin America. “They want to become a part of something, to belong somewhere, and good or bad, the gang is family for them.”
In other cases youth may be coerced into joining a gang. Recruitment isn’t limited to the streets. Sadly, schools are one of the places where gangs use harassment and intimidation to scare students into gang participation. It is not uncommon for gang members to resort to threatening harm against another youth’s family members if he or she does not comply with their wishes.
Hart said the key to steering children away from gang life is found in Proverbs 22:6—“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” That’s why PPMH sees the value in planting the seeds of God’s Word in young people’s hearts at an early age, so it will influence their decisions and actions when they are older.
“It’s important for them to not only be taught the Bible, but to learn how God works in their lives, in their own personal situations,” she said. “When they are faced with temptations, they will remember what they learned and hopefully find the courage to make the right choices. It’s crucial that Prince of Peace Mission reach out to the next generation, because they hold the future for their country.”
Christian Aid has sent financial help for several PPMH children’s programs, including hot meals and food packages for needy kids, Bibles, and school supplies. Through these simple gifts, boys and girls receive help for their material needs. Even more importantly, they experience Jesus’ love and know that they are precious children of their heavenly Father.

The ministry has planted more than 220 meeting halls and small fellowships across the country.

Although the ministry faces many societal challenges, PPMH is seeing a steady harvest for the gospel as it works in communities throughout the nation. More workers are needed, and the ministry is excited by the success of its Bible institute, called “El Shaddai,” where 600 students are currently enrolled to receive training as church leaders and missionaries. Two primary programs are offered—a three-year diploma and a five-year bachelor’s degree. Supporters of Christian Aid have helped pay expenses for some of the students who cannot afford the training.
Through the inspired efforts of PPMH, both children and adults are committing their lives to the Lord and growing in their faith. Pray that gospel workers will continue to impact lives for eternity as one person at a time, in one village at a time, hears and responds to the good news of true peace that can only be found in Christ.
Please pray:

• For youth as they face temptations to drop out of school, join gangs, and use alcohol and drugs. Pray they will have the love and support they need to make wise choices.
• For safety for PPMH workers and other evangelistic groups as they travel in areas where gangs are active.
• For Hondurans to turn to Christ in the midst of their sufferings as they deal with high unemployment, AIDS, government corruption, and widespread crime.

Use the form below to contribute online to help indigenous ministries in Honduras. Or call 434-977-5650 to contribute by phone. If you prefer to mail your gift, please mail to Christian Aid, P.O. Box 9037, Charlottesville, VA 22906. Please use Gift Code: 180PPMH. Thank you!

Mamprusi, Manpelle of Ghana

Mamprusi, Manpelle of Ghana The Mamprusi are part of the Na Gweba people originally from what is now Togo. Of the four people groups descended from Na Gweba, the Mamprusi are the leaders. Most Mamprusi live in their homeland, Mamprugu, an area of northeast Ghana between the Dagbani in the south and Frafra in the north. There are also small communities of Mamprusi in towns in southern Ghana. Two-thirds of marriages are polygamous. Children are given both Mamprusi and Muslim names. Naa-wuni is the supreme god, and people communicate with their ancestors through sacrifices and offerings. The literacy rate among the Mamprusi is less than 15%. Ministry Obstacles The low literacy rate of the Mamprusi people is a major barrier to the Gospel if it comes only in written form. Outreach Ideas Scripture is available in the Mampruli language, and audio recordings of the New Testament are available. The Jesus film and God's Story video are also available. Workers are needed to take these resources to the people. Pray for the followers of Christ Pray the Christian believers among the Mamprusi will regularly fellowship together, and that teachers and pastors will be sent to them, to teach and shepherd. Pray for the entire people group Pray the literacy rate for these people will gradually rise in years ahead. Pray for good schools for the children, and for literacy classses for adults. Scripture Focus "After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb." Revelation 7:9		People Name: Mamprusi, Manpelle Country: Ghana 10/40 Window: No Population: 276,000 World Population: 289,000 Language: Mampruli Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions Bible: New Testament Online Audio NT: Yes Jesus Film: Yes Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.2

Gilaki of Iran

Gilaki of Iran The Gilaki are one of the Caspian peoples, inhabiting the southern coastal region of the Caspian Sea. The inhabitants of Gilan province have often been the source of resistance and reform movements within Iran. For example, after World War I, the Gilaki demanded national reform and independence for their region. The Apostle Bartholomew may have spent time evangelizing in this area of the world around 50 A.D. Although Christianity was once a strong presence here, now it is extremely weak. Today, the Gilaki are virtually all Muslim. Ministry Obstacles Iran is hostile to any kind of overt Christian evangelistic effort. Outreach Ideas Scripture portions are available in the Gilaki language, as are other resources such as the Jesus film. But workers are needed to take these to the people. Creative means of access will be necessary to do this. Pray for the followers of Christ There may very well be no followers of Jesus among the Gilaki people today. If there are some, they need prayer support. Also, pray for those the Lord will soon draw to himself. Pray that scripture and other teaching resources will become available to them. Pray for the entire people group Pray the Gilaki people will increasingly hunger to know forgiveness for their sin, forgiveness that only Jesus Christ can offer. Pray they will not be satisfied with a religion that offers no forgiveness for sin and no power for living. Scripture Focus "Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You." Psalm 67:3		People Name: Gilaki Country: Iran 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 4,112,000 World Population: 4,112,000 Language: Gilaki Primary Religion: Islam Bible: Portions Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: Yes Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.1

Krung of Cambodia

Krung of Cambodia Indigenous ethnic groups of the mountains are known collectively as "Montagnards", and the Krung are one of these. They are culturally distant from modern Khmers. Most of these groups are matrilineal, tracing ancestry through maternal rather than paternal bloodlines. The Krung are very poor, with little access to schooling, health care, and electricity. Traditionally the Krung depend heavily on the forest for their livelihood and grow upland dry rice. Cash crops like cashew nuts and cassava provide limited income. Hunting, fishing, and raising animals provide protein in their diet. Rolling forested hills of red volcanic earth cover much of the Krung homeland and several major rivers traverse flat floodplains. They are not Buddhists, but practice their traditional religion. Ministry Obstacles The literacy rate of these poor people suggests the need for oral presentations of the Gospel. Bible portions are also available in their language. Outreach Ideas Located somewhat nearby is the Jarai people group, with a larger number of believers. Pray they won't keep the gospel blessing to themselves, but rather that they would share it with their Krung neighbors. Pray for the followers of Christ Please pray for the few Krung who would identify themselves as Christians. Pray they will understand what it means to follow Jesus as Savior and Lord, not mixing traditional beliefs with the purity of the Gospel. Pray for the entire people group Pray for fair treatment for the Krung by the government of Cambodia, protecting their land from encroachment by logging companies. Scripture Focus "Now to Him who is able to do exceedlingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21		People Name: Krung Country: Cambodia 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 22,000 World Population: 22,000 Language: Kru'ng 2 Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions Bible: Portions Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: No Audio Recordings: No Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.2