As you read this, Dr. Bierle and I will be visiting India
and Nepal, launching FaithSearch Discovery
in two new languages. In Mumbai, India's largest city (population
13 million) and in Nagpur (2 million) we will be teaching pastors
and training teachers with the new Marathi language materials.
Marathi, spoken by 70 million people, is India's fourth most
widely spoken language. Following those events we will travel
to Nepal, the home of Mount Everest, to introduce FaithSearch
Discovery to a new country eagerly awaiting this effective evangelistic
tool. The book Surprised by Faith has been translated
into Nepali (17 million native speakers in three countries).
We will prepare teachers to begin implementing a locally sustainable
ministry.
In 1950, there were no Christian believers in Nepal, officially
a Hindu kingdom. I first visited Nepal in 1990, when the number
of believers had grown to about 20,000 and they were being recognized
by the government, although there was still considerable opposition
and persecution. Today there are over half a million followers
of Christ across that nation and there is a great need for the
kind of training FaithSearch provides.
Carlos just returned from another fruitful visit to Mexico
where the leader of the Evangelical Fellowship has asked that
FaithSearch be presented to a conference of leaders
later in the year. He also taught Discovery at a seminary in
Mexico City, and spoke on several occasions at churches and
other venues.
Oleg is introducing FaithSearch to Moldova,
a former Soviet state tucked between Ukraine and Romania. He
was detained at the border (he was traveling by bus from Odessa,
Ukraine) for two hours under threat of fine and the confiscation
of the books he had with him. He managed eventually to get through
unscathed, and reported in an E-mail, "[The border guards]
almost made me late to my first Discovery event in Chisinau
[capital of Moldova] but it completely paid off when I had a
full house of college age youth come from about ten different
churches in Chisinau."
As we praise God for all these opportunities our gratitude
goes out to all who continue to support this ministry with their
prayers, their time, and their finances. Please do pray
with us for God's wisdom as we consider invitations from Southeast
Asia, Africa, and other parts of the world.
EDITOR'S NOTE: FaithSearch is only able
to meet these exciting ministry opportunities as God provides
the necessary resources for our international projects. Could
you help support our exciting work in Russia (project budget
of $75,000) Latin America ($75,000) Southeast Asia ($20,000)
or other parts of the world ($25,000)? Use the reply form on
the enclosed letter to designate your gift. Thank you.
