Tag Archive for: Short term missions

Michael Philip

Missions Committee in Turkey

One of our core values as a church is our involvement in global missions most especially to unreached people groups. Paul writes in Romans that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved, but then questions,

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?”

(Romans 10:14)

The Rosebank Union Church Missions Committee is a team of people who support Jenni Kurten (our Missions Director) in the task of overseeing the missionaries that we send. This team of church members meet each month to assess the health of our missionaries and to help support them on behalf of the church.  

In order to fuel our passion for the need for gospel-centred missionary work in some of the least reached places in our world, the members of the missions committee, together with some of their spouses (and one son), travelled to Turkey with a local pastor.

This pastor had for a number of years served as a missionary in Eastern Turkey before having to leave the country. Turkey has historically been very hostile to any Christian workers with a number of missionaries and Christian workers being martyred in the not too distant past. Turkey is currently predominantly Muslim, with Islam being the state-sponsored religion. Only an estimated 0.2% of the population of about 75 million people profess to be Christian (with only a few thousand people in the whole country being evangelical Christians). 

Despite its proud history of Christianity over the last two thousand years, today Turkey is a distinctly unreached people group. An unreached or least-reached people is a people group among which there is no indigenous community of believing Christians with adequate numbers and resources to evangelize that people group. So, echoing Paul’s words, how then can they hear and believe unless someone is sent to proclaim the Gospel to them?

As a church this is why we want to prioritise finding creative ways of sending people to share the Gospel in these least-reached places.

Our Experience

Ancient Mosaics in Hagia Sophia

We spent one day in Istanbul exploring some of the incredible historical sites of that burgeoning city (Istanbul is currently the 4th biggest city in the world with over 17 million people). An amazing highlight was visiting the Hagia Sophia – originally a church dating back over 1500 years. Despite the Islamization of the city, it is amazing to see evidence of the pre-existing Christian heritage. 

We then flew to Eastern Turkey, and spent the remainder of our short week in Turkey exploring  some of the towns and places where our guide had worked while he was a missionary. We we able to meet people he had befriended and see and experience some incredible places. 

ishak Pasa Sarayi -Kurdish Palace

We visited Mt Ararat near the city of Dogubeyazit and explored an ancient Kurdish Palace on the Mountains bordering Iran. We walked through the ghost city of Ani on the border with Armenia (sometimes called the valley of 1001 churches). We stayed in the town of Erzurum, which is home to one of the oldest Islamic schools in Turkey. We drove through the Georgian Valleys and experienced the incredible beauty of the landscape and marvelled at the ruins of a 1000 year-old Christian church. We finally visited the town of Trabzon, which is home to the only functioning church on the Black Sea coast of Turkey. We sat in the pew where the previous minister was gunned down while praying by an anti-Christian nationalist. We prayed with the new minister – a Turk born in Tarsis (the same city where the apostle Paul was born). 

Ancient Church in the Georgian Valleys

Again, the historical evidence of Christianity was both amazing but equally disheartening. It is so sad to think that the Christian faith has been all but eradicated when it was once quite prevalent in these regions. 

The words of Jesus seem so relevant when thinking of this beautiful country of Turkey and her sadly unreached people, 

“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

(Matthew 9:37-38)
  • Hagia Sophia
  • Mt Ararat

Some Reflections from the team:

Merilyn and I found the trip to be amazing in so many different ways. The opportunity to experience such a different culture, to meet amazing people, and to experience many ancient Christian sites was all such a blessing. I think the thing that left us most impacted though, was how fervently and “religiously” people follow Islam. They work so hard to be good Muslim people, yet their work is in vain – good works can never get you into a relationship with God, and they don’t know this. It really burdened us and made us realize the work that is still to be done. Thank you to everyone for your prayers and the support that got us there and sustained us while we were away.

Brett & Merrilyn France

Turkey was an unbelievable experience – from the vibe in Istanbul in the West, through to the cultural heritage of Erzurum in the East. It’s a unique country with unique and friendly people. What struck me the most was the pervasiveness of Islam which is as much incredible as it is sad. Very few Christians walk the face of this country and most of them are not even Turks. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

Steyn Bronkhorst (Missions Committee Chairman)

We were very privileged to be led through eastern Turkey by a Pastor who had lived among the Turks and spoke the language fluently. This opened up the country and people to us in ways that wouldn’t have ordinarily been possible. One of the most sobering moments was spent sitting in the pew of a church where the Pastor had been martyred as he was praying in his church. We were able to pray with
his successor who had taken up his post knowing fully the sacrifice of his predecessor and knowing well that he might be called on to do the same one day. We should treasure the freedom of worship we have and never squander it.

Helen Chinyanta

Turkey is a stunning country with amazing people. It was sad that most Turks will never meet a Christian. I’m more motivated than ever to live out my missional purpose for God’s glory. Turkey’s time for revival will come and I’m glad to be part of that story.

Ryan Reddy

I was deeply impacted by how easily the gospel of truth can be eradicated just over a few generations and can be taken over by another religion. Visiting all the historical sights in Turkey, challenged me to stand up unashamedly for the gospel and defend the truth where I live, play and work. The Turkey visit made me realize how privileged I am to live in the land where I can worship the one true God freely. But most importantly I was challenged about taking action towards cementing the gospel truths in the hearts of our children in a very unapologetic way. This challenge has compelled me to take steps in making our family bible study an integral part of our lives, so that the next generation who are our children can be firmly rooted in the truths concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sarah Njamu
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S.E. Asia Mission Trip

S.E. Mission Trip

Over 2 weeks in April, a team of three Young Adults from RUC, partnered with OMF Southern Africa and Nick & Trish Bekker , on a short term mission trip to a closed country in South East Asia.

Here are some of their insights:

Brett

The Lord did many things in me while in a closed country in South East Asia, but the thing that left the biggest impact on my life was seeing how the family we stayed with lived out their calling. It is a closed country and you are not allowed to be a mission ary there. Yet the family was so clearly in love with Jesus and did everything to the glory of God that faith conversations couldn’t but happen with the locals. God challenged me on this point in the way that I live in an open country, yet I live in more fear of sharing my faith than this family who lives in a closed country. God really challenged me on this!
It was an amazing time and I really felt God’s presence with us – I can’t wait to see what he has in stall for this unreached people group!

Thembi

The mission trip in BN was incredible. It never met any of my expectations. I imagined it would be something like the trips I’ve had before but it wasn’t. I thought I was relatively fit but trail building and mountain biking is not for the faint hearted. On top of that, as the only girl in the team, I was completely out of my comfort zone. But God kept up my strength and I persevered. I’ve never sweated so much in my life! The most important thing I learnt was that missional living is an act of intentionally looking for a way to share the gospel every day. We don’t have to be in another country to witness when our neighbours are also our mission field. I learned to let go of my misconceptions about how God works. I had to rely on Him in every way to be my joy through the heat, my tired body and in the midst of the unfamiliar. God showed Himself to be trustworthy. It was my favourite trip of all.

Myles

I went in to South East Asia to work hard, to work the land that will hopefully one day produce an abundant crop. However I did not expect to meet Christ followers whose whole lives are lived being intentional in creating relationships for the proclamation and sharing of the good news in Christ. Their intentionality has really got me asking the question “How intentional am I?” There was a glimmer of how plentiful the harvest is both afar and back at home.

“The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.” Luke 10:2

The trip really was too short but has left an imprint in me, of prayer that all of us may be workers in the field and that we be intentional for Gods glory.

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Justin Tamlin

Ukraine Short-Term Mission

During the month of July, 10 people from RUC travelled to Ukraine to teach English and minister to over 200 people at two evangelistic camps with our missionaries, the Naydenovs. Here is some feedback from a few of us who had the privilege of going.

“This has been the most amazing time for me. I came here to teach and share the gospel yet my faith just grew here and I have so much joy. The people are just amazing. God is doing such amazing things in these people’s lives. God has given me such a deep love for the Ukrainians.” Tracy Naidoo

“God has given me a desperate need to minister to the youth of Ukraine. I don’t want to come back on Monday. God has taught me that showing genuine affection in the smallest of ways reflects him to thirsty souls. He is the Lord of all nations. Five campers came to know the Lord yesterday. We rejoice in the Lord for them. Please continue to pray for them and for those who aren’t saved for God to lead them to him.” Lerato Chaba

“My favourite day was yesterday when some campers accepted Jesus. I was apprehensive the whole week and this changed me completely. I had a great time.” Thembi Sishi

“What a privilege to be used by God in the lives of Ukrainians. The Lord provided for our family to be able to go to a foreign land and culture. By his strength he enabled us to adjust to the challenges and for each one of us to be used to impact lives for eternity. The Ukrainians welcomed us, loved us and showed us generosity. We had some really deep opportunities to share our lives with others. I come back deeply humbled and with a very different perspective on myself and my own country.”
Justin Tamlin

“I loved meeting new people in Ukraine. I liked teaching them English, especially reading the stories to the children. I also liked telling them about Jesus. My favourite time at camp was doing the crafts in the afternoons. I also liked finding jellyfish with Olivia in the Black Sea.”
Summer Tamlin, 9 years old

“It was really awesome to be in Ukraine. I enjoyed the water games and splashing all my new friends. The African tea party was really fun, especially when the Ukrainians made themselves up with African face paints – some of them really went overboard!” Amber Tamlin, 12 years old

“Being on the Ukraine Missions trip was a fantastic way to serve in another culture (which was very challenging to get used to at first) and to serve the team that accompanied us. I was reminded again about how easy it is to share God’s word when relational ministry is the focus. Too often amongst all our planning, agendas and ideas we lose focus of relationships and allowing the Holy Spirit to work. Besides the language camp, spending quality time with our missionaries was a real highlight for me.” Liesl Tamlin

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Thailand Missions Trip (1-12 December 2012)

Sawadi Ka/Kap (hello in Thai)

Recently Rosebank Union Church had the opportunity to send a team of short-term missionaries to work alongside Ed and Ros Thomas in Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand. The team included Andre and Jenni Kurten (the team leaders/parents), Peter and Tracy-Ann Willcock, Dora and Phumi Sitole, Norma Young, Rob Macfarlane, Talya and Gemma Carter, Pierre Venter, David Jones, and one of Rosebank Union’s missionaries, Mandisa Makasi. The trip was absolutely heart-stirring as we grew in our appreciation for Jesus and the gospel in our own lives. God also planted and strengthened the desire in our hearts for the gospel to be known among all people of all nations. Both of these aspects became more meaningfully embedded in our hearts as we ministered in a country that is 98% Buddhist.

First thing’s first. We want to take this opportunity to thank all the people who were involved with supporting the team, whether financially or in prayer. We could not have done the trip without you, you played a crucial role in the ministry amongst those we interacted with.

God’s amazing provision prior to and during the trip astounded us all and we all grew in the knowledge that God is truly faithful. An example of this was the weather that we experienced while we were there; a few weeks before our work in Ao Nang, it had been raining solidly, but from the moment we arrived, the sun shone constantly until the day our mission came to an end.

What we did on the trip

One of the first days in Ao Nang we went on a 1237 step journey to ‘Tiger Temple’ on the top of a mountain. “Pressing on toward the goal” (Philippians 3:14) took on a whole new meaning! Upon arrival at the peak, still panting from tiredness, our breath was taken away once more by the astounding beauty of the nature surrounding us. Psalm 95:4-6 came into mind: “In His hands are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! (ESV).” During this time we also prayed over the town, city and country and for God’s redemption over the people of Thailand.

Other activities which we were involved in included: prayer walks around Ao Nang; teaching English at a church-run English-language school; community rubbish clean ups; pavement outreach, where we sang Christian songs and evangelised; spending meaningful amounts of time with various local individuals who God has been readying for the gospel; visiting various temples and other culturally significant places in order to grow in the understanding of Thai culture; preaching and praying at local churches; fellowshipping with local Christians and with one another; baptising two members of the team; and worshipping together in song, word, service and fellowship.

In closing, we would like to ask you to please keep Thailand on your prayer list as God continues to do amazing things there. Please pray for Ed and Ros Thomas, Mandisa, Dave Gilcrest and his family, who are currently serving the Lord in Thailand.

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Transform – Short Term Missions

This year over 350 people came from all over the globe to join the first week of Transform in Rome. It was a time to equip each team with skills for their areas of work, to get to know one another and also to prepare spiritually, mentally and physically for their missions ahead. The days started with a typical Italian breakfast and then broke up into worship sessions, prayer sessions, education sessions and then fun time for meeting and mixing with each other. On the last day of the conference all 350 people left to go and put their skills into practice by transforming the centre of Rome, which at that time was full of tourists and travellers. Armed with pamphlets in every language, solar powered Arabic Bibles, Bibles and lots of love they set out to change the day in Rome.

So many people’s lives were transformed that day so many stories were shared. Stories of miracles in areas where Christianity is banned and the amazing work been done. Stories of people with addiction problems and horrific youths were all touched through transform and how those people have gone on to grow communities and churches in their own regions. The teams all left for their various destinations for their missions. Some of the destinations included, Morocco, Greece, Portugal, Albania, Italy and Sicily. Team members stayed from as little as two weeks to one month to one year. Each person was lead in their own way as to how long they should stay and where they should go.

I would like to encourage anyone wanting to change their own lives and those of others to consider Transform 2013. It’s amazing to see how so many people can unite in one place from all over the world all in the name of God and bring transformation into the region.

transform.om.org

-by Cindy Parvess

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