PRAYER LIFE
(Last updated 03-01-10)
Haiti
After a devastating earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, the Alliance family responded with overwhelming generosity, having given almost $600,000 toward relief efforts by alife press time. Compassion and Mercy Associates (CAMA), the C&MA’s relief and development arm, moved quickly to meet immediate needs and will continue to be involved in long-term rebuilding and development work in the impoverished nation during the months and years ahead.
“CAMA is committed to working with a number of Alliance entities that have contact with Alliance-related churches in Haiti,” says CAMA’s president, Phil Skellie, “including the Metropolitan District, the Southeastern District, the Puerto Rican District, the Haitian Association and the C&MA of the Dominican Republic.
“The following criteria will be used in disbursing aid: churches that have been severely damaged or have members who were killed or seriously injured; churches that are willing to provide ‘sweat equity’ and a portion of rebuilding costs; and churches that are willing to provide reporting and transparent accounting. CAMA wants to avoid helping that hurts—i.e., helping that promotes dependency rather than self-reliance. We are committed to working with the hurting in a manner that points them to the One who loves them and will enable them to rebuild their lives as they trust in Him.”
Within one week after the earthquake, at least 60 people received Jesus as their Savior through the ministry of a C&MA-related church in Carrefour, Port-au-Prince. The pastor, Frenel Cevedieu, has been feeding 600 people every day, and the Lord continues to bless his ministry with new converts.
“On behalf of the Haitian Association, I want to thank the Alliance family for your help and the attention given to the catastrophe that happened in Haiti,” says Rev. Emmanuel Seide, an official worker of the Haitian Association of the C&MA.
After 200 years of poverty and instability in Haiti, the response of the Church could be a turning point in the nation’s history as Haitians experience the compassion of Christ expressed through His people. Please pray that God will comfort the millions of Haitians who lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods and meet their needs. Pray for unity, wisdom and stamina for Alliance workers and CAMA staff members who are engaged in relief and rebuilding efforts. And pray that the people of Haiti will see Jesus as their ultimate source of help and hope.
Russia
We are excited to be coming alongside “Paul” (not his real name). He has the heart of an evangelist and has spent time in confinement, like his namesake, for the gospel. Paul is a young leader, a husband and father of four, with a heart for seeing churches planted in Moscow among central Asians. The great majority of those who come from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan work whatever jobs they can find, which is often back-breaking menial labor. This includes sweeping streets, hauling garbage and even taking care of portable toilets 18 hours a day. But, in this environment, many of them are free from the watchful gaze of religious leaders in their home countries and have the chance to hear the gospel for the first time—and they are responding!
Paul meets regularly with leaders of these people, and they pray for much fruit and for the opportunity to reach, disciple and equip central Asians to reach their own. This is a way God is pushing back the darkness among these very resistant people groups! There is great opposition to Paul and his fellow leaders, both here and in their home countries. As I meet with them and hear their stories, I am overwhelmed and amazed that God would put us in this place of incredible opportunity! Pray that as I meet with Paul and other leaders, they would be encouraged and that the fire they have for their people here in Moscow would not be quenched!
—Phil and Melissa Arndt
Senegal
The longer we have been in the capital city of Dakar, the more pleased we are that we spent our first year and a half in the north part of the country in Saint Louis, Senegal. Although the people in Dakar have the outward appearance of being urban, most grew up in the villages and still have family there. We spent a lot of time in the villages near Saint Louis and are now reaping some of the rewards of learning about life in the village.
Our friend, Ibrahima, lives a few miles from us in Dakar, and this past month we were able to go to both his village and his wife’s village. He kept saying how important it was to him and his family that we took the day to visit them.
At the end of last year, we were also able to have another Bible study with a village chief and his wife. We studied the story of the tower of Babel, and they continue to show interest. Please pray for us to finish this term well and to also have direction for our future ministry in Senegal. The opportunities are endless. We have good village contacts, but we also have opportunities in Dakar with business people, university students and others. We don’t want to be overextended and are praying that God would sharpen our vision.
—Andy and Lauren Babyak
Alliance Life
The Christian and Missionary Alliance
8595 Explorer Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
Phone: 719-265-2171
Fax: 719-599-8234
E-mail: alife@cmalliance.org