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In This Issue

The Ecology of Church Planting

ABWE’s Core Ministries Institute Training Team

Will it ever survive? you wonder, as you look at the apple tree sapling you brought halfway across the world, hoping that under your green thumb the radical change in conditions would not affect its growth. You quickly observe all your new neighbors plant only banana trees. Uh oh, bad sign. What are the chances that your plant would take root, grow, bear fruit, and reproduce in this new environment? What approach should be taken to nourish the life of your tree in this new soil and climate?

Living Out Wisdom Literature in Middle Eastern Culture

Susan Schmidt, Middle East

At first appearance, people in the Middle East, where we serve, can look and act like us from the West. They adopt many of our external trappings, while remaining unaffected at an ideological level. This can confuse many Europeans and Americans. People groups who have actively rejected the claims of Christ for 2,000 years may drive a Mercedes and they may be outfitted with the latest weapons, but their leader may rule their country like a tribal chieftain or a feudal lord from medieval times.

Consider the Joy

Bill Commons, Strategic Initiative and Research

Serving as one of “God’s foreigners” is not for wimps. Going international as an ambassador for Christ involves culture shock and ongoing culture and climate stress, struggling to learn and use a new language effectively, discouragements within marriage and family, health problems, conflicts with missionary and national colleagues, loneliness, disappointment, and spiritual fatigue. We can tell it like it is. Most missionaries, at one time or another, have been tempted to throw in the towel. Yet when enduring by God’s grace over the long haul, the joys far outweigh the sorrows.

Online Features

Speedboat Untied

Andrew Large, Nicaragua

How would you like to take a camping trip that would last two weeks? How would you like that camping trip to be taken in a speedboat along the Amazon River? Some time ago, we purchased a used, 33-foot aluminum boat to visit a particular, small group of churches. It served for hauling materials and workers for the ministry center, as well as to visit area churches.

Ten Days of Casave

Andrew Large, Nicaragua

“Riquelme, what are we going to eat?” I asked Riquelme Vela, a jovial pastor friend who had a big heart for people. The plan was to visit eighteen villages made up of four different Indian tribes and dialects along the Amazon tributary rivers. Riquelme Vela was to accompany me on a ten-day evangelistic and edification trip to these river villages. The arrangement we had made was that during our trip, I would provide the gas for the speedboat, and Riquelme would provide the food. When Riquelme stepped down from the dock into the speedboat, he carried only his little suitcase and a grocery-sized bag.

Something Unusual in France

Frank and Marlea Pfeifer

When driving along the Mediterranean Sea in the South of France you may stumble across the ancient Roman city of Beziers and its rare gem—a new, stand-alone church building that was completed in the year 2000. While most evangelical churches in France are held in rented storefronts or buildings, a modern stand-alone church building is a rarity; especially in a country where the percentage of evangelical Christians is comparable to that of Egypt or other Muslim countries.

Story Archive

Negotiating Culture Stress

Julie Sanders

Over the branches of the Narra tree in the front of our house, I can see the towers of the city. They are draped in a mango-colored glow, as typhoon winds move over the skyline with the sunset. From a distance, the towers seem beautiful. However, when I walk by the base of the buildings, the smell of urine fills my nose, and I dodge trash floating in diesel-colored puddles. The up-close reality is uncomfortable.