Skip to main content
green and gold islam pattern

Day 3 – Pray For The Pashtuns

By Blog

The Story:

Pashtuns (Pukhtuns, Pathans) are a 60+ million tribal group living in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and in the Middle East as contract workers. Pashtuns are warrior-romantics; fierce in defense of their honor, but enjoying music, poetry, and flowers. Linguistic and cultural differences separate the Pashtuns of Pakistan from those of Afghanistan and also distinguish one tribe from another. However, Pashtuns agree that adherence to orthodox Sunni Islam, and strict observance of Pashto religio-cultural codes are common to all. A strong sense of religious purity separates Pashtuns from other religions, including Christianity. Yet there are an un-numbered few who follow Christ in their homelands. Among them are those who are reaching out with the Word of God to their own people.

Believing Pashtuns translate and distribute the Word in print, audio, and video. For this generation, the Bible in Pakistani Pashto was published in 2019, and the New Testament in Afghan Pashto in 2023. Those with a laptop or smartphone can access the Scriptures in four major dialects of Pashto through Pashtozeray.org, afghanbibles.org and the Prophets Stories App. The Pashtun love of poetry makes the Psalms and Proverbs especially popular.

As religious extremism prevents most believers from meeting in person, connection online for a Discovery Bible Study is an important way by which Pashtuns can interact with God’s Word. Recently, several believers met online to talk about charity, fasting and prayer—the traditional means of earning treasure in heaven. On hearing what the Bible teaches, one man responded, “Our hearts have been enlightened by hearing God’s word! We believe in this holy Word.”

Prayer Points:

  • That isolated Pashtun believers would receive comfort and instruction from the Spirit.
  • For the translation and distribution of Scripture resources in the various dialects of Pashto.
  • For discipleship of Pashtun believers and the emergence of godly church leaders.

This story and prayer points are published in the “30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World” prayer guide provided by World Prayer Guides. Please consider purchasing your own downloadable version or make a donation to World Prayer Guides to support their work.

green and gold islam pattern

Day 2 – The Turks In The Earthquake Zone

By Blog

Today is the second day of Ramadan and our second day of praying for people in the Muslim world. Every day from now until March 29th we will be sharing from the “30 Days of Prayer For The Muslim World” prayer guide, published by World Prayer Guides. We’d love for you to join us! Check our blog daily or follow us on Instagram (@the_global_mission) or Facebook (/theglobalmission). You can also download your own printable prayer guide from WorldPrayerGuides.org

Prayer Points:

  • Please pray that God will draw those copying out the scriptures to himself
  • Pray that the new believers will remain firm in their decision to follow Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
  • Pray that God would make the church a light that points to Christ.

The Story:

In February 2023, two strong earthquakes destroyed the biblical city of Antioch, affecting over 9 million people in the region. But God prompted the leaders of one church to remain in the devastation to serve their fellow survivors. While providing food, clothing, tents and other emergency accommodation, they continued to hold services each Sunday that grew to over 100 people.

At one point, God moved the leader’s wife to suggest to two Muslim women that they might consider copying the New Testament (NT). They both agreed and were provided with the supplies they needed. Then two people became three, four, five, and now close to 600 Muslims are copying the New Testament!

One young man who had just finished copying had questions and asked what he should do about the sacrifices his family were preparing. He explained he had become a Christian from what he had read, without talking to anyone.

One person wanted to understand the NT better, so having finished, is copying it all out again. Another said, “I am so glad I took a package for my grandchildren. We are really enjoying copying, as a family!” Having finished copying the whole NT, one couple has begun copying the entire Bible. They have come to faith.

One young woman after copying the whole NT was asked what she had understood from what she had copied. She answered, “You know, I used to only like people who liked me. I had no use for anyone who was not interested in me. Now I am trying to love them! I used to be jealous of everyone. But now I’m trying to not be jealous.”

Prayer Points and The Story are taken from WorldPrayerGuides.org. Please consider purchasing a printable version or making a donation to World Prayer Guides to support their ministry.

green and gold islam pattern

Day 1 – The Tuareg of West Africa

By Blog

Today is the first day of Ramadan, a very important holiday for Islam. For the next 30 days, Muslims all across the globe will fast from sunrise to sunset. They will spend more time praying, reading the Quran and attending Mosque. They will also be focused on charitable deeds and have many celebrations with friends and family.

For Christians, Ramadan is a great time for us to pray for salvation for Muslims. Every day we will be sharing from the “30 Days of Prayer For The Muslim World” prayer guide, published by World Prayer Guides. We’d love for you to join us! Check our blog daily or follow us on Instagram (@the_global_mission) or Facebook (/theglobalmission). You can also download your own printable prayer guide from WorldPrayerGuides.org

Day 1 – The Tuareg of West Africa

How Can We Pray?

  • That God would reveal to the Tuareg, a proud people, their need for repentance and the joy of freedom in Christ.
  • For audio scripture resources to be distributed more freely.
  • That God would raise up believers to be church leaders in their community.

The Story:

Lee grew up in a typical Tuareg community where, left to mind the family herds and farm, he never had opportunity to attend school. He dreamt of one day learning to read. One evening as a young man, he finished work in the onion fields and came to the nearest town where he found a gospel worker selling books and tracts. He purchased several books, commenting that he wished he knew how to read them.

The worker asked, “You just spent money buying books that you can’t read?” Lee replied, “That is my next question. Would you be able to help me learn to read? It has been my dream almost my whole life.”

Together they spent months learning to read materials produced in Tamajaq, one of the languages of the Tuareg. They started with words, then sentences and eventually progressed to a book of animal tales. As Lee’s reading got stronger, they went on to read the first twelve chapters of Genesis. From Genesis, they went on to read the gospel of Luke.

One evening, Lee said to his friend, “I have something to tell you. I have decided to follow Jesus like you.” The worker asked, “Lee, who is Jesus for you?” His response was unforgettable.

Lee said, “Do you remember when Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son, Isaac, but at the last minute the angel stopped Abraham and there was a ram in the thicket that took Isaac’s place? As we have been reading in this book of Luke, I can see that Jesus is my Ram!”

*The prayer points and story were taken from WorldPrayerGuides.org. Please consider purchasing your own downloadable prayer guide or making a donation to sustain that ministry.

The Remaining Task – Bringing The Gospel To Unreached People Groups

By Blog

Who has already heard the good news about Jesus, and who is still waiting to hear for the first time?

Video Script:

Nearly 10 percent of the world’s population are committed followers of Jesus, who believe Jesus is who he said he is, and who have given their lives to him. They believe anyone can know God through Jesus, and they tell people around them about him.

Many other people also identify as Christians. These other Christians need deeper faith in Jesus and a personal relationship with God through him. About 33% of the world’s population identify themselves as Christians. But where do the world’s Christians live? The good news of Jesus is spreading in the world– but not evenly.

First, let’s divide the world into regions by population, then show where the Christians live. Two countries, India and China, each have one-fifth of the world’s population, so they will get their own section. The Muslim-majority countries also get their own section, because they are similar to each other.  There are some Other Asian countries, and other Non-Muslim-majority countries in Africa. Here is Europe’s population, and North America lumped with all the Pacific island countries, including Australia and New Zealand. And finally, Latin America, from Mexico south.

In each region, let’s show the followers of Jesus and the others who identify themselves as Christians.  Latin America has the highest total percentage of Christians, followed by North America and the Pacific. Europe has many nominal Christians, while Non-Muslim Africa has many committed followers of Jesus. Today China has also many committed followers of Jesus.  “Other Asian” countries average about one-third Christian, including Korea and the Philippines. Some Muslim-majority countries have had Christian people groups for centuries. Of all the large areas of the world, India has the lowest percentage of Christians.

As you can see, the Christians are not evenly spread around the world. Today most Christians live in the Americas, Europe or sub-Saharan Africa. In each region, the committed followers of Jesus can renew the faith of the “other Christians” and can tell the non-believers in their own people groups about Jesus. Let’s call these people “culturally-near non-believers” and show them as green. These non-believers are their relatives, neighbors, and coworkers, who speak, eat and dress like them. In China, hundreds of millions of non-believers are now “culturally-near” to followers of Jesus. 40% of the world’s non-believers have many Christians in their own people groups who can reach out to them without learning a new language or culture. So, their groups are called “reached people groups” because the good news is spreading there. Believers in China have a challenging job to share the gospel with so many non-believing relatives and neighbors, yet thankfully they can do it in their own language.  In the “reached” people groups, committed followers of Jesus can encourage the other Christians in their families and communities to become fully committed to Jesus. They can also tell the many “culturally-near non-believers” in their own people group about Jesus without learning a new language and culture.

Many people in the world live in other ethnic groups which have almost no followers of Jesus who belong in their communities and know their language. They have no chance of learning about new life in Jesus from someone within their own people groups. 60% of all non-believers in the world have few followers of Jesus in their own people group. They are “culturally distant” from believers. Let’s show these “culturally-distant non-believers” in blue. Most of them live in India, Muslim-majority countries in Africa and Asia, or other parts of Asia. They need believers from other people groups to come learn their language and culture and tell them about Jesus. They live in “unreached people groups”, distinct ethnolinguistic people groups made up of less than 2 percent followers of Jesus and less than 5% other Christians.”

Which unreached people groups are the “frontier peoples”? Some culturally-distant nonbelievers have so few believers that they have no chance of hearing about Jesus from people they know. Let’s use a darker color of blue to show those with less than zero point one percent Christian in their own people group. About one fourth of the world’s population live in frontier people groups and over 95% of them are in India and Muslim-majority countries. These frontier people groups have no movement to Christ and no breakthrough of indigenous faith.

Now is the time to unite what we know with what we do. So, we know that the “reached” people groups have lots of followers of Jesus who can tell them about Jesus, but guess what? We send 30 times as many cross-cultural Christian workers to them as we do to the people in “unreached” people groups? 30 to 1! These workers are not just going out from the West, they’re going “from everywhere to everywhere”, but most of them are sent to work with other churches in their training or outreach programs. Currently, for every 30 cross-cultural Christian workers that go to the reached people groups of the world, roughly ONE goes to the unreached people groups, including the frontier people groups. As a result, the needs of people in unreached people groups, especially those in frontier people groups, are being grossly overlooked!

The Remaining Mission Task is largely in India, Muslim-majority countries, and Asia. We need many more witnesses for culturally-distant non-believers …in Unreached People Groups and …in Frontier People Groups. The frontier peoples are still waiting to hear about Jesus for the first time. This is the mission mobilization challenge of our generation!

The Global Mission is committed to bringing the Gospel to those who have never heard, including unreached people groups in South Asia and the Middle East. You can partner with us financially at www.theglobalmission.org/give.

The Global Mission – 17 Years of Spreading The Gospel

By Blog

The Global Mission has been growing steadily since God gave us this vision in 2006. For the first 7 years, there was only one staff member (Dave) but so much has changed in the decade since then! Coming alongside us are 4 support staff, most of whom work out of our office in Orange County. Expanding our team has allowed us to expand our Gospel outreach as well as increase donor communication and ministry fundraising efforts. It has also equipped us to offer more support to our missionaries, including staff care and development.  

We are the home to 5 missionary families in the US and the Middle East. The work that each missionary does is unique to their talents and the needs of their community. Some are serving on leadership teams at their local church, while others are developing curriculum for discipleship programs. We have a team that consults with churches on congregational growth and health and a team that is invested in teaching teens how to evangelize to a younger generation. Some do local cross-cultural evangelism and discipleship while others mobilize churches for the world. Some of our missionary staff are deeply rooted in their current location, while others are praying and awaiting an overseas opportunity. We are blessed by their faithfulness and passion for sharing the Gospel in all the unique ways God has called them. 

Ministry partnerships beyond The Global Mission are crucial to increasing our Kingdom impact. We have been blessed to come alongside several ministries and support the work they are doing in their respective communities. We partner with YUGO Ministries and Hands of Mercy to build homes in Ensenada, Mexico and expand the outreach of the network of pastors throughout that city. In Haiti, besides our own ministry, we share resources and support CHOAIDS, a children’s shelter specially equipped to house children with AIDS. In the Middle East, a local church raises funding through The Global Mission’s donor system, and we enable them to utilize those funds in-country for outreach and expansion. We’re delighted for our growing partnership with Harvest India and the work they do to bring the Gospel to unreached people groups. 

In addition to our ministry partners, The Global Mission also has 2 unique ministries under our umbrella. These organizations operate under separate names but are all part of The Global Mission organization and share in our mission to bring the Gospel to those who have never heard. The Chanje Movement is our spiritual and humanitarian outreach in Haiti. Truth That Changes Lives is a daily podcast broadcast globally and taught by Pastor JP Jones. 

God has blessed us immensely and we want to thank you for being such a big part of His provision. Every prayer you have prayed for us has blessed this ministry. Every donation you have made on behalf of our family has grown this ministry. The Gospel is being shared and lives are being changed because of your faithful partnership. Thank you! 

 

Glimpses

By Blog, Involve, Personal

It’s like one of those stormy days when you know the sun is out there, but you just can’t see it.  And then the sun peeks through.  And is covered once more.  Everything in view is gloomy and overcast.  Your heart cries out for a breakthrough.

That imagery describes much of this journey we’ve had with Lovekin.  Right now that story is full of storms…

Yesterday we received lab results from one of the most advanced medical facilities in Haiti which confirmed her HIV+ status and provided a plan to deal with her infections, fever and malnutrition.  Lovekin had been experiencing diarrhea so it is difficult to know from her health condition if she was receiving the formula and medicine that we had provided, or if her grandmother had been giving it to others.  Her grandmother did not understand the severity of Lovekin’s challenges, but she does now.  She wept profusely when it was explained to her.  She worries for Lovekin’s older brother and sister who now must be tested also.

Lovekin’s family knew her father’s identity, though he had not been involved.  Our team located him yesterday after returning from the clinic and told him that Lovekin was HIV positive and that he needed to get tested as well.  He was outraged, demanded to be given his baby and yelled at the messengers.  He blamed Lovekin’s mother for the baby’s health.  Apparently he is in poor health also, and another woman to whom he was married had previously died from an unknown condition.  If you read between the lines, you begin to see the potential “tip of the iceberg” of how an epidemic spreads – but that story is for another day.

When does the sun break through in this storm?  Well, a partner of ours has connected us to an orphanage which cares for HIV+ children and after meeting with the director, the facility is open to taking Lovekin.  It’s not a done deal, but there is a glimpse of hope.  Now, we need the father and the grandmother to sign their rights away so that we can help her.  This might seem callous, but the sad reality is that either of them might presume that by keeping Lovekin they will benefit financially and materially from aid and donations.  But her best hope for survival is caregivers who have the training and support to give Lovekin medication on a regular schedule, meet her nutritional needs, can care for her safely and prevent illness and transmission of disease, and every other core need this child has.

There is a long road ahead, and we’re walking it together.  So thankful that we are walking it with you and know that above the gloomy skies is our God in heaven.

For those who wish to understand more about HIV and AIDS, here is a non technical overview of HIV in children and babies.  For those who want to help us provide for Lovekin’s immediate needs, we invite you to donate to the Lovekin Fund, which will remain dedicated to her care, and in the event that the funds exceed her needs or her lifespan, they will be used to support the neediest children in Haiti.

Switchback

By Blog, Involve, Personal

Sometimes you feel like you’re taking a step backward.  Other times 2 steps forward and 1 step back.  Other times, just chasing your tail in circles.  Today is a switchback.


 

A switchback takes the long way to go a short distance.

But because the grade is steep, it’s too difficult or dangerous to tackle head on.


 

A switchback is a road where it’s hard to see around the bend.


 

Spiritually speaking, a switchback is a process for us to keep moving forward and put our trust in God.

He knows the reasons even when we don’t.

He sees the destination even when we can’t.

He puts value in the process despite our desire to avoid it.

He uses the switchback to help refine character, develop patience and perseverance, increase humility and dependence – all while keeping us safe in the palm of His hand.


Today is a switchback because Lovekin didn’t get to go see the specialists, we don’t have a treatment plan, we don’t know anything more than we did yesterday.  Another day of nothing.  My heart is restless, but I know He is present.  As present for her as He is for me.  God doesn’t ask me to like it.  It is.


 

Keep praying; stay faithful.  Keep your eyes on Him, all the way around the bend.


 

Photo credit: Chris Harnish

Small Steps

By Blog, Involve, Personal

We had Lovekin retested this week and got the results today – it was confirmed that she’s HIV positive.  So far, only our team in Haiti knows (and all of you around the world.)  Her village and her grandmother don’t know yet.  Until there is a plan in place, we believe it is likely that they will discard Lovekin if they find out she has HIV.  There is the sad possibility that as we keep helping this little one, her community will see value in her despite her condition.

Many people are praying for her.  Some are offering advice for next steps, recommending referrals, donating to her fundThank you all.  We’re following up as quickly as possible.

Lovekin is still ill and malnourished so we are trying to keep her on a daily care regimen to help restore her most basic health.  But her grandmother is very frail and limited.  We’ve raised enough money to take care of the immediate financial needs so we don’t have that obstacle right now.

This Friday, two of our Haitian team members are taking Lovekin to a special clinic at the Gheskio Center in Port au Prince.  I’m hoping that we can walk out with medication, a treatment plan and some tracks to run on, but sometimes that’s a lot to hope for in a single day in Haiti.

Keep those prayers coming…

Heartache

By Blog, Involve, Personal

Lovekin was born in August 2015. Her mother died a few weeks afterward due to complications from childbirth, and most likely from AIDS.  Her father was not involved in her life and her grandmother is struggling to care for her and cannot afford to feed her.  When we met her she was malnourished and had a fever and a variety of minor medical ailments.  To avert her grandmother deserting her, the Chanje Movement engaged in her life and took care of her immediate needs, including baby formula and medication.

We were in the intake process for Lovekin at Chanje Lakay in hopes of saving her life when we discovered she is HIV positive.  Our shelter is not equipped to deal with the care for her, so we are actively trying to find her a home where she will have the best care.  She is a delicate bundle of joy despite the circumstances of her early life. She has a sweet, contemplative demeanor and loves to be held!

We have created a designated fund for Lovekin to provide for her needs in the weeks, months and (prayerfully) years to come.  In the event that the generosity of donors outlasts her life, the remaining funds will be used to care for other Haitian babies and children who are HIV positive.

We will be posting actively as her story unfolds…

The Beauty of “No”

By Blog, Envision, Equip

Three things happen when you say no to an opportunity, invitation or appointment.

First, you create margin in your life.  When we say yes to too many things – even good things – we fill our schedules and lives beyond our capacity.  You’ve probably heard the expression, “the good is the enemy of the best.”  One has to say no to appointments, invitations and other opportunities to leave margin in life.  For the person living within appropriate margins, when something excellent comes along, he or she can say YES.  For the person juggling all the balls in the air, adding another thing simply means something else must fall.  Wouldn’t you rather be ready for the best than under a pile with the rest?

Second, when you say no, you make room for God’s peace and leadership in your life.  Remember the scripture that begins God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble? Just a few verses later, the psalmist prescribes how to find your rest in His fortress: Be still and know that I am God.  The visual of the peaceful, empty park bench also communicates that quietness; He offers us communion with Him when we cease striving.  When we say yes too often, we don’t have time to pray, to connect with the Lord, to discern His path for our lives and relationships.

Third, saying no develops your character.  My friend Don recently shared a quote with me from a Sunday sermon he heard years ago: “The rejection of adversity is the mark of an immature soul.”  Think about it… aside from the unrealistic dream of vast lottery winnings, there really is no “something for nothing” of true value in this world.  Victory in virtually everything with high value is accomplished through adversity.  Even in salvation, we receive Christ by grace alone through faith alone, but remember the price Jesus paid on our behalf.  My character needs me to say no to easy but meaningless ventures and to say yes to challenges with depth and worth.  Too often we shy away.  When we say yes to the boring, the mundane and the mediocre, we reject healthy growth and maturity.

Reject the lie that being over-capacity honors God or is useful.  Good stewardship of my life isn’t visible in a hectic and frenetic schedule.  My decision to say no clears away the detritus and pollution of my life, and frees me up to be the person God wants me to be.

No can actually be very beautiful.  When free to choose, take your margin, peace of mind and maturity into consideration, and ask the Lord for guidance.  He always leads faithfully.