Semi-Annual Update
We begin each year by asking God if He has a theme or a word for Reconciled World. This year, He gave us the word ‘listen’. And so we are trying to slow down, lean in, and listen—to God, to one another, and to our volunteers and partners. Although there is still lots of listening to do in 2024, God in His goodness is already allowing us to hear some pretty remarkable things. One phrase that God has repeatedly brought to mind is, ‘making visible God’s power to transform the lives of vulnerable people’. It’s a phrase we’ve been using since 2015 and remains at the core of who we are. Read on to be inspired by the ways God is at work around the world.
Pastors in Bolivia shared their hearts
Reconciled World works in Africa and Asia. We recognize that expanding to a new continent is a massive undertaking. Through a series of improbabilities that only God could have directed, Anna found herself boarding a plane in February to travel from New Zealand to Bolivia to partner with a ministry already at work in South America.
While there, Anna led a TCT Orientation for denomination leaders from the area. The ministry partner was well known for having very well funded programs, so most pastors had shown up expecting access to more financial resources. Our program, however, provides principles, not funds. We challenged them to recognize that maybe God had something better than money for them – a hard concept to the poorest of areas. However, the Holy Spirit completely transformed the pastors’ hearts and minds. Afterward, they declared they were excited to be part of the program despite the lack of finances, because they believed that the ideas were so much more important than funds. Some testified with tears that the orientation had renewed their faith and reminded them again of God’s goodness and power.
Please join us in praying that this group of pastors in Bolivia will see God display His power and faithfulness as they begin to apply the ideas they learned.
Reaching the most vulnerable churches in Nepal
In 2020 the TCT leaders in Nepal joined Anna for a prayer retreat, and God put a clear calling on their hearts – to reach those in the most vulnerable and remote areas of Nepal. Here’s a short testimony from Dinesh about that journey.
This year we’re focusing even more on reaching the most vulnerable. In Nepal, some areas are extremely isolated – often a full day’s walk from the road. Many pastors in these areas are young Christians, just 2-3 years old in the faith, and they have never been taught about how to apply their faith to their daily lives. Because of this, we are working with a National Training Team looking at different ways to bring TCT training to these areas. We are moving away from our usual method of training trainers and instead are training these pastors directly to ensure that they truly understand the materials well.
Growth!
Since October 1, 2023 we have added 11 new TCT partners.
Recently…
In the first week of April we gathered virtually for our annual week of prayer. One highlight of the week was the time we took to listen to God. We spent time listening to God on large topics like organizational priorities, as well as for each other and what He may be trying to say to each of us in the challenges we are currently facing.
In late April, our entire Africa team gathered in Nairobi, Kenya! For 7 staff members, this was the first time they had the opportunity to meet other staff members beyond their team. It was an exciting time full of learning – about Reconciled World, leadership, and each other – along with plenty of fun sprinkled throughout.
Reflections on the theme of ‘Listen’:
From Hungary, Anthony shared, ‘Since coming to Budapest in 2019, we have been asking God to guide us in the directions He leads. We are focusing on being rather than doing, and listening to the Spirit over the strong tendency to “figure out everything and be as productive as possible in our own way”. As we have listened to God time after time, we have heard His gentle voice affirming His delight in who we truly are. Through the journey He has brought us, and the many things that have shaped us along the way, He whispers, “Trust me, I delight in you!”’
The director at the Wholistic Development Center said,
Pray With Us!
If you would like to join us in our year of listening, we’d love for you to be a part of our intercessor team. Our intercessors play a critical role in RW by praying for strategic issues and urgent needs. We often see God respond with breakthroughs where things have been stuck, or with solutions to problems, healing, safety, and transformation in people’s thinking. Click here to start praying!
Stories of God at work
Southeast Asia
In one coastal village in Southeast Asia, the boat harbor was cluttered with garbage. The smell was terrible. After learning that God wants His people to show love by stewarding creation and helping their community, the church in the village decided to clean the garbage out of the harbor and along the road. There was a Buddhist monastery nearby, and one of the monks saw the church members at work. He stopped to ask what they were doing. The Christians explained that they were cleaning up because Jesus told them to show love to the world. The monk was so pleased that he invited them to have tea and bread with him and also sent some workers to help them finish the job. This Act of Love has helped to bring more trust between the Christian church and the Buddhist community. Please pray that many in this area will experience God’s love and give their lives to Jesus.
Nepal
One church is located in a very isolated area where a river snakes down the mountain. To reach the village, you must cross the river fifteen times and then face a steep climb. To make the situation worse, there was a heavy landslide which had made one section of the path impassable. The villagers had to take a three-hour detour far up the mountain and down again to get around this landslide area. This was the only way to get to their fields to tend their crops or to the forest to collect grass and wood, and they couldn’t bring their animals along the route.
The local church prayed, asking God what Act of Love to do for their community, and God told them to clear the path. The believers joyfully obeyed God. About 25 church members brought tools from their homes and started to clear the pathway. Others from the community saw what the church was doing, and some joined them. It took 40 people working together with hand tools three days to clear the path through the landslide. Now, everyone has a safe path to their fields and forest. It is even safe for their animals. The community is very thankful, and the church is so excited to be used by God. The pastor asked RW’s National Coordinator to visit his area to see the work and encourage them to continue. To God be the glory!
Wholistic Development Center
‘We’ve had 2 students who weren’t ready to accept Christ. I spoke with both of them in November, and they told me they just weren’t ready. December was our big Christmas event where we did an awesome Christmas presentation. A., one of the non-Christian students, played God. We practiced our lines all week. The night of the event A. came into my office and told me he was ready. I had no idea what he was talking about. I told him, “Yes, we are all ready for tonight”. He said, “No, I’m ready to accept Christ in my heart!!” I started crying. Then I laughed and told him I hadn’t understood because I thought he was talking about the big event that night. The whole school got together, and we announced the great news. What a start to a wonderful evening! Pray for R., the last non-Christian here, to be ready to receive Jesus’.