As we reflect on the last six months, the truth is, they’ve been difficult. We’ve said goodbye to multiple people, faced personal disasters, and struggled in many ways. And yet, in the midst of it all, we’ve experienced God’s goodness more deeply than ever.
FAREWELLS
It was a season of farewells—with both people and ministries. While we continue to stay in touch and pray for each other, saying so many goodbyes in a short amount of time was hard. At the same time, we celebrate the new things God is doing.
RAHHAM
A ministry planting churches in New Delhi’s slums—took a huge faith step and moved out of Reconciled World in February. While they appreciated our help in getting started, they felt nudged by God to move forward in greater dependence on Him. In March, we met with them to hear how it was going and were encouraged to hear the stories of God providing exactly what was needed at the perfect time. Money for rent and school fees suddenly arrived as they prayed. It’s a great reminder that, as we listen and obey, God is more than able to provide all we need and more.
ENDING GENDERCIDE
One of our staff at Ending Gendercide (EG) is taking 2019 to work on her PhD in gender studies. Another completed his PhD and subsequently moved to a different organization where he can focus his energy on teaching churches truth to counter the lies of the caste system. This is such a timely and important topic, and we’re amazed to see the incredible talent of those who we have had the opportunity to work with. We also look forward to seeing what new things God has for EG—including a curriculum on God’s plan for the family and speaking engagements.
RECENT STORY FROM ENDING GENDERCIDE
Like many couples in India, Rita and Ajay shared a home with his parents. Unfortunately, Ajay’s parents were critical and abusive of Rita. And whenever there was a conflict, Ajay took his parents’ side and demanded that his wife submit to whatever they said without questioning. It had gotten to the point where Rita rarely spoke to anyone—not even her husband. To avoid the abuse, she simply did her chores in silence, even though she felt like she was suffocating. Then Ajay and Rita began attending the Ending Domestic Violence training together, where they heard the biblical idea that a man leaves his parents to be united with his wife (Genesis 2:24). They are both learning what it means to be “one.” Rita is learning to express herself, and Ajay now stands up for Rita when his parents criticize or abuse her.
STAFF
Several of our expat staff have shifted from working directly with Reconciled World to working with other ministries in countries where God hasn’t (yet) called us as an organization. While they are still part of the RW family, we won’t be working as closely with them day to day. Yet we know they are following God’s leading and will continue to be used powerfully by Him.
PERSONAL CHALLENGES
LANDSLIDE
Earlier this year, Anna and Nam (our Executive Director and TCT Global Director) followed God’s call to give up their home and travel full-time for the ministry. They were already traveling so much that it was actually a relief to rent out their house and not have to worry about its upkeep. Then, in November, they got a call from their tenants that the house had been completely engulfed by a landslide. The tenants, who are not (yet) Christians, testified that God had miraculously spared their lives! Anna and Nam returned home, where they discovered a second miracle—the mud somehow hit the house in exactly the right way that it stayed standing when those around it were destroyed. They spent the next few months digging the house out of the mud and repairing all the damage. At times it was frustrating, exhausting, and all too time-consuming. We see God’s hand on all of it, and yet it has been a difficult few months.
CAR ACCIDENT
Also in November, our TCT Asia Regional Coordinator and his wife were in a serious motorbike accident. They suffered injuries that are slow to heal—like a dislocated shoulder and bleeding on the brain. And they face ongoing issues like severe back pain. We continue to pray for total healing and thank God for sparing their lives.
ANSWERED PRAYERS
IN HIS IMAGE
In His Image center for children with autism has faced all sorts of increased expenses this year, which have come as the result of new government regulations (for instance, they have to have closed-circuit cameras and security guards now). Balancing the budget has felt hard, but they’ve also seen God come through with things like donations from complete strangers. We’re praising God for watching out for them.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
We have four staff members and 6,000 Truth Centered Transformation partner churches in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). So in December and January, we were praying for the DRC presidential election. There had never been a peaceful transition of power in DRC and our staff were very concerned. Around the election, the government cut off the internet (making us pray all the more), and all work was cancelled. One of the opposition leaders was elected, but another party disputed the election results. Yet, in the end, there was a relatively smooth and peaceful transfer of power to the new president. Praise God, our Prince of peace and King of kings!
Churches are Transforming DRC
Churches in DRC are rising up to love their communities in so many ways! We’ve put together a short video (3:52) celebrating how God is at work in this beautiful country.
BABY VICTORIA
One couple who both work for the Wholistic Development Center had a baby last July, beautifully named Victoria. She seemed to have a brain infection and was at the point of death. After weeks of much prayer and emergency treatments, God spared her life. Victoria’s development is delayed, though, and she continues to undergo treatments for ongoing medical concerns. Although they are now Christians, Victoria’s parents come from a culture where calamities like this are considered a punishment from the spirits. At times in this journey they have wondered if God is punishing them for something. Yet, as they’ve seen God intervene to save Victoria’s life and experienced the way the Christian community has supported and loved them, this old way of thinking is falling away. We are so thankful for Victoria’s young life, and the way God is already bringing glory to Himself through her.
ENCOURAGEMENT FROM LOCAL CHURCHES
Through it all, the thing we find most encouraging is the way God is powerfully working to transform brokenness among vulnerable people. More than 10,000 local churches are now partnering with Truth Centered Transformation (TCT), and as they receive wholistic discipleship, they are going out to transform their communities. Here are a few of our favorite stories:
ENCOURAGEMENT FROM LOCAL CHURCHES
Through it all, the thing we find most encouraging is the way God is powerfully working to transform brokenness among vulnerable people. More than 10,000 local churches are now partnering with Truth Centered Transformation (TCT), and as they receive wholistic discipleship, they are going out to transform their communities. Here are a few of our favorite stories:
Bringing Water to the Community
One village was supplied with water from four large tanks that were kept filled by the government. One of the tanks had a leak, so a lot of water was going to waste. Though the leak kept getting worse, no one in the community seemed to care about it. Even the local government official who is supposed to oversee the development of the community didn’t do anything. Finally, rather than repairing the leak, the government simply stopped filling the tank. Now the community suffered from an insufficient water supply. Then the church in this village began studying TCT. After learning about God’s concern for all areas of life and His command to love our neighbors, the church decided the water problem was something they could address. The church members contributed money to pay a technician to repair the leak in the tank. With just 700 rupees, the tank was repaired. As a result, the community not only has sufficient water, but has begun to view the church with less suspicion and more openness.
This is just one of many churches that has helped their communities to have clean water recently.
Here’s another church’s story:
Bridging a Ravine
In the neighborhood of Mpozo in Democratic Republic of Congo, there was a dangerous ravine. Several people had fallen and broken bones trying to cross it. Even so, no one showed concern to solve the problem. But after studying TCT, Repentance Church decided to put what they were learning into practice and show love to their neighbors by building steps and a small bridge across the ravine. They collected bags of cement, shovels, and wheelbarrows for the project. Brothers in the church who were bricklayers and masons completed the work. Now people can safely cross the ravine, and all those who pass by thank the Lord for what the church did.
Thank you for supporting Reconciled World as we seek to see God’s power to transform displayed in the lives of vulnerable people. The journey is not always easy, but it is so worth it!
