July 2014

SYRIA

Dona_Bozzi

"Church people are closer to the Lord and to each other" one pastor said of his church. 40% of the members of his church have left the country since the civil war in Syria which started two and a half of years ago. People that have the financial means and the contacts overseas often leave the war torn country. However, all the people that left didn't leave the church services empty. "We see new people coming to church" said the pastor. Many of the families the church people help with monthly food supplies come to church now. In many places fighting is still a daily reality. No one can escape from the distant sounds and explosions, it seems that there is no end in sight and Christians are like all other people concerned for their safety and the future of their children. Most people are suffering economically and are traumatised emotionally. But as already reported the church people are closer to the Lord and to each other.

Li jianbing Roman Sigaev

Dona_BozziDona_Bozzi

Dona_Bozzi Dona_Bozzi

The oil of Expectancywith Dick EastmanInternational President, Every Home for Christ

In December 1998 I felt strongly led to set aside an entire month to seek God daily regarding Every Home for Christ's emerging decade-long plan, called Completing the Commission. It was an ambitious plan to see home-to-home campaigns in every nation on earth in our generation.

The more I had studied the complexity and cost of the plan, the more I realised it would be impossible to carry out without a miracle beyond anything any of us could ever imagine.

This was to be the second such month-long prayer experience for me. The first occurred in December 1987, when God burdened my heart with the great need for the Gospel in Communist Eastern Europe and what was then the Soviet Union.

Those prayers in 1987 were soon remarkably answered, and over a decade-long period, Every Home for Christ visited and gave the printed gospel to more than 40 million households in this Eurasian region alone. Nearly 2 million people from the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe have mailed decision cards or written letters requesting more information about Jesus. The majority of those indicated they had received Christ as Saviour. Prior to that time, the number of such requests from that region was probably fewer than 200 in more than two decades.

So, here I was, about to enter my second month-long prayer experience. As with my first month of prayer, I felt specifically

led to set aside the amount of time daily for prayer that I would normally spend in my office or in planning meetings and preaching assignments. I did not feel it was to be a time of fasting and prayer, as such, but rather a full month of seeking God (sometimes with others) - every day.

For this second month-long commitment, I decided to keep a daily calendar and on selected days invite other intercessors, as well as our staff, to join me for prayer. Among other focuses for the month, for two days we specifically prayed over and anointed with oil the 10-year plan that had prompted this month of prayer in the first place.

Much of those two days was spent literally on our faces in my office. At one point we anointed each of the hundreds of pages of the plan with traditional anointing oil. On the third day, our entire staff spent a day doing the same thing. It was truly a symbolic saturation of the plan with the oil of expectancy and anticipation, and to this day I keep this copy of the plan, with oil marks on each page, in my prayer room at home.

For this Intercessory Worship book by Dick Eastman see enclosed reply slip.

Iran: A convert from Islam has been sentenced to ten years in jail for his Christian activities in Iran; he confessed to distributing 12,000 pocket-sized Gospels in the strict Islamic country.

Mohammed-Hadi Bordbar, known as Mostafa, from Rasht was charged with membership of an "anti-security organisation" and gathering with intent to commit crimes against Iranian national security; he was given five years' imprisonment for each offence.

His lawyer is appealing against the conviction and sentence, arguing that the two charges are effectively the same and Mostafa is therefore being punished twice for one crime.

Such charges are typical pretexts the Iranian authorities use to prosecute Christians. A breakdown of the charges in court documents reveal that it was Mostafa's Christian activities for which he was penalised.

They refer to his confession in court that he had left Islam to follow Christianity, considers evangelism his duty and has

distributed 12,000 pocket-sized Gospels.

The papers also refer to Mostafa's baptism, attendance at and leadership of house church gatherings, and translation and dubbing of Christian films, and the discovery of 6,000 Gospels and other Christian books and CDs in his house.

Mostafa was arrested in a raid on a house church gathering in Tehran on 27 December, 2012. The 15 plain-clothes security officers held everyone in attendance, around 50 converts, for hours and subjected them to interrogation.

Following the raid, the Rev, Vruir Avanessian, who has chronic kidney disease for which he requires dialysis three times a week, was detained for 15 days before being temporarily released on bail. There has been no further news regarding his case.

Mostafa had previously been arrested in 2009, for converting to Christianity and attending a house church. He was subsequently found guilty of apostasy (leaving Islam) but freed on bail. The apostasy conviction has stayed on his record, preventing him from being able to register a company from which to earn a living.

IRANIslamic Convert jailed

for 10 years for Christian activities

JESUSSAID

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own...but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you...If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also....They will treat you this way because of my name..."

John 15: 18-21

Iranian Church GrowingDespite Risk of Death

THE MIDDLE EAST - Iran's new president has promised to protect the country's Christians, but attacks are intensifying.

As they work to survive, CBN News was given an exclusive, rare view that few outsiders witness: a secret meeting of new Iranian believers in a neighbouring country, not far from the border.

The brand new followers of Christ received Bible teaching and participated in their very first communion.

After a few songs and prayers, several were baptised. Then they returned to more late-night Bible study and training before returning to Iran.

Secret Believers

For the first time, these Christians learned how to look up and memorise Scripture. They're Kurds, former Muslims who converted to Christianity.

If their identities and location were revealed to secret police, Iranian agents would have come to arrest them. Some may have been killed for being apostates.

One former Muslim - we called Daoud - knows the dangers all too well. Before he became a Christian, Iranian police caught him eating a sandwich instead of fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

That violated Sharia law. A judge ordered him to receive 70 lashes, a punishment similar to that imposed by the Taliban.

"I was tied down. A mullah held the Koran in his hand and recited a verse and then a soldier beat my back with a cable," he explained.

"It made me feel deep hatred against Islam and the Islamic Republic of Iran. All I did was grab a sandwich and eat it. Why is that a sin?" he asked.

Later Dauod met some Christians on the Internet who introduced him to Christ. He embraced Christianity after witnessing miracles of healing and deliverance.

Dauod keeps his newfound faith secret, while quietly and cautiously sharing Christ with others in his city.

"Right now, it is really scary because if the government knows about it, I'm pretty sure they will execute me," he said.

Criminals and Apostates

Reza, another former Muslim-turned-Christian, says he shares his faith because he wants Iranians to live in the light. While President Hassan Rouhani promises societal reforms, Reza said an aggressive government crackdown against Christians continues.

"Iranian agents come and arrest us saying that we are spies from Western countries. They say because of that, you are a traitor to your country and should be executed, "he explained.

In fact, few of the 40 or so known Christians imprisoned in Iran have been charged as apostates or for spreading the Gospel. The official charge is usually espionage or undermining national security.

That's the charge against Iranian-American Pastor Saeed Abedini, still serving an eight-year prison sentence.

"Saeed is well known because he is an

American, and we certainly need to pray for him and his situation and his family, but there are many others like Farshid," David Yeghnazar, with Elam Ministries, said.

Security police arrested 35-year-old Iranian Christian Farshid Fathi during a Christmas raid against house churches in 2010. He is serving six years in Iran's infamous Evin Prison.

Yeghnazar said a prison guard recently broke Farshid's foot during a mass inmate assault. The foot went untreated for three days.

"Farshid wrote a very beautiful letter saying that it was an incredible moment for him because he was in this pain over the Easter weekend and it gave him a very different view of the whole Easter story and finally having some relief on the Sunday morning was great," Yeghnazar said.

He added that Farshid went on to say "We forgive them for all they have done because we are followers of the one who says, 'Father, please forgive them because they don't know what they are doing'."

The Growing Iranian Church

Yeghnazar said the Iranian church continues to grow in Iran despite - or perhaps because of - the inhumane treatment of prisoners like Farshid and Saeed.

"Their courage means that the church continues to grow so it's really a story of growth in the Church In Iran, although it's a story of suffering," he said.

Iran has one of the fastest growing Christian populations in the world. Evangelist Reza said that more Iranians tell them they've grown tired of the oppressive policies of the ayatollahs.

"And people feel a hunger and a thirst to know the truth. When I talk to them about Christ and tell them how God loves us, they become so excited and they just keep smiling, " Reza said.

Reza requests prayer.

"Pray that God will give us strength and power in our faith because Christian faith in Iran is not easy," he said. "It's difficult, dangerous and risky. And pray for salvation to come - that all Iranians will be saved."

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Pedrosala

ndrej Garaj grew up in a small village outside Bratislava, Slovakia. His parents

were farmers under the Communist regime and had chosen to resist the pressure of the Communists, who wanted to take their property into the collective colchoz, a type of farming collective. Ondrej says, “You must remember this was during Communism, when nobody had his own property. It was believed that everything should belong to everybody.”

His parents resisted Communism until Ondrej graduated from elementary school. At this time, they were told to give in to the government’s demands or Ondrej could not continue his studies. His parents gave up their resistance, and their land was taken over by the government.

This meant Ondrej was free to continue his education. By this time, tired of his family’s staunch opposition to Communism, Ondrej became a “carrier” for the Communist Youth Organisation (CYO). “To ensure a good future for oneself,” Ondrej explains, “it was necessary to be an active member of the CYO because only Communists could assume high positions of employment. Since Communism is connected with active atheism, I became the organiser of atheist education in my high school.”

As Ondrej became more indoctrinated with Communism’s ideologies, he desired to further his atheist education. Part of this education required him to get to know his enemies—Christians—by visiting a nearby church. “From my youth,” says Ondrej, “I had believed Christianity was a traditional religion for old people who, at the end of their life, wished to reserve for themselves a place in heaven—if it existed at all. But I was surprised: in this small

church I saw excited people spontaneously singing. People in the CYO sang only when drunk! I also witnessed positive relationships, totally opposite of the conflicts I saw between people in the CYO. These experiences brought to my Communist heart a deep skepticism regarding atheism and Communism.”

After six months, this doubt helped Ondrej open his heart to Jesus Christ. He became a Christian and his life was transformed completely. He quit his job in the CYO and as a consequence was unable to continue his studies. Soon Ondrej was being spied on by the intelligence service, harassment he endured until the end of Communist rule in 1991.

Through it all, Ondrej believes God is using his testimony to help others. “God was and is with me,” he says. “He gave me the opportunity to share my testimony of His love and support in all of life’s situations—and He has used my story to impact others. Now many who have heard my testimony are preachers, pastors, and evangelists. So I enjoy the blessing to have a lot of spiritual children, not only my three children. I encourage everybody to deal with his own doubts, and rely on the Word, which helped me find salvation through Jesus Christ.”

CARRIER OF COMMUNISMBECOMES CARRIER OF THE GOSPEL!Ondrej Garaj: EHC Slovakia National Director and C.I.S. Regional Director

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Pedrosala

Gloria Lopez: EHC Mexico National Director

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The daughter of missionaries, Gloria learned from her mother how to endure tragedy and make a difference for the kingdom. Following her father’s death, Gloria’s mother went on to plant 52 family Christ Groups singlehandedly!

THE SHOES OFF HER FEET

Gloria and her team conduct ministry to a Mexican vendor and his family.

hen you first meet Gloria Silva Lopez, you might think she is a demure woman. But

don’t be fooled. Gloria is a woman on fire for God! As the National Director for EHC Mexico, she is one who has made evangelism her top priority and not even illness will keep Gloria from her work. Recently, despite a serious bout that left her homebound, Gloria still insisted on working from her bed, keeping in contact with her field offices and giving direction to the pioneer missionaries. Gloria is serious when it comes to the Great Commission.

Gloria’s parents were missionaries to Mexico City. There they planted two Christian churches and Gloria learned the importance of sharing the Gospel with everyone, including those who are less fortunate. She says, “In my memory there are the wonderful times when we all as a family travelled to poor towns to visit people who had never before heard the Gospel. We ate whatever meals they gave us. Those were the first times that I ate with my

fingers because the people could not afford utensils.”

After Gloria’s father died, her mother “Mamita” continued the missionary work by planting 52 family Bible-study Christ Groups—by herself. “To me,” Gloria says, “being born again at an early age gives you tremendous responsibility to evangelise others. I knew the Bible at a very young age and that helped me provide a good testimony to those who did not yet know the Gospel.”

“WE ARE AS BIG BROTHERS AND SISTERS”

While Gloria worked as an historian and researcher of medicine at the University of Mexico, she met and married a Christian man named Epi. Just as her parents taught her, Gloria worked to instill in their daughter, Carolina, the importance of being a responsible Christian. “We ought to remember,” she says, “that we are as big

brothers and sisters to those who recently come to Jesus. The Bible says, ‘For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek’ (Romans 1:16). We as a family believe everything we are is from Him and we have only to thank the Lord Jesus, and the best way to thank Him for what He has given us through this great salvation is to share with those near us (relatives, friends, neighbours, and all our community and people in Mexico), that Jesus is the answer to our needs.”

In 2002, Gloria began working for one of the wealthiest men in the world. She worked for him for six years, but Gloria could not shake the call of the Lord on her life. She eventually responded to the call of evangelism. She had always been a volunteer for the EHC ministry in Mexico, even after the ministry had to suspend the work for several years in the 1990s. Gloria was so committed to the vision of EHC that she could not bear to see the work end, so she funded the evangelism work in Mexico herself! This is true sacrifice.

Gloria is the type of person who will give even the clothes off her back to someone in need. Recently a visitor came to Mexico on a short-term missions trip. Gloria knew the woman’s shoes would not be adequate for the hiking they would do in order to reach every home in the village. So, Gloria simply took off her shoes and gave them to the woman. She literally gave her the shoes off her feet and hiked in her socks for a friend. (See pictured, left.)

A FAMILY’S TESTIMONY

Through the years, Gloria has watched the Lord take care of her family. “Jesus twice saved my daughter’s life,” she explains. “She was not supposed to be born alive, but she was. And when she was three years old, doctors told me she would not live to be more than eight. Now, praise the Lord, she is 31. And she is thriving! The Lord did it.”

God also has helped Gloria with her eyesight following three surgeries on her right eye. She adds, “I could go on and on sharing many, many testimonies of life that we as a family have lived through. My favourite verse is Hebrews 6:10: ‘For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.’ Blessed be His name and now I live to serve him until the day He calls me home.”

JULY 2014

organ Gegera is an encouragement to all

who meet him. He is always quick to offer a wide grin, a strong handshake, and a full, hearty laugh to every stranger he meets. This is a guy who has complete joy in His Lord!

No one would guess the background of Morgan Gegera on their first meeting. In fact, people are very surprised when they hear the real story of how he came into the EHC family.

Morgan grew up in not just a dysfunctional family, but an abusive one as well. His father had four wives, was sexually abusive, and was responsible for the death of his mother. With no family, no home, and no money, Morgan was left on the streets to fend for himself.

“I began to commit crimes on the street for income,” he explains. “One day a friend and I stopped a man who was going door-to-door with literature. We attacked him right there on the street! We stripped him of his clothes,

wallet, watch, and shoes. While we did this, I couldn’t help but notice the joy on this man’s face. I wondered why he would act so happy while he was being robbed.”

Morgan asked the man who he was and learned that he was an EHC pioneer missionary from Fiji who had come to tell all the people in the neighbourhood about Jesus.

“Before I could stop myself,” Morgan says, “I broke down in tears at the sight of this humble man. I ordered my friend to return all of the man’s belongings. When the pioneer missionary explained God’s plan of salvation to me, I suddenly understood his joy. I gave my life to Christ that very moment and have had His joy ever since! Today, I’m gladly serving the Lord with Every Home for Christ. He has blessed me with a family of my own and put me in a leadership position for the work of EHC in three Pacific island nations. His name be praised!”

FROM LIFE OF CRIME TO JOY IN CHRISTMorgan Gegera: EHC Samoa National Director

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Morgan, holding baby, gathers with other EHC workers.