The Christian and Missionary Alliance of Canada is developing new and innovative ways to cultivate a passion for mission, start new churches and engage unreached people groups in the birthplace of founder A.B. Simpson.
We wish a blessed year for each son and daughter of the Kingdom, may it be rich in grace.
In a year that was marked by civil demonstrations in many parts of the world, from Hong Kong to Santiago, Beirut, Paris, La Paz, Lima and Barcelona, there is a diffuse agenda but one clear message: people are hungry for justice, freedom and dignity.
God’s works and plans never fail, because He will do all that is His good pleasure. God isn’t just watching the entire happening of history, but He is directing the event. Truly, we are so blessed and excited about what God has planned for the APAC (Asia Pacific) Region throughout the year. That is something worthy to celebrate for His glory.
How much sacrifice is necessary to bring the gospel to those who have never heard it? A Nepalese missionary walks two hours to talk about salvation in Jesus and pray for the people of Magar, Nepal.
The EMERALD Regional Coordinating Committee is encouraged to see how God is working through the Christian and Missionary Alliance family in our region as new projects take shape and mission mobilization grows. We pray that God will be exalted in our region in building His Church and expanding His kingdom through the work of all national churches in the region.
The 6th Asia Pacific Alliance Women Conference and Prayer Journey was a powerful, enlightening and victorious encounter. More than 200 women gathered and learned more about the theme “Transformed for the Great Harvest.” Without a doubt, God’s all-surrounding presence was an essential part of this blessed event. Let us praise the Lord for all He has done!
The International Commission of Theological Education (ICTE) is very thankful to our Lord who continues to enrich and bless theological training throughout the Christian and Missionary Alliance world.
The Alliance church in Spain began in 1978 by Fred and Ann Kowalchuk, missionaries sent out from the U.S. Alliance. The early years were difficult, with five congregations being reduced to three. A relay team ministered from 1993 to 1994, and the focus changed from Barcelona to Madrid.
A group of indigenous churches started 27 years ago by a pastor in a wheelchair to evangelize disabled people is the core of the newly formed C&MA Church in Nepal. This national church will join the fast-growing evangelical church in the country that was officially Hindu until 2006, when it was declared a secular state.
The C&MA churches in Central America are young and small and its largest national church (Guatemala), with more than 9,000 members, is an exception in the region. With the theme “Deeper Life in Jesus Christ,” the AWF family in Latin America met in Guatemala to bring encouragement and deeper understanding about the Alliance and its missions to the pastors and leaders of the region.
The leadership of AWF-APAC (Asia Pacific Region) chose Japan as their meeting venue to encourage the century-old Japan Alliance Church to continue to share Jesus Christ in this country. Japan is totally open to missionary work but still has a population of less than 0.5% of evangelical Christians and an evangelical annual growth rate of -0.4%.
The work in Ecuador began 120 years ago through the efforts of Guillermo Fritz and Eduardo Tarbox. Later, missionaries Homero Crisman and Guillermo Reed joined in the work. The national C&MA was established in 1945. Today, the church celebrates the 120th year of work in Ecuador, grateful for God’s sustaining at each step. The church remains completely committed to continuing the task to see societal renewal in Ecuador, and to forging and forming generations that shine for God’s glory.
“History, Theology, Thought and New Dynamics of the Christian and Missionary Alliance” was the theme of the teaching held September 3 and 4, 2019 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, organized by the Buenos Aires Bible Institute (IBBA).
“Building Healthy Churches” was the theme of the First International Congress of Healthy Church Development held in Lima, Peru, August 26 to 30, 2019. This congress, commissioned by the C&MA of Peru, was organized by the Lima Encounter with God movement of the C&MA.
Reverend Stenly H. Christian is the new President of the Gujarat Synod. He would like to see young people growing in their faith in Christ, pastors and missionaries trained, and all members involved in the mission and evangelism work for the growth of the Alliance church in Gujarat.
The African Youth Union of the Alliance gathered in August for their Biennial Congress. The event brought together more than 1,300 young people, who shared and learned about the foundations of our faith and what God wants His righteous people to do. May God continue to bless this movement, its leaders and participants.
Inter-ethnic partnerships within Christian and Missionary Alliance national churches continue to grow the C&MA in Bolivia, raising up new leaders to reach new cities, starting, within Bolivia and expanding outward.
Mission work which began in the villages is now a thriving national ministry, seeking to nurture believers and provide theological education to equip Christians to reach non-believers locally and abroad.
Reverend Marcel Bunda Bunda is the new President of the Alliance in DR Congo. During his term, he hopes to see the church become more mission-oriented and living a prayer-filled life. Let us pray that the Lord will send His Holy Spirit to guide him and his family.
The Church of the Believers, the C&MA Church in Liberia, celebrated its 37th anniversary at the end of May 2019, in the city of Monrovia. The event united members from all over the country in a weeklong celebration filled with worship, God’s Word, recognition and prayer. May God continue to bless their ministry and guide reverend Liberty as he leads the Alliance family in Liberia.
With the participation of 512 women from the Latin American continent, the Women's Congress “AMADA 4” was held with the theme “Caring for the Heart of a Woman”, the largest event for women in the Alliance, from July 24-27, in the Central Alliance Church of the city of Milagro, Ecuador.
The only Portuguese speaking Alliance National Church in Africa, the ICAA (Igreja Cristã de Aliança em Angola) is concentrated in the oil-rich province of Cabinda but plans to expand its presence in the “mainland” Angola, planting new churches in the provinces of Malanje, Moxico and Zaire.
The members of the International Commission on Theological Education (ICTE) met in Nyack, New York, to discuss ways in which the AWF can encourage the Alliance National Churches to continue to embrace and promote an Alliance ethos within their ministries and contexts.
The Alliance World Fellowship (AWF) is pleased to announce the creation of a theological research prize, the AWF Theology Award.
Teachers stepped back into history at the end of June as they took part in the AWF-ICTE (International Commission of Theological Education) Young Scholars Training Initiative in Nyack, New York. Selected participants from around the world received training in Alliance Distinctives as preparation for future teaching in their respective Alliance World Fellowship regions. It was a significant step in promoting the Alliance to the next generation of leaders.
The National Conference and the 25th Anniversary celebrations of the National Alliance Church in Russia (ECMU) took place May 23-25 in Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Krai, Russia.
Meet Peter Laughlin, the new Chairman of the AWF International Commission on Theological Education. Dr. Laughlin will complete the term initiated by Dr. Bernie Van de Walle, who submitted his resignation following his nomination as the next Superintendent of the Canadian Midwest District.
More than 25 Alliance pastors and leaders from various ministries connected to the Christian and Missionary Alliance in India shared their present ministry and future plans to plant churches and conduct mission among the large unreached people groups of the country.
Forty participants of Arab origin from ten countries met in the Arabic Ministry Pre-Conference Workshop at the AWF EMERALD Regional Conference to share about their churches and discuss Muslim outreach.
Reverend Chamroeun Ruom is the new President of the Alliance in Cambodia. He hopes to see the local churches united and grounded in Biblical teaching, as well as reaching out to neighboring countries to spread the Good News.
As more National Alliance Churches are sending missionaries cross-culturally, mission leaders meet to discern prayerfully the next steps to fulfill God’s mandate to proclaim Christ to all nations.
The AWF EMERALD 2019 Regional Conference was the biggest AWF regional conference in history with more than 140 delegates present from both the region and from the wider AWF family, including Latin America.
Reverend Noel N’Guessan Kouadio is the new President of the C&MA Church of Côte d’Ivoire, and is part of the third generation of his family to serve God through the Christian and Missionary Alliance. His vision is to see God’s glory restored within the Alliance, across the world and in his country.
The Lord’s hand is always visible in His ministry through Narong and Tinh in reaching the Vietnamese-Thai in Thailand. In the past two months, there are seven individuals who accepted Christ into their hearts.
On March 17, 2019 flashfloods and landslides triggered by torrential rains hit Jayapura district of Papua province in Indonesia. Houses, office buildings, roads, bridges and public facilities across Jayapura were affected by the disaster.
The CLA Board met in Central America for a time of worship, reflection and encouragement. The members of the C&MA family in Guatemala were spiritually strengthened and challenged to continue with God’s work in their country and throughout the world.
After the destructive tsunami that hit Palu in September 2018, Reverends Daniel Ronda and Lai Ka Lai are visiting the island to get an update on the relief work and rebuilding project.
A partnership that started in 2018 in the APAC region is showing results and fruit. Let us praise God for His guiding hand and pray that He will continue to shine through our brothers and sisters.
After 50 years of ministry the Alliance Church in Australia has been able to praise the Lord for the wonderful things that have happened there. Much fruit has been harvested: New churches joining our family, new workers going to the field, people of all ages being touched by Jesus, outreach and encouragement among members, and so much more.
Missionaries Narong and Tinh have welcomed many new Vietnamese believers into their church plant in Thailand. During visitation in the Chinese New Year, five people accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. On March 10th, Tinh baptized seven people.
With around 20 years of ministerial experience and dedication to God’s work, Jorge Alvarez Villarreal is the new president of the C&MA Church of Spain.
The Gujarat Synod of India and the National Alliance Churches of Myanmar will hold General Assemblies in February and March.
As we enter into this New Year, it is only natural for us to reflect on what God has done over the previous year and consider all that was accomplished by His mighty working power. The blessing of a solid and strong partnership with the leaders of the member-countries of the APAC (Asia-Pacific) region was a precious gift the Lord has given His churches in blessing His ministry.
Excitement is in the air as the AWF EMERALD (Europe & the Middle East) Region prepares for their Annual Conference of 2019 in Frankfurt, Germany. The theme is “Living the Fourfold Gospel”. Our brothers and sisters will be sharing experiences, learning from one another and encouraging each other. Let us pray that this event will be a huge blessing to those participating and that it will reach many lives.