The Guayaquil Manifesto, approved at the last AWF Quadrennial, aims to present our response to the challenges that we face today as a missionary movement. This is the first of a series of reflections on the manifesto to be written by members of the AWF International Commission of Theological Education. These reflections aim to strengthen our identity as a Christ-centered missionary movement.

It was early Saturday morning, July 9, 2022, when I received the sad news that my good friend, Rev. Issam Farah, had died of a heart problem. Rev. Farah was a kind man, with a strong and solid faith. Calm and secure, he brought joy to all around him. His passing is a great loss for the C&MA in Syria and the surrounding region. We appreciate your prayers for his wife Nahed and for his sons, Ibrahim and John.

The new president of the C&MA Korea, Rev. Jong Hun Sim, has plans to make the denomination known among Koreans, to reach out and serve foreign workers who currently work in Korea, and to mobilize more cooperative missionary efforts.

The 2022 AWF EMERALD (Europe and Middle East) Regional Conference was the first regional gathering since the 2019 conference in Germany. More than 70 delegates from the region, the wider AWF family and the ICTE (International Commission on Theological Education) attended, along with more than 30 from the hosting national Alliance church.

From Montero, Santa Cruz, Rev. José Luis Jaldín is the new president of the C&MA church of Bolivia. His desire for the national church is to activate the ministries, emphasize new church planting, and support the Kingdom´s advance.

The first AWF International Business and Mission Congress was held in Chile in April 2022. Pursuing collaborative projects that will specifically send Latin American Marketplace professionals, the Christian and Missionary Alliance keeps working on joining efforts to include businessmen and professionals in missions. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact [email protected].

The Christian and Missionary Alliance of Côte d’Ivoire advances in Papara in strengthening the faith of the brothers of the 12 villages closer to the border of Mali. Let’s pray so they may continue to reach them with the gospel.

The Alliance church in Paraguay has been dedicated to serving their friends and neighbors by cleaning the streets and squares near their churches, delivering food and discipling people. Let us pray that God continues to use the Alliance family in Paraguay to be a blessing.

The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Guinea keeps improving the living conditions of its people. Forty-six participants were blessed with a training program in godly agriculture and microcredit. May the Lord continue using the church to keep training their people.

Each AWF Quadrennial prepares a declaration to be approved at the general assembly. This statement is commonly called a manifesto or declaration. Every manifesto in the history of the AWF has responded to ministerial positions or challenges of different kinds. In general, it has sought to highlight the importance of evangelization, the Alliance ethos and, above all, the missionary character of the denomination. The obvious question, with any document of this nature, is, “what is it for?” For what purpose is a manifesto useful in a fraternity whose regulations are not binding on the national churches? The answer is that the manifesto is prepared by the AWF to foster the development of global unity in achieving goals of relevance to us all.

The new president of the C&MA church of Gabon, Rev. André Binet, has a vision for the national church: “A Visible, Conquering, Humble Church Serves for Real Results.” As president, Rev. Binet wants to strengthen and develop the Alliance in all areas.

Rev. Arístides Flores opened his heart to the Lord when he was 15 years old and now has more than 18 years of ministry experience. As president, Rev. Flores wants to consolidate the Alliance in Spain as one family, and through the INFORMA Bible Institute train more leaders for church planting.

Burkina Faso and Mali are western African nations that have faced famine for decades. In recent years, jihadist terrorist attacks have resulted in the displacement of many. Nationals, mostly women and children, are being relocated west to the Sahara Desert. Surviving primarily through agriculture, these people fall victim to the droughts and floods that are common to the Sahara, further jeopardizing their lives.

The Dutch C&MA has proudly launched the translation of “A.B.” by David P. Jones. “A.B.” is the biography of Albert Benjamin Simpson, the founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Rocco Rausch, pastor of the Alliance church in Tilburg, was part of the team responsible for this effort. Rocco was interviewed by Gerdien Karssen, communications officer of Unie-ABC Church. This interview is a translated and adapted version of the original.

Born into a family of missionaries that worked worldwide, Rev. Jeremy Warden now has more than 20 years of ministry experience. As president, Rev. Warden hopes to help guide the Brazilian Alliance in strengthening and renewing its relationship with God.

Terrorism has plagued Mali for years, causing political and socio-economic upheaval for the people. The Alliance church reached out to the most vulnerable pastors and families, providing much-needed assistance. While travel is still dangerous and the general situation is insecure, the local team has touched the people with hope and support.

As part of the AWF Global Response to COVID-19 program, the team in Burkina Faso continues to provide income-generating activities, farmer training, and sanitation facilities for families, helping them protect themselves and thrive.

The Alliance in Uruguay began in the 1960s. Today, it is a thriving church with many active ministries. We ask God to bless and guide them as they continue to grow and develop.

From Buena Union, Uruguay: Rev. Daniel Pereira is the new president of the Uruguayan Alliance. He hopes to strengthen relations among churches, the leadership and the AWF family. Please pray that God guides him and his family as they serve the C&MA in Uruguay.

AWF Women Ministries continues to be a blessing to our women worldwide. Formed by President Jura Yanagihara to prepare workshops for the 2021 AWF Quadrennial Convocation, this ministry has sought to connect the Alliance family worldwide through women’s ministries. This year, this ministry’s leaders take another step in God’s plan to carry out the Great Commission.