SARA: Retreat Ministry for Pastors Update June 2024

THE VISION OF SARA - The SARA Institute is a ministry focused on the personal needs of pastors, reaching pastors of various denominations and confessions. Its strategy is organic and has led to the formation of regional groups spread throughout the country of Brazil. These regional groups are led by volunteer coordinators. In August, we will hold a retreat for the coordinators of the regional groups, who are the outstretched arm of SARA to reach, care for, and mentor pastors in different regions of the country. At the retreat, coordinators are listened to, informed, cared for, and encouraged. A retreat of coordinators is extremely strategic for the SARA Institute because the operation of this blessed ministry of the Body of Christ depends on them.

Mexico Cistern Ministry Update June 2024

Maria and I are excited to receive five American mission teams this summer. When the dust settles, 20 families will become new cistern owners. That will bring the 2024 cistern total to 32 and the grand total to 699. All thanks to God, who motivates and empowers our partners year after year.

Pakistan Christian Recording Ministries Update June 2024

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

In Pakistan, the Christian minority has faced increasing persecution recently. In May, The Outreach Foundation posted a prayer appeal rising from the violence against the Christian community in Sargodha. Yet the church in Pakistan continues to give voice to the hope that lives through Jesus Christ.

Projects, Partnership, AsiaThe Outreach FoundationJune 22, 2024Pakistan Christian Recording Ministries

Haiti Outreach Ministries Update June 2024

Haiti Outreach Ministries (HOM) staff report that things have been calmer in Port-au-Prince over the last month or so. Preparations were made for the arrival of the Kenyan-led multinational police force that is expected to support the Haitian police in their efforts to quell gang activity. A sense of anticipation and anxiety looms as to how the arrival of this force will impact the security situation and daily life.

PAK7 in Pakistan Update June 2024

Pakistan is among The Outreach Foundation's most challenging regions. It is a space of tremendous persecution against Christians, along with general economic and political instability. This leaves the Christian community isolated and fending for itself, where its voice often goes unheard. Who can help lift the witness of Jesus while persisting as a living vessel of the Lord in this difficult context? Enter PAK7.

Asia, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationJune 17, 2024PAK7, Pakistan

Novus Foundation Update June 2024

“Since 2022, the Polish people, especially the Polish Church have been incredibly generous. Millions of refugees from Ukraine have poured across the borders and the Poles have taken them into their homes, taken them into their churches...that is an incredible strain on churches and on the people who lead them.” (Bob Fuller, Outreach Foundation trustee and senior pastor, First Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, TX)

Europe, Projects, PartnershipThe Outreach FoundationJune 15, 2024Novus Foundation

Persian Diaspora Partnership (Radmard) Update June 2024

This morning my devotional reading took me to Philippians 1, which contains this verse that most of us have heard. “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ...” (v 27a). Lately, I hear a wonderful affirmation for the work of The Outreach Foundation, yet it is not our work. Rather, I get to sit in the passenger seat and watch the Holy Spirit cause faith to bloom in new ways among people from the U.S. as they intersect the lives of our partners who are doing the work. It’s their work, not ours!

Europe, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationJune 13, 2024Persian Diaspora Partnerships, Radmard

Tumaini/Huruma Children's Ministry Update June 2024

On my recent trip to Tumaini-Huruma Children’s Ministry in Nyeri, Kenya, I was able to visit with Tumaini-Huruma board members, worship with and visit the staff and children, while also discussing changes that have taken place at their homes since the last visit in July of 2023. Eighty-six children are in the Tumaini-Huruma Children’s Ministry with 59 of these children being reintegrated into the homes of their parents or guardians. Two social workers are making regular visits to the homes of these children, supplying them with needed food and personal items. These social workers, Ms. Falisa and Ms. Njoki, live at the Huruma home and are key to the reintegration program helping make functional homes for these kids to go back to.

Bethlehem Bible College Update May 2024

We hope this update finds you well. Here at Bethlehem Bible College, we are finishing our spring semester with 8 graduates from our Biblical Studies program.

Recently a group of Bethlehem Bible College students, under the supervision of Dr. Madeline Sara, organized an activity as part of their Youth Ministry course titled "Who’s Your Influencer?" This activity was part of their final practical project for the course, where they invited diverse groups of Christian youth from the Bethlehem area.

Children’s Bible Ministry in Guanabacoa, Cuba Update May 2024

For 121 years, the Presbyterian Church in this working-class suburb of Havana has given faithful witness to the Good News. Over five years ago, current pastor Rev. Yoelkis Sierra began to explore the surrounding neighborhood, quickly discerning that there were many young children whose families had no connection to the church. He and his leaders began to pray about how this might present the congregation with new opportunities to make Christ known. His dream was to have a safe place for young children to be nurtured and learn about Jesus Monday through Friday while their parent(s) worked to support their families.

Iraq Partnership Update May 2024

Electric Generator and Distribution Board Needed!

We received some encouraging news from our partners in Iraq this week – the church in Erbil is growing! As a result, they have outgrown their meeting space. These are the kinds of challenges we love being part of at The Outreach Foundation!

Partnership, Projects, Middle EastThe Outreach FoundationMay 27, 2024Iraq Partnership, Iraq Appeal, Iraq

Dan and Elizabeth Turk (FJKM) Madagascar Update May 2024

Dear friends,

Greetings from Madagascar!

It is great to be back after being in the U.S. for more than five months visiting churches. We enjoyed visiting churches in nine states and reaching others via Zoom. We appreciate the Madagascar Mission Network for sponsoring a Zoom event last November. It was wonderful reconnecting. Highlights included participating in the Matthew 25 Summit at New Life Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA. We are sorry that we were unable to visit all of you supporting our mission in Madagascar; please let us know if you would like us to share at your church the next time we visit the U.S.

Africa, Projects, PartnershipThe Outreach FoundationMay 24, 2024Madagascar, Africa, FJKM Ministries and Outreach

John McCall (PCUSA) Update May 2024

I am always amazed in Taiwan to hear the stories of new Christians. Only four to five percent of the population in Taiwan is Christian, so becoming a Christian here is no easy thing.

Most Taiwanese consider themselves Buddhists or Taoists, also worshipping traditional folk gods. These gods are people who did something heroic and then were deified. Traveling throughout Taiwan, you will see many temples full of different images of these folk gods. The most famous god here is Matsu, who was a young girl in southern China. One day, her father and brother were fishing in the sea when they encountered a strong typhoon. Matsu, knowing of their trouble in her dream, held onto them to save them. But her mother called her name and she unintentionally let go of her father, only having saved her brother. She became the goddess of fisherfolk and is now revered throughout Taiwan. She is often called the Holy Mother of Heaven.

Asia, Missionaries, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationMay 22, 2024John McCall, Taiwan

Holistic Evangelism in Tete Province, Mozambique Update May 2024

Friends,

We have received wonderful news from our partner leading holistic evangelism in Tete Province, Mozambique. Renovations have been completed at the Khanga Medical Clinic and the cornerstone laid for a new school and church in the rural village of Monequera.

Home of Hope in Zimbabwe Update May 2024

Long time Outreach partner Home of Hope Zimbabwe just sent word that Joan Trevelyan, its founder, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Joan was the heartbeat behind Home of Hope’s ministry, which is to meet the needs of poverty-stricken people –women, men, and especially children in and around Harare, Zimbabwe. Joan was joined by her son Craig to serve the Lord in this ministry both of whom were an inspiration to those around them. Home of Hope has brought joy into the lives of underprivileged people in Zimbabwe for many years, all thanks to the vision of Joan Trevelyan. Although Joan will be especially missed, the mission and ministry will continue at Home of Hope, thanks to its exceptional staff. Please be in prayer for Joan’s family, the Home of Hope staff, and the people of Zimbabwe as they mourn the loss of Joan. A small funeral service will be held for family and close friends, officiated by Craig’s cousin who is a pastor from South Africa

Africa, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationMay 20, 2024Home of Hope Zimbabwe, Home of Hope, Zimbabwe

Syria/Lebanon Partnership Update May 2024

The Outreach Foundation has a long-standing history of fueling the global mission of Christ in the Middle East. Our mission partners there live out God’s call for their ministries in a variety of ways including new church development in Egypt, reconciliation work by Musalaha in Israel and Palestine, theological training and education by the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo and Near East School of Theology in Lebanon, and humanitarian relief work among refugees by the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon. Each of these ministries has merit, however, given the current situation in the Middle East, relief work among refugees is strongly needed.

Haiti Outreach Ministries Update April 2024

Despite the ongoing violence in Port-au-Prince, our programs continue to operate. A few weeks ago, the schools resumed classes after Easter break. While some students and teachers could not travel safely due to blocked roads, the average attendance rate across the three primary schools and Barye Fe secondary school was 80%. Similarly, the medical/dental clinic staff have experienced challenges getting to work, but the clinic remains open and provides care for those in need, seeing about 80 patients per day. Water treatment facilities are open and serve as a vital resource for the communities. During the month of March, 52,000 gallons of clean drinking water were distributed to individuals in Cite Soleil, Terre Noire, and Repatriote. Also, the churches in Haiti all held worship services with almost 85% attendance in both worship and Sunday School. Praise God that so many were able to worship their risen Lord on Easter!

Israel/Lebanon/Palestine Appeal Update April 2024

Our friends at the Pastoral, Outreach, and Mission Council (POMC) with the Synod of the Nile in Egypt, continue to do God’s work in the Middle East. POMC helps revitalize existing churches, plant new churches, and send missionaries across the globe to places where God’s hope and love are most needed. And now, a major portion of their outreach is helping those in Palestine as POMC addresses critical humanitarian needs for vulnerable populations in the region.

Partner Updates