A report from Al and Mary Middleton

A PDF copy with photos is here: April 2016 Middleton Report

Global Update    April/May 2016

Dear Friends & Ministry Partners,

Psalm 66:16-20 Says; “Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld  his love from me!”

In our last few newsletters I have shared about our new strategy and ministry process. Praise God He has graciously answered and provided new insights that are already proving to be very effective! Let me share.

Spontaneous Disciple Making a new strategy based on reaching into our communities!

We need to focus on planting the Gospel into every existing segment of society that could spread to more and more people and could in time establish a new churches with, for, and by the people of that segment that would keep on reaching their own community and beyond!

Hans and Elly Timmermans Canadians serving in Malawi, East Africa.

They have equipped a team of 4 National leaders, who go out to the villages in Northern Malawi to share the gospel, begin One-to-One Discipleship and start Small Groups.

An example of groups reproducing:

As people begin to understand salvation and receive Jesus Christ, their lives begin to change and they also pass on what they are learning to other people with great enthusiasm and conviction. Now surrounding villages are eagerly asking them to come and start Small Groups in their village. They are seeing tremendous growth! One group has reproduced to 7 generations of new groups. For example; one group in one village has become 27 groups in several villages!

Simeon Oyugi our Rep. in Nairobi, Kenya. Simeon recently conducted a DCI Trainers Training with his team of 31 National trainers from all over Kenya. He reports; “I send you greetings in the most precious Name of Jesus and thank you for your support. The Training was very successful and the leaders left ready to take Kenya and East Africa head on and train as many leaders as possible to cause an explosion in Church growth and expansion.

We had time to review what we have done to this point and how to leaders exchanged ideas on how best we could improve and see many people come to Jesus and increase the number of leaders to be trained. The Team Leaders resolved that DCI East Africa will not  just be about Training, but also winning souls as commanded by Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20.

It was very inspiring to show them the materials on the website and for them to realize that even on a smart phone they can access these training materials.

‘We are going for action’, were the words of team leaders and it was very encouraging to see them talk in this manner.”

Jing Estrella Philippines, Continues to see amazing growth working through the DAWN Movement. They have planted over 75,000 new Churches and have a goal to have a total of 130,000 by 2020. It is an amazing vision to plant a church in every community of 1,000 people (these churches average 100 people)! I recently asked Jing, “how will you be able to reach the other 900 people in each community?” Jing sees the new Spontaneous Disciple Making strategy as being a way to equip these churches to reach the rest of the 900 people in each community. He has been training pastors and they are catching the vision and are very excited!

Ramananda in Imphal, Manipur, N. E. India reports; “I was invited to witness Christ to many drugs addicted families in an area in which most people including even most of the pastors and evangelists are afraid to enter.

Indeed, they were broken and badly drug addicted and hopeless families, and most of their anticipation was freedom from drugs, peace in their heart and joy in their families. Frankly, I did not even believe they would repent and come to the Lord. But it was a miracle, as I started sharing the Love of God and hope that we have in Christ Jesus, God prompted me that He loves them very much! Indeed, God touched many families and they were crying and repenting of their sins and transgressions and dedicated their lives to follow Jesus.

Recently, I happened to meet this old woman, her husband was the education director of our state of Manipur. She is also very educated, but was antichristian all her life. Her only son and daughter in- law became believers and joined in one of our fellowships a few years back. She rejected them even from the family. Even while she was very sick, and couldn’t walk by herself, she didn’t allow her daughter in-law to serve her or to enter her room. One day her son took an audio recording while I was witnessing Christ in a market place and let his mother listen to it. Soon after listening, she asked her son to call me to meet her. As I entered her room with my wife, she was happy and warmly welcomed us. I  sat down beside her and said, ‘Jesus loves you so much’. She gave me permission to share more of Jesus and I continued. She was crying, and I asked, ‘Would you like to open your heart and pray with me TODAY and receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?’ Praise God she immediately said, ‘YES’ and I prayed with her and she accepted Jesus as her Savior on that very day.

Please continue to pray for her health and rapid recovery and for her family too, especially for their spiritual growth. One of our evangelists is taking good care of them and leading them in a discipleship class.”

Ramananda says, “More good news! God has opened the door for me to start another church planter’s discipleship/ leadership training program with 10 people, for one year from July 2016 partnering with an organization called SEVA BHARAT INDIA. We are praying and planning for at least 40 new house fellowships/churches to be planted and through them 200 disciples and disciple-makers to be established and reaching 6000 families with the gospel during this year.” He requested that DCI provide $500.00 USD to help cover the cost of training materials etc. This we were able to do.

Peter and Moala Kashung who direct the Leadership Training Centre (LTC) in India and Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Their team of DCI Trainers have planted thousands of churches and continues to equip and send out many church planters/evangelists. Pray for Peter’s health. Here are reports from a couple of men on their team.

Yongkon – Arunachal/Myanmar He shares, “Dear Praying Friends, Sing with me the hymn, “Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go” as you read this short message from me. I often travel alone between India and Myanmar through the deep jungle, and the Lord goes with me. Using the wonderful material of Dynamic Churches International (DCI), I go around giving training to both young and old alike for discipleship, evangelism and church planting. My people have no education but they are eager to learn. Please do pray that the Lord will provide for me a staff who can travel with me to help.

John Mathuraja – South India and Sri Lanka He shares, “Dear Prayer Warriors, Thank you for your fervent prayers for me and my ministry. Last year through God’s help I conducted DCI training in 37 churches in South India.

This year I have given discipleship and evangelism training in 3 churches in Tamil Nadu. I am now giving DCI training  in 3 churches in Sri Lanka as well as Sunday school teachers training. I remain ever grateful to God, Al and Mary the founder Director of Dynamic Churches International and LTC for giving me opportunity to serve God. I covet your prayers!”

Thank you for your prayers and financial support! Through you God is expanding His Kingdom. We together with you are a team and we very much need each other to accomplish the great work God has given us to do!

Donations can be sent to the address below or through www.canadahelps.org or www.networkforgood.com in the U.S. (both online).

May God bless you all!

Your Brother and Sister in Christ,

Al and Mary Middleton