M/E International - Newsletter

M/E Newsletter May 2 0 0 1

Dear Outreacher:

Reaching and Teaching the un-reached -- the helpless -- the hopeless -- this is our major concern.

We in the USA and Western World in general know NOTHING of real poverty -- even our 'ghettos' are 'mansions' in comparison -- we have for generations had an up-welling of wonderful benefits and improved life-style. This is good -- is appropriate as referenced from our blessings from our Father God! Yes, our nation is blessed, stemming directly from HIS blessings. But, how about India and Africa? Have you considered their plight -- for they have been directly under the heel of Satan for many centuries -- and he has ravaged them unmercifully! You can see this in perspective when we consider our simplest of homes (built to rigorous standards and specifications) and their shanties which are literally flung together helter-skelter. Our modern roads to their dirt paths in the villages perhaps give as revealing a comparison as we can find -- although, their spiritual darkness is even more devastating. Yes, as we have often said "they have so little -- we have so much".

Hey, it is wonderful to be blessed -- wonderful to bask in our Father God's glory. But remember, He said "Go Ye into all the World" -- so we must do it! That is what the Cassette Discipleship Program (CDP) is all about. Our way of "going" is to enable our ministry partners to "do it" -- somewhat vicariously "going" -- yet, seeing that the job is done! Yes, "enabling" them where we can't "Go" for political/social reasons.

Now it is time to visit a typical village situation, let's do it through the eyes of a young boy . Envision a village located remotely from any city or road, where a young man named Rajananam (we will call him Raj) has grown up working in the fields. He is now 14 years old. He daily reaches the field just at sun up -- returning home at dusk. In between, there is back breaking work, hoeing, shoveling, lifting, loading the cart with sacks of grain, etc. Raj generally works in only a loin cloth type garment -- his body otherwise naked to the elements about him -- his feet bare and tough.

In the evening, many of the boys and men sit around telling stories, looking for any activity that can break the numbing boredom that seems always to surround them. Raj enjoys hearing stories about his village -- how it was started and grew. His village has about 1,200 living there -- they are within a kilometer (about 0.62 miles) from ten other villages -- the largest having about 3,000 villagers.

This latter village is the hub or bazaar (like county seat) where every so often Raj goes to purchase special items. This group of villages have dug several wells, -- in general, there was a well or small stream within half a kilometer from their village. Of course, this means that all their water has to be carried to the village from the well. This is just another task for his mother and sisters as all the 'men' were out working in the field.

Generally, Raj has saved some of the grain that he has received for his wages. He will occasionally take some to the bazaar to make purchases. More often than not, this bartering method is widely used in the villages. It is not strange at all to see a person balancing several squawking chickens hanging by their feet from a pole over his shoulder. Of course, eggs and vegetables are other commodities which are ever present at the bazaar. It is always exciting for Raj to visit the bazaar.

This particular day, Raj was bartering for a new shirt when his attention was drawn to a fellow playing a cassette player. Now, this was something!-- he had never seen such a device. It was certainly new and exciting -- he had to find out what the machine was saying.

As he drew near, he quickly became engrossed in the conversation coming from the machine. He noted that the voice from the machine was asking some of the same questions which he had been wondering about -- like: "what are we doing here?" -- "what is my purpose for life?" -- "is there a plan for this life -- this World?" -- “how does a God or many God's fit into this plan?”. He was riveted to the dialog coming from the machine. Also, he was particularly touched by the songs that were played every so often -- he had never heard anything so beautiful, he thought.

After awhile, between tapes, Raj was able to talk with the Village Evangelist (VE) -- learning that he had just started with this group of ten villages and would be around for a few years to regularly minister to the people around this bazaar. The VE spent quite a time with Raj, noting that he was both receptive and concerned. Raj wondered where the VE had been -- why hadn't anyone been there earlier? -- this was so important. He pressed for more information -- more tape messages -- special testimonies from the VE. Of course that was like yelling "fire" to a fireman for the VE! In Raj's case, where he had no formal schooling -- he could not read or write, but he could listen and understand the tape messages! After just hearing the messages and personal testimony of VE for a few hours Raj was convicted of his need of a Savior. The VE ministered directly to Raj, pointing him to the Lord Jesus Christ. Raj was dumbfounded, he couldn't believe the difference he felt -- indeed, as the VE had said, Raj was a New Creature in Christ, his interests were immediately switched from the world to a God centered life. He was amazed, for as he reviewed his past, he had been a real rascal, doing everything wrong! But now, his desires were to please his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

As he returned home, he desired to tell his folks about this amazing set of circumstances -- and his having accepted Jesus as his personal Savior. He did this by telling the story of the cassettes as far as he had heard them. His parents, brothers and sisters were very interested -- marveling at the details which Raj could convey. After he "wound down", for he was very excited, it was agreed that the family should seek to hear the VE for themselves -- for they were very impressed with the changes so apparent in Raj.

We need to pray for hundreds of “Rajs” -- for they represent yet another part of the WAVE needed to BLANKET all the villages of India.

Reaching the Un-reached

-- the helpless -- the hopeless!

We are all sensitive to the situation in developing countries, but, all too often, we assume that they are somehow in some idyllic situation, where they surely live in peace and tranquility. Not so in most of India and much of Africa -- especially the village areas where very drastic situations persist as they have for many millennia.

A number of philanthropic groups are reaching out to certain individuals, such as specific children or the disabled. And, there are needs to be met or assisted. Apparently they are doing a good work. Yet, it is all too scant -- and often as not is not doesn't repeat in-kind.

So, when viewed in perspective of the total and overwhelming need of the villagers of India, the above help is but a pittance of the total need. Well then, are there better ways? -- even possibly a best way to minister.

We see literally thousands of villages (take your pick of the some 800,000 villages of India and perhaps 50,000 villages in Ghana, Africa), where about 60% are children who have little or no education (on the average) and are early indoctrinated into field labor, helping to scratch out an existence.

Sure, it would be nice if we could adopt each child to provide him/her with education, food and clothing, etc. But, this is obviously not directly possible. Yet, on the other hand, our approach is to place a caring Village Evangelist (VE) in their neighborhood, one who can help them find the Lord, a renewed family life, and a challenge to live for Jesus. This is what Cassette Discipleship Programs (CDP) will do, plus much more.

Yes, for $30.00 per month an Adopter provides both the funds for the VE as well as all his/her maintenance-support requirements, including his supervisor, his bicycle (as required), his cassette player, and cassette messages. Now the VE is suited to help save and stabilize the people and families he contacts -- a far better thing we do!

We now see that a valid, potent, challenging and empathetic perspective for outreach has come alive -- it both meets the drastic spiritual needs, taking Jesus to the villagers in a very effective and timely manner, as well as meeting the heart cry of those children in a most positive and lasting way, as their dad's become real dad's and their families are renewed. True, you don't directly place food in the mouths of a child -- but you do indirectly bring multitudes of them to Jesus, and assist them to be all they can be through His empowering.

How are children -- reached -- helped?

Glad you asked! -- the children are impacted in two primary ways: 1) directly via "Daily Vacation Bible School" methods, and 2) by a wonderful "spin off" as their parents are saved and become real caring and loving parents! This is what Jesus does as He changes lives. PTL indeed!

So, now, each of our VEs bring many children and adults to the Lord, seeing them converted to His new life. Yes, one can say that truly it is a "new ball game" -- seeing Jesus love and light bloom in their lives and, often as not, then also growing naturally into the lives of friends and family members! -- and this all for the price of a Village Evangelist ($30.00/month). It is not so surprising, for each of our 130 VEs has the responsibility to reach out regularly to some 10,000 villagers -- where perhaps 6,000 of these are children! What opportunities are their's, -- our's, -- your's!!!

Yes, for the price needed to feed and clothe a child for six weeks. a VE can be sent to minister to 6000 children, plus related adults, for a month. Spiritually evangelizing and making disciples, restoring families and training in Jesus way, with truth -- ever seeking the lost, -- meeting all needs that arise -- often praying for the sick.

If one does just a fractional cost-effectiveness study, it is clear that we cannot feed the world with food, but we can and must feed them with God's Holy Word -- allowing the Holy Spirit to empower them to take corrective action on their lives -- providing for their needs as they become good parents, good citizens, good neighbors.

The case for the Cassette Discipleship Program and associated Village Evangelists is therefore well established , so then, what must our response be? That is right -- we need to put the full force of the CHURCH behind this endeavor, allowing all the villages of India and Ghana, Africa to be reached during this first decade of this new millennium. Yes, by 2010 all of India's villages “should” be under the regular ministry of the Gospel as VEs are adopted and sent forth to minister as only they can! This is certainly our desire -- we trust it is also yours.

R E S P O N S E F O R M

I/We desire to be:

[ ] ENABLING-AMBASSADOR (Need thousands) $30.00/VE/Month

[ ] LOCAL-AMBASSADOR (Need hundreds) 2 to 3 hours per week.

[ ] AREA-AMBASSADOR (Need dozens) 2 to 3 hours per week.

[ ] NATIONAL-AMBASSADOR (Need a few) 2 to 3 hours per week.