28th February, 2009
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN UGANDA

George and Jane Purkweri have been visiting some of the 30 new Churches for the Poor in Uganda, baking bricks for new buildings and training new leaders to care for the poor in the villages. Click here to see some unique photos.




27th February, 2009

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN NEPAL

Photos of a medical mission to 500 sick people in Nepal organised by Prem Thapa for visiting doctors from the USA. Click here to see the photos.





MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN LIBERIA

When John Duco in Liberia lost his job in town his church helped him and so did we to start farming to feed his family and to have food to give to others.



26th February, 2009

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN ORISSA - INDIA

Ajmad Missal has been repairing believers homes that were destroyed in the recent violence against Christians in Orissa, India, and held a free training conference for many pastors and their wives. Click here to see all the photos.




MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN CUBA

Every week Ranledis and María in Cuba bring together abandoned or neglected elderly men and women for the best day of their week. Click to see the photos.

25th February, 2009

THE MONEY FORUM

One of our readers in Nepal writes to say that the money he was receiving from the USA is coming to an end, for him and for many others, and asking what he should do?  For 25 years I have said that it is a mistake to sell your church, your vision, your call and even your soul to the West in exchange for a few dollars because a final day always comes and then what happens? I have always liked Paul's example in Acts 20,34-35 when he says that the work of his own hands provides for his own needs, the needs of his companions and gave him money to help the weak, because it is more blessed to give than to receive. See Kingdom Business in The School of Money and Money Forum for more ideas.

If somebody is reluctant to support you, thank them, bless them and let them go on their way. This is especially hard to accept if you have invested time in making that relationship work, but you can't turn the fearful into the faithful because that is God's job. He had a water test to show Gideon who he could count on and who he could not. God told Gideon: "You have too large an army and they will take the credit, so tell anyone who is afraid that he may go home." At that 22,000 men left and 10,000 stayed but God said, "There are still too many so take them to the stream and I'll make a final cutback." When the opposition is marching in you can often lose the most support but don't worry, God is at work. The first cutback of 22,000 men, looked like a disaster but it was actually a test from God to see who was dependable. At the stream only 300 men drank from their cupped hands, while the rest knelt down to drink. God then said, "I will use those 300 to give you victory." The lesson is you need to be able to see the enemy approaching and those men who knelt down to drink, sacrificed their vision to satisfy their immediate need. Never forget that when it is God who reduces your support it is that He intends to show you that with Him you can still can lead and move forward even if you have lost everyone and everything. Are people around you cutting back? Let them go in peace, bless them and trust God who has something better in mind.
From the Word for Today and Our Money Forum

24th February, 2009

THE WORLD'S NOTICE BOARD

In Puerto Rico there's prayer for healing in Manatí Medical Center every Monday at 7pm led by Dr Luis Paz.

Nurse Pablo Vazquez Castro in Uruguay is asking doctors with experience in caring for people with terminal illnesses to contact him, Pablo is also preparing a medical mission to Russia.

In London, UK the Apostolic Church of God are giving free clothes and food for those in need. E-mail Pastor Ronald for more information.



22nd February, 2009

CROWDS ASK TO FOLLOW CHRIST: ASSAM

David from The Asian Christian Development Programme, a long established leaders training scheme in Pakistan and India, has been telling us that his friends in Assam, India have baptised an amazing 1,297 people in January, another 1,080 in February so far and expect to have a further 1500 people prepared for baptism by March. They say that God is moving with signs, wonders, visions, dreams and miracles all of which are being documented. Apparently local people are coming to the leaders and simply asking for baptism in the Name of Isa Masih, that is Jesus, something that has never been seen before.




21st February, 2009

FARMING GOD'S WAY
MULTIPLIES AFRICA'S CROPS

We have just heard about Farming God’s Way and we can't wait to pass this on to you. FGW trains and equips the rural poor of Africa to release the God given potential of the land. The FGW staff couple the Word of God with agricultural skills, to bring harvests of both crops, righteousness and care for the land. There are many testimonies of the Godly multiplication of harvests for both commercial and subsistence farmers. Click on the links for find out more.




20th February, 2009

FREE SCHOOL OF MISSION
ON THE ORINOCO RIVER

This is in Venezuela, where Pastor Claudio Saavedra will open a new and totally free School of Mission in Ciudad Bolivar in March with 20 students coming so far and many more expected. So if you live near don't miss the opportunity. Well done Claudio and many thanks. We are here to help if you need us.




19th February, 2009



OASIS OF PEACE IN CONGO VIOLENCE

The eastern part of DR Congo has seen some shocking cruelty in recent days, see the February 7 news, but in it all Pasteur Luc Tulinabo of L'Eglise Bethlehem in Bukavu has opened a free School of Mission starting with just 7 students. Luc deserves our congratulations for teaching Christ and his ways, bringing hope in the middle of severe unrest.




18th February, 2009


HOW IS EVERYTHING FREE,
WHERE'S THE CATCH?  Luis, Barcelona.

There is no catch Luis, everything is free. The studies, the advice, the e-mail support, everything. Freely we have received, freely we give, that is our way of seeing God's word and the way we have always worked. No-one in the DCI network will ever ask you money, so go ahead, help yourself to all you can find.
Click here to send in your question




17th February, 2009

THREE DAYS IN JAIL
FOR MAKING CAKES: CUBA

We always encourage the Schools of Mission to engage in micro-enterprise to create funds locally and to show the students a way of financing their future work. In Cuba we were surprised to discover only last week that every business, however small, still belongs to the socialist state and that is where the profits must go, even if you get a licence to start. In fact, one man, who we dare not name, was secretly making cakes at home to sell - until the police came and destroyed his cooking pans and put him up in prison for three days. A court pronounced him guilty and gave him a huge fine or a year in prison. Ouch ! Who can tell us how the Cuban graduates can become self-supporting ?




16th February, 2009

WITCHCRAFT AND CHILD SACRIFICE
IS BACK: UGANDA

Our partner in since 1994 in Uganda, George Purkweri, who is known everywhere as the Pastor of the Poor, told us today how worried he is that Uganda's children are once again being murdered and sacrificed in a resurgence of old witchcraft ceremonies. The remains of four children who were probably sold to the witch doctors by very poor parents were discovered in George's district, Lira, more elsewhere, and lately arrests have been made. George says that the witch doctors have formed an association and applied to Parliament for legal religious registration. Local feeling is that they will most likely receive this, unless prayer rises around the world. Uganda's children still have vivid memories of the recent 19 year war when thousands of innocents were kidnapped, raped or turned into child soldiers, and now many of them again fear for their lives.





14th February, 2009

Cuba - Febrero

CUBA HAS TWO NEW SCHOOLS OF MISSION

They are still very small, but that is how most begin and before you know it new churches and care projects are opening everywhere. That makes three free Schools of Mission in Cuba which is a very exciting start for all of us. Well done to our partners Ranledis and Maria. We are also hearing about several new Schools opening in Haiti and several places in Peru. Click here to see the photos.




13th February, 2009

OUR BOOK OF THE MONTH

12th February, 2009

CAN YOU HELP US WITH ASIAN LANGUAGES ?

These unique pages have thousands of readers in every country in Africa and South America as well as the English speaking world. We would like to bring out editions in Korean, Japanese and later in Khmer and Thai. We already have some pages in Urdu and Chinese.  Would you come and join our team of volunteers to translate into these Asian languages or help with making the web pages? Please say yes and e-mail Yoppi Margianto in Indonesia or Les Norman in the UK.




12th February, 2009

THERE IS NO GOD (THEY SAY)

Eight hundred buses in London, Madrid, Barcelona and other European cities are carrying banners to announce that there is (probably) no God, so enjoy life. Funded by UK atheists, which is a belief system or religion like any other although in this case with they believe in the nonexistence of deity rather than the warm faith and living hope that believers enjoy. The buses have given British believers a very welcome conversation opener to explain the gospel and the atheist buses which are the work of comedy writer Ariane Sherine have provoked thousands of conversations and acres of press comment. Some drivers will not drive the buses and London's streets now have Christian buses as well.




11th February, 2009

ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO GOD (THEY SAY)
BRITISH NURSE WHO PRAYS LOSES HER JOB !

CHILD TALKS ABOUT GOD AT SCHOOL

BRITISH LIBRARIES MOVE BIBLE TO TOP SHELF

10th February, 2009

THE WORLD'S NOTICE BOARD

If you are in mission in Angola then please e-mail Pablo Romano from Argentina.

In one poor part of Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela, after a year's work Claudio Saavedro is happy to tell us that 20 people are meeting for worship under a tree, and have plans to begin building in 2009. See Claudio's beautiful website.

Lizzie Norman from Leeds, England and 16 university friends plan to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise thousands of pounds for orphans in Tanzania. For more information and to sponsor them write to Lizzie.




9th February, 2009



ONE FRIEND TO ANOTHER

Did you know that it is not easy to distinguish between doing what we are called to do and doing what we want to do. Our many wants can easily distract us from the true action that leads us to the fulfilment of our vocation, or calling. Whether we work in an office, travel the world, write books or make films, care for the poor, offer leadership, or fulfil unspectacular tasks, the question is not, "What do I most want?" but "What is my calling?" The most prestigious position in society can be an expression of obedience to our call as well as a sign of our refusal to hear that call, and the least prestigious position, too, can be a response to our calling as well as a way to avoid it. When we are committed to do God's will and not our own we soon discover that much of what we do doesn't need to be done by us. We engage in uncommanded work. What we are called to are actions that bring us true joy and peace. Actions that lead to overwork, exhaustion, and burnout can't praise and glorify God. What God calls us to do, we can do and do well.
From Henri Nouwen, Mornings.




7th February, 2009

THE WORLD WEEPS WITH EASTERN CONGO

IS IT FIVE TO MIDNIGHT IN ZIMBABWE ?

5th February, 2009



LAUNCH OF THIS NEWS PAGE IN ITALIAN

Click here to see the new page. If you would like to join our worldwide team of volunteers to translate into Italian, please write to us, you will be very welcome.




4th February, 2009



THE MONEY FORUM

To update some investment advice from Jesus: 'Don't focus on investing in this world, living for today, chasing the next purchase or experience here, where banks go bust, house prices fall and stock markets crash. But focus on investing in heaven, where the bank will never go bust, the mansions will never lose their value and there is always a guaranteed eternal return. For where you put your investment shows where your attention, your commitment is. In the middle of the global money mayhem, we need to stand out as people who are different. Some things that have got blurred must come back into focus: God as our provider; the practice of trust and gratitude; God's glory as our primary aim, not our own comfort and financial advancement. Christians are not insulated from the economic freeze, but God is bigger than our financial difficulties and his perspective is Matthew 6:19-34. Global economic systems are built on shifting sand. God's economic systems are built on solid rock. They are immovable, eternal, often invisible and always focused on His glory which makes today a time to invest, not to back away, a time to renew support to mission, a time to care for those in need, a time to demonstrate a different Kingdom. More in the Money Forum
Myles Wilson, The Gift Horse E-Bulletin




2nd February, 2009

IS THERE SUCH A THING AS DEJA VU ?

Back in 1985 I met a young man by the name of Philippe who was one of the first educated people who were emerging in his nation of Burkina Faso in those days.  He had a vision, a passion, a wife, a first child and they lived in a shed made from cardboard, pieces of wood and metal which leaned together in the dusty playground of a school where Josephine taught a class of 80 children. Water ran through the home, but ideas ran through my mind and one-line prayers ran through my heart. Since 1985 in answer to prayer God has used Philippe and Josephine to transform village and after village and AEAD now educates over 3000 children in 70 village schools; they have churches, a bank for the poor, training for leaders, clinics and a long list of people and development projects under their wing.  We never realized just how much good work would spring from such a small, shaky start.

Last week a young African man from Malawi sat in our lounge, shivering with cold even though he was wearing pullovers, jackets, a heavy parka and a fur hood. His name is Michael and he comes from Mbuzi Mzumala, "over the South Rukuru river where the crocodiles are" near Zambia.  The nearest school and clinic is 65 kilometers away making a fearful local mortality rate and a staggering 98% illiteracy rate. Like Philippe, Michael and his wife are also educated and have spent a year in the UK working long hours in two menial jobs to raise money. So far they have personally funded, built and staffed a new village school and next on the list is a much needed £5000 clinic, and £10000 secondary and vocational school for Michael's village.

Last week it was Michael that was sitting on the sofa but somehow space and time opened and it was Philippe I could see as scenes from the past in Burkina Faso danced behind my eyes. Was it that funny thing called "deja vu" which means "I have been here before," or was it God saying that when His time comes to change a nation He first looks for a man who will follow and obey Him. Back in 1985 God found such a man living in a shed in Burkina Faso and I am now wondering if He has not just found another man, this time for Malawi. I am excited that we and our supporters may be able to be there in the beginning of something very special. 

1st February, 2009

ZIMBABWE MILLIONS FACING STARVATION.
See this urgent video message from Kumi Naido in South Africa.

31st January, 2009

WHY ONE TAXI DRIVER GOES
WHERE EVEN  ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD

29th January, 2009

FOR EVERYONE WHO THOUGHT
THEY COULD DO NOTHING IN KUWAIT

The oil wealth may be visible in Kuwait but people like the street cleaners are so poor they don't get to see any of it. Winter temperatures get down to 3ºC and street people shiver. This is where Operation Hope steps in. Started in 2005 by an American lady this mercy mission is now run by many local people who collect coats, gloves and long underwear and then drive around the city looking to bless the poor workers they find.




28th January, 2009




THE WORLD'S NOTICE BOARD

Doctor Luis Paz in Arecibo, Puerto Rico combines medicine with a Bible teaching and healing ministry. You are welcome to get in touch or visit Luis's excellent website 

In Moquegua, Peru Anamaria Velasquez who is 49, is looking for help to open a shelter for the many young abandoned pregnant girls to give them a better way forward than abortion or adoption.

If people in your church are losing their jobs, overtime or bonuses and the recession is beginning to bite, this article in English will be very helpful to you.

Click here to send in your news here

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE SOME OF OUR PHOTOS?

Click to see our Picassa Albums from around the world.
Choose one and then click Slideshow to see the display.

Click here for Schools of Mission around the world
Click here for Banking for the Poor projects
Click here for projects to help orphans and the poor
Click here to see some of the people in the DCI family
Les and Pilar

Who are we ?

Click here to see our Vision and Values statement.
Click here to see an illustration of what we do, more or less.
Click here to see our statement of faith

Click here (soon) to see the Wikipedia article on our work, reserached and written independently of ourselves as part of academic studies for the prestigious Fuller Seminary in the USA.


HOW YOU CAN HELP US
How to join us?
Click here for a special page

ABOUT THE EDITORS

Les Norman is a writer, an editor and the publisher of these pages that call attention to the lost, the last and the least of the world. Since 1977 he has been following the call of Christ. He is married to Pilar and they have three children.

Find out more here