W W W. E H C . O R G J U LY 2 0 1 6

E V E R Y H O M EP R A Y E R E V A N G E L I S M D I S C I P L E S H I P

T h e R e l e n t l e s s P u r s u i t

p.10

MB1607

The StrangerPapua New

Guinea p. 4

A Different WorldBurundi p. 8

Crossing Rivers and CulturesVenezuela p. 11

We Are Every Home for Christp. 15

Cover: Houses are built on water instead of land in this coastal community of Papua New Guinea.True North in PNG by Roderick Eime (CC BY 2.0)

http://bit.ly/1rtDTnKhttp://bit.ly/1ryPA8o

Every Home for ChristP. O. Box 64000Colorado Springs, CO 80962 1-800-423-5054www.ehc.org | info@ehc.org

Search for us online: everyhomeintl

VISION: Every Home for Christ exists to serve the Church to reach every home on earth with the Gospel.

International President | Dick Eastman Executive Director | Tim MiddlebrookEditor | Michelle MatiaCopy Editor | James HoltDesigner | Drew EmmertProduction Supervisor | Elizabeth LeCompte

Email UpdatesWould you like to receive the latest prayer requests and updates from the field? Visit www.ehc.org/subscribe

3WWW.EHC.ORG

J U N E 2 0 1 6

p.10

Two pioneer missionaries traveling on one bicycle share God’s love in a remote jungle region of Uganda.

3

Dick Eastman, International President

REACHING THE UTTERMOST

ould it surprise you to know that, in spite of all the amazing ministry taking place throughout the world today, nearly one-third of the world’s population has

never heard the name of Jesus? That’s more than 2.3 billion lost souls! Many of these are in largely isolated, marginalized people groups living in areas so remote that most live their entire lives without ever meeting a Christian.

I’m thrilled to tell you that, because of your prayers and generous support, EHC workers throughout the globe are taking the Gospel to the unreached areas of their nations and reaping a bountiful harvest of souls! It’s our privilege to bring you a few of their amazing stories.

On the pages that follow, you’ll be inspired by the pioneer missionaries in Papua New Guinea who walked for hours in scorching tropical heat to find an isolated village. An astounding miracle brought many of those villagers to Christ (p. 4). In Burundi, dedicated workers were headed to a remote area when heavy rain disabled their motorbikes. Undaunted, they walked the rest of the way, carrying weighty boxes of gospel literature (p. 8). And finally, an outreach team in Venezuela persevered to overcome cultural barriers while delivering the Gospel to remote indigenous communities (p. 11).

The mission of Every Home for Christ is to reach every home on earth with the Gospel. Please pray for our global workers who do whatever it takes to find those homes.

W

“...he is not willing that any should perish...”

(2 Peter 3:9, TLB)

The Change the World School of Prayer will return in September.You can watch Lessons 1–3 on demand at www.ehc.org/ctwsop

4 5www.ehc.org

E V E R Y H O M E J U LY 2 0 1 6

THE

STRANGERby Rob Stennett

4

An EHC worker carries precious gospel literature on foot to a remote location.

4 5www.ehc.org

E V E R Y H O M E J U LY 2 0 1 6

P A P U A N E W G U I N E A

ave you ever walked into a place you didn’t belong? Maybe it was someone’s house when you weren’t sure if they

were home. Maybe you stumbled into the back room of a restaurant or business. Or maybe you found yourself in an abandoned building, coated in dust and covered in cobwebs. It’s an eerie feeling. You carefully step inside, not quite sure where to stand or if someone is about to jump out from the shadows and shout, “What are you doing here?”

This is the feeling an EHC pioneer missionary named Brother Sylvester had when he walked into the remote village of Utam in Papua New Guinea. This was a place where he was uninvited, and things felt completely foreign. It wasn’t easy for him to get there in the first place. Aaron Nikkie, the country’s National Director, explained, “On a very cool, bright morning, as early as 5:30 a.m., Brother Sylvester decided to visit a remote village called Utam. He decided to go when he heard from the neighboring villagers that there were some people living at the foot of Mount Kerorowa.”

Brother Sylvester had been working with an EHC team to reach remote locations in the southern part of Papua New Guinea. The team traveled to many villages that were only accessible by sailing across the choppy waters of the coast. Then they walked for days in jungles where the pounding sun made the heat unbearable. These

areas were remote, but they were charted. These villages had hosted visitors before, even though visits were infrequent.

The village of Utam, however, had never had an outside visitor.

Brother Sylvester stepped into the village, which was really only a small cluster of homes. The five buildings almost looked abandoned. “He felt nervous when he first arrived at the village and it was very quiet. He was afraid of both witchcraft and physical attack,” Aaron said. As Brother Sylvester approached the first house, he only heard

the whispers of a child inside. He balled up his fist, knocked on the door and was greeted by an elderly crippled man. The man admitted that he’d never met an outside visitor.

This is an incredible thing to think about. We live in a world where social media networks connect us to thousands — or even millions

— of people through a device that fits in the palm of your hand. We have Uber, a company that sends complete strangers to the exact spot we’re standing so they can drive us anywhere we want. And from the nearest airport, we can fly nearly anywhere in the world within 24 hours. But this elderly man didn’t know any of that. He had never met anyone outside of the handful of people who lived in his village, and now this stranger, this alien, was standing at his door.

“I have Good News for you,” Brother Sylvester smiled. “I’m here to share the love of

H

“The village of Utam, however,

had never had an outside visitor.”

6

E V E R Y H O M E

Jesus. There can be healing for your soul and your body.” This strange man introduced the idea of a strange God: a supernatural being with the power to stop a thunderstorm at the sound of His voice, someone who was also a human being, willing to lay down His life for the people of Utam.

Others in the village of Utam crept out of their homes to watch what was happening. That’s when Brother Sylvester asked the boldest question of all: “Can I pray for you?” The man nodded, and Sylvester prayed in the name of Jesus that this crippled man would be healed. The prayer went something like, “He may not know You, but You know him, and he desires to walk without any pain.” After this prayer, the crippled man was able to walk. Soon he was jumping and dancing.

“When the crippled man was healed, the whole village was amazed and wondered what kind of power healed him. They wanted to know more. That opened the

door for the whole village to receive the Gospel,” Aaron explained.

Brother Sylvester shared the full gospel story. He explained who Jesus is, what He did and how He loves every one of them. They clung to every word. No one had ever sought them out and explained this story. But even though they had never heard of Jesus before, something about Brother Sylvester’s story resonated. They were like adopted children hearing about their father for the first time. “The people received the Gospel with eagerness and were able to believe in Jesus. They wanted to know more about that power that can heal people,” Aaron said.

As the sun set that day, many accepted Jesus for the first time, changing the trajectory of Utam forever. They prayed bold prayers and discovered freedom at the end of them. They were grateful for this pioneer missionary who sought them out to tell them the truth.

“After this prayer, the crippled man was able to walk. Soon he was jumping and dancing.”

1

7www.ehc.org

J U LY 2 0 1 6

This is not the only encounter Brother Sylvester has had with the village of Utam. He told other EHC workers about it, and since then “there were several visits made by EHC workers. They formed a Christ Group, and now there is a little fellowship in that village, often visited by a pastor. It is a joy indeed for the whole village to be connected to the outside world.” Discipleship is happening, and the villagers are learning to connect with others for food, medicine and supplies.

This is a story of what happens when someone faithful is willing to make a difficult trek to share the gospel story. There were no Google Maps to the village and no GPS coordinates. Nothing like that was needed, because God’s plan long predates any of these tools. It has been happening for the last 2,000 years: a follower of Christ learns about someone who needs to hear the Good News of Jesus, and he takes every step necessary to make the introduction.

2 3

1 EHC workers travel hours on foot to reach remote villages in Papua New Guinea. 2 A cluster of homes on a Papua New Guinea mountainside 3 Two young boys travel on a raft down a river surrounded by jungle in Papua New Guinea. 4 An EHC worker shares God’s love with an entire family in a remote village.

4

8

E V E R Y H O M E

is short summary of their outreach was so gripping that we had to know more. What our EHC workers in Burundi endured to share the Gospel in one of the world’s least-developed nations was described with such brevity, it was as though we, too, were expected to be familiar with such an experience.

But none of the staff in our U.S. headquarters could say they’d ever rented a dilapidated motorbike, weighed it down with boxes of gospel literature and tried to navigate it up a narrow mountain path in pouring rain. And when the mud became so thick that the bike would go no further, it’s doubtful that any of us would have finished the 35-mile journey on foot, carrying boxes of soggy booklets on our heads. Is that what it’s like to take up your cross in Burundi?

Through the miracle of technology, we contacted the source of the report, Every Home for Christ Burundi National Director Evariste Harerimana. A few days later, we received his reply. As it turns out, what seemed astonishing to us is everyday life in other parts of the world. It was a sobering reminder to stop and thank God for our first-world blessings.

There was heartache in Evariste’s words as he explained, in near-perfect English, what it takes to reach every home in his nation with the Gospel. Our dear friend covered for our lack of understanding by saying, “Sometimes we can’t describe what it’s like in the field as the situation is so bad. We need prayer because it is so difficult for our volunteers. This is a different world.”

Evariste went on to explain that there’s no perfect time to go into the sparsely populated mountain areas because it rains there

by Kathy Gowler

B U R U N D I

Photos from EHC outreaches in Burundi showcase some of the nation’s remote areas, people groups and homes.

9www.ehc.org

10

E V E R Y H O M E

every day. And he doesn’t mean soft, gentle rains. In Burundi, rain comes down in torrents, making it impossible to keep your balance because the mud is so slippery.

But walking through the mud is what 141 pioneer missionaries from 13 different Burundian churches did during the Burundi outreach that Evariste reported on. These believers took time away from their jobs and their families to deliver the Good News of salvation to their nation’s poorest of the poor. They slipped and slid their way from one isolated dwelling to another — often traveling miles in between. They weren’t surprised that most of the younger people they met had never heard about Jesus — Every Home for Christ is the first Protestant movement to evangelize this area.

The pioneer missionaries who participated in Burundi’s remote outreach delivered the Gospel to 2,321 mountain homes, resulting in 671 responses to the Gospel. Because they went the distance, there are now 133 flourishing believers in the area who gather every Sunday for worship. On Thursday nights, they form nine different Christ Groups that meet for discipleship and fellowship in one another’s homes.

Not many of us will have the experience of tromping through mud to remote African villages so we can tell lost souls about Jesus. But we can support those who do. Please pray for Brother Evariste, his team of pioneer missionaries and other EHC workers around the world who are taking the Good News to remote areas of their nations. And if you’re compelled to send financial support, please go to www.ehc.org/donate. Every dollar you give will help reach three households with the Gospel.

1 EHC workers prepare for a long ride into Burundi’s mountains. These full-grown men will share a motorcycle along with boxes of literature and their luggage. 2 Some of the 141 volunteers from this outreach traverse a long but gentle slope to reach another village. 3 EHC team members take a break on the side of the road.

“...there’s no perfect time

to go into the sparsely

populated mountain

areas because

it rains there

every day.”

1

2

3

11www.ehc.org

J U LY 2 0 1 6

A ntonio caught himself looking at it again. The map of Venezuela he had pulled from the phone book seemed to call to him. As spokesman of his

town council, Antonio had plenty to occupy his mind, yet his eyes were continually drawn to the dot that marked Valencia. This city in northern Venezuela was far from his community along the Orinoco River, so why couldn’t he get it out of his mind?

A knock on the door pulled Antonio from his thoughts. To his surprise, he was greeted by a small group of people from the city of Valencia itself. “We’re here to tell you the Good News,” one of them said with a smile.

This group that greeted Antonio was part of an outreach of pioneer missionaries on a whirlwind tour of the Orinoco River, which runs along the border of Venezuela and Colombia. Fifteen couples, mostly from Valencia, had traveled for days, driving down difficult

roads and floating in boats along the winding river to get to Antonio’s community.

“It is a difficult journey,” says Juan Carlos Rada, National Director of Every Home for Christ Venezuela. “The roads are badly damaged. There are no healthy places to get food along the road. Transportation is limited, and there are no places to stay.”

Along the way, our pioneer missionaries also experienced a lack of water, a lack of electricity and a lack of sanitation resources. But the distance wasn’t the only challenge they faced.

Their goal was to reach indigenous communities in three separate locations along the river: Puerto Ayacucho, Isla Ratón and La Esmeralda. Reaching indigenous groups meant doing challenging cross-cultural ministry. But God provided three guides from a local church called Rock of Horeb, each with a different indigenous background.

CROSSING RIVERS AND CULTURES

by James Holt

V E N E Z U E L A

Pioneer missionaries didn’t know what to expect as they made their way toward a Piaroa community on the Orinoco River.

12

E V E R Y H O M E

“...communities often feel forgotten by the outside world, so they were grateful for the loving attention provided by these visitors.”

1 The Orinoco River Valley in Venezuela 2 The

Orinoco River 3 Families live in stilt houses like this

one on the river delta.

“Who better to guide our workers to the mysterious but wonderful world of Indian tribes?” says Juan Carlos. “It can be a little difficult because of the culture and language. However, despite any cultural barrier, God opened the door, not only to their homes but also to their hearts, to listen to the message that can change their lives forever.”

Throughout the trip, our gospel workers took the message of salvation home to home, provided special programs for women and children, organized recreational activities and trained new believers in discipleship. The indigenous communities often feel forgotten by the outside world, so they were grateful for the loving attention provided by these visitors.

“We witnessed the power of the love of God’s promises,” Juan Carlos says. “It was no effort to make these souls understand their need for our unique, powerful and great living God in their lives. It was impressive to see the conviction with which these souls accepted the message of salvation.”

Those who prayed to accept Jesus as their Savior often shared their personal prayer requests. One woman who was in bed with malaria when she asked for prayer was even up and walking around shortly afterward!

Our workers invited everyone to evening worship services, where the new believers joined our pioneer missionaries in praising God. These gatherings proved to be the most rewarding part of the trip for our workers.

“A cultural mix . . . singing songs in different languages with a single purpose to glorify God for His love for us,” Juan Carlos says. “To see how God’s love transcends cultural barriers, breaking chains and changing lives, is priceless. There, we forgot all about our sacrifice, all tiredness and everything bad on the trip . . . Yet this was nothing compared to when all peoples and nations of the earth will gather in front of God’s adoring presence in heaven for eternity.”

In the end, our pioneer missionaries traveled over 600 miles. They visited the indigenous communities of the Curripacos, Piaroas, Creoles and Jivi, among others. They reached 4,650 homes, and they saw 740 people respond to the Gospel. They also trained pastors in the region to use Every Home for Christ’s Be Fruitful and Multiply discipleship curriculum to ensure the new believers would continue to grow in their faith.

One of these new believers was Antonio. After hearing the message of the Gospel from the EHC workers who came to his door, Antonio joyfully put his faith in Jesus. After saying the prayer of salvation, he looked up at our workers and smiled.

“I know now why I kept looking at that map,” he said. “God is telling me to be trained to go to Valencia and preach the Good News.”

1

2

3

Our workers in this country recently distributed gospel literature in a town dealing with armed conflict. Please pray for the security of our workers as they travel and for the hearts of those they reach to be touched by the Word of God. (Hosea 7–9)

During recent outreaches, over 41,000 pieces of gospel literature were distributed throughout areas that have very few evangelical churches. Pray that a great harvest of souls will be produced in Serbia through these outreaches. (Hosea 10–12)

Our workers in Nepal are passionate about reaching every peak and valley of the Himalayas with the Gospel but must traverse many miles of mountainous roads to do so! Pray that God will grant them safe and easy passage during their outreaches. (Hosea 13–14; Micah 1)

Pastor J. rekindled passion for reaching lost souls in Bujumbura, Burundi, by stressing that the Gospel is a personal message meant for every one of God’s children. Please pray for all those trained in evangelism as they prepare to share the Gospel in their own communities. (Psalms 97–99)

In this closed nation, our workers were blessed by the opportunity to baptize two new believers! Pray that these new believers will grow in faith and that more opportunities will arise to fulfill the commandment of baptism. (2 Chronicles 33–34; Zephaniah 1)

Gospel literature went out to 2,700 homes in the town of Charmes. The local church has started a small Christ Group as a follow-up to invite people to a friendly time of studying God’s Word. Pray for this Christ Group to flourish and draw more people into its fold. (Zephaniah 2–3; 2 Chronicles 35)

An entire village turned to God after seeing His love through a home-to-home outreach. People continued to talk of Christ and share Scriptures from the gospel literature that workers left with them. Pray that these new believers mature in faith through the process of discipleship. (Micah 2–4)

The government in this country is further restricting the publishing and distribution of certain faith-based materials. Please pray that these new restrictions will not hinder our workers’ efforts to spread the Gospel. (Micah 5–7)

Though religion appears common in Guadeloupe, many call themselves Christians without having a true encounter with Christ. Please pray that our workers will lead people to a full understanding of God’s love. (Nahum 1–3)

During a significant outreach, our workers in Macedonia have found their country in political unrest. Protesters have been in the streets for multiple nights and the situation is intense. Please pray for the workers’ protection as they spread the Gospel despite the circumstances. (Habakkuk 1–3)

Our workers in French Guiana partnered with the local church in Matoury by using their inner creativity to spread the Gospel through street performances. Please pray that God will continue to use their talents to draw people into the Kingdom. (Jeremiah 1–3)

Our team in this nation was plagued with the flu and other illnesses recently. Though they have all recovered, they are still physically weak. Please pray for God’s complete healing so that they may continue to make advances for the Kingdom. (Jeremiah 4–6)

More than 70 workers participated in an outreach to cover the region of Oio with the Gospel. Over 8,000 people responded positively to their message! Please continue to pray for those reached by the workers in Guinea-Bissau. (Jeremiah 11–12, 26)

In the midst of violence, people are becoming more and more open to receiving the hope of the Gospel through the evangelistic newspapers our Russia team distributes. Pray that the team will remain bold in proclaiming the Good News amid turbulent times. (Psalms 100–102)

Mr. S. has been a longtime friend of our team in Germany. For the first time, he feels the burden to reach his town of Esslingen am Neckar with the Gospel. Praise God for the calling of this partner, and pray for more laborers to be burdened with this same calling. (Jeremiah 7–9)

3CREATIVE ACCESS #7 NEPAL

BURUNDI CREATIVE ACCESS #30 FRANCE

ZAMBIA CREATIVE ACCESS #34 GUADELOUPE

MACEDONIA FRENCH GUIANA CREATIVE ACCESS #35

GUINEA-BISSAU

SERBIA

RUSSIA GERMANY

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY

THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY

Listed at the top right of each daily request is the nation’s population, the percentage of evangelical believers (Joshua Project) and a number that corresponds with Every Home for Christ’s 2015 edition of the World Prayer Map. At the end of each prayer request is the assigned reading for the day to read through the Bible in a year.

DAILY PRAYER WATCH Every Home for Christ | P.O. Box 64000 | Colorado Springs, CO 80962 | 1-800-423-5054 | www.ehc.org | info@ehc.org

August 2016

Pop. 10,400,00027.3%

WPM # 18

Pop. 200,0005.5%

WPM # 214

Pop. 142,500,0001.2%

WPM # 107

21

8

5

11

14

9

6

12

15

7

4

10

13

3

Pop. 66,300,0001.0%

WPM # 89

Pop. 81,000,0002.1%

WPM # 83

Pop. 400,0004.3%

WPM # 205

Pop. 31,000,0000.6%

WPM # 134

Pop. 2,100,0000.3%

WPM # 74

Pop. 14,600,00021.0%

WPM # 14

Pop. 1,700,0001.8%

WPM # 46

Pop. 7,200,0000.7%

WPM # 71

EVERY HOME FOR CHRISTW E A R E

August 2016

DAILY PRAYER WATCH

MEXICOA worker named Carl has been burdened with a heart for reviving Mexico. In an effort to reach the masses, Carl takes gospel literature and a megaphone to the crowded markets of Tijuana. Pray for others to join Carl in his bold proclamation of faith. (Jeremiah 16–18)

Our workers in Pristina, Kosovo, handed out 2,500 roses and gospel booklets to women on National Women’s Day. Please pray that those touched by the act of kindness will read the gospel literature and discover God’s perfect love for them. (Jeremiah 19–20, 35)

After attending a series of discipleship trainings, four new believers decided to publicly display their commitment to Jesus Christ through baptism. Praise God for their declaration of faith, and pray that the number of disciples will continue to multiply in Guinea. (Jeremiah 36, 45, 25)

Numerous opportunities to plant the Gospel have arisen recently in India. Continue to pray that the resulting labor will bring forth much fruit through the lasting presence of gospel literature. (Jeremiah 24, 27–28)

Praise God for providing a car for the ministry in this closed country. Already, it is being used to reach villages on the front line in this war-torn nation. Please pray that the Gospel will continue to spread even in the most difficult places to reach. (Jeremiah 29, 50–51)

Despite a turbulent history of apartheid and occultism, the churches in South Africa’s Vaal townships persist in the testifying of the Gospel to their people. Please pray that the churches will overcome any opposition from the enemy to sharing the Gospel. (Jeremiah 30–33)

For an entire month, Mobile Training Coordinators dedicated themselves to evangelism in Kakata, and 308 people came to know Christ as their personal Savior. Please pray for these new believers to continue in a journey of discipleship. (Jeremiah 46–49)

Teams in the former Soviet Republic of Moldova have focused efforts on reaching every home in areas known for their large Gypsy populations. Please pray for open hearts to receive the Gospel. (Psalms 103–105)

Please pray for the development of four new websites that will proclaim the Gospel in this nation. Our workers must rely on professionals who are not followers of Christ to create the websites. Pray that they too will be blessed as they prepare these materials. (Jeremiah 13, 22–23)

Our workers in Peru recently trained 50 Sunday school teachers in the jungles of Tingo María to prepare them to minister to children. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to be with these teachers as they begin their ministry of evangelism. (Jeremiah 21, 34, 37)

Thank the Lord for the tireless workers in Myanmar who recently, through staggering hot and humid weather, reached 9,000 souls with the Gospel! Please pray for the hearts of those reached with the Gospel. (Jeremiah 38–39, 52)

Please pray for the people in Čatići, Haljinići and Kraljeva Sutjeska who were reached with the Gospel and seed packets recently. These areas are predominantly Orthodox. Pray for God to free them from mere ritual so that they may know the one, true God. (Psalms 106–108)

Gospel workers are using a brand new piece of EHC literature to share the Good News in their communities. Please pray that the message in this booklet will touch hearts and lead many souls to put their faith in Jesus. (Jeremiah 40–42)

KOSOVO GUINEA

INDIA CREATIVE ACCESS #31 SOUTH AFRICA

LIBERIA MOLDOVA CREATIVE ACCESS #33

PERU MYANMAR BOSNIA & HERZ.

CZECH REPUBLIC

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY

FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY

MONDAY

Pop. 48,400,00019.5%

WPM # 1

Pop. 1,900,0000.2%

WPM # 72

Pop. 10,600,0000.7%

WPM # 82

Pop. 4,100,0009.7%

WPM # 42

Pop. 1,236,300,0002.2%

WPM # 130

Pop. 30,100,00011.1%

WPM # 220

Pop. 11,500,0000.7%

WPM # 45

Pop. 3,900,0000.2%

WPM # 70

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY Pop. 49,600,0009.8%

WPM # 16During a home-to-home outreach, over 36,400 pieces of gospel literature were distributed, and over 220 people received Christ as their Savior! Please pray that our workers in Haiti will continue to receive positive responses to gospel literature.(Jeremiah 43–44; Lamentations 1)

Pastor V. and his fellow workers presented the “Heart of Man” chart throughout the bars and clubs of Kipara village in Tanzania. Pray that those who heard the Gospel will respond positively and accept Jesus Christ as Lord. (Lamentations 2–5)

18

24

21

27

30

19

25

22

28

31

17

23

20

26

29

Our team in Spain is editing three new pieces of gospel literature based on Spain’s historical roots and current problems. Please pray for the workers in their new endeavor to reach their country with the Gospel. (Jeremiah 10, 14–15)

SPAINTUESDAY Pop. 47,700,000

WPM # 6016

HAITI TANZANIA

1.0%

Pop. 55,700,0005.1%

WPM # 136

Pop. 3,600,0003.5%

WPM # 103

Pop. 120,300,0008.4%

WPM # 181

Pop. 10,000,00016.0%

WPM # 194

15www.ehc.org

ofia came to visit Juan Carlos’ family during a difficult time — his father was battling cancer. As their neighbor, Sofia did all she could to share the Gospel with the

struggling souls next door, and it made a difference. Juan Carlos’ father gave his life to Jesus shortly before he died, and the rest of his family also put their faith in Him soon after. Friends of Sofia’s then discipled the newly saved family, traveling two hours every Sunday to help them to grow in their faith.

But these were rough times for Juan Carlos. He was only 13 when his father died, and the loss took its toll both emotionally and economically. He just wasn’t ready to put his faith in God yet.

Four years passed, and Juan Carlos found himself working as a gardener to pay for his school tuition. While tending to the plants one day, he heard a voice speak to him: “You were born to be My child. You were born to serve Me.” Juan Carlos knew that it was the voice of God, but he still wasn’t ready to hear it. “Yes, Lord,” he replied, “but later.”

Only weeks afterward, Juan Carlos attended a youth service at a local church. As he listened to the message of the Gospel, something changed inside his heart. Returning home, he went into his room, closed the door and said the prayer of faith.

“The room was flooded with the presence of God,” Juan Carlos remembers. “It was then I began to understand what God had told me: ‘You were born to be My child. You were born to serve Me.’”

Following his studies, Juan Carlos worked in pastoral ministry. He met his wife, Lismary, while they were both serving

in churches, and they had two sons. For a while, the couple served together as directors of the El Salvador Church Bible Institute and taught at other schools as well.

Then in 2013, José Seisdedos, Every Home for Christ’s Regional Director of Latin America, came to Venezuela to establish an EHC work within the country. In his search for a National Director, he met with the Assemblies of God of Venezuela.

“I don’t know all of the details of what happened in that meeting, but we know that all the leaders agreed that my wife and I were the only couple to interview,” Juan Carlos says. “This was very surprising . . . which shows that God was directing everything.”

Poverty, violence and an increasing presence of occultism create a challenging environment for outreach in Venezuela. The work can be dangerous, and inspiring churches to invest in evangelism and discipleship can be a struggle. But that makes it all the more rewarding when churches finally catch the vision, and the Radas have great hope for what God will do in their country through Every Home for Christ.

In the time Juan Carlos has led the work in Venezuela, it has reached 127,466 homes and received 19,446 responses to the Gospel.

“For many brothers, EHC outreaches are their first experiences of home-to-home evangelism,” Juan Carlos says. “We trust that God has His eyes on Venezuela and that He will do great things in our nation.”

S

“[The struggle] makes it all the more rewarding when churches finally catch the vision.”

EVERY HOME FOR CHRISTW E A R E

JUAN CARLOS RADA Venezuela National Director

P. 11: Monumento Natural Cerro Autana by Fernando Floreshttp://bit.ly/1Oj5Zw0(CC BY-SA 2.0)http://bit.ly/1jxQJMa

P. 12: A palafito in the Orinoco Delta by Peter & Jackie Mainhttp://bit.ly/1rGOlZgPublic Domain

P. 12: Vista desde arriba de un Tepuy by Intihttp://bit.ly/24C0uga(CC BY 2.0)http://bit.ly/1ryPA8o

P. 7: Papua New Guinea by FAO/Giorgio Grussuhttp://bit.ly/1Wf8lPN(CC BY-NC 2.0)http://bit.ly/1eBd9Ks

P. 15: Caracas Panoramica 1 by hiddendaemianhttp://bit.ly/1OcnhuM(CC BY 2.0)http://bit.ly/1ryPA8o

w w w. e h c . o r g | i n f o @ e h c . o r g | 1 - 8 0 0 - 4 2 3 - 5 0 5 4

“ ...Y O U W I L L B E M Y W I T N E S S E S

I N J E R U S A L E M A N D I N A L L

J U D E A A N D S A M A R I A , A N D

T O T H E E N D O F T H E E A R T H . ”

A C T S 1 : 8 b ( E S V )