Patterson recalls: “A Roman Catholic priest once scolded me for starting 'unauthorized' churches in his Honduran parish. He argued that our churches lacked legitimacy because no government had ever officially endorsed them. Many Protestants hold similar assumptions without realizing it. Western Christians often thank God for their freedom, rejoicing that their churches are not abused by a hostile government as in many eastern countries. But have well-intentioned governments in … [Read more...]

  Government agents routinely spy on postal correspondence, electronic communicationand telephone calls going in and out of some countries. Where you suspect that such is the case, follow these guidelines in your messages: Topics to Avoid: Religion, politics, host country’s government. Missions, missionaries, evangelism, witnessing, conversions, support,raising finances, any other terms associated with the church. Christian organizations Questions about giving out tracks, Bibles, … [Read more...]

   “They will deliver you up to suffer and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. Then many will fall away, betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. Because lawlessness will increase, the love of many will grow cold, but the one who endures to the end will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will … [Read more...]

Book of Esther POY! SKIT GUIDELINES: In a small group, participants might simply read their lines, or glance at their lines to get the idea so they can speak in their own words. Most POY! skits require no practice in advance. Have any small children play a brief part. Most scripts have an optional part for children, listed last under Participants. Most scripts have a Narrator who should read the script beforehand to see how to keep moving the story along. It is not necessary to employ … [Read more...]

  Pastors recently asked how they and their people could start new churches when their denomination’s policies cause snags. Two of them faced meetings with administrators who have belittled their vision for reproducing churches. We People of Yes! hear such complaints often in workshops on church planting. One rogue griped, “The last great bulwark against the spread of Christianity is the church!” Today’s churches display evidence of both normal spiritual health and abnormal rust. … [Read more...]

1 Samuel 16-17 POY! SKIT GUIDELINES: In a small group, participants might simply read their lines, or glance at their lines to get the idea so they can speak in their own words. Most POY! skits require no practice in advance. Have any small children play a brief part. Most scripts have an optional part for children, listed last under Participants. Most scripts have a Narrator who should read the script beforehand to see how to keep moving the story along. It is not necessary to employ … [Read more...]

  Prepare to Work Where Authorities Are Hostile If trainees plan to work in restricted fields, then form a second, secret church, and simulate working and worshipping “underground.” Not all trainees have to participate. RULES First day Explain these rules and warn how the leader that loses will be ‘executed.’ If trainees want to perform this exercise, then name a liaison person who secretly appoints a secret church leader. Explain: To join the secret church, tell the … [Read more...]

Luke 10:1 The Lord sent them to [where] he planned to visit Jesus is visiting these dear ones in ways often invisible to us. He is visiting them with dreams, visions, Christian TV programming, increased access to Bibles, and Muslim background believers we may not know about. He also visits many of them with a sense of discontent with their often unsatisfying experience of Islam, as well as speaking to them through the godly lifestyle of followers of Jesus in their area, which itself is a … [Read more...]