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April 2007

Stories of God’s healing touchExperience an extrememakeover for your prayer life!

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Contents THE CONNECTIONConnection links the DCFI family of cell-based churches and ministries withchurch related news and relevant topics.

Int’l Director: Larry KreiderEditor: Karen Ruiz

Creative Director: Sarah Sauder© 2006 DOVE Christian Fellowship Int'l

Vol. 11 No. 1DOVE Christian Fellowship Int'l

11 Toll Gate Rd, Lititz, PA, 17543Phone: 717.627.1996Email: info@dcfi.org

www.dcfi.org

DCFI InternationalApostolic Team LeadersLarry & LaVerne Kreider

African ApostolicTeam LeadersIbrahim & Diane Omondi

Canadian ApostolicTeam LeadersBrian & Janet Sauder

Caribbean ApostolicTeam LeadersSteve & Mary Prokopchak

European ApostolicTeam LeadersPeter & Ruth Ann Bunton

USA ApostolicTeam LeadersRon & Bonnie Myer

Central/South AmericaApostolic Team LeaderLarry Kreider

South Pacific ApostolicTeam LeadersLarry & LaVerne Kreider

DOVE Christian Fellowship Inter-national is an international apostolicfamily of churches who share com-mon values. DCFI is led by an Inter-national Apostolic Council respon-sible for the overall vision, directionand focus of its network of churches.

Visit www.dcfi.orgfor more about the DCFI family

4 I Your Personal House of Prayerby Larry Kreider

8 I Times of Stillness Before Godby Steve Prokopchak

12 I Disappointment with Godby Wanda Alger

20 I God’s Healing TouchHealings of DCFI family from around the world

24 I Mission of Loveby Marisa BarnettSchool of Global Transformation student

28 I The Bottom Line of Missionsby Peter Bunton

16 News clips from around the world26 Mission news30 DCFI partner and engaged church listing

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Visit www.dcfi.org• Online articles• Free daily Bible reading guide• DCFI church locator and web sites• Find out about DCFI’s history• The 12 values of DCFI• House To House Publications bookstore• DOVE Mission information• Church Planting and Leadership School• Connection Magazine• Youth Leaders’ Newsletter

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Hearing God

A youth group is changed in Pennsylvania

A sleep-over God story

E arly in the morning during asleep-over after their youthgroup’s Christmas dinner sev-

eral Newport DOVE girls had an amaz-ing God experience.

At about 3:00 a.m., the girls weresitting in the church lobby talking, en-couraging each other and sharing theirhearts. One of the girls expressed theneed to pray for a mutual friend, so theyformed a big circle and prayed. Soonthe focus of the prayer changed to life,church, school and family. The girlsprayed, seeking Him with all theirhearts. Before they knew what was happening, they were on the groundcrying out to God, and praying for one another. Many were crying andseveral whispered in their prayer language.

Carla felt God telling her to anoint everyone with oil. She begananointing each girl, praying for them. When she got to Johanna, shefell to the ground shaking, slain in the spirit. Alexa began to prophesyover each girl. She listened to God and spoke what He put on her heart.Aubree began to speak in her prayer language over each girl, like shenever had before. All the girls were on their knees crying before God,as His Spirit fell and filled them. The girls continued praying, proph-esying and ministering to each other for some time.

Meanwhile at his home, Todd, one of the youth leaders, awoke inthe middle of the night with a strong sense that spiritual warfare wasneeded, although he didn’t know why. Unaware of what God was do-ing at the church, he called the senior elder and asked him to pray, too.

It was only after the sleep-over ended that Todd discovered he wokeup at the same time the girls were being ministered to by God.

God touched each and every girl and drew them closer to Himduring the sleep-over. All they did was start to pray and seek Him, andHe met them with an astounding strength and power. Aubree Kurtz,Newport DOVE, Manheim, Pennsylvania

Their youth leader awakens,sensing the need to pray.

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For much of my life, I struggled togrow in my prayer life. Certainly, Iprayed every day. I went to all night

prayer meetings. I preached about prayer,and yet there was something desperatelymissing in my prayer life. Then I had anexperience that changed my life in prayer.

Five years ago I went to Uzbekistan andmet with leaders of the underground church.After our team had taught from the scriptures,

I will...give them joy in my house of prayer...for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

Isaiah 56:7

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they asked us questions. One questionpenetrated to my core. “Tell us aboutyour personal prayer life,” one of theUzbek Christian leaders asked. “Howmuch time do you spend with the Lordeach day?” I was suddenly uncomfort-able and deeply convicted by God. I de-ferred the question to one of the otherteam members to avoid further embar-rassment. I knew immediately I hadbeen “weighed in the scales and foundwanting.” I left Uzbekistan with a con-viction that I must learn to pray.

Prayer involves actionI finally came to the realization that

if I really believed in prayer, I must takeaction. When I visit many of the revivalnations and cities of the world wherebelievers are experiencing unprec-edented revival, in every case, I find apeople who make prayer a priority. Twoyears ago, I was ministering in Manaus,Brazil, where 10,000 new believerswere baptized in one day just a fewmonths before I arrived. They were ex-periencing revival of this magnitude asa result of passionate prayer.

I’ve experienced powerful prayermeetings in East Africa many times.African believers know how to pray! Iministered in Durban, South Africa, inthe midst of a Muslim stronghold. Oneof the pastors took me to the upper roomof the building, and showed me theirsecret. They had dedicated this room forprayer as believers met to intercede dayafter day for their city and their nation.Everywhere I see God moving in a sov-ereign way, I see a common thread thatruns through it. It is prayer! In theserevivals and sovereign moves of God,God’s people have learned to pray. And

yet, Christians often struggle with theirprayer lives more than any other area.

“Lord, teach us to pray….”In fact, it is an age old struggle. Two

thousand years ago, Jesus’ disciplesseemed to have had the same trouble indiscovering a passion for prayer. InLuke 11:1-4, one of his disciples cameto Jesus with a request, “Lord, teach usto pray….”

The disciples had no doubts that thereason Jesus could speak with such au-thority and words of great wisdom, asthe miracles literally flowed from hislife, was a result of his fervent prayerlife. He spent time each morning withhis heavenly father. They wanted whathe had. They realized they needed helpwith praying. Jesus heard their hearts’cries. He knew they needed a pattern tohelp them grow to be consistent in theirprayer lives, so He gave them a specificprayer to pray. He answered his dis-ciples, “When you pray say…”

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“Our Father in heaven, hallowed beyour name, your kingdom come, yourwill be done, on earth as it is in heaven.Give us today our daily bread. Forgiveus our debts, as we also have forgivenour debtors. And lead us not into temp-tation, but deliver us from the evil one.For yours is the kingdom and the powerand the glory forever. Amen” (Matthew6:9-13).

Regardless if you are a mom,construction worker, doctor,pastor or student, the mostimportant activity you canlearn to do is to pray.

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We call this the “Lord’s Prayer”because it is unequalled for its depth andbeauty. While it is a prayer that has beenrecited so often in a bland, autopilotmonotone, if we truly understand whatwe are praying, it will revolutionize ourlives. The purpose of the Lord’s Prayeris to awaken and rekindle our faith. It isa guide to teach us to pray.

A house of prayerWhen Jesus drove the money-

changers from the temple, he said, “Isit not written: ‘My house will be calleda house of prayer for all nations’”?(Mark 11:17). Jesus’ quotation comesfrom Isaiah 56:7, where the prophetdeclares God’s house to be a house ofprayer for all nations. This passage inIsaiah shows us God’s heart for allpeoples, not just Israel. Although thecovenant was with the descendants ofAbraham (Genesis 12:1-3), it was a cov-enant of blessing which they were totake to all peoples of the earth. In Isaiah56, we see God’s heart for the nations,even in the design of the temple, for God

need to go to a temple or even a churchbuilding to pray. “God…does not livein temples built by hands” (Acts 17:24).

There is no literal or physical“house of prayer.” The New Testamentteaches, in fact, that God now resideswith, and in, us; our bodies are thetemples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians3:16). Today there are many churchesand ministries working together to es-tablish prayer networks and centers intheir cities and nations, and these arebeing called houses of prayer. I fullyendorse this movement as somethingGod is doing; but we must rememberthat it is never a building but the gath-ering of believers which constitutes thehouse of prayer.

For me, moreover, this image ormetaphor also applies to us individuallywhen we come to prayer. Each of us onour own, before our heavenly Father, isalso a house of prayer.

Praying through twelve roomsAs the Lord began to give me a

fresh revelation of prayer—that he hascalled me to become a house of prayer—he gave me a visual picture of a house.Not just any house, but a house with acourtyard in the center and rooms allaround it.

In Psalm 100:4 we read, “Enter hisgates with thanksgiving and his courtswith praise; give thanks to him andpraise his name.” To extend the meta-phor a little further, I find it profoundlyhelpful, as I come to a time of prayer,actually to see myself entering a build-ing, a house, with thanksgiving. I actu-ally envisage rooms in this house, asshown in the diagram on the next page.

This style of house, typically found

provided a place where even the non-Jew could come, worship, pray and gainaccess to God. The Old Testament houseof prayer was to be a place for all whosought God.

Under the New Covenant there areno special places or buildings for wor-ship and prayer. There is free access tothe Father, for all, through his Son, JesusChrist—and that access is whereverpeople find themselves. We no longer

Going through each roomhelps to build abalanced prayer life.

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in Spanish and otherMediterranean places,for me is a visual aid toprayer. My understand-ing of the Lord’s prayeris that it has twelve keyparts, and I picturetwelve rooms in thathouse, each one corre-sponding to a part of theprayer. In my mind I en-ter this courtyard whichgives me access totwelve rooms, twelvedifferent ways to pray,based on the model ofJesus. This has revolu-tionized my prayer life.

With this unique“house plan,” you canspend several minutes ineach room and beforeyou know it, you willbecome a house ofprayer as you developyour prayer life eachday. Going through each

FamilyRoom

Our Father inheaven

DeclarationRoom

Your kingdomcome

ForgivenessRoom

Forgive usour debts

KingdomRoom

For yours isthe kingdom

ExaltationRoom

And the gloryforever. Amen

I will...give them joy inmy house of prayer...

for my housewill be called a

house of prayer forall nations.”

Isaiah 56:7

ProtectionRoom

And lead usnot into

temptation

WarfareRoom

But deliverus from the

evil one

SurrenderRoom

Your will bedone, on

earth as it isin heaven

ProvisionRoomGive us

today ourdaily bread

AdorationRoom

Hallowed beyour name

PowerRoomAnd thepower

12 Rooms in

Your Personal House of PrayerFreedom

RoomAs we also have

forgiven our debtors

room helps to build a balanced prayerlife. Granted, you may occasionallywant to spend daily time in only a fewof the rooms instead of all twelve. Thatis fine. You may feel led to pray in afew rooms for a season of prayer andthen return to your house of prayer laterin the day and pray through more rooms.This prayer is not a pattern to followlegalistically, but a statement of truthto guide you as you pray by the leader-ship of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spiritis our teacher and helper, and he prom-ises to lead us into all truth.

Regardless if you are a mom, con-struction worker, doctor, pastor or stu-

dent, the most important activity youcan learn to do is to pray. I am able tosay that God has brought me to a placewhere I go to bed at night and can’t waitto get up in the morning so I can pray.Praying has become such a joy to me.And after more than fifty years of prayerbeing hard work much of the time, thishas been an amazing blessing in my life!

This article is an excerpt from LarryKreider’s new book Your PersonalHouse of Prayer. Learn to pray likeJesus prayed while building a per-sonal house of prayer throughtwelve unique rooms. Availablefrom House to House Publications,www.h2hp.org

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Have you ever taken the time tosimply sit with the Father in si-lence? After you have closed

out the world by turning off the com-puter, silencing the TV, putting the chil-dren to bed and closing the book, youcan hear the quiet. It is that “quiet” thatcan scare us sometimes. We are so fa-miliar with noise in our world and havebecome comfortable with the radio inthe background as well as the traffic out-side. But, when we truly shut it all out,are we comfortable or fearful? Do weneed noise to “see” or “hear?” Do weneed noise not to be left with our ownthoughts or the feelings of inactivity?Do we need noise for noise’s sake?

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14

Does noise provide an unhealthy reas-surance that we are connected with theworld around us?

Reflection literally means to medi-tate. “To meditate” one must becomecomfortable with silence. It seems tooobvious, but in order to “be still andknow,” one must first find stillness,peace and quiet. These qualities canescape us on a daily basis unless wepersonally seek them out.

Personality has a part to play in thisequation as well. Those who are moreverbal and highly relational enjoy thenoise—maybe even embrace the noise.But, those who are naturally more con-templative tire quickly from high lev-

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els of activity and a constant barrage ofvoices. The command in Psalm 46 re-mains the same however…“Be still, andknow that I am God; I will be exaltedamong the nations, I will be exalted inthe earth.” I don’t think personalitychanges the fact that God wants you tobe still with Him and to know some-thing.

If you knew that God had a personalmessage for you today, how long

would you be still and wait? What ifGod sent you the following email mes-sage in order to let you know ahead oftime that He wanted an appointmentwith you? “Dear son/daughter, if you’lltake some uninterrupted time in medi-tation before me today, I will meet you,speak to you, comfort and encourageyou.” Just how long would you “wait”around?

In Psalm 37, God tells us to be stilland wait patiently for Him, not to fret(worry), but to trust, delight, and com-mit our way to Him. That Psalm remindsme of the story in Exodus 14 wherePharaoh and the Egyptians were chas-ing the Israelites. When the Israelitessaw them they turned upon their leader(Moses) and reminded him that they didnot mind serving the Egyptians becausethat would have been better than hav-ing to die in the desert. Moses told the

people to not be afraid (“yea, right”), tostand firm (“like we’re getting out ofthis rock and a hard place”) and theywill experience deliverance (“from thisworld maybe on our way to the next!”).

And then verse 14 states this, “TheEgyptians you see today you will neversee again. The Lord will fight for you;you need only to be still.”

“You mean, Moses, if we just standhere in silence, with no weapon and nobattle strategy we are not to be afraid?”Can you hear the people conferring withone another? “Okay, got it…seemslogical...seems like a plan…seems likea plan that will work.” Not! “What itreally seems like, Moses, is that you arenot playing with a full deck and we areabout to get our clocks cleaned!”

But we know that God did have aplan for both Israel and Egypt. Fortu-nately for Israel, their leader could hearGod and spoke with authority the nec-essary words of faith. You see, only thebeliever could possibly “stand still” andknow God is about to do something inthe midst of turmoil or chaos. It is notnatural to stand still—we must trainourselves. I want to encourage you tofind times when you can plan stillnessbefore the Lord. He wants to speak toyou because He wants you to “know.”Steve Prokopchak, DCFI ApostolicTeam

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The Johnson CountyJuvenile Detention

Center is nestled inFranklin, Indiana, directlybetween the JohnsonCounty Jail and the localhospital. The centerdetains teenagers underthe age of 18 for variousoffenses ranging fromtruancy to shoplifting toburglary.

The youth ofIndianapolis ChristianFellowship have beengiven the opportunity to

minister to the teensdetained in the DetentionCenter every six weeksby engaging with themthrough fun, sports andgroup interaction. Theyouth can see firsthandthat those detained sharesimilar problems,temptations, and issuesthey themselves face, andtheir desire to reach outto them has grown.

Not only are theyouth of ICF able to

minister to those de-tained, the youth cellleaders have also beengiven a very rare oppor-tunity to meet with thosewho desire one-on-onecontact with an adult formentorship and guidance.Every two weeks, wehave a scheduled time tomeet with the teens tolisten to their stories, givenew insight, and praywith them regarding theirsituations. Although wearen’t able to offer quick

fixes to theirproblems or wavea wand to maketheir home livesmore desirable orfix their addic-tions, we are ableto offer hope in aworld that offersvery little.

Our desire inworking with these kidsis to walk beside them,offering an ear to listenwithout judgment, ashoulder to cry on whennecessary, and a hand tohold when they feel noone is there. As wecontinue to work withthese youth, we hold fastto the vision of ICF: “tobuild a relationship withJesus and one another toreach the world, fromperson to person, house

to house, city to city,nation to nation.”Imagine what God coulddo if the lives of theseteens are touched byHim? Generational cursescould be broken, addic-tions could be defeated,relationships restored,and lives forever altered.

Please pray that thedoors will remain

opened for us to ministerto these kids and that theLord would use us as Hisvessels to tell them of theGood News of Jesus andHis deep love for them—love that expects nothingin return of the manybattered and bruised kidswho may not understandhow deep and how wideGod’s love really is.Nicki Huffman, India-napolis ChristianFellowship, Indiana

Indianapolis teens reach out with Jesus’ love

Hope in the Detention Center

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Learning financial skills in Virginia, USA

Building relationshipsAt Westgate Chapel we are always looking for ways to build relation-ships with people in our community. We are fortunate to be located inthe Washington D.C. area which is culturally diverse. We seek for waysto get to know people of different backgrounds in a casual atmosphere.

One way that God has answered our prayers is with the idea toform a group that meets monthly to play Cashflow 101. Cashflow 101is a game that was created by Robert Kiyosaki, the author of the bookRich Dad, Poor Dad. He created this gamein order to give people a tool that will helpthem learn important financial skills whileat the same time having fun. This game issimilar to Monopoly but there is much moreto it. While playing Cashflow 101, playersencounter financial situations and learn so-lutions that will help them in real life. Skillsthat are taught in this game include invest-ing, purchasing homes and other real estate,building a business and managing personalfinances. There is even an emphasis on tith-ing.

Being part of this group appeals to vari-ous people because it focuses on learning skills that everyone needs tolearn no matter what their race, ethnicity or background. Many peopleare seeking financial independence. There is also much to be learnedfrom those of other cultures. It is a great experience to be able to learnand help each other.

God is really working through our Cashflow game nights. The groupmeets monthly at our Westgate Training Center and each month peoplefrom outside of our church attend. Attendees stay after the games andget to know each other through casual conversation. Visitors have alsojoined in other events with church members. God is helping us to buildrelationships with those in our community and we have been reallyblessed in watching everyone learn and grow together.Nancy Hixon, Westgate Chapel, Chantilly, Virginia

Reaching out

God is really workingthrough our Cashflowgame nights.

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An accumulation of disappoint-ments and seeming failuresweighed upon me. It brought me

to the edge of depression. Why had Ibeen pushing myself so hard? What wasGod thinking when He told me to doall this stuff? I was beginning to won-der, and doubt.

I never thought I would feel thatway about God, but that’s exactly whereI ended up last winter—disillusionedand doubtful of God’s provision, pro-tection and promises. I had started outwith such passion and determination tobe “faithful to His call” and “extend thekingdom” through my gifts and vision.In the end, I felt hollow as my hopesdried up and dreams faded. Thingsweren’t turning out the way I expected.

As I laid out my complaint beforethe Lord, I saw the starkness of my soul—the ambition, the pride, the self-centeredness and jealousy—the needfor approval and significance. I saw thatthe root cause of my depression and dis-appointment with God was due to myown expectations—both of God andmyself.

Webster’s Dictionary defines dis-appointment as “…failing to meet theexpectation or hope of.” Disappoint-ment and depression is a result of unmetexpectations—failure to meet onesgoals or hopes. For the Christian, it sim-ply means that we get disappointedwhen our prayers are not answered theway we want. We assume certain thingsabout God and His plans for us and

Finances being stretched…

family matters unresolved…

feelings of failure….

people letting me down …

sacrifice with little results …

Wanda AlgerCrossroads Community Church,Winchester, Virginia

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when they don’t play out the way wehoped for, we point a finger at Him andaccuse Him of betrayal. We not onlyexpect Him to dole out rewards but wealso assume that He will meet our re-quests on our terms. In our attempt tostir up faith, we end up focusing on ourability to “claim His promises” ratherthan simply resting in His presence.After laboring towards the fulfillmentof our dreams, we end up worn out andwanting to quit for lack of fruit.

Many Christians live by the prin-ciple of sowing and reaping with theexpectation that whatever they sow ingood faith will return in good measure.The focus is on the promise at the end,and oftentimes puts too much weight onOUR prayers, OUR declarations andwhat WE DO, rather than on what GODwants to do in our hearts. As I reflectedon my own mindset, I saw that I, too,had given in to this subtle yet destruc-tive thought process. I claimed God’spromises and set my heart on the re-wards of my faithfulness: a large min-istry, a good reputation, a perfect fam-ily. My expectations were different from

dance, fruitfulness and a life that is sig-nificant. The difference in His plan isthat he has always seen obedience as astep and not a destination. His ultimategoal is for us to know Him more deeplyand intimately—apart from any prom-ises. We learn to obey so that we canlearn to trust Him. When we trust Him,it doesn’t really matter what He doeswith us, or how He does it. He isenough.

Our hope cannot rest on our abilityto follow God’s plan or our storehouseof gifts. It must rest in the One whoworks in us to will and to act accordingto His good purposes. We don’t have tobe disappointed in ourselves if our hopeis in Him. We don’t need to be disap-pointed with God if our goal is simplyto know Him more fully and intimately.The road will probably have pitfalls andholes and will probably be costly andeven painful. Yet we can rejoice in allthis for we know our light and momen-tary troubles are achieving for us aneternal glory that far outweighs them all(2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

I thought at first I was disappointed

God’s. I had become self-absorbed withwhat I was doing and what I was “be-lieving for” rather than simply restingin His presence alone to give me sig-nificance and meaning.

In Philip Yancey’s book, Disap-pointment with God, the author exam-ines our relationship with God fromGod’s perspective. It is very revealing.God has always longed for a close andintimate relationship with his children.He purposed to bless us with abun-

in God. I now see how much I disap-pointed myself. As I have learned torenew my mind and walk in a maturefaith, I have begun to experience the restof God. This rest is not determined bymy circumstances, but by my choices.I choose to walk with Him simply be-cause I love Him—no strings attached.I do not place my hope and faith in therewards of my faithfulness. I simplylong to be faithful to Him and leave theoutcome in His hands.

As I have learned to renew my mind and walk in a maturefaith, I have begun to experience the rest of God.

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Home Way Ministries,in Christchurch,

Barbados, under theleadership of Andrew andVicki Shepherd, has beenthe breath of fresh air thatits many members and

visitors seek. All arewelcome in the Shepherdhome on Tuesdayevenings.

I remember the firsttime I visited, Andrewwas pacing outsidewaiting for me to arrive,to make sure I hadunderstood the directionsto his house at SunsetPoint. His daughtersgreeted me with a huglike I was a dear friend orfamily member. Vicki’swarm smile made me feelwelcomed and loved.

It has been almostthree years since I firstwalked through the doorof Sunset Point in searchof a closer relationshipwith God and hungry formore teaching andguidance. In those threeyears, the group has

grown from a cell groupinto a church in its ownright with a name, visionand leadership team.

On January 26, 2006,Steve Prokopchak fromDCFI came to visit Home

Way, to commissionour assembly. Therewas a strong sense ofdestiny as he prayedover the leadershipteam, and it has beenmiraculous to seeGod’s hand movesince.

The group multipliedinto two over the summermonths when there was averitable deluge of youngpeople attending once theShepherd girls camehome from University.And it was with a greatsense of gratitude to Godthat we can report thatsince January 18 of this

Barbados church grows and multipliesyear a second housechurch has been opened.Home Way Ministries hastruly multiplied.

We, at Home WayMinistries, look

forward to an awesomeyear, our faith is strongthat God will lead us togreater heights and moreamazing depths in 2007as we move with Him inthe expectation ofcontinued multiplication.Jennifer Blackman, HomeWay Ministries, Barbados

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A house church reaches out in Rochester, New York

Drawing children to JesusRodney and Jami Encina are school teachers whom the Lord has

given a burden to reach young people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.As a result, for the past year, as part of The BridGe Network, they

have been leading a house church for children known as the “Draw-bridge.” They gather the children every other week to share a mealtogether and to speak into their lives spiritually and practically. In ad-dition they visit their schools and homes and where necessary serve astheir spiritual parents.

In 2005, they held a Christmas gathering and blessed the childrenwith gifts through funds provided by several individuals. For 2006,they had scheduled a similar gathering,but right before Thanksgiving Jami’smom ended up having major surgerywhich required her to stay in the hospi-tal for more than a month.

Spending almost every availablemoment in the hospital caring for hermother, the Christmas gathering wasforgotten. In mid-December, whenJamie’s mom had begun to recuperate,Jami and Rodney remembered the eventwhich was about a week and a halfaway, and realized that they hadn’t ap-proached anyone about contributionsfor the food and gifts.

As they prayed about what to doon such a short notice, Rodney received a call from his soccer friendsinquiring about the Christmas gathering similar to the one he had con-tributed to in 2005. Upon hearing the Encina’s predicament, Andy prom-ised that at a weekend soccer game he was going to ask for contribu-tions from his soccer teammates. A few days later he showed up with$400 he collected during that appeal to be used for the Drawbridge.

On the day of the event, it was neat to hear the Encina’s share withthe kids how God had provided for the gathering and the gifts theywere receiving. Oh how God loves children! “Thank you” to Rodneyand Jami as they continue in this labor of love. Luis & Pamela Perez,The BridGe Network, Rochester, New York

Planting new churches

Rodney shares with the kidshow God provided for thegathering and the gifts.

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2 Brazil church reaches out tohigh school studentsWe recently went to two different schools andwere able to present a few dramas. At the oneschool we actually were given a full class periodto do an assembly-type presentation for the entirestudent body. We got to pray with a few of thestudents, and we know that many seeds wereplanted that will one day produce fruit of theirown! —Chad & Chris Miller, Comunidade CristaDOVE, Forteleza, Brazil

1 Canada churches join to prayThe Gathering (senior elder Phil Wright) inWoodstock, Ontario, reports that a large groupof area churches has come together to form“Christians of Woodstock” (C.O.W.). Theygather regularly to worship together and prayfor their city and their nation.

News clips from aroundthe WORLD

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4 We serve a God of siJonathan Kuisch, senior elder oin Suriname, recently reported evangelistic crusade he held inhealed. Her eardrums and everremoved due to a childhood infor her and in his spirit saw evewas missing grow back. She wreceived this miracle from Godanother lady with skin disease morning when she awoke her s

3 Peruvian pastor app church familyOne of the things that DCFI emships. At the annual meeting inchurches from Latin and SouthCaribbean, we shared from theand invested in friendships as wfuture. How wonderful family

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7 New Zealand “out of the box”We often feel like we do not conform to the norm. Weare an “out of the box” group of house churches,realizing we do not have to be big to be used by Godto change His world. New Zealand has many bays ofwater. God is showing us that, in His timing, he willtake us from bay to bay, connecting with people andtouching lives, one at a time.

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76 “The House” in Scotlandis purchased debt freeLiving Waters Community Church in Peterhead,Scotland, now owns the facility they call “The House”having purchased it debt free in September 2006.More to come in next issue of Connection.igns and wonders

of Christ Worship Centerthat during a recent

n France, a deaf lady wasrything else had beennfection. Jonathan prayederything in her ear that

was instantly healed as shed. He prayed in faith foron her hands. The next

skin was perfect.

preciates

mphasizes is relation-n Miami of the DCFIh America and thee heart, received trainingwe planned for theis! —Justo Lleclish

5 New church plant inKadawa VillageDOVE Kilimani has been reachingout to a very needy village inwestern Kenya. The outreach has astrong practical component ofhelping meet needs in the village,irrigation for farming, school fees,AIDS awareness, vocationaltraining, food assistance forwidows and orphans—the list goeson. The new church plant is doingwell, and has several pastors-in-training.

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decision that they wantedto get married, so onSunday we had a big“wedding day.” Twenty-seven couples, of a largerange of ages, gotmarried. The oldestcouple to marry was 89years old.

Julio spoke onrespecting your spouse,and being faithful tothem. Some of theseconcepts weredefinitely novel newsto the people. Now weare discipling themand helping them totake their commit-ments seriously.

It was quite a funday—unlike anythingthese people had everexperienced. Wewanted to make theweddings somethingspecial they wouldremember! We didn’thave many supplies, butwe used what we had todecorate the village. Itwas still much moreextravagant than whatanyone in Panimache hadever experienced before!

After the weddings,we passed out over 600tamales and hot drinks tothe entire village. Inaddition to the food, we

Our church,Ministerios

Cristianos Luz Y Vida,has been ministering to asmall village about twohours away calledPanimache, Guatemala.

In the past year,many of the people havecome to know the Lord.Pastor Julio has beensharing with them aboutChrist’s love and the waythat He has instructed usto live.

Many couples inPanimache were livingtogether but unmarried.Several made the

handed out wedding gifts.I bought a water

pitcher, glasses and asilverware set for onecouple. They reallyappreciated it, especiallysince they had never hadforks or knives before.Chelsey Bollinger, isserving a year in Guate-mala teaching at theschool in San Lucas.

Weddings galore in Guatemala!

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A house of prayer for all nations in Kenya

A place for worship and prayerA specific vision about Kenya has burned in my heartsince the 1970’s youth revival. This vision is of Kenyabeing raised up as a platform where planes landed andtook off, taking missionaries and evangelists around theworld. Recently, the Lord revealed to me that somethingwas missing. He desired an altar—a place where He

would be worshiped continuously. He then placed a burden in my heartfor a 24-7 praise and prayer tower and training center.

We believe that God is directing us to use the property being ac-quired by DOVE Africa for this project. It would be an internationalcenter where saints from the body of Christ in Kenya, Africa, and therest of the world would come to praise, worship and intercede for alltribes and nations. The center would be comprised of a raised circulartower with cubicles around the perimeter. One could choose a tribe ornation to pray for, and then go to the appropriate cubical, with a win-dow, that faces that nation. We are trusting God to see the entire projectcompleted within three years (see www.internationalprayertower.com).

Kenya is strategically based on the “windowsill” of the 10/40 win-dow. The position is strategic because Kenya enjoys freedom of wor-ship, yet is close enough to be familiar with thepeoples, languages and spiritual struggles preva-lent in that region. We see prayer as the crucialelement in allowing the many ministries God hasgiven us to be effective in battling the enemyand his footholds in the world.

We believe that the greatest outpouring ofrevival in the history of mankind is yet to come,and that revival will come when God’s peopleget on their knees in fervent intercession. Webelieve that we will see a move of God that willshake the continent of Africa, and spread to the world! We believe thekey to victory will be having 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, prayer andpraise! There are currently nightly prayer vigils at DOVE Nairobi set-ting the stage for the 24-7 prayer center. A new cell group of believershas begun to meet at the new property weekly. For more information,email: infoafrica@internationalprayertower.com.Ibrahim Omondi, Nairobi, Kenya

Worship and intercession

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Surinameevangelistreport

On an evangelismcrusade to Europe, Ivisited dozens of citiesand many churches. TheHoly Spirit was presentin the meetings in a veryspecial way. About 300

people testified about the healing theyexperienced instantly, and manypeople were set free from demonicbondages. Among those who receivedtheir healing were 10 deaf people, 2crippled persons and a blind lady whoreceived back her sight while I waspreaching the Word! God healed allsorts of sicknesses.

But the highlight of my trip toEurope was meeting the DOVEchurch family in Bulgaria! It wasgreat getting to know the Tenevsbetter, visiting the church in Slivenand the new church plant in Sofia.What a great family we have aroundthe world! I want to encourageeverybody who reads this to step outin faith, preach the Word and layhands on the sick. God wants to usethe DCFI family around the world asan instrument for healing and deliver-ance. Jonathan Kuisch, senior elder,Christ Worship Center, Suriname

A seven-year-old’stestimony of healing

It all started because my Dad andPawPaw had asthma. It was heredi-tary, and I got it too. Asthma is notvery nice. Between the ages of 1 to 5,I often had to wake up in the middleof the night and use a nebulizer so Icould breathe better. After I got thetreatment, I couldn’t get back to sleep.But the worst thing was when I had togo to the hospital and take x-rays andother things. My family and churchfamily prayed for me and anointed mewith oil. I was still sick sometimesafter that, but God was healing melittle by little. Now I never haveasthma. Thank you, God, for healingme! Sarah Snyder, age 7, ELANCODOVE Fellowship.

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God knows me wellWhile shopping one day, I

suddenly experienced chest pains,nausea and dizziness. I ended up atthe hospital and was put through hearttests. They came back negative,except for a CAT scan that revealed agall bladder “chock full” of stones.They gave me a surgery date ofDecember 26, but I pleaded for anearlier date and fortunately there weresome cancellations. A laparoscopicprocedure was performed on Decem-ber 19, and all went well with nocomplications.

I returned to the surgeon for afollow-up appointment and askedwhat the stones looked like. Helaughed because he said that he haddone about 30 other gall bladder

In His timingLast year was a time in our fellow-

ship when God began leading us on ajourney of greater faith in His healingpower. Little did I know that I was go-ing to be one of the ones to be blessedby His healing!

In March, I went to the doctor fora regular check-up. He found I hadtwo ovarian cysts and scheduled afollow-up ultrasound in June. Theweek before, I began to have severepain and swelling in my right leg, andthe doctor found not only the twooriginal cysts, but also a solid mass onmy right ovary.

At the end of another threemonths another ultrasound showedthe cysts were gone, but the solidmass had gotten even larger! Surgerywas scheduled, and the Sunday before

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the surgery, everyone in our Fellow-ship gathered around me and prayed.On Monday, I began to experiencesome changes so I called my doctor.On Tuesday, when we walked into thedoctor’s office, he was just staring atthe image and comparing it to the onefrom the week before. He looked at usand said, “It’s getting smaller!” In oneweek this mass which had grown fornine months had begun to shrink. Thefinal ultrasound on January 5 showedthat the mass was completely gone! Iwas healed. Praise God, He alwaysfinishes what He starts, in His perfecttime. Janet McCoy, Grace Fellow-ship, Madisonville, Kentucky

procedures since mine, but he remem-bered mine because they were unusualand rare. They were symmetricallyround in shape and looked likebuckshot!

God knows me well. He knows Iam a curious woman and need toknow the unknown or I can imagineall kinds of scenarios or outcomes andget anxious. God knew that I wantedto know what the stones looked like,and He made mine “rare and unusual”so the doctor remembered them. Weare God’s rare, unusual and uniquechildren and He knows each of us sowell and wants to bless us each day inall our circumstances. BethChittenden, Crossroads CommunityChurch, Winchester, Virginia

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“Which station is tunedon the radio in your car orhome?” We asked manypeople this questionduring the early years ofplanting LighthouseChristian Center here inSpringfield, Massachu-setts. My wife Annetteand I, along with Garyand Bonnie Reiff, haddreamed of saturating theairwaves with themessage of hope foundonly in Jesus. Webelieved that Christianmusic could influence anentire generation ofyoung people to seekChrist and pursue aChristian life-style.

In 2000, we heardthat there might be afrequency opening up inthe greater Springfieldarea. This was confirmedwhen a consultant inGeorgia asked us toconsider applying for thelicense. We knew thatGod was placing thisopportunity in our lap.

We applied for thelicense with the FederalCommunication Commis-sion (FCC). This kickedoff a seven year processof praying and fasting.We experienced frustrat-ing times during thisprocess. Yet we perse-vered. We prayed andenlisted others to pray

that God would guide usthrough this process. Wealso trusted God toprovide the finances topay the consultant, theapplication fees and otherrelated needs. At onepoint we needed $1500 ina short time to payattorney fees. We hadraised $1000 but we wereshort the remaining $500.So we prayed that Godwould provide. The nextweek we received a checkin the mail for $500. Thepeople who sent it had noidea why we needed themoney, but God knew,and He supplied!

Then on May 2005, Ireceived the call that saidthe FCC had awarded usthe construction permit tobuild WLCQ and operateat 99.7 on the FMspectrum. I was stunned!But, with God, all thingsare possible.

We had 18 months toget the radio stationoperating and on the air.The construction permitrequired us to fulfill twotests in order to makesure that we would notinterfere with the signalof a station that waslocated a few miles fromus. We were told thatthese tests would costnearly $30,000. Obvi-ously, we did not have

this kind of money. So, ina great leap of faith, wehired David Lee to be themanager of WLCQ.David and others helpedus get the needed radiopieces together andhelped us prove to theFCC that the tests theywere requiring contra-dicted their own rules.Thus, we did not have tospend one dollar toconduct the costly tests!Praise the Lord!

WLCQ 99.7 FM,“Where God Loves ItLoud,” went on the airOctober 28, 2006. Ourpotential listeningaudience is more than400,000 people andcovers parts of Massa-chusetts and Connecticut.The body of LighthouseChristian Center hastaken a beautiful owner-ship piece of WLCQ.David Lee is doing awonderful job creating afirst class music formatthat glorifies God andthat is reaching manypeople in our area.Rich Dunn, senior elder,Lighthouse ChristianCenter, Massachusetts

The story of WLCQ 99.7FM

God Loves It Loud

Connection 23

Marketplace ministry

In the Pennsylvania workplace

Am I a blessing to my boss?Going into the DOVE Westgate Men’s Re-

treat I felt that I had complete victory in theweekend’s subject: Authority. I had read thebooks, listened to messages, and experiencedchurch as well as business leadership. There wasnothing that I felt I could be convicted of, so Iwas going to help the other guys work throughtheir struggles in this area.

As God can only do, He found one smallarea that I hadn’t given over to him. As I waslistening to the messages, I felt like I had beenfaithful in most everything that was shared. Nev-ertheless, on Saturday night after we shared inour discovery groups and Pastor Duane was inthe middle of talking about his experience with submission to authority, it hit melike a ton of bricks. I had been so proud of myself and failed to look deep insidemy heart where there was a part of me that was still a mess.

You see, I considered myself the model servant at both work and church. Irespected those in authority and was always open for correction and constructivecriticism whenever necessary. But, I had this problem of wanting to be everyone’sfriend. God brought back memories of standing by the water cooler at work andlistening to the other employees bad mouth the boss or criticize him. I startedagreeing with them and adding my own jabs.

Well, I was convicted and asked for prayer. When Larry Hess prayed for meI felt a release from condemnation and fear of others. I can say that I had a fewopportunities around the cooler lately but caught myself each time I wanted tojoin in. Mostly I just smile and walk away. However, depending on the circum-stances I have actually spoken up in the boss’s defense.

I’ve learned a valuable lesson to not be so proud of my victories, but to beproud of Him who has won the victory, as I humble myself before Him oncemore. I must always remember I am the Potter’s work in progress, and He’s notfinished with this lump of clay yet.Rod Redcay, DOVE Westgate Celebration, Ephrata, Pennsylvania

What was happeningat the water coolerneeded to change!

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he hot sand sifts intomy shoes as I struggle

to adjust my long skirt. Theheat lingers beneath my headcovering creating tiny beadsof sweat. “So this is Africa,”is the thought that echoesthrough my head.

Our School of Global Transforma-tion team had joined a medical teamfrom Pennsylvania, and together we hadtraveled to a Muslim community inKenya called Garissa. Unlike Kenya’smodern, lush capital, Garissa’s streetswere filled with women in long headcoverings, piles of burning trash andrandom cows and goats wanderingthrough it all.

Every day the medical team andtwo from our team would head out to avillage and treat as many people as timeallowed. Overall, we saw more than 700people in four days. The rest of us didcleaning jobs, mostly scraping off mudfrom the recent floods. A few afternoonswe joined up with the medical team and

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Marisa Barnett, DOVEElizabethtown, Pennsylvania

Connection 25

some of us did some face painting withthe children.

Crouched in the sand one after-noon, with a dozen small black handswaving in my face with fingers cakedin paint, I felt a strange overwhelmingfeeling of fulfillment. It was one ofthose moments where you know you areexactly where God wants you to be,doing just what He desires, and sud-denly nothing else holds appeal.

I feel safe to say that perhaps it’sthis kind of feeling that gives us thestrength in the “heat of the day.” Butwhat was especially wonderful wascoming alongside and helping DOVEAfrica missionaries Amos and Gracewith the mission God’s given them. Wepray for missionaries all the time butwhat a privilege it is to come alongsidethem and work with them.

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mos and Grace were blessed toreceive help from two missionteams from DOVE churches in

the USA, totaling 18 people. In addi-tion to the School of Global Transfor-mation team, another team of ten healthcare workers set out for Kenya on Janu-ary 21-31, to share their gifts of medi-cal expertise. The group, representingseven churches, was headed by Dr. T.Scott Jackson, M.D., and includedDOVE members: Linda Wentz, MaryProkopchak, and Loren and MelissaKreider. Diane and Ibrahim Omondialong with Amos and Grace Mulwaprayerfully helped to organize the trip.

The team felt that God orchestratedthe timing of the trip, because majorflooding had recently devastated theMalakote tribe in Garissa, displacingthese Muslim people from their homes.The challenging living conditions in-cluded tents and make-shift huts, along

Phase I Devotion 2 monthsAnointed teaching in a retreat setting withlots of worship, prayer and intimacy withGod.Phase II Discipleship 2 monthsInstruction and hands-on training for localoutreach, intercession and teamwork.Learn by doing.Phase III Deployment 2 monthsLaunching out with a team on a two monthcross-cultural mission assignment.Phase IV Destiny 1 monthPartner with experienced ministry leadersto discover the next steps for your life.

This residential school will runSeptember 2007 through March 2008

Get the facts! www.dcfi.org

26 Connection

AfricaAmos and Grace MulwaThe Mulwas welcomed the birth of ason, Caleb in December. He joins hissister Becky in the family. The Malakotepeople, who Mulwa’s minister among,are still camping in temporary settle-ments, waiting for further word aboutwhether they will go back to Ziwani (thevillage that was flooded), or whetherthey will be allocated land by the gov-ernment that would not be in so muchdanger of flooding in the future.

In the meantime, food relief andmedical assistance are needed. Pleasealso pray that as DOVE Africa, we willhave wisdom on how to help meet theneeds of the Malakote in a way thatcommunicates Christ’s love effectively.There are openings for more mission-aries in Garissa: teachers, nurses,disciplers and prayer warriors.

News from DOVE Missiwith temperatures exceeding 100 de-grees. The team ministered in three dif-ferent encampments to at least 700people with medications and prayer.

We experienced God’s favor eachmoment of the trip. Daily prayer sup-port was at a premium and made all thedifference as we ventured into poten-tially dangerous Alquida territory only30 minutes from the Somali border.

The Malakote chief commented toAmos recently that he sees Christ in thepeople that reach out to his tribe. Hethen stated that it may be too late toreach the adults, but possibly the chil-dren may turn to Jesus! When it is allsaid and done, the words of an old songring clearer than ever, “They will knowwe are Christians by our love.”Scott Jackson, M.D., Oasis Fellowship,Ephrata, Pennsylvania

Team God storyWe had a chance to pray with a man

who was suffering the effects of cere-bral malaria. Unknown to us, the guardtranslating for us was a Muslim. Later,we learned we should not have askedhim to translate during our prayer. Laterin the week, the boy’s father approachedour guard asking him to find us so thathe could report how his son is doing. Infront of the Muslim guard, this man tes-tified how his son is no longer suffer-ing from his previous symptoms! Thefather was overjoyed and grateful. TheMuslim guard kept saying, “Rememberthis man, you prayed for his son…youprayed with him.” It’s awesome howGod covers over our ignorance andweaknesses and uses them for His glory!Loren and Melissa Kreider, Oasis Fel-lowship, Ephrata, Pennsylvania

(below) The Malakote tribe, who weredisplaced by flooding, now live in tentssuch as these.

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For more information aboutmissions visitwww.dovemission.orgCould God be calling you to be a mission-ary, or to become part of a missionary sup-port team? We would love to talk with you!Africa Center Emailibrahimanddiane@omondis.co.keUSA Center Email DMI@dcfi.orgor call 717-627-1996

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ion InternationalMartha TumuhirweMartha Tumuhirwe from DOVEKampala was able to move back intoher house in January after she had storedher belongings and locked up her houseto take refuge from the floods. Studentsfrom DCFI’s School of Global Trans-formation gave her lots of help withcleaning her house of the mud and get-ting her moved back in. She is back towork with the children and women ofthe Malakote tribe.

USABruce and Jane FasnachtBruce and Jane continue their first yearof language study in a Muslim culturein Asia. They enjoy learning many fas-cinating things. Step by step they arepicking up the language. They arepleased now to be able to have longermeaningful conversations with theirneighbors, as they trust God to use theirnetwork of relationships for His king-dom.

Kerri CraigKerri plans to return to Romania in earlyApril to resume her ministry among thepoor and needy of the city of Arad. Thissummer she plans to be assisting theleadership of a camp for children withhandicaps.

Theresa HillTheresa is settling well in Kenya, en-joying learning more about the land. Sheserves Ibrahim and Diane on many ofthe logistical and communications sideof their ministry. She is also involvedin many other facets of ministry, for ex-ample to local women and in commu-nity development.

An outreach at the newly completedministry center in Brazil.

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If we survey the history of the church we, attimes, see some wonderful missionary effortsthat have, quite literally, changed the world.

Today too, we engage in the missionary task; wesend missionaries; we take short term teams—and God uses us in exciting ways. But the wordsof Psalm 46 challenge me with the questions,

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Connection 29

“Why do we engage in mission?” Whatreally is our motivation?”

If we look throughout the historyof the church’s missionary endeavor wequickly observe that the church has hada number of prime motivators for mis-sion. At times it has focused on the sal-vation of souls. The emphasis has beenon evangelism so that people would re-pent and be saved. A great motivation!People need to be saved from sin andhopelessness into a new life with Christ.

At other times God’s people havebeen motivated by “planting churches,”because the church is seen as a visiblesign of Christ’s body here on earth. It isa family, a community of believerswhere all are equal, regardless of gen-der, age, race or social status. Yes, weneed thousands of new churches, espe-cially in those parts of the world wherethe church has hardly gained a foothold.

In the more recent history of mis-sions, the church has also stressed themeeting of people’s needs, through re-demption, wholeness andthe provision of practicalsigns of God’s love, such asmedical care, agriculturaldevelopment and so on.This shows the love of Godin ways which touch peopleat a deep level. Healing, nourishment,prosperity—these are signs of the king-dom!

I agree with all the above motiva-tions and the fruit they have achieved.When, however, I am confronted withthe words of God in Psalm 46, the mo-tivations seem somehow to be partial;true but inadequate—not the wholetruth, or the bottom line. This psalm tellsus that God is working out His purpose,which is that His name is to be exalted

Be still and know that I amGod; I will be exalted amongthe nations, I will be exaltedin the earth” Psalms 46:10

among the nations. So, it’s about God—not me, my missions program, mychurch-planting strategy! Those thingsare all wonderful—and needed—but asthe methodology, not the underlyingmotivation. The motivation is that Godwill be known, acknowledged and ex-alted. It’s about Him—about his glory,“For the earth will be filled with theknowledge of the glory of the Lord...”

This verse in Habakkuk 2:14 re-minds us that God has a plan, which willone day be accomplished. That plan isabout His glory covering the earth. Godwants to be known and worshipedthroughout the earth and should be themotivating factor in our ministry.

Practical service, church planting,and evangelism—they are all to lead tothat end goal. Our role, therefore, in allwe do is to “tell of his glory among thenations” (Psalms 96:3). This was ex-actly the work modeled to us by theLord Jesus, who could say “I havebrought you glory on earth by complet-

ing the work you gave me to do” (John17:4).

Our task is not to be busy with allkinds of activities, but to “be still” be-fore the Lord and to recognize His planof taking His glory among the nations.From that place of stillness we can plan,strategize and work, all being alignedwith the bottom line goal of exalting Hisname among the nations. Peter Bunton,DMI USA Director

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Nyortis DCF–William & Joina MunyanyaSango DCF–Pius & Elizabeth WanyonyiSerena DCF–Josephat SimitiSikhendu DCF–David & Freida MabongaSisal DCF–Thomas NdegeSoy DCF–Martin & Ruth ShikukuWeyolola DCF–Alex & Beatrice SabariZea ADC DCF–Titus WephukhuluRwandaKanombe Celebration–Levis KagigiKimisagari Celebration–Levis KagigiUgandaBumbobi DOVE–Sam KaukaBunamwaya DOVE–Zakariya MaleGwambuzi Christian Centre–Christopher & Rosette MagemesoKakaari DOVE–Mark & Sadrass NdyagashaKalungami DOVE–Moses BatwalaKampala DOVE–Ephraim & Jova TumusiimeKiberenge DCF–Edward & Christine ByamukanaKinyomozi DCF–Joseph & Faith BakobaKyembera DCF–Joyce BaboinekiMikombe DOVE–John & Lois NdaloNfasha DOVE–Milton RukanaNkongooro DOVE–Mrs. Allen MugangaNyakagando DOVE–Caleb & Janet MwendwaNyakahita DOVE–Winter & Irene KihumuroRongoro DOVE–Paul & Annet WolugandaRubona DOVE–Jackson & Hilda ByeiguruShiroh Christian Ministries–Nicolas KatoUnited Christian Fellowship–Godfrey & Fracki GidoiWakiso DOVE–Davis & Grace Habaasa

Wanyange Pentecostal Church–David & Sarah KiiryaCANADAAB DCF Gateway Region–Brian & Bonnie RaganON DOVE Christian Fellowship Kitchener–Bob & Louise JensenON Dove’s Landing Christian Fellowship–John & Barbara DayON Harvest Family Community Church–Jordan & Deb TooleON Living Stones Christian Fellowship–Bern & Marion McLaughlan

AFRICAKenya–Nairobi regionAthi River DCF–Aggrey & Peninah NatoJam City DCF–Samuel WamelaKianda DCF–Charles & Rose WanyamaKibera DCF–Tobias & Judith OlooKilimani DCF–Ibrahim & Diane OmondiNdalu DCF–Pastor NzofuRestoration Community Church–Hesbone &Violet OdindoKenya–Ukambani regionEnzai DCF–Johnston & Ann MulandiIkumbini DCF–Francis & Loise KavilaIkungu DCF–David & Naska MusyokaIvumbuni DCF–Moses & Judith NdivaKabete DCF–Joseph & Elizabeth MunyaoKimua DCF–Boniface & Margret MutungaKiongwani DCF–Japheth & Eunice MaweuKyasila DCF–Julius & Penninah KithokoiMachakos DCF–Daniel & Rebecca MbitiMakyau DCF–James & Truphosa MwendwaMithanga DCF–Benedict & Jane MuindeMutituni DCF–Rebecca MbitiSalama DCF–Johnston & Ann MulandiKenya—Kitale regionChebukaka DCF–Charles & Alice SimiyuKabuyefwe DCF–Joseph & Jane SimiyuKapretwa DCF–Andrew & Agnes KimiboiLangas DCF–Joseph WaithanjuLiavo DCF–Jocktan & Janerose Chesing’araLugulu DCF–Edward & Kelani WekesaLukhuna DCF–Elder TeamMatunda DCF–Philip & Florence NambutieMilele DCF–Vincent & Rose WasikeMucharage DCF–Martin & Christine JumaMulatiwa DCF–Lawrence MakwaMumias DCF–Bonifes & Mary NambutieMuroki DCF–Janet ChakaNang’eni DCF–Stanley & Colleta MasiboNavakholo DCF–Kennedy Kaula

DCFI Partner &Engaged ChurchesA Partner Church is a congregation ofbelievers involved in small groups whoare called to serve together with otherDCFI churches. An Engaged Church( ) is a church with similar values in aone-year engagement/relationship-building period with DCFI before be-coming a Partner Church. To learnmore about a small group and congre-gation in your area checkwww.dcfi.org Phone: 717.627.1996Email: info@dcfi.org

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wship International family of churchesON Muskoka Christian Fellowship–Ed & Ginny PengON The Gathering–Philip & Lisa WrightON Valens Community Church–Kirk & Arlene WannopCARIBBEANBarbadosThe Living Room–David & Teale FacklerHome Way Ministries–Andrew & Vicki ShepherdHaiti

L’eglise de Shalom–Daniel &Antonia EmileTemple of the Bible Church–Precol & Amante CharlesEUROPEBulgariaDCF Bulgaria, Sliven–Tihomir & Dimka TenevDCF Bulgaria, Lozarevo–Dimka TenevDCF Bulgaria, Sofia–Plamen & Maya KoleviScotlandLiving Waters Community Church–John & Gena BuchanCENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICABrazilComunidade Crista DOVE–Chad & Chris MillerGuatemalaMinisterios Cristianos Luz Y Vida–Julio & Jodie RodriguezPeruHeroes 21 Christian Mission–Justo & Loren LlecllishSurinameChrist Worship Center–Jonathan & Brigietta KuischChristus Anbegi Oso Perika–Jonathan & Brigietta KuischSOUTH PACIFICNew ZealandDCF Journeys–Bryan & Michelle BayleyExensionz (Gisborne)–Heather AlexanderMahurangi DCF–Grant & Lois MacleanKaiwaka DCF–Les & Heather Gribben

USAAR Christian Life Church–Ted & Jana WalkerCA House to Home Christian Fellowship–John & Kimberly HenryCT Grace and Peace Fellowship–John & Lynn Graham

CT Bridges–Les & Nancy FicheraID River City Network–Ed & Kellie Canger

ID House of Service–Bruce & Alice PrestonIN Indianapolis Christian Fellowship–Paul & Sue Gustitus

IN Front Line Ministries–John & Kathy JohnsonIN The Network @ Greensburg–Norm & Judy Schlemmer

IN The Network @ Vevay–Eric & Lora ColeKY Grace Fellowship–Philip & Janet McCoyKY The CROSSing–David & Sandra RedishMA Calvary Worship Center–Joe & Shellie Ford

RI Calvary Worship Center of Riverside–Jim & Beth GalvinMA Lighthouse Christian Center–J. Richard & Annette DunnMD Perry Hall Family Worship Center–Dominic & Lisa CorrelliMN DOVE Fellowship Twin Cities–Paul & Juanita LindgrenNC New Creation Family Fellowship–Greg & Melanie OwensNC Open Arms Christian Fellowship–Jeff & Tonya HoglenNJ Abundant Life Christian Center–Scott & Priscilla WalshNY New Life City Church–Alfonso & Yesenia PaganNY The BridGe–Luis & Pamela PerezOH DOVE Church Wilmington–Steve & Trudi Fricke

OH WINGS Christian Fellowship–Mike & Heather SabinOR Desert Streams Church–Gil & Nanci MillerOR The Crossing–Richard & Laura WongPA DOVE Christian Fellowship Elizabethtown–Tom & Nancy BarnettPA DOVE Christian Fellowship Lebanon–Al & Becky RainbowPA DOVE Christian Fellowship Solanco–LeRoy & Nora WeaverPA DOVE Christian Fellowship Westgate–Duane & Reyna BrittonPA DOVE Community Cell Church–Monte & Sondra JonesPA DOVE Rivers of Life Fellowship–Rick & Sue PattersonPA ELANCO DOVE Fellowship–Bob & Trish SnyderPA Koinonia House–Todd & Jessi ClemmerPA Lancaster Micro Church Network–Mike & Brie Stolzfus

PA Circle Community–Terry & Lisa PfaultzPA The Net–Mike & Brie Stolzfus

PA Newport DOVE–Allen DisePA Overflow Ministries–Doug & Jenn Lehman

PA North Gate DOVE Christian Fellowship–Ron & Martha GoodPA Oasis Fellowship–Glen & Ellen YoderPA Reading DOVE Ministry Center–Craig & Tracie NannaPA The Fireplace Christian Fellowship–Charlie & Heidi KlinePA The Fountain at Philadelphia–Stephen & Delisa RileyPA The House of New Beginnings–Greg & Gwen EckmanSD Christian Outreach Fellowship–Bob & Lauri BrunzVA Crossroads Community Church–Bobby & Wanda AlgerVA Westgate Chapel–Brett and Leigh Anne Monk

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Imet Maja a year and a half ago whenwe moved a horse we were trainingto a new stable. We became friends

quickly and I began taking horse ridinglessons from her. She participated withus in the riding program for specialneeds kids, always offering her horsesand hands to help with the handicappedchildren. Two other workers and I feltshe didn’t have a relationship withJesus, so we began praying.

Every so often, Maja and I wouldfind ourselvestalking and I

would mention thingsGod was doing in mylife and talk about a

relationship with Jesus.We were both invited to attend a

retreat for the Father’s Heart ministrybecause of our involvement in the horseministry. The weather was perfect onSaturday and since we were at a ranch,we were able to take a long horsebackride up on the mountain. Afterwards,

Maja asked if Iwanted to go toa cafe for anespresso. Wetalked for twohours about theLord. She said,“Many people

say that they have some special experi-ence at some point in their lives thatmakes them know they are a Christian.

Did you ever have such an experience?”It was the perfect open door I had beenwaiting for. I simply walked through itand shared with her about my life be-fore Christ, which was similar to hers. Ishared how I would read the Bible, butit was just words and stories. After Imade Jesus the center of my life, HisSpirit came into me and immediately Ifelt different. Afterwards, I picked upthe Bible, and wordsjumped off the page and

After a long ride up to themountain, Maja wanted to chatover an espresso.

Love wins in Slovakia

Horses and God’s kingdom

spoke to me.The next day, we had a service

where everyone took communion in aquiet place, away from everyone else.During that time, Maja asked Jesus tocome in her heart. She said that imme-diately, she felt a love she never felt be-fore and knew she belonged to Him.Then, she opened up the Bible and averse jumped off the page and spoke toher heart.

After lunch, we had an opportunityto share the things God had done over acup of espresso. She said that she feltshe could be totally open with me, thatthere was something about being aroundme made her feel comfortable sharing.

This is what it means to bringpeople into the kingdom, one relation-ship at a time.Shannon Granger serves in Slovakia asa teacher.