40 Days of Prayer Journey - Day 24

40 Days of Prayer Journey - Day 24

Lily

At IMM, we have the privilege of working with Christians from all over the world, many from countries where being a Christian comes at a high price. One of these colleagues is a woman I’ll call “Lily.”

On one occasion, Lily was helping us with a project about martyrs in the second century after Christ. While working on a certain scene, Lily became emotional. A line in the script reminded her of when she was on trial for being a Christian. During her trial, she was asked if she believed in Jesus. She was given three opportunities to deny her faith, much like Peter after Jesus’s arrest. She told us that, each time, she boldly proclaimed her faith in Jesus; she didn’t back down, even though she knew the consequences would be less severe if she did.

She ended by saying, “I couldn’t have done that in my own strength. That’s how I know it was the Holy Spirit. I couldn’t have spoken with that much power.”

Many stories in the Bible and many of the stories shared by IMM tell of those who remained faithful in times of real difficulty. Some survived, others lost their lives and gained eternity. It’s easy to look at these stories and think that they exist only in the past, but in Lily’s own words, “This isn’t history. This is going on today.”

Lily's testimony tells us that when we say yes to God and remain faithful in moments of crisis, His presence is with us through the Holy Spirit to support us and give us the strength we need. We must strengthen our faith every day, knowing that no matter what scenario we are living in, glorifying God brings us the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome all difficulties, even death.

God’s Word for Today:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Pray with us:

  • Pray for conviction to fall on the unjust judges who do not allow freedom of religion.

  • Pray that IMM finds the right stories to reach cultures that are closed.

  • Pray for your own boldness in the Holy Spirit to follow Christ no matter what.

Have a need that you would like us to join you in prayer for? Want to join our Prayer Team? Click the “Pray with us!” button to sign up and submit prayer requests.

40 Days of Prayer Journey - Day 23

40 Days of Prayer Journey - Day 23

Abdelmumen

Abdelmumen is from Morocco and he responded to Christian media online. He is married and has a little daughter. He received Jesus as his savior, and is thirsty to learn. He has a need to read God's word and understand it. For that, he needs someone to teach him.

IMM provides Bible studies and short videos that can be used in local contexts to help people who have no exposure to the environment where Jesus taught. This is a terrific opportunity to enrich the understanding of the word of God.

We all have gifts and talents, provided by God for good works. Some of us have the gift of service or showing mercy, others the gift of teaching. He has given his people many gifts and talents, but we may not realize how many ways we can offer them to others.

Missionary work can be done in many ways. The harvest is great and the workers are few. But, just as Abdelmumen needs someone in his language to use their skills to teach him the scriptures and the interpretation of it, many others still need to hear the message of salvation.

What is your talent? Do you have a talent for teaching the word of God? Do you have the gift of administration? Do you want to help the missionary work by offering resources to spread the Gospel of Salvation? God can help you to discern what it is He has for you, so that the word of God can spread throughout the world as you do a part.

God’s Word for Today:

“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into the harvest field.” Matthew 9:38

“If it is serving, then serve; If it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:7

Pray with us:

  • Pray for more people in closed countries to be called to share their teaching skills with new believers.

  • Pray for IMM that God gives wisdom on how to use our talents for this work.

  • Pray for God to guide your steps to be an instrument of growth for someone like Abselmumen and his family.

Have a need that you would like us to join you in prayer for? Want to join our Prayer Team? Click the “Pray with us!” button to sign up and submit prayer requests.

40 Days of Prayer Journey - Day 22

40 Days of Prayer Journey - Day 22

Speak the Word!

It can be a challenge to work in dark edit suites and with networks in far-off countries. We do not see the people who are watching the videos face to face. With an audience of millions in closed places, it is impossible. It can be disheartening and you can begin to imagine that the message is not being heard.

However, when God gives us an order, we must carry it out, regardless of the challenge, the distance, or the size of the audience. God takes care of that. It does not matter if we never see the audience, the important thing is that we fulfill the purpose we are called to do. Then God will do the rest.

After training in radio, Brother Dalo, a pastor in the ministry in La Borne, related a testimony to IMM:

A bus driver in Kinshasa called him and told him that he had 22 people on his bus and that his radio was on. They were listening to a message on our radio that Brother Dalo was preaching about "Thou shalt not steal." When he got to his terminal, no one got off the bus, they wanted to hear the end of the message! He wasted 20 minutes waiting for people to empty the bus. The bus driver reported that several of these people were crying, and when the call to salvation was given, several raised their hands, on that bus. They received Christ and were saved.”

Brother Dalo had no idea that his preaching was going to reach these people on this bus on this day, but he carried out the order. He gave the message and God did what He promised.

Sometimes, we can think that what God commands us to do doesn’t make sense, but it will never be useless. Beyond what is logical or tangible to our minds, there is the incredible supernatural work of God. He only wants us to obey and He takes care of the rest.

God’s Word for Today:

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

Pray with us:

  • Pray for those who will hear the word of God today because of media connections.

  • Pray for IMM to be faithful when we know the results and when we are simply obedient.

  • Pray you will have the courage for things that are right to do but seem to yield no results.

Have a need that you would like us to join you in prayer for? Want to join our Prayer Team? Click the “Pray with us!” button to sign up and submit prayer requests.

40 Days of Prayer Journey - Day 21

40 Days of Prayer Journey - Day 21

Please, Come and Help Us

Assemblies of God article circa 1985, author unknown:

“Missionaries and national churches often have no resources to meet the growing media needs in preaching the gospel throughout their countries. So the call goes out to IMM: ‘Please, come and help us.’

“As the media ministry of the Division of Foreign Missions, International Media Ministries (IMM) provides production expertise and training to these people who have nowhere else to turn. The function of the IMM ministry is to use the electronic media to proclaim the gospel in native languages to those who have not heard and to train disciples and workers. To this end, IMM is developing a global strategy.”

Since our early days, IMM has trained locals, believing that the indigenous people could communicate the Gospel best to their own cultures. What a privilege now to look back over 40 years and see radio and television channels, satellite networks, and media ministries birthed out of training given by IMM. It’s a great expansion of the kingdom to know the work goes on whether it is legal for missionaries to be there or not.

God’s Word for Today:

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” Romans 10:14

Pray with us:

  • Pray for regional media operations to be strong in the face of challenges.

  • Pray for IMM to collaborate with strategic indigenous teams to train in media and to encourage.

  • Pray for your own opportunities to pass on your knowledge of Jesus to those around you.

Have a need that you would like us to join you in prayer for? Want to join our Prayer Team? Click the “Pray with us!” button to sign up and submit prayer requests.

40 Days of Prayer Journey - Day 20

40 Days of Prayer Journey - Day 20

What Could Penetrate the Darkness?

In 2005, John Merrell, former director of IMM, wrote:

“What could penetrate the spiritual darkness, the desert of North Africa? Something very small, hard to detect, and difficult to control - like a satellite broadcast, a radio signal, or an Internet site - becomes an incredible tool in God’s hands. No boundary can stop the wind of God’s Spirit in countries such as Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, or Algeria, where the Gospel is absolutely forbidden.

From the start in 1981, International Media Ministries established a global witness of Jesus Christ through media. Our Father is in the communication business. And the explosion in communication technology through the years opened doors of opportunity for evangelism in nations that at the time had virtually no Gospel witness.

Never before in history has the church of Jesus Christ possessed such powerful tools to spread the Gospel. Never before in history have converted Muslim believers been willing to allow their faces and their names on television. In doing this, they put their very lives at risk.”

The first Christian programs were broadcast into North Africa to see what would happen. An Arab Christian brother shared this story:

“I have been a Christian for some time and witnessed to many, including my mother. She is a simple woman, 65, illiterate, Muslim...like thousands of others. I asked her to watch the program with me. She did - again and again, week after week.

Then she said, ‘This man is telling the truth. He is an honest man. I believe this man, this book. I never knew Christians could be good. I never understood the message of Christians before. This man is good. Do you see how he raises his hands when he prays to God? This is very good.’

Some weeks passed and finally, she asked me to help her pray ‘in Jesus name’ before going to bed.”

God’s Word for Today:

“Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.” Psalm 28:2

Pray with us:

  • Pray for regional people to have the courage to share about Jesus with their family and neighbors.

  • Pray for God to guide IMM to create programs that are effective in presenting the gospel.

  • Pray for boldness to share the gospel with your family members who do not know the Lord.

Have a need that you would like us to join you in prayer for? Want to join our Prayer Team? Click the “Pray with us!” button to sign up and submit prayer requests.

40 Days of Prayer Journey - Day 19

40 Days of Prayer Journey - Day 19

Black Thursday (Part Two, Reflections of Becky Morales)

Winds of Adventure on an Indonesian channel.

One thing is undeniable: If you live long enough, bad things are going to happen. Sometimes these bad things are even a direct result of us doing good. The real question is what will we do when these bad things happen?

The Belgium shut-down is an excellent reminder of how to respond to trials. Such a dramatic and forceful affront from the Belgian authorities could have caused IMM missionaries to back down to avoid any more resistance. Indeed, IMM was told by the Belgian authorities to stop operations. “Preaching” was the only work to be allowed. But instead they got creative and kept going.

Urgent broadcast deadlines for Bangladesh were met using media equipment in private homes, which aired to an actual viewing audience of 50 million people that year. IMM training continued in Denmark, Russia, and Jordan, where a new media ministry center was launched. Previous projects, such as People Who Met Jesus, were licensed for translation into 11 languages to be used in the Philippines, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and Iceland. The children’s program Winds of Adventure was given the rights to overdub and broadcast in Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, India, and Pakistan. IMM’s broadcast partners continued to broadcast into North Africa.

John Merrell, IMM director at the time, explained in his 2002 summary, “It is obvious that the vast majority of ministry taking place at IMM in 2001 reached into the Muslim world. The same thing happened in 2002. I am convinced the recent events, which closed the IMM facility, are a direct result – in a spiritual sense – of this most effective ministry. There is now a clear understanding that the political crisis was used by God to redirect IMM.”

In July 2002, the Assemblies of God World Missions Executive Committee approved IMM’s relocation from Brussels, Belgium to Madrid, Spain, where media missions efforts continue today to reach into closed nations and searching populations, providing answers that point to Jesus Christ.

It is counterintuitive to be joyful in trials, but in Jesus’ hands, our weakness becomes His strength and obstacles become opportunities. We rejoice in trials of every kind because we know that God can turn every kind of evil into all kinds of good.

God’s Word for Today:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” James 1:2

Pray with us:

  • Pray for our broadcast partners who face legal and logistical challenges to keep the word of God flowing to those seeking hope.

  • Pray for the protection of IMM team members as they obey Christ and serve him with their business and media skills in Spain or virtually from home.

  • Pray that God will reveal to you a new way to see the trials in your life through the Holy Spirit.

Have a need that you would like us to join you in prayer for? Want to join our Prayer Team? Click the “Pray with us!” button to sign up and submit prayer requests.

40 Days of Prayer Journey - Day 18

40 Days of Prayer Journey - Day 18

Black Thursday (Part One, IMM raided by police)

International Media Ministries office in Brussels, Belgium

Those serving at International Media Ministries remember February 7, 2002, well. Belgian officials arrived without warning at the IMM office, demanded passports and other documents, and asked that those in question not leave the premises. Shortly after, four young women were taken to a Brussels detention center, interrogated, and locked in a cell for 15 hours without being allowed to contact friends, family members, or the American Embassy. They were later deported from Belgium on accusations that they were working illegally on tourist visas.

“We were really shocked. We couldn’t believe what was happening,” Julia Ryser, a detainee, recalled. “I was never in any physical danger, but my parents didn’t know that. My hands were shaking, but in my heart, I was extremely calm. People kept looking through the door of the cell to see us. I guess no one could believe there were four American girls in this jail.”

A decision was made by the missionaries not to appeal the deportation of the volunteers, as this may have resulted in them spending even more time in the Belgian detention center. The morning after they were detained, they were allowed to freshen up, were warned not to “make a scene,” and were escorted to the departure gate for a flight to New York. They were only given their passports after boarding the plane.

With the safety of the volunteers assured, Assemblies of God missionaries and leadership began to focus on the long-term ramifications for missionary efforts in Belgium.

Greg Mundis, Area Director for Europe at that time, stated “This is a spiritual battle, and it will be won only in the spirit.”

A call was put out to all Assemblies of God churches in the US to pray. Ministry heads held meetings with American Embassy officials, Belgian Advocates, and with one another, always keeping 2 Corinthians 10: 3-5 in front of them.

God’s Word for Today:

“We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10: 3-5

Pray with us:

  • Pray for our host governments to show us favor and that the individuals we encounter would even have an open heart to receive the gospel.

  • Pray for IMM to continue to have smooth interactions with the Spanish government and for spiritual protection as we advance the gospel.

  • Pray for spiritual discernment as you point those around you to Jesus.

Have a need that you would like us to join you in prayer for? Want to join our Prayer Team? Click the “Pray with us!” button to sign up and submit prayer requests.

40 Days of Prayer Journey - Day 17

40 Days of Prayer Journey - Day 17

At What cost?

Refugees viewing Christian media from a '“HopeBox.”

As tides change in the international world of politics, laws that do not favor Christian worldviews emerge. It is not as hard to imagine persecution in our times as perhaps it once was.

However, the people who view IMM programs on satellite or internet outlets in dark and closed parts of Africa, North Africa, the Middle East or Indonesia can teach us much about the cost of following Christ. Taking up your cross to follow the savior who gave everything for us, develops new meaning when baptism or public confession of faith in Jesus will change everything forever.

Rachid, a Moroccan, called one of the channels we work with - from a large US city. He told them he had been watching on the internet and just wanted to talk to someone about the difficulties he was experiencing with fundamentalist Muslims from his home country and others who were living near him. They had confiscated his passport and threatened to harm him if he did not turn back to Islam. He asked for prayer.

In recent waves of immigrants in Europe, people who are displaced have a window of opportunity when they are unsettled in which they may encounter Christ more easily. We listened to the account of a young man who had found Christ in a European country but he was still living in a ghetto with other Muslims. When he told his family back home that he had accepted Christ, they called some people in Europe to kill him for apostasy. An attempt was made on his life but the young man survived. Later on the national news, he said, “This happened to me because I am a Christian.”

What a privilege to stand with our brothers and sisters who experience persecution as they accept Christ. What an amazing thing that we have not had to live with this kind of religious persecution. IMM partners with people to tell the good news–even to places where it is not welcome and the ground is dry and thirsty.

God’s Word for Today:

“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.” James 5:7

Pray with us:

  • Pray for protection for those bold enough to share their faith and those who are willing to be seen in media as believers.

  • Pray for wisdom for IMM in choices for projects and people.

  • Pray for whom you may be able to stand with so they will not feel alone.

Have a need that you would like us to join you in prayer for? Want to join our Prayer Team? Click the “Pray with us!” button to sign up and submit prayer requests.

40 Days of Prayer Journey - Day 16

40 Days of Prayer Journey - Day 16

Bible Stories Reach the Ends of the Earth

IMM has created 30 short Bible story videos. Each story has a part for a local presenter to appear on camera and to narrate the story in their own language. These stories are now in over 40 languages.

After watching an IMM Bible story on a satellite channel, “Mohamed” from Algeria contacted the channel.

“It is a great program,” he said, “but why do we only have it for such a short period of time? Why don’t we have more programs in our North African dialect?”

Mohamed asked the follow-up workers for a Bible when he called. He wanted more of God in his own dialect.

We are so thankful that God called IMM 40 years ago to follow the indigenous church principle (that’s the fancy term for local people coming to Christ and building a church in their own country). With local leadership, it can stand on its own as governments change and missionaries are asked to leave. It’s a great treasure to partner with these brave people to tell about God’s hope.

In a detailed research project, Wind in the House of Islam by David Garrison, missions workers interviewed and investigated various regions that have been dominated by Islam. They found that in the last 25 years more people in these areas have come to a profession of Jesus as savior than in the thousand-plus years prior. An awakening is occurring.

At IMM, we can’t help but think that a contributing factor to this is the availability of satellite and media outlets that beam the gospel behind closed borders. Then local responders are able to talk to people in their local language about Jesus. Each testimony we share is simply ONE of MANY who have found Jesus through media.

God’s Word for Today:

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19

Pray with us:

  • Pray for anointing for our partner’s follow-up workers responding to people who have questions about Jesus after watching a video online or on television.

  • Pray IMM is sensitive to God’s leading to create effective videos asking the right questions.

  • Pray for your local church to be creative in communicating with the lost.

Have a need that you would like us to join you in prayer for? Want to join our Prayer Team? Click the “Pray with us!” button to sign up and submit prayer requests.

40 Days of Prayer Journey - Day 15

40 Days of Prayer Journey - Day 15

Ali’s Story

“Ali” came from a town of 50,000 people in Algeria. He was raised in a Muslim family and culture that told him when you are born Muslim you are always Muslim.

He said, “It is rare to hear about Jesus there. When I knew nothing, Jesus came to me in a vision. I searched for more about Jesus. Many godly men have influenced me and taught me about Him. I was the first one in my town to accept Jesus Christ as my Savior.”

Ali went on to describe how important it is that the Gospel is available in local ways and languages.

“My country is full of people who cannot read. Some cannot understand any language but their tribal language. My consuming passion is to tell these people in the ‘language of their heart’ about Jesus. They need to hear AND understand. More and more are understanding who Jesus is. Many of them are volunteering to share their experiences on our programs. It is amazing!”

At IMM, we are committed to working with people like Ali and other regional people to put the stories of the Bible, regional Christian history, and other authentic stories into local dialects. The challenges are greatest for the presenters who face persecution from being on-screen. Yet, there are amazing reports of people who call or text to say, “I thought I was the only one in my tribal group to be a Christian.” It is powerful for them to know they are not alone and others have walked to Christ before them.

God’s Word for Today:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Pray with us:

  • Pray for believers in lands of persecution to be encouraged by videos they see on social media and satellite.

  • Pray for IMM to connect with more regional people not afraid to proclaim the good news on camera.

  • Pray for you to know whom you can pass the words of God’s hope onto in your life.

Have a need that you would like us to join you in prayer for? Want to join our Prayer Team? Click the “Pray with us!” button to sign up and submit prayer requests.

40 Days of Prayer Journey - Day 14

40 Days of Prayer Journey - Day 14

Midnight Hours Bear Fruit

Muslim women praying.

“Rather, as it is written: ‘Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.’” Romans 15:21

“Leila” had a deep sadness, and did not see any meaning in life. One night, she was unable to sleep and decided to watch television. She found the Bible channel, one of IMM’s broadcast partners, and her heart melted. “I came across a program that just seemed to draw my heart. It seemed so beautiful to me and so attractive to me that I just couldn’t change channels.” She found the content so comforting that she decided to keep watching. Hearing the stories in the Bible made sense of it all. “I knew I had to ask Jesus into my heart to be my Lord and my Savior because I knew that day that Jesus is the truth.”

The next day she invited her mother to watch the programming. At the end of that day, her mother also accepted Jesus.

Many people go through their lives with an existential void that only Jesus can fill. They search for meaning and purpose, but what they really need is His immense love. The internet, social networks, and television are powerful tools to transmit the message of Jesus for those who do not even have the opportunities or even desire to seek answers to their emptiness. Thank God for the technological resources that make the spread of the gospel to all nations possible day by day and night by night.

God’s Word for Today:

“‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people’. At once they left their nets and followed him.” Mark 1:17

Pray with us:

  • Pray for the “accidental” connections to people going onto media outlets today.

  • Pray for IMM to be sensitive to which requests from our partners to train and tell stories we can fulfill.

  • Pray for the Holy Spirit to speak to your soul as you wrestle with big ideas.

Have a need that you would like us to join you in prayer for? Want to join our Prayer Team? Click the “Pray with us!” button to sign up and submit prayer requests.

40 Days of Prayer Journey - Day 13

40 Days of Prayer Journey - Day 13

Train Them Up

Training class learning about media.

Report from Mark Renfro about the Amman Media Center:

A couple of years after receiving media training from IMM, the people of Amman Jordan reported back. “We have acquired all of the necessary footage for the Arabic youth-oriented Christian music video we are producing. It is now in the editing stage. We should be finished by the end of the month. This means that it will start being broadcast by August.”

Music videos have been hugely popular in many parts of the world and the Middle East is no different. Music engages the heart and catches the eye on screen in a way that is unique.

The Amman Media Center also reported, “We recorded our first episode of the ten-part discipleship program from the Perspectives on the World Missions Movement course. This will be the first video course on the subject of missions produced in the Arabic language. Our prayer is that God will use this tool to call many young Arab men and women into the harvest fields.”

God’s Word for Today:

“And they said, ‘Let us rise up and build.’ So they strengthened their hands for the good work.” Nehemiah 2:18

Pray with us:

  • Pray for those who have received media training to continue to do the work of the Lord.

  • Pray for IMM as we continue to equip people with the tools to spread the gospel.

  • Pray that you will find the right tools for God’s work in your life.

Have a need that you would like us to join you in prayer for? Want to join our Prayer Team? Click the “Pray with us!” button to sign up and submit prayer requests.