Global Partners

I hope to honor Christ with my body if it be by my life or by my death.
I want to honor Him without fear, now and always. To me, living means
having Christ. To die means that I would have more of Him.
—Philippians 1:20b-21 NLT

GP EUROPE AREA

According to Europe Area Director Dennis and Gwen Jackson, Global Partners Europe is seeing God on the move! The year 2011 closed out with hope and joy of new life: 12 new believers in Albania, three new believers in Russia, and many conversations creating God-space in the hearts of nonbelievers. Praise God! The Jacksons compiled the following prayer requests:

• The GP European Leadership meetings will take place in Budapest, Hungary, on February 16-21. Pray for the Holy Spirit’s leading in these meetings.
• Croatia: Pray for our ministry team* that is planting a church in a town without an evangelical presence. They are experiencing spiritual attacks against their church planting efforts.
• Germany: Pray for the congregation of the Munich church as they prepare to take part in a citywide evangelism outreach in May.
• Kosovo: Pray that Christians would be freshly comforted by the fellowship of the Holy Spirit and not easily moved to fear and doubt.
• Russia: Pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon evangelization events that the Vladimir Wesleyan Church has planned for February 14 and 23. Pray that hearts would be drawn to the Savior.

Albania: Our missionary team in Albania sent the following praise report:

We are halfway through our Pray with Albania prayer campaign. Since we have started this [three-month] prayer initiative, we have seen God working in mighty ways. People have come to Christ, more people are in the Word, and our team has had more opportunities to share the good news with those around us. A new small group has started as a result of this prayer campaign as well.

GP TURKIC/ARABIC MUSLIM AREA

Fotizo People: The following update is from one of our missionary couples* among the Fotizo people:

Donald* was visiting with a friend when his friend brought up the topic of charity and why he tries to help people who are less fortunate. This gave Donald the chance to talk about sin and the need for a savior. In a very basic way, Donald was able to share the gospel with him! This man is familiar with Jesus as a prophet, but this was the first time he had heard that Jesus was our sacrifice. Donald was also able to give him the entire Bible in his own language. Please pray that this man would read God’s Word, and pray for Donald as he continues to minister to him.

CONDOLENCES

While serving God among the Karis people, GP intern missionary Stephen passed on to his eternal home as a result of an accident this month. Due to security issues for his team members, we are unable to honor him by sharing his last name. Stephen was well aware of security issues and would understand.

Stephen was following God’s call on his life and in his own words he had stated, "At first I had romantic notions about missionary adventures and wild stories, but my spirit settled with a steady realization that God would have me be a missionary for the purpose of the ministry. I want to give all my life for this cause, and God has brought me to this place where I can."

Pray for his family, the Karis people ministry team, and Global Partners as we grieve the passing of Stephen. May his life and death minister to the hearts of the Karis people he loved.

*Names omitted or changed for security reasons.