• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Hesed.com

Mobilizing God's People to Reach the Nations!

  • Home
  • Let’s Get Started!
  • Beyond Our Wildest Dreams
  • We Swear Allegiance
  • Our Hearts Aflame
  • Reshaping Our Wineskins
You are here: Home / Archives for News From The Nations

News From The Nations

News From the NationsWe curate missions-related news items from around the world.

Reading these stories can fuel our prayers for the unreached and provided a backdrop for our conversations with the Lord about where He would have us focus our missions efforts.

We encourage you to read these articles with your eyes open to God's work and an expectant heart, listening for His direction.

Image courtesy of Saiba Rahman. Used by permission.

Dramatic Conversion from Islam to Christianity in Central Asia

By Frank Johnson on November 17, 2021 0

Conversion from Islam

FROM ADVANCING NATIVE MISSIONS:
Dramatic Conversion from Islam to Christianity in Central Asia
Rastin and Maryam (not their real names) grew up in a Central Asian country that was formally a Soviet republic. Rastin grew up as the son of a nominally Christian Russian mother and an East German father who thought God was a tyrant, punishing those who misbehaved. Maryam was the daughter of an observant Muslim family. Both Rastin and Maryam came to faith in Christ, met each other, married, and now pastor a house church and support themselves through a bee-keeping business. Click the button below to read the rest of the story!

Visit the Advancing Native Missions Website to read the article Dramatic Conversion from Islam to Christianity in Central Asia

Photo courtesy of Advancing Native Missions. Used by permission (personal correspondence).
Tweet
Share
Pin
Share

The Extraordinary Re-Evangelization of Europe

By Frank Johnson on October 22, 2021 0

Map of Europe

FROM THE LAUSANNE MOVEMENT:
The Extraordinary Re-Evangelization of Europe
“No other continent (but Europe) has been exposed to Christianity for such a prolonged period and in such an extensive way. Yet just as Europe was the first continent to be Christianised, it was also the first to be de-Christianised … Many see Europe as thoroughly post-Christian or secular, yet the reality is much more complex than that. And out of the spotlight, an extraordinary re-evangelisation of Europe is taking place. Three dimensions of this can be identified: diaspora churches, church planting movements and platforms, and the next generation.”

Visit the Lausanne Movement Website to read the article The Extraordinary Re-Evangelization of Europe

Map courtesy of Wikipedia. Used by permission.
Tweet
Share
Pin
Share

Thor Is Beating the Lutheran Church in a Battle for Believers in the Land of Fire and Ice

By Frank Johnson on September 24, 2021 0

Reykjavik

FROM NEWSWEEK:
Thor Is Beating the Lutheran Church in a Battle for Believers in the Land of Fire and Ice
Iceland’s fastest-growing religion is Ásatrú, a revival of the worship of Viking deities. It tripled in size from 2007 to 2017 while the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland that once made up 90% of Iceland’s population in the 1990s but has now fallen to 64 percent of the population.

Visit the Newsweek Website to read the article Thor Is Beating the Lutheran Church in a Battle for Believers in the Land of Fire and Ice

Photo courtesy of Caleb Charters. Used by permission.

While Iceland has been called “the most godless country in Europe,” in reality God has not abandoned this nation of about 300,000 inhabitants. After reading the Newsweek article, read this 2017 article by Gunnar Gunnarsson, the pastor of Loftstofan Baptistakirkja, the only Baptist church in Reykjavik: Europe’s Most Godless Country May Surprise You.

Tweet
Share
Pin
Share

Lebanese Christian with Hearing Loss Becomes a Fisher of Men

By Frank Johnson on September 3, 2021 0

Lebanese Christian with Hearing Loss Becomes a Fisher of Men

FROM ADVANCING NATIVE MISSIONS:
Lebanese Christian with Hearing Loss Becomes a Fisher of Men
A fisherman who had given his life to Jesus after a missionary explained the gospel to him was in the habit of praying and praising God with a loud voice — because of the hearing loss he had developed from listening to the thunderous noise of the inboard motor on his fishing boat. Not only did God hear Amal’s loud prayers and praises, but Amal’s neighbor Zenab heard as well. And the more Zenab heard the name of Jesus, the more she wanted to know Him. Click the button below to read the rest of the story!

Visit the Advancing Native Missions Website to read the article Lebanese Christian with Hearing Loss Becomes a Fisher of Men

Photo courtesy of Fredrik Öhlander. Used by permission.
Tweet
Share
Pin
Share

Searching for Perfection

By Frank Johnson on March 4, 2020 0

Bahá'i Temple

FROM CHRISTIANITY TODAY:
From the Bahá’í Faith to Porn to Alpha to Jesus
As Emily Armstrong headed to college at the age of 17, she was a perfectionist, wanted to be an adult, and desired to assert her independence. For her, the ultimate statement of such independence was joining the Bahá’i faith, a religion she believed would ensure perfect order in the world — “no more war, poverty, or racism. One language, one currency, and equality of the sexes.” A “perfect” faith for a perfectionist. she now realizes that “He (Jesus) is our perfection, so I don’t have to be.” Click the button below to read the rest of the story!

Visit the Christianity Today Website to read the article From the Bahá’í Faith to Porn to Alpha to Jesus

Photo courtesy of harmeet9000. Used by permission.
Tweet
Share
Pin
Share

To The Jew First

By Frank Johnson on October 14, 2019 0

Jerusalem

FROM THE LAUSANNE COMMITTEE FOR WORLD EVANGELIZATION:
To The Jew First
In a paper written for the 2004 Forum for World Evangelization, convened between September 29 and October 5, 2004 in Pattaya, Thailand by the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, the Issue Group on Reaching Jewish People with the Gospel provided an excellent 55-page summary of God’s covenant with the Jewish people and His mandate for Jewish evangelism, the status of Jewish believers in Jesus in the world, how Messianic Jews see themselves and various issues which exist within the Messianic community, challenges to the proclamation of the gospel to the Jewish people, and a variety of case studies regarding current practices in the field of Jewish evangelism. Click the button below to read the rest of the paper!

Visit the Lausanne Website to read the article To The Jew First

Photo courtesy of Sander Crombach. Used by permission.
Tweet
Share
Pin
Share

He Found His North Star in the Midst of Dark and Stormy Seas

By Frank Johnson on October 9, 2019 0

Dark and Stormy Seas

FROM ONE FOR ISRAEL:
He Found His North Star in the Midst of Dark and Stormy Seas
#1 New York Times Best-Selling Author Stephen King said this: “Andrew Klavan is the most original American novelist of crime and suspense since Cornell Woolrich.” In this video, Andrew tells the story of how he — a Jew once in the grip of despair and depression and very seriously contemplating suicide — came to faith in Jesus Christ in the wake of a 3-word bedtime prayer: “Thank You God.” Click the button below to watch the video!

Visit the One For Israel Website to watch the video When God Found Andrew Klavan

Photo courtesy of Myriam Zilles. Used by permission.
Tweet
Share
Pin
Share

How Digital Communication Facilitated a Wiccan’s Conversion to Christ

By Frank Johnson on October 8, 2019 0

Digital Communication and Evangelism

FROM RICH TATUM:
How Digital Communication Facilitated a Wiccan’s Conversion to Christ
The Sharpe Logs represent the fascinating story of Kathi Sharpe — a practicing pagan witch (a Wiccan) who converted to Christ and was discipled through digital conversations with Rich Tatum, a then web project manager with Christianity Today International. These “logs” are just that — records of 53 different online conversations Kathi and Rich had through email and instant messenger over a period of almost an entire year. Although the logs are almost twenty years old at the time of this writing, they still provide tremendous insight into how God can work through digital means to bring people to Himself and raise them up to maturity in the faith. Click the button below to read the rest of the story!

Visit the Sharpe Logs to read the story of How Digital Communication Facilitated a Wiccan’s Conversion to Christ

Photo courtesy of John Schnobrich. Used by permission.
Tweet
Share
Pin
Share
  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

First Time Here?

Before you read any articles, watch any videos, etc., we strongly encourage you to read our five pillar articles. These pillar articles provide the foundation for all of our content.

Let's Get Started
We would be thrilled if you would join us in our passion, be persuaded by our conviction, and embrace our vision!

Beyond Our Wildest Dreams
Deep in our hearts is a desire to come home to the love we were created for, to be reconciled to our Creator.

We Swear Allegiance
God has reconciled Himself to us. What does it mean for us to reconcile ourselves to God?

Our Hearts Aflame
Our hearts are aflame with the urgency to make Christ known because we have been granted stewardship of the message of reconciliation.

Reshaping Our Wineskins
How does effective strategy in outreach help us to be faithful in our stewardship of the message of reconciliation?

About Us

Frank Johnson and David Arzouni have been friends, brothers in Christ, and ministry partners for over 35 years.

frankjohnson_squareFrank describes himself as an online strategist who advocates for world missions through storytelling to spotlight the work of God throughout the nations.

dfa_squareTogether with his wife Linda, David has brought the message of the gospel to West Africa as an Assemblies of God missionary since 1976.

Read more about Frank and David

Join Us In Our Daily Declaration

Lord Jesus,

This day, we cast our souls upon Your sacrifice as our only hope for purpose, meaning, and fulfillment here on earth and for life in the age to come.

This day, we swear allegiance to You, our King.

This day, we pray that You would set our hearts aflame for Your cause and for the over 3 billion people in this world who have yet to hear Your name.

We long for the day that we will stand before Your throne, surrounded by the most diverse community ever formed — from every tribe, every tongue, every people, and every nation — those whom You have purchased with Your blood — as we cry out together "Worthy is the Lamb!"

Until that day, we commit ourselves to loving our brothers and sisters in Christ — no matter what their people group, no matter what their language, no matter what their race, no matter where they are from — and to living in community with them — that the world may know that the Father loves them and that He sent You to save them.

This day, we devote our lives — our time, our money, our passion, our mind, our strength, our everything — to see Your gospel proclaimed in every corner of this world.

And we thank You for the astounding privilege of playing a small part in carrying Your name to the nations!

Join Our Tribe

We invite you to become a part of the Hesed.com community and join us in this passion to reach the unreached.

Helpful Resources

The old way of raising support means uncomfortable face-to-face meetings, paper newsletters, tons of phone calls, or speaking at churches and hoping people give. But chasing donations and hoping one-time donors become monthly supporters is stressful and unpredictable.

Fully Funded Academy is based around 7 core strategies for long-term support raising success and will help you develop a steady stream of recurring financial support with more stability and less stress so you can have greater impact in your mission to help fulfill the Great Commission.

Learn more ...

Filter Articles By Category

See Articles From All Categories

Come Hang Out With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Partner Profiles

News From The Nations

Thoughts On Strategy

Service Opportunities

Book Reviews

Opinion

See All

  • Home
  • What Is Hesed?
  • Who Are We?
  • Your Story
  • Join Our Content Team
  • Contact
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy

What Does It Mean to Join a Missionary Team?

There are four basic ways to join a missionary team and participate in God's story of restoring the nations to Himself:

GO: You can physically join a missionary team "on the ground" in their geographical area of service. This can be in the form of a short-term trip (1-4 weeks), a longer stay (1-3 years), or a career commitment.

PRAY: You can subscribe to the missionary team's email or print newsletter, follow them in social media channels, join their private Facebook group, etc. and commit to praying for them and the needs they share on a regular basis.

GIVE: You can financially support the missionary team or their organization (either through cash gifts and/or monthly commitments).

SUPPORT: You can provide logistical support to the missionary team in the form of administrative help, website development, social media channel maintenance, newsletter processing, and a host of other tasks and projects - anything that will allow the missionary team to devote more time to their primary calling.

As you consider how the Lord would have you join missionary teams, please join us in our Daily Declaration!

Join Our Tribe

We invite you to become a part of the Hesed community and join us in our passion to reach the unreached.

Hang Out With Us

Hesed.com on Facebook

Hesed.com on Instagram

Hesed.com on Pinterest

Hesed.com on Twitter

Affiliate Disclosure

Please Note: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

© 1998 - 2020 Hesed.com

Our Daily Declaration

Lord Jesus,

This day, we cast our souls upon Your sacrifice as our only hope for purpose, meaning, and fulfillment here on earth and for life in the age to come.

This day, we swear allegiance to You, our King.

This day, we pray that You would set our hearts aflame for Your cause and for the over 3 billion people in this world who have yet to hear Your name.

We long for the day that we will stand before Your throne, surrounded by the most diverse community ever formed — from every tribe, every tongue, every people, and every nation — those whom You have purchased with Your blood — as we cry out together “Worthy is the Lamb!”

Until that day, we commit ourselves to loving our brothers and sisters in Christ — no matter what their people group, no matter what their language, no matter what their race, no matter where they are from — and to living in community with them — that the world may know that the Father loves them and that He sent You to save them.

This day, we devote our lives — our time, our money, our passion, our mind, our strength, our everything — to see Your gospel proclaimed in every corner of this world.

And we thank You for the astounding privilege of playing a small part in carrying Your name to the nations!

Pray for the Tsukuba Express Church Planting Team

Tsukuba Express Line

  1. Please pray for the areas surrounding these twenty rail stations: Akihabara, Shin-Okachimachi, Asakusa, Minami-Senju, Kita-Senju, Aoi, Rokucho, Yashio, Misato-chuo, Minami-Nagareyama, Nagareyama-centralpark, Nagareyama-otakanomori, Kashiwanoha-campus, Kashiwa-Tanaka, Moriya, Miraidaira, Midorino, Bampaku-kinenkoen, Kenkyu-gakuen, and Tsukuba
  2. Pray that God would raise up church planters and send forth laborers into the harvest fields surrounding these stations (Luke 10:2-4).
  3. Pray that God would help these church planters identify persons of peace in the areas surrounding these stations (Luke 10:5-8).
  4. Pray that God would enable these church planters to speak the word of God with boldness in these areas (Luke 10:9b).
  5. Pray that the proclamation of God’s word in the areas surrounding these stations would be accompanied by demonstrations of God’s compassion and power (Luke 10:9a).