Ken & Jeanette Newton, editors THE BRETHREN MOVEMENT WORLDWIDE KEY INFORMATION 2019 5th Edition

Copyright © Ken & Jeanette Newton First published in 2007 by edition Wiedenest and Jota Publikationen GmbH for the International Brethren Conference on Mission Second edition published 2009 by OPAL Trust, for Forum Wiedenest and International Brethren Conference on Mission Third edition published 2011 by OPAL Trust, for International Brethren Conference on Mission Fourth edition published 2015 by OPAL Trust, for International Brethren Conference on Mission Fifth edition published 2019 by OPAL Trust, for International Brethren Conference on Mission 1 Glenannan Park, Lockerbie, DG11 2FA, United Kingdom Web: www.opaltrust.org 23 22 21 20 19 / 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 The right of Ken and Jeanette Newton to be identified as the editors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher or a licence permitting restricted copying. In the UK such licences are issued by the Copyright Licencing Agency, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London WC1P 9HE British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN 978-1-907098-42-0 Typeset by projectluz.com Printed by Bell & Bain, Glasgow, Scotland

Contents Introduction .................................................vii Statistical Overview ...............................x Albania ...........................................................1 Andaman & Nicobar Islands (India) ..............................................................3 Angola .............................................................5 Anguilla British West Indies ...........11 Antigua & Barbuda ..............................13 Argentina ....................................................15 Australia ..........................................................21 Austria .............................................................26 Bahamas .........................................................28 Barbados .......................................................31 Belgium (Flanders) .....................................37 Belgium (Wallonia & Brussels) ................40 Belize ..................................................................43 Bermuda ........................................................46 Bhutan ..............................................................48 Bolivia ...............................................................51 Bosnia & Herzegovina ......................53 Brazil ..................................................................56 Bulgaria ...........................................................61 Burundi ...........................................................62 Canada ...........................................................64 Chad .................................................................68 Chile .................................................................72 Colombia .....................................................75 Congo, Democratic Republic of (North-East Area) .......................................78 Congo, Democratic Republic of (North Katanga Area) ...............................81 Congo, Democratic Republic of (South Katanga Area) ................................84 Congo, Democratic Republic of (Second Community) ...............................86 Costa Rica ....................................................87 Croatia ............................................................90 Cuba .................................................................92 Czech Republic ......................................93 Denmark ........................................................96 Dominica .......................................................98 Dominican Republic ...........................100 Ecuador ..........................................................101 Egypt ................................................................103 Ethiopia ..........................................................105 Faroe Islands ..............................................107 Fiji .........................................................................111 Finland .............................................................116 France ..............................................................118 Germany .......................................................121 Greece ............................................................129 Greenland ...................................................131 Grenada ........................................................133 Guyana ...........................................................135 Haiti ...................................................................137 Hong Kong – S.A.R. of China .....138 Hungary .........................................................140 India ...................................................................142 Indonesia ......................................................155 Iran ......................................................................157 Israel ..................................................................159 Italy .....................................................................161 Jamaica ............................................................166 Japan .................................................................169 Jordan ..............................................................171 Kazakhstan ....................................................172

Kenya ...............................................................173 Korea ................................................................176 Lebanon ........................................................179 Macedonia ..................................................181 Madagascar ................................................182 Malawi .............................................................187 Malaysia .........................................................190 Mexico ............................................................197 Moldova, Republic of .......................201 Mongolia ......................................................202 Montenegro ..............................................204 Mozambique ............................................205 Myanmar (Burma) ..................................207 Nauru ...............................................................210 Nepal ...............................................................213 The Netherlands ....................................219 New Zealand ............................................221 Nigeria ...........................................................224 Pakistan .............................................................227 Papua New Guinea .............................230 Paraguay .........................................................236 Peru ....................................................................243 Philippines ...................................................246 Poland ............................................................249 Portugal .........................................................252 Puerto Rico .................................................254 Réunion Island ..........................................258 Romania ........................................................260 Russia ..............................................................264 Rwanda ...........................................................265 St Kitts & Nevis ........................................267 St Lucia ............................................................271 St Vincent & The Grenadines ....272 Senegal ...........................................................274 Serbia ...............................................................275 Singapore .....................................................277 Slovakia ...........................................................282 Slovenia ..........................................................284 South Africa ................................................287 Spain .................................................................290 Sri Lanka .........................................................295 Sudan ...............................................................297 Suriname .......................................................299 Sweden ..........................................................301 Switzerland (French-Speaking) .............303 Taiwan .............................................................306 Thailand .........................................................308 Tonga ...............................................................311 Trinidad & Tobago ............................313 Turkey ..............................................................315 Tuvalu ..............................................................318 Uganda .........................................................320 Ukraine ...........................................................324 United Arab Emirates ........................325 United Kingdom ....................................328 United States of America ...............336 Uruguay .........................................................339 Zambia ............................................................342

The Brethren Movement Worldwide vii INTRODUCTION Though much information on the (Christian or Open) Brethren movement internationally was available before 1990, particularly through the material on the history of overseas mission work published, for example, by Echoes of Service, it was not until the 1990s that systematic efforts were made to gather data on the national Brethren movements that resulted from that missionary work. A start was made, however, in the mid-1990s, partly in connection with the nascent International Conferences on Mission (IBCM) and partly in connection with the work of the UK body, Partnership. These efforts evolved through the IBCM2 conference in Italy in 1996 and the IBCM3 conference in Romania in 2003, until for the IBCM4 conference in 2007 a handbook with country entries was produced under the title of The Brethren Movement Worldwide: Key Information. The aim was to provide summary information about the national movements in individual states, or distinct territories within states . This information 1 was not simply statistical, but included data on, e.g., bodies which seek to support Brethren assemblies and churches in whatever way, on magazines 1 As historians, political scientists, and international relations specialists know only too well, the concepts of ‘state’, ‘nation’, and country’ are hard to define. To take the United Kingdom (UK) as an example, the UK is the state, that is, the sovereign political entity (for the time being at least), but it comprises four countries (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, though strictly Wales is a principality and Northern Ireland a province). Some, however, within the latter three would regard them as ‘nations’. And there are parts, such as the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, commonly thought of as part of the UK, which are not! Evidently, these are deep waters, and they can be matched in many states in the world. In this volume, we have invited entries from groups of churches which see themselves as geographically distinct. So in Europe there are separate entries for Flanders, and for Wallonia and the Brussels region of Belgium, and for the language groups in Switzerland (or there would be if we had ever succeeded in getting an entry for the German-speaking assemblies in that country). There are other countries where at present travel and contact are very difficult: an example is the Democratic Republic of Congo, where we have collected essentially regional entries, even though the churches are part of the same legally-recognised community of churches—and where there are also Brethren congregations in regions of the country for which we have not been able to obtain information. There are other countries in respect of which we provide only the very briefest of entries, either because of lack of information or because of the opposition which Christians face in those countries.

viii The Brethren Movement Worldwide serving the movement, and on teaching initiatives, with contact details in each case. Also included were brief descriptions both of the history of the movement in the particular country or territory, and of key features at present, together with items for praise and for prayer. The details of a contact person were given for anyone wanting to know more. The handbook can be used not only as a source of information, but as an aid for systematic prayer—the writer of this introduction, and his wife, use it to pray daily, entry by entry. Since 2007, there has been an edition in 2009 which included entries not available for the 2007 edition, and editions for each of the IBCM conferences in 2011 and 2015. They followed the pattern established by the 2007 edition. As the handbook is evidently welcomed by many, this further revision has been published in time for the IBCM7 conference in Italy in 2019. It follows the pattern of the earlier editions. For this edition, our country contacts were given the choice of simply updating the text, to a greater or lesser extent, of the earlier entry for the country concerned, or they could complete a questionnaire (little changed from that used in 2011 and 2015)—new countries simply completed the questionnaire, unless the limited character of the Brethren movement in the particular country made that inappropriate. In this edition, there are entries for 117 countries or territories, 14 more than in the previous edition. Of these, 17 entries are for countries not previously represented in the handbook. In total, there are 110 new or revised entries. In seven cases, we did not succeed in securing a revision. So, in five cases we have published the 2015 entry unaltered and, in two the entry for 2011. Entries for three countries (Republic of Congo [formerly the French Congo], Mauritius, and New Caledonia) have been omitted, as we have not succeeded in obtaining updated entries for several editions now. We must thank heartily those who supplied either new or updated entries. Though the entries are relatively brief, this may mask the amount of effort that has necessarily had to be put into providing them. Also, the nature of the movement in many places is that it is not easy to piece things together, or even to establish the facts that our questionnaire requested. We are completely dependent on our contributors to be able to produce this volume at all. It also means that there are inevitably inconsistencies between particularly the numerical data that they supply.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide ix We also acknowledge all that Ken and Jeanette Newton have done as editors to make this new edition possible, particularly Jeanette to whom has fallen the heavy task of preparing the text for the print designer. Without their work and tenacity, this new edition could not have appeared, just as the preceding edition would not have done so. We emphasise that both country contacts, and Ken and Jeanette, have undertaken this work on an entirely voluntary basis, as we so frequently do in this movement. Our warm thanks is also due to Peter Brierley of Brierley Consultancy 2 in the UK, who has once again undertaken analysis and interpretation of the numerical data for the movement which are available from our country returns and also from other sources. As usual, we request two actions on the part of readers: 1. If you see errors in the information in this edition, or information which can be improved, please let us know and supply the necessary data to make correction and improvement possible; and 2. If your country is not represented in the volume, please be in touch with us to request the questionnaire so that you can complete it as a step towards inclusion in a future edition. Please do this immediately; there is no need to wait for four years before taking action, as we can insert new entries into the electronic version of this edition which will be posted on the IBCM website in due course. Neil Summerton 2 www.brierleyconsultancy.com

x The Brethren Movement Worldwide STATISTICAL OVERVIEW The statistical information sought country by country through our requests to country contacts has been on the same pattern through the various editions of this publication. This enables comparison through time (though Peter Brierley has drawn on other data on the Brethren when they are available to him). For this edition, the tables reproduced at the end of this overview present, bearing in mind limitations of space on the page, the data 3 for the last three surveys—for 2011, 2015, and 2019. This compares with the last edition which presented summary data for 2005, 2010, and 2014. First, we look at the overall position of congregations connected with the Brethren movement and adult participation worldwide. We do so grouping together the data for fully-fledged congregations and preaching points, since the boundary between the two is often hard to judge and those who attend activities at preaching points can reasonably be regarded as attenders and probably see themselves as such. In the table below, both are described as congregations. The table shows the rate of change since 2014 and the 4 average size of congregations when the returns were made in 2018-19. Christian Brethren Worldwide 2018 Continent Congregations Adult attendance, millions Persons/cong. 2014 2018 % change 2014 2019 % change Asia 8,500 12,400 +46 0.26 0.41 +60 33 Africa 12,700 14,400 +14 1.23 1.47 +19 102 S. America 3,800 3,700 -2 0.26 0.28 +7 76 N. America 5,700 5,600 -1 0.30 0.29 -2 45 Europe 3,700 3,600 -4 0.20 0.18 -12 50 Oceania 1,000 900 -5 0.04 0.04 -6 45 WORLD 35,400 40,600 +15 2.29 2.67 +16 66 3 The conclusions presented in this overview should be treated with due care, if only because the data were provided by contacts in each country without consultation with us or with each other. We have taken their returns at face value, but recognize that there may be differences between the ways in which data have been collected and presented in the many different countries. 4 This is a different approach from that in earlier editions, in which our summary analysis focussed on congregations and did not include data from preaching points, though the latter were presented in the tables when information was available.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide xi Whereas, in the period 2010-2014, the rate of adult attendance appeared to have slackened off a little while the pace of establishing new congregations had continued broadly unabated, in the past four years the rate of growth of attendance has resumed, as can be seen from the chart below. The growth rate of 16% in the past four years is overall somewhat flattering to all countries except one. That is because four percentage points (a quarter) of that growth are attributable to the figures for India alone—a vast country with a population now approaching 1.4 billion and Brethren congregations on a commensurate scale. The movement in the rest of the world, apart from India, grew by about 12% in the four- year period, on the basis of the figures provided. The resumption in a high rate of growth in church attendance has had an effect on the average size of congregations in the last few years. In Africa, the average has risen from 85 to over 100; and in South America from 70 to 76. It has shrunk in Asia, though that is scarcely surprising because of the very high rate of creation of new congregations, particularly in India: new congregations are inevitably small in their early years. So, the reduction of the average size of congregation in Asia from 60 to 33 is understandable. In North America and Europe, the average has declined by 5 in both cases, that is, a reduction of some 10% in average congegational size, an observation which will probably surprise no one who is familiar with church life and the general cultural sitation in those regions. The statement that, leaving aside India, there has been a 12% growth in congregational attendance itself needs qualification, as can readily seen from the table above. For growth in congregations, and in participation by adults, are evidently concentrated in Asia, Africa, and South America (in that order), while there has been obvious decline in Europe, Oceania, and North America, again in that order. In Asia and Africa, it is apparent that mission and church planting are alive and well, in the form of preaching points and new congegations. However, both North America (which includes both central America and the Caribbean) and Europe have slipped from a stable position to one of overall decline, even sharp decline in Europe. And even in Asia, the growth is heavily dependent on India. There has been significant growth in numbers of congregations in South Korea, Myanmar, Pakistan, and the Philippines. But it has been spectacular in India, from a reported figure of 2,050 in 2005 to 4,200 in 2019, though the figures for the former year may well have omitted preaching points which seem likely

xii The Brethren Movement Worldwide to have existed. Adult attenders have increased from 95,000 in 2005 to 285,000 now, that is, they have multiplied by three—against a background of increasing restrictions in India. Growth in Africa is also dependent on a relatively few countries. While the number of congregations has grown by nearly one-fifth since 2005 to 1,300+ in Zambia, the comparable growth in Angola, Chad, Ethiopia, Madagascar, and Nigeria is 53%, 52%, 287%, 298%, and 238% respectively. What, we might ask, are the special features of these countries, compared with others in Africa, so far as the Brethren are concerned? Peter Brierley has deliberately assembled the figures in the table above so that they offer a comparison between the global South and the West or North. They show (and indeed reflect the position in global evangelicalism as a whole) that among the Brethren it is the global South that is growing and the old West/North that is receding. Nowhere, perhaps, is this more evident that in the United Kingdom, which has lost half its Christian Brethren congregations in the last 60 years, and some 400 since 2005. Now, Peter Brierley concludes, four-fifths of Brethren globally are found in the global South. There are obvious implications here for us as a worldwide movement, and for the approach which we in the West/North often adopt. The figures also offer the opportunity to compare the numbers of congregations, congregational attenders, and baptised believers. This is the chart which Peter Brierley has prepared from the figures which have been made available, largely in the successive editions of The Brethren Movement Worldwide. The comparison is for the period 2005–2019.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide xiii The overall global position is that while congregations, including preaching points, increased by 15% and adult attenders by 16%, baptised believers in these congregations increased by only 4%. The curves on this chart suggest that since 2005 the growth in the number of congregations has been steady and rapid. After a small dip—understandable as many congregations were new—the growth in attendance has paralled the growth in congregations in recent years. But the numbers of baptised believers among the congregations has not. We may speculate about some of the reasons for this. For one thing, it is to be expected, given the overall growth rate in adult attenders. Even if only some of these were new Christians, or were from Christian streams not practising believer’s baptism, it normally takes time for individuals to reach the point at which they feel they need to be baptised and for leaders to accept that they are ready for it (few these days follow the New Testament practice of baptizing immediately on profession of faith). So where growth is high, a lag in baptizing converts can be expected. However, it has been observed a while ago that in parts of the global South, in Africa for example, there can be a general reluctance for church attenders to take a further step of public commitment, whether in baptism, taking communion, or undertaking Christian marriage. These 5 factors seem rather unrelated to the modern Western phenomenon of unwillingness to commit to membership of institutions or organizations, though that factor may be of significance in relation to the Brethren in Europe and North America. Detailed summary tables for the main regions of the world follow. This overview certainly does not exhaust the possibilities for mining the figures and drawing conclusions from them which may be of relevance to our mission and work for God. 5 See Klaus Fiedler, The Story of Faith Missions , Oxford 1994, esp. chapters 7, 8 & 10; & Andrew F. Walls, The Missionary Movement in Modern Christian History: Studies in the Transmission of Faith , Edinburgh 1996, chapter 9. These works suggest that phenonomen is particularly marked in churches linked to the faith mission and the holiness movements.

xiv The Brethren Movement Worldwide The Brethren Movement Europe 2019 Table 1 European countries (Eu) Pop in millions No of congregations Extra preaching points Baptised believers Adult attenders No of f-t workers No of other workers 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 Albania 2.86¹ 3.19 2.94 14 14 13 10 10 10 700 405 561 800 520 746 13 4 13 5 3 2 Austria 8.30 8.50 8.70 50³ 50 50 60 20 20 7,000³ 4,000 4,000 10,500³ 5,000 5,000 20 20 20 3? 3? 3? Belgium (Flanders) 6.25 6.35³ 6.52 30 30 26³ 20³ 24³ 19³ 2,500 2,500 2,000³ 2,500 2,500³ 2,000³ 5 5 4³ 10 10 8³ Belgium (Wallonia) 4.45 4.50 4.57 20 20 17 2? 0 0 500 500 677 1,100 1.000 1,050 3 3 4 0 0 0 Bosnia & Herzegovina 4.55 3.87 3.85 3 2 2 0 1 1 40³ 18 30 45³ 45 38 4 6 2 0 0 0 Bulgaria 7.39 7.16 7.05 5³ 5¹ 5¹ 0 0 0 200³ 190³ 180³ 700³ 1,000 1,000 0¹ 0¹ 0¹ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ Croatia 4.41 4.25 4.18 2³ 3² 4 0³ 0¹ 1 40³ 100² 180 65 130² 200 1¹ 1¹ 3 0¹ 0¹ 0 Czech Republic 10.23 10.70 10.63 25 25 25 24 24 24 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,400³ 1,400 1,400 3 3 3 2 2 2 Denmark 5.50 5.66 5.75 5 5 5 0³ 0 0 300 300 300 375 400 400 6 6 7 0¹ 0 0 Faroe Islands 0.05 0.05 0.05 35³ 35 30 1 1 4 7,000 7,000 5,000 6,500³ 6, 100³ 7,000 1 5 5 8 18 11 France 62.64 66.30 66.90 108 100 115 28³ 50 119 4,500? 5,000 5,000¹ 5,900³ 6,000 5,845 74³ 80 80¹ 6³ 10 10¹ Germany 82.31 82.61 82.67 459 459 194 0 0¹ 190 22,000³ 22,800³ 9,000³ 34,000 40,000 15,000 55 68 5 77 89 24 Greece 10.82 11.18 11.13 15³ 14³ 13³ 0³ 0¹ 0 690³ 645³ 600 780³ 760³ 740³ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ Hungary 10.10 9.87 10.00 20 20 14 10 10 0 800 800 600 900? 1,000 750 17³ 17¹ 8³ 2³ 2¹ 0³ Iceland 0.33 0.33 0.34 1³ 1¹ 1¹ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ 14³ 9³ 8³ 22 16³ 14³ 1³ 1¹ 1¹ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ Ireland 4.59 4.69 4.74 17³ 17¹ 17¹ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ 690³ 580³ 580¹ 1,080 1,012 1,012¹ 9³ 9¹ 9¹ 1³ 1¹ 1 Italy 52.70 59.80 61.00 270³ 270 282 0 0 26 17,4oo³ 20,000 20,000 20,000³ 20,000 22,000 20 22 21 36 36 36 Moldova 4.38 3.58 4.04 12 12 14 5³ 8 9 224 224 271 350 350 350 6 6 8 6 6 10 Montenegro 0.62² 0.61 0.75 1 1 1 1 1¹ 1 35 35 45 40 45 60 1 4 6 0 1 0 The Netherlands 16.60 16.90 17.10 95 85 100 0 0 0 8,000 7,000 7,000 8,000 7,000 7,000 10 5 0 18 9 0 North Macedonia 2.07 2.08 2.09 1³ 1¹ 1 0 0 0 20³ 20¹ 20 25³ 25¹ 25 2³ 3³ 3 0³ 0¹ 0 Poland 38.04 38.53 38.20 42 40 39 15 20 20 1,600 1,600 1,632 2,500 3,000 3,120 20 10 18 5 5 5 Portugal 1o.73 10.81 10.30 100 100 78 25 25 28 1,050³ 1,350 2,500 1,500 1,500 3,000 50³ 50¹ 18 7³ 7¹ 1 Romania 21.79 20.12 20.00 727³ 716 727 162³ 120 120 29,500³ 30,927 28,193 45,700³ 47,850³ 42,495 670³ 120 125 48 30 33 Russia 140.37 148.30 144.00 5³ 5¹ 5¹ 0 0¹ 0¹ 210³ 210¹ 210¹ 300³ 300¹ 300¹ 0 0 0¹ 0 0 0¹ Serbia 7.77 7.15 8.76 12 11 11 2 1 1 <400 <400 <400 400³ 400¹ 400¹ 4 4 4 0 0 0 Slovakia 5.40 5.44 5.45 22 21 20 14 12 13 650 650 600 800 800 750 3 2 4 1 1 1 Slovenia 2.05 2.06 3.08 2 2 2 0 0 0 40 36 36 45 45 45 0 3 3 0 0 0 Spain 45.45 46.51 46.40 190³ 179 180 19³ 14 15 8,700³ 8,847 8,784 11,800³ 11,544 11,481 80 76 82 11¹ 11¹ 0 Switzerland (French-speaking) 1.50 1.50 1.50 48 48 48 0 0 0 4,600 4,600 4,600 4,000³ 4,000 4,000 48 48 48 7 7 7 Ukraine 46.20 44.29 42.15 10 10 10¹ 6 6 6¹ 700³ 700¹ 700¹ 1,000³ 1,000¹ 1,000¹ 0 0 0¹ 0 0 0¹ United Kingdom 62.13 64.50 66.00 1075 1,097 901 0 0 0 45,000³ 50,000 35,430 40,400³ 40,400 40,000¹ 210 213 200 70 70 70 TOTAL Europe 672.85 701.39 700.84 3,421 3,398 2,950 404 347 627 166,303 172,646 140,337 203,527 198,049 178,221 1,336 794 704 323 321 224 ¹ Previous figure repeated ² Figure revised from that previously published ³ Estimated German figures for 2019 are on a different basis to earlier figures Average preaching points per congregation, excluding Germany: 0.14 (2011), 0.12 (2015), 0.16 (2019) Average adult attenders per congregation + preaching points: 53 (2011), 53 (2015), 50 (2019) Baptised believers as percentage of adult attenders: 82% (2011), 87% (2015), 79% (2019) Number of full-time workers per congregation and preaching point: 0.35 (2011), 0.21 (2015), 0.20 (2019)

The Brethren Movement Worldwide xv Table 1 Baptised believers Adult attenders No of f-t workers No of other workers 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 700 405 561 800 520 746 13 4 13 5 3 2 7,000³ 4,000 4,000 10,500³ 5,000 5,000 20 20 20 3? 3? 3? 2,500 2,500 2,000³ 2,500 2,500³ 2,000³ 5 5 4³ 10 10 8³ 500 500 677 1,100 1.000 1,050 3 3 4 0 0 0 40³ 18 30 45³ 45 38 4 6 2 0 0 0 200³ 190³ 180³ 700³ 1,000 1,000 0¹ 0¹ 0¹ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ 40³ 100² 180 65 130² 200 1¹ 1¹ 3 0¹ 0¹ 0 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,400³ 1,400 1,400 3 3 3 2 2 2 300 300 300 375 400 400 6 6 7 0¹ 0 0 7,000 7,000 5,000 6,500³ 6, 100³ 7,000 1 5 5 8 18 11 4,500? 5,000 5,000¹ 5,900³ 6,000 5,845 74³ 80 80¹ 6³ 10 10¹ 22,000³ 22,800³ 9,000³ 34,000 40,000 15,000 55 68 5 77 89 24 690³ 645³ 600 780³ 760³ 740³ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ 800 800 600 900? 1,000 750 17³ 17¹ 8³ 2³ 2¹ 0³ 14³ 9³ 8³ 22 16³ 14³ 1³ 1¹ 1¹ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ 690³ 580³ 580¹ 1,080 1,012 1,012¹ 9³ 9¹ 9¹ 1³ 1¹ 1 17,4oo³ 20,000 20,000 20,000³ 20,000 22,000 20 22 21 36 36 36 224 224 271 350 350 350 6 6 8 6 6 10 35 35 45 40 45 60 1 4 6 0 1 0 8,000 7,000 7,000 8,000 7,000 7,000 10 5 0 18 9 0 20³ 20¹ 20 25³ 25¹ 25 2³ 3³ 3 0³ 0¹ 0 1,600 1,600 1,632 2,500 3,000 3,120 20 10 18 5 5 5 1,050³ 1,350 2,500 1,500 1,500 3,000 50³ 50¹ 18 7³ 7¹ 1 29,500³ 30,927 28,193 45,700³ 47,850³ 42,495 670³ 120 125 48 30 33 210³ 210¹ 210¹ 300³ 300¹ 300¹ 0 0 0¹ 0 0 0¹ <400 <400 <400 400³ 400¹ 400¹ 4 4 4 0 0 0 650 650 600 800 800 750 3 2 4 1 1 1 40 36 36 45 45 45 0 3 3 0 0 0 8,700³ 8,847 8,784 11,800³ 11,544 11,481 80 76 82 11¹ 11¹ 0 4,600 4,600 4,600 4,000³ 4,000 4,000 48 48 48 7 7 7 700³ 700¹ 700¹ 1,000³ 1,000¹ 1,000¹ 0 0 0¹ 0 0 0¹ 45,000³ 50,000 35,430 40,400³ 40,400 40,000¹ 210 213 200 70 70 70 166,303 172,646 140,337 203,527 198,049 178,221 1,336 794 704 323 321 224 Number of other workers per full-time worker: 0.24 (2011), 0.40 (2015), 0.32 (2019) % growth in congregations and preaching points:-2% (2011 to 2015), -4% (2015 to 2019) % growth in baptised believers, excluding Germany: +4% (2011 to 2015), -12% (2015 to 2019) % growth in adult attenders, excluding Germany: -10% (2011 to 2015), -12% (2015 to 2019)

xvi The Brethren Movement Worldwide The Brethren Movement Africa Table 2 African countries (Af) Pop in millions No of congregations Extra preaching points Baptised believers Adult attenders No of f-t workers No of other workers 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 Angola 18.99 21.47 25.79 2,017 2,024 1,700 2,000³ 2,500 2,300 359,000 360,000³ 350,000 360,000 480,000² 600,000 260 400² 500 120 600² 1,050 Botswana 1.98 2.02 2.35 12? 12? 12¹ 5? 5? 5¹ 1,050? 1,050? 1,050¹ 1,600 1,600? 1,600¹ 9? 9? 9¹ 4¹ 4¹ 4¹ Burundi 8.52 10.40 11.22 106 131 149 85 136 11 25,000 32,000 35,000 45,000 40,000 50,885 85 10 <10 35 15 0 Chad 11.51 12.83 15.35 1,107 1,107 1,884 410 500 1,944 56,400+ 56,400 81,646 280,300 307,000 339,050 1,391 2,044 2,069 40³ 40 56 Congo, North East area 252³ 267³ 276 107³ 143³ 198 37,000³ 38,500³ 40,000 52,000³ 54,000³ 70,000 232³ 337³ 358 105³ 273³ 342 Congo, Dem Rep4: N Katanga 260 366 400 0 0? 0¹ 12,750³ 13,000³ 13,250³ 22,400? 22,800? 23,200³ 1 1 1¹ 0¹ 6² 12 Congo, Dem Rep4: S Katanga 803? 803 55 36? 36 4 33,900³ 35,000¹ 2,000 63,000? 63,000? 63,000¹ 0¹ 0¹ 55 0¹ 8² 17 Congo, Dem Rep4: 2nd Brethren 68.09 77.27 86.00 141 141 141 0? 0? 0¹ 9,351³ 9,351 9,351 12,851²? 12,851 12,851 9 9 9 4¹ 4¹ 9 Côte d’Ivoire 21.57 22.70 25.31 13 13? 13¹ 0? 0? 0¹ 820³ 820¹ 820¹ 1,300 1,300 1,300¹ 6? 6? 6¹ 2¹ 2¹ 2¹ Egypt 84.47 82.06 99.38 35³ 33 35 0³ 0 5 1,500³ 3,500 3,500 2,370 5,000 6,000 18? 7 7 7³ 3 6 Ethiopia 84.98 96.51 107.53 80 80? 250 13 13? 17 10,000 10,000¹ 31,525 8,000³ 8,000¹ 39,000 100 100¹ 297 10 10¹ 22 Kenya 40.86 46.45 50.90 100 115² 131 30 65 150 1,000 1,500² 2,000+ 2,000³ 2,250² 2,500 6 38² 70 6³ 30 64 Madagascar 20.15 22.92 36.30 64 92² 119 0 36 40 3,000 3,500 4,000 4,500 5,500 6,000 60 80 120 25³ 25¹ 20 Malawi 15.69 16.36 19.00 130²? 130 110 0 0? 0 6,900³ 11,000² 15,000 26,900³ 26,900¹ 26,900¹ 10 10 10 4¹ 4¹ 7 Mauritius 1.29 1.30 1.27 0³ 0¹ 0¹ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ Mozambique 19.61 24.08 30.55 140³ 212 77 0 0? 0¹ 3,000³ 3,000¹ 3,000¹ 5,000³ 5,000¹ 5,000¹ 12 40² 77 42 42 4 Nigeria 158.26 173.62 197.00 800³ 1,000 1,200 300 600 705 3,500³ 5,000 9,000 24,000? 15,000 25,000 300 700 500 400 250² 150 Reunion Island 0.79 0.84 0.88 6 7 7 85³ 85¹ 85¹ 200 500 450 210? 220? 650 3 2 9 0¹ 0¹ 1 Rwanda 10.28 11.78 12.56 140³ 140 195 0 0? 8 15,000³ 15,000 19,310 17,000²? 17,000 26,200 6 6 5 6 6 463 Senegal 12.86 14.09 16.29 3 6 7 5 6 20 400²? 450 350 200 1,200 450 0? 0? 3 0¹ 0¹ 2 South Africa 50.49 53.10 57.40 120³ 120 88 0 0² 0 6,500³ 10,000 10,000 10,300³ 15,000 15,000 87 70² 55 6 7³ 7¹ South Sudan 43.19 8.26 13.03 5 0? 0¹ 5 0? 0¹ 220 0³ 0¹ 350 0³ 0¹ 2 0³ 0¹ 5 0³ 0¹ Sudan 37.96 41.50 5 5 5 5 220 220 350 350 2 2 5 5 Tanzania 45.04 50.76 59.67 145³ 145¹ 145¹ 75³ 75¹ 75¹ 25,000³ 25,000¹ 25,000¹ 39,000 39,000? 39,000¹ 104³ 104¹ 104¹ 40³ 40¹ 40¹ Tunisia 10.37 11.10 11.70 0³ 0¹ 0¹ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ 0 0¹ 0¹ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ Uganda 33.80 34.76 44.20 23 40 45 53 53? 53¹ 670³ 1,200 2,610 1,300³ 2,000 3,000 36 63² 89 18 25 89 Zambia 13.26 14.54 17.00 1,255 1,300 1,300+ 0 150² 300 58,000³ 58,000¹ 65,000³ 101,500³ 101,500¹ 105,000³ 123 123 200 1,000² 1,000¹ 1,100 Zimbabwe 12.64 16.25 17.03 40³ 40¹ 40¹ 17³ 17¹ 17¹ 3,500³ 3,500¹ 3,500¹ 5,500 5,300³ 5,300¹ 29³ 29¹ 29¹ 11³ 11¹ 11¹ TOTAL Africa 679.90 739.44 858.50 7,797 8,329 8,384 3,226 4,425 5,942 673,661 697,491 727,582 1,086,581 1,231,771 1,467,236 2,889 4,190 4,594 1,843 2,410 3,483 ¹ Previous figure repeated ² Figure revised from that previously published ³ Estimated 4 Formerly called Zaire Average extra preaching points per congregation: 0.41 (2011), 0.53 (2015), 0.71 (2019) Average adult attenders per congregation + preaching points: 99 (2011), 96 (2015), 102 (2019) Baptised believers as percentage of adult attenders: 62% (2011), 57% (2015), 50% (2019) Number of full-time workers per congregation and preaching point: 0.26 (2011), 0.33 (2015), 0.32 (2019) Number of other workers per full-time worker: 0.64 (2011), 0.58 (2015), 0.76 (2019) % growth in congregations and preaching points:+16% (2011 to 2015), +12% (2015 to 2019)

The Brethren Movement Worldwide xvii Table 2 Baptised believers Adult attenders No of f-t workers No of other workers 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 359,000 360,000³ 350,000 360,000 480,000² 600,000 260 400² 500 120 600² 1,050 1,050? 1,050? 1,050¹ 1,600 1,600? 1,600¹ 9? 9? 9¹ 4¹ 4¹ 4¹ 25,000 32,000 35,000 45,000 40,000 50,885 85 10 <10 35 15 0 56,400+ 56,400 81,646 280,300 307,000 339,050 1,391 2,044 2,069 40³ 40 56 37,000³ 38,500³ 40,000 52,000³ 54,000³ 70,000 232³ 337³ 358 105³ 273³ 342 12,750³ 13,000³ 13,250³ 22,400? 22,800? 23,200³ 1 1 1¹ 0¹ 6² 12 33,900³ 35,000¹ 2,000 63,000? 63,000? 63,000¹ 0¹ 0¹ 55 0¹ 8² 17 9,351³ 9,351 9,351 12,851²? 12,851 12,851 9 9 9 4¹ 4¹ 9 820³ 820¹ 820¹ 1,300 1,300 1,300¹ 6? 6? 6¹ 2¹ 2¹ 2¹ 1,500³ 3,500 3,500 2,370 5,000 6,000 18? 7 7 7³ 3 6 10,000 10,000¹ 31,525 8,000³ 8,000¹ 39,000 100 100¹ 297 10 10¹ 22 1,000 1,500² 2,000+ 2,000³ 2,250² 2,500 6 38² 70 6³ 30 64 3,000 3,500 4,000 4,500 5,500 6,000 60 80 120 25³ 25¹ 20 6,900³ 11,000² 15,000 26,900³ 26,900¹ 26,900¹ 10 10 10 4¹ 4¹ 7 0³ 0¹ 0¹ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ 3,000³ 3,000¹ 3,000¹ 5,000³ 5,000¹ 5,000¹ 12 40² 77 42 42 4 3,500³ 5,000 9,000 24,000? 15,000 25,000 300 700 500 400 250² 150 200 500 450 210? 220? 650 3 2 9 0¹ 0¹ 1 15,000³ 15,000 19,310 17,000²? 17,000 26,200 6 6 5 6 6 463 400²? 450 350 200 1,200 450 0? 0? 3 0¹ 0¹ 2 6,500³ 10,000 10,000 10,300³ 15,000 15,000 87 70² 55 6 7³ 7¹ 220 0³ 0¹ 350 0³ 0¹ 2 0³ 0¹ 5 0³ 0¹ 220 220 350 350 2 2 5 5 25,000³ 25,000¹ 25,000¹ 39,000 39,000? 39,000¹ 104³ 104¹ 104¹ 40³ 40¹ 40¹ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ 0 0¹ 0¹ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ 0³ 0¹ 0¹ 670³ 1,200 2,610 1,300³ 2,000 3,000 36 63² 89 18 25 89 58,000³ 58,000¹ 65,000³ 101,500³ 101,500¹ 105,000³ 123 123 200 1,000² 1,000¹ 1,100 3,500³ 3,500¹ 3,500¹ 5,500 5,300³ 5,300¹ 29³ 29¹ 29¹ 11³ 11¹ 11¹ 673,661 697,491 727,582 1,086,581 1,231,771 1,467,236 2,889 4,190 4,594 1,843 2,410 3,483 % growth in baptised believers: +3.5% (2011 to 2015), +4.3% (2015 to 2019) % growth in adult attenders: +13% (2011 to 2015), +19% (2015 to 2019)

xviii The Brethren Movement Worldwide The Brethren Movement North America Table 3 North American countries (AmN) Pop in millions No of congregations Extra preaching points Baptised believers Adult attenders No of f-t workers No of other workers 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 Anguilla 0.01 0.01 0.01 1 1 1 1 1 0 30 30 65 35 35 45 0 0 1 0 0 0 Antigua 0.09 0.08 0.10 5? 5 5 1 1 2 130 200 136 250? 300 185 2 1 0 1? 0 0 The Bahamas 0.35 0.38 0.40 34 33 32 0 0 0 1,600? 1,500² 1,400³ 1,800? 1,800? 1,700³ 31 30 30 6? 7 7 Barbados 0.26 0.28 0.29 40 39 33 8 3 3 500² 500² 352 1,000² 440² 346 1 1 1 3 1 1 Belize 0.31 0.36 0.38 6? 7 7¹ 1²? 2 2¹ 270? 300 300¹ 310 350 350¹ 2? 1 1¹ 1? 1 1¹ Bermuda 0.06 0.07 0.07 7²? 6 7 1 1 1 406²? 406 390 540? 540? 400³ 2 3 4 10 10 4 Canada 34.02 35.68 37.13 482 482 531 0 0? 0 22,500? 22,500? 22,500¹ 25,000? 25,000? 25,000¹? 150²? 217 425 24? 24? 24¹ Costa Rica 4.64 4.89 4.95 8²? 6 6¹ 1²? 2 2 250²? 90 90¹ 580 150 120³ 3? 0 0¹ 1? 0 0¹ Cuba 11.20 11.20 11.49 29 29 29¹ 12 12 12¹ 875 875 875¹ 950 950 950¹ 17 17 17¹ 3? 3? 3¹ Dominca 0.07 0.07 0.07 5³ 5³ 5 0 0 0 250³ 240³ 240³ 280³ 280³ 270³ 0 0 0 0 0 0 Dominican Republic 10.23 10.42 10.88 275 200³ 126 12? 12? 12¹ 9,900? 7,000² 3,750 11,380 7,800² 4,300³ 65? 40² 25³ 17? 12² 7³ El Salvador 6.19 6.36 6.41 41 41? 41¹ 2? 2? 2¹ 1,300? 1,300? 1,300¹ 1,500 1,500? 1,500¹ 11? 11? 11¹ 3? 3? 3¹ Greenland 0.06 0.06 0.06 1 1 1 1 1 1 30²? 30 60 45²? 45 80 1 1 2 0 0 0 Grenada 0.10 0.11 0.11 8 8 8¹ 1? 1? 1¹ 250 250 250¹ 300 350 350¹ 0 1 1¹ 0 4 4¹ Guatemala 14.38 15.47 17.50 2,050 2,050? 2,050¹ 110? 110? 110¹ 75,000? 75,000? 75,000¹ 82,000 82,000? 82,000¹ 600? 600? 600¹ 160? 160? 160¹ Haiti 10.14 10.71 11.20 40? 44? 50? 0 0 0 2,000³ 2,200³ 2,400³ 2,500³ 2,600³ 2,700³ 10? 10? 12? 0 0 0 Honduras 7.62 8.39 9.53 1,125 1,125? 1,125¹ 60? 60? 60¹ 92,000? 92,000? 92,000¹ 99,700 99,700? 99,700¹ 325? 325? 325¹ 90? 90? 90¹ Jamaica 2.50 2.93 2.90 84²? 84 87 3 6 2 6,900? 6,400 6,700 10,400? 10,400? 10,400¹ 30 80 64 10 22 0 Mexico 110.65 123.80 130.70 225 250 215 40 50 80 2,750 3,500 3,500 3,000 3,000 3,000 90 50 50 30 50 50 Puerto Rico 4.00 3.71 3.66 9? 9? 7 1? 1? 0 270? 180² 95 310 220² 126 3? 3? 4 1? 1? 0 St Kitts & Nevis 0.05 0.06 0.06 12? 11 11¹ 1? 1? 0³ 305²? 300 300¹ 344 344? 344¹ 4? 4? 4¹ 1? 1? 1¹ St Lucia 0.17 0.17 0.18 7²? 7 7 0 0? 0 90? 90? 100³ 300? 300? 310³ 2 2 2 0 0? 0 St Vincent & the Grenadines 0.11 0.11 0.11 13 14 14 3 3 3 600²? 600 630 700²? 700 750 1 3 3 2 2 0 Trinidad and Tobago 1.34 1.34 1.37 32 32 32 6 10 10 1,150 650 650 1,300 1,300? 1,300¹ 4 6 6 4 6 6 United States 317.64 320.48 326.70 780 836 836 47? 47? 47¹ 44,000 44,000? 42,000³ 58,000 58,000? 55,000³ 353 50 50 99 70 70 TOTAL North America 546.33 567.85 587.46 5,319 5,325 5,266 312 326 380 263,356 260,141 255,083 302,524 298,104 291,226 1,707 1,456 1,636 466 467 461 ¹ Previous figure repeated ² Figure revised from that previously published ³ Estimated Average preaching points per congregation: 0.06 (2011), 0.06 (2015), 0.06 (2019) Average adult attenders per congregation + preaching points: 54 (2011), 53 (2015), 45 (2019) Baptised believers as percentage of adult attenders: 87% (2011), 87% (2015), 88% (2019) Number of full-time workers per congregation and preaching points: 0.30 (2011), 0.26 (2015), 0.29 (2019) Number of other workers per full-time worker: 0.27 (2011), 0.32 (2015), 0.26 (2019) % growth in congregations and preaching points:+0% (2011 to 2015), -1% (2015 to 2019) % growth in baptised believers:-2% (2011 to 2015), -2% (2015 to 2019) % growth in adult attenders:-1% (2011 to 2015), -2% (2015 to 2019)

The Brethren Movement Worldwide xix Table 3 Baptised believers Adult attenders No of f-t workers No of other workers 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 30 30 65 35 35 45 0 0 1 0 0 0 130 200 136 250? 300 185 2 1 0 1? 0 0 1,600? 1,500² 1,400³ 1,800? 1,800? 1,700³ 31 30 30 6? 7 7 500² 500² 352 1,000² 440² 346 1 1 1 3 1 1 270? 300 300¹ 310 350 350¹ 2? 1 1¹ 1? 1 1¹ 406²? 406 390 540? 540? 400³ 2 3 4 10 10 4 22,500? 22,500? 22,500¹ 25,000? 25,000? 25,000¹? 150²? 217 425 24? 24? 24¹ 250²? 90 90¹ 580 150 120³ 3? 0 0¹ 1? 0 0¹ 875 875 875¹ 950 950 950¹ 17 17 17¹ 3? 3? 3¹ 250³ 240³ 240³ 280³ 280³ 270³ 0 0 0 0 0 0 9,900? 7,000² 3,750 11,380 7,800² 4,300³ 65? 40² 25³ 17? 12² 7³ 1,300? 1,300? 1,300¹ 1,500 1,500? 1,500¹ 11? 11? 11¹ 3? 3? 3¹ 30²? 30 60 45²? 45 80 1 1 2 0 0 0 250 250 250¹ 300 350 350¹ 0 1 1¹ 0 4 4¹ 75,000? 75,000? 75,000¹ 82,000 82,000? 82,000¹ 600? 600? 600¹ 160? 160? 160¹ 2,000³ 2,200³ 2,400³ 2,500³ 2,600³ 2,700³ 10? 10? 12? 0 0 0 92,000? 92,000? 92,000¹ 99,700 99,700? 99,700¹ 325? 325? 325¹ 90? 90? 90¹ 6,900? 6,400 6,700 10,400? 10,400? 10,400¹ 30 80 64 10 22 0 2,750 3,500 3,500 3,000 3,000 3,000 90 50 50 30 50 50 270? 180² 95 310 220² 126 3? 3? 4 1? 1? 0 305²? 300 300¹ 344 344? 344¹ 4? 4? 4¹ 1? 1? 1¹ 90? 90? 100³ 300? 300? 310³ 2 2 2 0 0? 0 600²? 600 630 700²? 700 750 1 3 3 2 2 0 1,150 650 650 1,300 1,300? 1,300¹ 4 6 6 4 6 6 44,000 44,000? 42,000³ 58,000 58,000? 55,000³ 353 50 50 99 70 70 263,356 260,141 255,083 302,524 298,104 291,226 1,707 1,456 1,636 466 467 461

xx The Brethren Movement Worldwide The Brethren Movement South America Table 4 North American countries (AmS) Pop in millions No of congregations Extra preaching points Baptised believers Adult attenders No of f-t workers No of other workers 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 Argentina 40.67 42.11 44.69 1,300 1,325 1,000+ 450 360 360+ 67,000 69,000 70,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 97 92 85 83 82 59+ Bolivia 9.50 10.39 11.22 212³ 520 550 0 20 20 8,700? 8,600 11,200 16,200? 10,500 16,500 30 35 38 6 9 13 Brazil 190.73 202.03 210.00 580³ 700 750 0 0 0 57,000? 57,000? 57,000¹ 114,000? 114,000? 114,000¹ 350¹ 280² 215 170¹ 170¹ 170¹ Chile 17.13 17.62 18.20 145 51 51 8? 40 40 5,000² 1,700 1,700 7,500² 2,600 2,600 36? 16 16 17¹ 17¹ 17¹ Colombia 46.30 48.51 49.46 79 79 216 42 42 40 4,050 4,050 15,120 4,300? 4,050 11,000 32 32 28 16³ 16¹ 16¹ Ecuador 13.77 15.74 16.86 30 29² 28 2³ 2¹ 9 1,330³ 1,330¹ 1,200 1,844 1,820² 1,800 9¹ 9¹ 8 4³ 4¹ 4¹ French Guiana 0.23 0.25 0.30 22 23² 24 0? 0? 6 450³ 450¹ 450¹ 627 627? 627¹ 5¹ 5¹ 24 2? 2? 10 Guyana 0.76 0.75 0.78 30 30+ 63 0 0? 0 1,700³ 1,700¹ 3,400³ 2,200? 2,200? 4,000³ 10 10 10¹ 13 13 13¹ Paraguay 6.46 6.80 6.90 109³ 105 105 110 100 100 3,300? 4,000 4,000 5,500? 6,000 6,000 60 60 60 120 120 120 Peru 29.50 30.20 32.63 230 230 230 0 0 0 5,500 8,000 8,000 6,000? 12,000 12,000 20 20 25 10¹ 10¹ 35³ Suriname 0.52 0.54 0.59 4³ 4³ 4 2³ 2³ 2 165³ 170³ 177 224³ 225³ 227 0³ 0³ 0 0³ 0³ 0 Uruguay 3.37 3.41 3.47 32 32 32 10 10 10 1,200 1,200 1,300 2,000 2,000 2,500 20 23 28 7 7¹ 4 Venezuela 29.04 30.41 32.67 72 72? 72¹ 7¹ 7¹ 7¹ 5,530³ 5,530¹ 5,530¹ 7,680 7,680¹ 7,680¹ 28? 28? 28¹ 14¹ 14¹ 14¹ TOTAL South America 387.98 408.76 427.77 2,845 3,200 3,125 633 585 596 160,925 162,730 181,096 268,075 263,702 280,953 697 610 565 462 464 475 ¹ Previous figure repeated ² Figure revised from that previously published ³ Estimated Average preaching points per congregation: 0.22 (2011), 0.18 (2015), 0.19 (2019) Average adult attenders per congregation + preaching points: 77 (2011), 63 (2015), 76 (2019) Baptised believers as percentage of adult attenders: 60% (2011), 62% (2015), 64% (2019) Number of full-time workers per congregation and preaching point: 0.20 (2011), 0.16 (2015), 0.15 (2019) Number of other workers per full-time worker: 0.66 (2011), 0.76 (2015), 0.84 (2019) % growth in congregations and preaching points: +9% (2011 to 2015), -2% (2015 to 2019) % growth in baptised believers: +1% (2011 to 2015), +11% (2015 to 2019) % growth in adult attenders: -2% (2011 to 2015), +19% (2015 to 2019)

The Brethren Movement Worldwide xxi Table 4 Baptised believers Adult attenders No of f-t workers No of other workers 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 67,000 69,000 70,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 97 92 85 83 82 59+ 8,700? 8,600 11,200 16,200? 10,500 16,500 30 35 38 6 9 13 57,000? 57,000? 57,000¹ 114,000? 114,000? 114,000¹ 350¹ 280² 215 170¹ 170¹ 170¹ 5,000² 1,700 1,700 7,500² 2,600 2,600 36? 16 16 17¹ 17¹ 17¹ 4,050 4,050 15,120 4,300? 4,050 11,000 32 32 28 16³ 16¹ 16¹ 1,330³ 1,330¹ 1,200 1,844 1,820² 1,800 9¹ 9¹ 8 4³ 4¹ 4¹ 450³ 450¹ 450¹ 627 627? 627¹ 5¹ 5¹ 24 2? 2? 10 1,700³ 1,700¹ 3,400³ 2,200? 2,200? 4,000³ 10 10 10¹ 13 13 13¹ 3,300? 4,000 4,000 5,500? 6,000 6,000 60 60 60 120 120 120 5,500 8,000 8,000 6,000? 12,000 12,000 20 20 25 10¹ 10¹ 35³ 165³ 170³ 177 224³ 225³ 227 0³ 0³ 0 0³ 0³ 0 1,200 1,200 1,300 2,000 2,000 2,500 20 23 28 7 7¹ 4 5,530³ 5,530¹ 5,530¹ 7,680 7,680¹ 7,680¹ 28? 28? 28¹ 14¹ 14¹ 14¹ 160,925 162,730 181,096 268,075 263,702 280,953 697 610 565 462 464 475

xxii The Brethren Movement Worldwide The Brethren Movement Asia Table 5 Asian (As) Pop in millions No of congregations Extra preaching points Baptised believers Adult attenders No of f-t workers No of other workers 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 Bahrain 0.81 1.33 1.64 1? 1? 1¹ 0? 0? 0¹ 145? 145? 145¹ 150 150? 150¹ 1? 1? 1¹ 0? 0? 0¹ Bangladesh 150.45² 158.51 161.00 1? 1? 1¹ 0? 0? 0¹ 55? 55? 55¹ 60 60? 60¹ 1? 1? 1¹ 0? 0? 0¹ Bhutan 0.70 0.77 0.80 3³ 3³ 3 3³ 3³ 3 18³ 20³ 22 20³ 25³ 29 27³ 30³ 35 0³ 0³ 1 China 1,330.58 1,393.78 1,401.30 10? 10? 10¹ 0? 0? 0¹ 380? 380? 400³ 400 400? 425³ 6? 6? 6¹ 1? 1? 1¹ China (Hong Kong) 7.07 7.19 7.40 20 30 30 0 6² 12 760? 760? 760¹ 780? 1,500? 1,500¹ 6? 14 7 1? 12 14 Cyprus 0.88 1.13 1.19 1? 1? 1¹ 0? 0? 0¹ 32? 32? 32¹ 35 35? 35¹ 1? 1? 1¹ 0? 0? 0¹ India 1,214.46 1,267.40 1,300.00 2,230³ 2,450 4,200 2,000² 4,000 6,000+ 140,000? 145,000 200,000 125,000³ 155,000 285,000 1,354 2,500 >2,500 250 300² 350 India: Andaman & Nicobar Is 0.36 0.38 0.42 5 10 10 8 12 8 180 196 405 320 415 520 7 8 8 4 7 5 Iran 77.45 79.11 82.13 1 1 1 0 0 0 25³ 27³ 30 20³ 22³ 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 Israel 7.29 8.30 8.97 6 6 7 2 2 7 265 265 325 500 500 600 4 4 6 0 0 0 Japan 127.73² 127.00 126.09 145 145 145 6? 6? 6¹ 4,800 4,800 4,800 6,400 6,400 6,400 49 49 49 19? 19? 19¹ Jordan 6.47 9.53 10.02 16? 10² 2 8 8 0 700 400² 50 550 400² 240 7 4² 1 4 4 0 Kazakhstan 15.75 16.66 18.40 1 1 1¹ 0 0 0¹ 12 12 12¹ 25 25 25¹ 0 0 0¹ 0 0 0¹ Korea (South) 48.50 50.22 51.22 200 220² 230 4? 4? 0³ 10,000? 10,500³ 11,500 10,500 12,000³ 13,800 100? 100? 150 20? 20? 20 Kuwait 3.05 3.37 4.24 2? 2? 2¹ 0? 0? 0¹ 80? 80? 80¹ 100 100? 100¹ 0? 0? 0¹ 0? 0? 0¹ Laos 6.44 6.89 6.97 174 174? 174¹ 4? 4? 4¹ 7,000? 7,000? 7,000¹ 7,500 7,500? 7,500¹ 104? 104? 104¹ 21? 21? 21¹ Lebanon 4.25 4.47 5.85 3? 3? 3¹ 0? 0? 0¹ 220? 220? 220¹ 230 230? 230¹ 3? 3? 3¹ 1? 1? 1¹ Malaysia 27.91 30.65 32.40 168 168 170 5 6 7 12,000 16,500 14.000 16,000 13,000 23,900 55 47 61 12? 16 4 Mongolia 2.70 2.84 2.99 4 6 6¹ 4 2 2¹ 100 135 135¹ 140 150 150¹ 3 6 6¹ 2 3 3¹ Myanmar 50.50 53.90 54.50 70 107 115 20 40 55 4,300 4,550 6,450 2,900 5,100 6,550 110 186 250 70 100 140 Nepal 26.49 28.51 29.72 103³ 112³ 115 14³ 20³ 25 580³ 630³ 650 670³ 750³ 800 8³ 8³ 9 15³ 17³ 18 Pakistan 184.75 188.92 202.81 100 108 137 200 320 456 10,000³ 15,000 22,000 14,000³ 25,000 28,000 80 95 124 20 20 32 Philippines 93.62 100.10 106.51 215 250 250 65 70 70 13,000 15,000 15,000 13,000? 15,000³ 15,000³ 95 100 120 25 37 37 Qatar 1.51 2.05 2.42 3? 3? 3¹ 0? 0? 0¹ 37? 37? 37¹ 38 38? 38¹ 3? 3? 3¹ 1? 1? 1¹ Singapore 5.08 5.47 5.64 30 30 20 0 0 0 8,500 8,124 8,124 10,000 9,026 11,346 95 80 175 0? 0? 0¹ Sri Lanka 20.41 20.72 21.08 8 9 9¹ 23 26 26¹ 831 900 900¹ 1,200 1,200 1,200¹ 1? 9 9¹ 0? 8 8¹ Taiwan 23.16 23.58 24.43 15 15 13 15? 15 13 1,100 1,155 1,190 1,200 1,260 1,290 8 8 11 0 0 1 Thailand 68.14 68.23 68.86 11 11+ 11+ 3 3 3 400 400 600 440? 540³ 640 23 23 20 0? 0? 4 Turkey 75.71 77.70 82.25 8 8 7 10 10 1 175 225 240 200? 200? 250³ 50 32 16 7 2 0 United Arab Emirates 8.26 9.16 9.60 20 20 19 0 0? 0¹ 5,000 5,000 5,000¹ 5,000? 5,000? 5,000¹ 8? 8? 8¹ 2? 2? 2¹ TOTAL Asia 3,590.50 3,747.90 3,830.90 3,574 3,915 5,696 2,394 4,557 6,698 220,695 237,548 286,176 217,338 257,529 410,803 2,209 3,430 3,684 475 591 682 ¹ Previous figure repeated ² Figure revised from that previously published ³ Estimated The huge jump in the number of extra preaching points, believers and attenders between 2015 and 2019 is due to India’s statement of increases from 2015. Average extra preaching points per congregation: 0.67 (2011), 1.16(2015), 1.18 (2019) Average adult attenders per congregation + preaching points: 36 (2011), 30 (2015), 33 (2019) Baptised believers as percentage of adult attenders: 102% (2011), 92% (2015), 70% (2019) Number of full-time workers per congregation and preaching point: 0.37 (2011), 0.40 (2015), 0.30 (2019)

The Brethren Movement Worldwide xxiii Table 5 Baptised believers Adult attenders No of f-t workers No of other workers 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 145? 145? 145¹ 150 150? 150¹ 1? 1? 1¹ 0? 0? 0¹ 55? 55? 55¹ 60 60? 60¹ 1? 1? 1¹ 0? 0? 0¹ 18³ 20³ 22 20³ 25³ 29 27³ 30³ 35 0³ 0³ 1 380? 380? 400³ 400 400? 425³ 6? 6? 6¹ 1? 1? 1¹ 760? 760? 760¹ 780? 1,500? 1,500¹ 6? 14 7 1? 12 14 32? 32? 32¹ 35 35? 35¹ 1? 1? 1¹ 0? 0? 0¹ 140,000? 145,000 200,000 125,000³ 155,000 285,000 1,354 2,500 >2,500 250 300² 350 180 196 405 320 415 520 7 8 8 4 7 5 25³ 27³ 30 20³ 22³ 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 265 265 325 500 500 600 4 4 6 0 0 0 4,800 4,800 4,800 6,400 6,400 6,400 49 49 49 19? 19? 19¹ 700 400² 50 550 400² 240 7 4² 1 4 4 0 12 12 12¹ 25 25 25¹ 0 0 0¹ 0 0 0¹ 10,000? 10,500³ 11,500 10,500 12,000³ 13,800 100? 100? 150 20? 20? 20 80? 80? 80¹ 100 100? 100¹ 0? 0? 0¹ 0? 0? 0¹ 7,000? 7,000? 7,000¹ 7,500 7,500? 7,500¹ 104? 104? 104¹ 21? 21? 21¹ 220? 220? 220¹ 230 230? 230¹ 3? 3? 3¹ 1? 1? 1¹ 12,000 16,500 14.000 16,000 13,000 23,900 55 47 61 12? 16 4 100 135 135¹ 140 150 150¹ 3 6 6¹ 2 3 3¹ 4,300 4,550 6,450 2,900 5,100 6,550 110 186 250 70 100 140 580³ 630³ 650 670³ 750³ 800 8³ 8³ 9 15³ 17³ 18 10,000³ 15,000 22,000 14,000³ 25,000 28,000 80 95 124 20 20 32 13,000 15,000 15,000 13,000? 15,000³ 15,000³ 95 100 120 25 37 37 37? 37? 37¹ 38 38? 38¹ 3? 3? 3¹ 1? 1? 1¹ 8,500 8,124 8,124 10,000 9,026 11,346 95 80 175 0? 0? 0¹ 831 900 900¹ 1,200 1,200 1,200¹ 1? 9 9¹ 0? 8 8¹ 1,100 1,155 1,190 1,200 1,260 1,290 8 8 11 0 0 1 400 400 600 440? 540³ 640 23 23 20 0? 0? 4 175 225 240 200? 200? 250³ 50 32 16 7 2 0 5,000 5,000 5,000¹ 5,000? 5,000? 5,000¹ 8? 8? 8¹ 2? 2? 2¹ 220,695 237,548 286,176 217,338 257,529 410,803 2,209 3,430 3,684 475 591 682 Number of other workers per full-time worker: 0.22 (2011), 0.17 (2015), 0.19 (2019) % growth in congregations and preaching points: +42% (2011 to 2015), +46% (2015 to 2019) % growth in baptised believers: +8% (2011 to 2015), +20% (2015 to 2019) % growth in adult attenders:+18% (2011 to 2015), +60% (2015 to 2019)

xxiv The Brethren Movement Worldwide The Brethren Movement Oceania Table 6 Oceania (O) Pop in millions No of congregations Extra preaching points Baptised believers Adult attenders No of f-t workers No of other workers 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 Australia 22.52 23.77 25.00 280? 260 230 0 0 0 11,000³ 7,000 7,900 12,000³ 10,000 11,300 60 49 150 0² 0² 0 Fiji 0.84 0.89 0.91 24 24 24¹ 6 6 6¹ 1,000³ 1,000³ 1,000¹ 1,200³ 1,200³ 1,200¹ 24 24³ 24¹ 4 10 10¹ Nauru 0.01 0.01 0.01 1 1 1¹ 0 0¹ 0¹ 26¹ 26¹ 26¹ 18³ 31³ 31¹ 0 0 0 0 0 0 New Caledonia 0.24 0.26 0.28 4 4 4¹ 10 10 10¹ 200³ 200¹ 200¹ 240³ 240¹ 240¹ 2 2¹ 2¹ 6³ 6¹ 6¹ New Zealand 4.18 4.60 4.80 200³ 198 180 0 0¹ 0¹ 12,800³ 18,642 18,000 12,800³ 12,800¹ 12,800¹ 37 60 100 9 9 30 Papua New Guinea 6.30 7.32 8.45 460³ 460 460 0 0¹ 0¹ 12,000³ 12,000 12,500 20,000³ 20,000 16,000 100 100 >100 10+ 10+ 16³ Samoa 0.18 0.19 0.20 7 7¹ 7¹ 0 0 0 285³ 285¹ 285¹ 340 340¹ 340¹ 1³ 1¹ 1¹ 0 0 0 Tonga 0.10 0.12 0.11 4 4 4 5 5 2 90 90 120 243 243 160 2 2 1 2 2 2 Tuvalu 0.10 0.11 0.12 2³ 2¹ 2 3³ 3¹ 3 70³ 70¹ 70 80³ 80¹ 80 3³ 3¹ 3 6³ 6¹ 6 TOTAL Oceania 34.47 37.27 39.88 982 960 912 24 24 21 37,471 39,313 40,101 46,921 44,934 42,151 229 241 381 37 43 70 ¹ Previous figure repeated ² Figure revised from that previously published ³ Estimated Average preaching points per congregation: 0.02 (2011), 0.02 (2015), 0.02 (2019) Average adult attenders per congregation +preaching points: 47 (2011), 46 (2015), 45 (2019) Baptised believers as percentage of adult attenders: 80% (2011), 87% (2015), 95% (2019) Number of full-time workers per congregation and preaching point: 0.23 (2011), 0.24 (2015), 0.41 (2019) Number of other workers per full-time worker: 0.16 (2011), 0.18 (2015), 0.18 (2019) % growth in congregations and preaching points:-2% (2011 to 2015), -5% (2-15 to 2019) % growth in baptised believers:+5% (2011 to 2015), +2% (2015 to 2019) % growth in adult attenders: -4% (2011 to 2015), -6% (2015 to 2019)

The Brethren Movement Worldwide xxv Table 6 Baptised believers Adult attenders No of f-t workers No of other workers 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 2011 2015 2019 11,000³ 7,000 7,900 12,000³ 10,000 11,300 60 49 150 0² 0² 0 1,000³ 1,000³ 1,000¹ 1,200³ 1,200³ 1,200¹ 24 24³ 24¹ 4 10 10¹ 26¹ 26¹ 26¹ 18³ 31³ 31¹ 0 0 0 0 0 0 200³ 200¹ 200¹ 240³ 240¹ 240¹ 2 2¹ 2¹ 6³ 6¹ 6¹ 12,800³ 18,642 18,000 12,800³ 12,800¹ 12,800¹ 37 60 100 9 9 30 12,000³ 12,000 12,500 20,000³ 20,000 16,000 100 100 >100 10+ 10+ 16³ 285³ 285¹ 285¹ 340 340¹ 340¹ 1³ 1¹ 1¹ 0 0 0 90 90 120 243 243 160 2 2 1 2 2 2 70³ 70¹ 70 80³ 80¹ 80 3³ 3¹ 3 6³ 6¹ 6 37,471 39,313 40,101 46,921 44,934 42,151 229 241 381 37 43 70

xxvi The Brethren Movement Worldwide The Brethren Movement Worldwide by Continent Table 7 Continent Number of countries Population in millions Number of congregations Extra preaching points 2005 2011 2015 2019 2005 2011 2015 2019 2005 2011 2015 2019 2005 2011 2015 2019 Europe 30 30 30 32 666.87 672.85 701.39 700.84 3,562 3,421 3,398 2,950 444 404 347 627 Africa 25 27 28 30 557.07 679.60 739.44 858.50 6,211 7,797 8,329 8,384 2,646 3,226 4,425 5,942 North America 22 22 23 24 484.86 546.33 567.85 587.46 4,987 5,319 5,325 5,266 311 312 326 350 South America 12 12 12 13 365.64 387.98 408.76 427.77 2,216 2,854 3,200 3,125 442 663 585 596 Asia 24 27 27 30 3,245.44 3,590.50 3,747.90 3,830.90 3,191 3,574 3,915 5,696 302 2,394 4,557 6,698 Oceania 8 8 8 9 30.10 34.47 37.27 39.88 947 982 960 912 17 24 24 21 World TOTAL 121 126 128 138 5,349.98 5,911.73 6,202.61 6,445.35 21,114 23,947 25,127 26,333 4,162 7,023 10,264 14,234 NB 2005 figures have not been updated with figures for the additional countries added since 2015 Continent Baptised believers Adult attenders Adult attenders Number of full-time workers Number of other workers 2005 2011 2015 2019 2005 2011 2015 2019 2005 2011 2015 2019 2005 2011 2015 2019 Europe 159,604 166,303 172,646 140,337 205,994 203,527 198,049 178,221 2,016 1,336 794 704 285 323 321 224 Africa 432,664 673,661 697,491 727,582 764,511 1,086,581 1,231,771 1,467,236 2,272 2,889 4,190 4,594 809 1,843 2,410 3,483 North America 244,196 263,356 260,141 255,083 276,593 302,524 298,104 291,226 1,622 1,707 1,456 1,636 441 466 467 431 South America 126,660 160,925 162,730 181,096 252,294 268,075 263,702 280,953 648 697 610 565 428 462 464 475 Asia 190,340 220,695 237,548 286,176 157,680 217,338 257,529 410,803 2,127 2,209 3,430 3,684 443 475 591 682 Oceania 38,804 37,471 39,313 40,101 45,868 46,921 44,934 42,151 201 229 241 381 41 37 43 70 World TOTAL 1,192,268 1,522,411 1,569,869 1,630,375 1,702,940 2,124,966 2,294,089 2,670,590 8,886 9,067 10,721 11,564 2,447 3,606 4,296 5,365 Continent Preaching points per congregation Average adult congregation Believers as percentage of attenders 2005 2011 2015 2019 2005 2011 2015 2019 2005 2011 2015 2019 Europe 0.12 0.14 0.12 0.16 51 53 53 50 77 82 87 79 Africa 0.42 0.41 0.53 0.71 86 99 96 102 56 62 57 50 North America 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.06 52 54 53 45 88 87 87 88 South America 0.20 0.22 0.18 0.19 95 77 63 76 50 60 62 64 Asia 0.09 0.67 1.16 1.18 45 36 30 33 121 102 92 70 Oceania 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 48 47 46 45 85 80 87 95 World Average 0.20 0.29 0.41 0.33 67 69 65 66 70% 72% 68% 61% Continent Full-time workers per congregation + preaching point Other workers per full-time worker Percentage growth in number of congregations + preaching points Percentage growth in number of baptised believers Percentage growth in number of adult attenders 2005 2011 2015 2019 2005 2011 2015 2019 2005-2011 2011-2015 2015-2019 2005-2011 2011- 2015 2015-2019 2005-2011 2011- 2015 2015-2019 Europe 0.50 0.35 0.21 0.20 0.14 0.24 0.40 0.32 -5 -2 -4 +4 +4 -12 -2 -10 -12 Africa 0.26 0.26 0.33 0.32 0.36 0.64 0.58 0.76 +21 +16 +12 +47 +4 +4 +35 +13 +19 North America 0.31 0.30 0.26 0.29 0.27 0.27 0.32 0.26 +5 0 -1 +7 -2 -2 +9 -10 -2 South America 0.24 0.20 0.16 0.15 0.66 0.66 0.76 0.84 +31 +9 -2 +29 +1 +11 +7 -2 +7 Asia 0.61 0.37 0.40 0.30 0.21 0.22 0.17 0.19 +10 +42 +46 +16 +8 +20 +37 +18 +60 Oceania 0.21 0.23 0.24 0.41 0.20 0.16 0.18 0.18 +4 -2 -5 -4 +5 +2 +2 -4 -6 World Average 0.35 0.29 0.30 0.28 0.28 0.40 0.40 0.46 +12 +14 +15 +28 +3 +4 +25 +8 +16 See next page for notes.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide xxvii Table 7 Number of congregations Extra preaching points 2005 2011 2015 2019 2005 2011 2015 2019 3,562 3,421 3,398 2,950 444 404 347 627 6,211 7,797 8,329 8,384 2,646 3,226 4,425 5,942 4,987 5,319 5,325 5,266 311 312 326 350 2,216 2,854 3,200 3,125 442 663 585 596 3,191 3,574 3,915 5,696 302 2,394 4,557 6,698 947 982 960 912 17 24 24 21 21,114 23,947 25,127 26,333 4,162 7,023 10,264 14,234 Adult attenders Number of full-time workers Number of other workers 2015 2019 2005 2011 2015 2019 2005 2011 2015 2019 198,049 178,221 2,016 1,336 794 704 285 323 321 224 1,231,771 1,467,236 2,272 2,889 4,190 4,594 809 1,843 2,410 3,483 298,104 291,226 1,622 1,707 1,456 1,636 441 466 467 431 263,702 280,953 648 697 610 565 428 462 464 475 257,529 410,803 2,127 2,209 3,430 3,684 443 475 591 682 44,934 42,151 201 229 241 381 41 37 43 70 2,294,089 2,670,590 8,886 9,067 10,721 11,564 2,447 3,606 4,296 5,365 Average adult congregation Believers as percentage of attenders 2005 2011 2015 2019 2005 2011 2015 2019 51 53 53 50 77 82 87 79 86 99 96 102 56 62 57 50 52 54 53 45 88 87 87 88 95 77 63 76 50 60 62 64 45 36 30 33 121 102 92 70 48 47 46 45 85 80 87 95 67 69 65 66 70% 72% 68% 61% Percentage growth in number of congregations + preaching points Percentage growth in number of baptised believers Percentage growth in number of adult attenders 2005-2011 2011-2015 2015-2019 2005-2011 2011- 2015 2015-2019 2005-2011 2011- 2015 2015-2019 -5 -2 -4 +4 +4 -12 -2 -10 -12 +21 +16 +12 +47 +4 +4 +35 +13 +19 +5 0 -1 +7 -2 -2 +9 -10 -2 +31 +9 -2 +29 +1 +11 +7 -2 +7 +10 +42 +46 +16 +8 +20 +37 +18 +60 +4 -2 -5 -4 +5 +2 +2 -4 -6 +12 +14 +15 +28 +3 +4 +25 +8 +16

xxviii The Brethren Movement Worldwide The Brethren Movement Worldwide by Continent Table 8 continued Notes on Tables by Continent There are two countries whose returns have caused major difficulties with earlier figures. One of these is Germany whose previous returns included estimates for the Exclusive Brethren but which in 2019 did not. Previous figures omitting the Exclusive Brethren are not available. Consequently many of the European ratios have been calculated excluding Germany, but not in the overall global totals. The other country is India where the number of congregations has increased very considerably between 2015 and 2019 (from 2,450 to 4,200), and the number of preaching points (from 4,000 to 6,000) causing the number of adult attenders to jump from 155,000 to 285,000. Such large changes cause the interpreta- tion of the overall numbers to be more challenging. New figures have been inserted whenever possible. Not all countries provided new figures; some seemed to repeat earlier figures. If the 2011 figure was an estimate and the 2015 fig- ure was firm the estimate for 2011 would sometimes be modified to fit in with the new figure. If no figure was given the 2011 figure was repeated but with a footnote ¹ to indicate it was repeated. Figures which were estimated are given a footnote ³. A revision to the 2015 figure (and occasionally 2011 figure) is indicated by the footnote ². It is assumed that normally the figures will go in some kind of sequence between 2011, 2015 and 2019, either increasing or decreasing; where estimated data conflicts with such, it is revised. Population figures for 2019, and sometimes earlier years, when necessary are taken from the web via Google.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 1 ALBANIA Population 2,935,000 Major religions Islam 57% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 10% / Christianity (Orthodox) 7% / Others 8% Brethren work began in 1991 Number of congregations 13 Number of additional preaching points 10 Number of baptised believers 561 Total number of adult attendees 746 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 13 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 1 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 1 CHURCH LINKS Fondacioni Bashkimi i Vellezerve te Krsihtere Ungjillore te Shqiperise. BIBLE SCHOOL IBEI-Shkodër Level of study: Diploma. Length of course: 4 years INTERESTING FEATURES Four separate prison outreaches in Tirana (women), Elbasan, Peqin and Lezhe (men), with 20 baptised believers in Peqin. Nursery for 50 children in Shkoder. Christian radio station based in Tirana. ( Radio Alfa and Omega ) and in Pogradec ( Radio Logos ). Orphanage and refuge house for pregnant teenage girls, in Gjirokaster. Campsite near Tirana with day camps, summer camps and activities with children.

2 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Bible exposition in a number of towns in Albania. Emmaus Bible Correspondence courses. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The Brethren Church started through missionaries coming from Italy, England and Northern Ireland in 1991. It started in the beginning in the capital city, Tirana, in homes. Thereafter, through evangelism, groups started in Shkoder, Lac and Vlore. Other missionaries arrived from Mexico and USA and further expanded the work in central Albania, and in the south-east in Elbasan, Pogradec, and Librazhd. In 1999 the Tirana Radio Station was established, and it still broadcasts the Gospel across the airwaves. In the second decade of the new millennium, a branch of the IBEI was founded in Shkoder. PRAISE GOD FOR • Freedom to preach the Gospel. • Good and faithful teachers from the word of God. • God’s faithfulness in supporting the ministries. PRAY FOR • The unity of the Brethren churches in Albania. • Evangelism of the young generation, prison and radio ministry. • Faithful leaders and great teachers of the Word of God. • Continual support of foreign believers for different activities with the youth, orphans, prison, radio, etc. Lefter Roko: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 3 ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS (INDIA) Population 420,000 Major religions Hinduism 69.4% / Christianity 21.7% / Islam 8.5% / Others 0.4% Brethren work began in 1968 Number of congregations 10 Number of additional preaching points 8 Number of baptised believers 405 Total number of adult attendees 520 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 8 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 3 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 2 CHURCH LINKS Stewards Association in India Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 4 John Armstrong Road, Bangalore-560005, Karnataka, India. Role: Legally protects the properties of Brethren Assemblies in India and channels support to gospel workers. BIBLE SCHOOL Emmaus Correspondence School Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Garacharma Post, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, 744105. INTERESTING FEATURE The immediate and responsible work after the tsunami, done by our Assemblies out of spiritual and social concern is recognised by the society

4 The Brethren Movement Worldwide here. Relief work, counselling, camps, educational helps and evangelical activities all went well by God’s grace. A Brethren convention arranged in an auditorium last year gave us a strong identity as biblical believers in this area. HISTORICAL INFORMATION It is praiseworthy to note that Evangelist M. Joseph reached the Andaman Islands in the year 1968 as a pioneer worker of Brethren assemblies and in 1989 Evangelist M. K. Sunny reached Great Nicobar, which is 80 km away from Indonesia, as the pioneer worker to Nicobar Islands. Now the gospel work is growing, and praise God that the Lord honoured the sacrificial work of His servants. PRAISE GOD THAT • Gospel work is growing with new first generation believers. • Practical difficulties like conveyance to the mainland, medical facilities, communication facilities and living standards are improving. • Severe opposition from fanatic people is not much compared to the mainland. • Connectivity to the remote islands has improved greatly. PRAY FOR • The health issues suffered by many, due to the unstable climate. • Basic requirements for comfortable living, which are limited due to the high cost of living. • People who are passive to the gospel and need many prayers for their salvation. • Particular rules and conditions in these Islands, which are a stumbling block for gospel work here. • Public meetings like the Brethren Convention, Vacation Bible schools and Mission outreaches which take place every year. Mangadan Kuriakose Sunny: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 5 ANGOLA Population 25,789,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 49% / Christianity (Evangelical) 44% / Traditional religions (Animism and Syncretic) 6% / Others (Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism) 1% Brethren work began in 1884 Number of congregations 1,700 Number of additional preaching points 2,300 Number of baptised believers 350,000 Total number of adult attendees 600,000 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 500 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 700 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 350 AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES The Christian Education Theological and Evangelism and Missions Dept. of the General Secretariat (Works in connection with the local churches and also in other ministries such as women´s, youth and children´s ministries.) Email address: [email protected], or [email protected] Postal address: PO Box: 6494, Luanda, Angola. Website address: www.ieia-caopviana.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/secretariadogeraldaieia Nature of ministry: Teaching and evangelism in local assemblies. MISSION ACTIVITY – (NO FORMAL SERVICE AGENCY) Angolan missionaries at work : Currently, six local churches, and singular brethren are supporting one Angolan and his family, Ferreira Jorge Tchema, as a missionary in Malange Province.

6 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Two local churches are supporting sister Irene Cardoso, as a missionary in Cavungo-Alto Zambeze, in Moxico Province. One local church is supporting one missionary, Afonso Cassombi, in Xá- Muteba Municipality, Lunda-Norte Province. His work is mainly among the Umbangala people. The same church is also supporting one itinerant missionary, Elias Guerra, in Kamacupa and Munhango area. Local churches in one province, Moxico, are supporting a local missionary and his family (Dinis Calei). Local Churches and individual members are supporting Joaquim Domingos Ndaizo, a Community Development Project, Bible teaching and Evangelism at Camaxilu area in Lunda-Norte Province. Three local churches and some family members are supporting missions outside Angola, in São-Tomé and Pakistan. Email address: [email protected] or [email protected] Postal address: PO Box: 6494, Luanda, Angola. Website address: www.ieia-caopviana.com Nature of ministry: Missions and Teaching MMN, ECHOES OF SERVICE, ALF Some missionaries such as Brian Howden, Joel Griffin, Samuel Gindele, and the Palacios family are still helping the Angolan church, with the support of these agencies. As a country, taking into account the information given above, we are still growing and working with all effort to strengthen the existing structure to host such a body (Mission Service Agency) in the future. CHURCH LINKS General Secretariat of The Brethren Church in Angola

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 7 Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 6494, Luanda, Angola. Website: www.ieia-caopviana.com Roles: Koinonia among the local churches, liaison with the Government, promotion of common events such as Bible studies, missions, evangelisation, conferences, literature distribution, as well as advising and couselling the local churches on social projects and on issues such as health, education, literacy and poverty alleviation in the local assemblies as well as in the country. BIBLE SCHOOLS Emmaus Bible School Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 6494, Luanda, Angola. Website: www.ieia-caopviana.com Level of study: Biblical learning by extension. Length of course: 4 years. Bible Superior Institute of the Evangelical Alliance of Angola Email address: [email protected] or [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 523, Lubango. Website address: www.istel-aea.org Level of study: Degree/Diploma. Length of courses: 4-5 years. Modular Bible Courses and Basic School of Kassongo Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 6494, Luanda, Angola. Website: www.ieia-caopviana.com Level of study: Christian training of elders in elementary Bible teaching such as homiletics and hermeneutics. Length of course: 2 years.

8 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PUBLISHING HOUSES Department of Literature of the General Secretariat , supported by the Angola Literature Fund which is based in the UK and administered by missonaries based in UK. Emmaus has two places in Angola that produce literature: Luanda and Lunda Sul (both also supported by ALF). INTERESTING FEATURES The Brethren churches in Angola, in Bie Province, are now holding a Radio program, which is an important way to spread the gospel in Angola. Such an outreach is beneficial for other provinces of Angola. As for writers and publishers, even with the high cost of living in Angola, some brethren are writing and hoping to publish at their own expense or through sponsorship, books with a Christian message for both the nation and for the Church. For this purpose, we have two brothers, Alexandre Saul, who is finishing a book about the History of the Brethren Church in Angola, and brother Domingos Lourenço Aguinaldo, who also is finishing the second edition of the book The Problem of Domestic Violence; a Social and Ecclesiastic Challenge in Angola . Numerous Brethren churches in the country are now running primary and secondary schools as well some small clinics supported by, or as joint ventures with, the government. Apart from that, the Brethren Church in Angola also has two large organisations—two clinics—one in Moxico Province called Jesus Salva (Jesus Saves) in cooperation with doctors from Argentina; and one in Luanda ( Betesda in Caop Viana ) which needs also a rehabilitation facility. There is also a School Complex of I and II Ciclo in Camaxilo - Lunda-Norte called Ebenezer . Some of the sanitation projects in mission stations such as Camundambala Leprosy mission, with a school, and Biula, that also runs a small hospital, have been renewed. The Brethren Church in Angola has four members in the National Assembly (parliament). One of them, Americo Cuononoca, is a Head Speaker for the majority party (MPLA) in the parliament. The Brethren Church in Angola continues with its efforts in ecumenical contributions to the proposal for the new law of the Religion, Belief and Cult in Angola. It promotes massive evangelistic campaigns, to celebrate the independence and peace days within the Evangelical Alliance of Angola members.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 9 HISTORICAL INFORMATION The Evangelical Brethren Church in Angola started with the work of Frederick Stanley Arnot in July 1884. Stanley started his journey from Hamilton in Scotland following the steps of Dr. David Livingstone to Cape Town (South Africa), and Victoria Falls, (Zimbabwe). From there he joined a Portuguese trader called Silva Porto, with whom he arrived in Angola, and Stanley started a mission station in Kuanjulula, a small village 20km north of Kuito, capital of Bie Province, in the very centre of Angola. From there the work expanded in three different phases: (I) 1884–1975: missionary work to 16 mission stations; (II) 1975–1992: Expansion of the work to about 1500 churches; (III) 1992–present: official recognition of the church by the Angolan government in obedience to the law of the country, that requires all the churches in Angola to organise and register as denominations in order to conduct the work of the Lord as such. The Evangelical Brethren Church that was known in one area of Angola as Protestant and in another as part of the Evangelical Church, was registered with the Executive Decree number 14/92 of 10th of April as one group, which came to be known as IEIA-Evangelical Brethren Church in Angola. These churches continue to be members of the Brethren movement and are autonomous, with the major focus to spread the word of God in Angola by teaching and evangelisation. PRAISE GOD FOR • Peace and economic stability towards development. • The normalisation of the election process. The new President of Angola was elected in a democratic and peaceful election. • The continually increasing number of trained church leaders through the Emmaus courses, Modular Bible School, SOA and Theological Institute of the Evangelical Alliance of Angola (ISTEL). • The awareness of the Angolan Church of mission outreach. PRAY FOR • Strengthening the biblical basis of faith, what we call ‘BBR’—Back to the Brethren Roots—by training good Bible teachers.

10 The Brethren Movement Worldwide • The new wave of leaders to be protected from practices and tendencies of disunion in the Brethren church. • Strengthening of leadership training among youth and women’s ministry, as they are the majority of the Angolan population. • For the new law of the Freedom of Religion and Cult in Angola, as well as the new methodologies implemented by the government for the exercise of the work of God. • Support to send more missionaries to various fields. • Strategies to reach the urban areas and good leadership among elders/youth. • Holistic ministry to advocate social justice and better distribution of resources. • The policy of the new President to combat the corruption in the country. Isaac Buca (general secretary of the Brethren Church in Angola): [email protected] or [email protected] Alexandre Saúl: [email protected] José Neto: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 11 ANGUILLA BRITISH WEST INDIES Population 12,500 Major religions Christianity (Anglican) 29%, / Christianity (Methodist) 20% / Christianity (Other Protestant) 35% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 7% Brethren work began in 1964 Number of Brethren congregations 1 Number of baptised believers 65 Total number of adult attendees 45 The number of committed believers is increasing quickly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 1 CHURCH LINKS Caribbean Conference of Christian Brethren Assemblies . Contact details in Anguilla: Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 434, The Valley, Anguilla, BWI Al-2642. Facebook: Bethany G Hall Role: To improve communication among churches in the Caribbean. INTERESTING FEATURES The church is an active contributor to Child Evangelism Fellowship on the island. Believers attend weekly sessions in the primary school and Juvenile Residential Centre where they have the opportunity to pray and share God’s word with children and young people. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The work began sometime in the 60s with the late Pastor William Ashby who migrated from Barbados, then went to St. Kitts before moving to Anguilla. He died in 2012. Pastor Ashby received initial help from the Rogers on Anguilla and brother Huggins from St. Kitts/Nevis. For many

12 The Brethren Movement Worldwide years the work on the island operated in isolation. Sometimes brethren from Barbados and St. Kitts assisted with mission trips to preach the gospel and work with children. Up until 2013, the assembly struggled due to an ageing congregation, lack of resources, leadership and network with Christian Brethren Churches in the region. PRAISE GOD FOR • Plurality of leadership. • Labourers for the harvest. • Both numerical and spiritual growth among the saints. • The bond of love, unity and encouragement existing among the saints. • The opportunity to have services broadcast live via radio and online media. PRAY FOR • Financing for the future expansion of the work on the island, i.e. rebuilding of the hall and accommodation to withstand the hurricane forces affecting the region. • The construction of a place of safety during natural disasters and for vulnerable children and women. • Hurricane Irma (2017) destroyed the homes of many on the island. There is still need for repairs and the construction of a roof for a widow (Sister Bryan) whose home and roof was destroyed during the storm. • More labourers for the harvest. Rodwell Grant: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 13 ANTIGUA & BARBUDA Population 100,000 Major religions Christianity (Anglican) 27% / Christianity (other Protestant) 60% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 10% / Other religions 3% Brethren work began in 1945 Number of Brethren congregations 5 Number of additional preaching points 2 Number of baptised believers 136 Total number of adult attendees 185 The number of committed believers is decreasing slowly AGENCY SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Assembly Trust Postal address: C/O Shiloh Gospel Hall Inc., Nevis Street, St. Johns, Antigua. Nature of ministry: Holding property and handling legal matters for the assemblies. CHURCH LINKS Assembly Trust (as above) INTERESTING FEATURES Radio Broadcasts, Vacation Bible Schools, Summer Youth Camps. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The first assembly in Antigua was established in 1945 from a gathering of adults and children who met in a believer’s home. The work was further supported by the arrival of Brother Leslie Crosley in 1947, who was commended by the believers in the UK. He was later joined by his wife, Annie, and by brother Harry Cockrell and his wife, Joyce, who had been

14 The Brethren Movement Worldwide in Trinidad and Tobago. Soon after, they began evangelistic meetings and another assembly was formed in 1948. As the work continued, a third assembly was started around 1954. They were assisted by Jack and Sadie Noble who were commended from Ulster, Northern Ireland. As the assemblies grew, God raised up two local brothers, Dalmar Edwards and Clayton Watkins to continue in the work. Brother Dalmar Edwards was later commended to full time work in 1977. He, along with brother Theodore and saints from Bethel Gospel Hall, started meeting in the Barnes Hill/New Winthorpes area, a gathering that later became the fourth assembly in 2005. In 2015, a few saints from Bethel Gospel Hall led by Nestor Campbell were commended to the work and a fifth assembly was established. PRAISE GOD FOR • The youth; and vibrant youth activities. • Unity among the assemblies. • The growth being experienced at Bethany Gospel Hall, the stability at Bethel Gospel Hall and the continuation of the work at our latest assembly, Faith Gospel Hall. • Radio broadcast by Nestor Campbell and Plugged In by Samuel Edwards. PRAY FOR • Fulltime workers to take the work further. • Positive growth of the weaker assemblies. • Campsite by the assemblies. • Educational institution by the assemblies. Kenny Edwards: [email protected] Nestor Campbell: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 15 ARGENTINA Population 44,690,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 80% / Christianity (Evangelical) 8% / Islam 1.5% Brethren work began in 1882 Number of congregations 1,000+ Number of preaching points 360+ Number of baptised believers 70,000 (estimated) Total number of adult attendees 100,000 (estimated) The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 85 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 27+ Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 32+ PUBLICATIONS Campo Misionero Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Av Honorio Pueyrredon 2825, Casilla de Correo 161, (1629) Pilar, Buenos Aires. Website: www.fundacioncristiana.org AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES / MISSION SERVICE AGENCIES FEMA - Fundacion Evangelica Misionera Argentina Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Avenida Callao 232 8piso Oficina 15 (C1022AAP), Buenos Aires, Argentina. Website: www.fema.org.ar Nature of ministry: Serves commended workers within the country and internationally.

16 The Brethren Movement Worldwide COMFE - Comision Misionera Femenina Email address: [email protected] Postal address: San Lorenzo 2348 Piso 1- E, CP1650 - San Martin, Buenos Aires. Website: https://www.fema.org.ar/comfe/ Nature of ministry: Serves families and homes of assembly commended workers. OALM - Fundacion Evangelica Obreros a la Mies Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Postal address: Lascano 4868,(1717) Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Nature of ministry: Attends to building needs of assembly workers and churches in remote areas. CeCaBiM – Centro de Capacitacion Biblica Misionera E-mail address: [email protected] or [email protected] Postal address: Avenida Callao 232 8piso Oficina 15 (C1022APP) Buenos Aires, Argentina. Website: http://cecabim.org/ Nature of ministry: Joint initiative by FEMA, IBJM & PFByM2 Bible Schools to develop a transcultural training centre. CHURCH LINKS FICEA - Federacion de Instituciones e Iglesias Cristianas Evangelicas Argentina Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Avenida Callao 232 piso 8 - Oficina 15 (C1022AAP), Buenos Aires, Argentina. Website: www.asambleasdehermanos.org.ar/ficea/ Role: FICEA provides Argentinean assemblies, associated institutions, and ministries, with legal and institutional representation before the Government. It also maintains partial records of assemblies and related institutions in the country. Membership of FICEA is voluntary.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 17 BIBLE SCHOOLS Instituto Biblico Jorge Mueller - IBJM ( 12 locations across the country) Email address; [email protected] Postal address: Avenida Callao 232 8piso Oficina 15 (C1022AAP), Buenos Aires, Argentina. Website: www.institutojmuller.org.ar/ Level of study: College. Course length: 1, 2, 4, years. Programa de Formacion Biblica y Ministerial Postal address: Rosario, Provincia. de Santa Fe, Argentina. Phone: (+54)-341-1550374. Website: https://pfbym.com.ar/ Level of study: College. Programs: Bible, Theology, Ministry. Escuela Biblica Emmaus (distance education through correspondence) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Maipu 466, Local 30, (1006) Buenos Aires, Argentina. Website: www.escuelaemmaus.org Course length: Various. ECEA’s - Escuelas e Instituciones Educativas Cristianas Evangelicas de Argentina Email address: Please see website for individual addresses. Postal address: Irigoyen 2150, CP1408 Buenos Aires, Argentina. Website: http://asambleasdehermanos.org.ar/escuelas.html PUBLISHING HOUSE LEC - Libreria Editorial Cristana Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Maipu 466, Local 30, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Website: www.editoriallec.com

18 The Brethren Movement Worldwide INTERESTING FEATURES Missions: FEMA, as a service organisation, was born out of the concerted effort of pioneer missionaries who, in the 1920s, established a fund to bring along willing nationals to share in the work of evangelism and Scripture teaching. This led to an orderly and gradual transition in the 1950s to a national service group organisation supported by the local assemblies. FEMA continues to operate under the same biblical principles, currently with a national, as well as an international focus. Education: The work of the assemblies transcends the proclamation of the gospel through a typical congregational setting and extends to areas of public life. Through the pioneering vision and labouring of Jose Bongarrá and other brethren in the 1950s, the assemblies became involved in establishing schools throughout the country (ranging from kindergarten to post-secondary and including rural centres), where biblical teaching had a formative impact on thousands of lives. Vulnerable Sectors: Significant involvement since the 1900s has taken place in other areas of social need (children’s and seniors’ homes, health services, and substance-abuse recovery centers), which have ‘adorned the Gospel’ and validated it in the eyes of diverse surrounding communities. Literature: The printed page has been valued since the pioneering times, and LEC under the dynamic leadership of Carmelo Racciatti and others, has become a pivotal element in serving the needs of the assemblies. This included the publication of Himnos y Canticos del Evangelio , a hymnal used by many assemblies both in the country, and throughout Latin America. www.editoriallec.com Radio/TV/Internet: A long-standing presence in radio (since 1954) and TV (since 1960s) has contributed to the extension of the gospel, with some assemblies today owning radio stations and webcasting. Daily programs like Meditaciones Cristianas www.radiomeditaciones.com.ar and De Amiga a Amiga www.deamigaaamiga.com, both continue with uninterrupted broadcasting to this date. God is blessing these efforts in a continuing way. Both can be also accessed via the internet.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 19 Prison Ministries: Since 1950, emphasis has been placed on outreach and spiritual growth at various correctional institutions across the country. During alternating periods, assembly-commended workers have been recognised by the government as appointed chaplains. Affected families are also ministered to in several cities. Conferences: An annual event regularly hosting 3000-5000 people, with regional events throughout the year, contributes to the fellowship among the assemblies, and believers’ growth. Camps And Retreats: Organised for all ages, these have a significant presence in many provinces, including an annual elders’ retreat in a central geographical location. Evangelism initiatives continue to be the backbone of gospel outreach activities. Emphasis is placed on weekly gospel proclamation by assemblies. Several times each year, assemblies of a region join together to concentrate efforts in one of their communities. These special campaign efforts, known as ‘Juntos’, organised and led by the younger generation, are creative and resourceful. www.juntosevangelismo.org.ar Biblical Teaching: Monthly teaching meetings to elders and ministry leaders take place in urban centres during the fall and winter months. The strength of the teaching in the assemblies and bible schools is that it is carried out by gifted members who, with their own means of support, attend to the teaching needs of the assemblies. HISTORICAL INFORMATION Brethren work in Argentina is considered to have started with the arrival of John Henry Ewen in 1882 who, due to ill-health, had a very short but effective service for God in the country. He inspired, and was followed by, a number of pioneer missionaries from the UK and other countries. The construction of the railroad network brought many skilled and spiritually- gifted individuals who established testimonies in several regions of the country. From 1950 onwards the work mainly transitioned to national leadership in an orderly fashion. The principles of the autonomy of the

20 The Brethren Movement Worldwide local churches, coupled with the fellowship and interrelation among local congregations, has strengthened the work, which effectively continues to this day. PRAISE GOD FOR • Unity of the brethren throughout the country as a visible expression of Psalm 133. • Argentinean laws, which traditionally uphold freedom of religion. • Argentina becoming a sending country, currently with 23 workers outside its borders. PRAY FOR • Continued blessing upon the work of God across the country, and in the advancement of the Gospel. • Maintaining positive relations with government, at a time of moral and socio-economic challenges. • Increased missionary vision and adequate provision of resources and equipment. “To Him, be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen” (Eph. 3:20-21) Daniel Masuello: [email protected] Compiled with data supplied by various sources within the country.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 21 AUSTRALIA Population 25,000,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 22.6% / Christianity (Anglican) 13.3% / Christianity (Other Protestant) 16.3%/ Other religions (Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism) 8.6% / No religion or unclear 39.2% Brethren work began in 1850 Number of congregations 230 Number of baptised believers about 7,900 Number of adult attendees about 11,300 The number of committed believers is remaining the same Number of full-time workers serving local congregations approximately 150 PUBLICATIONS Connect – National Magazine (CCCAust) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 230 South Hurstville NSW 2221. Serving Together (AMT) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 565, Mt Gravatt, QLD 4122. Daily Prayer Guide Email address: [email protected] Listing of cross-cultural missionaries linked with Australian Missionary Tidings. Australian Workers Daily Prayer Guide Email address: [email protected] Listing of full- and part-time workers commended by Brethren assemblies who minister in Australia.

22 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Assemblies Outreach Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 20, Pennant Hills, NSW 1715. Spearhead Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 15 Hamilton Street, Riverstone, NSW 2765. AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Hands & Feet Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Unit 2/16 Garling Rd, Kings Park, NSW 2148. Website: www.handsandfeet.com.au Nature of ministry: Hands and Feet works through strategic partnerships to bring relief to people in need on a project-by-project basis. These projects are run in Australia and overseas. Stewards Foundation Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 230, South Hurstville, NSW 2221. Website: www.stewardsfoundation.com.au Nature of ministry: Stewards Foundation is a financial body supporting Brethren assembly work in Australia and acting as trustee for many Brethren churches in Australia. Christian Brethren Trust Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 521, Blackburn VIC 3130. Nature of ministry: Christian Brethren Trust acts as trustee for many Brethren assemblies in Victoria. MISSION SERVICE AGENCY Australian Missionary Tidings Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 565, Mt Gravatt, QLD 4122. Website: www.amtglobal.com.au

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 23 Role: Facilitates the involvement of members of the Australian assemblies in global missionary service. The number of missionaries listed for missionary service is 136. CHURCH LINKS Christian Community Churches of Australia (CCCAust Ltd) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 230 South Hurstville NSW 2221. Website: www.cccaust.com Role: The Christian Community Churches of Australia is a National network of independent evangelical churches across Australia. This national network of churches, overseen by a Board of 16 representatives from all States and major para-church organisations, was formed in 2006. In addition state level organisations have been formed to provide more direct support to each of the local churches. Under the banner of “Unity, Synergy, Service” CCCAust serves the churches through the areas of training, ministry, mission, legal, financial, administrative and policy support. CCCAust produces a National Handbook from a national database, and holds a National Conference every two years. BIBLE SCHOOLS Australian College of Christian Studies (ACCS) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 10 Kiama Street, Miranda, 2228 NSW. Website: www.ccs.edu.au Courses: Diploma, Bachelor of Ministry, Bachelor of Theology, Bachelor of Social Science, Master of Arts, Master of Divinity, Master of Theology. The vast majority of students appreciate and enjoy the practical value of our highly advanced online courses. Gospel Literature Outreach (GLO) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 177, Riverstone, NSW 2765. Courses: Non-accredited one-year full-time course for mission work.

24 The Brethren Movement Worldwide INTERESTING FEATURES Since the inception of CCCAust there has developed a much greater desire for a national effort to see our churches grow and our mission expand. There is greater cooperation at state and national levels for this purpose. We have now held five national conferences, which have been strongly supported and have been a great blessing. The work for the kingdom has grown through the growth of Christian schools, camping ministries, social wellbeing initiatives, and church planting. PRAISE GOD FOR • A greater sense of cooperation and unity across assemblies and states. • A greater synergy of support for the local churches. • A renewed emphasis on church planting as part of the local church’s DNA. • An increase in the number and size of multi-cultural churches. • The growth of the social support initiatives connecting churches to their communities. • Greater opportunities for theological training in Brethren institutions. • An increase in the number of Christian schools and an expansion of this ministry. PRAY FOR • The strengthening of unity among the churches of Australia. • The strengthening of Christian marriage and relationships as a witness in society. • Australian society to be aware of the relevancy of the Word of God. • Individuals to recognise their need of the gospel of Jesus Christ. • Churches to make ‘church-planting’ an integral part of their on- going strategy. • Mission to be a significant and growing objective of the local church. • Our individualism to be transformed into a heart of sacrifice and service.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 25 • Our materialism to be transformed into a heart of embrace and generosity. • Leadership development and discipleship of all ages. • Even greater and more effective cross-cultural outreach to migrants. Les Crawford (CCCAust Secretary): [email protected] Jeff Spencer (CCCAust Board Chair): [email protected]

26 The Brethren Movement Worldwide AUSTRIA Population 8.7 million Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 58% / Christianity (Orthodox) 5.7% / Christianity (Protestant) 3.4% / Atheism 17% / Islam 8% Brethren work began in about 1900 Number of congregations about 50 Number of additional preaching points about 20 Number of baptised believers 4,000 Total number of adult attendees 5,000 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 20 PUBLICATIONS Gemeinde und Mission (Assembly and Mission) Postal address: Hermann Gmeiner Strasse 1, A-5020 Salzburg. Website: http://gemeindeundmission.de/ BIBLE SCHOOL TMG Salzburg. Postal address: Hermann Gmeiner Strasse 1, A-5071 Wals. INTERESTING FEATURES Some years ago we had the opportunity of joining a group of evangelical churches of different denominations, which had formed a legal entity - thus officially gaining state recognition as a church. This led to the possibility that we could start teaching religion in state schools in Austria - financed by the Austrian government. This has now been running since September 2014.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 27 PRAISE GOD FOR • The slowly but constantly growing number of believers. • The increasing work amongst refugees. • The very positive brotherhood of assemblies. • The next generation of believers which is following our Lord. PRAY FOR • The number of nominal Christians is shrinking. The number of nominal Moslems is growing. • A new spiritual hunger. In general Austrians have absolutely no expectation regarding God - only Moslems do. • A generational change is coming up for many church leaders. Pray that the right persons will step in, and that the ‘old’ leaders will be supportive and not hinder. Wolfgang Bremicker: [email protected]

28 The Brethren Movement Worldwide BAHAMAS Population 400,000 Major religions Christianity (Protestant) 69% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 12% / Christianity (other) 13% / Unaffiliated 3% Brethren work began in 1875 Number of congregations 32 The number of committed believers is decreasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations about 30 Number of itinerant evangelists/ Bible teachers about 7 PUBLICATIONS Brethren News (newsletter) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box SS-6345, Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas. Living Abundantly Magazine Abundant Life Bible Church, Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box SS-6579, Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas. AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES United Missions Department Chairman: Elder Perry Wallace Postal address: PO Box SS-6345, Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas. Nature of ministry: Formed to better support financially full-time workers, hold missionary meetings, and disseminate reports to assemblies. Teen Scenes Camps Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box SS-52403, Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 29 Nature of ministry: A camp and retreat ministry situated in Bannerman Town, Eleuthera Island, on 72 acres of land. Mostly used as summer camps for evangelism and discipleship. Old Bight Children’s Home Postal address: General Delivery, Old Bight, Cat Island. Telephone: 242-342-4103 Nature of ministry: A children’s home for orphans, special needs children, etc. Nicholl’s Town Gospel Chapel Children’s Mission Home Postal address: General Delivery, Nicholl’s Town, North Andros. Nature of ministry: A children’s home for orphans, etc. The Christian Life Centre Email address: (William Delancy) [email protected] Postal address: PO Box SS-6345, John F. Kennedy Drive, Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas. CHURCH LINKS Association of Assemblies of Brethren in The Bahamas President: Elder Francis Carey [email protected] or [email protected] Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box SS-6345, Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Assemblies-of-Brethren-in- The-Bahamas/840067239356163/ Role: Incorporated in 1954 as a legal entity to minimise difficulties in the administration of fellowshipping assemblies, it includes 21 of the 32 assemblies. Some of its objectives are: to hold in trust all properties vested in it; to preach the gospel by establishing missions, churches, schools etc; to act as guarantor for the procurement of loans for member assemblies; to represent the assemblies at official functions of the country, as invited by The Bahamas Government.

30 The Brethren Movement Worldwide BIBLE SCHOOL Teleios Theological Training Institute Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box SS-19612, Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas. INTERESTING FEATURES The first Brethren churches were all Closed/Exclusive, but later became Open. Our Association of Assemblies is also unusual. PRAISE GOD THAT • We have historically been very successful in reaching people with the gospel. • Many gifted Bahamians and non-Bahamians have served as pastor- teachers and evangelists over the years. • Pastors, evangelists, and members are widely respected in the Bahamian community. • Many who have left the Brethren to become part of other evangelical churches are highly respected ministers who acknowledge with nostalgia their Brethren roots. PRAY FOR • More full-time resident pastors, and itinerant workers to regularly visit and assist struggling assemblies, particularly in the outer islands. • Long-term and short-term missionaries, and financial support, to assist with Old Bight and Nicholl’s Town Children’s Homes. • The revival of evangelism and discipleship among our assemblies. • Financial support to enable completion of the Christian Life Centre, a multi-purpose development with an auditorium and conference centre large enough for crusades, youth activities, a Bible college, and united functions, and other major outreach programmes. • Greater fellowship between the assemblies, especially the outer island ones. Dwight Augustus (Gus) Moncur: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 31 BARBADOS Population 286,778 Area of land 432 square kilometres / 166 square miles Major religions Christianity (Protestant) 63% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 4% / Christianity (Independent) 7% / Other faiths 3% [Brethren work began in Barbados in 1860 and congregations now number 33. These congregations include Exclusive Brethren (10), Plymouth Brethren (10) and Open Brethren/ Gospel Hall Assemblies (13) . According to the official census the total number of Brethren in Barbados in 2010 was 1,100.] Brethren work began in 1889 (Gospel Hall Assemblies) Number of congregations 13 (Gospel Hall Assemblies) Number of additional preaching points 3 Number of baptised believers 352 Number of adult attenders 346 The number of committed believers is decreasing Number of full-time workers serving locally 1 Number of full-time workers overseas 1 HISTORICAL INFORMATION English Anglican cleric, Leonard Strong, founded a little church in British Guiana out of which the Brethren grew. From this early Guiana movement, two female missionaries visited Barbados on holiday. During their extended stay, occasioned by illness, these ladies conducted personal witnessing and started the testimony in 1889 that led to the establishment of the Gospel Hall Assemblies in Barbados. In the first 32 years, as a result of the growth of the work of English missionaries, seven assemblies were formed. Growing nationalism and self-determination of Barbadians in the 1930s through 1960s fuelled

32 The Brethren Movement Worldwide the departure of the British missionaries from Barbados. During this period Dr C.O.Y. Lowe ( circa 1894–1971), Vincentian missionary and chiropractor, was commended from the USA to full-time service in Barbados. He pioneered/financed the establishment of five of six assemblies during 1939–1959. Although there have been spasmodic attempts at assembly planting, along with some district evangelical outreach efforts, since the Lowe era, no other assembly was formed. Along with Dr Lowe, the ministry of elder Fred Ashby (1914–2000) also impacted the assemblies. At least three members from Fred’s assembly, Dayrells Road Gospel Hall (the assembly Ashby led), were commended to full-time service overseas. Also originating from Ashby’s assembly, several outreach missions were conducted in neighbouring Caribbean islands and Guiana. The lack of preparation of nationals for leadership and succession planning, followed by interpersonal conflict occurring among local (national) leaders, led to stagnation of the assemblies over the years. ASSEMBLY CHALLENGES: • Decline in church membership and in the students of the Sunday schools (and general church attendance). • Ageing leadership with little or no strategic succession alternatives. • Lack of trained pastoral leaders. • Restrictive opportunities for women. • Lack of ‘know how’ to stimulate younger members and consolidate their participation and membership in the assemblies. • Lack of young persons in leadership. • Lack of effective discipleship and evangelism ministries. • Making the services and gospel presentation appealing to post- modernists. Responses to some of the challenges would require the need to: • Implement proactive vision plan designing. • Harness the rich variety of skills of members of the assemblies in order to help the administration and brethren, and strengthen the movement.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 33 • Fully and decisively engage our youth and female membership in church ministry and administration. • Have more discipleship and mentoring programmes, simultaneously with proactive evangelistic mission outreach. • Stop being tradition-driven in favour of being Christ-centred and purpose-driven. • Learn how to present the gospel attractively and relevantly, taking into consideration post-modern audiences. In an ever-changing culture, the assemblies urgently need to invest in appropriate training of their leaders and workers (young) with a view to helping them to better execute their mandate of evangelisation, discipling and shepherding. PUBLICATIONS Centenary Publication, 1995 The Brethren in Barbados—Gospel Hall Assemblies 1889–1994, by Sylvan R. Catwell, J.P. Report on the Decline in Church Membership, the Sunday Schools and Sunday Attendance in the Gospel Hall Assemblies of Barbados, June 2015, by Dr Sylvan R. Catwell, J.P. Independence Memoir, 2017 Pillars and Pivotal Events of the Last 50 Years: Reflections of The Gospel Hall Assemblies (1966 through 2016), by Dr Sylvan R. Catwell, J.P. ACTIVE ORGANISATIONS/AGENCIES Good News Preschool Niles Road Ellerton St. George Contact: Ms. Sharon Brathwaite 246 429 1874 [email protected]

34 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Benskin’s Hospitality School (Offers beginners’ course in Food Hygiene, Food Preparation and interpersonal relations.) Contact: Elder Sidney Benskin 246 425 1091 Joyful Sound Radio Broadcast (Heard on Voice of Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda radios, Choice, and Harbour Lights of the Windwards, Grenada and Barbuda radios, Choice, and Harbour Lights of the Windwards, Grenada) P.O. Box 84 Brittons Hill, St. Michael Contact: Elder Lionel Weekes 246 433 2312 [email protected] [email protected] Stewards Co (B’dos) Ltd Contact: Secretary Mr. Cleveland Harrison Rendezvous Terrace Christ Church 246 427 7018 [email protected] Comfort and Strength Services (This fellowship is designed to comfort and strengthen senior citizens.) Contact: Elder Alfred Ince Ince’s Drive Kendal Hill B Christ Church 246 428 3757 [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 35 Heavenly Angels Day Care (Preschool and Nursery) Airy Hill St. Joseph Contact: Elder Albert Cecil Gill 246 271 6436 House of Friends Fellowship Prospect St. James Contact: Elder Sidney Benskin 246 425 1091 Senior Citizens Christian Fellowship (This fellowship assists elderly persons in need.) Dayrells Road Gospel Hall Dayrells Road St. Michael Contact: Elder Alfred Ince 246 420 5737 [email protected] Caribbean Vocatlonal and Career Development Institute 102 Evergreen Drive Wotton Terrace Christ Church Contact: Mrs. Hannah Rouse-Sargeant 246 428 0619 [email protected] https:www.facebook.com/CVCD Young Adults Making A Difference (YAMAD) YAMAD fosters para-church ministries, evangelism among youth and offers a meal to homeless and indigent persons in the city, etc.) Contact: Mr. Nicholas Blackett c/o Dayrells Road Gospel Hall Dayrells Road

36 The Brethren Movement Worldwide St. Michael 246 430 0701 [email protected] PRAISE GOD FOR • Freedom of worship. • The government’s recognition of the role of the church in Barbados, and the church’s participation in national strategic planning, and consultation and review of sensitive national issues. • Free and fair, non-violent elections, along with peaceful transfer of government. • Legislation legalising prostitution, which could have adversely impacted morality and spirituality, was not passed. PRAY FOR • Recognition of the need for training/equipping of church leaders/ workers. • Leaders to adopt succession planning and mobilise young people into assembly ministry/administration. • Birthing of a passion for discipleship and evangelism ministries and a sense of urgency and commitment to the tasks. • Unity, not mere unison, of our assemblies and members. • Arrest in the decline of the assemblies’ membership. Dr. Sylvan R. Catwell, J.P . [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 37 BELGIUM (FLANDERS) Population 6,516,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 47% —more baptised but fewer practising / Christianity (Protestant) 2.5% / Judaism 3.9% / Islam 3.5% / Atheism 10% / Non religious 32% [Note: Questions concerning religious practices were removed from the Belgian census in 2013.] Brethren work began in 1971 Number of congregations 25 Number of baptised believers unknown Number of adult attendees about 2,200 The number of committed believers is unknown Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 6 Number of other part-time or full-time workers 7 These 7 ‘others’ in the last category include some who are officially retired but still quite active as Bible teachers and evangelists, some primarily in pastoral counselling, some primarily as Bible teachers, and some primarily given to administrative responsibilities for the Evangelische Christengemeenten Vlaanderen (ECV) which is the name of the largest group of Open Brethren in Flanders. One of the part-timers actually is a very significant figure in the ECV organisation and is compensated (€) for his work. Thus, the normal categories do not easily fit in Flanders. ANNUAL PUBLICATION ECV Jaarboek , nr. 1 (2018) Link for a digital copy: https://www.ecvnet.be/blog_detail.php?id=158 INTERESTING FEATURES The Evangelische Christengemeenten Vlaanderen (ECV) is the umbrella

38 The Brethren Movement Worldwide name of the largest group of Open Brethren in Flanders. The ECV currently consists of twenty-five local churches, twenty-four in Flanders and one in the Netherlands. About 2200 people are associated with the ECV including adults, teens, and children. These assemblies are served by a cadre of 13 workers. Of some interest is that the formerly Kelly- Lowe-Continental (KLC) and oldest Brethren assembly of any kind in Flanders, located in Ninove, has become part of the ECV in recent years, as well as a one-hundred-year-old church located in the heart of Antwerp with no historical Brethren connection. The ECV actively cooperates with the other evangelical churches and organisations in Flanders, and it has an especially close working relationship with the churches of the Vrije Evangelische Gemeenten (Free Evangelical Churches) and the Belgische Evangelische Zending (Belgian Evangelical Mission). ECV website: https://ecvnet.be/index.php HISTORICAL INFORMATION The ECV describes itself as “a large family with a great deal of diversity and spread throughout Flanders. What unites us is the conviction that the Good News of the Gospel is still current, relevant, and hopeful for the future of people and humanity.” The ECV consists of local churches mostly planted by or as the offshoot of church planting efforts begun in 1971 by three Canadian missionaries: Herb Shindelka (1971–76), Richard Haverkamp (1972–2009), and Henk Gelling (1975– ). At its height, the ECV had more than thirty assemblies including some gatherings in Germany of primarily Flemish soldiers as well as the oldest historically Open assembly in Flanders, formed as the result of ministry done by Ghislain Piérard just after the First World War in Tienen. Neither the assembly in Tienen nor any of the other handful of historically Open Brethren assemblies in Flanders formed before the beginnings of the ECV still exist. Other than the ECV, one or two formerly KLC Exclusive assemblies meet who could be considered de facto Open Brethren, but they would reject the term for historical reasons. They no longer are part of KLC circles as a result of the worldwide disruption among the KLC Brethren in the mid-1990s. They number well less than a hundred total attendees and have no full-time workers.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 39 PRAISE GOD FOR • The fairly recent planting of a significant group of churches in western Europe. PRAY FOR • On-going evangelistic work, especially among recent immigrant populations. • That those in the faith would continue to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord. • On-going youth and teen work.

40 The Brethren Movement Worldwide BELGIUM (WALLONIA & FRENCH-SPEAKING BRUSSELS) Population 4,567,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 68% [Practising 20%] / Christianity (Protestant) 3% / Islam 3% / Other religions 1% / Non-religious 25% Brethren work began in 1855 Number of Brethren congregations 17 Number of baptised believers 677 Total number of adult attendees 1050 The number of committed believers is remaining the same Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 4 AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES SAPEB asbl Email address: [email protected] Postal address: c/o Eric Laurent, Bois Pirart 127, 1132 Geneval, Belgium. Website: www.apeb.net Nature of ministry: Ministry support (finance, employment, project management). Prévoyance Evangélique asbl Email address: [email protected] Postal address: c/o Eric Laurent, Bois Pirart 127, 1132 Geneval, Belgium. Nature of ministry: Seniors’ House, Youth Camp, Church building ownership. Other organized ministries include: Camp ministries (Campus des Taillis) : https://campdegenval.apeb.net Youth ministry (ProVision): [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 41 Bible training for young people (CFB) Conventions organisation: https://www.conventionapeb.net CHURCH LINKS CERAB (Commission d’Etude et de Référence des Assemblées Belges) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: C/- Stéphane Verhaeghe, Rue Capouillet 74 – 1410 Waterloo - Belgium. Role: Spiritual eldership and leadership. N.B., Overall, ultimate coordination between assemblies is done through the ‘Réunion de Délégués’, delegates assembly, that decides on the matters common to the assemblies. BIBLE SCHOOL See CFB ministry above. INTERESTING FEATURES French-speaking Brethren are involved in several interdenominational organisations: FEU (Foyer Evangélique Universitaire—students ministry), Mission Vie & Famille (help to persons in suffering situations), Ligue pour la Lecture de la Bible (Scripture Union), etc. HISTORICAL INFORMATION French-speaking assemblies are the result of itinerant preachers' ministries in the 1880s. They developed well in the 1980s, but have known a slowdown at the end of the century due to generation gaps and some assemblies closed. They try now to recover and some assemblies have joined recently the association. Recently, they received the visit of GLO summer teams in Brussels. PRAISE GOD FOR • The gospel still being preached and conversions still a daily reality. • Some younger people taking responsibilities. • Young people following Bible training.

42 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PRAY FOR • Renewed vision of the assemblies (in process). • Leadership renewals and young generation taking its full place in the local communities. • Good knowledge of the Bible as the basis of an enthusiastic Christian life. • Transmission of gospel to children and young people through camp ministries and bible training. Eric Laurent, Rue Chapelle Emmanuel, 8, B-1435 Mt-St-Guibert, Belgium [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 43 BELIZE (2015 INFORMATION) Population 382,500 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 40% / Christianity (Protestant) 30% / Other religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam) 1-5% / Unspecified 20% Brethren work began in 1952 Number of congregations 7 Number of additional preaching points 2 Number of baptised believers 300 Total number of adult attendees 350 The number of committed believers is remaining the same Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 1 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 0 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 1 AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Christian Brethren - Belize Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 953, Belize City, Belize. Nature of ministry: Links and represents local assemblies in matters of common interest in Belize, including position papers on doctrinal and moral issues. MISSION SERVICE AGENCY Christian Missions Belize Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 953, Belize City, Belize. CHURCH LINKS Christian Brethren - Belize (Addresses as above)

44 The Brethren Movement Worldwide INTERESTING FEATURES Grace Primary School is owned and managed by the Brethren assemblies in Belize. The school is an institution of primary education catering to children ages 5 through 14. Current enrolment is in excess of 440. The King’s Mailbox Correspondence Courses is another ministry conducted from the office of Christian Missions to 1,000 participants at various stages. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The presence of the Brethren in Belize can be traced back to the early 1950s in Belize City with street and tabernacle meetings conducted by missionaries from Jamaica and Canada. Eventually land was acquired and two local chapels were erected for the rapidly growing congregation as a result of those efforts. Continued outreach by local and foreign missionaries saw the work being extended to the Belize River Valley and other areas of the country. PRAISE GOD FOR • Commended and active ladies ministry. • Budding and encouraging work at the Western Paradise community. • For answered prayers when the Lord provided a full-time couple - husband and wife team to assist with the youth ministry at Grace Chapel in Belize City. • For Grace Primary School being widely recognised as one of Belize’s leading primary education institutions. PRAY FOR • Funding for the development of an assembly Bible campsite. The assemblies own thirty acres of prime land in the interior of the country to accommodate construction. • Full-time workers and the raising up of younger men in the assemblies to leadership roles. • Re-establishing an assembly presence in the northern part of the country.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 45 • Expanding and/or re-location of Grace Primary School to another location in Belize City with ample spacing to relieve the current cramped and crowded environment. Benny Hudson: [email protected] Norman Williams: [email protected]

46 The Brethren Movement Worldwide BERMUDA Population 65,000 Major religions Christianity (Protestant) 46% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 15% / Christianity (Other) 10% / No religion unspecified 24% / or Muslim 1% Brethren work began in 1874 (first hall built in 1903) Number of congregations 7 Number of additional preaching points 1 Number of baptised believers about 390 The number of committed believers is somewhat fewer Number of full-time workers serving local congregation s 3 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 1 commended + 3 others Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 1 commended + 3 others MISSION SERVICE AGENCY Bermuda Mission Trust Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box DV 757, Devonshire DV BX, Bermuda. CHURCH LINKS -Conference is held once a year for Bible teaching, and monthly meetings are held for prayer and for Bible teaching. -Several assemblies are visited by ministering brethren from overseas. -Informal meetings are held for elders (to promote general communication and support), for brothers (primarily for leadership training) and sisters (for prayer, encouragement and mission).

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 47 -Hope Ministries conducts an annual summer camp and similar ministries. Several assemblies conduct Vacation Bible Schools in the summer. INTERESTING FEATURES -Summer camps, open to all children, have been held continuously since 1969. -Prison ministry and after-school Bible clubs are held. -The primary evangelistic ministry is to the young and is run by Word of Life and Child Evangelism Fellowship. While these groups are not Brethren, the ones who are involved in leadership and who otherwise serve are from the assemblies. -Recent association with assemblies in Caribbean for communication and conference planning. PRAISE GOD FOR • The measure of unity experienced by the assemblies. • The missionary thrust of the assemblies (especially in India, China, Africa and the Caribbean). • The active participation of local missionaries in several countries overseas. PRAY FOR • Ministry among the young. • Vision for leaders and future ministries. • Innovative and successful evangelistic approaches. • Growth and discipleship. • Young gifted believers to assume active leadership roles. Edward Richardson: [email protected]

48 The Brethren Movement Worldwide BHUTAN Population 797,000 Major religions Buddhism 75% / Hinduism 22.5% / Indigenous religions 2% / Christianity 0.5% Brethren work began in 2005 Number of congregations 3 Number of additional preaching points 3 Number of baptised believers 22 Total number of adult attendees 29 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 4 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 1 PUBLICATION Himalayan Herald Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Post Box 315, Samtse, Bhutan. CHURCH LINKS Emmaus India, Bangalore Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Emmaus India, Bangalore-560043. Website: www.emmausindia.in Role: Translating Emmaus books into Dzongkha language. BIBLE SCHOOLS AND OTHER TRAINING INSTITUTIONS Olivet Leadership Institute Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Chamurchi check post, Bhutan border. Website: www.olivetministries.in Level of study: High school.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 49 Length of course: 1 month and 6 months. (This institute is located in the borders of Bhutan and India. The Institute brings believers and newly established contacts to the Leadership Institute and gives them solid one month or six months training and sends them back to their country. This institute also conducts one month discipleship training for university students during winter holidays.) INTERESTING FEATURES All the assemblies are very new and slowly growing because of restrictions from the Government. But the Lord is working in this country and raising His people. HISTORICAL INFORMATION Bro. Santosh Jupaka and his wife Serisha, commended from Brethren assembly, Sironcha, Maharashtra, were sent to Bhutan in the year 2005. They are the first Brethren missionaries to come to Bhutan to win this country for Christ. They learned the language and started reaching people. First contact, Mr. Parash, came in touch with Santosh. He was a student, studying in high school at Samtse District of Bhutan. The gospel was shared with him and slowly he accepted Jesus Christ and took baptism in the year 2008. Thereafter slowly assembly work began to grow and souls were added in the assemblies. PRAISE GOD FOR • Assembly establishment in a closed country like Bhutan. • Local brothers who are coming for full-time ministry. Local leadership is being developed. • Emmaus correspondence courses are being translated into the Dzongkha language, which is the national language of Bhutan and widely used by believers in Bhutan. • The present Government, which allows a little freedom for gospel work.

50 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PRAY FOR • Religious freedom for Christianity and official acceptance. • Land is needed for a graveyard. The Government has not given an official burial place for Christians in Bhutan. Believers face many problems when someone dies at home. • The growth of small existing assemblies and new assembly establishment in other parts of Bhutan. • More local workers to come up and take the leadership. Santosh Sirisha: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 51 BOLIVIA Population 11,215,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 77% / Christianity (Protestant) 18% / Other religions (Baha’i, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam) 3% / Atheism/ Agnosticism 2% Brethren work began in 1895 Number of congregations 550 Number of additional preaching points 20 Number of baptised believers 11,200 Total number of adult attendees 16,500 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 38 Number of full-time evangelists 6 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 7 PUBLICATION Pueblo Mio (My People) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Casilla 1355, Santa Cruz, Bolivia. CHURCH LINKS Misiones Cristianas Bolivia Postal address: Casilla 14277, La Paz, Bolivia. Website: www.misionescristianasbolivia.org Role: Delegation from Brethren churches. BIBLE SCHOOLS AND OTHER TRAINING INSTITUTIONS Seminario Bíblico Evangélico Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Casilla 4436, La Paz, Bolivia. Website: www.asbebo.org Length of course: 3 years.

52 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Facultad Biblica de Camiri Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Casilla 65. Level of study: High School. Length of course: 10 months. Istituto Biblico Ebenezer Email address: [email protected] Level of study: High School. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The Irish missionary, Guillermo Payne, started from Cordoba, Argentina, with six animals of burden and his wife, a girl who was their eldest daughter and two more believers. They came to the city of Sucre, capital of Bolivia in July of 1895, after touring more than 1,400kms with the purpose of starting a church. He had much opposition by leaders of the Roman Church, but by perseverance and boldness was able to preach the gospel and win souls for Christ. PRAISE GOD FOR • Freedom to preach the gospel. • The growth of the number of believers. • The growth in the number of churches. PRAY FOR • Economic and spiritual care of the workers on the part of the churches. • Training of new workers and the elderly. • Unity of the Church in vision and service. • Proclamation of the gospel in a lay state. Eliseo Zuniga Murillo: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 53 BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA Population 3,850,000 Major religions Islam 51% / Orthodox Christianity 31% / Roman Catholicism 15% / Other 3% Brethren work began 2008 (in Zeneca) Originally 1991-95 Number of congregations 2, comprising 1 in Zeneca [open], 1 in Sarajevo Number of additional preaching points 1 (in Kakany amongst gypsies) Number of baptised believers 30 Total number of adult attendees 38 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 2 AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES INTERNATIONAL TEAMS Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Iteams PO Box 11, Brecon Powys LD3 9WJ UK. Website: www.iteams.org.uk MISSION SERVICE AGENCY International Teams Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Iteams PO Box 11, Brecon Powys, LD3 9WJ, UK. Website: www.iteams.org.uk

54 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PUBLISHING HOUSE Emaus Centar Postal address: Postanski Fah, 386, 7100. Sarajevo BiH. INTERESTING FEATURES In Zenica, besides the church planting ministry, we have bought lands in a valley five miles outside of the city of Zenica, called ‘Grace Valley’, with the vision to build a Training Centre and a Bible camp. Before doing that, we established and built a halfway house for youth leaving the orphanage or jail and for those without homes or in trouble with society or family. Currently at Grace Valley we have 13 young people and adults. Most of the youth and their families supported by the work in the valley attend the local church. In the city we have a day-care center for poor children and gypsies. Most of them attend our camps and events run by the local church. We are starting a new church plant among a gypsy community in another town with bible studies during the week for adults and, on Saturdays, a children’s club. Once a month we have a TV program in the regional TV station with the support of KMPTV from Austria. Three years ago we opened a shelter for the homeless in partnership with the local government, having until now hosted more than 30 homeless people. We are still planning, in 2019, to start home care for the elderly and a medical clinic. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The Brethren churches in Bosnia and Herzegovina started in 1905. Before the war in 1991, only two churches existed in the country, both in Sarajevo, a Brethren and a Baptist church. Both disappeared during the war. Then missionaries from different denominations, among them several from the Brethren churches, started again planting churches in the country. It seems that an Adventist church existed also in the country before the war. PRAISE GOD THAT • Even among the stagnation and closing churches around us, our local church continues its activities and is slowly growing.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 55 • Three of our young people have attended Bible Institute in Austria and in Serbia in the last two years and another young couple is planning to attend a Bible School this year. • We will have three baptisms in March this year and others are waiting. • The Brazilian Brethren church just sent one missionary to join our ministry in February of this year. PRAY FOR • The country - the general situation is not good, the number of churches in general has decreased, the evangelical church (Pentecostal) has closed almost 11 churches in the last few years, the others are not better. • A revival and new missionaries with a zeal and passion for the lost. • God to send more workers to replace Walter Gonçalves or to work alongside him in the ministry. He had a car accident last summer and now is in a wheelchair. • Pray God to send more workers for his field in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Walter Gonçalves: [email protected]

56 The Brethren Movement Worldwide BRAZIL Population 210,000,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 65% / Christianity (Protestant) 22% / Unaffiliated 8% / Other religions 5% Brethren work began in 1878 Number of congregations about 750 Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 215 PUBLICATIONS Servas (Servants), a magazine for women Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Rua Conselheiro Galvão, 688 - Turiaçú - Rio de Janeiro- RJ CEP. 21540-000 Website: http://revistaservas.blogspot.com.br Senda do Cristão (Christian Path) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Rua Oswald de Andrade, 59 - Ch. Sergipe - S.B. do Campo - SP - Cep 09894-070 – Brasil. Boletim dos Obreiros (Workers Bulletin) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Av. Rio Branco, 114 - 10º Andar - Sala 1002 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ - CEP.: 20040-001 - Brasil. Website: www.obreiros.com AGENCIES SERVING THE CHURCHES Boletim dos Obreiros (Workers’ Bulletin) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Av. Rio Branco, 114 – 10 º Andar - Sala 1002 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ - CEP.: 20040-001 - Brasil.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 57 Website: www.obreiros.com Nature of ministry: Daily disclosure of prayer requests by e-mail, monthly printed publication mission field news and distribution deals. IMTAP Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Rua Angelo Testa, 315 - Oswaldo Rezende - Uberlândia - MG - 38400-496. Website: www.imtapmissoes.com.br Nature of ministry: Distribution deals. Bible School for monthly modules. Annual Missionary Congress. BIBLE SCHOOLS Escola Bíblica dos Irmãos Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Rua 15 de Novembro, 362, Anexo 01 - Jardim Glória I, Várzea Grande - MT - Brazil. Website: www.missaocrista.net.br/cursos or www.ebieducacional.com Length of course: 3 years Escola Bíblica da AOC Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Rua Jeronimo Vervloet, 689 - Maria Ortiz - Vitória - ES - CEP. 29070-350 - Brasil. Length of course: 3 years Escola Bíblica da IMTAP Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Rua Angelo Testa, 315 - Oswaldo Rezende - Uberlândia - MG - 38400-496. Website: www.imtapmissoes.com.br Length of course: 3 years Escola Bíblica do IBAP Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Caixa Postal 77 - Carangola - MG - 36800-000 - Brasil.

58 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Website: http://www.ibapmg.com.br/ Length of course: 3 years PUBLISHING HOUSES There has been no publisher connected with the Brethren movement but, along with five brothers, we are starting a publishing enterprise called Convem P&P ( It is Necessary to Preach ) and our goal is to publish Bible commentaries written by Brazilian brothers or by foreign residents here. We have already published a commentary on Titus and we are organising commentaries on the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of John. We also will published others books that are not part of the CBI, like: Não Preserve a Natureza do Velho Homem Do not preserve the nature of the old ( man Deus Criativo, Dons Criativos Creative God, Creative Gifts ); ( ); and a children’s book, Os Opostos do Amor de Deus The Opposites of God’s Love ( ). Convém Pregar Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Qd 7 Lote 39 - Gama Leste Brasilia - DF - 72450070 - Brazil. Website address: http://convempregar.com/ INTERESTING FEATURES There’s no specific activity involving all the churches. At one church, we have after-school programs for the kids in the neighborhood, a computer course for beginners, and we just had our first course in the professional kitchen. It was a partnership with the government. We provided the kitchen and they sent the teachers. We also have a vocal group that visits the Hospital Evangélico (could be translated to ‘Christian Hospital’) singing hymns directly for haemodialysis patients and at the hospital halls. There are at least two churches in Brazil with day-care programs. There are three Brethren institutions working with recovering drug addicts. We also have three nursing homes - two in the State of Espírito Santo and one in the State of Rio de Janeiro.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 59 HISTORICAL INFORMATION The Brethren movement in Brazil started through the influence of brother Richard Holden who was co-pastor at Igreja Evangélica Fluminense - IEF (planted in the city of Rio de Janeiro by the MD and missionary, Dr Robert Reid Kalley). In contact by letters with family members who had joined the movement in the United Kingdom, brother Holden took leave of absence from IEF and travelled to the UK. Right after that, he moved to Portugal. Influenced by the new ecclesiastical vision embraced by brother Holden, a group of eight brothers also left IEF and started the first Brazilian Brethren church. It was July 7th, 1878. This church is still active today. From this core of Brethren in Brazil who started in 1878, were all of those who contributed to the expansion of the movement in the country, going to farms, villages, and towns preaching the redeeming message of Jesus Christ. Mr Holden came to Rio de Janeiro on 10 July 1879, th to visit the new congregation, helping in the services, and staying until 18 November 1879, when he travelled back to Lisbon. That’s his only th recorded visit to Brazil that we know of. As a matter of interest, the Brethren in Brazil spread without the help of foreign missionaries. The first foreign missionary came only in May of 1896 (18 years after the first church started.) His name was Stuart Edmund McNair (1867-1959). He was a great help to the movement. His vision was to prepare Brazilian nationals so that they could continue the expansion of the gospel. Brother McNair published the first Study Bible of Brazil. It’s called Bíblia Explicada de McNair (Explained Bible of McNair), which is still in print to this day. Unfortunately, we’ve lost the copyright for his work, but that’s another story. In 2018 the Brethren movement celebrated 140 years in Brazil. There were several conferences on this theme and I had the privilege of preaching in two of them. As part of the celebrations we published a commemorative Bible with a brief summary of our history. The front insert contains a list with the names of the foreign Brethren missionaries who served in Brazil. We found 112 names, but are likely to have missed some. After

60 The Brethren Movement Worldwide the text we added a special edition of our hymnbook ( Hinos e Cânticos - Hymns and Songs ), which is used by the Brethren in Brazil. It is one of the oldest hymnbooks in Portuguese and probably the first to be published in Brazil. PRAISE GOD FOR • The freedom we have to preach the gospel in Brazil. • For missionaries and leaders of local churches in Brazil. • For local churches that have been awakened to open new missionary fronts and plant new local churches. • For the new president of Brazil who is in favour of the family and Judeo-Christian morality and therefore against the legalisation of abortion, which is part of the teaching of gender ideology for children in public schools, etc. PRAY FOR • Missionaries and leaders of local churches in Brazil to seek to equip themselves more and more to develop their ministries in the best possible way. • The new government to allow the gospel to be preached to the natives of the Brazilian jungles. • A biblical revival in local churches to result in the sanctification and salvation of unbelievers. • Pray for the youth of the local churches so that they stand firm in the ways of the Lord and are awakened to exclusive service in the Lord’s work. Jabesmar Guimarães: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 61 BULGARIA (2015 INFORMATION) Population 7,050,000 Major religions Christianity (Orthodox) 85% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 1% / Christianity (Protestant) 0.3% / Islam 13% Brethren work began in about 1900 Number of congregations unknown, (very low) Number of adult attendees about 1,000 (estimated) The number of committed believers is decreasing slowly PUBLICATION Spiritual Word Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 26 Dimitar Dimov Str., Sofia-1164. PUBLISHING HOUSE Rassovsky Ltd. Spiritual Word Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Christo Georgiiev Rassovsky, 26 Dimitar Dimov Str., Sofia-1164. PRAISE GOD FOR • The magazine, Spiritual Word , which is distributed free of charge and reaches many people all over Bulgaria. • Making it possible to print a Christian calendar every year since 2003. PRAY FOR • The Christian calendar. • The many poor and needy Christians. Christo Rassovsky: [email protected]

62 The Brethren Movement Worldwide BURUNDI Population 11,216,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 62% / Christianity (Protestant) 5% / Indigenous beliefs 32% / Islam 1% Brethren work began in 1950 Number of congregations 149 Number of additional preaching points 11 Number of baptised believers 35,000 Total number of adult attendees 50,885 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations less than 10 PUBLICATIONS CEEM News Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 122, Bujumbura, Burundi. AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Emmaus Contact person: Nibigira Gedeon. Postal address: PO Box 122, Bujumbura, Burundi. Nature of ministry: Bible correspondence courses. CHURCH LINKS Community of Emmanuel Churches Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 122, Bujumbura, Burundi. Role: Networks the churches and oversees shared ministries (medical, schools etc.).

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 63 BIBLE SCHOOL Timothy Bible School Postal address: PO Box 122, Bujumbura, Burundi. Level of study: Diploma. Length of course: 2 years. INTERESTING FEATURES Film evangelism, Mobile Bible Seminar Team, Ephphatha (Deaf School), Kanura (Blind School), Health Clinics, RBC (Eye surgery and rehabilitation of disabled persons), Discovery School (primary and secondary school). HISTORICAL INFORMATION Brethren missionaries, Carl & Eleanor Johnson, came from Nyankunde in DRC in 1950. As the work grew, the churches were registered as ‘Association of Emmanuel Churches’ in Burundi. In 1999 this became ‘Community of Emmanuel Churches’ (CEEM). PRAISE GOD FOR • Church planting initiated by local churches at an average of about 10 a year. • One private primary and secondary school, ‘Discovery’, in Bujumbura has been successful to an international standard. • A new health Centre in the south of our country. • A new missionary station in the east of the country near Tanzania. PRAY FOR • Church’s building program. (We need iron sheets etc.) • Local missionaries to be sent across the country where we have not yet planted churches. • Finding the necessary resources to complete the construction of Discovery School. Phinées Ntakiyiruta: [email protected]

64 The Brethren Movement Worldwide CANADA Population 37,130,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 39% / Christianity (Protestant) 29% / No religion 24% / Islam 3% / Other religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and others) 5% Like many western nations, Canada is officially a religiously pluralistic country, which means that no religion has any preferred status. But in practical terms the majority of the population still identifies itself as Christian even though many are not intentional followers of Jesus. Brethren work began in 1860 Number of congregations 531 (est.) comprising … Gospel Halls 156, Conservative Chapels, 175, Adaptive Chapels and Churches associated with Vision Ministries 200 Number of full-time workers serving local congregations Adaptive Chapels and Churches: about 80% have full-time workers/ pastors. It is difficult to obtain up to date and accurate statistics for Brethren churches in Canada. The Assembly Address Book for North America has the most comprehensive listing https://emmausinternational.com/search?q=address%20book* PUBLICATIONS Assembly Address Book Website: https://emmausinternational.com/search?q=address%20book Counsel, Timely Truths for God’s People Website: https://counselmagazineonline.com/

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 65 Missions Website: http://www.cmml.us/magazine Missionary Prayer Handbook Website: https://www.cmml.us/ News of Quebec Website: http://www.newsofquebec.org/ Thinking Ahead Website: www.vision-ministries.org/ Uplook Magazine Website: http://www.uplook.org/ AGENCIES SERVING THE CHURCHES MSC Canada Website: www.msccanada.org/ Quebec Reseau Website: http://www.groupereseau.org/ Stewards Canada Website: www.stewardscanada.org/ Stewards Foundation Website: www.stewardsfoundation.org/ Stewards Ministries Website: www.stewardsministries.com/ Uplook Ministries Website: www.uplook.org/ Truth & Tidings/Gospel Trust Website: www.gospeltrust.ca/

66 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Vision Ministries Canada Website: https:// www.vision-ministries.org BIBLE SCHOOLS Mount Carmel Bible School Website: https://mountcarmel.net Emmaus Bible College Website: https://www.emmaus.edu/ PUBLISHING HOUSE Everyday Publications Inc. Website: www.everydaypublications.org/ Gospel Folio Website: http://www.gospelfolio.com/ Publications Chrétiennes Inc. Website: http://www./publicationschretiennes.com/ INTERESTING FEATURES (This report focuses mostly on churches associated with VMC. To learn more about other congregations, explore the websites listed above ) . An increasingly collaborative attitude among church leaders surfaced in 2014. They are open to collaborative efforts in church planting, in sharing praise and prayer concerns and in assisting congregations that are in need of help. Church planting. By God’s grace, we helped to plant an average of 1.25 churches per year, in the first seven years of our existence. Over the last five years, that average has increased to 12 new churches per year, with 17 new start-ups in 2017 alone! Compassion and Justice. As in the days of Jesus, people are seeking justice and compassion. Quite a number of churches are engaged in

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 67 various expressions of such ministry. There is always a challenge to keep the balance between proclamation and social engagement. If we have a “nose for trouble” and help the people the Lord leads us to, they often become open the Gospel message as well. Our immigrant churches are “automatically” engaged in helping newcomers get settled etc. Two exceptional examples 1. Jesus Network, an outreach to Muslims in Toronto. https://www. youtube.com/channel/UC9gYb8cXEEhyaqBxVDgaahw 2. MoveIn, mobilises mostly young people to move into the most economically and socially challenging areas in Canada https://www.movein.to/ PRAISE GOD FOR • New congregations that are taking shape and reaching out effectively. • New leadership development events for elders, pastors, and volunteer leaders. • Increasing numbers of large congregations, which influence their communities and help other, smaller congregations. • Work among Chinese and Persian immigrants, many of whom are coming to faith, and establishing vigorous congregations. PRAY FOR • Le Reseau, which is making a difference in Quebec, the neediest part of our country. • The protection and fruitfulness of the gifted ethnic leaders who are able to provide leadership for mini-networks of their own. They are growing and getting stronger. • Church leaders who are always vulnerable to attacks by the evil one. When they fall, many are disheartened. Gord Martin: [email protected]

68 The Brethren Movement Worldwide CHAD Population 15,353,000 Major religions Islam 55% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 20.3% / Christianity (Protestant) 15.5% / Traditional beliefs 7% / No religion 2.2% Brethren work began in 1926 Number of congregations 1884 Number of additional preaching points 1944 Number of baptised believers 81,646 Total number of adult attendees 339,050 Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 2069 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 40 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 16 PUBLICATIONS Pres de Toi Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Bp.1111 N’Djamena. La Parole Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Bp.1111 N’Djamena. MISSION SERVICE AGENCY Evangelisation and Mission Department Email Address: [email protected] Postal address: POB 1111 Ndjamena, Chad. AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES MEDI Email address: [email protected] Postal address: BP 5141 N’Djamena

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 69 Nature of ministry: Mission training and church planting. ALTATAWIR Email address: [email protected] Postal address: BP 1322 N’Djamena. CHURCH LINKS EEMET Email address: [email protected] Postal address: BP 2006 N’Djamena. Nature of ministry: Coordinates fellowship of evangelical denominations. (There are eight denominations including Brethren churches in Chad.) Christian Assemblies in Chad (CAC) and Evangelical Assemblies in Chad (EAC). (Brethren in Chad are organised under two legally different coordinating entities) Email address: [email protected] (CAC) and [email protected] Postal address: POB 1111 Ndjaména; and 1322 Ndjaména. Role: Activities coordinating; organising conferences; sensitising members; managing training programmes; promoting evangelism, holistic mission works and unity among Brethren. The particularity of Evangelical Assemblies in Chad is witnessing for Christ in unreached regions (among Muslims). BIBLE SCHOOLS 17 Bible Schools led in local languages. Email address: [email protected] Postal address: POB 1111 Ndjamena. Level of study: Primary school. Length of course: Three years (Certificate). Institut Biblique de Bitkine. Email address: [email protected] Postal address: BP.9 Bitkine Guéra. Level of study: Diploma.

70 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Length of course: 30 hours/week for three years. Ecole Biblique Supérieur de Backtana Email address: [email protected] Postal address: BP. 1111 N’Djaména. Level of study: Diploma. Length of course: 30 hours/week. Institut Biblique la Source de DOBA. Email address: [email protected] Postal address: BP. 1111 Ndjaména. Level of study: Diploma. Length of course: 30 hours/week. FATES Email address: [email protected] Postal address: BP 2006 N’Djaména. Level of study: Seminary at Masters level. INTERESTING FEATURES We have many primary schools and secondary schools. We have one hospital and more than twenty dispensaries. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The work of Christian Assemblies in Chad was pioneered by John Remeses Olley, a missionary sent through the work of Christian Missions in Many Lands, from New Zealand. Born in England, John travelled to Australia as a Marine at the age of about 18. He received Christ as his saviour at the age of 30 and felt the need to serve Him among unreached people. He went to Algeria, then to Tunisia before deciding to reach Nigeria. At Kano (Nigeria), he met believers from Chad who encouraged him to bring the gospel to their country. Together, they arrived in Chad on March 18 , 1926. The missionary work they started developed into th an association called today ‘Christian Assemblies in Chad’. In 1945, John Remeses Olley also sent another missionary, Albert Burkhardt, to the central part of the country to start another work. Later on, missionaries of Brethren origin came from France, Belgium and Switzerland, sent by

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 71 independent local churches. They developed missionary work in this central region: Barbezat in 1948, Marius Baar and Jean Metz in 1951. Later on, in 1959, under Government pressure, independently from the Christian Assemblies in Chad, they created the ‘Guera Mission’ with an autonomous legal status. In 1985, this mission merged with the Christian Assemblies in Chad. Ten years later, because of the specific challenges they faced among Muslims, the new leaders of the region found new credible reasons to reconstitute a legally separate entity. So, in 1995, Brethren in Chad decided to cooperate in two entities, all of them members of the Entente of Evangelical Churches and Missions in Chad, the family of evangelicals within the country. PRAISE GOD FOR • Peace in Chad. • Freedom for preaching the gospel anywhere in Chad. • Agreement between Chad and Israel, whose relationship had been broken since 1972. PRAY FOR • Unity of Body of Christ and Brethren Church in particular. • Revival in Chad - that Lord can visit the church in Chad. • For the vision for unreached peoples - many are lost. • For the law 105 that makes Christians uncomfortable. Victor Dogos: [email protected]

72 The Brethren Movement Worldwide CHILE (2015 INFORMATION) Population 18,197,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 58% / Christianity (Protestant) 13% / No religion 25% / Other 4% Brethren work began in 1928 Number of congregations 51 Number of additional preaching points 40 Number of baptised believers 1700 Total number of adult attendees 2600 The number of committed believers is decreasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 16 AGENCIES SERVING THE CHURCHES CRAC Provides legal support to assemblies and legal representation before the Chilean Government (the old one). ERACH Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Echaurren 80 Postal Code 8370025, Santiago. Website: www.erach.cl Provides legal support to assemblies and legal representation before the Chilean Government (the new one). The aim is, in the near future, to serve as an agency to manage gifts and support to national workers. BIBLE SCHOOLS Emmaus courses by correspondence. Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Casilla 3347 Valparaiso, Chile.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 73 PUBLISHING HOUSES Palabras de amor (Printing house for evangelistic tracts and Bible cal- endars) Email address: [email protected] INTERESTING FEATURES - Five local radio stations (most of them affiliates of BBN). - A primary school in Coyhaique, Patagonia (started in 2011). - Social ministries (clothes and food supplies to needy people; counselling, evangelism to women involved in drugs and alcoholism). - Handicraft workshops for women (as a means of evangelism). - Summer camps for young people. - Weekly children’s radio program called Palabras de Amor (broadcast by BBN). - An increasing decline in the number of members due to rigid adherence to a tradition that has inhibited changes required to move with the times. Most of the churches have those characteristics. A few of them - no more than five - are growing because they have developed new ministries. However, materialism and the economic welfare of Chile are also responsible for the lack of faithfulness and commitment of believers to the work of God. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The Assemblies movement began in Chile in December of 1927. The first Breaking of Bread was celebrated on February 5 in 1928. A young brother, Andrew Stenhouse, had been committed to the service of the Lord in 1925 from a church in Loanhead, Edinburgh, Scotland. From Edinburgh, he travelled to Canada to marry Nina Batstone, a lady he had met through his work as a radio operator in the British Merchant Navy. They had shared their call to serve the Lord in South America, specifically in the country of Chile. They remained in Argentina for about two years, learning Spanish and serving in Bible teaching. Finally, in November 1927, they travelled to Chile by train. The journey took seventeen hours crossing the Andes Mountains, reaching a height of 4200 meters above sea level.

74 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PRAISE GOD FOR • Freedom to preach the gospel. We have a holiday, October 31, as the Day Of The Evangelical Churches. • The former missionaries who started the work in Chile. • The spiritual growth of the new believers. • The national missionaries and support for them. PRAY FOR • More full-time workers to work in the north of Chile, from Santiago to the frontier with Peru (small villages, with a desert climate). We also need a national agency to facilitate financial support to national workers. • A Bible School, Primary and Secondary schools and especially Christian teachers for the primary school in Coyhaique-Patagonia. • Unity among the assemblies. (We have never had an elders’ meeting or national conference.) • The assemblies need to have a missionary vision. (We have had only two missionaries overseas. Nowadays, we have only one.) • A place near Santiago to have camps, seminars, children meetings and sports events. During 25 years, the Santiago-Centro church has been organising these evangelistic efforts, without having their own place. They need it urgently!!! David Araya: [email protected] [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 75 COLOMBIA Population 49,464,000 Major religions Christianity Roman Catholic) 75% / Christianity ( (Protestant) 15% / Atheism/Agnosticism 5% / Other 5% Brethren work began in 1924 Number of congregations 216 Number of additional preaching points 40 Number of baptised believers 15,120 Number of adult attendees 11,000 The number of committed believers is about the same Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 28 AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Semilla de Trigo Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Calle 81 #82a-37 Bogotá, Colombia. Website: www.semilladetrigocolombia.com Nature of ministry: Kids’ outreach and ministry. Asociación Seguidoresde Jesucristo Email address: [email protected] Nature of ministry: The ASJ helps the churches in Bogota with their accounting and provides pastoral counselling and training. BIBLE SCHOOLS Emmaus Correspondence Courses Email address: [email protected] Website: http://www.escuelaemmaus.com/ Level of study: Informal. Length of course: Varied.

76 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Instituto de Buga la Grande Email address: [email protected] Level of study: Intern, informal study. Length of course: 2 years. Instituto Biblico FIEL Email address: [email protected] Website: www.institutofiel.com Level of study: Informal, leadership development. Works along churches to develop leaders, providing online biblical, theological and ministry education. Length of course: 3 years. INTERESTING FEATURES The Buga la Grande Bible Institute and FIEL Bible Institute are both fairly new. Buga la Grande has an intern program with students living in the Institute and FIEL has an online approach seeking for believers to grow within their local churches. The Emmaus correspondence courses are used widely and they have been key for prison work. HISTORICAL INFORMATION In 1924 William Poehner arrived in Colombia as a missionary. He was based in Pererira for a while. They were persecuted as the local Catholic priest forbad everyone from selling any kinds of products to the family. They left Colombia to go to Argentina later on. Other missionaries came later to the center and south of the country where the Brethren churches focused the work. In the early 70s Brian Killins began church planting in the capital of the city. This is where the churches known as Aposento Alto began. PRAISE GOD FOR • The freedom we have in Colombia to spread the good news, and the peace recently found in the country from a long internal guerrilla warfare.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 77 • The awakening interest in kids’ ministry and the many kids coming to the Lord. • The gospel being established and the national church being able to take the lead in spreading the gospel. • The presence of other evangelical movements that are spreading the gospel. PRAY FOR • Unity and collaboration between the churches. • A deeper desire for church planting. May we use the peace we enjoy to spread the gospel to the many towns and cities that need it. • The Lord to strengthen the current Bible Institutes so that a solid Bible education is provided and that He will instil a passion and a heart for evangelism and missions so that His work will increase in Colombia. • More Colombians coming to Christ. Christian Ramirez: [email protected]

78 The Brethren Movement Worldwide CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF Population 86,000,000 Major religions Christianity Roman Catholic) 43% / Christianity ( (Protestant) 38% / Kimbanguist 7% / Islam 5% / Other 7% (NORTH-EAST AREA) Brethren work began in 1923 Number of Brethren congregations 276 Number of additional preaching points 198 Number of baptised believers and attendees 40,000 Number of adult attendees 70,000 The number of committed believers is increasing quickly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 358 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 264 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 78 PUBLICATION The Neno la Imani magazine is no longer published because the printing press was destroyed during the war. CHURCH LINKS Everyday Publication (MSC/Canada) Email address: [email protected] Role: Providing churches with Bibles, Christian literature and hymn- books. CMML (USA) Email address: [email protected]. Role: Supports financially the activities of evangelism.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 79 GZB (Netherlands) Role: Provides Hospitals with medical materials and medicines. FREE (Switzerland) Role: Support of Brethren churches during the war and sometimes pays school fees for Bible students. BIBLE SCHOOLS Bible school of Nyankunde (French and Swahili) Email address: [email protected] Level of study: High school. Length of course: Three years. Shalom University of Bunia (USB) Level of study: Degree/Diploma. Length of course: Over three years. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The Brethren movement began in the south of DR Congo around 1886 at Katanga. It spread to the East and North-East of Congo in 1923, brought by Dr Woodams, an American, to Nyankunde. Nyankunde remained the centre of activities for a long time. But the war, which took place in 2002, destroyed all things, so we were obliged to move the office from Nyankunde to Bunia town where we have been working until now. The believers, scattered by the war, have established several assemblies, which are in need of God’s servants. This is a big challenge, so we pray for God’s providence. PRAISE GOD FOR • The privilege of the Brethren movement being established in DR Congo since 13 decades ago. • Hospitals, care centres, primary schools and high schools created with the purpose of evangelism to impact the people. • An increasing number of scholars among believers.

80 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PRAY FOR • The peace in our country. • The spread of evangelism throughout DR Congo. • The need of support for the ministry (evangelism, internet connection, etc). Muno Komi: [email protected] Christophe Lotsima: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 81 CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF Population 86,000,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 43% / Christianity (Protestant) 38% / Kimbanguist 7% / Islam 5% / Other 7% (NORTH KATANGA AREA) Brethren work began in 1886 Number of Brethren congregations 400 Number of baptised believers and attendees not known precisely The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 5 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 7 CHURCH LINKS The executive committee of Communauté Frères en Christ, Garenganze , administers the schools, medical works and Bible schools, gathers and disseminates information, reports common decisions, shares commitment and arranges biennial general assemblies of representative members of the community. Email address: [email protected] Postal address: c/o Bethany Kapezya, PO Box 20241, Kitwe, Zambia. TRAINING INSTITUTIONS CONNECTED WITH THE BRETHREN Institut Superior Theologique de Manone (ISTEMA) Postal address: B.P. 291, Manono. Note: from 1997 to 2018, ISTEMA was an exclusively theological Institution with a 3 year course. This year ISTEMA has added other options. These are: Theology: 5 years course. Agronomy: 3 years course. Computer: 3 years course. Communication: 3 years course.

82 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Institut Biblique de Mulongo (IBM ) & Institut Biblique Evangelique de Muyumba (IBEMU) Level of study: College course. Length of course: 4 years. Institut Biblique Agape, Katchambuyu; Institut Biblique Kyolo; Institut Biblique Evangelique de Nyunzu (Ibenzu); Institut Biblique Kabumbulu (IBK); Institut Biblique Kalemie Level of studies: High school. Length of courses: 3-4 years part time. Mini Bible school Runs for 3 weeks every year in one area. INTERESTING FEATURES Mulongo Hospital is an effective way for evangelism and helps a lot of people in the DR Congo church. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The Brethren movement began in Congo on the 14 February 1886, th when Frederick Stanley Arnot from Scotland came. In 1904, he founded the ‘Garenganze Evangelical Mission’, which became the ‘Frères En Christ Garenganze’. PRAISE GOD FOR • Christians are free to preach Christ and to worship him everywhere all the time in DR Congo. • DR Congo government agreed to bachelor level (2 years) courses to be run in our theological school (ISTEMA). • Overseas support for building churches, financial assistance to some pastors, schools, Mulongo Hospital and Bible teachers.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 83 PRAY FOR • Ethnic conflicts to be completely stopped. • The plan to begin between 50 and 100 new churches in the next 3 years. • Training for Sunday School teachers, youth leaders and ministries among families, women and men. • Christian education in primary and secondary schools. Kalonda Mulenda Shaledja Pierre: [email protected]

84 The Brethren Movement Worldwide CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF Population 86,000,000 Major religions Christianity Roman Catholic) 43% / Christianity ( (Protestant) 38% / Kimbanguist 7% / Islam 5% / Other 7% (SOUTH KATANGA AREA) Brethren work began in 1942 Number of Brethren congregations 55 Number of additional preaching points 4 Number of baptised believers 2,000 Total number of adult attendees not known The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 55 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 15 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 2 BIBLE SCHOOL Here is The Path Email address: [email protected] Level of study: High school. Length of course: 4 years. INTERESTING FEATURES The word of God is preached at primary and secondary schools, hospitals, and Sunday schools and at work. Unusual: Many Christians revert to witchcraft ideas when death or illness happens. HISTORICAL INFORMATION In our country, missionaries are the ones that brought Good News, built churches and so on. Then some local persons continued the work.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 85 PRAISE GOD FOR • Basic teaching about the true and real God. • Schools and hospitals, which stimulate and sustain the church. • Prayers of our missionaries, even if they are not in our area. PRAY FOR • Church growth. • Peace in the country. • For the ministers in villages who are suffering. • Peace in the country. Dieudonné Kayombo Kahangu: [email protected]

86 The Brethren Movement Worldwide CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF Population 86,000,000 Major religions Christianity Roman Catholic) 43% / Christianity ( (Protestant) 38% / Kimbanguist 7% / Islam 5% / Other 7% (SECOND COMMUNITY OF BRETHREN) Work began in 1920 (James Anton) Number of congregations 168 Number of believers 13,440 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 175 INTERESTING FEATURES We have a hospital at Chibambo and a health centre located at Pweto. In addition we have about 50 schools (primary and secondary). PRAISE GOD FOR • The outreach through the hospitals and schools. • The increased number of congregations. PRAY FOR • The training of pastors and leaders. • The supply of finance needed for the work of evangelisation, mission and church life. Elie Lwanga: [email protected] Richard Muteta: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 87 COSTA RICA Population 4,953,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 76% / Christianity (Protestant) 14% / Other religions 5% / No religion 3% Brethren work began in 1970 Number of congregations 4 Number of additional preaching points 2 Number of baptised believers 90 Total number of adult attendees 130 The number of committed believers is decreasing slowly AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Campamento Mahanain Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campamento.mahanain?fref=ts Role: Promotes evangelistic camps, conferences. HISTORICAL INFORMATION In the year 1970, brother Douglas Elliot Reid (Canada) and his family travelled to Costa Rica from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, by land, after having served in Cuba for some years. They settled down in Ciudad Colon, and began to preach the gospel and to build the work in this community. This assembly remains in force, although it has suffered a major division in recent years by brothers who have been separated by having exclusivist teachings. At the same time (1968), and independently, brother Cristino Reyes of Salvadoran origin and his Honduran wife, together with their children, had been transferred by the United Fruit Company from Honduras so that the brother could direct the banana plantations in the Atlantic Coast, Costa Rica. They settled in the City of Guapiles and began to meet in a family home and then brother Cristino began preaching to his

88 The Brethren Movement Worldwide workers, and established a very strong church. In those years, another assembly arose in the community of Rio Frio. These assemblies were thriving until the death of brother Cristino in 2005. After this, the assembly in Guapiles was greatly reduced and that of Rio Frio acquired teaching not accepted by the other congregations (for example that there should be no disciplines or baptisms) and it was separated from the other congregations. Around the year 1980 the brothers Ed Presley and Dave Booth (Canada) began to preach in the cities of Greece and San Ramon where two very strong assemblies were established in the 80s. Brother Booth remained in Costa Rica until the 1990s and, after his departure, the assemblies began to decline, to the point of closing the assembly of Greece in 2014. The San Ramon assembly began to have leadership problems that resulted in the separation of this assembly from the communion of the other assemblies, since the exclusivist teachings were established in this congregation. In 1987 brothers who travelled to Ciudad Colon from San Juan de Dios de Desamparados, San Jose, decided to start preaching the gospel at the home of Brother Stanley Valverde. After a few months it was decided to establish an assembly in this place and a few months later a place was rented. From 1990 till 2000, with the support of the brothers of Canada, this assembly had substantial growth. It has continued to the present at the same level without any significant growth in recent years. In 2006, brothers who lived in the Quitirrisi community and who attended Ciudad Colon, including Juan Santillan and his family and David Gonzalez and his family, decided to start meeting at the Mahanain camp and a few months later an assembly was established. In the community of Quitirrisi, this church had a slight growth, until a similar group of brothers was maintained in the last years. At the end of 2016, brother Kory Crawford of Canada travelled to Costa Rica with his family as a missionary assigned to work in the country, the first since 1980 and the only one currently in the country. The brother began to preach in the City of Alajuela in the year 2017, but there were no conversions. For the year 2019 the brother will wait to preach in the city of Cartago.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 89 PRAISE GOD FOR • The interest of people in the Lord. • Laws that do not hinder the opening of new assemblies. PRAY FOR • Union in the national work. • The need for full-time missionaries. • New places to preach the Gospel. • The growth of the assemblies. Edwin Leon: [email protected]

90 The Brethren Movement Worldwide CROATIA Population 10,234,092 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 86% / Christianity (Eastern Orthodox) 4.5% / Christianity (Protestant) 0.35% / No religion 3.8% / Islam 1.5% Brethren work began in 1930s Number of Brethren congregations 4 Number of additional preaching points 1 Number of baptised believers 180 Total number of adult attendees 200 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 3 PUBLISHING HOUSE Euroliber Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Trg M. Pavlinvića 1, 21000 Split. Website: http://www.euroliber.hr HISTORICAL INFORMATION In the1930s a group of Brethren from Italy began to visit Croatia in the small town of Opatija. This was the first group of believers who later moved to the city of Rijeka where today there is an assembly of believers. The assembly strives to fellowship with evangelical Christians in Croatia and also focus their attention on people in need of the gospel as well as material needs. In the east of Croatia a community of believers in Ilok started a little earlier, as a result of the missionary work of believers among the Slovak minority. Later the movement spread to several cities including the capital city of Zagreb where there is still a small assembly of believers. At the beginning of the 1991 war, a group of brothers from Germany began with humanitarian work that turned into an assembly,

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 91 so there is an assembly in the city of Split and a new one in the city of Zagreb. The community in Split also deals with the publishing of Christian literature and is one of the most important in Croatia. PRAISE GOD THAT • There are still churches in Croatia. Some are moving faster, some slower, but the number of converted people is growing. • Assemblies are sensitive to the needs of people. • There are young people who want to work on the expansion of the kingdom of God. • There are young believers who strive to study God’s word within churches. PRAY FOR • The stable spiritual growth of believers in churches. • New Leaders for a responsible and smarter organised service. • Evangelisation outside the church and outside private contacts. Damir Strbad: [email protected]

92 The Brethren Movement Worldwide CUBA Population 11,489,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 60% / Christianity (Protestant) 5% / African spirituality 11% / Atheism/Non-religious 24% Brethren work began in 1935 Number of Brethren congregations 30 PRAISE GOD FOR • Two assemblies in the capital, which have experienced healthy growth. • Solid teaching in the assemblies in the extreme west end. • The assemblies in the east end which are maintaining their testimony. PRAY FOR • Many unsaved young people who attend meetings. • The after effects of the recent tornado. Hundreds of homes were wiped out. • The shortage of basic commodities. • Unity among the various fellowships. Al Adams: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 93 CZECH REPUBLIC Population 10,580,000 Major religions No religion or not stated 77% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 10% / Christianity (Protestant) 3% / Believers not identifying with any group 9% / Other 1% [Many people will not state their religion] Brethren work began in 1909 Number of Brethren congregations 33 Number of additional preaching points 9 Number of committed believers 1,000 Total number of adult attendees 1,200 The number of committed believers is decreasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 3 PUBLICATION Zive slovo (Living Word ) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Okrajová 3, 737 01, Cesky Têsin. Website: www.ziveslovo.cz Published quarterly, in Czech and Slovak languages. AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES DEN Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Chrpová 9, 641 00 Brno. Nature of ministry: Street children, youth work, low-threshold facility, library, Bible training, lecturing, children’s clubs, camps for children, children’s missions, literature, audio and video cassettes, cooperation with schools, holding concerts and sports events, cooperation with Trans World Radio.

94 The Brethren Movement Worldwide CHURCH LINKS Krestanske sbory, Mezioborov rada Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Samalova 15a, Brno 615 00 Website: www.krestanskesbory.cz Role: Connecting and cooperating with the assemblies. Organising elders meetings. BIBLE SCHOOLS SBV, o.p.s. (Bible school providing biblical education for church ministers) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Slezská 874, Český Těšín, 737 01 Level of study: Basic preaching courses Length of course: 3. PUBLISHING HOUSE A-ALEF Křesťanské sbory Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Samalova 15a, Brno 615 00. Křesťanský sbor Ostrava-Kunčičky Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Bořivojova 29, Ostrava-Kunčičky, CZ 718 00. Emmaus Correspondence School Website: www.emaus.cz Web with biblical content Website: www.ethos.cz Role: Evangelistic and for building up Christians. INTERESTING FEATURES - Annually, there are three local conferences with 200-400 attendees.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 95 - In Ostrava Poruba: Sermons are translated into sign language and sign language for deaf people is taught. - In Brno: There is a public library with about 1000 books to be borrowed. There is a work amongst homeless Romany people, feeding, preaching … - In Ostrava Zábřeh: There are artists’ meetings. - In Český Těšín: There is community Bible reading. - In Blansko: There is an association LAVINA for young Romany people and children. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The Assemblies started in 1909. In the 1950s they were forbidden for six years. After the iron curtain fell in1989 there was total freedom. In the 1990s there was a boom of evangelising. Since 2010 a lack of vision and some complacency are being felt. PRAISE GOD FOR • Freedom to live as Christians and to proclaim the gospel. • An abundance of material resources. • Good and fruitful relationships between the Brethren congregations in Czechia. PRAY FOR • No loss of the younger generation; giving them a vision of evangelisation and assemblies’ growth. • New workers for coordinating the youth work and assemblies’ activities. • Mobilisation and courage for evangelising. • A desire for closer fellowship and contacts as Christians. Jan Vopalecký: [email protected]

96 The Brethren Movement Worldwide DENMARK Population 5.5 million Major religions Christianity (Evangelical Lutheran) 75% / Christianity (other) 3% / No religion 20% / Other religions 2% Brethren work began in 1890 Number of Brethren congregations 5 Number of baptised believers 300 Total number of adult attendees 400 The number of committed believers is remaining the same Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 7 HISTORICAL INFORMATION A brother called Thomas English started the movement in Denmark in 1890. While staying in London, one day he entered a Gospel Hall, where there was a gospel meeting. Here he was saved and left the hall as a completely changed person. Throughout the 20th century, many visiting preachers from Scotland and England blessed the movement in Denmark. Some of them even stayed here for many years, and the movement grew. Specifically, the Faroe Islands —an independent part of Denmark—should be mentioned. Today the movement there comprises at least 10% of the population. PRAISE GOD FOR • An increasing interest to go out to meet people to get them interested in the gospel. • A couple of churches have made extra arrangements to meet people who do not understand Danish, e.g. to have a ‘language café’. • The liberty we still have to preach His Word.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 97 PRAY FOR • Our families to be kept close to Him. We experience that our families are under a great attack from the world. • Our young people. We experience more and more that our young people choose non-Christian partners. Pray that they will choose partners who will be a support to them in their walk with Jesus. • The efforts that are made to meet people and show them to Jesus. • Continued full liberty to preach the gospel – and that we will use this liberty. Niels Pauli Nónstein: [email protected]

98 The Brethren Movement Worldwide DOMINICA Population 74,400 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 61% / Christianity (Evangelical) 18% / Minority religious groups 2% / No religion 6% Brethren work began in 1959 Number of Brethren congregations 5 Number of additional preaching points 0 Number of committed believers is decreasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregation s 0 HISTORICAL INFORMATION The mission work started in Dominica in 1959 by the arrival of brother Samuel McCune and his wife Sally from Northern Ireland. They had been working in the neighbouring island of Barbados and had been encouraged to visit Dominica. In 1961 through their continuous labour the first assembly, the Salisbury Assembly, was planted in Dominica. Following the death of her husband, Sally continued to work in Dominica until 2005 when she returned to her own country because of illness. Sally was fully engaged in children’s and youth work until her departure. She was assisted greatly in the Salisbury work for 12 years by sister Daisy Ashby of Barbados. Brother Peter Simms of Canada started missionary work in Dominica in 1970 and helped to establish three assemblies - Roseau, Petite Savanne and Cockrane. Brother Ken Taylor served as a missionary in Dominica from 1974 and helped establish the Laudat assembly in 1983.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 99 PRAISE GOD FOR • The testimony of the local churches in the respective communities. • The positive testimony of individuals from the assemblies. • The unity of the local churches in Dominica. PRAY THAT • Males in particular would take up the challenge of personal evangelism. • Brothers would take an interest in leadership of local assemblies. • More believers would develop love for study of the Word of God. • Assemblies in Dominica would learn modern biblically supported strategies for working with youth. Merrill J. Matthew: [email protected]

100 The Brethren Movement Worldwide DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Population 10,882,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 57% / Christianity (Protestant) 23% / Unaffiliated 18% / Other religions 2% Brethren work began in 1919 Number of Brethren congregations 126 Number of baptised believers 3,500-4,000 HISTORICAL INFORMATION The first missionaries arrived in 1919 and settled in the north coast of the Dominican Republic establishing churches which now number approximately 126. The total membership is approximately 3,500-4,000, mainly centred in the large cities. Juan Vila: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 101 ECUADOR Population 16,863,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 77% / Christianity (Protestant) 14% / No religion 8% / Other religions 1% Brethren work began in 1957 Number of congregations 28 Number of additional preaching points 9 Number of baptised believers 1,200 Total number of adult attendees 1,800 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 8 PUBLICATIONS Names of God Email address: [email protected] Website address: www.labibliadice.org One Pause in your Life Email address: [email protected] Website address: www.labibliadice.org Contemporary Missionary Stories Email address: [email protected] Local Church Concepts. Address: Alborada Assembly. AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES In 2015, the idea of creating the Ecuadorian Missionary Foundation was born and is currently in the process of being legalised. It consists of five members on the board, who are elders of several assemblies.

102 The Brethren Movement Worldwide BIBLE SCHOOLS The Ecuadorian Missionary Bible Institute. Founded in 1998 in the city of Quito. All teachers and staff are members of the various Brethren assemblies. Length of course: 4 years. Emmaus Correspondence Bible School. Length of course: Distance education and small groups Bible study. INTERESTING FEATURES Assemblies are currently promoting interest in missionary work, with the purpose of raising awareness of the expansion of the assemblies. PRAISE GOD FOR • The growth of our assemblies in our country. • The communion between the assemblies of Quito, by means of conferences, picnics and other activities together. • The communion and projects of the elders of the assemblies of the whole country and for the annual elders’ retreats that have been a great blessing. PRAY FOR • Continuing to maintain the unity of our assemblies and thus advance the preaching of the gospel and maintenance of sound doctrine. • Each one of the elders of each assembly, for their families and their health. • The Ecuadorian Missionary Foundation for its objectives and goals. • The Ecuadorian Missionary Bible Institute, staff and students. Milton J. Ortega: [email protected] David Logacho: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 103 EGYPT Population 99,375,000 Major religions Islam 90% / Christianity (Coptic Orthodox) 8% / Christianity (other) 2% / Agnosticism and Atheism are growing but numbers are difficult to obtain. Brethren work began in 1928 Number of congregations 35 Number of additional preaching points 5 Number of baptised believers 3,500 Total number of adult attendees 6,000 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 7 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 3 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 3 MAGAZINES PUBLISHED Still Waters Email address: [email protected] Telephone: +2012 23695072 CHURCH LINKS CMML Alexandria Conference Center of Brethren assemblies. Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 253 Alsaray, Alexandria, Egypt. Website: www.opbrch.com Nature of ministry: Gathering assemblies for fellowship and discipleship and evangelism and teaching.

104 The Brethren Movement Worldwide BIBLE SCHOOLS Amas Institute INTERESTING FEATURES Bible teaching and evangelising TV Programs, are broadcast to the Arabic nations around the world through the satellite and social media. HISTORICAL INFORMATION Open Brethren work started in 1928 in Cairo with the families of Br. Erian Botros and Br. Nicola Aboud. Then they moved to upper Egypt to preach the gospel there. Many believed and were baptised and they began meeting to break bread at Assiut, Sohag, Cairo, Mallawi and then Alexandria. Then many decided to become full-time workers in cities and villages and districts. They also translated many books from English into Arabic. Then they started gathering at camps for evangelism and teaching, and many guests came from England and Scotland. In recent times, there has been more stability and peace in the country which has not been encountered before in the Middle East. Thanks to the Lord. PRAISE GOD FOR • Love and responsibility among the believers. • The establishment of new ministries such as a nursing home, conference centres, and assembly churches. • Getting licences for assemblies. • Growth in the believers and the assemblies. PRAY FOR • Peace and safety for the brethren. • The economy of Egypt. • The Lord to give us more spiritual gifts and abilities. • Provision for all the needs. Talaat Fikry: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 105 ETHIOPIA Population 107,534,000 Major religions Christianity (Eastern Orthodox) 43.5% / Christianity (Protestant) 18.6%) / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 0.7% / Islam 33.9% / Traditional beliefs 2.6% Brethren work began in 1952 Number of Brethren congregations 250 Number of additional preaching points 17 Number of baptised believers 31,525 Total number of adult attendees 39,000+ The number of committed believers is increasing quickly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 297 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 12 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 10 BIBLE SCHOOL Chobi Bible School Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 12993, Addis Ababa. Length of course: 4 years. T net International Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 12993, Addis Ababa. Length of course: 3 years. INTERESTING FEATURES We believe in holistic ministry. We have two kindergartens, Kemisie and Kaffa, and we work with Compassion International. We support 3000 children in nine different projects with different local churches and assemblies.

106 The Brethren Movement Worldwide HISTORICAL INFORMATION Our missionaries came from the UK in 1952 and began to work in three areas, Bati, Degun and Addis Ababa. Before they were forced to leave the country in 1978, they opened schools and clinics in these three areas. PRAISE GOD FOR • The committed full-time workers. • The elders who are working sacrificially. • The open doors in Ethiopia. • The religious freedom we have. PRAY FOR • The ethnic problem in Ethiopia. • The churches that are working in a strong Muslim area. • Our church planters who are working in a difficult area. Mulugeta Ashagre Endeshaw: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 107 FAROE ISLANDS Population 50,500 Major religions Christianity (Faroese Lutheran Church) 85% / Christianity (other communities including the Brethren) 13% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 0.01% Brethren work began in 1865 Number of congregations 30 Number of additional preaching points 4 Number of baptised believers 5,000 Total number of adult attendees 7,000 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 5 Number of itinerant evangelists 7 Number of itinerant Bible teachers 4 PUBLICATIONS Forlagið Leirkeriõ Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Guttormsgøta 28, Torshavn. Website: www.leirkerid.fo Logos Email address: [email protected] Postal address: J. Nolsøesgøta 17, Torshavn. JUZ Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Guttormsgøta 28, Torshavn. Bíbliugrunnurin (Bible Society) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Boks 69, 100 Torshavn.

108 The Brethren Movement Worldwide AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Akurin Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Postrum 40, 700 Klaksvik. Nature of ministry: Missionary letters and news. Kristniboðssambandið Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Landavegur 90, FO-100 Torshavn. Nature of ministry: Missionary news. CHURCH LINKS Zarepta Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 385 Vatnsoyrar. Website: www.zarepta.fo Role: Church camp. Zarepta is a church, youth, and family camp facility that links the Brethren churches together. All are responsible for maintaining and expanding the work there. It has been a great blessing for the Brethren churches, linking them together in a very special way and protecting their unity. BIBLE SCHOOLS Ebenezer Bible Seminary Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Torshavn. Website: www.ebenezer.fo Level of study: None specified. Length of course: Full day. Livdin Church Bible Seminary Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Hoyvik. Website: www.livdin.fo Level of study: None specified. Length of course: 1 day - 8 weeks.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 109 Parola Bible Seminary - in Italy (for Faroese young people) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: La Fonte, Pietracatella, Italy. Level of study: None specified. Length of course: 1 week. PUBLISHING HOUSES Leirkeriõ Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Guttormsgøta 28, Torshavn. Website: www.leirkerid.fo JUZ Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Guttormsgøta 28, Torshavn. Bíbliugrunnurin (Bible Society) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Boks 69, 100 Torshavn. INTERESTING FEATURES Zarepta Children/Youth camp Lindin Christian Radio, Torshavn IKTUS Christian TV station, Søldafjørður Ordid.fo – On-line bible teaching Livdin Church Center, Torshavn – Sermong Online Livdin Church Center, Torshavn – Primary/secondary school study café HISTORICAL INFORMATION William Gibson Sloan came from Scotland to the Faroe Islands in 1865, where he began to preach the gospel in the villages around the islands. After 13 years of hard labour, God granted the first convert, which then began a wave of blessing over the islands, resulting in many church plants around the islands.

110 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Read further on https://www.jogvanz.org/single-post/2018/02/26/A- Fisher-of-Man-in-the-Faroe-Islands PRAISE GOD FOR • Many children who are saved at Zarepta children’s/youth camp every year. • Hundreds of young people who gather regularly at youth events around the islands. • The interest in short-term mission: NTM, OM, YWAM, GLO. • Churches are getting more organised in leadership, Bible-teaching and shepherding. PRAY FOR • More full-time workers in the churches around the islands. • More travelling Bible teachers around the islands. • Greater interest in long-term mission around the world. • Greater integration between believer’s faith and daily life. Jógvan Zachariassen: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 111 FIJI Population 912,250 Major religions Christianity (Protestant) 55% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 9.1% / Hinduism 27.9% / Islam 6.3% / No religion 0.8% [No new statistics since 2007 census] Brethren work began in 1934 Number of congregations 24 Number of additional preaching points 6 comprising … 2 preschools and primary schools 1 secondary school 1 school for the deaf Emmaus Bible School Prison ministry The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations on average one per congregation Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 6 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 4 MISSION SERVICE AGENCY Fiji Brethren Missions Email address: (Eliki Lalauvaki) [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 17862, Suva. CHURCH LINKS Brethren Mission (Fiji) Email address: (Taitusi Tavakaturaga) [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 238, Suva, Fiji. Role: Coordinating body registered under Fiji’s Religious Bodies

112 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Registration Act (CAP 68), an Act to regulate the registration of religious bodies and their representation by trustees for the management of lawsuits and for the holding of land. Fiji Gospel Churches Trust Email address: (Taitusi Tavakaturaga) - [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 238, Suva. Role: Coordinating body registered under Fiji’s Charitable Trusts Act (CAP 67), an Act to provide for the incorporation of the trustees of charitable and other trusts, for the extension of charitable trusts, and for other purposes connected therewith. BIBLE SCHOOLS Emmaus Bible School (under the auspices of Sambula Gospel Chapel) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 3936, Samabula, Suva, Fiji. Website: www.samabulagospelchapel.com Level of study: Certificate and diploma courses by correspondence and face-to-face mode. Length of course: Correspondence courses at learner’s pace. BIBLE STUDIES: Community Bible Study (CBS) (Similar to Bible Study Fellowship www.bsfinternational.org) Email address: Phyllis Hazelman (Coordinator) [email protected] Website: www.communitybiblestudy.org Know Your Bible (KYB) Coordinator: Akosita Delai, [email protected] Navigators Email address: Taitusi Tavakaturaga (Coordinator) [email protected] Website: www.navigators.org; www.navpress.com Word of Life Email address: Jale Mareu (Coordinator) [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 113 MAILBOX CLUB Email address: Nilesh Goundar (Coordinator) [email protected] Website: www.mailboxclub.net INTERESTING FEATURES A number of our elders are members of the Gideons. The Brethren are also part of parachurch ministries with some coordinating the work. We are leaders in tract ministry work in Fiji. The tracts, developed and printed in Fiji, are finding acceptance from many people and are distributed in hospitals, health centres, educational institutions, cultural festivals, homes, prisons and to tourists on cruise ships. Tracts have also been used for outreach work in Pacific Island countries. All 12 tracts with entry points on contemporary issues including climate change, depression etc. are available on the website www.samabulagospelchapel. com. Social media is increasingly becoming a popular way to network and communicate assembly work. The following fellowships have Facebook pages: Balabala Brethren; Logani Brethren Assembly; Nausori Brethren; Raiwai Gospel Brethren; Samabula Gospel Chapel; Sigatoka Gospeli. HISTORICAL INFORMATION According to Mr J.F. Crane, assembly work in Fiji had its beginning in 1931 when an engineer from Palmerston North, New Zealand, Mr E.D. Berry, came to Fiji to install machinery in the Rewa Diary Company factory (then at Nausori) and in the butter factory at Navua. In later years, he attended to all refrigeration works in Corbett’s Butchery in Suva and several centres. At Tavua, he assisted in well-boring and refrigeration and supplied the Vatukoula Gold Mines with ‘Berry’ belt dressing and bitumastic paints. Berry returned to New Zealand in 1931 but came back to Fiji in 1934 and remained here for most of the remainder of his life. He was a hardworking man and lived very frugally. He helped many people in their financial needs and bore most of the cost of the Ba Gospel Chapel. In his will he left a considerable sum to assembly work in Fiji. The Lautoka Gospel Chapel was built mainly from this. Mr Berry passed away in New Zealand in 1953 and Berry Engineering Works has passed through several hands since then.

114 The Brethren Movement Worldwide In the overruling guidance of the Holy Spirit, several brethren from overseas were in Fiji in the early 1930s, some visiting, some resident, but all burdened in heart for the spiritual welfare of the colony. When Mr Berry returned to Fiji in 1934, his first real contact was Mr Sperber, an elderly gentleman who itinerated on foot over many parts of Fiji carrying his worldly possessions on his back. Mr Berry’s circular letter in 1940 said this of Mr Sperber: ‘He at times walked through mud a foot deep, tried to sleep in cane fields but could not because of the mosquitoes, slept on hard boards, in his work of love to reach the few isolated saints and present the gospel to sinners.’ Mr Berry’s letter went on to describe the first breaking of bread meeting: ‘After a month of prayer on December 2, 1934, we started to remember the Lord with the minimum number, Brother Sperber and myself.’ When Mr Crane came in 1937, a flame was introduced into Fiji that burnt for 47 years. In December 1984, the senior Cranes left Fiji to return to New Zealand. Their son Arthur continued the work with his wife Jean until they left Fiji for New Zealand in 2001. Many are the contributions over the decades by the saints, missionaries working alongside locals, their labour not in vain. Today we are a partnership of over 20 assemblies Fiji-wide and have moved to the Pacific region with assemblies in Tuvalu and Nauru. The Gospel Schools are an integral part of the partnership: Gospel Primary School and Kindergarten in Samabula and Nasinu, Gospel High School and Gospel School for the Deaf also in Suva, and Labasa Gospel Kindergarten. The partnership is also a leader in the camping ministry in Fiji with three campsites, namely the Coral Coast Christian Centre in Deuba, Sabeto Christian Camp, Nadi and the Navava Christian Camp in Savusavu. PRAISE GOD FOR • His faithfulness to the assemblies and ministries. • The help we can be to the assemblies and outreach in Pacific Islands (Nauru, Tuvalu, Tonga, Solomon Islands). • The mission field provided in the Gospel Schools. • Revival of sound and systematic Bible-based teaching. • Outreach to minority and unreached peoples.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 115 PRAY FOR • Adherence to Sola Scriptura. • Affectionate care and watchfulness over each other. • More joint ministry opportunities (schools, camps, assemblies). • Evangelistic urgency and fervour. • Growth in Christlikeness. • Biblically qualified elders who are apt to teach. Nilesh Goundar: [email protected]

116 The Brethren Movement Worldwide FINLAND Population: 5,550,000 Major religions: Christianity (Evangelical Lutheran) 70% / Christianity (Orthodox and other Protestant) 2% / Other religions 0.75% / Unaffiliated 27.25% Brethren work began in Late 19 century th Number of house fellowships 30+ (and maybe more) INTERESTING FEATURES Brethren-related work began in the late 19 century, resulting in ‘Free th Churches’ (Vapaakirkko), a proportion of which still seek to maintain Brethren practices in their church life. In addition, missionaries connected with the Brethren have spent periods in Finland since the Second World War, and a number of house fellowships have resulted. Taken together, these local groups of believers amount to 30+ in number, and maybe considerably more. These fellowships are visited from time to time by ministering brethren from other Scandinavian countries and elsewhere. HISTORICAL INFORMATION In the 19 century the Duchy of Finland was part of the Russian Empire th and, as a result, it was influenced by the evangelistic visits that Brethren- related figures such as Lord Radstock, Friedrich Wilhelm Baedeker, and George Muller paid to the Tzarist Court at St. Petersburg. Radstock and Baedeker also preached in Helsinki, including at the university, assisted by Pietist figures in the Finnish Lutheran church such as the influential Mathilda Vrede. The result was the establishment of a number of Free Church (Vapaa Kirko) congregations with many of the features of congregations in the Brethren movement. With the passage of time, the Free Church was affected by theological and social liberalism,

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 117 but a minority remain biblically-based and committed to a simple, biblical ecclesiology. In the decades since the Second World War, commended Brethren missionaries have worked in Finland for shorter and longer periods. The result has been a number of scattered house meetings, which continue to be visited by ministering brethren from other Scandinavian countries. A number of Finnish believers are concerned to see the growth and strengthening of these fellowships. PRAISE GOD FOR • The survival of the local fellowships described. • The desire of some to see them grow and flourish spiritually. PRAY FOR • The establishment of more gatherings in tune with the perfect will of God and for the too many scattered believers to find these places for regular fellowship. • More believers to see the primordial importance of reading the Bible themselves, to see what the Scripture teaches. Too many turn to websites without discerning what is sound and what is not. • The Christians to assemble in unity as the family of God and not on generational-lines, dividing the Body of Christ. • Believers to live in obedience to the Word of God rather than preferences as to the atmosphere and life-style. B.V. Henry: [email protected]

118 The Brethren Movement Worldwide FRANCE Population 66,900,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 51% / Christianity (Protestant) 4% / Islam 6% / No religion 39% Brethren work began in 1850 Number of congregations 115 Number of additional preaching points 119 Total number of adult attendees 5,845 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 99 AGENCIES SERVING THE BRETHREN CHURCHES Entente Évangélique des Communautés et Assemblées Evangéliques de France Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 18 bis rue Pasteur 26000 Valence. Website: www.caef.net Nature of ministry: Federation. ASMAF Email address: [email protected] Website: http://mission.caef.net/ Nature of ministry: Outreach mission. AJC Email address: [email protected] Website: https://ajc.caef.net/ Nature of ministry: Youth work. MISSION SERVICE AGENCY Pole Mission Email address: [email protected] Website: http://mission.caef.net/

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 119 CHURCH LINKS Entente Évangélique des CAEF Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 18 bis rue Pasteur 26000 Valence. Website: www.caef.net Role: Support and supervise church growth and full time workers. BIBLE SCHOOL Institut Biblique de Genève Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 120, Route de la Capite CH-1253 Vandoeuvres, Suisse Website: https://www.ibg.cc/ Level of study: Diploma. Length of course: 4 years. PUBLISHING HOUSE Editions des CAEF Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Editions CAEF – 3bis rue Casimir Périer – 38000 Grenoble. Website: www.servir.caef.net HISTORICAL INFORMATION The first link with the Brethren movement was with the first Geneva Independent Assembly about 1825 and the coming of a few missionaries from this church to France, men like Ami Bost and Félix Neff. Actually they did not start Brethren assemblies in France, but they worked inside the French National (Evangelical) Reformed Church. The visit of John Darby about 1840 was the beginning of a movement of the Exclusive Brethren. In 1850, the first small Open Brethren assembly started near Paris. About 1880, a few workers and missionaries came to the South of France from Italy and Switzerland.

120 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PRAISE GOD FOR • New churches being planted. • The youth work. • A new generation of leaders. PRAY FOR • The need for more full time workers. • Need for greater help provided to the local churches. • The challenge of continuous training for the elders and full time workers. • New ways of raising money for ministry and projects. David Sutherland: [email protected] Pierre Bariteau, National Secretary: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 121 GERMANY Population 82,670,000 Major religions Christianity (Protestant) 33% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 31% / Other religions (including Islam) 5% / No religion 31% There are four branches of the Brethren churches in Germany: - Free Brethren (FB) 30%, left the exclusive group 1937 - New assemblies (NV) 15%, left the exclusive group in the last 20 years - Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Brüdergemeinden (AGB) 21%, left 1937 -Exclusive-closed Brethren 33% Brethren work began in 1853 Number of congregations FB 190 AGB 138 (2015) NV 56 (2015) Number of additional preaching points 190 Total number of adult attendees FB 15,000 AGB 10,000 (2015) NV 5,000 (2015) The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations FB 5 AGB 60 (2015) NV 0 (2015) Number of full-time itinerant evangelists FB 24 AGB 5 (2015) NV 3 (2015) Wiedenest, including full-time workers in children’s and youth ministry 14 (2015)

122 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers FB 14 AGB 11 NV 3 (2015) Wiedenest 20 (2015) PUBLICATIONS Perspektive Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Christliche Verlagsgesellschaft, Am Güterbahnof 26, D-35683. Dillenburg. Website: http://www-cv-perspektive.de A magazine for adult believers. Germeinde aktuell Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Christliche Verlagsgesellschaft, Am Güterbahnof 26, D-35683 Dillenburg. A magazine for adult believers. STEPS Email address: [email protected] Postal address: CJ, Hundesegen 2, D-27432 Basdahl. Website: www.365steps.de A media-project with five branches for young believers. cj-lernen Spezial Email address: [email protected] Postal address: CJ, Hundesegen 2, D-27432 Basdahl. Website: www.cj-lernen.de An internet platform and a magazine for youth-workers. EINS in Christus - EINS im Auftrag Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Christliche Verlagsgesellschaft, Am Güterbahnof 26, D-35683 Dillenburg. A little prayer magazine for world mission, included in the Perspektive magazine.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 123 Kinder-Entdeckerheft - EINS im Auftrag Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Christliche Verlagsgesellschaft, Am Güterbahnof 26, D-35683 Dillenburg. Website: www.kinder-entdeckerheft.de A magazine for children. Volltreffer - EINS im Auftrag Email address: [email protected] Postal address: AKJS, Halbenmorgen 20, D-51427 Bergisch-Gladbach. Website: www.online-volltreffer.de A magazine for children. Mittendrin - EINS im Auftrag Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Christliche Verlagsgesellschaft, Am Güterbahnof 26, D-35683 Dillenburg. Website: www.online-mittendrin.de A magazine for children’s workers. Unterwegs - EINS im Auftrag Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Barmer Zeltmission e. V. Kirchstr. 4, D-35685 Dillenburg. Website: www.barmerzeltmission.de A magazine for evangelistic ministry. AGENCIES SERVING THE CHURCHES Arbeitskreis Zeit für Kids Email address: [email protected] Postal address: AK Kinderarbeit, c/o Christiane, Am Güterbahnhof 26, D-35683 Dillenburg. Nature of ministry: Ministry for children nationwide. Arbeitskreis Jungschar Email address: [email protected] Postal address: AKJS, c/o Ralf Kausemann, Halbenmorgen 20,

124 The Brethren Movement Worldwide D-51427 Bergisch-Gladbach. Website: www.arbeitskreis-jungschar.de Nature of ministry: Ministry for kids nationwide. Schwesterherz Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Schwesterherz, c/o Dietlinde Jung, Frohnhäuer Str. 15, D-35685 Dillenburg. Website: www.schwesterherz-zeiten.de Nature of ministry: Ministry among women nationwide. Barmer Zeltmission Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Barmer Zeltmission, c/o Volker Braas, Kirchstr. 4, D-35683 Dillenburg. Websites: www.barmerzeltmission.de or www.life-is-more.de Nature of ministry: Tent missions, coffee-bus, action-bus, bus for immigrants. CJ Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Hundesegen 2, D-27432 Basdahl. Website: www.cj-info.de/ Nature of ministry: Youth ministry nationwide. CRG Reisen gGmbH Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Hundesegen 2, D-27432 Basdahl. Website: www.crg-reisen.de Nature of ministry: Tourist party for camps and holidays for all ages. Stiftung der Brüdergemeinden In Deutschland Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Stiftung der Brüdergemeinden in Deutschland, Neustr. 18, 35685 Dillenburg. Website: www.stiftung-bruedergemeinden.de

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 125 Nature of ministry: Supporting Brethren churches with credits for financing of church buildings, consulting in questions of finances and taxes for the churches. MISSION SERVICE AGENCIES Arbeitskreis für Außenmission in freien Brüdergemeinden Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Stiftung der Brüdergemeinden in Deutschland, Neustr. 18, 35685 Dillenburg. Bibel- und Missionshilfe Ost e. V. Email address: [email protected] Postal address: BMO e. V., c/o Bernd-Albert Schneider, Alte Stroth 10, D-57586 Weitefeld. Culture-Dialog-Bus / Barmer Zeltmission Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Barmer Zeltmission, c/o Volker Braas, Kirchstr. 4, D-35683 Dillenburg. Websites: www.barmerzeltmission.de/die-busse/kulturdialogbus/ Forum Wiedenest Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Eichendorffstr. 2, 51702 Bergneustadt. Website: www.wiedenest.de CHURCH LINKS Gesunde Gemeinden Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Marco Vedder, Burgstr. 4A, D-97688 Bad Kissingen. Website: www.gesunde-gemeinden.de Role: Internet-platform and networking for church developing and church planting.

126 The Brethren Movement Worldwide BIBLE SCHOOLS Christliches Bildungszentrum Erzgebirge e. V. Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Christliches Bildungszentrum e. V., Hartensteiner Str. 61, D-09376 Oelsnitz. Website: www.christliches-bildungszentrum.de Level: No degrees offered. Length of course: 10 months. Biblisch-Theologische Akademie, Wiedenest Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Eichendorffstr.2, 51702 Bergneustadt Level of study: Up to Master degree level. Length of course: At least 1 year. PUBLISHING HOUSES Christliche Verlagsgesellschaft Dillenburg Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Am Güterbahnhof 26, D-35683 Dillenburg. Website: www.cv-dillenburg.de Christliche Bücherstuben GmbH Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Am Güterbahnhof 26, D-35683 Dillenburg. Website: www.cb-buchshop.de (There are 30 bookshops nationwide.) INTERESTING FEATURES Dillenburger Konferenz. Each year in the beginning of October, there is a nationwide Bible conference of the Free Brethren congregations for three days in the town hall in D-35683 Dillenburg. 400 – 600 visitors. We enjoy having international visitors. www.dillenburger-konferenz.de

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 127 STEPS-Konferenz. Each year in the beginning of May, there is a nationwide big youth conference for two days in D-35683 Dillenburg. 1,300 visitors. We enjoy having international visitors. www.steps-konferenz.de Jesus im Fokus-Kongress Every two years at the end of October, there is a nationwide big conference for children and youth workers for three days in D-35683 Dillenburg- area. 600 visitors. www.jesusimfokus.de K5 Leadership Training. A three-year program for leaders in churches. One training day per quarter with more than 4,000 participants. www.k5.wiedenest.de Herzwerk. Herzwerk is a discipleship training of 10 months for young people looking for orientation in their spiritual and personal lives, to find their calling and profession. www.herzwerk.wiedenest.de HISTORICAL INFORMATION The movement started in Germany in 1853. The main person was Carl Brockhaus. More historical information you can find on the neutral internet platforms: www.bruederbewegung.de www.bruedergeschichte.de PRAISE GOD FOR • A very dynamic ministry among children and youth. A great openness for children’s and youth ministry in the assemblies. • The realisation that each congregation needs a biblical eldership. • Good contacts among the different groups of the brethren in Germany, except the Exclusive Brethren.

128 The Brethren Movement Worldwide • A good cooperation among the different agencies (see before), which work nationwide, which is very important for the cohesion of the independent local Brethren churches. • An increasing interest in world mission among the young generation. In the last 25 years a number of young people went on the mission field many of them with Ethnos360. PRAY FOR • A greater desire for church growth in the Brethren churches. • To learn how to evangelise people by relationship. • To plant new churches. • To educate good elders for the assemblies. • To be saved from quarrels and separation. Lothar Jung: [email protected] Gerd Goldman: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 129 GREECE Population 11,100,000 Major religions Christianity (Eastern Orthodox) 90% / Christianity (Protestant) 3% / No religion 4% / Islam 2% Number of baptised believers 600 evangelical (There are no Brethren congregations) The number of committed believers is increasing slowly INTERESTING INFORMATION Nobody is aware of a Brethren assembly in Greece at the moment. However, there were some Brethren Greeks around the Athens area who had become Christians through the Brethren in Canada or the USA and then returned home. But failing to find Brethren here, these people joined the Evangelical church. There are a few churches which, although not Brethren as such, have church ordinances similar to the Brethren movement. But they are small. In Corfu and Cyprus there are some Brethren assemblies. PRAISE GOD FOR • People being saved, although there are no Brethren churches to attend. • Refugees turning to Jesus and studying the Bible. • Some very genuine believers and people who are willing to witness. • Great opportunities to witness to people who are disillusioned with the official church.

130 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PRAY FOR • More contacts. • More people experiencing salvation. • More workers. • More people willing to spread the gospel to their friends. David & Wilma Lyttle: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 131 GREENLAND Population 56,500 Major religions Christianity (Evangelical Lutheran) 95% / Christianity (Other) 2% / Atheism/Agnosticism 2% / Traditional Inuit beliefs <1% Brethren work began in 1970 Number of Brethren congregations 1 Number of additional preaching points 1 Number of baptised believers 50-70 Total number of adult attendees 80+ The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 0 full-time, 3 part- time INTERESTING FEATURES There are several members who give chronological Bible teaching in their private homes. The Pentecostal church has a radio station, where the Brethren do help. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The Brethren church started in 1970 by a couple of families. It has continued since then but most members are the same family’s descendants. There are very few new local members. PRAISE GOD FOR • The new generation which is taking responsibility. • Bible teaching in the home. There is a good attendance. • The gospel being preached in nearly all towns in Greenland.

132 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PRAY FOR • The local people to find their courage to participate. • The gospel to be preached in their own language. • God to raise up people amongst Greenlanders with an eagerness to preach. • Soul carers to help people to deal with their past. Absalon Østerø: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 133 GRENADA Population 110,000 Major Religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 45% / Christianity (Anglican) 13% / Christianity (other Protestant) 33% / Islam 0.3% Brethren Work began in 1906 Number of Brethren congregations 8 The number of baptised believers 250 Total number of adult attendees 350 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers 1 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 1 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 3 INTERESTING FEATURES Religious instruction in schools. Television programs. Radio programs: The Brethren Hour (Sundays 9am), Harbour Light of the Windward. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The first Brethren assembly was planted in 1906 by Mr. & Mrs. Weston, a missionary couple from Guyana. In 1910 the first Assembly was established at Calivigny and then at Laura. Assemblies in La Digue, Gouyave and Carriacou were established in the 1930s. There are currently assemblies at St. George’s, Calivigny, Laura, La Digue, Gouyave, Carriacou, Crochu and Perdmontemps. PRAISE GOD FOR • The School ministry. • The Annual Women’s Prayer Breakfast.

134 The Brethren Movement Worldwide • Prison, Youth, Sunday School Ministries. • Radio and TV Ministries. PRAY FOR • Full-time workers to be raised up. • Renewed interest of believers and sustainability of new converts. • Raising up of elders. • Dedicated efforts to evangelise the communities. Calivigny Gospel Hall: [email protected] Daniel Ross: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 135 GUYANA Population 782,200 Major religions Christianity (Protestant) 55% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 8% / Hinduism 25% / Islam 10% Brethren work began in the 1800s Number of Brethren congregations 63 The number of committed believers is increasing quickly (in some areas) CHURCH LINKS A board of elders, comprising the elders of all assemblies, 192 Camp Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown, Guyana discusses matters, makes decisions, offers support etc. INTERESTING FEATURES Yearly conventions, youth camps, men’s conference, women’s conferences, inter-Sunday School activities. HISTORICAL INFORMATION In the year 1827 the first Brethren assembly was established at Peter’s Hall. Another was begun at Camp Street in Georgetown in 1840 by Mr Leonard Strong. This gentleman enrolled at Oxford in 1823 but left without taking a degree and came to British Guiana in 1826 as an Anglican minister. Having left St. Matthew’s Parish, he led an independent work and established the first Brethren assemblies in British Guiana. In 1966 British Guiana gained independence and in 1970 became a Republic. Guyana is divided into ten regions, region #09 being the largest region with 16,000 square-miles. Of the country’s 63 assemblies, 28 are located in region #09. The capital of Guyana is located in region #04 with the largest population.

136 The Brethren Movement Worldwide The work of the Brethren in region #09 was started by Brother Joseph Dainty, the first local missionary from Georgetown in 1970. Ronald Charles co-laboured with him until his promotion to glory in 1998. During his time 18 assemblies were established working among four Indian tribes. In 1983, the first Bible school was established with 24 students in attendance over a period of three years. Since then, there have been 9 graduations, the most recent one last year in 2018. After the passing of our dear brother in June 3, 1998 the Lord enabled others to continue the work and establish 10 more assemblies. PRAISE GOD FOR • Open doors, which allow God’s work to continue. • Six couples who have undergone training for ministry. • Outreach into Brazil – a new assembly has just been established in Roriama. PRAY FOR • Grace, strength, sensitivity and a servant heart for workers. • The need for funds to start a new building to accommodate 350 seats. • The needs of workers in the fields to be supplied, for we all labour by faith having no purse or script. • The health of workers. Ronald Charles: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 137 HAITI Population 11,200,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 59% / Christianity (Protestant) 29% / Voodoo 2% / Other religions OR no religion 10% Details of Brethren work are difficult to obtain. Brethren churches are scattered from the north-east border to the south-west of the country. The total number of assemblies is not known. There are at least 9 Haitian assemblies on the border with the Dominican Republic. Six new assemblies have begun in the mountain areas. God is blessing the work in a remote mountain area, which is only accessible by travelling for several hours in 4 wheel drive vehicles and then completing the journey by travelling on mules. In this area, as well as new churches, 6 new schools have been established. PRAISE GOD FOR • Three new Haitian missionaries. • The relative quiet and lessening of violence at this time. (However, this could change.) • New schools and assemblies. PRAY FOR • The workers, especially those in the remote mountain areas. • Commonsense to prevail amongst the many NGOs that work in the country, particularly after national disasters. There are more than 10,000 of these (Christian and secular). Pray that the work of Christian NGOs will be of long-term benefit to those who are needy and will lead to the extension of God’s kingdom.

138 The Brethren Movement Worldwide HONG KONG – S.A.R. OF CHINA Population 7,400,000 Major religions Chinese folk religions 49% / Buddhism 20% / Taoism 15% / Christianity 11% / Islam 4% [In a 2014 survey 75.55% of the population said that religion was not important to their lives] Brethren work began in 1890 Number of Brethren congregations 30 Number of additional preaching points 12 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 7 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 7 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 7 MAGAZINES The Gospel Witness Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Unit 71, Worldwide Industrial Centre, Kwei Tei St, Fotan, Shatin, N.T. Hong Kong. CHURCH LINKS Stewards Company, Hong Kong Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 1/F, 145 Hong Ning Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Role: To provide quality non-profit-making social welfare, educational and health care services to the Hong Kong community and evangelical witness.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 139 PUBLISHING HOUSES Christian Book Room (China) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 95413, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, S.A.R. of China. Website: www.christianbookroom.org HISTORICAL DETAILS Please refer to Dr F. A. Tatford’s excellent work in the book Turning The World Upside Down (pp 266-271). PRAISE GOD FOR • Since 1997 and the completion of Hong Kong’s inclusion in greater China, assembly and gospel testimony have continued faithfully. • The fact that Hong Kong continues to be a launching pad of gospel and assembly outreach into all of greater China. PRAY FOR • The Lord of the Harvest to thrust forth more of His labourers into the vast field of Hong Kong and greater China. • Increased commitment of distributors and seed-sowers for truth- seekers. • The on-going deep need for compassionate shepherds of and among the sheep. John Short: [email protected]

140 The Brethren Movement Worldwide HUNGARY Population 10,000,000 Major religions Christianity Roman Catholic) 37% / Christianity ( (Reformed) 12% / Christianity (Other) 6% / No religion 44% Brethren work began in about 1910 (first registered in1924) Number of congregations 14 Number of baptised believers 600 Total number of adult attendees 750 The number of committed believers remains about the same PUBLICATION Vetés és aratás Email address: [email protected] Website: http://vetesesaratas.hu AGENCY SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Biblia Centrum Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 2027 Dömös, Kossuth út 221. Hungary. Website: http://bice.hu Nature of ministry: Camp, conference and training centre. CHURCH LINKS ETK (means ‘Elders’ Meeting’) Church leaders meet once a year. Role: Since Brethren churches have had to form an Association, it is mandatory to meet at least once a year. The organisation elects three representatives and coordinates formal and informal tasks.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 141 PUBLISHING HOUSE Evangéliumi Kiadó és Iratmisszió Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 1066 Budapest, Ó utca 16, Hungary. Website: http://www.evangeliumikiado.hu/ INTERESTING FEATURES Youth camp ministry. Every summer outdoor camps are held. Prison ministry (Inter-denominational but started by Brethren). Radio station (Inter-denominational but started by Brethren). Rehabilitation Centre for addicts and ex-inmates. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The Brethren movement started about 1910 with house meetings. It developed under pressure in the interwar period and during communism. PRAISE GOD FOR • Unity among the churches although the development of each of them is different. • The beginning of good contacts with Brethren churches abroad (in the area). • Excellent over-church programmes in various contexts. PRAY FOR • The desire for, and identification of, proper ways to grow and start new churches. • Finding structures that support the ministry of churches. Ernoe Nagy: [email protected]

142 The Brethren Movement Worldwide INDIA Population 1.3 billion Major religions Hinduism 79.8% / Islam 14.23% / Christianity 2.34% / Sikhism 1.72% / Buddhism 0.7% / Jainism 0.37% / Others 0.84% Brethren work began in 1836. Anthony Norris Groves started work in Andhra Pradesh. 1899. An indigenous Brethren movement was started in Kerala. Number of Brethren congregations 4,200 Number of additional preaching points More than 6,000 Number of baptised believers 200,000 Total number of adult attendees 285,000 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations more than 2,500 Number of cross-cultural missionaries about 350 PUBLICATIONS IN ENGLISH Insight India Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Roy T Daniel (ed.), Operation Barnabas, ‘Benaiah’, Kalkeri Road, Ramamurthy Nagar, Bangalore 560 016 India. Telephone: +91-80-256-54427 or +91-944-835-1166 Website: www.obtrustindia.org Harvest Times Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Dr Koshy Matthew, Gospel Literature Service Udyog Bhavan, 250 D, Worli colony, Mumbai 400030, India. Telephone: +91-22-249-30116 Website: www.glsindia.com

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 143 Vineyard Echoes Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Koshy Zachariah (ed.), 1 Bethesda Centre, R.V. Nagar, Kodungaiyur PO, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600 018, India. Telephone: +91-44-255-50295 Magazines in local languages – 1. Athma Prakashini (Malayalam Language) 2. Masihi Gavahi Magazine (Hindi Language) 3. Sthanapathy (Tamil Language) 4. Happy Voice (Malayalam Language) 5. Christeeya Darsanam (Malayalam Language) 6. Jeeva Vachanam (Malayalam Language) 7. Vachanadwani (Malayalam Language) 8. Suviseshadwani (Malayalam Language) 9. Renewal (Malayalam Language) 10. Suviseshakan (Malayalam Language) 11. Christian Hope (Telugu Language) 12. Assembly Mail (Telugu Language) 13. Christ Voice (Malayalam Language) 14. Brethren Vision (Malayalam Language) 15. Verpadu Vartha Pathrika (Malayalam Language) 16. Malabar Dhoothan (Malayalam Language) 17. Jeevajala (Kannada Language) AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES KEM Fund Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Mr. P.E. Samkutty (Secretary), Melathethil House, Kumbanad PO, Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689 547. Nature of ministry: Missionary supporting agency. The Gospel Fellowship Trust of India Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Koshy Zachariah (Chairman), 1, Bethesda Centre, R.V

144 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Nagar, Kodungaiyur PO, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600 118. Nature of ministry: Missionary supporting agency. Stewards Association of India Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Raju M. Koshy (General Secretary), 4 John Armstrong Road, Richards Town, Bangalore, Karnataka 560 005. Nature of ministry: Deals with assemblies’ property and helps the construction work. General Gospel Fund Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Philip Varghese (Secretary), Thamarasseril House, Angamaly, Kerala 683 572. Nature of ministry: Missionary supporting agency. Indian Evangelical Trust Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Shombay Poothuran (Secretary), No: 40/2497, C-10, Fahim Arcade, 1st Floor, Broadway, Shanmugham Road P.O, Kochi, Kerala 682031. Nature of ministry: Missionary supporting agency. Believers Relief Trust Postal address: K.S. John (Secretary), Kallumkal House, Pariyaram P.O. Via Elanthur, Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689643. Nature of ministry: Supports believers who are in need. Operation Barnabas Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Roy T. Daniel (Managing Trustee), ‘Benaiah’, Kalkere Road, Ramamurthy Nagar, PO Box 1633, Bangalore 560 016. Nature of ministry: Missionary supporting agency. Karnataka Suvartha Seva Samsthe Email address: [email protected] Postal address: P.M. Georgekutty, P.B.7521, 2720 HAL, 3rd Stage,

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 145 Bangalore 560 075. Nature of ministry: Missionary supporting agency. Tamil Nadu Gospel Fund Postal address: James Cherian, Bible Bhavan, PO Box 32, Bye-Pass Road, Madurai, Tamil Nadu 625016. Nature of ministry: Missionary supporting agency. Andhra Gospel & Welfare Trust Postal address: V.P. Fernandus, Mallicherla Post, 5th A.P.S. Quarters (SO), Vizianagaram, Mandal, Vizianagaram, AP 535005. Nature of ministry: Missionary supporting agency. Bethel Evangelical Trust : Postal address: E.V. Thomas, Angamally, Kerala-683 572. Nature of ministry: Supporting believers who are in need. Steward Care Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Raju M. Koshy (General Secretary), 4 John Armstrong Road, Richards Town, Bangalore, Karnataka 560 005. Website: www.stewardscare.org Nature of ministry: Supporting believers in need. Assembly Workers Welfare Fund Trust Email address: [email protected] Postal Address: B. Jebaselvan (Secretary) Kriba Illam, No 7/2 Vasugi Ammai Street, Gandhinagar, Orgadam, Ambattur, Chennai- 53 Tamil Nadu. Nature of ministry: Missionary support agency. BIBLE COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS Brethren Bible Institute Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 46, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, 689 645, India. Levels of study: M.Th., M.Div., M.B.S., B.Th. & D.Th.

146 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Stewards Bible College Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 1, Bethesda Centre, R V Nagar Kodungaiyur, PO Chennai-600 118, Tamil Nadu. Level of study: BTh. Rehoboth Theological Institute Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Rehoboth Girls Orphanage, Nellikunnu Thrissur-680005. Level of study: BTh., M.Div. Bethany Bible School Postal address: Kumbanad, Kerala- 689 547. Length of course: 1 year (Malayalam). Gospel Training Centre Perumbavoor Postal address: Iringole PO Perumbavoor, Kerala- 689648. Length of course: 2 years (English). North India Bible Institute Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 148 Lajpat Nagar, Alwar 301001, Rajasthan, India. Level of study: B.Th., D.Th. Sathyam Theological Seminary Kattappana Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Thottabhagom PO, Thiruvalla 689 541, Kerala, India. Level of study: B.Th. Bengal Bible Training Institute Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Santosh Thomas, Bena, Jamtara, Jharkhand 815351, India. Length of course: Two year English/Hindi/Bengali programmes.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 147 Brethren Theological College, Kallissery Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Dr. Johnson C. Philip, Anand Villa, Cochin University, PO Kerala 682 022, India. Level of study: B.Th. Hope Academy of Theology & Science Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 54 Ebenezer Bhawan, Old Ashoka Garden, Govindpura PO, Bhopal, MP 462023. Level of study: B.Th., D.Th. & C.Th. Brethren Bible School (Malabar) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: T.S. George, Perole, Nileshwar, Kasargod Dist., Kerala 671 314, India. Length of course: short-term Malayalam programme. Bericha Bible School, Nidadavole Postal address: Canal Road, Nidadavole, Andhra Pradesh-534 301. Length of course: short-term Telugu programme. Brethren Bible Training School Postal address: Kitadih PO, Tata Nagar, East, Singhbhum , Jharkhand-831 002. Length of course: short-term Hindi programme. Madurai Bible School Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Bible Bhavan, Post Box 32, Bye Pass Road, Madurai 625 016. Level of study: B.Th., D.Th. & C.Th. Gujarat Brethren Bible Institute Email address: [email protected] Postal Address: Simon Payyannur, Plot No. 147, Sector 7, Gandhidham, Kutch Gujarat 370201, India. Length of course: Short term Bible Institute.

148 The Brethren Movement Worldwide V Nagal Bible Institute Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Post Box 45, Kunnamkulam, Kerala - 680 503. Length of course: short-term Malayalam programme. Vedanadam Training Centre Postal address: Mookkannur PO, Angamaly, Ernakulam-683 577 Length of course: short-term English programme. SBS Training Institute (for Child Evangelism, Family Enrichment & Counselling) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Abraham Thomas, P O Box No.1, SBS Camp Centre, Puthencav, Kerala. Sodari Bhavan Bible School Postal address: Joys Mathew, Sodari Bhavan, Anjeli Rd, Near Sankers Hospital Kollam, Kerala. Short term Bible school for women. Emmaus Academy of Biblical Studies (Online Bible School) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Eden Rock Layout, Athma Vidya Nagar – Main 1A, Byrathi, Dodda Gubbi Bangalore-560077. Website: www.eabs.in Level of Study: CBS, DBS, BBS PUBLISHING HOUSES Brethren Sunday School Committee Postal address: Suviseshalayam, PB No. 46, Pathanamthitta, Kerala-689 645. Gospel Literature Service Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Udyog Bhavan, 250 D, Worli colony, Mumbai 400030. Website: www.glsindia.com

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 149 Sathyam Ministries Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Thottabhagom PO, Thiruvalla, Kerala-689541, India. Website: www.satyam.org Jeevan Jyothi Press & Publishers Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 15.1.3, MH School Rd, Narsapur 534 275. Athma Prakashini Publications Email address: [email protected] Postal address: The Manager, PB No. 10, Kumbanad, Kerala-689 547. Gospel Tract Society Postal address: Mylapra Town PO, Pathanamthitta, Kerala. Scripture Literature Publishers Trust Email: [email protected] Postal Address: Zion, #6, Palm Grove, Chellikere, Kalyan Nagar P.O. Bengaluru-560043. Unnati Publishers Niwara, Plot No 788, Sector 5, Shrinagar M M Extn Belguam-591302. Moriah Ministries Email: [email protected] Postal Address: PB No.7193, 31/33 Water Tank Road MMDA colony, Arumbakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600106. Website: www.moriahministries.in News and E Book Publications Email: [email protected] Postal Address: Dr. Johnson C. Philip, Editor, 143 Maveli Nagar Cochin University P.O. Kochi 682022. Website: www.brethrenassembly.com

150 The Brethren Movement Worldwide INTERESTING FEATURES Over 87% of the assemblies in India are in South India. The remaining 13% of assemblies are scattered across India. The main languages used in the assemblies are Telugu, Malayalam and Tamil. In the cities, many assemblies are bilingual. Over 150 organisations or institutions are engaged in social or evangelistic activities. These organisations have played a vital role in assembly growth. Indians living in different parts of world and Indian expatriates support the major part of ministry needs in India. Schools/Colleges for secular education - Noel Memorial High School, Kumbanad. - Noel Memorial High School, Kariamplavu. - Brethren English Medium School, Kumbanad. - Several Upper and Lower Primary Schools under Noel Memorial Management, Kumbanad. - TMM College of Nursing, Kaviyoor, Tiruvalla. - Clarence High School, Richards Town, Bangalore. Specialised Ministries - Emmaus India (Bible Correspondence School ministry), Mr. K C Jacob, Bangalore. - Young Men Evangelical Fellowship (Ministry among youth and by the youth), Stanley Abraham. - ACCEPT, Dodda Gubbi, Bangalore (Caring for HIV/AIDS affected, Seniors Home), Raju K. Mathew. - Agape Mental Health & Research Institute, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, John Jacob. - Mercy Home, Kumbanad, Brethren Mercy Trust (Homes for the elderly), Dr. CS Abraham. - Maranatha Ministries of India, Thiruvalla (Caring for socially backward people), Jose Mathew. - Rehoboth Girls Orphanage, Trichur East, Miss. P.N. Treasure. - Students Counselling & Moral Education Society (School visits), Kerala, K.V. Mathew.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 151 - Bible Sahithya Pravarthaka Samithi, (Committee to encourage Christian writing), Sam Zachariah. - Suviseshakan Bala Sangam (Major children’s ministry in India), Abraham Thomas. - International Neighbourhood Foundation, Bangalore, (Organisation for Muslim converts), Sabir Ali. - Montauben Rest Home, Ooty, Tamil Nadu. - Shalom Benevolent Foundation, (Palliative Care Centre) Kollam, Kerala Dr. Jacob Johns. E-mail news ministry (for circulation of news and prayer items) - Adelphoi News, [email protected] Dr. K. C. Johnson. - Arabian Voice, [email protected] Shaji Oommen. - Brethren Assembly News [email protected] Dr. Johnson C. Philip. Website ministries www.exodustv.com (TV and video) www.radiomanna.com (Online Radio) www.brethrentimes.com (Brethren News) www.kaithiri.com (Bible studies and video) www.keralabrethren.net (Bible studies and discussions) www.sathyamargam.org (Christian answers for Islam in Malayalam) Media services Living Waters Radio Broadcasts [email protected] B.M. Nimbargi. Evangel Ministries India (Radio Ministry) Raju V Johnson. Alpha TV (YouTube channel) Sajeev Varghese. Prince of Peace Ministries (Bible Teaching through TV and YouTube Channel) John Sebastian. Orphanages/children’s homes - Accept, Dodda Gubbi PO, Bangalore, [email protected] - Agape Home, Manipur, Mr. L. Manga. - Bethany Mercy Children’s Home, Jharkhand, Mr. P. M. Skariah. - Daniel Children’s Home, Idukki, Kerala, Bethel Charitable Trust.

152 The Brethren Movement Worldwide - Bethel Children’s Home, Ernakulam, Kerala, Mr. P. J. John. - Bethel Gospel Home, East Champaran, Bihar, Mr. Dig Vijay Ram. - Bethlehem Boys Home, Bolangir, Odisha, Ajay Kumar Chhatria, Streams in the Desert. - Bird Memorial Children’s Home (Madras), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Mr. Koshy Zachariah. - CMML Home, Vadamalapuram, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, Mr. P. Sornaraj, Head Master. - Daya Vihar Boys Home, Kattode, Trivulla, Dr. T. S. Koshy. - Dayspring, Jayanagar PO, Jeypore, Koraput, Odisha, Mrs. Sunny T. Daniel. - Elim Children’s Home, Vadalur, Tamil Nadu, S. Pushpanathan. - Gilgal Home for the Destitute Children, Motipur PO, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, Sunder Sarai. - Gospel Home, Dalsinghsarai Post, Samastipur District, Bihar, Mr. Jitendra Kumar. - Grace Children’s Home Narayanpur PO, Ganjam District, Odisha, Mr. K. A. Dominic. - Grace Home Manipal, Mr. Raju M. Koshy, (Stewards Association in India, Bangalore). - Great Commission India Trust, Viswajyothi School, Peermade, Idukki, Kerala. - Holland Wharf Girls Hostel, Narsapur, West Godavari, B J C Tilsley. - Jeevan Jyoti School-CARD, Bande PO, Kanker, Chattisgarh, Mr. Thomas Joseph. - Kollegal Girls Home Trust, Workers Together, Bangalore, Karnataka. - Malavalli Boys Home Trust, Malavalli, Karnataka, Isaac Kantharaj. - Olive Home, Brahmavar PO, Udupi, Karnataka, Mr. James Varghese. - Rehoboth Girls Home + Bethesda Boys Home, Nellikunnu, Trichur, Kerala, Miss Phyllis Treasure. - Shalom Children’s Home, Arasikere, Karnataka, A. S. Sabu. - Shanti Bhavan Charitable Trust, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, C. P. Mathew.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 153 - Tamil Nadu Children’s Home, Ellis Nagar, Madurai, Russ Foundation. Hospitals - TMM Hospital, Thiruvalla, P.B. No 50, Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta Dist, Kerala. - TMM Hospital, Mannamaruthy, Tiruvalla Medical Mission, Makkapuzha PO, Ranni, Kerala. - TMM Hospital, Vazhoor Kodungoor PO, Vazhoor, Kottayam, Kerala. - Narsapur Christian Hospital, Royapeta, Narsapur, Andhra Pradesh. - Bethesda Leprosy Hospital, West Godavari, Narsapur, Administrator: V. Paul Raju. - Sankeshwar Mission Hospital, P B Road, Sankeshwar, Superintendent: Abraham Mathew. - Leeser Wright Eye Care Centre, Ambajipeta. Camping and Convention centres SBS Camp Centre, Puthencavu PO, Chengannur, Kerala (Abraham Thomas). Courtallam Christian Camping Centre, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu (D. Rajasingh Simon). Whitefield Camping & Convention Centre, Elim, Whitefield, Bangalore (D.D. Chowdhary). HISTORICAL INFORMATION The spiritual movement of Plymouth Brethren found its way to India in 1833 through Anthony Norris Groves, who was a dentist. Along with other co-workers he established several churches in the Godavari delta area of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. John Arulappan (Tamil Nadu) was one of his disciples. Mathai (Tirunelveli) who was a disciple of John Arulappan, came to Kerala in 1872. His preaching and teaching prepared the way for the beginning of the Brethren movement in Kerala. During this time, Brethren missionaries from different parts of the world initiated the work in different states of India. Later, assembly work spread to different parts of India through cross-cultural missionaries from Kerala.

154 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Now cross-cultural missionaries from other states and local evangelists within each state are going to unreached areas to establish new assemblies. PRAISE GOD FOR • The establishment of assemblies in almost all the states in India. • Raising local evangelists for the Lord’s work in North India. • Sending missionaries from India to other countries in the world from assemblies. PRAY FOR • Revival in the assemblies. • A cessation of the increasing opposition to missionary and evangelistic efforts by the Hindu-fundamentalist movements. • More godly elders, deacons and Bible teachers to shepherd the assemblies. • New believers who are persecuted and ostracised from their community. • God to send more dedicated missionaries to unreached areas of India. More young people to have missionary vision. • Assemblies to reach out to migrant workers coming to cities and to Southern states from North India. • New ways to evangelise as open public ministry opportunities are constrained. • Need for marriage partners for believers from other religious backgrounds. • God to provide sufficient resources for personal needs of evangelists, for ministry, assembly hall construction, medical needs, educational support for their children and support in their old age. • Pray that God would use the Indians migrating to different parts of the world to be a witness and to establish assemblies. Shibu K Mathew: [email protected] Abraham Thomas Kochi: [email protected] P. Joseph Raju: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 155 INDONESIA Population 267,628,000 Major religions Islam 87% / Christianity (Protestant) 7% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 3% / Hinduism 1.7% / Buddhism 0.7% Brethren work began in 1990 Number of Brethren congregations 2 Number of additional preaching points 3 Number of baptised believers 60 Total number of adult attendees 50 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 10 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 2 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 2 AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Mitra Nusantara Email address: [email protected] Nature of ministry: Church planting. Campus Peace Movement Email address: [email protected] Nature of ministry: Student ministry. MISSION SERVICE AGENCY Mitra Nusantara Email address: [email protected] PRAISE GOD FOR • The faithful workers and members.

156 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PRAY FOR • The growth of members and workers. • Support from international brethren. • Links and communication among the Brethren from many cities in Indonesia. Andreas Jonathan: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 157 IRAN Population 82,264,000 Major religions Islam (Shia) 89% / Islam (Sunni) 9% / All non- Islamic religions 1% Brethren work began in 1920s Number of congregations 1 (Armenian) Number of baptised believers 30 Total number of adult attendees 25 The number of committed believers is remaining the same HISTORICAL INFORMATION The one Brethren church in Iran was started in the 1920s by the most outstanding Muslim convert in the history of the work in Iran called Dr Saeed Kurdistani. As a result of a visit he made to the UK in the late 1890s, he first came in contact with Brethren assemblies. For some years the assembly in Iran was a Persian-speaking congregation before eventually becoming an Armenian congregation. PRAISE GOD FOR • Those who hear the gospel. Disillusionment with Islam has led to an openness to the gospel perhaps unparalleled in the Muslim world. This, in turn, has led to many responding to the gospel, with many meeting in house churches scattered across the country. • Unlike some other Muslim countries, there has not been a general wave of persecution against those who have converted but rather active believers and those involved in ministry have been the ones targeted by the authorities. • Several 24/7 Christian satellite channels have become a lifeline to the many believers who need help in both understanding the gospel and how to grow in their Christian faith, some of whom have no contact with other believers.

158 The Brethren Movement Worldwide • Voice of Christ Media Ministries, a Brethren based ministry in the USA, is making a significant impact inside the country through satellite radio, the internet, mobile phone apps, Facebook and YouTube etc. PRAY FOR • New believers. The closure of all the evangelical Persian-speaking churches and the exodus of virtually all full-time workers has left a vacuum. Much prayer is needed that all these new believers will find ways to grow in their faith. • The protection of the house churches so that when they meet together they will know the peace and the presence of the Lord. • Programmes on satellite TV, social media and the internet. Pray that these will help provide access to vital Christian resources. • Those involved in ministry who are in prison. Some are facing lengthy prison sentences. Pray that the Lord will sustain and help them and their families during this difficult time. • The many who are disillusioned and are seeking alternatives; that at this time they will come into contact with Christians who can tell them about the truth and freedom found only in Christ. Malcolm Steer: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 159 ISRAEL Population 8,972,000 Major religions Judaism 75% / Islam 18% / Christianity 2% / Other 5% Brethren work began in 1885 Number of congregations 7 Number of preaching points 7 Number of baptised believers about 300-350 Total number of adult attendees about 600 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 6 HISTORY OF THE BRETHREN IN ISRAEL The movement started with travellers who came to the Holy Land to visit the sights and who spoke to the locals about the Lord. From this, an assembly started in the city of Haifa at the end of the 19th century. In the early 20th century, the work grew, the number of contacts multiplied and some were reached in Nazareth, Kfar Yasef, Ramlah, Lod, Jaffa and Jerusalem. In all these towns there were meetings. In 1948, as a result of the war of independence of the state of Israel, many Arabic-speaking people of the country, including believers, were deported. Many of these were deported to Lebanon and Jordan where they started new assemblies. The only works left in the country were Nazareth, Kfar Yasef, Haifa and Jaffa. In the 1980s, another two Arabic- speaking assemblies started in Haifa and in Ibileen village. Then a third Arabic-speaking assembly also started in Haifa. Emmaus Bible School started in 1975. It was registered officially in 1979.

160 The Brethren Movement Worldwide BIBLE SCHOOL Emmaus Bible School Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 51240, Nazareth 1616801, Israel. Website: www.emmausnazareth.net. Level of study: Diploma, non-academic. Length of course: Open school, no time limit. PUBLISHING HOUSE Emmaus Bible Ministry Address as above. PRAISE GOD FOR • The number of assemblies in this region. • The many who have come to faith by evangelism and literature distribution. • The many books that have been published and distributed among Christians. PRAY FOR • Strong leadership, especially in the Arabic-speaking assemblies. • Bible teachers. • Bible courses to reach more people, especially in Israel. • The youth work and youth centre. George Khalil: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 161 ITALY Population 61,000,000 Major religions Christianity Roman Catholic) 74.7% / ( Christianity (Eastern Orthodox) 2.9% / Christianity (Protestant) 1.1% / Islam 3.3% / No religion 23% Brethren work began in 1833 Number of congregations 276 Additional Italian-speaking congregations 4 in Germany 2 in Switzerland Number of preaching points 26 Number of baptised believers about 20,000 Total number of adult attendees about 22,000 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 21 (including some foreign workers) Number of itinerant evangelists 30 (including some foreign workers) Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 6 (including some foreign workers) PUBLICATIONS Il Cristiano Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Via del Campo della Fiera, 16-52031 Anghiari (AR). Website: www.ilcristiano.it Il Cristiano is one of the oldest magazines (even secular!) in the country. In it one finds Bible studies, articles, news of the churches, news of the assemblies worldwide and missionaries’ news. Il Traguardo Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Via Giorgio de Chirico, 16 - C.P. 45-04022 Fondi (LT).

162 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Website: www.uceb.it Il Traguardo is a magazine particularly focussed for teenagers and youth. AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Amministrazione delle Offerte (CAO) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: c/o Andrea Cafaro, Via Padre Reginaldo Giuliani, 42/I, 20025 Legnano (Mi). Nature of ministry: CAO provides various kinds of help for full-time workers not supported directly by local assemblies. Opera Delle Chiese Cristiane dei Fratelli (Ente Morale - EM) Email address: [email protected] or [email protected] Postal address: Casa dell’Ente Morale - c/o Centro Evangelico, Poggio Ubertini Via Romita,30 - 50025 Montespertoli (Fi). Website: www.ente-morale.it Nature of ministry: The main ministry of Ente Morale is to serve in the administrative and legal matters concerning the Brethren churches in the country. It particularly advises on matters relating to the holding of properties. In the spirit of the Statute, it may represent the churches to the authorities at any level. MISSION SERVICE AGENCY Opera Missionaria dei Fratelli Italiani OMEFI) ( Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Via Taranto, 22-24 - 71100 FOGGIA. Website: www.omefi.it Salvati per servire Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Via Colle Mancino, 11 - 67100 L’Aquila. Website address: www.salvatiperservire.it Nature of ministry: This organisation works in Italy, but mainly abroad, giving social aid and ministering in various ways during natural disasters like earthquakes.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 163 CHURCH LINKS Comunione Convegno Anziani (This is not an organisation but there is an email address of reference.) Email address: [email protected] or [email protected] There is a national gathering of elders, national full-time workers and foreign missionaries, which takes places normally at the end of April/ beginning of May. It’s not an organisation but it is a very important means of fellowship and growth. Each year a group of churches of one area takes the responsibility to organise it. The gathering normally takes place in the oldest centre that belongs to the assemblies. However in the last decade, on some occasions, the gathering has taken place in either the centre or the north of the country, depending on who was organising it. In this conference an important role is played by Bible speeches followed by discussions in groups and workshops. Practical decisions are taken - though each church remains, and is recognised as, fully independent. Generally only one third of the assemblies are represented. BIBLE SCHOOL Istituto Biblico Evangelico Italiano (IBEI) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Via del Casale Corvio, 50-00132 Roma-Finocchio. Website: www.ibei.it Level of study: Certificate, Diploma (BTh). Length of course: Certificate 1 year, Diploma 3 years. Even though this school is non-denominational, the influence of (and on) the Brethren is high. PUBLISHING HOUSE Unione Cristiana Edizioni Bibliche UCEB) ( Email address: [email protected]

164 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Postal address: Associazione Nuova Unione Cristiana Edizioni Bibliche Via dei Tigli s/n – 06012, Città di Castello. Website: www.nuovauceb.it GBU (IFES) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: GBU - Via Colonnetta, 60 - 66100 Chiesti Scalo. Website address: www.gbu.it Even though this is a non-denominational publisher, the influence of (and on) the Brethren is high. INTERESTING FEATURES There is a kindergarten run by one assembly. It is open to anyone and is attended by many children from non-evangelical Christian homes. One church runs a radio station, which broadcasts 24 hours per day. There are four centres, venues for conferences especially for youth and children but for families, too. There is also a home for the aged believers, which hosts also non-believers. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The Brethren movement started through Count Guicciardini who lived in Florence in the 1830s. The real starting point was in the second half of the 1800s when a poet who had been evangelised by the count came back to Italy from England. Teodorico-Pietrocola Rossetti was a gifted preacher, evangelist, Bible teacher and, together with the count, organised the movement at its beginning. He translated/composed many hymns, wrote books and published the first Brethren magazine. A gifted man, he started a national gathering in 1868 for believers, followed by the first gathering of full-time workers. The former celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2018 and the latter is one which is now the national gathering mentioned above. The assemblies were mainly started in the North West of the country. From the beginning of the 1900s the work spread to other parts of the country till, after World War II, it spread mainly in the southern regions.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 165 PRAISE GOD FOR • The many young people who attend regularly the meetings and are involved in the work in a variety of ways in the life of local churches. • The possibility of evangelism among the many migrants. • The desire that many assemblies have to study the Scriptures deeply. • A growing desire to better train future leaders. PRAY FOR • More evangelists to plant local churches in the area where there is a great lack of evangelical presence. • More full-time workers to minister in local churches both in teaching and shepherding the flock. • An openness by those assemblies which are more conservative in practice. • A greater desire to reach the many immigrants. Fares Marzone: [email protected]

166 The Brethren Movement Worldwide JAMAICA Population 2,900,000 Major religions Christianity (Church of God) 24% / Christianity (Adventist) 11% / Christianity (Pentecostal) 10%) / Christianity (other Protestant) 7% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 2% Brethren work began in 1920 Number of congregations 87 Number of additional preaching points 2 Number of baptised believers about 6,700 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 64 AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Bethsalem Home for the Aged Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 25 Truman Avenue, Kingston 10, Jamaica. Rural Assemblies Programme (RAP) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 1G Hagley Park Plaza Nature of ministry: Strengthening the assemblies in the rural area through local missions. CHURCH LINKS Christian Brethren Assemblies - Jamaica (CBAJ) Email address: [email protected] Postal address : 1G Hagley Park Plaza, Kingston 10, Jamaica. Website: www.cbajamaica.org Role: Facilitating the growth of our assemblies. Our vision is to see ‘leaders empowered, churches thriving, and communities transformed for Christ.’ This is accomplished through strategic policies, training and social outreach.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 167 BIBLE SCHOOL Midland Bible Institute Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Curatoe Hill, PO Box 400, May Pen, Clarendon. Website: www.midlandbibleonline.org Level of study: Degree & Diploma. Length of course: 1-4 years. INTERESTING FEATURES *Surveys indicated that our radio programme called Look At Life is the number one radio programme in the country for that time slot (Sunday mornings). *We continue to have vibrant Summer Camps (Western, North Eastern & South Eastern) across our island and together they impacted the lives of over 600 children and youth in 2018. *Our National Fun Day & Picnic has averaged just under 4,000 persons in attendance. HISTORICAL INFORMATION Christian Brethren started in 1920 in Jamaica with Assembly Hall. Since then we have spread to five regions, now with 87 assemblies. Our leadership conferences have led to the strengthing of Brethren identity, encouraging practical Brethren in finances and reaching out to the poor, renewing our leadership, and discussing the increasing of the role of women in our assemblies. PRAISE GOD FOR • The continued work among the youth and children through the camping ministry. • For the various ‘new works’ that have been taking place across the country. • For the national focus on discipleship, which has gained momentum across the Regions. • The work of the previous CEO of CBAJ Carl Scharschmidt.

168 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PRAY FOR • The completion and dissemination of our Leadership Manual and a national Full-time Ministers’ policy. • The completion and execution of a strategic management plan which will serve as a guide over the next 10 years. • Acquiring ‘Charity Status’. This will help every local church under our umbrella to cut cost when purchasing or importing. • A well-resourced full-time minister to be placed in every local assembly. Germaine Williams: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 169 JAPAN Population 127,000,000 Major religions Shintoism 55% / Buddhism 35% (Many people practise both religions) / Christianity 2.3% / No religion 7% Brethren work began in 1881 1910 first assembly Number of Brethren congregations 130-160 Number of baptised believers 4800 Number of adult attendees 6400 The Number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 49 (including itinerants) PUBLICATIONS Mikotoba (The Word) Michi-Shirube (Sign Post) MISSION SERVICE AGENCY Christian Overseas Mission (COMO) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: C/- Maebashi Christian Assembly, 2-10-10 Kouncho, Maebashi Shi, Gumma Kea, Japan 371 0025. PUBLISHING HOUSE Evangelical Publishing Depot (EPD) Postal address: 2-8-9 Kotobuki Cho, Fuchu Shi, Tokyo To, Japan 1830056. Telephone: 81 42 366 7790

170 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Gospel Folio Press, Japan Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 2-21-9 Sakura, Setagaya Ku, Tokyo 156 0053. Website: http://www.gfpjapan.com PRAISE GOD FOR • Those assemblies that are making strong efforts and inroads through the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. • The commended workers from Japan serving in Zambia and in a certain Asian Muslim country. • One particular assembly, a small assembly of 10, which is becoming stronger and more firmly grounded as a body. PRAY FOR • A full time worker (evangelist br. Nakano) serving in the Northern Japan earthquake zone of 2011. Thousands of lives were lost in that 3/11/2011 earthquake. • The sincere evangelistic assemblies—that there would be more clear solid teaching in the Word of God to build up the saints (Eph. 4:11-14). • More Japanese believers to take a firm stand for the Lord, and not to be influenced by religious compromise and the standards of this age. We thank the Lord for those who are taking this stand. • The full-time workers in the gospel (both teaching and evangelistic ministry) to ‘be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.’ Longo Robert: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 171 JORDAN Population 10,015,000 Major religions Islam (Sunni) 98.1% / Christianity 1.9% Brethren work began in 2009 Number of congregations 2 Number of baptised believers 50 Total number of adult attendees 240 Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 1 INTERESTING FEATURES The assemblies use Emmaus Courses. PRAY FOR • Safety and protection for the churches. • Church growth and expansion. • Spiritual growth of new believers. • Internet ministry. Ibrahim Zakaria: [email protected]

172 The Brethren Movement Worldwide KAZAKHSTAN Population 18,400,000 Major religions Islam 70% / Christianity 26% / Other religions 0.3% / No religion 2.9% Brethren work began in 2001 PRAY FOR The work in Kazakhstan: for protection, for supply of financial need, for workers, for a safe venue for services.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 173 KENYA Population 50,900,000 Major religions Christianity (Protestant) 45% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 33% / Islam 10% / Traditional beliefs 8% / No religion 2.5% Brethren work began in 1952 Number of congregations 131 Number of additional preaching points 100-200 Number of baptised believers above 2000 Total number of adult attendees about 2500 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 70 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 34 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 30 MISSION SERVICE AGENCY The Kenya Brethren Mission Fund Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 27950-00100, Nairobi. Website: www.thekenyabrethrenmission.org CHURCH LINKS The Kenya Brethren Mission Fund Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 27950-00100, Nairobi. Website: www.thekenyabrethrenmission.org Role: Mission work, uniting local assemblies. BIBLE SCHOOLS Voice of Hope Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 419 - 40404 Rongo.

174 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Level of study: Diploma. Length of course: 3 years. Emmaus Kenya Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 72725 – 00300 Nairobi, Kenya. Website: www.emmaus-kenya.info Level of study: High school, College, Diploma, Degree. Length of course: 2 years +. Ebenezer Bible College Mbooni Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 1068-90100 Machakos. Level of study: Diploma. Length of course: 4 years. Nguluni Countryside Education Center, Twin Camp Secondary School Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 391 Tala. Huruma Chapel BAF Academy Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 11264 – 00400 Nairobi, Kenya. Shelter of Hope Academy Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 9277 - 00200 Nairobi, Kenya. Ebenezer Children Center Rongo Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 419, Rongo. Maringo Chapel Serenity School Postal address: PO Box 44724-00100 Nairobi, Kenya. Mavuno Children and Youth Center Email address: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 175 PUBLISHING HOUSE Opal Trust Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Glenannan Park, Lockerbie, DG112FA, UK. Website: www.opaltrust.org INTERESTING FEATURES Brethren churches are growing steadily numerically. However in some areas there is retarded growth because of economic and environmental challenges. Bible colleges are now coming up in several parts of the country, e.g., Hope Bible College in Nyanza. We have clinics, primary and secondary schools, orphanages and various projects started by women for widows. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The roots of all the Brethren assemblies can be traced from the then Nairobi Chapel in 1952. A cluster of seeds by the whites fell on brother Walter Nyasamo and brother Robert Gitau, who started small gatherings in Jerusalem estate in 1957, and in Kimathi estate in 1967, under the tutelage of Mr and Mrs John Roberts. Many young people were drawn to the faith and taught others also in various parts of Kenya. PRAISE GOD FOR • Freedom to preach and teach. • Unity in the assemblies. • The Brethren office. • Many assemblies planted in other parts of the country. PRAY FOR • Brethren’s own office building. • Publishing house. • Support of full-time workers. • Doctors needed in clinics and feeding for children. The Kenya Brethren Mission Fund: [email protected]

176 The Brethren Movement Worldwide KOREA Population 51,220,000 Major religions No affiliation 56% / Christianity (Protestant) 20% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 8% / Buddhism 15% Brethren work began in 1960 Number of congregations 230 Number of baptised believers 11500 Total number of adult attendees 13800 The number of committed believers is decreasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 150 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 10 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 10 PUBLICATIONS Open Door Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 132-843 Hana Bldg 301, Dodangro 13 Gil 28, Dobonggu, Seoul, Korea. Website: www.omsc.or.kr GNTV Website: www.gntv.or.kr MISSION SERVICE AGENCY OMSC Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 132-843 Hana Bldg 301, Dodangro 13 Gil 28, Dobonggu, Seoul, Korea. Website: www.omsc.or.kr

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 177 BIBLE SCHOOLS CTI (Christian Training Institute) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 28,398 bungil Cheoinsungro Namsa Myun Cheoingu Yonginshi, Korea. Website: www.cti.or.kr Level of study: Certificate. Length of course: 1 year residential. Korea Emmaus Bible School Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Muhakro 128,Dongdaemungu, Seoul, Korea. Website: www.emmaus.or.kr Level of study: Diploma. Length of course: 1-2 years. PUBLISHING HOUSE Evangelical Publication Ltd Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 16-6, 187 bungil Mugungwharo Ilsandong Gu Koyang shi Kyunggido Korea. Website: www.jundo.co.kr BRETHREN PUBLISHING HOUSE Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Peanek B dong 201 wongogdong 994-5 danwongu ansansi Kyungkido, Korea. THE MORNING STAR PUBLISHING HOUSE Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 13-7 1050 bungil 2 Sunwhanro Wheung Dukgu Chyungju, Korea. Website: http://cjchristian.org

178 The Brethren Movement Worldwide INTERESTING FEATURES GNTV (Grace & Truth TV) is run by Brethren. TCA (Timothy Christian Academy), an alternative Christian Secondary School, is run by Brethren. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The Brethren movement in Korea started in the 1960s by a missionary from Ireland. PRAISE GOD FOR • The blessing of sending 40 missionary families to 19 countries. • The starting of the alternative Christian School by members of the Brethren movement. • The ministry of CTI, which is continuous and fruitful. • The generous gifts from the assemblies for the missionaries. PRAY FOR • The unity among Brethren assemblies. • The ministry of CTI and staff for their wisdom. • The ministry of OMSC and staff for their faith in God’s provision. • The ministry of TCA and the staff of their spiritual strength as well as physical strength. Ok Yong, Lee: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 179 LEBANON Population 6,090,000 Major religions Islam (Shia) 27% / Islam (Sunni) 27% / Christianity (Maronite Catholic) 20% / Christianity (other) 13% Brethren work began in 1950s Number of congregations 1 Number of preaching points 1 Number of baptised believers 30 Total number of adult attendees 50 The number of committed believers is decreasing slowly Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 2 (Note: There may be some additional Arabic meetings in houses but no specific details are available.) AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Children’s Ministry Nature of ministry: Performance of children’s programs for various gatherings in the area of the assembly. Manara Organisation Nature of ministry: Christian bookstore and evangelism centre. INTERESTING FEATURES Any ministry that is done from the local meeting is done as a team, especially in the case of the children’s programs given at the assembly’s building and across the Bekaa Valley. HISTORICAL INFORMATION Mounir Habiby was a Palestinian refugee who brought the teachings of the Open Brethren movement to Lebanon as he relocated there after 1948. Meetings started in a house and then moved to several locations

180 The Brethren Movement Worldwide before settling into a permanent location with over 100 brothers and sisters in fellowship. Though this location does not consider itself a part of the movement today (however it still holds to New Testament principles), it had a role in spreading the movement across the country through very active evangelism. Currently, only one meeting continues to include itself in the Brethren movement (though at one point at least three groups were large enough to have buildings, while others met in houses). This surviving meeting started out of evangelistic efforts in the 1960s and 1970s from local Lebanese. Though there was significant persecution of the early believers, it moved to many different locations until, in 2006, a permanent meeting hall was constructed. PRAISE GOD THAT • The believers have a strong vision to see their unsaved families and close friends come to the knowledge of the truth. • There are still those faithfully meeting to remember the Lord weekly, even though many meetings have closed. • There is good work going to spread the gospel amongst the large refugee community in the country. PRAY FOR • The Lord to raise up faithful men to lead the meetings in the future. • Strength for the families to continue to live godly lives as the pressures of materialism and other evils of the world are always waging war against the believers in this country. • The believers to be filled with love for other believers and therefore not let Satan divide them. • Ever increasing wisdom, endurance, and boldness to share the gospel with the refugee community before they leave the country.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 181 MACEDONIA Population 2,087,000 Major religions Christianity (Macedonian Orthodox) 69% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 0.4% / Christianity (Other) 0.7% / Islam 29% Brethren work began in 1996 Number of Brethren congregations 1 Number of baptised believers 20 Number of adult attendees 25 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 2 (1 from Germany, 1 Macedonian) HISTORICAL INFORMATION The assembly was started when German believers distributed literature and then sent Alexander Gleiss to Bitola to continue the work. Three students from Bitola were saved while studying in Zagreb and came back to live and work in Bitola. A Bible study group was started and then the assembly moved into a building. PRAISE GOD FOR • Personal work, which is easy as the people love to talk and are hospitable. • God’s protection as the gospel is shared. PRAY FOR • Building up of trust. The people often consider us as a sect. • The Macedonian believers to take more responsibility in the assembly. • Harmony and spiritual growth in the assembly. Olive Wilson: [email protected]

182 The Brethren Movement Worldwide MADAGASCAR Population 26,300,000 Major religions Traditional beliefs (Animism) 41% / Christianity (Protestant) 29% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 25% / Islam 5% Brethren work began in 1989 Number of congregations: 119 Number of additional preaching points 40 Number of baptised believers: 4,000 Total number of adult attendees: 6,000 The number of committed believers is increasing quickly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 120 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 6 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 14 PUBLICATIONS Magazine of the Bible School Email address: [email protected] Postal address: BP 8611, Antananarivo, Madagascar. AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES MEIM Madagascar Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 8611, Antananarivo, Madagascar. Website: www.meim.madagascar.org Nature of ministry: Social action and development. Medical Center SILOE Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Ambositra, Madagascar. Nature of ministry: Medical care.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 183 CHURCH LINKS MEIM Suisse Email address: [email protected] Role: Financial support of full-time workers and Bible school/ humanitarian activities. ASMAF (Brethren Church of France) Email address: [email protected] Role: Financial support of full-time workers and Bible school/ humanitarian activities. MEIM France Email address: [email protected] Role: Financial support of full-time workers and Bible school/ humanitarian activities. MSF (Mission Sans Frontière, Switzerland) Email address: [email protected] Role: Gifts of biblical calendars and activities within the prison. Southern Baptist Church USA Role: Provides missionaries for church planting in the south. MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) Email address: [email protected] Website: www.maf-madagascar.org Role: Provides low-cost flight for church missions. BIBLE SCHOOLS CEFOI (Bible Institut) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 8611, Antananarivo, Madagascar. Level of study: Second level high school. Length of course: 1-3 years.

184 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Ecole de disciple (disciple training) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 97, Tuléar, Madagascar. Level of study: First level high school. Length of course: 6-9 months. PUBLISHING HOUSE Christian Library (Bibliothèque chrétienne) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: LOT IV L 39 D, Anosivavaka, Antananarivo, Madagascar. Scripture Union (Ligue pour la Lecture de la Bible) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 4085, Antananarivo. BIBLE SOCIETY (LA SOCIÉTÉ BIBLIQUE MALAGASY) Email address: www.biblesociety-malagasy.org INTERESTING FEATURES In the south-east region of our country, there has been for decades, if not for centuries, a bad tradition that considers all twin children to be doomed. They are then rejected out of the family and even thrown into the animal stalls in order to be trodden upon. A lot of organisations have helped to save such children. • Pastor Rosa of Ambohimangakely (suburb of the capital city) has also taken part in this action and, approximately 10 years ago, launched an orphanage in his own house with around 20 children. (There are also among them children from parents in difficulty and other orphans.) • Pastor Jean-Paul of Tamatave (the main port on the east of Madagascar), four years ago, also set up an orphanage in his own house with about 15 children. • A couple in Ambohimangakely commenced a primary school (Akany Salama) 10 years ago. Due to the success of their

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 185 activity, they are now building an extension to receive more pupils in the years to come. Fifteen years ago the Brethren Bible school called CEFOI set up a guest house named ‘Bethel Center’. The aim is to raise money to support the Bible school spending. The centre can accommodate up to 20 people and can also cater for spiritual retreats, marriages, meetings etc. We have within our assemblies an organisation called MEIM-Madagascar, which aims to help Christians and churches in serious difficulty. This year, for example, it has provided seeds for new plants for Christians in the south-east region where crops were totally destroyed by the cyclones. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The origin of the Brethren in Madagascar dates back to 1989. Since 1989, Malagasy Christians from different parts of the island have undertaken Bible training in the island of Réunion. On returning to Madagascar, each student had the desire to create an evangelical church in his locality. This was observed by the Director of the Bible School (CIFEM), André Tabailloux, every time he travelled and visited the former students. From there came the idea of bringing them together in Antananarivo for training. In addition to the former students, there were also other people who were thirsty to live the Christian life. God made all things concur because, before this rally, training was given on what the local church is, according to the Bible, and some people attended this training. At the beginning of the church, brothers and sisters from four regions (Diégo- Suarez, Antananarivo, Antsirabe and Tuléar) met in Antananarivo, in the Scripture Union Center. It was the beginning of the Brethren assemblies in Madagascar. PRAISE GOD FOR • Freedom of gospel preaching. • Lots of people who are thirsty for the gospel and go to church. • The church in the south that can launch three or four preaching points every year. • Students from churches who study in the Bible School.

186 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PRAY FOR • More full-time workers for the follow up of the new believers. • Less reliance on foreign aid for the financial support for the full- time workers. We are on the way to decreasing support so that the church will be autonomous financially. • The means to acquire more church buildings. (Some churches have been moving from one place to another for more than 20 years: the work becomes unstable.) • The setting-up of activities that generate funds to become more and more autonomous. Serge Razafintsambaina: [email protected] Rakotomamonjisoa Barijaona: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 187 MALAWI Population 19,000,000 Major religions Christianity (Protestant) 45% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 19% / Christianity (other) 12% / Islam 14% / Other 10% Brethren work began in 1964 Number of congregations 110 Number of committed believers 15,000 Number of full-time workers 17 (10 evangelists / gospel workers) (2 expatriate resident missionaries) (5 visiting brethren / missionaries) PUBLICATIONS Christian Brethren News , a quarterly magazine to encourage believers spiritually. Challenge Good News Paper , the gospel newspaper (quarterly) for use in the assembly outreach work. The God’s Word Explorer is also an evangelistic magazine. Emmaus Correspondence courses are widely used by the believers around also to encourage to know God’s word. Pilgrim's progress (an African version) and Blessings Minibus (Parables of the Lord) are the other publications written by ex-missionary, Dr. Jonathan Newell, used among the assembly work.

188 The Brethren Movement Worldwide AGENCIES SERVING THE CHURCHES Titus Trust, Malawi (2007) Email address: [email protected] (for information from brother Ananda Pulla.) Postal address: PO Box 31621, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi. Nature of ministry: Consists of local brothers as well as expatriate missionaries. Encourages and trains the local believers spiritually. Some practical support is given to believers in times of crisis. A Training Centre building is planned for the future. Christian Missions in Many Lands (2005) Postal address: PO Box 688, Blantyre. Nature of ministry: Holds conferences to encourage the believers in the assemblies. Light of Africa Ministries (2009) E-mail address: [email protected] (for information from Brother Emilian Marianciuc.) Postal address: Post Box 40510, Kanengo, Lilongwe, Malawi Nature of ministry: Church planting, discipleship, educating the children. Interior Missions Church Email address: [email protected] (for information from Brother Vinoji Samuel) Postal address: Post Box 40510, Kanengo, Lilongwe, Malawi Nature of ministry: Church planting, encouraging the believers spiritually and educating the children. All four of the above agencies are registered with the Malawian government. (Prison work: a few missionaries are focused among the prisons around the country to share the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and use Emmaus and discipleship courses for the inmates.)

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 189 PRAISE GOD FOR • The progress that has been made since the work stated in 1964. PRAY FOR • Reaching the urban population with the gospel and assembly truth. (Although the assemblies are decreasing due to lack of qualified leadership, God is gracious to sustain the truth of assembly principles.) • The local brethren who are unable to visit and encourage each other due to higher transport costs. • Regular training of believers as well as the leaders among the assemblies. • Faithful leaders who will take more responsibility for future work. • Unity and love among the local believers and mission workers. • Literature translation, printing and distribution. Ananda Pulla: [email protected]

190 The Brethren Movement Worldwide MALAYSIA Population 32,400,000 (inclusive of 3.3million non-citizens) Major religions Islam 61.3% / Buddhism 19.8 % / Christianity 9.2% / Hinduism 6.3% / Traditional Chinese religions 1.3% / Atheism, others, & unspecified 2.1% Brethren work began in 1855 Number of congregations 170 Number of additional preaching points 7 Number of baptised believers 14,000(estimated) Total number of adult attendees 23,900 (estimated) The number of committed believers is increasing very slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 61 (including overseas workers) Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 2 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 2 PUBLICATIONS Diakonia Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Christian Brethren Secretariat Malaysia, Unit 697-2-2, Desa Kiara Condo, Jalan Damansara, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Website: www.cbsm.com.my AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Christian Brethren of Malaysia Property Trust Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Unit 679-2-2, Desa Kiara Condo, Jalan Damansara 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Nature of ministry: Assists local assemblies to safe-guard their properties and deal with officialdom on matters related to land ownership. Ensures

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 191 that properties in the Trust are used for the furtherence of the gospel and the teaching of the Word of God. Malaysian Missionary Services (MMS) Trust Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Unit 679-2-2, Desa Kiara Condo, Jalan Damansara 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Nature of Ministry: To facilitate assembly mission work both locally and overseas, and to challenge and encourage individuals to serve the Lord on a short or longer term. Promotes assembly commended workers’ welfare and promote interest and prayer support for missions on part of individuals and assemblies. Emmaus Bible Centre (Kuala Lumpur) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 54 Jalan Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Nature of Ministry: To make Emmaus Bible Courses available to each and every member of our assemblies so that everyone can study the Word on a personal level. Pan Malaysia OA Mission (PMOAM) Email address: [email protected] Postal Address: c/o Bandar Puchong Gospel Centre, 41 Jalan Bandar 16, Pusat Bandar Puchong, 47100 Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia. Nature of Ministry: Coordinates the ministry to the indigenous people in West Malaysia, provides support for the native leaders and workers, and organises the bi-annual OA Conference. Malaysia Myanmar Ministry (MMM) Email address: [email protected] Postal Address: Gospel Hall Kuala Lumpur, No. 3 Jalan Hang Jebat, 50150 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Nature of Ministry: Evangelism, Bible teaching and pastoral care for the Myanmar workers and refugees in Malaysia. In partnership with local assemblies, the planting of new churches in Myanmar.

192 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Inter-Brethren Assembly Youth Development Email address: [email protected] Postal Address: c/o May Lee Hilmy, 33 Lorong Burhanuddin Helmi 11, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Nature of ministry: To assist the assemblies in reaching out to youth through sports and music evangelism, coordinates inter-assembly youth activities, and supports assemblies in equipping youth leaders. Seeks to provide (a) an environment where young people can grow personally in Christ, build relationships in Christ and reach the community for Christ, and (b) an opportunity for Christian ministry and fellowship among the youth. Christian Brethren Education Board (CBEB) Email address: [email protected] / [email protected] Postal Address: c/o Bukit Bintang Education Centre, SMK (L) Bukit Bintang, Jalan Utara, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. Nature of ministry: Restoration of our rights and responsibilities as the Mission Authority of the three mission schools; restoration of our heritage and vision, Christian ethos, character and traditions; reclaiming and maximising the use of under-utilised land and buildings to continue our role and Christian testimony in education for the benefit of future generations. PITH Asia-Oceania Email address: [email protected] Postal Address: MCS, S20, Centrepoint BU, Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. Nature of ministry: To inspire and help in mobilising the Asian assemblies to press on urgently to fulfil the Great Commission in light of the soon return of our Lord Jesus Christ. To organise PITH conference for the Asia Oceania region, provide a platform for networking of Brethren missions and to train younger leaders in missions and church planting. MISSION SERVICE AGENCY Gospel Outreach Worldwide Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 3 Jalan Muhibbah 3, Taman Muhibbah, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 193 Nature of ministry: To reach the unreached people groups in our own country and abroad. To provide a suitable channel and environment for assemblies to participate effectively in mission. CHURCH LINKS Christian Brethren Secretariat Malaysia (CBSM) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Unit 679-2-2, Desa Kiara Condo, Jalan Damansara 60000 Kuala Lumpur. Website: www.cbsm.com.my Role: Encourages and coordinates combined activities so that assemblies can work, learn and grow together in love and unity; acts as a net-working centre for the dissemination of timely and useful information both local and from overseas, for the purpose of prayer and co-operative action; assists in the strengthening of assembly witness by making resources available locally and from overseas; convenes the Assembly Leadership Conference every two years. CBSM is currently supervising and supporting the Nepal Mission Project, which has three witness centres in Kathmandu, Dhading Besi and Madi Village. The CBSM is also managing a disaster relief fund to provide relief to those affected by natural disasters within the country and where the Brethren assemblies have a presence. BIBLE SCHOOL Residential Bible School Email address: [email protected] Postal address: c/o May Lee Hilmy, 33 Lorong Burhanuddin Helmi 11, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur. Website: www.rbs.org.my Length of course: 5 weeks. RBS is an annual short-term school run by the Brethren Assemblies of Malaysia, as a ministry of Inter Brethren Assemblies (IBA) Youth Development. It is designed for Christian young people interested in growing in their relationship with God, equipping themselves with a better knowledge of God’s Word, and learning skills to serve God more effectively. The focus is on discipleship based on the word of God as the foundation for all aspects of our life.

194 The Brethren Movement Worldwide GLO Malaysia Training School Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 58, Taman Pun Chun. Jalan Sungkai. 35500. Bidor. Perak. Website: www.glomalaysia.org Level of study: Level 1 is designed for school leavers who can look forward to a comprehensive Bible based teaching programme coupled with skill- based training on important topics such as evangelism, follow up, and Sunday School work. Length of course: 6 weeks. INTERESTING FEATURES 1. In recent years, two sports evangelistic events (Copa IBA and Gospel Cup) managed to draw over 1000 youths (about half of whom are un-churched) to hear the gospel. 2. The Assembly Fellowship Camp (AFC) is a bi-annual national level camp that aims to provide a platform for fellowship and mutual support, for personal fulfilment in obedience to God’s will and God’s Word, for Christians living single lives for one reason or another. 3. Christian Brethren Involvement in Education (CBIE) aims to restore our rights and responsibilities as the Mission Authority of our three Mission schools, and to restore and re-build the Christian ethos, character and traditions which have been part of our heritage and testimony in these schools. CBIE aims to foster the setting up of private educational centres to help assemblies better connect with communities in order to enlarge their presence, contribution and witness in the local community. A recent achievement was the establishment of ‘Star Kids’, a Mission pre-school in the city of Petaling Jaya. Preparatory work is underway for the establishment of another pre-school in Madi village, Nepal. This ‘Mission Through Education’ endeavour is related to the Nepal Mission Project.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 195 4. Regional leadership consultative groupings such as the Klang Valley Assemblies Elders’ Council, the Penang Assembly Partnership and Perak Assembly Network. These groupings aim to enhance unity and fellowship among the assemblies in the region, create opportunities for the elders to fellowship and pray for each other, promote inter-assembly activities and provide a forum to discuss mutual concerns/challenges affecting the assemblies. The assemblies in these regional groupings work closely together to implement common outreach programs, pool resources, conduct training and provide practical support for agencies and ministries. 5. Young adults entering the work force face many challenges of the world and young adult life. An annual ‘Young Adults Life Encounter’ (YALE) Camp was held in the last two years to prepare young adults to transition to working life in a meaningful, bold and knowledgeable Christian way. HISTORICAL INFORMATION Brethren assembly work in Malaya can be traced back to the 1850s to G. Bausam, an LMS missionary working in Penang. G. Bausam had some Brethren background and rendered much help to John Chapman, a Brethren missionary from Bethesda, Bristol (England), who arrived to begin assembly work in Penang in 1860. The first assembly was established in Penang very quickly. The work began to grow rapidly especially among the immigrants (mainly Chinese and Indians) who had come to seek their fortunes in this newly opened British colony. More Brethren missionaries followed. Between 1900 and 1940, there were as many as 85 Brethren missionaries, mostly from Britain and her colonial territories such as New Zealand and Australia serving throughout Malaya. Through the blessing of God, the sacrificial work of the missionaries, and the help of new converts working together, Brethren work spread from north to south and assemblies were established in most of the major towns in the colony. The war years severely disrupted the progress of assembly missionary work. After the country gained independence in 1957 and Malaysia came into being in 1963, the door for foreign missionaries to enter the country was gradually closed. Over time, some retired to their

196 The Brethren Movement Worldwide home countries and others returned home to the Lord after long years of faithful service. The responsibility of shepherding the flock and fulfilling the great commission was gradually passed on to local leaders. PRAISE GOD FOR • The Christian Brethren involvement in education and preparatory work to establish a pre-school in Madi village, Nepal. • The manifold blessings and favour of the Lord on the work among the indigenous people group in Peninsular Malaysia. The church is going along steadily. • Continued interest in missions overseas and within the country (‘Mission-at-our-doorstep’) and in neighbouring countries. • The King’s Highway, which is a model for creating an appropriate infrastructure for spiritual development and growth of assemblies in the country. Existing agencies seek to build together in partnership with the assemblies. PRAY FOR • Unity among the leaders in coordinated and cooperative efforts in church planting. • Assemblies to work, learn and grow together in love and unity. • Efforts taken for leadership succession planning and development among the assemblies (both English-speaking and Chinese- speaking). • A better coordinated support mechanism for commended workers. • The Next-Gen to capture the vision for missions and evangelism. • Religious freedom and racial harmony in Malaysia. The General Secretary, Christian Brethren Secretariat Malaysia: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 197 MEXICO Population 125,000,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 82% / Christianity (Protestant) 7% / Cults 2% / Other religions 4% / No religion 5% Brethren work began in 1872 Number of congregations 215 Number of additional preaching points 80 Number of baptised believers 3,000 - 4,000 Total number of adult attendees 3,000 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of fulltime workers serving local congregations 50 Nationals Number of fulltime itinerant evangelists 20 Number of fulltime itinerant Bible teachers 30 PUBLICATIONS El Sembrador An evangelistic magazine published quarterly. Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Apartado Postal 28, 94300, Orizaba, Ver., México. Website: www.elsembrador.org.mx Mensajero Mexicano A magazine designed to connect believers in Mexico and abroad. Email address: [email protected] Website: www.mensajeromexicano.com CHURCH LINKS There are several networks of Brethren churches in Mexico. The two listed below are entities that are recognised by the government as Religious Associations. Other networks exist, which are connected by geographic proximity, doctrinal affinity, or a historical connection to their founders.

198 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Asociación Religiosa de Hermanos Congregados en el Nombre del Señor Jesús Postal address: José Morán #245, Col. Daniel Garza, Delg. Miguel Hidalgo, 11830, CDMX, México Website: http://www.hermanoscongregados.com Role: An association of over 100 assemblies distributed throughout about 20 states. Unión de Iglesias que se Reúnen en el Nombre del Señor Jesucristo Postal address: Sur 9 No. 328, Orizaba 94300, VER. México Website: http://www.uniondeiglesias.org Role: An association of over 50 assemblies distributed throughout about 6 states. PUBLISHING HOUSES Publicaciones El Sembrador Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Apartado Postal 28, 94300, Orizaba, Ver., México. Website: www.elsembrador.org.mx Publicaciones Pescadores Postal address: Apartado 02-11, Sucursal Las Quintas, Hermosillo, Sonora, México Website: www.publicacionespescadores.com INTERESTING FEATURES A significant and fruitful work of evangelism and church planting was undertaken by Pepe Barrios in the central Sierra Zongolica and, since his death in 2016, has continued strongly by those he discipled. Founded by an English pioneer missionary, the evangelistic magazine El Sembrador has been published for over 124 years. Some assemblies are using their facilities for teaching Music, English or Home School programs (primary, secondary and high school).

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 199 The Christian radio program Clasificación A (www.clasificaciona.com) has been broadcast in Mexico City and online for over 10 years. It is sponsored by FBH International, a ministry of Canadian assemblies. HISTORICAL INFORMATION Within a generation of the Brethren movement’s birth, waves of missionaries began landing on the Mexican coast. The first pioneers arrived from England: James Pascoe (1865), a mining engineer turned missionary, Leonard Ingram (1889), a businessman, Eglon Harris (1891), a missionary, Reginald Carey Brenton (1897), an Admiral of the British Royal Navy. Each of them was driven by burning desire to see the gospel take root and flourish. These pioneers pushed through resistance and persecution with determination and ingenuity. James Pasco founded the first evangelistic magazine in Mexico, called El Heraldo , which was published for 17 years. Eglon Harris founded the El Sembrador publication, which continues even today. The Emmaus courses arrived in 1942, and were followed by waves of missionaries and national workers who worked tirelessly through literature, conferences, camps, radio, and more. The tide, however, is turning. Though Mexico has received foreign missionaries for over 150 years, Mexican believers are beginning to sense their own responsibility to the Great Commission. Today there are 18 Mexican missionaries who have left their homes to take the gospel abroad. PRAISE GOD FOR • The example of faithfulness of those who brought the gospel. • The growth of the gospel among the Brethren and other evangelicals. • Passion for Christ among the younger generations. • The freedom to preach the gospel legally. PRAY FOR • Unity among believers; unity that transcends historical rifts.

200 The Brethren Movement Worldwide • The new generation to be challenged spiritually and to be fruitful. • A new generation of missionaries to arise and take the gospel abroad. • A new mission organisation to serve Mexican missionaries serving abroad. Joel Hernández: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 201 MOLDOVA, REPUBLIC OF Population 4,040,000 Major religions Christianity (Orthodox) 90% / Christianity (Protestant) 3% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 0.5% / No stated religion 6.5% Brethren work began in 1996 Number of congregations 14 Number of additional preaching points 9 Number of baptised believers 271 Total number of adult attendees 350 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 8 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 6 (Romanian brothers do most of the evangelism) Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 4 PRAISE GOD FOR • The great liberty and open doors after the Communist regime in Eastern Europe collapsed in 1989, which enabled Romanian brothers to cross the border into Moldova and plant churches. • The Romanian brothers who seized the opportunity. • The open hearts of people across the country. PRAY FOR • More godly teachers, evangelists, and missionaries to be raised up among the nationals. • The supply of the materials needed for the building of church halls. • More long-term workers willing to minister in poor conditions in order to help local assemblies and to pioneer in other areas. • Growth of unity and cooperation among the assemblies. Cornel Haures: [email protected]

202 The Brethren Movement Worldwide MONGOLIA Population 3,121,000 Major religions Buddhism 53% / Shamanism 3% / Islam 3% / Christianity 2% / No religion 38% Brethren work began in 1997 Number of congregations   4 Number of additional preaching points 2 Number of baptised believers 225 Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 4 BIBLE SCHOOL CTI Mongolia Level of course: Certificate (issued by CTI Korea). Length of course: 2 years. (There were 37 graduates in 2018.) PUBLISHING HOUSE Imperishable Publishing House (IPH) Already more than 20 books have been published. There is also a bookstore in Ulaanbaatar. INTERESTING FEATURES A significant camp ministry exists in Ulziit, where camps are run, in both summer and winter, by Bayar and Sami and Ani Soldan (missionaries from Romania). HISTORICAL INFORMATION Dr Howard Harper, a NZ missionary who had worked in many Central Asian countries, visited Mongolia in the years after the revolution. He was an opthalmologist and set up an eye clinic in Ulaanbaatar in 1997. Through his efforts an assembly was functioning in the capital by the year 2000. Five years later Dr Harper asked GLO Australia to become

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 203 involved by training and supporting national workers. Korean missionaries planted an assembly in Ondurkhan followed by another in Ulaanbaatar. Since then two more assemblies have commenced in other towns. PRAISE GOD FOR • Completion of the building at Ulziit to use for camps and meetings. • Emmaus correspondence courses in Mongolian. • Training opportunities with CTI Mongolia. PRAY FOR • Diligence in studying Emmaus courses. • Development of a new International Christian School. • Starting a kindergarten ministry. • Suitable leadership for the church at Banganoor. • Christian growth and vision to reach others with the gospel. Bayarsaikhan Yadamtsoo: [email protected] Park Su Young: [email protected]

204 The Brethren Movement Worldwide MONTENEGRO Population 750,000 Major religions Christianity (Eastern Orthodox) 72% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 3.5% / Christianity (Other Protestant) 0.5% / Islam 20% Brethren work began in 1992 Number of congregations 1 Number of additional preaching points 1 Number of baptised believers 45 Total number of adult attendees 60 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 6 HISTORICAL INFORMATION Vladimir Cizmanski and a friend moved from Serbia in 1992 with a desire to plant the church in Montenegro. Because it was a total beginning, we started spreading tracts in the streets and at apartments searching for those who might be interested in spiritual matters. Slowly the Lord added new people and a home group was formed in 1997. Since then, we have had continual meetings and development. Now we are about to build a first building for believers in the country. PRAISE GOD FOR • Unity in our assembly. • Growth in numbers. • Freedom in the country. • The possibility of buying land for future building. PRAY FOR • Contact with people who are interested for God. • Continual discipleship from generation to generation. • Unity in the assembly. • Starting and finishing the building quickly. Vladimir Cizmanski: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 205 MOZAMBIQUE Population 30,550,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 30.5% / Christianity (Protestant) 18.4% / Christianity (Zionist) 10.3% / Islam 19.3% / No religion 9.9% Brethren work began in 1999 Number of congregations 77 The number of committed believers is increasing quickly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 77 Number of full-time evangelists Each local assembly with its leadership has a duty to take the gospel to the area in need. Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 4 (Maputo Assembly) MISSION SERVICE AGENCY Rand Gospel Mission Email address: [email protected] BIBLE SCHOOL Mobile Discipleship School Email address: [email protected] Length of course: 2 years. Emmaus Bible Correspondence School Email address: [email protected] Length of course: 2 years. Portuguese Emmaus Bible Correspondence courses are being distributed in prisons and are used for church growth as well.

206 The Brethren Movement Worldwide INTERESTING FEATURES Involvement in children’s ministry to orphans, putting them in schools and assisting them in their everyday life. There have been good results as they get involved in local assemblies’ ministry, prison ministry, short term missionary ministry within the country, and church planting. PRAISE GOD FOR • The good number of young people who are committing their lives to the Lord. • Children’s work, which is becoming more established. PRAY FOR • Mobile Discipleship—the need for conducting three times a year. • The need of Bibles in the hands of the youth and teenagers. • God’s provision to set up a youth centre. Patrick and Grace Mulenga: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 207 MYANMAR (BURMA) Population 54,500,000 Major religions Buddhism 88% / Christianity 6.2% / Islam 4.3% / Tribal religions (Animism) 0.8% / Hinduism 0.5% Brethren work began in 1884 Number of churches 115 Number of preaching points about 55 Number of baptised believers about 6,450 Total number of adult attendees about 6,550 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 250 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists about 100 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers about 40 CHURCH LINKS Myanmar Brethren Churches Fellowship (MBCF) BIBLE SCHOOLS South East Asia Bible College Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Yuzana Garden City, Yangon, Myanmar. Level of study: Degree. Length of course: 4 years. Pastor’s Training College Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Hmawbi, Yangon Division, Myanmar. Level of study: Diploma. Length of course: 3 years.

208 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Christian Training College Email address: [email protected] Postal address: North Dagon, Yangon Division, Myanmar. Level of study: Degree. Length of course: 3 years. Harvest Mission College Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Pyin Oo Lwin, Mandalay Division, Myanmar. Level of study: Degree. Length of course: 3 years. Gideon Myanmar Bible College Postal address: Kale myo, Sagaing Division, Myanmar. Level of study: Degree. Length of course: 3 years. Myanmar Agape Bible College Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Dagon Seikkan, Yangon Division, Myanmar. Level of study: Degree. Length of course: 3 years. Dai College Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 45/1259 Anawrahta Rd., North Dagon, Yangon, Myanmar. Level of study: Degree. Length of course: 4 years. INTERESTING FEATURES ECS (Tedim): By God’s grace, the Emmaus Correspondence Courses (in Tedim Chin language) have been introduced especially to Tedim language-speaking people in Myanmar since 2009. Many people are very interested and taking the courses. We pray and hope that more people

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 209 will know the Lord and will grow in the grace and the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ by studying ECS courses in the days to come. PRAISE GOD FOR • Equipping young believers to be faithful followers of Christ and to fulfil His Great Commission. • Emmaus Correspondence Courses (in Myanmar Language). • Sending in-country missionaries. • Conducting Children's / Youth Camps. PRAY FOR • The continued effectiveness of equipping young believers to be faithful followers of Christ, to be future leaders of the churches, and to fulfil His Great Commission in Myanmar and around the world. • The gospel revival in Myanmar. • The effectiveness of the Emmaus Courses. • The evangelists and church planters. Kap Cin Thang: [email protected]

210 The Brethren Movement Worldwide NAURU Population 13,649 (2017 WB estimate) Major religions Protestant 60.4% (includes Nauru Congregational 35.7%, Assembly of God 13%, Nauru Independent Church 9.5%, Baptist 1.5%, and Seventh Day Adventist 0.7%) / Roman Catholic 33% / other 3.7% / none 1.8% / unspecified 1.1% (2011 est.) Brethren work began in July 2004 Number of congregations 1 Number of baptised believers 26 Number of adult attendees 22 Number of Teenagers including preteens 9 Number of children 11 The number of committed believers 17 INTERESTING FEATURES Nauru is the world’s smallest island nation, with a land area of 21 square kilometres. Germany annexed the island in 1888. A German-British consortium began mining the island's phosphate deposits early in the 20th century. Australian forces occupied Nauru in World War I; it subsequently became a League of Nations mandate. After the Second World War - and a brutal occupation by Japan - Nauru became a UN trust territory. It achieved independence in 1968 and joined the UN in 1999 as the world's smallest independent republic. Revenues of this tiny island traditionally have come from exports of phosphates. Few other resources exist, with most necessities being imported, mainly from Australia, its former occupier and later major source of support. Primary reserves of phosphates were exhausted and mining ceased in 2006, but mining of a deeper layer of “secondary phosphate” in the interior of the island began the following year. The secondary phosphate deposits may last another 30 years. Earnings from Nauru’s export of phosphate remains an important source of income. Although revenue sources for government are limited,

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 211 the opening of the Australian Regional Processing Center for asylum seekers since 2012 has sparked growth in the economy. Revenue derived from fishing licenses under the “vessel day scheme” has also boosted government income. The assembly meets in a community hall albeit a condemned building and needs a building of its own, which could be built on the Elder’s land. Current ministries are Bible teaching, Sunday School and hospital visitation. Child evangelism work is carried out by the wife of Pastor Bernard, Mrs Almi, who is recently appointed in early 2018 by the Child Evangelism Fellowship to be their Nauru Director (volunteer work). Her work is supported by the church through the sharing of space and feeding programme funded by two families in the church. Another ministry conducted by the church is Religious Instruction in the schools (4). Almi and another church member, Missy, attends to this using CEF materials. Additional ministries (e.g. youth work) are needed. Resources needed are teaching materials for all age levels and adults. Training for church leadership roles for both men and women, especially pastor roles for men and women’s ministry. PRAISE GOD FOR • The progress that has been made so far. • God’s faithfulness in maintaining the witness of the assembly. • His encouragement in a remote and challenging environment. • Defending his people amidst the constant personal attacks. • Legally establishing the Nauru Brethren Church on 22 February 2013. • Faithfully feeding the Sunday School and Good News Club children on Sundays. • The “Apostle Phillip-like” evangelism opportunities.

212 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PRAY FOR • Visits from itinerant bible teachers and individuals and groups to encourage the saints. • Funds to enable a church building to be built. • Workers in the church to take up leadership roles and ministries. • Funds to train the workers. Bernard Grundler: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 213 NEPAL Population 29,719,000 Major religions Hinduism 81.3% / Buddhism 9% / Islam 4.5% / Kiratism 3% / Christianity 1.4% Brethren work began in 1986 in eastern Nepal 1987 in Kathmandu Number of churches 115 Number of preaching points 25 Number of baptised believers 650 Total number of adult attendees 800 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 9 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 9 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 9 AGENCIES SERVING THE CHURCHES Open Door Missionary Service Committee Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 01355 BanghakDong 634-2 Hana Building 301, DobongGu, Seoul, Korea. Website: www.omsc.or.kr Nature of ministry: Support to the local churches. GLO Australia Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 171 Riverstone, NSW, Australia 2765. Website: www.glo-aus.org Nature of ministry: Support to the local churches.

214 The Brethren Movement Worldwide CHURCH LINKS Open-door Missionary Service Committee Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 01355 BanghakDong 634-2 Hana Building 301, DobongGU, Seoul, Korea. Website: www.omsc.or.kr Role: Support to the local churches. PUBLISHING HOUSE Timothy Publications Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Chandragiri-9, Kathmandu, Nepal. Telephone: +977 9808170017 (Since it is only recently opened, it does have a full postal address nor a website address, so a phone number is included for more information.) INTERESTING FEATURES 1. Machhegaun Assembly (an assembly in the Kathmandu valley) hired a local business school and they are using it to preach the gospel. Once a year a VISION Team comes from South Korea and 20-25 young brothers and sisters organise various activities to preach the gospel. 2. ABC (Autumn Bible Conference): In the autumn season, we have a joint Autumn Bible Conference, which is held among 500 people in the Kathmandu valley, where we invite speakers from other countries. 3. YBC (Youth Bible Camp): During winter season, we have a joint Youth Bible Camp, which is held among 180 youths in the Kathmandu Valley where we have speakers from other countries. 4. MBS (Ministers' Bible seminar): Once a year we have a joint Ministers' Bible Seminar. Around 100 elders and deacons gather along with their families and those who are interested in preaching the gospel. So far, we have invited godly preachers from other countries.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 215 5. Free Medical Camp: We occasionally have medical camps from Singapore and South Korea. Recently one was held in Nawalparasi and Sarlahi for poor and needy children. 1600 commoners got free treatment. 6. Short Mission Trip (BF Team): Once a year in the winter season, a group of 10-15 young brothers and sisters from South Korea visit Nepal to run a children’s camp in the Kathmandu Valley as well as in the remote area of Sarlahi (out of the Kathmandu Valley). HISTORICAL INFORMATION When the gospel was strictly prohibited in Nepal, God sent his disciples to preach the gospel there. In 1986, God sent a newly-married couple, dear brother R. Raghu and sister Lydia Raghu, from Mumbai (India), to work in Nepal. In spite of many problems, they started to do God’s work from Siliguri. During those days preaching the gospel was not allowed in Nepal but God made His provisions and protected His people from any harm and danger. As a fruit of their labour, God established Aiyabari, Dharan and Phurketar assemblies in the eastern part of Nepal. To the Nepalese people, God wanted to send more workers from different parts of the world. As a result, He sent dear brother Lee Hyun Woong and his family in 1997, after they were commended from Choongju Assembly, South Korea. The first brother, Maheswor Hamal, was saved while they were learning the Nepali language in the Tribhuvan International Language School. Then brother Dhruba Aryal, who was working in South Korea, who heard the gospel in Incheon Yunsoo (now Incheon Songdo) Assembly, South Korea, was converted in November 1997. After that, he returned to Nepal and married Korean sister (Kim Jum Suk) in October 1998, and both of them joined together with brother Lee and family, brother Tashi and family, brother Hirakaji and sister Amrita. They used to gather for Bible study in brother Lee’s house. They are the first members who worshipped together in Kathmandu Assembly, which started in the first week of January 1999. Brother Choi and family came to Nepal from Daejeon Deaduck Assembly, South Korea after being commended to help the Nepal mission work in May 2001. Now brother Lee and his family have returned to South Korea.

216 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Brother Choi and his family also are now living in South Korea but visit Nepal frequently. Kathmandu Assembly : There are 55 believers, 15 newcomers and 40 children gathering for worship every Saturday. Brother Dalsingh is a full- time worker in the Assembly. Lalitpur Assembly: Established in September 2003 with the recommendation and prayer from Kathmandu Assembly including brother Lee and family. There are 60 believers along with 25 newcomers and 25 children. Brother Ram Sharan Kc is a full-time worker in the Assembly. Kapan Assembly: Started in September 2006 with the recommendation and prayer from Kathmandu Assembly to brother Dhruba and family. There are 80 believers, 20 newcomers, 30 children who gather together for worship meeting every week. Machchhegaun Assembly: Established in January 2008 with the recommendation and prayer of Kathmandu Assembly. There are 118 believers, 35 children and 10 newcomers taking part in every Saturday’s meeting. Brother Bir Bahadur is full-time worker there. Pokhara Assembly: Established in September 2010 with the recommendation and prayer from Machchhegaun Assembly to brother Kamal and family. There are 50 believers, 10 very close seekers and about 10 children gathering together in the meeting. Nawalparasi Assembly: Started in November 2011 with the recommendation and prayer from Kathmandu Assembly. 40 believers and 20 newcomers and about 20 children are gathering for remembering the Lord in every Saturday. Brother Prem Rana is the elder of this assembly. Chitwan Assembly: God started Chitwan Assembly in December 2011 (out of Kathmandu valley). Seven are breaking bread every week in this assembly, which started with the recommendation and prayer from Kapan Assembly. Please pray for a servant of God who can serve the Lord fully.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 217 Sarlahi Assembly: Established in 2013 with the recommendation and prayer from Kapan Assembly. There are 25 believers, 6 seekers and 60 children. Brother Bhim Magar is looking after this assembly. God has begun this assembly among the most illiterate, poor and needy people. Thapathana Assembly: God has started in 2013. Now there are 12 believers, 2 newcomers and 15 children. Bhaktapur Assembly: God has established in 2014 with the recommendation and prayer from Lalitpur assembly. There are 40 believers along with 10 newcomers and 15 children. Brother Ananda Lepcha is a full-time worker in this assembly. Kirtipur Assembly: Started in 2016 with the recommendation and prayer from Machhagaun Assembly, there are 35 believers, 10 newcomers and 10 children. Brother Dinesh Maharjan is the elder of this assembly. Now he is severely sick due to blood cancer. Please pray for him to recover by His grace. Beside these assemblies there are Aiyabari Assembly, Dharan Assembly, Furketar Assembly and Damak Assembly. (These assemblies lie in the eastern part of Nepal, quite close to the Indian border). Brother R. Raghu and his team are leading and labouring among them. PRAISE GOD FOR • His faithfulness and for fully guiding each of assemblies in a very critical situation during the year. • Increased mission involvement in our own country, including a church-planting movement in small towns. • Greater sense of unity among leaders as well as the inter-assemblies’ cooperative efforts through the various agencies and inter- assembly activities. • Being able to construct the buildings so that most of assemblies have their own meeting halls after the devastating earthquake.

218 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PRAY FOR • The country of Nepal to open the gospel door continually. The present government is opposed to Christians. • The effectiveness of evangelism and the church-planting ministry. • The assemblies in Nepal to be able to send more inland workers to the unreached groups of people. • The believers in the assemblies to stand firm in the faith on New Testament principles. Dhruba Bandhu Aryal: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 219 THE NETHERLANDS Population 17,100,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 24% / Christianity (Protestant) 15% / Islam 5% / Other religions 6% / No religion 50% Brethren work began in 1850 Number of congregations 100 Number of baptised believers 7,000 Total number of adult attendees 7,000 The number of committed believers is decreasing PUBLICATIONS De Band Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Berend Gunnink, Engelandlaan 886, 2034 HM Haarlem (NL). Telephone: (+31) 0651819820 Uit het Woord der Waarheid Email address: [email protected] Postal address: St. Uit het Woord der Waarheid, Postbus 260, 7120 AG Aalten (NL). Telephone: (+31) 0543478843 Berichten Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Jan Tooropstraat 23, 7731 MP Ommen (NL). Telephone: (+31) 0529750906 MISSION SERVICE AGENCIES Filadelfia Zending Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Kamerlingh Onneslaan 36, 8024 CN Zwolle (NL). Website: www.filadelfia.zending.nl

220 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Stichting Nehemia Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Jan Tooropstraat 23, 7731 MP Ommen (NL). Website: https://www.stichtingnehemia.nl/ PUBLISHING HOUSE Stichting Uit het Woord der Waarheid Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Postbus 260, 7120 AG Aalten (NL). Telephone: (+31) 0543478843 PRAISE GOD FOR • Increasing activity in the gospel. • More fellowship with other Christians. • Cooperation with other Christian organisations. PRAY FOR • Unity and tolerance. • Increasing awareness of missionary tasks. WEBSITES RELATING TO BRETHREN ASSEMBLIES IN THE NETHERLANDS https://vergadering.nu/vergaderingen.htm Contact: https://vergadering.nu/contact.htm http://www.vergaderingvangelovigen.info/web/vergaderingen.htm Contact: http://www.vergaderingvangelovigen.info/web/contact.htm Barend Bloem: [email protected] Henk Medema: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 221 NEW ZEALAND Population 4,800,000 Major religions Christianity (Protestant) 35% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 12% / Hinduism 2% / Buddhism 1.5% / No religion 42% Brethren work began in 1852 Number of congregations 180 Number of baptised believers 16,000-20,000 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 100 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 30 PUBLICATION Rongopai Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 744, Palmerston North 4440, New Zealand. Website: www.cccnz.nz Connect Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 744, Palmerston North 4440, New Zealand. Website: www.gc3.org.nz AGENCIES SERVING THE CHURCHES Christian Community Churches of New Zealand Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 744, Palmerston North 4440, New Zealand. Website: www.cccnz.nz Nature of ministry: Service trust.

222 The Brethren Movement Worldwide GC3 Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 744, Palmerston North 4440, New Zealand. Website: www.gc3.org.nz Nature of ministry: Missions trust. Stewards Trust of New Zealand Email address: [email protected] Website: www.strengthandunity.co.nz Nature of ministry: Property trust. MISSION SERVICE AGENCY GC3 Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 744, Palmerston North 4440, New Zealand. Website: www.gc3.org.nz CHURCH LINKS Christian Community Churches of New Zealand (CCCNZ) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 744, Palmerston North 4440, New Zealand. Website: www.cccnz.nz Role: Service trust. BIBLE SCHOOL Pathways College of Bible and Mission Email address: [email protected],.nz Website: www.pathways.ac.nz Bible and mission college. PRAISE GOD FOR • 10% of churches are currently talking about the possibility of church planting. • New mission initiatives are planned in our largest city, Auckland.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 223 • The formation of CCCNZ as a service trust to our movement and for our movement. • Developing renewed emphasis on reaching children and youth. PRAY FOR • More workers to join the work. • Greater confidence in the gospel of Jesus Christ. • More elderships to focus more intently on eldership responsibilities instead of deaconry responsibilities. Mark Grace: [email protected]

224 The Brethren Movement Worldwide NIGERIA Population 197,000,000 Major religions Islam (Sunni) 42.5% / Islam (Shia and Ahmadi) 7.5% / Christianity (Protestant) 32.3% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 10.9% / African traditional religion 6.8% Brethren work began in 1919 Number of congregations 1,200 Number of additional preaching points 705 Number of baptised believers 9,000 Total number of attendees 25,000 The number of committed believers is increasing quickly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 500 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 100 Number of full-time Bible teachers 50 BIBLE SCHOOLS Ika Bible School Postal address: Box 85, Ankpa, Kogi State. Level of study: Certificate. Length of course: 1 year. CMML Trinity Bible College Postal address: PO Box 10, Anyigba, Kogi State. Level of study: Diploma. Length of course: 3 years. CEFN Theological Seminary Postal address: PO Box 1001, Anyigba, Kogi State. Level of study: Degree (in theology). Length of course: 4 years.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 225 College of Theology and Administration Postal address: PO Box 305, Anyigba, Kogi State. Level of study: Degree in theology, post-graduate Diploma. Length of course: 4 years. PUBLISHING HOUSE Ika Christian Press (partially closed down) Postal address: P.M.B. 1008, Ika, Ankpa, Kogi State. INTERESTING FEATURES In Nigeria, the Brethren are operating about 100 primary schools and about seven secondary schools. There are three schools for the disabled and disadvantaged children. There is also opportunity for the gospel to be preached on radio and television stations. HISTORICAL INFORMATION In 1919, some Brethren missionaries from America and England came to Nigeria to begin a missionary work under the name Christian Missions in Many Lands, (CMML). After some time, there was a disagreement between these organisations and some broke away to form the Stewards Company in Ika in the year 1952. As the work continued to grow, in 1982, another generation of young brethren from the Stewards Company and CMML came together to be registered under a common name, Christian Evangelical Fellowship of Nigeria (CEFN). Both groups of assemblies are growing rapidly to the glory of God. Another group later dissociated from the Stewards Company and formed the Stewards Christian Assembly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission. There arose some court cases among themselves but, to the glory of God, all cases have been settled. Presently there is peace and mutual co- operation amongst these assemblies. PRAISE GOD FOR • The publishing of the complete Agatu bible (trial copy). • The rapid growth in the number of congregation members.

226 The Brethren Movement Worldwide • The commitment in the lives of the workers in serving among the congregations. • The spiritual commitment of the Christians in Nigeria in spite of the on-going persecution and religious crisis. PRAY FOR • God to intervene in the religious crisis as Islamists continue to kill Christians every day. • The Boko Haram problem to be put to an end. • God to cause the Holy Spirit to stir the church towards revival of righteous living and holiness. • God to cause the members of the congregations to have a burden for soul-winning and evangelism. • God to send more labourers and workers into the harvest field. • God to cause all congregations to be in love, peace and unity of the Christian faith. • The general election coming up in 2019. Sunday Edo: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 227 PAKISTAN Population 202,810,000 Major religions Islam 96% / Christianity 1.59% / Hinduism 1.85% / Ahmadi and others 0.29% Brethren work began in 1930 Number of congregations 137 Number of preaching points 456 Number of baptised believers 22,000 Total number of adult attendees 28,000 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 124 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 18 Number of itinerant Bible teachers 14 PUBLICATIONS Chashma-e-Zindagi (Fountain of Life) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: M.I.K., 36 Ferozepur Road, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Fellowship of Brethren Churches of Pakistan Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Fellowship House, Hameed Town, Industrial Estate Road, Multan. CHURCH LINK Fellowship of Brethren Churches of Pakistan Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Fellowship House, Hameed Town, Industrial Estate Road, Multan. Role: A national body which plans programmes like national conferences and retreats for full-time workers and elders, invites Bible teachers/

228 The Brethren Movement Worldwide speakers from abroad, coordinates ministries in the country, arranges support for full-time workers, and helps in local matters when requested. BIBLE SCHOOL Bible Training Centre Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Bible Training Center, Modern Colony, Peco Road, Kotlakhpat, Lahore, Pakistan. Level of study: Diploma/BTh in Theology, Evening classes, Modules for BTh. Length of Courses: 3 years Layyah Technical Training and Bible School Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Mission House, Eid Gah Road, Layyah. PUBLISHING HOUSE Masihi Ishaat Khana (Christian Publishing House) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: MIK, 36 Ferozepur Road, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Website: www.mik.org.pk INTERESTING FEATURES 14 Schools (12 Primary and 2 High Schools) 2 Hostels Brick Kiln Project to free Christians from debt in Punjab. Feeding Program for 300 families per month @3000 PKR. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The Brethren movement in Pakistan was started in the 1930s from Karachi where brother Bakht Singh came and started evangelism. He travelled in different parts of the country and, as a result, various assemblies in different areas were established. Later, in the 1940s, a rapid increase in Brethren assemblies occured after the revival in Martinpur and Youngsonabad. By God’s grace the Brethren movement is gradually increasing in the country.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 229 PRAISE GOD FOR • Church planting • Training programs, seminars, camps, conferences in various parts of the country. • Evangelistic work, which is increasing and many are joining to work in the vineyard of the Lord. • People who are accepting the Lord as their personal Saviour. PRAY FOR • More full-time workers and volunteers who are needed. • Financial support for running cost of schools and hostels. • Financial support for running cost of Layyah Technical and Training centre. Peter Laaldin: [email protected] Shahbaz Masih: [email protected]

230 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PAPUA NEW GUINEA Population 8,451,000 Major religions Christianity (Protestant) 70% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 26% / Other religions 2% / Not stated 2% Brethren work began in 1951 Number of Brethren congregations more than 460 Number of baptised believers about 12,500 Number of attendees about 16,000 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations more than 100 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists several Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers several PUBLICATIONS Tok Save Bilong Yumi (published three times a year) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 64, Wewak, ESP, Papua New Guinea. This magazine is produced to share information as to what is happening in the Christian Brethren Church network of churches, to highlight regional and national events and to encourage the CBC churches generally. It is very much a locally edited and produced magazine that is distributed to CBC churches and individuals. AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Christian Brethren Churches PNG National Office Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 64,Wewak, ESP, Papua New Guinea 531. Nature of ministry: Coordinates and facilitates inter-church related activities, e.g., Bible schools, mission, youth, women, conferences,

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 231 education, health, HIV/AIDS awareness and community development, relations with other bodies (e.g., government departments for missionary visas and work permits). CBC of PNG Property Trust Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 477, Wewak, ESP, Papua New Guinea. Nature of ministry: Property-holding trust company for the many CBC properties throughout PNG. CBCPNG Foundation Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 477, Wewak, ESP, Papua New Guinea. Nature of ministry: Property-holding trust for properties, mainly in urban areas, that produce an income for the ministry of CBC PNG. Responsible for managing these properties and for distributing funds from them. MISSION SERVICE AGENCY CBC National Office Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 64, Wewak, ESP, Papua New Guinea 531. Role: CBC PNG has been exploring ways in which they can be involved in cross-cultural mission especially across the border with its neighbour, Indonesia. CHURCH LINKS Coordinating Committee of the Christian Brethren Churches Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 64, Wewak, ESP, Papua New Guinea 531. Role: To facilitate inter-church consultation and joint action, to oversee the CBC National Office, to promote the growth and strength of local Brethren congregations. Representatives from different regions of the country and different ministries meet once a year for spiritual uplift, discussion and prayer. The office has a servant role and seeks to encourage, support and bring ministry and training to CBC churches. The General

232 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Secretary is the interface of the church with Christian Brethren internationally, Government and other mission and secular agencies. BIBLE SCHOOLS Christian Leaders Training College (CLTC) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 382, Mt Hagen WHP. CLTC is an interdenominational college serving mainly the Evangelical Alliance denominations, of which the Brethren group was a founding member. We have had students sponsored there continuously since the early years of the college. Two to five-year courses are taught at certificate, diploma and bachelor degree level. This will change soon as CLTC concentrates on Higher Level of Education. CBCPNG is still working to develop its own Bible School with Certificate and Diploma level programs. CBC now has a number of B.Th. graduates from CLTC who are making a contribution to the various churches. English Language Bible School (ELBS) Postal address: ELBS, Anguganak, CBC National Office, PO Box 64, Wewak ESP. Men are taught in English, wives in Melanesian Pidgin. Basic primary education is a requirement for entry, but higher education is preferred. ELBS operates for the first six months of each year on a cycle of four-year courses, with practical experience between each block of study. Women’s Bible School Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Girls Bible School, Anguganak, CBC National Office, PO Box 64, Wewak, ESP. This Bible school operates for women. Two six-month courses, taught in Melanesian Pidgin, at certificate level.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 233 CBC PNG has a number of other Bible Schools operating in local languages as well as Melanesian Pidgin: Yimbrasi Bible School , Nuku, Sandaun Province, 3 x 6 month courses at certificate level. Bible Teacher Training School , Amanab, Sandaun Province, 3 x 4 month courses. Bulwo Bible School , Lumi, Sandaun Province, 2 x 4 month courses. Kwatim Bible School , Yebil, Sandaun Province. Guriaso Bible School , Guriaso, via Amananb. Green River Bible School , Siman Bible School in Green River, via Vanimo, Sandaun Province. Highlands Girls Bible School , Arou, c/- MAF, Mt Hagen. Kelabo Bible School , Kelabo, c/- MAF, Mt Hagen. Ambassador Bible College (formerly Guala Bible School), Guala, via Tari, c/- MAF, Mt Hagen, Southern Highlands Province. This, along with ELBS at Anguganak, could possibly change in the near future as leaders review the needs and roles of current Bible Schools Porgera Bible School , PO Box 6, Porgera, Enga Province has a 1 year course, also conducting evening and night classes for those who can’t do the full year course. PUBLISHING HOUSE Christian Books Melanesia Inc Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 488,Wewak, ESP.

234 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Christian Books Melanesia has played a significant role in the life of the CBC and other evangelical churches in Papua New Guinea for more than 35 years. CBM has published a number of study books in English and Melanesian Pidgin as well as importing useful material for churches and individuals. CBM also operates a number of Christian bookshops in various parts of Papua New Guinea. INTERESTING FEATURES Missionaries first went to unevangelised parts of the country. Most local churches are therefore rural but, recently, expansion has taken place in plantation areas such as the Western Highlands and in some cities, notably Port Moresby, Lae, Mt Hagen, Wewak, Aitape and Vanimo. The number of churches has continued to slowly grow with new churches springing up as led by the Holy Spirit in various parts of the country. There are now only a few longer-term overseas missionaries in Papua New Guinea. Brethren Churches of PNG have formed a registered association to facilitate mutual cooperation and encouragement. The Brethren operate about 50 primary schools with related elementary schools, a growing number of high schools with one going to Grade 12, and three vocational centres. They also run about 10 rural health centres. Christian Books Melanesia, the publishing company, has a number of Christian Bookshops in various parts of the country. PRAISE GOD FOR • The continued freedom to preach and evangelise in Papua New Guinea. • The work of Mission Aviation Fellowship and Christian Radio Missionary Fellowship that facilitates movement and inter-church communication and cooperation. • Growing concern for outreach and mission beyond our borders, especially into neighbouring countries. • Big opportunities exist for Christian witness in our schools and health centres. An arrangement for chaplains to be appointed in our High Schools such as Green River High School. • The growing number of equipped and gifted younger leaders who are taking up roles within the CBC churches.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 235 PRAY FOR • Political stability in the country and good decisions to be made to improve the wellbeing of children and families. • A reversal in the general decline in the spiritual values of the people in the face of major economic developments in gas, oil and minerals, and that mammon would not become the god of the nation. • The national Brethren Coordinating Committee leadership as they look to progress the work of the CBC churches in PNG. There is a real need to bring new emerging leaders into important roles in CBC, both in governance and management. • The National Office Team as they face and deal with many issues of the churches with very limited resources. • Good and reliable leadership in all local churches and the ability to find and grow such people. • Youth and children’s ministry. There are big challenges: 50% of the population is under 19 years of age. Barrywan Tuwai: [email protected] John Hodgkinson: [email protected]

236 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PARAGUAY Population 6,896,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 88% / Christianity (Protestant) 8% / Atheism/Agnosticism 2% / Other religions 2% Brethren work began in 1908 Number of congregations 100-110 Number of preaching points 100 Number of baptised believers about 4,000 Total number of adult attendees about 6,000 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations about 60 Number of itinerant evangelists about 50 Number of itinerant Bible teachers about 70 AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Misiones Cristianas en Paraguay Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Medicos del Chaco 2198, c/- Eusebio Ayala, Asunción, Paraguay. Nature of ministry: Provides legal help and a tax umbrella to local churches and ministries and foreign missionaries. Word of Life Paraguay Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Paraiso 996, c/- Concepcion, Asunción, Paraguay. Nature of ministry: Supports Bible clubs and holds summer and winter camps for children and young people, presents dramas, preaches the gospel at public and private schools. In 2019 started a Bible training centre for young people.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 237 Encuentros Pastorales Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Yvaporu 2621, Barrio Santa Lucía, Lamabare City, Paraguay. Facebook: Eduardo Pablo Spagnoli Nature of ministry: Monthly meetings of church elders and leaders. Organises an annual Conference on Mission. Aims to buy land and build facilities to provide a rehabilitation centre for people with addictions (alcoholics, drug users, gamblers, etc.). El Camino de la Vida Email address: [email protected] Website: www.elcaminodelavida.org Nature of ministry: Produces and provides biblical teaching and evangelisation programs for radio broadcasting on AM and FM radio stations, both Christian and secular. Local representative is brother Roberto Acuña, who has a Facebook page as Roberto Acuña. MISSION SERVICE AGENCY New Tribes Mission Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Dr. Luís Migone 219, c/ Odriozola, Asunción, Paraguay. Website: www.mnt.org.py CHURCH LINKS Fundacion Evangelica Misionera del Paraguay (FEMIPA) Email address: [email protected] / [email protected] Postal address: Fortin Camacho 331 casi Tte. Rojas Silva, Fernando de la Mora (Zona Sur), Paraguay. Facebook: Femipa Paraguay Role: A network of Brethren churches, which encourages churches and leaders to work together in mission. It supports churches in organising Mission Conferences and acts as a blessing channel, providing spiritual support, as well as collecting funds for missionaries with special needs.

238 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Organización Ñanduti Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Tte. Francisco Niederbergen 1765 c/ San Salvador, Asunción, Paraguay. Website: www.nanduti.org.py/ Facebook: Organización Ñanduti National Director: Mike Goddard. Role: Seeks integral (holistic) transformation of communities by sustainable development. Supports people and churches serving native (aboriginal) tribes. CONAMI – Cooperación Nacional Misionera / related to COMIBAN Internacional Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Tte. Francisco Niederbergen 1765, c/- San Salvador, Asunción, Paraguay. Facebook: CONAMI Paraguay Role: An alliance of national groups or network of churches working on mission in Paraguay. Connects Missionary Agencies and organisations serving churches or missionaries, in collaboration with ASIEP (Asociacion de Iglesias Evangelicas del Paraguay). BIBLE SCHOOLS Facultad Evangélica de Teologia / Instituto de Estudios Bíblicos Asunción Email address: [email protected] OR [email protected] Postal address: Teniente Rojas Silva esquina Nueva Asuncion – Fernando de la Mora, Zona Sur. Facebook: Facultad Evangelica De Teologia Fetieba, Paraguay Level of study: College. Length of course: 4 years (8 semesters). This is the second oldest college (university level) in Paraguay, opened in 1963 by former Dr. Reinaldo Decoud Larrosa. It had remained dormant for the past two decades but re-opened five years ago. The first new generation of graduates should end their studies and research papers in 2019.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 239 Campamento y Escuela Biblica Maranatha Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Ciudad de Hernandarias, Alto Paraná, Paraguay. Facebook: Campamento Maranata Level of study: High school, college. Length of course: 1 month. Campamento y Escuela Biblica Ñu Poí Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Ciudad de San Estanislao, San Pedro, Paraguay. Facebook: Mike Meiers Level of study: High school, college. Length of course: 9 months (March to November). Capacitando Pastores Internacional Email address: [email protected] Postal address: San Judas Tadeo 9002 casi Victor Alfieri, Barrio Espiritu Santo, San Lorenzo, Paraguay. Facebook: Jorge Miranda or Maximo Toledo Level of study: High school, college. Length of course: 12 modules of 30/45 hours, every two or three months. Total of 800 hours, divided into 500 hours in class plus 300 hours of homework. Students graduate in 3 or 4 years of study. INTERESTING FEATURES The past two or three decades have seen a renewal of passion among local churches for mission and evangelisation. Churches have conducted many joint missionary conferences. Some have become involved in foreign evangelistic institutions (e.g. The Global Mission, Franklin Graham’s Samaritans Purse Christmas’ Child Operation). Some have developed a vision for church outgrowth and church-planting strategies, and have conducted serious and fruitful evangelisation, resulting in many new local churches being planted. Many local churches and leaders are discovering ways to work together, while preserving their local autonomy.

240 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Another interesting feature is local churches being involved in mission to aboriginal tribes. (This was previously seen as ‘a job for foreign missionaries’). There are more than 17 different tribes and other less- or non-evangelised people, for example, Muslim immigrants and their descendants, most of them living and working in Ciudad del Este, on the border with Brazil. The need of financial support for local elders, evangelists and missionaries is being realised, and recently an understanding has developed that churches may run non-profit-making organisations or activities (e.g., Christian schools) to obtain funds for church growth and ministries. Some churches have been involved in running radio programmes in both secular and Christian AM and FM radio stations. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The Brethren movement in Paraguay owes a great deal to New Zealand missionaries. Allan Smith went, in 1907, to accompany Mr. and Mrs James Kirk to Argentina. He stayed with them at Cordoba while learning the language and, on a number of occasions, went on colportage journeys with George Langran and Nicholas Doorn. In 1908, he married Miss Maud Martin and, in the following year, together with John H. Ross, they travelled up the Paraguay River to Asunción. They were confronted with all manner of hardships. Allan preached and taught the Scriptures in Asuncion, but his primary vision was to reach the towns and villages up the river by means of a launch. In the years 1912-1914 he built the lauch Aurora (Break of Day). It proved a tremendous blessing and enabled Allan Smith, John Ross and Alfred Jenkins to visit many places along the hundreds of miles of the great Paraguayan River. In 1917, he decided to build a larger launch more suited to the river conditions. The El Alba (The Dawn) was built at Asunción and J. Wm. Emmet of Nelson (N.Z.) went out at his own expense in 1918 to help with the construction. El Alba was launched in 1919, but the first voyage was not undertaken until 1921. Gordon Airth and Joseph G. Martin (also know as José Martínez) from USA helped put the finishing touches

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 241 to the launch and shared in subsequent river travels. During that period, preaching and teaching had been going on in Asunción, people being saved and assemblies being established. John and Isabella Ross (Allan’s sister) were commended from New Zealand in 1908 and 1910 respectively and, until 1920, were engaged in preaching and teaching in Asunción and other areas and in the river outreach by the launch. Miss Marjorie Lewis was commended from New Zealand in 1917 and joined the Smiths at Asunción. From 1917 to 1924 she helped in the education of missionaries’ children and also engaged in women’s meetings and Sunday school work. In 1925 she married Gordon M. Airth, a Scot, who had been converted and had come into the assemblies in Buenos Aires and had been commended by them to work at Asunción. In 1932 the Airths commenced a testimony at San Bernardino. Gordon worked on a gospel magazine Libertad while Marjorie was engaged in translation of Christian literature into Guarani. Later she served on a committee for the translation of the New Testament into Guarani, a task completed in 1966. [Information taken from the book That the World may Know, Volume 2, Dawn over Latin America by Fredk. A. Tatford in association with the Editors of Echoes of Service. 1983. pages 319-338.] PRAISE GOD FOR • His provision and care for His people and church in Paraguay. • The strong biblical teaching and sound doctrine still given by the assemblies. • Many men and women, past and present, who serve as full- or part-time missionaries, teachers or elders and deacons serving in many churches. • FEMIPA’s years of ministry since 1998 serving missionaries and local workers, and developing a church network, stimulating churches to work together towards a missionary vision and passion to accomplish the Great Commission.

242 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PRAY FOR • Spiritual wisdom and vision to accomplish the Great Commission, with love and passion to evangelise lost people, especially aboriginal tribes and communities less contacted/exposed to the gospel. • Churches and leaders to learn to work together for fellowship, evangelism, mission and church growth. • Spiritual and practical support (literature, medicine, tools, vehicles, clothes, financial, etc.) for full- or part-time workers, missionaries, Bible teachers, elders and deacons. • God's provision for the ministry of FEMIPA and other Brethren organisations supporting churches and missionaries. • Provision of medical insurance and retirement benefits for local full or part-time missionaries, elders, workers. Fidencio R. Sanabria Villagra: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 243 PERU Population: 31,800,000 Major Religions: Christianity (Roman Catholic) 76% / Christianity (Protestant) 14.1% / No religion 5.1% / Other religions (Buddhism, Islam etc.) 4.8% Brethren work began in 1893 (Charles Bright UK) Number of congregations about 230 Number of baptised about 8,000 Total number of attendees about 12,000 Number of committed believers is holding steady Number of workers serving local congregations commended 25 Peruvian workers/ couples serving in Peru. (An unknown but greater number are serving their churches but are not formally commended. There is also a commended worker from the Brethren church working with CEF.) PUBLICATION Olor Fragrante (published by SEMIPE) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Parque Maldonado 171, Pueblo Libre, Lima. AGENCIES SERVING THE BRETHREN CHURCHES Redes de Misión Email address: [email protected]

244 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Postal address: Parque Maldonado 171, Pueblo Libre, Lima. Nature of ministry: Training, printing and publication, seeking to promote mission amongst the churches, running short-term mission teams. MISSION SERVICE AGENCY Servicio Misionero del Perú (SEMIPE) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Parque Maldonado 171, Pueblo Libre, Lima. BIBLE SCHOOLS Capacitación Bíblica Trujillo Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Av Larco 1069, Trujillo. Level of study: High school. Length of course: Two week course each January for 4 years. Capacitación Bíblica Yurimaguas Level of study: High school. Length of course: Two week course each February for 4 years. Capacitación Bíblica Chiclayo Level of study: High school. Length of course: Two week course each January for 4 years. Instituto Bíblico de Entrenamiento Misionero (IBEM) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Parque Maldonado 171, Pueblo Libre, Lima. Level of study: College. Length of course: The complete program is 7 modules of 4 weeks each. Intensive, full-time modules are taught in Trujillo each January and July. It is also taught as a night school in Trujillo from March-December. Five satellite institutes have been started: in Cajamarca, Lima, Chiclayo, Yurimaguas and Puerto Maldonado. Each runs periodic short courses of 2-7 days, and in Lima there is also a night school.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 245 Facultad Bíblica Selva Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Jr. Las Amapolas 552, La Banda de Shilcayo, San Martin Level of study: College. Length of course: 7 months. Christian Service Preparation Institute Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Av Puerto Rico 4111, San Martin de Porres, Lima 311. Level of study: High school, college. PRAISE GOD FOR • The steady growth in the churches over the past years. • The passing of much responsibility from expatriates to the national church in recent years. • The many faithful workers who are committed to the growth of the kingdom. • So many changed lives, especially from difficult backgrounds. • Growth in the unity of the Brethren church. PRAY FOR • Growth in both numbers and maturity in the churches. • Training and discipleship. • Churches to be established and built up. • A vision for planting new churches, both in Peru and beyond. • The national believers who are leading much of the work in Peru. Richard Harknett & Giovanni Núñes: [email protected]

246 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PHILIPPINES Population 106,512,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 81% / Christianity (Protestant) 11% / Islam 5.5% / Tribal religions 1.5% Brethren work began in 1918 Number of congregations 250 Number of additional preaching points 70 Total number of adult attendees 15,000 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 120 Number of itinerant evangelists 7 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 30 AGENCIES SERVING THE CHURCHES Christian Mission in the Philippines, Inc. Email address: [email protected] Postal address: P.O. Box 409, Greenhills 0420, Metro Manila, Philippines. Website: www.cmpi-cbc.org Nature of ministry: Service organisation working with Filipino and expatriate missionaries. Acts as trustee for profits on behalf of assemblies not registered with the government. Manages three assembly campsites in different parts of the country. Channels funds to assemblies and workers throughout the Philippines. BSA Correspondence Inc. (Emmaus Philippines) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: P.O. Box 490, Greenhills 0420, Metro Manila, Philippines. Website: www.emmausphilippines.org

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 247 Nature of ministry: Emmaus Correspondence courses are available in both English and Tagalog. There are over 80 Bible courses available in English and more than 40 in Tagalog. Emphasis is on graduating a unit of studies. Empowering Christians in Partnership and Ministries, Inc. (ECPMI) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 17 Gomez St., Kapalaran Subdivision, San Juan Taytay, Rizal, Philippines. Nature of ministry: Church planting, Bible teaching. Mission Links and Partnership, Inc (MLP) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 6930 Barangay San Antonio, los Banos, Laguna, Philippines. CHURCH LINKS Christian Missions in the Philippines, Inc Email address: [email protected] Postal address: P.O. Box 409, Greenhills 0420, Metro Manila, Philippines. Website: www.cmpicbc.org BIBLE SCHOOLS Emmaus Bible School Email address: [email protected] Postal address: P.O. Box 490, Greenhills 0420, Metro Manila, Philippines. Level of study: Diploma. Length of course: 9 weeks each year. Emmaus Philippines Email address: [email protected] Postal address: P.O. Box 490, Greenhills 0420, Metro Manila, Philippines. Website: www.basic.org

248 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Level of study: Diploma. Length of course: 4 units of 10 courses each studied at home or in the assembly depending on the schedule of the student. INTERESTING FEATURES Several assemblies have pre-schools. Some assemblies have elementary schools. At least two have classes through high school. The assemblies own and run at least three campsites. There are two radio programs, one in Tagalog and the other in English taught by Filipinos. These programs use and offer Emmaus courses. HISTORICAL INFORMATION There was very slow growth up until the Second World War. Massive growth occurred in the 1970s and 1980s but it has slowed down since then. The first missionaries arrived in the 1920s but US servicemen started an assembly prior to the arrival of foreign missionaries. Foreign missionaries are declining while Filipino workers/missionaries are on the increase and are now taking more leadership roles. PRAISE GOD THAT • We are an open country for preaching the gospel. Opportunities abound everywhere. • New churches are being added slowly. • Many who have gone through the various training programs are moving into leadership roles. • There is a renewed interest in systematic studies of the Scriptures. PRAY FOR • Faithfulness to the teaching of the Scriptures. • The financial needs of many of the workers from smaller assemblies. • Understanding and fellowship amongst the assemblies. • More Bible teachers. There are many evangelists! David Harvey: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 249 POLAND Population 38,200,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 87% / Christianity (Orthodox) 1.3 % / Jehovah’s Witnesses 1% / Christianity (Protestant) 0.4% / Unspecified 10.3% Brethren work began in 1909 Number of congregations 39 Number of additional preaching points 20 Number of baptised believers 1,632 Total number of adult attendees 3,120 The number of committed believers increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local churches 18 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 2 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 3 PUBLICATION Laska I Pokój (Grace and Peace) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 40-708 Katowice, ul. Franciszkańska 19. Website: http://www.kwch.org AGENCIES SERVING THE CHURCHES Church Board Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 40-708 Katowice, ul. Franciszkańska 19. Website: http://www.kwch.org Nature of ministry: Coordination of the ministry of the assemblies and representing the church outside.

250 The Brethren Movement Worldwide MISSION SERVICE AGENCY Community Day Care Centre for Gypsy Children Email address: [email protected] CHURCH LINKS Church Board Email address: [email protected] BIBLE SCHOOLS Berea Bible school in Świętochłowice. PUBLISHING HOUSES Wydawnictwo Laska I Pokój Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 40-708 Katowice, ul. Franciszkańska 19. Website: http://www.kwch.org INTERESTING FEATURES The work with youth and children is well developed in the Free Brethren Church of Poland. We organise camps, conferences and weekend meetings for them, and family picnics twice a year. The Church Board is active in the work of the church in general. Seven brothers are members of the Board. They are elected for the period of four years and they have to support and coordinate the ministry of the assemblies, to organise events for all the members of the church (general conferences, youth work etc.) and to represent the church in administrative issues. HISTORICAL INFORMATION Brother Józef Mrózek senior was studying in Berlin, in the Bible School of the Evangelical Alliance in the years 1907-1909. He returned to Poland and started a mission work. The first assemblies were founded and they were officially registered in the year 1912. In the years 1947- 1980 the Free Brethren Church was the part of the United Evangelical Church (Zjednoczony Kościół Ewangeliczny) together with four other

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 251 evangelical churches. It has been registered as the separate church, The Free Brethren Church of the Polish Republic, since 1981. PRAISE GOD THAT • All Open Brethren assemblies of Poland are united in one church organisation, keeping their autonomy. • The ministry for the benefit of all the assemblies is coordinated by the Church Board. • The youth and children’s ministry is well developed. Last year a new full-time worker was called to lead a youth ministry. • Our church magazine Laska I Pokój helps to keep contact among the church members. It provides valuable articles and information from church life. (Number of editions is 670.) PRAY FOR • A vision for missionary work. • The new well-prepared workers. • Our own Bible school, preparing evangelists and Bible teachers. • Our Publishing House – we need to publish new, valuable books. Jerzy Karzelek: [email protected]

252 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PORTUGAL Population 10,300,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 81% [Average monthly attendance 8%] / Christianity (Protestant) 3.5% / Atheism / Agnosticism 6.5% / Other religions (Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism etc.) 9% Brethren work began in 1877 Number of congregations 78 Number of additional preaching points 28 Number of baptised believers 2,500 Total number of adult attendees 3,000 The number of committed believers is decreasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 18 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 1 PUBLICATION Refrigerio Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Centro Comercial Primavera, Av Calouste Gulbenkian, Lote 7, Loja 26, 3004-513 Coimbra, Portugal. Website: www.refrigerio.ciip.pt AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Departamento Missionário Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Rua das Eiras, 22, 2725-299 Mem Martins, Portugal. Website: www.ciip.pt MISSION SERVICE AGENCY Departamento Missionário Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Rua das Eiras, 22, 2725-299 Mem Martins, Portugal. Website: www.ciip.pt

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 253 CHURCH LINKS CIIP – Comunhão de Igrejas de Irmãos de Portugal Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Rua das Eiras, 22, 2725-299 Mem Martins, Portugal. Website: www.ciip.net Role: Fellowship, Representation. BIBLE SCHOOL Instituto Biblico Portugês - IBP Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Rua Castelo Picão,13 2660-144 St. Antão do Tojal, Portugal Website: www.ibp-aee.org Level of study: BA, MA, E PhD in theology (in partnership with NWU South Africa). Length of course: Variable. PUBLISHING HOUSES Centro de Literatura Cristã - CLC Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Av. Emilio Navarra, 89, 3000-151 Coimbra, Portugal. Website: www.clcportugal.com INTERESTING FEATURES There is a home-school organisation linked with IBP. PRAISE GOD FOR • New workers beginning ministry. • Engagement with trans-cultural work. PRAY FOR • More commitment with the ministry. • Evangelisation. • Deep teaching. • Openness to younger generations. António e Cristina Calaim: [email protected]

254 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PUERTO RICO Population 3,657,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 70% / Christianity (Protestant) 25% / Christianity (other) 1.5% / Other 1.5% / None or not stated 2% Brethren work began in 1930 Number of congregations 7 Number of baptised believers 95 Number of adult attenders 126 Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 4 INTERESTING FEATURES Camps, Bible courses, Children’s clubs, Teen Clubs, Daily Vacation Bible Schools. HISTORICAL INFORMATION Henry and Agnes Fletcher, commended from Canada, came to Puerto Rico in 1930 after serving a few years in Venezuela. They started an assembly in the Santurce area of San Juan, the capital, where later a hall was built by Fletcher and his son, Renwick. It is still being used today. Colin and Jean Caldwell from Scotland were commended from Canada to Grenada in 1932. After eight months they came to Puerto Rico. They worked with the Fletchers but in 1938 began another assembly in Quintana. Colin preached every Sunday to 1600 prisoners in the local jail. He also visited the leper colony. He travelled to the west end of the island and began a work there, which grew through a national brother, Guillermo Carbo. Later on, two assemblies were formed in Mayaguez by national brethren, Jose Rodriguez and Pablo Martir. Martin and Jessie Wistner were commended in 1947 and served in Puerto Rico for just over a year, being forced to return home in 1948 because of ill health.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 255 Colin Jr. and Marjorie Caldwell were commended from the U.S.A. in 1955. Colin died suddenly in 1958 and his widow returned to the United States. Robert (Bob) and Martha (nee Caldwell) Cooper were commended to work in Puerto Rico in 1957. They only had one year to work with Colin Jr.. Bob and Martha were an excellent team working with children, families, and later in camp. Many children were reached in Daily Vacation Bible Schools throughout the years. Bob also had Bible studies in a prison and was chaplain for a baseball team. In 1961 Robert and Euphemia (Effie) Leighton, from Scotland, came to Puerto Rico after serving in the Bahamas and Cuba. They began an assembly in their home in Bayamon, a city adjacent to San Juan. Mrs. Leighton died in Puerto Rico, and a few years later Robert Leighton returned to Scotland. A national brother took leadership in that work, but when he moved to Florida, no one took over responsibility. In 1966 Literature Crusades sent a team to Puerto Rico. They worked for two years doing door to door distribution. The team leaders were Claude and Marion Loney from Canada. Esther Frey was part of that team. She had visited the Coopers in 1963 to help in two weeks of Vacation Bible School. The Lord was opening doors for her to do the Emmaus work, to use her abilities as a secretary. Esther returned to Canada in 1967, was commended and came back to Puerto Rico. She became a Regional Director for the Emmaus courses and continues today. At present most of the students are inmates. We know of some who are evangelists today. One is teaching the courses in the clinic where he works. David and Joy Hall were commended from the U.S.A. in 1967 and with their family of five they helped in the work in Loiza and later in Adjuntas with the Ramos. They were also very involved in the development of the camp. They returned to the U.S.A. in 1978. John and Sara (nee Davila) French came to Puerto Rico in 1969 and in 1971 received commendation from the U.S.A. At first they served in the Santurce meeting, later moving to the mountain town of Comerio doing

256 The Brethren Movement Worldwide work with children, and tending a bookstore. In 1975 they moved to the southeast coast town of Maunabo. John had a weekly radio station for some years. They are presently involved with visitation and home Bible studies. There was much growth in assembly work during 1966 to 2005. A national couple, Salvador and Elba Ramos, in 1972, were commended by the Quintana assembly to begin a work in their home town of Adjuntas. They were also fully involved with the camp near their home. Two elders from the Quintana assembly with their wives, Dr. Juan and Magda Morales and Dr. Carlos and Carmen Lopez, were led by the Lord to begin another work in the San Juan area. Both were involved with university students and, in 1973, they began meeting in home Bible studies, later in a community center, then in a bought building, but growth caused them to look for more space and in 1987 land was purchased to build. Arthur Raddatz, from Canada, worked with this assembly from 1974-78. A national brother, Daniel Davila,was working full-time from 1979-81, then part-tiime from 1983-85. This one is known as the Evangelical Community Center in the area of Cupey. This is the largest group today even though in 1993 they suffered through a great division. A full-time national worker, Javier Lopez is helping in the leadership today. Bob and Martha Cooper, along with Salvador Ramos, David Hall and Esther Frey purchased property in the Adjuntas area for a camp in 1971 which has blessed many - Camp The Way, The Truth and The Life. It has been the greatest harvest field on the island. John and Mary Cole were commended from the U.S.A. in 1981 and worked as administrators, plus helping the assembly in Adjuntas. They left in 1987 when they saw that a national couple, Jaime and Darlene Aviles, was ready to take the administration. When Jaime died, Elias Madera and his family took the responsibility but later they moved to the U.S.A. The present workers are Luis and Doris Resto. He was one of our first campers and now has been serving for more than 17 years. The Coopers left the field in 1997 but both are now enjoying the presence of the Lord.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 257 With economic problems, many people have moved to the U.S.A. Each assembly is very small. We need revival. God is in control. He knows what we need. Great is His faithfulness. (Summary of an article by Esther Frey - 2018) PRAISE GOD FOR • The national Christians who are committed. • The desire to move forward in the work in spite of the devastation of Hurricane Maria in September 2017. • The encouragement from the Emmaus ministry which reaches many inmates. PRAY FOR • The need for workers among young people and teens. • A director for the Emmaus ministry. • The need for assembly workers. Assembly buildings are available. • The majority of the assemblies which are very small and need help. Esther Frey: [email protected]

258 The Brethren Movement Worldwide RÉUNION ISLAND Population 883,800 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 82% / Christianity (Protestant) 5% / Hinduism 6% / Islam 4% / Buddhism 0.2% [There is a high degree of syncretism.] Brethren work began in 1971 Number of congregations 7 Number of baptised believers 450 Number of adult attendees 650 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 9 (+ 5 volunteers) Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 1 AGENCIES SERVING THE CHURCHES CIFEM Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 23 Rue du Lagon, 97436 St Leu, La Reunion. Nature of ministry: teaching leaders in Madagascar. JEA (Youth in Action) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: BP 241 – 97839 – Le Tampon Cedex – La Réunion. Nature of Ministry: Youth ministry, camps, social outreach etc. CHURCH LINKS Churches & NGO Pastorale PRAISE GOD FOR • All the volunteers who have secular work plus the burden of the church.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 259 • The warm fellowship between all the leaders. • The desire to go further in spite of our little number. PRAY FOR • A new generation of leaders. • Children, youth and students’ activities development & a youth centre. • Personal evangelism. • Social needs and the churches. Annick Bougault: [email protected]

260 The Brethren Movement Worldwide ROMANIA Population 20,000,000 Major religions Christianity (Orthodox) 81% / Christianity (Protestant) 5.8% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 4.3% / Other religions 8% Brethren work began in 1899 Number of congregations 727 Number of additional preaching points 120 Number of baptised believers 28,193 Total number of adult attendees 42,495 Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 125 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 33 PUBLICATION Calea Credintei (Official journal) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Sos. Andronache, 60 A, sector 2, Bucuresti. Website: www.bcev.ro Timotheous - Thematic Theological Insights (Theological journal) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Str. Episcopul Radu nr. 53-55, sector 2, Bucharest. Website: www.timotheus.ro MISSION SERVICE AGENCY Agentia Kairos Email address: [email protected] Posta address: Asociatia Kairos, str.Mihai Bacescu, Nr.13A, Suceava, 720170. Website: www.agentiakairos.ro

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 261 CHURCH LINKS Uniunea Bisericilor Crestine dupa Evanghelie din Romania Email address: [email protected] / [email protected] Postal address: Soseaua Andronache, Nr.60A, sector 2, Bucuresti. Website: www.bcev.ro/ BIBLE SCHOOLS Institutul Teologic Timotheus - Bucuresti Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Str. Episcopul Radu nr. 53-55, sector 2, Bucharest. Website: www.timotheus.ro Level of study: University. Length of course: 4 years. Colegiul Biblic al BCER-UBCE Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Sos. Andronache, Nr.60A, sect 2, Bucuresti. Website: www.bcev.ro Level of study: College. Length of course: 4 years. Societatea Misionarå Crestinå Golgota Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Str. Mihai Viteazu, Nr13, Talmaciu, jud. Sibiu. Colegiul Biblic Pacea Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Str. 1 Decembrie, Nr. 8, Selimbar, Sibiu. Level of study: College. Length of study: 2 years. Centrul de Instavin Biblicå Betterm Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Str. Dr Victor Babeș, Nr. 3, Paşi. Level of study: College. Length of study: 4 years.

262 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Școala Biblicå Apollo Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Str. Miciurin, Nr. 6, Ploiești. Level of study: College. Length of study: 4 years. Școala de Misiune Transculturală Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Str. Morii, Nr. 224, Loc Sfântu Ilie, Jud. Suceava. Level of study: College. Length of study: 9 months. PUBLISHING HOUSES Editura Samuel Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Strada Honterus, Nr: 31 551019 Medias, România. Calea Credintei Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Sos. Andronache, Nr. 60A, sect 2, Bucuresti. Website: www.bcev.ro INTERESTING FEATURES The raising of a new generation of leaders who will understand the times in which they live, but also will remain anchored in the Scriptures. HISTORICAL INFORMATION 1899 E.H. Broadbent visited Romania and called people for mission in this country. 1899 (October) Francis Berney with his family and Charles Aubert from Switzerland came to Romania and planted the first Assembly (French language). 1901 First Assembly in Romanian language. 1933 First official recognition for Brethren Assemblies.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 263 1942-1944 Ion Antonescu’s regime: assemblies were closed and believers were persecuted. 1946 The Romanian Brethren Union was founded. 1948-1989 Communist regime: persecution, closed assemblies, discrimination etc. 1950 Brethren assemblies were recognised in the communist regime. 1989- Revolution and development of assemblies. 2008 The new official recognition for Romanian assemblies. PRAISE GOD FOR • The spiritual inheritance we have received from our ancestors, which we hope and pray to pass on further. • Openness to cross-cultural mission. PRAY FOR • More passion for the evangelisation ministry of Romania and especially of the socially-challenged part of the population. • The finalisation of the accreditation process for the Timotheus Brethren Theological Institute. • A new vision for Sunday School and for the education of children, the young generation and teenagers from our assemblies. • A better understanding of the importance of family in general, as well as within the assembly and in society. Bogdan Emanuel Råduț & Claudiu Cântescu: [email protected]

264 The Brethren Movement Worldwide RUSSIA Population 144,000,000 Major religions Christianity (Orthodox) 42.5% / Christianity (other) 4% / Islam 10% / Atheism 13% / Undeclared or irreligious 30% Brethren work began in early 19th century Number of congregations few and scattered PRAISE GOD FOR • Those assemblies that have been planted as a result of various missionary activities since Russia was opened to the gospel. • All the Bibles, New Testaments and other literature given to Russians free of charge. • The humanitarian aid distributed to the needy in hospitals, orphanages, prisons etc. PRAY FOR • Understanding and cooperation among the Brethren, in spite of differences in nationality, status etc, within each assembly and between different assemblies. Also joint efforts in planting, watering and harvesting in the Lord’s field. • Russian workers, recognised as such, and commended for local ministry. • Gifted brothers raised up and empowered by the Holy Spirit, with knowledge of the Scriptures and the Lord’s vision, fit for the furthering of the gospel in Russia. • Responsible brothers able to give oversight and care and to lead by example for the benefit of all the saints in the assemblies. • Supply of funds to enable exercised believers to come up with new ministries in different areas, as the Lord leads them, and continued prayer support for those already involved in such ministries. Igor Kasatkin: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 265 RWANDA Population 12,560,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 48% / Christianity (Protestant) 45%) / Islam 5% / Atheism and/or Agnosticism 2% Brethren work began in 1962 Number of congregations 195 Number of additional preaching points 8 Number of baptised believers 19,310 Total number of adult attendees 26,200 The number of committed believers is increasing quickly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 5 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 460 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 3 PUBLICATIONS Emmaus Bible Correspondence Courses Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 105, Kigali. AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Inkuru nziza Hospital Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 105, Kigali Website: www.inkurunzizahospital.org Nature of ministry: Surgical and rehabilitation centre. School ministries Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 105, Kigali. Nature of ministry: 2 Primary schools, 1 Secondary school, 18 Vocational training centres.

266 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Orphans Integration Project Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 105, Kigali. Nature of ministry: Helping widows and orphans to have a shelter, education, food, and counselling. This project has helped around 1000 orphans since 1992. They get monthly support from donors, opportunity to study, housing for families and food for those who lost all parents. INTERESTING FEATURES The secondary school we have is for boarding and day students. There are 18 Vocational Training Centres around the country. New church buildings have been constructed with durable materials. Emmaus teachings are broadcast on radio. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The Brethren movement started 1962 in Rwanda with a Rwandan and a missionary from USA. They came from the Brethren movement in Burundi. PRAISE GOD FOR • Helping us to come through a bad situation from 2017 to 2018. • The 98 churches that have re-opened where believers are in fellowship. • Church growth. • Donors who support God’s work in Rwanda. PRAY FOR • Church leaders’ education to meet the authorities’ requirements. • God’s provision to help Brethren to re-open about 70 churches that are still closed. • Many Brethren who can’t buy a Bible to read the Word of God at home and in the church and to share the Word of God with others. • A new building in Kigali city centre, as it is proposed in the master plan of the city of Kigali. Juvenal Ngendahayo: [email protected] The National Overseer and the Legal Representative of Inkuru nziza (Good News) Church in Rwanda

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 267 ST KITTS & NEVIS (2015 INFORMATION) Population 56,000 Major religions Christianity (Protestant) 76% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 6.7% / Other religions 2% / Atheism or Agnosticism 5% Brethren work began in 1936 Number of congregations 11 (Some have only a Sunday School) Number of members about 300 INTERESTING FEATURES In May 1962, through the exercise of local brethren, a 15-minute gospel programme, Herald of the Cross, was accepted and became a weekly broadcast on Sundays. This ministry was originally the responsibility of William Ashby who used his professional skills as an electrician to care for the equipment, editing the tapes and also handling all correspondence. The programme has maintained a listening audience throughout the Caribbean up to this day. Weekly programs are being aired in Puerto (Radio Station WIVV), Antigua (Caribbean Radio Lighthouse), The Windward Islands (Harbourlight of the Windward Islands) and St. Kitts (ZIZ Radio). HISTORICAL INFORMATION In 1936 Mr and Mrs Charles Brown, Miss Molly Creeth, and Mr and Mrs Archie Neilson started the work in St. Kitts having been commended from Canada. There was no permanent place to hold meetings but, as time went by, these missionaries learnt of the availability of a Lodge Hall in Haynes Smith Village. The building was rented and used for Sunday School and gospel meetings. A number of persons professed to be saved. In 1937 a wooden structure Gospel Hall with a seating capacity of approximately 200 people was built in Malone Avenue. This building was used for services until a new structure was erected ten years later.

268 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Olivet Gospel Hall, a new building with a seating capacity of over 500 people and a large basement for Sunday School work was opened on Thursday February 12 1948. th In 1938 Mr Brown purchased a wooden dance hall in Haynes Smith Village at a low price. The building was later transported to Challengers Village and on Friday September 30 , 1938 Challengers Gospel Hall was th officially opened. Several persons professed to be saved and an assembly of 12 persons began to break bread. Mr Randolph O’Loughlin, a local brother from Basseterre, pursued a vision and gathered children in the yard of a home in Boyd’s Village, following which Boyd’s Gospel Hall was established. Another brother began a Sunday School in a yard at Lower Monkey Hill Village, from which Parray’s Gospel Hall, now known as Salem Gospel Hall, grew. These four Halls, Olivet, Challengers, Boyd’s and Parray’s represented the extent of the work from 1936 to 1946. The work in rural areas was maintained by the believers from Basseterre. In 1945 Mr and Mrs John Portman from Texas came to work in St. Kitts and purchased land in Sandy Point to construct Bethany Gospel Hall, which seated about 250 people. The original building was erected using tarish (a type of dirt) and was destroyed sometime later after prolonged showers of rain. Later in that same year (1947) Mr Jack Noble of Northern Ireland and Mr Thomas Morrell of the United Kingdom arrived. At the close of the year Mr and Mrs Clifford Hope and their two children arrived from Bristol, along with Miss Sadie McCullough of Northern Ireland. Miss McCullough later married her countryman and became Mrs Jack Noble. In 1949 an intensive gospel campaign was conducted by Edwin Willie, Harold Wildish, and Charles Royse of Jamaica, and some 30 persons were added to the Olivet Gospel Hall Assembly. Also, in 1948, Mr Brown took over a little mission hall in Cayon, and also rented an old unused mission hall in Tabernacle. Each Lord’s Day brethren from Basseterre held Sunday School and gospel services in both places. Mr Brown was succeeded by Mr and Mrs William Ashby from Barbados in 1960.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 269 In 1950 following a tent campaign at Tabernacle conducted by Mr Alwyn Jones of Trinidad, Ebenezer Chapel was built. The Sunday School boasted over 300 students and the women’s meeting was very promising. At Keys Village, a small hall was built where a small Sunday School and gospel testimony were maintained. A sister in Cayon assembly had for some years gathered the Ottley’s Village children together for Sunday School. Mr Brown rented a room here and later Zion Chapel was built where a Sunday School of 200, and other meetings were held. Up to the 1970’s the Sunday Schools in the larger assemblies numbered from 270 to around 500. In 1960, Mr Brown built a hall at Molyneux Project seating 100 people. Over the years work in this area has been very hard. The four halls at Keys, Ottley’s, Molyneux and Tabernacle were originally the responsibility of Cayon assembly (Elim Chapel), but preaching in all the halls was shared island-wide. The work on the island was not confined to meetings in the halls but there was a vibrant hospital and prison ministry. When Mr and Mrs Noble took up residence in Sandy Point, they began a Sunday School and gospel ministry at Fig Tree. A weekly service was also held at the leper asylum (Hansen Home). As a result of open-air meetings in Middle Island, several young men were saved, and a small building was rented for meetings and an assembly commenced. In 1953 Grace Gospel Hall was built with a seating capacity of 200 persons. In March 1950 Mr and Mrs Hope succeeded the Nobles at Sandy Point and cared for the work until their departure back to England. At one time the Sunday School at Bethany averaged 500, the largest on the island. The weekly women’s meeting averaged over 100 and there was a successful girl’s knitting class, which saw several of them confessing faith in Christ. Nazareth Gospel Hall was built in Fig Tree seating 150 people. When the late Mr James Brown of Warrington, England retired from the teaching profession, he came to St. Kitts in 1954 and gave valuable help, especially in ministry, until 1963, when ill-health compelled his return to England. The other missionaries likewise are treasured for their efforts in

270 The Brethren Movement Worldwide laying the foundation over 75 years ago. Special mention must be made of brother Tom Morrell, brother Clifford Hope and sister Hope and also sister Molly Creeth who served in St Kitts for many years. Brother and sister Hope and sister Molly Creeth returned to England but brother Tom Morrell went home to Glory on 23 January, 1997 bringing to an end his 40 years of service in St Kitts. The following information about recent happenings concerning the halls in St Kitts is also worth mentioning: • The Challengers Gospel Hall wooden building was destroyed by hurricane Hugo on Sunday 17 September 1989. th • The Good Tidings Gospel Hall formally the Boyd’s Gospel Hall was rebuilt and dedicated on the 20 February 1994. th • The Olivet Gospel Hall in Basseterre was renovated and dedicated in December 2007. • Elim Chapel in Cayon was rebuilt and dedicated in January 2013. However, throughout the seventy-eight years of existence the Brethren Assemblies in St Kitts have experienced many challenges but God has been good and the believers have triumphed over these challenges. Therefore we can all say, like the prophet Samuel in 1 Samuel 7:12, ‘Hitherto hath the Lord helped us’ and, like the hymn writer, we can sing and shout, ‘The Church Triumphant is Alive and Well!’ Avenelle Warde: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 271 ST LUCIA Population 178,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 61% / Christianity (Protestant) 30% / No religion 6% / Rastafarian 2% Brethren work began in 1920 Number of congregations 7 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers 2 PRAISE GOD FOR • Newly baptised believers PRAY FOR • Spiritual growth • Numerical growth • Commitment • Revival John Honore: [email protected]

272 The Brethren Movement Worldwide ST VINCENT & THE GRENADINES Population 110,000 Major religions Christianity (Protestant) 74% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 7.5% / Rastafarian and other religions 6.7% / No religion 8.8% Brethren work began in the late 1800s Number of congregations 14 Number of additional preaching points 3 Number of baptised believers 630 Total number of adult attendees 750 The number of committed believers increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 3 AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Glad Tidings Bible Camp Email address: [email protected] Postal address: P.O. Box 1071, St. Vincent, West Indies. Nature of ministry: Christian camping, seminars and other activities geared to the development of young people. Gospel Halls Disaster Management Committee Email address: [email protected] Postal address: P.O. Box 1343, St. Vincent, West Indies. Nature of ministry: Coordination of disaster management activities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines as well as St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ response to disasters in other Caribbean territories. INTERESTING FEATURES The brethren at Georgetown Gospel Hall have bought a neighbouring property, which, in former times, housed a cinema. The original building has been demolished and the brethren are in the process of constructing

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 273 a facility which will include a meeting hall, a gymnasium, and an educational centre. In January 2018, Elim Community Church started an academic support programme for students in the area it serves. Many of these students are at risk of dropping out of school or just passing through the school system without really benefitting from the content being taught. Among the facilitators so far have been medical students from overseas and a retired local teacher. PRAISE GOD FOR • Acquisition of former cinema by Georgetown Gospel Hall. • Positive feedback from listeners to Let’s Face It , an interactive radio programme, which is part-sponsored by Elim Community Church. • The academic support programme started by Elim Community church and the growing awareness of the need to minister to the whole person. • Activities organised for the young people. PRAY FOR • The building project at Georgetown. • Continued positive impact of, and financial support for, Let’s Face It. • More trained helpers for the academic support programme at Elim Community Church. • The camp ministry. Hadyn Marshall: [email protected]

274 The Brethren Movement Worldwide SENEGAL Population 16,294,000 Major religions Islam 95% / Christianity 4% / Traditional religions 1% Brethren work began in 1963 Number of congregations 7 Number of preaching points 20 Number of baptised believers 350 Total number of adult attendees 450 Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 3 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 2 PRAISE GOD FOR • The growth of members. • Support for national missionaries. • The growth of local churches. PRAY FOR • The health of Pastor Don Ngom. • The purchase of land for a place of worship at Dakar. • Financial growth Sylvestre Sah: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 275 SERBIA Population 8,762,000 Major religions Christianity (Eastern Orthodox) 85% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 5% / Christianity (Protestant) 1% / Islam 4% Brethren work began about the turn of the 20th century Number of congregations 11 Number of additional preaching points 1 Number of baptised believers less than 400 The number of committed believers is decreasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 4 AGENCY SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Christian Evangelistic Centre Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Kolarova 17, Backi Petrovac, Serbia. Nature of ministry: Resource centre, literature, radio, video ministry, humanitarian ministry, Emmaus Bible Correspondence School. BIBLE SCHOOL Hrišćansko udruženje Beograd Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Zrenjaninski put bb, 11213 Japanski cvet, Beograd, Serbia. Website: www.hub.org.rs/ Level of study: Diploma. Length of course: 2 years (1 year study of all books of the Bible, 2 year st nd practical training)

276 The Brethren Movement Worldwide INTERESTING FEATURES Most of the Brethren churches in Serbia are ethnic Slovak, located in the north part of Serbia. Most recently, God raised the Gypsy ministry in Belgrade, Mladenovac, Obrenovac and Kikinda, run by the ethnic Gypsies. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The Brethren movement started at the turn of the 20 century, by th missionaries from England and Czechoslovakia. The biggest growth occurred between the two World Wars and up to the 1970s. PRAISE GOD FOR • Religious freedom in the country though Christianity is dominated by the Orthodox Church which sometimes labels Evangelical (Protestant) churches as the sects - ‘stealing’ their sheep. • The Emmaus Bible Correspondence school through which almost 2000 people received the first lecture, New Testament and the book Jesus Our Destiny during the last 10 years. • Hundreds of children who attend the summer camp ‘Bethel’. Most of them come from ‘unchurched’ homes. PRAY FOR • Unity among the believers. (There is an unofficial division between the ‘loose’ and ‘tight’ assemblies). • Revival in the assemblies with emphasis on holiness and personal evangelism. • Ministry among the Gypsy population who are often treated as ‘second class’ citizens. A great number of them (even the believers) have left Serbia and asked for political asylum in Western countries (mostly in Germany). • Work with the children and the youth, for the new generation of leaders, without whom the current assemblies are doomed to close down. Miroslav Cizmanski: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 277 SINGAPORE Population 5.64 million (2018) Major religions Buddhism 33.2% / Taoism 10% / Christianity 18.8% (Roman Catholics 6.7%, Protestants 12.1%) / Islam 14% / Hinduism 5.0% / Others 0.2% / No religion 18.5% (Department of Statistic, Singapore government) https://www.singstat.gov.sg/publications/ghs/ ghs2015content Brethren work began in 1864 Number of congregations 20 Number of baptised believers 8,124 Total number of adult attendees 10,040 Total number of attendees including youths (12-20 year old) 11346 The number of committed believers is increasing Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 175 (Compared to the 2014 Singapore Brethren Survey, the number of believers is increasing. The number of full-time workers serving local congregations has grown significantly to about 175 [80 previously].) WEBSITES OF BRETHREN CHURCHES IN SINGAPORE Angora Brethren Chapel www.angora.org.sg Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church www.bbtc.com.sg Bethesda Chapel www.bethesdachapel.org Bethesda Christian Centre www.bethesda.sgc Bethesda Church Bukit Arang www.bcba.com.sg Bethesda Community www.bethesda.org.sg Bethesda (Frankel Estate) Church www.bfec.org.sg Bethesda Hall (Ang Mo Kio) www.bethesdahall.com Bethesda Hall (Depot Road) www.bethesdadepotwalk.com

278 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Bethesda (Katong) Church www.bethesdakatong.org Bethesda Pasir Ris Missions Church www.bpmc.sg Bethesda Serrangoon Church www.bethesdaserangoon.org Bukit Panjang Gospel Chapel www.bpgospel.org.sg Living Sanctuary Brethren Church www.lsbc.org.sg Pasir Panjang Hill Brethren Church www.pphbc.org Yio Chu Kang Chapel www.yckc.org.sg We praise God for the latest addition: Bethesda Hall (Depot Road) PUBLICATIONS AND AGENCIES SET UP BY ASSEMBLIES The Brethren churches in Singapore are involved in missions and evangelism through direct ownership of various agencies of family and community services, kindergartens and missional global services or missional business abroad. Compared to the previous Brethren survey, there has been significant growth in these community and missional agencies. The assemblies have newsletters, prayer guides and bulletins as their internal communication. The bigger assemblies also take inroads in internet media on Christians living out as salt and light of the gospel at the marketplace. Assemblies Publications Agency Set up by Assembly Bethesda Bedok- Tampines Church http://thir.st The intersection of faith and life. http://saltandlight.sg Christians at the marketplace Bethesda Care Services Bethesda Bedok Tampines Kindergarten Bethesda Chapel Bethesda Chapel Kindergarten Bethesda Bible Institute (SLM) Bethesda Christian Centre Sembawang Family Enrichment Network Bethesda Church Bukit Arang Journey of Yao Adoption – 20 Anniversary magazine th Bethesda Kindergarten Arang Training Center (oversea missional business)

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 279 Assemblies Publications Agency Set up by Assembly Bethesda Community Bethesda Community Services Society Bethesda Frankel Estate Church Ready Magazine Bethesda Hall (Ang Mo Kio) Quarterly newsletter & weekly and monthly prayer sheets Bethesda Hall (Depot Road) Weekly Prayer sheets Bethesda Katong Church Monthly newsletter and weekly Bulletin Bethesda Book Centre Bethesda Pasir Ris Missions Church Vista Community Care Bethesda Serrangoon Church BSC Bulletin Living Sanctuary Brethren Church Bethesda C.A.R.E Pasir Panjang Hill Brethren Church Care Courier Newsletter https://carechannels.org/ care-courier-newsletter-2/ Care Channels International PPH Community Services Centre. Yio Chu Kang Chapel Bless Community Services MISSION SERVICE AGENCY Care Channels International Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 3 Pasir Panjang Hill, Singapore 118827, SINGAPORE. Website: www.carechannels.org CHURCH LINKS Brethren Networking Fellowship, Singapore Email address : [email protected] Role: Provides a forum for leaders of Brethren assemblies to come together for fellowship, encouragement, and to enhance co-operation in ministries where opportunities are identified.

280 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Brethren Networking Fellowship – Missions Group Email address: [email protected] (Chairman, Elder Chia Eng Chuan) Role: Provides network for missions fellowship and collaboration. HISTORICAL INFORMATION We trace our history back to 3 July 1864 when Philip Robinson and six other believers came together to worship the Lord in a rented place called Missions Rooms at 108 Bencoolen Street. Robinson was identified with Bethesda Chapel in Bristol before he moved to Australia and subsequently to Singapore for business. The work grew through witness to the local community. From the city centre, new congregations were gradually planted, with witness established in the Eastern, North-Eastern, Northern and also subsequently Western parts of the island. Today, there are 19 congregations in Singapore, with worship services and fellowship meetings conducted in various languages - English, Mandarin and other Chinese dialects, Peranakan, Filipino, Indonesian, Tamil and Telegu. The Singapore assemblies gathered in 2014 to celebrate the 150 anniversary of th our founding. A book has been published to commemorate the occasion. PRAISE GOD FOR • The growth in the Brethren assemblies. There is strong emphasis on biblical teaching, discipleship-making, evangelism and missions. Thank God for this DNA in us. • The outreach work in the residential ‘heartlands’ through community services done by many of the churches. Praise God that there is significant increase in registered agencies in these areas. • With significant numbers of foreign workers and students in Singapore, many churches are actively engaged in “Missions- at-our-doorstep” ministries. We rejoice in seeing many coming to the Lord and being discipled through fellowships and special language ministries that were formed for this purpose. From the predominately English and Mandarin services the Brethren movement has also established services in Tamil, Burmese, Filipino, Hokkien, Indonesian and Telugu. • Praise God that many assemblies are actively involved in cross- cultural missions through sending out and supporting missionaries.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 281 These missionaries are either sent directly by the churches, or through mission agencies such as OMF, SIM, OM, WEC and Wycliffe. • We are thankful for the significant increase in full-time pastoral and administrative teams in the assemblies. This strengthens the teaching and shepherding of the congregations and the ministries locally and abroad. • Praise God for our pro-family government and a majority Singaporean culture, which upholds the value of the family as the cornerstone of society. In 2018 our law, which maintains the structure and status of the family, was upheld. PRAY FOR • Singaporeans are faced with increasing demands on their careers and businesses, with constant emphases in the country on economic growth, work productivity and international competitiveness. Christians are likewise caught in the same environment. Pray that believers will be clear on their priorities, and will be faithful witnesses for the gospel anywhere and everywhere. • The on-going challenges of leadership development remain. With larger congregations, and the faster pace of life, many assemblies also recognise the need to build up pastoral staff teams, to strengthen pastoring the congregation, while encouraging and equippng the flock to fulfill the mission that our Lord has entrusted to us. • Continued growth of the assemblies in their cross-cultural mission engagement, sending workers to the harvest fields to bring the gospel to people groups yet unreached. • Pray for the national evangelistic event Celebration of Hope in May 2019 and for the National Council of Churches Singapore. Pray that churches in Singapore will continue to work closely in unity for Christ’s missions and glory. Ken Chin: [email protected]

282 The Brethren Movement Worldwide SLOVAKIA Population 5,450,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 62.% / Christianity (Protestant) 9% / Christianity (Slovak Greek Catholic) 4% / No religion or unspecified 24% Brethren work began in 1900 Number of Brethren congregations 20 Number of additional preaching points 13 Number of baptised believers 600 Total number of adult attendees 750 The number of committed believers is decreasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 4 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 1 PUBLICATIONS Zive slovo Email address: [email protected] Website: http://zs.kstesin.cz Krest’an Email address: [email protected] Website: http://kzbratislava.sk/index.php?page=3792 AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES The Christian Centre BEREA Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Okružná 3190, 900 01 Modra, Slovakia. Website: www.berea.sk Nature of ministry: Christian education, mission, youth work, publishing. PUBLISHING HOUSE BEREA publishing

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 283 Email address: [email protected] Website: http://www.berea.sk/b_publ.htm INTERESTING FEATURES There is, sadly, a division between groups of Brethren in Slovakia and communication and cooperation is limited. On the other hand, a good number of individuals from the Brethren assemblies serve in various Christian ministries among children, youth and students and in the media. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The first Brethren missionary was Frederick Butcher from England who came in 1900 and began working in Bratislava (Pressburg) and the surrounding region. The Slovak pioneer of Brethren assemblies was Michal Sadlon, originally a Bible seller with the Bible Society. The time between world wars (1920-38) was characterised by a steady church planting and growth. The Brethren movement was weakened by two periods of illegality (1939-45 when the Slovak state was led by a pro- Nazi government; and 1951-55 when there was a Communist regime). The assemblies were recognised officially by the state in 1956. Since 1989 they have had freedom to worship and work in the public sphere. PRAISE GOD FOR • The freedom to preach the gospel in Slovakia. • Those assemblies and individuals who use the opportunities to bring the gospel to their neighbours. • Young people with a keen interest in fellowship, personal evangelism and mission. PRAY FOR • Clear vision and unity for the leaders of local churches. • Smooth transition of responsibility for Christian ministry to the young generation. • Deep awareness of our responsibility for evangelism, worldwide mission and social work. Peter Kozár: [email protected] Website: www.krestanskezbory.sk/

284 The Brethren Movement Worldwide SLOVENIA Population 2,081,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 58% / Christianity (Eastern Orthodox 2.3% / Christianity (Protestant) 1% / Islam 2.5% Brethren work began in 1950 Number of congregations 2 Number of baptised believers about 36 Total number of adult attendees about 45 The number of committed believers is remaining the same Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 3 HISTORICAL INFORMATION Slovenia, which was formerly the northernmost republic of ex-Yugoslavia, has been an independent country since 1991, and a member of the EU since 2004. A small country (population 2.08 million) at the heart of Europe, where the Slavonic, Germanic and Roman worlds meet, it is one of the least evangelised. Since the beginnings there have been only two Brethren fellowships at any one time. In Maribor, the second largest city, a Macedonian brother started a house group in the early post-war years, which developed into a church fellowship with help from English and German missionaries. In Kranj (about 16 miles north of Ljubljana, the capital) a house group started in 1945 and grew until 1960, then divided into Baptist and Brethren fellowships. The latter was small, and received help from Zagreb. Over the years these two assemblies in Maribor and Kranj dwindled, and the members aged, but were supported during the 1980s by Dr Jovan Stupar making regular visits. In the 1990s, the Kranj fellowship ceased to exist.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 285 In the late 1980s Dr Jovan Stupar (the local GP) and his wife Marta started a house group in their village of Šmartno ob Paki (in central Slovenia, pop about 3,000) and this group began to meet as a church in 1994. For quite some years the members have been women, most being patients who had been formerly helped by Jovan in his role as a doctor. In August 2011, he suffered an accident involving extremely serious brain injuries. Although slowly recovering, he is not able to preach, and the assembly is very grateful for regular help from Maribor and other visiting speakers. A weekly Bible study is also held in their home. Sadly, there are no young people or children. For about eight years after 1993, the Maribor fellowship was helped by Canadian missionaries, Bernd and Karin Flock, who had moved close to the Austrian-Slovene border. In 1994 an evangelistic mission was held with help from Zagreb and Salzburg. A German missionary family took on leadership in 2001, but had to leave suddenly in 2005, and two young Slovene men stepped into the gap. Since then the church has grown to about 30 members, with a good age spread (average age 35, compared with over 65 years in earlier years). In October 2013 two elders (relatively young) were recognised, and in 2014 the assembly moved into more suitable rented accommodation. A small Sunday School, Bible study groups and a kids’ club are held. There is also pioneer work being carried on in Ptuj, a historical town, by German missionaries (one family and one single sister, still attending Maribor for fellowship), who build up relationships with local people through children’s outreach and a mothers’ and toddlers’ group. In September 2018, the congregation in Maribor joined together with the evangelical church in Maribor and since then have been having service meetings, Bible studies, groups and outreaches together in a joint effort to reach the unbelieving city of 120,000. Now there are 60+ adults, which is quite a lot for Slovenian purposes, and God is already doing good things for His people in the new church.

286 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PRAISE GOD FOR • The witness which has continued despite great problems. • The growth of the Maribor fellowship. • The pioneer work in Ptuj. • God leading the way for both congragations. PRAY FOR • Growth spiritually and numerically in the above-mentioned places. • A solution to the needs at Šmartno. Ideally a Christian couple/ family is urgently needed to take on responsibility and leadership. • God to give growth to both congregations. • Wisdom for joined fellowship as two churches come together in Maribor. Sandi Cijan: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 287 SOUTH AFRICA Population 57,398,000 Major religions Christianity (Protestant) 73% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 7.4% / Traditional religion 14% / Islam 1.7% / Unaffiliated 3.5% Brethren work began in 1883 Number of Brethren congregations 88+/- Number of baptised believers 10,000 +/- Total number of adult attendees 15,000+/- The number of committed believers is remaining the same Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 55+/- Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 1 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 6+/- AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Rand Gospel Mission (RGM) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Private Bag X4003, Ferndale 2160, Gauteng. Nature of ministry: Serves missionaries, assists in negotiations with government for residential permits and/or entry permits for missionaries, distributes clothes and food to the needy, organises Christian literature for missionaries and assemblies, runs a missionary guest house, prints and distributes mission newsletters. South African Evangelisation & Missionary Trust (SAEMT) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 280, Westville 3630, Kwa-Zulu Natal. Nature of ministry: A body which exists solely to service missionaries and assemblies. Trustees are chosen from various assemblies for their skill or specialised experience. The trust acquires, holds, and administers land and buildings for assembly and mission use and negotiates with government on matters such as land acquisition and marriage licenses.

288 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Christian Brethren Company (CBC) Postal address: PO Box 52, Plumstead, Cape Town. 7801. Nature of ministry: Administers funds and properties by gift or bequest, and assists assemblies in holding of title deeds. Negotiates with government on matters of marriage licenses etc. MISSION SERVICE AGENCY Brethren Missionary Trust of Zambia (BMTZ) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 11228, Chingola, ZAMBIA BIBLE SCHOOL Emmaus Bible School Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Private Bag X4003, Ferndale 2160, Gauteng PUBLISHING HOUSE Belville Mission Press Postal address: P.O. Box 72, Belville 7535, Cape Town Email: [email protected] Role: Prints and distributes Christian literature, tracts, booklets and books. INTERESTING FEATURES Two brethren from two different ‘black’ assemblies in the remote, rural area outside of Gauteng attended two of the IBCM conferences. They shared how much they learned and appreciated the conferences. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The work started in 1883 in Pondoland, northen Natal by Dr. William Barton, Mr. & Mrs Madgwick, Mr Williamson and then soon after in Johannesburg.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 289 PRAISE GOD THAT • We still have the liberty to proclaim the Word of God. • Christians are not persecuted as we see happen in many parts of the world. • Churches are united in their faith. PRAY FOR • Unity among assemblies particularly in Gauteng. • God’s people to hold on to the truth. • A networking of assemblies. Enoch Reuben Muniah: [email protected]

290 The Brethren Movement Worldwide SPAIN Population 46,397,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 68% / Christianity (Protestant) 1% / Islam 4% / Irreligious 16% / Atheism 11% Brethren work began in 1863 Number of congregations 180 Number of additional preaching points 15 Number of baptised believers 8,784 Total number of adult attendees 11,481 The number of baptised believers is decreasing slowly Number of full-time workers 82 PUBLICATIONS Edificación Cristiana Email address: [email protected] Postal address: c/- Trafalgar 32, 2° A – 28010 Madrid. Website: http://www.edificacioncristiana.com/ Caminenemos Juntas Email address: [email protected] Postal address: c/- Castilla 63, 3° - 41010 Sevilla. Website: http://www.caminemosjuntas.org BOA (Boletín AAHH) Email address: [email protected] Website: www.coahes.org AGENCIES SERVING THE CHURCHES Fondevan Email address: [email protected] Postal address: c/- Trafalgar 32, 2°A - 28010 Madrid. Website: www.fondevan.es/ Nature of ministry: Channels funds to full-time workers.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 291 Fe Y Ministero Email address: [email protected] Postal address: c/- Trafalgar 32, 2°A - 28010 Madrid. Website: www.feyministerio.org Nature of ministry: Protection of properties and their improvement. Fondo de Locales Email address: [email protected] Postal address: c/- Trafalgar 32, 2°A - 28010 Madrid. Website: www.fondodelocales.org Nature of ministry: Loans for buying church halls. MISSION SERVICE AGENCIES Misión Pionera Internacional Email address: [email protected] Postal address: c/o Finisterre, 3 – bajo. CHURCH LINKS Coordinadora de las Asambleas de Hermanos en España Email address: [email protected] Website: www.coahes.org Role: Communion within the Brethren in Spain (national encounters, leaders forum, etc.). Cooperation in evangelism efforts, Bible teaching, etc. Channelling information for the churches, full-time workers, and other related organisations. Coordinadora de las Asambleas de Hermanos de Cataluñya Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Av. Jaume Recoder 71 – 08301 Mataró, Barcelona. Website: www.asambleasdehermanos.org Role: Regulation of existing relational links and meetings within the Brethren in Cataluña. Facilitating communion and information. Supporting missionaries.

292 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Coordinadora de las Asambleas de Hermanos en Galicia Email address: [email protected] Website: www.asambleasdehermanos.org Role: Regulation of existing relational links and meetings within the Brethren in Galicia. Facilitating communion and information. Supporting missionaries. BIBLE SCHOOLS Escrituras, Escuela Bíblica Online Email address: [email protected] Postal address: C/ Santapau 102. Website: www.escriturasonline.net Level of study: Degree. Length of course: Online 2-3 years. Proyecto Éfeso Email address: [email protected] Postal address: C/ Fernando Gallego 17 – 49151 Arcenillas (Zamora). Website: http://www.proyectoefeso.es Level of study: Diploma. Length of course: 2 years. PUBLISHING HOUSES Centro Evangélico de Formación Bíblica en Madrid (CEFB) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: c/o Trafalgar 32, 2° A - 28010 Madrid. Website: www.cefb.es INTERESTING FEATURES • Many local churches helped people with food and clothes. • Some churches have local radio programs. • AFEC (Asamblea Femenina Evangélica de Cataluña): Women encounters. • Trobada Jove: Sports, communion and evangelisation with youth.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 293 • Camps: Casa de Campamentos Berea: camps and retreats. Centro de Campamentos Sierra de Cazorla: camps and retreats. Centro de Campamentos y Conferencias Eduardo Turrall: camps and retreats. Pinos Reales – Centro de Campamentos: camps and retreats. Campamentos de Las Asambleas del Valle del Segura: camps. Campamento Siete Robles Zazpi Haritzak: camps and retreats. Campamento de Vilar: camps. Campamento de Marín: camps. Campamento de Castiñeiras: camps and retreats. Codeseda: retreats and camps. Rent of facilities for activities related with communion and biblical formation. • Old people’s homes: Residencia de Ancianos Betania: home for old people. Centro Cristiano Evangélico la Granja: home for old people. • Asociación Benéfica Asistencial El Olivo: Flea market. Food delivery. Workshops. English teaching. • Evangelismo En Acción: Evangelisation, planting churches. Radio: Program production. • Tu Prójimo: Humanitarian help. • Nueva Luz: Material for blind people, for Spain and other Spanish speaking countries. • Biblioteca Cristiana Robert P. Simpson: Library. • Centro Ebenezer: Drug addicts’ rehabilitation. • Ong Soria Solidaria: International cooperation projects and local integration actions. HISTORICAL INFORMATION Robert Chapman visited Spain in 1838, and can be considered the great promoter of the coming of many English missionaries. Due to the political/religious situation in Spain, it would not be until 1863 that he could come back with two missionaries who would stay here: William Gould and George Lawrence, but they suffered much persecution and had to leave.

294 The Brethren Movement Worldwide A revolution in 1868 brought six years of certain freedom and they could return and start to harvest. Many more missionaries gradually came over and the work spread around Spain, mainly in Madrid, Barcelona, Galicia and Andalucía. But Roman Catholics caused much opposition and the new believers suffered many difficulties for burials, marrying, finding a job, buying and selling, in military service etc. National workers started helping the missionaries, some as colporteurs, and in 1922 probably we had the first national full-time workers. With Civil War (1936-1939) almost all missionaries had to leave Spain and many churches were closed, as well as the evangelical schools. The dictatorial government, side by side with the Roman Catholic Church, made it hard times, until democracy in 1976, although in previous years, and under international political pressure, gradually there was some tolerance, and missionaries could return. During all that time, there was great growth, but as freedom and prosperity came, the growth was almost vegetative, and at the present, as families have very few children, globally there is no growth. Although some grow, others decrease. (Other churches may grow, but mainly with people coming from South America, who prefer Pentecostal churches). Today, almost all the work is done by national workers. PRAISE GOD THAT • Some churches are growing and doing pioneer work, despite the difficulties. • We have some new young full-time workers. • Some leaders understand that it’s good to meet, and share about the work, and pray for one another, and talk about some issues. PRAY FOR • Leaders to see the need of unity. • The recovery of evangelism work. • The brethren to seek first the kingdom of God. Tim F. Woodford: [email protected] President of National Brethren Coordinator Secretary of Galician Brethren Coordinator

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 295 SRI LANKA (2015 INFORMATION) Population 21,200,000 Major Religions Buddhism 70.2% / Hinduism 12.6% / Islam 9.7% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 6.1% / Christianity (Protestant) 1.3% Brethren work began in 1902 Number of Brethren congregations 9 Number of Brethren preaching points 26 Number of baptised believers 900 Total number of adult attendees 1,200 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 9 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 4 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 4 AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Bethesda Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 21 Dickmans Rd, Colombo 5, Sri Lanka. Nature of ministry: Forwarding literature, gifts etc. to non-English speaking assemblies in remote rural areas. CHURCH LINKS Emmaus Correspondence School Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 21 Dickmans Rd, Colombo 5, Sri Lanka. Role: Distributing correspondence courses to students in English, Sinhala & Tamil Languages across the island. HISTORICAL DETAILS The first full-time worker from the assemblies was Arthur F Witty of New Zealand who started serving the Lord in Colombo in 1902. In 1910

296 The Brethren Movement Worldwide he was joined by Charles Rolls from Napier, New Zealand, who gave valuable help in establishing the work with help from Handley Bird, A C Rose, Silas Fox and J M Davies. Mr Witty decided to start the work in a residential quarter called Bambalapitiya, which was at the southern end of the rapidly growing city of Colombo. In 1919 Bethesda Hall was built in Bambalapitiya and many expatriate civil servants and naval officers joined the assembly. When the country became independent in 1948 most of the expatriates started leaving the country and this resulted in closure of all assemblies except Bethesda Hall. In 1971 the last remaining elder Fred Collette who had faithfully served for so many years migrated to Australia. George Nicholas, an architect, was saved in Aberdeen and returned to Sri Lanka from Scotland in 1972 and started serving the Lord at Bethesda. Gradually the work started to grow again and in 1979 Emmaus Correspondence Courses began to be distributed in the island. This resulted in contacts in many remote areas and assemblies began to be planted in the island. In the 1990s Sinhala and Tamil language meetings were begun at Bethesda. Today there are nine large assemblies in the island and many more assemblies in the making. PRAISE GOD THAT • Peace has returned to the island after 30 years of civil war. • The Lord’s work in the island is growing rapidly. • The anti-conversion bill that was presented to parliament was not passed into law. PRAY FOR • The Lord to raise up suitable translators so that more literature can be produced in the local languages. • More brothers and sisters to be called to serve the Lord in Sri Lanka. • The several sisters whose husbands are unsaved and facing domestic violence problems at home. Rajeev Nicholas: [email protected] or [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 297 SUDAN (2011 INFORMATION) Population 41,500,000 Major religions Islam 90% / Christian 5 % / Traditional religions 5% Brethren work began in 1926 (Resumed in 1971) Number of congregations 5 Number of additional preaching points 5 Number of baptised believers 220 Number of adult attendees 250 (350 special events) The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 2 Number of full-time evangelists 2 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 2 (and 1 half-time) MISSION SERVICE AGENCY Fund for Christian Services Email address: [email protected] BIBLE SCHOOL No Bible school, but we do have classes for teaching basic Christian doctrine. PUBLISHING HOUSE There is no publishing house in Sudan, but we are connected to the Brethren publishing house in Egypt. Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 3 Anga Hanim St, Shoubra, Cairo, Egypt. INTERESTING FEATURES Evangelistic outreach, Basic Christian facts courses, Christian literature (booklets, books and tracts), revision and editing of the curriculum of

298 The Brethren Movement Worldwide the Christian teaching of the schools in Sudan, youth conferences, junior conferences, teenagers' conferences, book table fair, Bible study groups, Christian curriculum teaching, printing and distributing free tracts, free outpatient clinic, supporting the poor, handicapped and students, prison and (occasional) TV ministry. PRAISE GOD FOR • Evangelistic meetings and conferences. • Outreach to the Nuba Mountains. • The Lord’s work in Rumbek. • The Lord’s care and protection of the work and the workers. PRAY FOR • The medical work, including the outpatient clinic. • The Lord’s work in Rumbek and the Nuba Mountains. • The book table exhibitions. • Those who attend the classes in basic Christian doctrine, that they may join us in fellowship and testimony. Hani Isaac: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 299 SURINAME Population 585,800 Major religions Christianity (Protestant) 25.2% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 22.8% / Hinduism 27.4% / Islam 19.6% / Others and Unaffiliated 5% Brethren work began in 1907-1936; 1983 Number of congregations 4 Number of additional preaching points 2 Number of baptised believers 177 Number of adult attendees 227 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Foundation Boen Njoensoe Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Santopolderweg 1a, Wanica. Nature of ministry: Promotion and support of evangelisation, support of social needs, giving (financial) support to local Brethren churches. CHURCH LINKS Foundation Konmakandra fu Bribiwan Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Postbus 4140, Paramaribo, Suriname. Roles: Links the Brethren churches. Coordinates national activities. Holds in trust most properties of Brethren churches. Represents the assemblies at official functions. Receives gifts on behalf of the Brethren churches. INTERESTING FEATURES We hold yearly a convention/camp for all brothers and sisters, young and old, where we get encouragement from the Bible and where we enjoy the company of each other.

300 The Brethren Movement Worldwide HISTORICAL INFORMATION The movement started in Suriname in 1907. A former member of a Baptist church started meetings at his home. It was a small beginning. When the brother died in the 1930s, the first phase came to an end. In 1983, the missionary couple, Mr and Mrs Elbers, came from the Netherlands and started meetings at their house. At the moment there are meetings in four places: 1) Paramaribo—Lotjessteeg, 2) Paramaribo—Evangelical Brethren—Hannaslust, 3) Albina—New Libi and 4) Petondro. There are two places of outreach: 1) Wanica—a prayer group on Wednesdays and 2) in the interior of Suriname, Boslantie—a service every Sunday without breaking bread. PRAISE GOD FOR • Young people taking on more responsibility in the assemblies. • Many young and older people who attend a local Bible School. • Young people who have been baptised and are breaking bread together. • Building of a Bible camp/training school at a piece of land in Brokopondo. PRAY FOR • Wisdom and guidance of our (young) elders of the assemblies. • Finish and start of Bible studies at our own Bible camp. • Growth among, and greater fellowship between, the assemblies. • More labourers in the field of preaching and evangelism. Mr Patrick Tanck: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 301 SWEDEN Population: 10,000,000 Major Religions: Christianity (Church of Sweden [Lutheran]) 63% / Christianity (Other Protestant) 4% / Unaffiliated 29% / Other 4% Number of congregations: 4 BACKGROUND INFORMATION The history of the so-called Brethren in Sweden is instructive. It was a consequence of spiritual awakenings and recovery, and started in the latter years of the 19 century. Though later the revivalistic Pentecostal th movement over-shadowed the Brethren contribution, as a result of a pioneering work by Brethren from abroad and from nationals, in the period up to the 1960s, around 35 assemblies took root in various cities and, at one point, there may have been as many as 50 assemblies. Small Brethren publishing houses produced books, tracts and hymnbooks, which were widely distributed and even used by denominations, and the work prospered with much blessing. Sinners were converted and attracted by the simplicity of the Brethren gatherings focused on the teaching of the Word. The work experienced dissension for reason of deviation from the Truth which resulted in a movement towards becoming exclusive Taylor- Symington-Hales congregations. Assemblies which did not follow in this development did not continue with any new generation and ceased by 1980. Nevertheless, the dormant fire of the early movement is being rekindled through sporadic companies of believers in different parts of Sweden. (For more details, see Bernt Lindberg, Brethren in Christ: Mission of the so- called Plymouth Brethren to Sweden and other Nordic Countries, 1876 until the end of the 20 century: Increase and Decline th , Privately-published, n.d.)

302 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PRAISE GOD FOR • The formation of new congregations in key cities and the prospect of additional congregations. • Peace and freedom to preach and gather together. • Increased number of Muslim seekers from among the large waves of migration who have now come to the Lord. PRAY FOR • Spiritual fathers and mothers in Christ! • Blessing of the work to provide sound teaching in the Swedish language. • The believers, that they may be encouraged to stand in a society which stigmatises faith. Very few believers dare to have an open testimony. • Blessing of open-air evangelistic outreach, tract distribution, book- tables to reach Swedes, as well as the many foreigners. For information on various meeting localities and individual saints contact: B. V. Henry in Hultafors (+ 46 76 195 09 03, [email protected], WhatsApp , Skype bv.henry )

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 303 SWITZERLAND (FRENCH-SPEAKING, WESTERN PART) (2011 INFORMATION) Population 7,230,000 in Switzerland (1,500,000 French speakers) Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 38% / Christianity (Reformed) 25% / Christianity (other) 5% / Islam 5% / None 24% Brethren work began in 817 (Geneva) 1824 (Vaud canton) Number of Brethren congregations 48 Number of baptised believers 4,600 Number of adult attendees 4,000 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 48 Number of itinerant evangelists 3 Number of itinerant Bible teachers 4 PUBLICATION Vivre Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Secrétariat de la FREE, En Glapin, CH 1162 St Prex. AGENCY SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Secretariat de la FREE Email address: [email protected] Postal address: En Glapin, CH 1162, St Prex. Nature of ministry: Maintains relationships between the churches and ministries. Manages missionary activities within and outside Switzerland.

304 The Brethren Movement Worldwide MISSION SERVICE AGENCY Service Missionnaire Évangélique Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Secrétariat de la FREE, En Glapin, CH 1162 St Prex. CHURCH LINKS Fédération romande d’Églises Évangéliques Email address: [email protected] Postal address: En Glapin, CH 1162 St Prex. Website: www.lafree.ch Role: Mutual encouragement, common missionary projects in Switzerland and abroad, solidarity, pastoral training, youth work, Bible camps, etc. BIBLE SCHOOLS The following are closest to our churches, but are independent of them. Institute Biblique et Missionnaire Emmaus Postal address: Route de Fenil 40, CH 1806 St-Légier. Level of study: Post-secondary. Length of course: 4 years. Faculté Libre de Théologie Évangélique Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 85 Avenue de Cherbourg, F78740 Vaux-sur-Seine. Website: www.flte.free.fr Level of course: University level. PUBLISHING HOUSE Edition Je sème Postal address: c/o Charles-Abel Piguet, Rue de Lyon 53, CH 1203 Genève. INTERESTING FEATURES Our federation, FREE, is not the only family of churches in the Brethren movement in west Switzerland. There are other assemblies with whom we

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 305 have only a few personal contacts. FREE came into existence in January 2007, when 36 assemblies of Brethren origin (Assemblées d’Églises Évangélique en Suisse Romande) joined with 12 evangelical churches (Fédération d’Églises Évangéliques Libres) mainly in the canton of Neuchâtel (their historical beginnings were contemporary with those of AESR). Our Brethren heritage is well expressed in the confession of faith and statutes (available on the web at www.lafree.ch/). Far from dividing the local church into clergy and laity, we try to promote the responsibilities, gifts, and participation in worship, of the largest number of brothers and sisters. The assemblies were deeply influenced by the teachings of J N Darby. In order to be faithful to Scripture, we had to reconsider many points of doctrine, such as the dispensationalist approach to Scripture and eschatology, ecclesiology, including ministry and gifts, participation of both men and women in ministry, etc. PRAISE GOD FOR • The peaceful way in which two families of churches came together to form FREE and the enrichment due to the complementary perspectives. • New missionary vocations. • The richness of spiritual sensitivities, which respect each other. • Fruitful local and regional collaboration with other Christians in witness to the gospel. PRAY ABOUT • The defective biblical understanding, the individualism, and materialism of so many in Switzerland. • The financial support of all the ministries in Switzerland and abroad. • The varying views of ecclesiology, which can be a weakness, as well as a richness. • The involvement of young brothers and sisters in local and regional ministries. René Monot: [email protected]

306 The Brethren Movement Worldwide TAIWAN Population 24,425,000 Major religions Folk religions 30% / Buddhism 20% / Taoism 17% / Atheism 20% / Christianity (Protestant) 7% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 1% Brethren work began in 1949 Number of Brethren congregations 13 Number of additional preaching points 13 Number of baptised believers 1190 Total number of adult attendees 1290 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 11 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 1 PUBLICATION Christian Assembly Taiwan Postal address: No 39, Nanhai Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City 100, Taiwan. CHURCH LINKS Christian Assembly Missionary Association, Taiwan Postal address: No. 3, Lane 2, Gongyegu1st Road, Xitun District, Taichung 407, Taiwan. Role: Mission, Education, Church planting. BIBLE SCHOOL Christian Assembly Missionary Association, Taiwan Postal address: No. 3, Lane 2, Gongyegu1st Road, Xitun District, Taichung 407, Taiwan.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 307 PUBLISHING HOUSE Ling Chuan Bookstore Postal address: 2 Aly 1, Ln 352, Jianxing Rd., North District, Taichung City 404, Taiwan. PRAY FOR • The people of Taiwan, that they may open their hearts to the Lord. • Government officials, that they may honour justice and be fearful of God. • Brethren assemblies in Taiwan, that they may be one-hearted in their mission works. • A heavenly vision to open future mission fields for the glory of the Lord. Steven Lin: [email protected]

308 The Brethren Movement Worldwide THAILAND Population 68,860,000 Major religions Buddhism 93.5% / Islam 5% / Christianity 1.2% (less than half evangelical) / Other 0.11% Brethren work began in 1882 Number of congregations 11+ Number of additional preaching points 3 Number of baptised believers 600 Number of adult attendees 640 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 20 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 3 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 1 AGENCY SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Sharing Blessing Foundation Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 40/9 Moo 2, Paklok, Talang, Phuket 83110. Nature of ministry: Social work and assistance and scholarships. MISSION SERVICE AGENCY Wycliffe of Thailand Email address: [email protected] Website: www.wycliffethai.com INTERESTING FEATURES The assemblies in Thailand are made up of both Thai and tribal groups. In Phuket there are two Orak Lawoi (Sea Gypsy) assemblies with another on Pi Pi Island. In the north there are Hill Tribes and assemblies are found among the Karen and Mong tribes.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 309 We thank the Lord that there is more growth now than in earlier days. New converts are coming to the Lord through the witness of local believers rather than at Gospel Meetings. Christians bring their friends with them on Sunday mornings where they see Christians remembering the Lord in the bread and wine. There is always Bible teaching after our time of open worship. HISTORICAL INFORMATION In Thailand, the Brethren movement did not start from missionaries, but from the Christian brothers in 1882. When the missionaries from Europe travelled from Malacca to Phuket to learn Hokkien Chinese they found that there were Chinese believers from Penang Malaysia who had already broken the bread on Sunday. In 1889, one of the brothers bought a house in the business area for Sunday service, which was mainly used by the Hokkien Chinese. The building is still used today. In the years following World War II, there were many missionaries from England and Scotland who began to learn Thai and evangelised the southern part of Thailand. Many Thais accepted Jesus. At that time, the churches began to become stronger. In 1958, missionaries from New Zealand came to preach the gospel to sea tribes in southern Thailand. In 1991, Korean missionaries began to preach and set up a church in Bangkok and in the north, working with tribal people in the mountains, At present, all 19 churches in Thailand are overeen by Thai people and are registered with the Religious Department in Thailand called Christian Brethren Missionary Group (CBMG). PRAISE GOD FOR • All the missionaries who sacrificed so much for evangelism and establishing a solid foundation in the Word of God. Nowadays missionaries who are still working in Thailand accept Thai people to be responsible for the church and are co-workers with Thais. • The brothers and sisters in Thailand who are united and who strengthen each other to serve and expand the kingdom of God, as well as having close fellowship.

310 The Brethren Movement Worldwide • The recent expansion of two new daughter churches; and leaders’ training courses that are constantly expanding. PRAY FOR • The Bible teaching to God’s servants which is done every year in Phuket, in May, July and September. • Pioneers and the establishment of new churches. • A new generation which is willing to serve God full time. Amnart Pitchacoon: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 311 TONGA Population 109,700 Major religions Christianity (Free Wesleyan) 36% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 15% / Christianity (Free Church of Tonga) 12% / Mormonism 18% Brethren work began in 1974 Number of congregations 4 Number of preaching points 2 Number of baptised believers 120 Number of adult attendees 160 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 1 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 1 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 1 INTERESTING FEATURES One of the interesting features of Brethren churches in Tonga is that, although we are small in number, we are well respected in terms of how we deliver the gospel message (meaning no compromise at all). Our radio and television programmes are some of the most popular activities in Tonga. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The Tongan Brethren church was initially started by Mr Setaleki Afuha’amango and his family. Mr Afuha’amango met with a group of missionaries from New Zealand. They registered the Brethren congregation and named it Tonga Gospel Fellowship. When the group went back to NZ, they sent the very first missionaries to Tonga and they were Mr Graeme MacNae and his wife Coleen.

312 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PRAISE GOD FOR • His great salvation. He saved us from the wrath of God. • His living word. It gives us a very great peace of mind. • His promise that He will come back again. PRAY FOR • More full-time workers, especially for an evangelist. • The salvation of our people. • Our Government. • Us to continue to witness for Jesus no matter how hard it is. Viliame (Pila) Pohiva: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 313 TRINIDAD & TOBAGO Population 1,372,000 Major religions Christianity (Protestant) 33.5% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 21.5% / Hinduism 18.1% / Islam 5.8% / Non-religious or unspecified 15% Brethren work began in 1910 Number of congregations 32 Number of preaching points 10 Number of baptised believers 650 Total number of adult attendees not known The number of committed believers is remaining the same Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 6 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 2 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 4 AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Stewards Christian Brethren Company Trinidad and Tobago Ltd. Postal address: 45 Erthig Road, Belmont, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago WI. Nature of ministry: Trust company overseeing church properties, etc. INTERESTING FEATURES Radio Bible program on three local stations, Prison ministry, Camp ministry. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The Brethren movement in Trinidad and Tobago started in 1910 at Belmont, Port-of-Spain. John W. McLachlan and his wife Alice laboured there with local believers in the early days where the first Gospel Hall was established in 1912. Today the Brethren movement has grown to 32 churches over its 104 year history. The vision over this period has been the salvation of the souls of men and women who were held in spiritual

314 The Brethren Movement Worldwide darkness, and the transformation of these precious souls into disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. PRAISE GOD FOR • Missionaries from the United Kingdom who came to establish the work. • Preservation of the testimony throughout 104 years. • Opportunity to preach the gospel without fear or persecution. • The number of young people showing interest in the things of the Lord PRAY FOR • The Lord to raise up labourers, both young and old into His harvest field. • Unity among the local churches. • A clear vision for the future. • A greater thrust in evangelism in our communities. Alva Corbin via Cordelia Stewart: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 315 TURKEY Population 82,250,000 Major religions Islam 97% (Sunni 72%, Shi’a 25%) / Judaism 0.5% / Christianity 0.2% / Other 0.8% Brethren work began in 1961 Number of congregations 7 Number of baptised believers 220-260 Number of additional preaching points 1 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers 16 AGENCY SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Silas , a non-denominational organisation, serves practical needs of the churches. CHURCH LINKS No uniquely Brethren organisation, but several Brethren background churches are members of TEK (an interdenominational organisation for evangelical churches, recognised by the Evangelical Alliance). BIBLE SCHOOLS Missionaries from Brethren background or supported by Brethren funds have a significant role in several Bible training enterprises. George Bristow: [email protected] PUBLICATIONS About 90 titles have been published so far, including Bible study books, a commentary, and evangelistic books, which sell in secular shops. PUBLISHING HOUSE Haberci (www.habercibilgi.com/index.html) have published William McDonald’s commentaries, Alexander Strauch’s books on church

316 The Brethren Movement Worldwide leadership, Bible study books, classic Christian books, books on practical discipleship issues and evangelistic books for adults and youth. Derek Malcolm: [email protected] INTERESTING FEATURES Turkey is the longest-lasting democracy in a Muslim-majority nation in the world (since 1923). In 1960 there were only two known believers from a Muslim background. There is limited freedom for the gospel, yet oppression in many forms. The attitude of the workers who came first (from OM and WEC, some of whom were from Brethren background) is probably a key factor in maintaining a high level of cooperation and communication between evangelicals of all kinds. As a result, there does not seem to be a specific sense of a distinct group of Brethren assemblies, with their own conferences, publishing or other ministries. Rather, the ideas and biblical principles commonly understood and practised in Brethren circles have had an influence on the wider body of Christian groups. PRAISE GOD FOR • The level of unity in the body of Christ in Turkey. • The Turkish and foreign believers who have been willing to move into areas where there is no church yet, nor any witness there. • The radiant love, joy, peace and hope that Christ has given to his little flock in Turkey. • Continued growth in the number of Turkish believers and congregations in more provinces of Turkey. PRAY FOR • The calling and training of consecrated labourers (evangelists, pioneers in new cities, pastors and teachers) both Turkish and foreign. • Many of the 45 million under the age of 25 to turn to Christ. • Humility, love for one another and all the people, deep dependence on God (not on human resources), and persevering intercessory prayer among the believers in Turkey.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 317 • Boldness and wisdom in preaching the gospel. • Fruit in camp work, internet evangelism, radio outreach, apologetic through books, seminars and Bible correspondence courses. • Marriage and family ministry to build up Turkish believers and as a means of evangelism. • Evangelism through arts, drama, music and literature etc. Pray for more Turkish believers to be called to engage in these ministries.

318 The Brethren Movement Worldwide TUVALU Population 12,000 (approx.) Major religion Christianity (Protestant) 94% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 1% / Baha’i 3% [According to the most recent Tuvalu census, 4.6% of the total population identify as part of the Brethren church, which would be about 500 attendees.] Brethren work began in 1998 Number of congregations 2 Number of additional preaching points 3 Number of baptised believers 70 Number of adult attendees 80 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 3 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 3 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 3 BIBLE SCHOOLS (These, although not Brethren, are used for training) South Pacific Mission Training Centre Postal address: Naikorokoro, Lami, Suva, FIJI. Level of study: Diploma and Degree. Length of course: 4 years. Fiji College of Theology and Evangelism Postal address: Pumpua, Lautoka, FIJI. Level of study: Diploma and Degree Length of course: 4 years INTERESTING FEATURES Building the Grace Pre-School, which is partly funded by the Government of Tuvalu and the Church as a whole, as well as the Church building.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 319 HISTORICAL INFORMATION In 1998 a youth group from Veisari Brethren Church (Fiji) came to Tuvalu for outreach. People were touched by the messages through the preaching, dramas, skits, action songs and puppetry. Many came to know the Lord and some people in Funafuti wanted to start a church. In 2001 three brethren were sent by the Brethren church in Veisari to preach the gospel and be involved in church planting. The Veisari church agreed to support them in prayer and also financially at the beginning. In August of 2001 the Funafuti church began with 11 members. Since then, the church has grown, evening services have been added as well as Bible studies and training sessions for leaders. The future plans of the church include outreach to the eight other islands of Tuvalu. PRAISE GOD FOR • His ways, in drawing us to come to know him through Christ Jesus. • Sending his servant Uncle Mase and brother Sakaio to preach the word in our country. • Giving strength to enable us to establish the church (Brethren) here in Tuvalu. PRAY FOR • Our own members and others to love to hear the word of God. • The renovation of the Pastor’s residence. • The Brethren at Niutao Island - for their new Chapel. • Grace Pre-School seawall for protection from high tides as well from erosion. • On-going financial support for the assembly. • Financial support for the full-time worker. • More people to visit Tuvalu to teach and encourage the believers. Leilani Saitala: [email protected] Nilesh Goundar: [email protected]

320 The Brethren Movement Worldwide UGANDA Population 44,200,000 Major religions Christianity Roman Catholic) 40% / Christianity ( (Church of Uganda) 32% / Christianity (Pentecostal) 11% / Islam 14% Brethren work began in 1966 Number of congregations 45 Number of additional preaching points unknown Number of baptised believers 2,610 Total number of adult attendees 3,000 The number of committed believers is i ncreasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 89 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 44 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 45 AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Emmanuel Mission Uganda Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 121, Rukungiri, Uganda. Website: www.emmanuelmission.ug.org Nature of ministry: Evangelism and church planting. Emmaus Bible School Postal address: P.O Box 698, Kabale, Uganda. Nature of ministry: Bible Correspondence Courses. CHURCH LINKS Emmanuel Mission Uganda Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 121, Rukungiri, Uganda. Role: Coordinates church administration, discipleship training, church planting and evangelistic activities.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 321 BIBLE SCHOOL Emmaus Bible Correspondence School Postal address: PO Box 698, Kabale, Uganda. Level of study: Basic Bible correspondence course certificates. Length of courses: 1-3 years. PUBLISHING HOUSES Emmaus Bible School Postal address: PO Box 698, Kabale, Uganda. INTERESTING FEATURES Emmanuel mission Uganda runs three notable projects supported by Shared Hope, i.e., Marumba Christian school located in Rukungiri, Emmanuel child project which supports 67 children in different schools in four districts, and the Pygmy project located in Kisoro district which supports 200 children in terms of food and education. Private local FM Radios are available in several towns to assemblies that are able to pay for Bible teaching and preaching programs. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The Brethren assemblies in Western Uganda: The Brethren work in Uganda began officially on 23rd February 1966 by some American and Canadian lady missionaries (Maryen Baisley and Dena M. Speering who were linked with the Brethren assemblies and had found their way to Uganda from Congo-Zaire due to the independence struggles that displaced many people in the first half of the1960s). They started Emmaus Bible School with a registered office at Namirembe Hill, Kampala. Their aim was to promote a high standard of knowledge of every aspect of the Bible, to encourage independent and balanced biblical teaching and to publish and distribute religious literature and, in particular, Bible correspondence courses among others. However, when there was a change of government that culminated in a dictatorial regime that banned evangelical groupings, they went back to Congo-Zaire.

322 The Brethren Movement Worldwide The post-independence years in Uganda proved volatile. Tribal tensions spilled over into politics, culminating in the military coup and dictatorship of General Idi Amin, 1971-1979. To maintain his rule, Amin carried out mass killings. During the civil war in of 1970’s and the 1980’s, the dictatorship severely restricted and persecuted the Christians. Most Evangelical groupings that had started some Christian work (including the Brethren) were banned. However, since 1986 there has been freedom of worship for all. In the late 1980’s an American missionary couple, Bob and Sue Cullen, moved from Rwanda to re-establish Emmaus Bible school in Kabale town, South Western Uganda, with an aim of helping the community to study the Word of God by Bible correspondence. In July 2007 a new mission-centred ministry started when a group of four Ugandans (Johnson Mwebembezi, Niwamanya Wilson, Reuben Tumuheirwe and Saturday Collins) returned from the IBCM4 conference held in Wiedenest, Germany with a great zeal to equip believers in different aspects of mission-focussed evangelism, church planting and discipleship. In December 2007, a steering committee was instituted to spearhead the vision. On September 28, 2008, articles of association were adopted. To keep in line with IBCM4 spirit, a four-day Brethren conference was held in Rukungiri Town Council. God touched peoples’ hearts and they supported it through prayer, funds, advice and practical participation. Since then, annual conferences have been held with significant results. On January 29, 2009, an office was officially opened at Independence Road, Southern Ward, Rukungiri Town Council to coordinate, offer information and plan for activities. The Emmanuel Mission - Uganda was licensed by Rukungiri Community Development Office as a Community Based Organisation (CBO) under license number 588. The ministry was upgraded to a faith-based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) status on January 29, 2011 to operate countrywide. The ministry has seen impressive spiritual growth over the past decade achieving numerical increase and some good level of stability. For the last 10 years,

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 323 key milestones have been realised. Assemblies have grown from 1 to 40 with hundreds of adult members fervently doing the Lord’s work. Uganda is highly dependent on foreign aid. This dependence doesn’t affect the country alone but it puts the church in a vulnerable situation as well. The different church assemblies in Uganda have been mainly focusing their efforts on addressing the spiritual needs of the people through preaching, teaching, prayer and winning of souls to Christ and not generally responding to the socio-economic issues affecting the populace in its surroundings. Whereas the church has the opportunity of reaching everyone in its community, the church has only been paying attention to congregation members who attend Sunday services leaving out people physically impoverished. As a result, the real issues that affect the community members such as medical, financial, educational, psychological and cultural are not generally met. PRAISE GOD FOR • Conducive political atmosphere to share the gospel. • Community openness toward the Word of God and continuous Christian fellowship in local churches. • High level of willingness and commitment of the core leadership team. • Presence of potential leaders with many gifts to strengthen ministries. PRAY FOR • Christian leadership development. There is limited skilled and biblically trained servants to shepherd and care for people in the communities. • Increased men’s involvement in leadership work. • High level of households’ vulnerability due to the prevailing poverty in many areas. • Prevailing youth with little or no education and life skills to support them to do ministry. Wilson Niwamanya: [email protected]

324 The Brethren Movement Worldwide UKRAINE Population 42,153,000 Major religions Christianity (Eastern Orthodox) 68% / Christianity (Greek Catholic) 7.8% / Christianity (Other) 6% / Christianity (Protestant) 2.4% / Atheism 12.6% UPDATE It is difficult to get accurate figures for the number of believers and churches in Ukraine. The churches founded by workers with the Gospel Light Mission have collaborated with the Bratsk churches in Wiedenest for years. Through the ministry of missionaries, Gospel Light has established more than 70 churches in Ukraine and more than 120 in Russia. These churches affiliate with various groups and are similar to Brethren in doctrine and practice. PRAISE GOD FOR • The planting of new churches. • Fellowship between churches. PRAY FOR • The growth of the church. • The pastors of the new churches in Ukraine. Sergey Guts: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 325 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Population 9,600,000 Major religions Islam 76% / Hinduism 10% / Christianity 9% Others <5% Brethren work began 1959 (Dubai) 1970 (Abu Dhabi) 1975 (Sharjah) 1977 (Diera) 1979 (Farairah) 1980 (Alain) 1990 (Ras Al Khaimah) Number of congregations:- 1.Brethren Assembly Abu Dhabi. ( Brethren Assembly also initiated two separate assembly gatherings, one for Telugu Brethren and one for Mussafa Brethren.) 2.Abu Dhabi Brethren Christian Assembly. ( Abu Dhabi Brethren Assembly also initiated a separate assembly gathering for Tamil Brethren.) Brethren Believers in Dubai State gather in Holy Trinity Church, Jebel Ali, Union Church and Hotel Premises. At present we have the following Brethren assembly gatherings in the state of Dubai including English, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi speaking brethren. 3. Deira Brethren Assembly, Dubai 4. The Brethren Assembly, Dubai 5. Bethel Brethren Assembly, Dubai 6. Christian Assembly, Dubai 7. Sonapur Brethren Assembly, Dubai (separate Hindi Worship) Brethren Believers in Sharjah State mainly gather at Union Church and three of them are constituent member churches of Union Church. At present we have the following Brethren assembly gatherings in the state of Sharjah including English, Malayalam, Tamil, Telegu, Marathi and Hindi Speaking brethren. 8. Sharjah Brethren Assembly, Sharjah 9. Believers Brethren Assembly, Sharjah

326 The Brethren Movement Worldwide 10. Ajman Brethren Assembly, Sharjah – ( Separate Hindi Worship) 11. Christian Brethren Assembly, Sharjah 12. Brethren English Assembly, Sharjah 13. Marathi Brethren Assembly , Sharjah 14. Tamil Brethren Assembly, Sharjah Other than the above mentioned, there are two Brethren assembly gatherings in Fujairah State, one Brethren assembly in Ras Al Khaimah State, one Brethren assembly in Umm Al Quwain State and one Brethren assembly in Al-Ain. 15. Fujairah Brethren Assembly, Fujairah 16. Salem Brethren Assembly, Fujairah 17. Brethren Assembly, Ras Al Khaimah 18. Brethren Assembly, Umm Al Quwain 19. Brethren Assembly, Al Ain [The discovery of oil and the fast development of the country brought many believers seeking employment. Though a strongly Muslim country (formed in 1971 from seven once independent sheikhdoms), freedom of worship is granted.] CHURCH LINKS The 20 Common Gathering, held every two years, was a blessing as this th time it was on UAE national day, December 2 2018, Sunday. Brethren nd Assemblies of UAE gathered in Union Church at Sharjah and had a common worship. Around 2,000 believers attended the worship meeting and Bro John Kurien spoke from the word of God during word ministry. It was a great and blessed time of fellowship for brethren from different emirates. Sharjah Brethren Convention was conducted during October 2018 from 4 Thursday till 7 Sunday at Sharjah Union Church and a good number th th of people attended the gospel meeting and SBA choir led the music for the glory of God. Bro. Samuel B Thomas spoke from the word of God. SBA also hosted a UAE Brethren Assemblies Sisters’ Conference on 6 th Saturday. Almost 400 Sisters from various assemblies participated in the conference and it was a great blessing. God willing, SBA also scheduled 2019 convention and sisters conference during October 3 Thursday to rd 6 Sunday. th

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 327 PRAISE GOD FOR • In the year of 2019, a year of tolerance was declared by the rulers. We thank and praise the almighty God for all the blessings received for the past 60 years. • The Government of UAE is so generous and provided the required freedom and security for worship to all believers. • Abu Dhabi government has allotted a plot for Abu Dhabi Christian Brethren Assembly to worship the Almighty God without fear and our gracious Lord enabled them to build a full-fledged Brethren Church Centre at Mussaffah Area. • Teens’ camp conducted by Believers Brethren Assembly in Sharjah was a great blessing for the Assembly teens. PRAY FOR • Believers from Brethren assemblies living in UAE. • The rulers of United Arab Emirates. CM Jacob: [email protected]

328 The Brethren Movement Worldwide UNITED KINGDOM Population 63,000,000 (2011 census), 66,000,000+ (Office for National Statistics) Major religions Christianity 59.5% / Islam 4.4% / Other (Hinduism, Buddhism etc.) 2.9% / Non-religious 25% / Not stated 7% Brethren work began in c. 1830 Number of congregations 900 Number of baptised believers c. 35,000 England: No. of congregations 540 No. of attenders 21,600 Northern Ireland No. of congregations 150 No. of attenders 4,000 Scotland No. of congregations 150 No. of attenders 8,000 Wales No. of congregations 61 No. of attenders 1,830 The number of committed believers is declining slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations c. 200 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists c. 50 Number of itinerant Bible teachers c. 20 PUBLICATIONS Believers Magazine Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 40 Beansburn, Kilmarnock, Scotland KA3 1RL. Website: www.believersmagazine.com

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 329 Echoes International: Together with Joy Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 124 Wells Road, Bath, BA2 3AH. Website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk Partnership Perspectives Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Ash Tree House, Fen Lane, Rickinghall, Nr. Diss, IP22 1DR. Website: www.partnershipuk.org Precious Seed International Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 10544, Grantham, NG1 0HW. Website: www.preciousseed.org These are the main periodicals. In addition, many of the agencies supporting churches and assemblies of Brethren background in the UK issue magazines regularly about their work, e.g., Church Growth Trust ( Foundations ), Counties ( Ignite ), GLO ( E-Vision ), and MMN ( Medical Missionary News ). AGENCIES SERVING THE CHURCHES Church Growth Trust Email address: [email protected] Postal address: The Barn, 1 Manor Farm Barns, Baines Lane, Seaton, Oakham, LE14 9HP. Website: www.churchgrowth.org.uk Nature of ministry: Aims to help independent churches grow by providing a professional and complete church property management service—from trusteeship to architectural support and everything in between . Counties Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 30 Haynes Road, Westbury BA13 3HD. Website: www.countiesuk.org

330 The Brethren Movement Worldwide Nature of ministry: Promotes evangelism, supports evangelists and their work, trains in evangelism and local mission, and reaches school children through mobile exhibitions. GLO Europe Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 78 Muir Street, Motherwell, ML1 1BN. Website: www.glo-europe.org Nature of ministry: Brings the gospel to Europe and encourages Christians to witness in the world through evangelising, establishing, resourcing and training. Partnership—Churches networking for mission Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Ash Tree House, Fen Lane, Rickinghall, Nr. Diss, IP22 1DR. Website: www.partnershipuk.org Nature of ministry: Resources and encourages local churches for change, local mission and growth; networks and trains church leaders in local clusters; provides consultancy advice to local churches; publishes Partnership Perspectives and books to support church leaders. Brethren Archivists and Historians Network Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Flat 1/1, 99 Wilton St., Glasgow G20 6RD Website: www.brethrenhistory.org Nature of ministry: Encourages research into Brethren history and archiving of relevant material, publishes Brethren history and the annual Brethren Historical Review , and organises the bi-annual International Brethren History conference. Christian Brethren Archive (University of Manchester) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: University of Manchester Library, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PP. Website: https://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/search-resources/special- collections/guide-to-special-collections/christian-brethren-collections/

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 331 Nature of ministry: Collects, and houses to international archival standards, manuscript and printed materials, and books, relevant to Brethren history worldwide, and makes them available for bona fide historical research. Church Support Network Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Abbey Court, Cove, Tiverton, EX16 7RT. Website: www.churchsupportnetwork.uk Nature of ministry: Combines informally the bodies previously mentioned in this section together with others which seek to support the work of the Brethren movement in the UK. Church Support Network (CSN) is a forum which regularly brings together representatives of these bodies for fellowship, discussion, information-sharing, strategic thought, and prayer. The CSN website gives information about the purposes and work of each of the bodies, and contact details for all of them. MISSION SERVICE AGENCY Echoes International Email address: [email protected] Postal addresses: 124 Wells Road, Bath, BA2 3AH. 2 Floor, Challenge House, 29 Canal Street, Glasgow nd G4 0AD. Website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk Echoes International was formed on 1 January 2018 by merging Echoes and Interlink, which were bodies with similar purposes and ministries, the former based in England and the latter in Scotland. BIBLE SCHOOL Tilsley College Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 78 Muir Street, Motherwell ML1 1BN. Website: www.tilsleycollege.com Level of study: Tertiary Selection of students takes into account Christian commitment, calling,

332 The Brethren Movement Worldwide experience, and potential to benefit from the particular course of study, as well as previous academic achievement. Courses: CERTIFICATE IN BIBLICAL STUDIES AND CHRISTIAN MINISTRY A one-year residential programme combines biblical and theological studies with practical ministry experience through weekly placements, two separate weeks of Team Evangelism and a longer Field Placement. DIPLOMA IN BIBLICAL STUDIES AND CHRISTIAN MINISTRY A two-year full-time programme where the first year is the same as the Certificate course. The second year is a mixture of time spent in ministry apprenticeship with a local church or mission organisation and intensive, residential teaching weeks. EUROPEAN BACCALAUREATE IN BIBLICAL STUDIES AND CHRISTIAN MINISTRY The third year builds on the foundation of the Diploma and is also a mixture of college-based learning and a church or mission placement. The EuroBac provides an education equivalent to degree level. EXTENSION AND ONLINE COURSES Adaptations of College courses designed to be accessible to bivocational church leaders and potential church leaders Bespoke courses are also devised for, e.g., in-career professional development for church workers and missionaries. There is a number of other training opportunities, and these are promoted and co-ordinated across the Brethren movement as a whole in the UK by Enable Training (see www.enabletraining.org).

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 333 PUBLISHING HOUSES OPAL Trust Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 1 Glenannan Park, Lockerbie, DG11 2FA. Website: www.opaltrust.org John Ritchie Ltd Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 40 Beansburn Kilmarnock KA3 1RL. Website: www.ritchiechristianmedia.co.uk INTERESTING FEATURES Since 1960 the number of assemblies and churches associated with the Brethren movement in the UK has halved, due to a number of factors: loss of spiritual vision in many congregations; problems in adapting communication and style to changing cultural patterns; closure of rural churches in the light of changing transport possibilities; and leakage to other evangelical groups. There is a real risk that the movement will cease to have effective existence in the UK in the next generation. There is, however, growth in some large congregations and there continues to be much life and initiative in the bodies that give support to churches. Interest and involvement in foreign mission remains high, both through Brethren mission agencies and interdenominational faith missions. In recent years, the key service bodies have been seeking to work more closely together and to co-ordinate their activities. Examples of this joint working are: - Living the Passion Conference: a regular event for key activists in local churches and service groups (jointly organised by Church Growth Trust, Counties, Echoes International, GLO and Partnership) - Enable Training seeks to co-ordinate and develop a range of training activities for Brethren-background churches (originally a joint venture of Counties, GLO and Partnership, but now with wider involvement)

334 The Brethren Movement Worldwide - FirstServe: a gap-year discipleship and missions programme aimed at encouraging young people in Christian ministry (jointly organised by Echoes International, GLO, Counties and delivered in part through Tilsley College). In addition, - a temporary programme (Church Strengthening Initiative) was supported by all the key bodies, to help local churches by improving vision and identifying church workers. - Church Planting Initiative (1997–2019) stimulated renewed interest in and vision for church planting in the Brethren movement (as a joint venture of Church Growth Trust, Counties, GLO and Partnership). Responsibility for church planting has now been passed back to Counties and GLO Europe in the UK. Discussion and consultation is in progress on how to produce a stronger body to network and encourage churches. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The Brethren movement began in the British Isles in the decade 1825– 1835, and the first local congregations came into existence in places as far apart as Dublin and Teignmouth in 1830. The story is told in detail in Tim Grass, Gathering to His Name: The Story of Open Brethren in Britain and Ireland , BAHN 2012 (reprint of work first published in 2006)— available from BAHN (see above), price £25, plus postage and packing. PRAISE GOD FOR • Churches that are growing. • New impetus for church planting in Counties and GLO, and for church revitalisation more widely. • The greater willingness of service bodies to work together. • The continuing enthusiasm for world mission in Brethren congregations. • The ministry of many from the Brethren who have become leaders in other groupings.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 335 PRAY FOR • The emergence of new generations of enthusiastic spiritual leaders in Brethren-background congregations. • Renewed vision for evangelism, church planting, and discipling. • Willingness to change when that is needed for fruitful work for the Lord. • The development of effective local networking and training. Neil Summerton: [email protected]

336 The Brethren Movement Worldwide UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Population 326,700,000 Major religions Christianity (Protestant) 49% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 23% / No religion 18.2% / Judaism 2.1% Brethren work began in 1860s Number of Brethren congregations 836 Number of baptised and other committed believers is decreasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 50 Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 30 Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 40 PUBLICATIONS Missions Email address: [email protected] Postal address: P.O. Box 13, Spring Lake, NJ 07762. Website: www.cmml.us Journey Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 2570 Asbury Road, Dubuque, IA 52001. AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Christian Workers Fellowship Fund Postal address: P.O. Box 12347, Lawrence, Kansas City, KS 66112. Website: www.christanworkersfellowship.org Nature of ministry: Serves commended workers. Stewards Ministries Postal address: 1101 Perimeter Dr. suite 600, Schaumburg, IL 60173. Website: www.stewardsministries.com Nature of ministry: Support grants.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 337 Stewards Foundation Postal address: 14285 Midway Road, Suite 330 Addison, TX 75001-3664 Website: www.stewardsfoundation.org Nature of ministry: Building Loans and Health Insurance for commended workers. Emmaus International Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 1028, Dubuque, IA 52004 Website: www.emmausinternational.com Nature of ministry: Correspondence and Discipleship Ministry. MISSION SERVICE AGENCY Christian Missions in Many Lands Email address: [email protected] Postal address: P.O. Box 13, Spring Lake, NJ 07762. CHURCH LINKS Assembly Care Ministries Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 11928 Sheldon Rd., Suite 101, Tampa, FL 33626. Role: Networking. BIBLE SCHOOLS Emmaus Bible College Postal address: 2570 Asbury Road, Dubuque, IA 52001. Website: www.emmaus.edu Level of study: Degree. Length of courses: 1,2,4 years. Emmaus International (Formerly ECS Ministries) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 1028, Dubuque, IA 52004-1028. Website: www.emmausinternational.com Level of study: Diploma.

338 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PUBLISHING HOUSE Emmaus International (Formerly ECS Ministries) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 1028, Dubuque, IA 52004-1028. Website: www.emmausinternational.com INTERESTING FEATURES The Open Assemblies can be divided into three types. The Gospel Halls are in decline. The Bible Chapels are merely maintaining. The progressive assemblies function more like independent Bible churches and are growing. PRAISE GOD THAT • We still have freedom and opportunity. • Missionary interest is alive and well. • Camp ministry is very active. • Emmaus Bible College is fully accredited to offer bachelor’s degrees. • There are growing opportunities to develop discipleship in the local churches. • Emmaus International (formerly Emmaus Correspondence School/ ECS Ministries) continues to expand around the world and has recently added a new mobile app for correspondence work. • Emmaus International currently has a physical presence in 108 countries PRAY FOR • More successful evangelism. • More skilled leadership. • Succession planning for many of our aging ministry partners. • Translation help on our Emmaus revised worldwide curriculum. • Funding for printing and distribution costs of resources in poorest countries. • New opportunities to take the gospel to closed countries. Rob Tyler: [email protected]

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 339 URUGUAY Population 3,469,000 Major religions Christianity (Roman Catholic) 47% / Christianity (Protestant) 11% / No religion 41% / Judaism 0.5% Brethren work began in 1882 Number of congregations 32 Number of additional preaching points 10 Number of baptised believers 1300 Total number of adult attendees 2,500 The number of committed believers is increasing slowly Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 28 (+ a couple in Panama) (+ a couple with New Tribes Brazil) AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Consejo y Administracion Misionera del Uruguay (CAMU) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Guadalupe 1605 c/p 11,800 Montevideo. Nature of ministry: CAMU receives funds from assemblies and individuals and distributes it to the workers. CAMU also organises joint assembly functions such as conferences, elders’ retreats. Eventos Juveniles Email address: [email protected] Nature of ministry: Organises youth camps, a yearly retreat and evangelistic outreach as well as a bi-monthly youth prayer meeting. Women’s Committee Email address: [email protected] Nature of ministry: Organises a yearly retreat for women.

340 The Brethren Movement Worldwide MISSION SERVICE AGENCY CAMU Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Guadalupe 1605 c/p 11,800 Montevideo. CHURCH LINKS CAMU Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Guadalupe 1605 c/p 11,800 Montevideo. Role: Links the assemblies through a monthly meeting which is open to all elders and their helpers. About half the country´s assemblies are represented regularly. Usually non-attendance is due to distance. BIBLE SCHOOLS Instituto Bíblico Berea Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Molinos de Raffo 812, Montevideo. Level of study: High school with certificate. Length of course: 3 hours a week, 7 months a year, for 3 years. Instituto Bíblico Berea Internado Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Mercedes, Soriano. Level of study: High school with certificate. Length of course: 7 months. Emmaus a la Distancia Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Treinta y Tres 479, 70.200 Rosario, Colonia, Uruguay. Level of study: Certificates by levels. HISTORICAL INFORMATION The Brethren movement was begun in Montevideo in 1882 by British missionaries. Preaching in the open air, house meetings and, later, Bible coaches and tents were used to extend the work into the whole country.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 341 PRAISE GOD FOR • Continued cooperation among assemblies in the support of workers, conferences, camps and evangelistic outreaches. • Continued support and physical presence especially of young people to work with the tent campaign during February, reaching 5 cities each year. • Growth in numbers of young people at camps and conferences as in regular activities in the assemblies. PRAY FOR • Continued need to improve our approach to establishing new assemblies. • Aid to the aged and other needy groups. • Attitude of the government towards Christian agencies. Ken & Eunice Russell: [email protected]

342 The Brethren Movement Worldwide ZAMBIA Population 17 million Major religions Christianity (Protestant) 75% / Christianity (Roman Catholic) 20% / Folk religions 3% / Islam 1% / Atheism or Agnosticism 1% Brethren work began in 1897 Number of congregations 1,300+ Number of additional preaching points 300 The number of committed believers is increasing quickly Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 500+ Number of full-time workers serving local congregations 200+ Number of full-time itinerant evangelists 1,000+ Number of full-time itinerant Bible teachers 100+ AGENCIES SERVING BRETHREN CHURCHES Brethren Missionary Trust of Zambia (BMTZ) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: PO Box 11228, Chingola , Zambia. Nature of ministry: Serves national workers and local Brethren Assemblies. Christian Resource Centre Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 11235, Chingola, Zambia. MISSION SERVICE AGENCY Brethren Missionary Trust of Zambia (BMTZ) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 11228, Chingola, Zambia.

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 343 CHURCH LINKS Christian Missions in Many Lands (CMML - Zambia) Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 11228, Chingola, Zambia. Role: Facilitates registration of local assemblies. BIBLE SCHOOLS GLO Zambia Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 73087 Ndola, Zambia. Website: www.glozam.org Level of study: Certificate and Diploma courses. Samfya Bible School Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 720014 Samfya, Zambia. Level of study: Diploma. Length of course: 1 year. Nyangombe CMML Training Centre Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 160009 Mwinilunga, Zambia. Level of study: Certificate. Length of course: 9 months. PUBLISHING HOUSES Scripture Gift Mission Zambia Email address: [email protected] Postal address: 11228, Chingola, Zambia. Lunda Ndembu Publications Postal address: 20 Ikelenge, Mwinilunga, Zambia. African Christian Books Postal address: 90376 Luanshya, Zambia.

344 The Brethren Movement Worldwide INTERESTING FEATURES Schools: There are three Brethren-managed schools in Zambia (Sakeji School, Chengelo School and Amano Christian school). The Zambian government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Brethren church to manage Kayombo High School. This is a boarding school, which will be offering secondary education. The school will be run on Christian principles. The members of the board of governors of Kayombo High School are all believers of good standing (both nationals and expatriate missionaries). This school was built by the Chinese. The government will pay the salaries of the workers at this school (teachers and general workers). There are no TV or Radio stations run by the brethren at the moment, although there are plans by Christian Resource Centre to establish a Christian Radio Station in Chililabombwe on the Copperbelt. Hospitals, Health Centres, Orphanages: Christian Missions in Many Lands, and the Brethren churches which it has planted, is one of the largest Christian missions in Zambia. Currently it manages the following hospitals and rural health centres. Chavuma Mission Hospital Chitokoloki Mission Hospital Dipalata Mission RHC Ipusukilo Children’s Centre Isubilo Community Resource Centre Kalene Hill Mission Hospital Kasama Community Care Centre Loloma Mission Hospital Lwela Mission RHC Mambilima Mission Hospital Mambilima School for the Handicapped Musenga Mission RHC There are also ten other smaller institutions, Rural Health Centres, AIDS Hospice and Care centre, Vocational Training Centre and Refugee

The Brethren Movement Worldwide 345 Care Groups spread across the country from Nchelenge to Chavuma, Nangweshi to Monze. As much as possible supplies are purchased from local sources in Zambia, but inevitably, some supplies are imported either from overseas or South Africa. HISTORICAL INFORMATION David Livingstone was a Scottish missionary who came to Zambia in 1841. He tried to fight the slave trade. To achieve this goal he attempted to open up Africa so that others might follow and bring the benefits of medical and educational work. Primarily, he wanted to open Africa to the gospel so that other messengers of God might come. Frederick S Arnot, another Scottish missionary, came to Zambia in 1883. The first Brethren work was established in 1898 at Mambilima in the Luapula province; and since then the work has grown tremendously as more and more Brethren missionaries from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand arrived. They started schools, medical work and planted local Brethren churches in the North Western Province, Luapula Province, and Copperbelt Province. Currently church planting is being done by national workers. The population is over 13 million now. Brethren work first started in 1898 at Mambilima in Luapula province and not long after in the North Western Province. After Independence the assemblies spread throughout the country. There are now over 1,300 local assemblies and more are being planted as the Lord enables. Sadly there have been many church splits as a result of differences. However, evangelism and church planting continues, with indigenous people at the forefront of new outreaches. Help from groups such as Sowers International, Child Evangelism Fellowship and local ones like Fishers of Men enable much growth in evangelism. In the last 20 years an interest in world missions has developed. This has been helped by the Pro-Christo Global Missions Training College at Kabwe, which is giving training in cross-cultural missions, which has helped deepen interest in missions. There are a number of Zambian believers who live near Angola and Congo and who work across the borders. We also have national workers serving in various neigbouring African countries.

346 The Brethren Movement Worldwide PRAISE GOD FOR • God’s faithfulness. • The power of God’s unchanging Word. • The faithful missionaries that came from overseas to share God’s plan of salvation. Many of the early missionaries who came died here in Zambia. • The continuation of the line of the Lord’s servants. PRAY FOR • The continuation of the freedom we enjoy to proclaim the gospel without intimidation, hindrance or fear from anyone. • Zambian believers to remain faithful and obedient to the authority of God’s Word. (Pray for unity among the believers to strengthen our testimony). • Zambian believers to be obedient to God’s call and to have a willingness to do God’s work. • Help to live lives that are worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Kelvin Samwata: [email protected]