April 2009: InterKnit Letter

From The Director

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people,
especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:10 NIV

Dear Friends and Partners in ministry,

Thank you for continuing to pray and to share in our efforts to serve those who are serving in hard places. We continue because of your prayers, gifts and counsel. Our overseas partners are most grateful and constantly remind us to extend their thanks and to say that they pray for us as well.

We are all well aware of the current global economic crisis and I know that many of you have been affected in some way. We also know you get a great deal of mail concerning needs - much more than most of us can take the time to read. Therefore, I will attempt to keep this brief.

I sent out notes to each of our partners to inquire how the current economic situation is impacting their ministries and I received immediate replies, some quite lengthy, not only saying how their ministry has been hurt, but also reporting on how it is impacting communities and even other ministries.

One person in East Africa reported that the churches, the Bible school, many of their families, and many of their neighbors are truly struggling. When a Pastor must seek other employment to supplement income due to decreased donations, the ministry suffers. Families whose wage earners have lost jobs leave the church and return to villages in an attempt to survive. The drastic reduction in both local and international support may force the school to lay off staff. The following story illustrates just how severe the situation is:

A lady who was running an orphanage with over 200 children next to our school was being funded from the US. Because of the Global Economic Crisis, the funding to the orphanage was cut and she was told to reduce the number of children to 40. She did not know what to do with the other 160 plus. She decided to share what she had for the 40 with the rest of the children. Then it came out in the media that she was starving the children. This lady used to come to me for help to buy porridge for the children. Her heart was so much in this that she said she could not just throw them out to the streets from which most of them came. She asked the government for help but that did not happen. She asked another home to take them but they were only willing to take 4. The government ultimately intervened and closed the orphanage. The children were packed up and put out on the street. The lady, overcome with grief, collapsed and died.

In addition to helping pastors, Bible schools, development programs, and more, we are assisting those who are caring for children – as many as 200 children residing in several small homes and up to 5,000 children in Christian schools. Our partners are facing severe shortages. In addition to the economic crisis, some are facing physical threats from anti-Christian elements, lack of local financial support due to pressure from these same groups, and loss of non-profit status from hostile governments. While costs vary from place to place, an average gift of $20 per child per month would supply most needs. This is in addition to what can be raised locally.

Reports from Burma stated that because their country is so poor and isolated there has not been a significant change due to the current economic crisis. Burma is, however, still recovering from the cyclone of last May that killed over 140,000 people. Many parts of the country are still facing desperate conditions as a result. A report from the United Nations dated Friday, April 3, 2009 stated, "The level of humanitarian assistance that is currently being provided in Myanmar is much lower than the actual needs of the people." A senior United Nations relief official called for increased support for cyclone-affected communities and others. Our friends in Burma continue to use whatever means they have to lend a hand but they will need help.

The results of the economic crisis are much more apparent in Thailand. Our partner there reported that 1.2 million people have been laid off from factories. If the situation does not improve the government apparently has indicated that another 3/4 million may have to be laid off. Many of those affected are Burmese refugees and undocumented workers who our partners are attempting to assist by providing food and shelter.

The Burmese church in Thailand has moved into six new areas and has reported that many people are coming to Christ. They are initiating discipleship training courses offered free of charge to the students but paid for by the churches. They are struggling to keep up with the demand and have stated that they would welcome our help. Please pray for the workers in Burma and Thailand and for unity among the churches as they work together to meet needs.

Every report received by EWI has been filled with prayer requests. Here are just a few:

  • Good News Theological College and Seminary – need to finish library, needs of the faculty for salary supplements, need for scholarshps, and finally concerns because some large donors have indicated they may be reducing grants.Girls Dormitory Under Construction
  • The mission in KGF, south central India, has asked us to pray for completion of a girls' dormitory. The partially finished building is pictured on the right.  Many of the mission church members have lost jobs at the same time as the cost of building materials has doubled. "We need your prayers that God may supply our needs [for the sake of] the poor children in our orphanage." They also ask us to pray that God will prevent the sale of property next to their church to anti-Christian fundamentalists who are bidding on it.
  • Many of the Bible schools and seminaries with which we have a connection are experiencing loss of students and are reducing staff due to the current global crisis. Pray for the schools in India, Kenya, Sudan, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, Burma and Thailand that are feeling the pinch. Pray that God will provide what is needed so that leaders may be trained and sent out to serve in all these places and beyond.
  • The needs in Haiti are many: pray for the new communications director at Mission Evangelique du Nord d'Haiti. Pray for resources to enable the mission clinic to purchase needed medicines and continue to have a great impact on the community and the church. Pray for teams that are going from the US this month. Pray for wisdom, health, and strength for the mission leadership.

As Pastor Frank (KGF, India) wrote, "We know that prayers of saints availeth much. Thanking you in advance for placing these prayer requests at the feet of the Lord on our behalf." We echo this sentiment and ask that you pray for all those serving in the most difficult places and for East West InterKnit as we seek the Lord's direction in our efforts to encourage and assist.

In His service,

Annette L. Jones
Executive Director