“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”

The key to Christian discipleship lies not in how a disciple starts but how a disciple finishes.

Japan

Population: 127,333,002
Religion: Buddhist/Shinto 69.91%, New Religions 23.43%, Non Religious/other 4.27%, Christian 1.56%

Japan is the world’s most export-oriented economy despite a lack of natural resources and oil. It is an ancient civilisation, influenced by China and Korea, but having its own highly refined and detailed culture.

• The sincere, polite, hard-working Japanese are too busy to give heed to the gospel and have little concept of personal sin. Pray that economic shocks, political instability and fears for the future may shake many out of complacency.
• There is a resurgence of a nationalistic Shintoism which is hostile to anything un-Japanese.
• New religions and sects have grown faster than evangelical Christianity. Pray that those involved would be set free.
• Japanese Christians have made little impact on the centres of power [industrial, commercial and political] in the land.
• Churches in Japan experienced good growth between 1945 and 1960. Since then overall growth has been very slow. Pray for a decisive breakthrough.
• Bible training for Christian workers is provided by nearly 100 seminaries and Bible schools. The great hope for the Church’s future is the high quality of many of Japan’s pastors and church leaders. However, Christian workers in training are at an all-time low and many post-war pastors are retiring with no one to replace them.
• Student witness is strategic, but only a quarter of campuses have KGK groups [similar to UCCF]. The estimated number of all Christian students is 0.001 per cent. There are also 90,000 Chinese students in Japan, most from Mainland China.
• Japanese society is highly literate, with excellent publishing and distribution structures for high-quality Christian literature. Japanese writers are needed. Christian radio and TV are effective.
• Pray for the Japanese Church:

• Christians are a tiny minority in a society where consensus is important. Few families come to faith; individuals feel exposed.
• The lack of men in the churches. The drive for success and demands of employers make it hard for men to break free.
• Pray for lapsed Christians to be restored to the Church.
• Pray that the Japanese Church may demonstrate God’s love through increased social awareness.

OCF Frankston

President: Jason Song
Theme: Moving from Duty to Delight
Campus: Monash Peninsula

Attendance:

2007:8
2008:1

Description:

Our Campus consists mainly of local students with a small population of international students who are on short term courses in Frankston. We receive a huge influx of Japanese students however it has been hard to assimilate them as we have no active members in Frankston. Our team mainly consists of OCF members from various centers.

Praise God For:

• Being faithful to the team that served last year, that although most of them have stayed in their parent centers, their efforts in Frankston have given rise to new confidence and persistence in the way they’ve served.

Please Pray For:

• Someone to be convicted to take up the challenge of starting Frankston again.

He (Apollos) began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

Followers of Christ are people committed to mentoring and being mentored (as seen in the relationship between Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos).

South Korea

Population: 48,846,823
Religion: Non-religious 35%, Christian 31.67%, Buddhist 23.89%, Indigenous religions 8%

The Republic of Korea is known for its precarious proximity to China and North Korea, its evangelical church, and its missionary-sending heart. The Church needs
There is complete religious freedom. The government has been favourable to Christianity, seeing it as an ideological bulwark against Communism.
Confucianism [more a moral philosophy than a religion] and Shamanism have a powerful effect on all Korean life and religion, although very few people follow these exclusively.

• Pray that growing materialism would not dampen the spiritual energies of Christians.
• Many young people go on short-term missions trips. Pray that this would be translated into lifelong commitment.
• Pray for the effective preparation of Korean missionary trainees, and for many more workers to help in training Korean missionaries.
• There are Korean diaspora communities around the world. Most have churches and some are sending high numbers of missionaries.
• Social concern is growing in the evangelical churches. Pray for a thorough approach to evangelism among the marginalised.
• Pray for unity between the Christian denominations. There has been a history of divisions over doctrine and because of personality clashes among leaders.
• New Christians are often from Buddhist and Confucian backgrounds; pray for good teaching and helpful discipleship.
• Pray for biblical servant leadership to develop. [Korea has a culture of authoritarian leadership, with pastors enjoying a high social status.]
• It is widely believed that success and prosperity are indications of God’s blessing. Pride has been taken in statistical growth, impressive organisation and buildings. Some leaders may be tempted to seek success more than lifting up the cross.
• As North Korea begins to open up, pray for wisdom for the South Korean Church in outreach and support to defectors and Christians in the North.

OCF UniSA

President: Wei Jin, Wong
Theme: Faith! Not fate (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Campus: University of South Australia - City East, City West, Magill

Attendance:

2004: 60
2005: 70
2006/7: 40
2008: 40 - 60

Description:

Our centre consists mainly of Malaysians with a handful of members from China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Madagascar and others. The leadership felt that the members had become comfortable in our own lives and a fresh vision had to be cast to challenge each and everyone of us to step up in our walk with God hence, the theme of faith. We have not turned back since. God has grown us as individuals and also as a family of God and we still want more of Him in our lives.

Praise God For:

• A new female advisor, Aunty Lyn from Goodwood Methodist Church. There is someone now able to provide the spiritual covering for the girls in UniSa.
• Praise Him for our advisors who continuously gives us tremendous valuable input
• The launch of Guys (collaboration with Adelaide Uni) and Girls ministry.
• New leaders - students who just came to Adelaide this year.
• The opportunity to send a mission team as OCF South Australia and the provisions for it.
• The support and resources from the International Student Ministries of the Austral-Asian Community church. OCF SA and the ISM of AACC have started outreach efforts and student accommodation areas.
• The commitment shown by the Discovery Group. We have about 10 each week and each one of them has been growing and knowing more about Him.
• He is INDEED working in the individual lives of our members.
• Increase in numbers, we have now moved to a bigger room for our regular Friday meetings.
• The privilege of hosting AGM and Convention this year, it is going to be a blast, just you wait and see. ?
• More collaboration between other OCF centres of South Australia
• For affiliation with the university.
• Campus Prayer Ministry is growing. Prayer warriors rising up and being counted.
• Collaborative efforts with mission organizations like OMF, YWAM and SIM.

Please Pray For:

• More growth (as One - individuals and ONE - a collective member of His family)
• Protection from the evil one
• OCF Magill - Magill is one of the campuses of OCF UniSA. It’s not time yet for a centre to be started there but nevertheless, we are still praying. Pray for someone that can spearhead this.
• Unity among the new committee
• Strength for advisors as they come every week and they also hold important responsibilities in their respective churches.
• Passion and revival ?
• Combined E - night on Aug 22. We will be having a combined evangelistic night with OCF AU and OCF Flinders. Please pray for a harvest of souls.
• That we as an OCF centre will support the convention committee in whatever means possible.
• That God will use the Alpha course in the second semester for His will.

They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

Disciples are not developed in a day - it takes a lifetime of daily moulding by God
Himself.

North Korea

Population: 22.5 million
Religion: Non-religious 64.3%, Traditional 16%, Chondogyo 13.5%, Buddhist 4.5%, Christian 1.7%

The Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea [DPRK] is probably the most closed country in the world. While the last 20 years have seen the dramatic collapse of Communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and the steady opening up of
All religions have been heavily repressed and few autonomous religious activities continue. Christians meet in secret, in small house churches gathering in fields, attics, caves, dugout areas and enclosed spaces inside houses. It is difficult for more than eight people to meet together at one time. Any unauthorized assembly is regarded as a “collective disturbance.” A few government-sponsored churches exist to provide the illusion of religious freedom.

• Praise God for the faith of Christians in North Korea. Pray that they will be able to share the good news with trusted friends and family. Pray for grace, mercy and perseverance for persecuted Christians.
• Praise God that some food aid is reaching the country. Pray that it will get to those who need it, and that the Bread of Life will accompany it.
• Praise God that some medicinal aid has been accepted by North Korea.
• Pray that NGOs will feel burdened to serve in North Korea and help to improve the health system. Pray for the safety and effective witness of Christian NGOs in the country.
• Pray for all those in prison camps in North Korea. Prison staff are taught to regard prisoners as lower than animals and unworthy of respect, mercy or kindness. Pray that God would convict the hearts of prison guards who have been cruel, and that he would pour down his grace and mercy on those suffering in unbelievably harsh conditions.
• Pray that non-Christian prisoners would be struck by the faith of Christian prisoners and hunger to know more.
• Pray that Kim Jung-Il would discover the reality of the true God. Pray that he will care and work for the good of the North Korean citizens.
• North Korea is beginning to open up. Pray for wisdom for the South Korean church in outreach and support to Christians in the North.
• Praise God for how North Korea has tried to open up to other countries. Pray that it would become a country that can be trusted by the international community.
• Pray for North Koreans who have defected to South Korea via China and other countries, that they will be treated with mercy and kindness. Pray for Christians helping to shelter or rehabilitate defectors.
• Pray for reunification under a just government that honors God.

OCF Flinders

President: Sumihiro Tanaka
Theme: One in Christ
Campus: Flinders University

Attendance:

2004: 25
2005: 30
2006: 35
2007: 40
2008: 35 - 40

Description:

OCF Flinders is a multicultural and interdenominational fellowship of believers and pre-believers. We are a close knit family with a heart for reaching out to those around us, particularly our campus community. We are in partnership with Flinders Evangelical Students as well as a few local churches in Adelaide. What we hope to achieve through our bible studies, praise and worship, speaker sessions and activities is unity; being One in Christ. We thank God for His favour and grace upon us and we want to continue blessing our campus community and international friends with God’s hope, truth and love in years to come.

Praise God For:

• an increase in membership and new members who are willing to serve
• salvations and baptisms
• the support from local churches, advisors and individuals who believe in our vision and mission
• diversity within our centre; a rich melting pot of cultures
• the missionaries that we support and the vital work that they are doing in Asia
• friendships and bonds formed within OCF Flinders
• the committee’s commitment and zeal in serving God and OCFers

Please Pray For:

• a spirit of excellence when serving God and others
• creative ways to reach out and build up
• spiritual growth: maturity, wisdom, discernment, understanding, and the fruits of the spirit
• a burden for and commitment to prayer
• good advisors
• our bible studies, returnees program and evangelistic efforts to be relevant, challenging, and inspiring
• new leaders to capture the vision and serve faithfully
• more salvations and re-dedications at our annual Easter Camp
• an effective and empowering discipleship program
• continued unity between the OCF centres in SA: OCF Adelaide Uni and UniSA

As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.

Followers of Christ must maintain a learning posture throughout their whole life - learning from the Master.

Tibet

Population: 2.5 million
Religion: Lama Buddhist 80%, Muslim 0.2%, Christian 0.2%

Challenges for prayer:

1. Tibet is a contentious international issue. It lost its temporary independence as a theocratic Buddhist state in 1950 when China invaded the land. The Communists have systematically sought to destroy the culture, religions and ethnic identity of the Tibetan people. Resistance to the occupiers has resulted in frequent revolts and unrest. Over 1 million people may have lost their lives and a further 100,000 may have been forced into exile including the spiritual and political leader of Tibetans, the Dalai Lama.
   • Pray for a just and peaceful settlement for all concerned
2. Tibetan Buddhism has a strong hold on the people. There is much demonic bondage; the pre-Buddhist Bon religion with its spirit appeasement and occultism permeates society. Blood covenants were made with the powers of darkness in past centuries - these must be renounced. There are officially still 1780 monasteries and 46000 Buddhist monks.
   • Pray that present sufferings may be God’s means for bringing spiritual freedom to Tibetans
3. After centuries of failed attempts and limited fruit there may be about 1000 evangelical and 2000 Catholic Christians among the 5m Tibetans in the world. There are 2 secret groups of Tibetan believers in Tibet.
   • Pray for all efforts through radio, the Jesus film, personal witness in Tibet and from the surrounding provinces to reach them.
4. Political sensitivities and tensions in Tibet make entry and travel difficult for both Chinese and foreign Christians who desire to share the love of Jesus there
   • Pray for open doors and freedom to proclaim the gospel
5. There is a growing number of Han Chinese in Tibet
   • Pray for the planting of house fellowships among them - some have been started

OCF Adelaide

President: Aaron Wong
Theme: More than Just an Ordinary Love
Campus: Adelaide University

Attendance:

2004: 90
2005: 90
2006:60
2007: 80
2008: 60-70

Description:

This year has been a challenging year for the committee. We had an awesome start, enjoying high attendances and had an eventful start. However, as time passed by, the numbers started to drop and for some time, the committee has been greatly discouraged. Nevertheless, God has been merciful and gracious on this centre. Much effort has been done to “save” the centre from dwindling further and many prayers have been said. God, with His mighty power, never neglected us a single bit. Even though we had lower attendance in the centre, He has been faithful in providing us with many new strong leaders and many have been built up and integrated into the centre. It has certainly been our privilege to be able to witness the power of God at work in every member’s life during the good and hard times. We’ve been really privileged enough to be involved in a prayer revival in our centre, with about a third of the centre praying before Friday night meetings.

God is truly faithful in any and every possible ways. There is nothing too difficult for Him and there’ll be anything too difficult for Him. Our God is able, He won’t fail.

Praise God For:

• Even though the number of members are currently at a low point, God gave us many new potential leaders
• Heart of prayer in members has been revived. A group of faithful prayer warriors, made up of normal members, meet up every morning to pray for both the centre and the lost in the community and globally.
• New members are more integrated into the centre
• Greater partnership with local churches, namely ISM and coastlands
• Growth in members, through Bible Study and leadership training workshops
• Greater heart of ownership of OCF in members
• A challenging year it has been, but the growth in each committee member is undeniable
• Unity among all three centres in SA

Please Pray For:

• A generation of God fearing leaders will rise up and take possession of what God has promised in our lives
• Continuous ownership of the vision and growth in every member
• Enight 08 - pray that we will continue to believe for transformed lives and salvations on that night
• Convention 08 - pray that the committee will continue to be united and strive forward for the kingdom of God
• God’s will to be done in OCF - sensitivity of hearts to God’s word and prompting
• More opportunities to partner with the local churches
• Continuous unity in and between three centres in SA
• Salvation

Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Barnabas and Saul (or Paul) must have taught about Christ, making sure that the converts knew both the facts and the significance of His life, death, resurrection, exaltation, spirit-gift, present reign and future coming.

Nepal

Population: 29,519,114
Religion: Hindu 74.82%, Buddhist 16%, Muslim 5%, Christian 1.89%, Other religions 1.7%

The world’s only Hindu Kingdom. Hinduism is recognized as the national religion, but the constitution guarantees some religious freedom for other faiths. People are free to choose their religion but it is illegal to convert others.

Answers to Prayer:

1. Opening up of Nepal. No Christian was officially allowed to live in Nepal before 1960. By 1990 there was a measure of religious freedom to worship, but not to proselytize.
2. Thrilling growth of the Church. The first group was formed in 1959 with 29 Christians. By 1985 there were 50,000 believers. By 2000 there were 400,000; some estimate even 500,000 in 3000 or more congregations! The secret: prayer, willingness to suffer for Jesus, dynamic Nepali initiative in evangelism and church planting, and God’s miracle-working power.
3. There is a church planted in every one of the 75 districts of Nepal and there are at least some believers in most peoples and caste groups of the country
4. Increased unity after some difficult years during the 1990s

Challenges for Prayer:

1. Political stability and continuity of government. Pray for the King crowned in 2001 - he has neither the stature nor popularity of the former king. Pray also for peace. Pray for an honest, balanced, fair government.
2. Pray for full religious freedom to be guaranteed in the constitution and upheld by the authorities. Pray for the thwarting of the designs of extremists and for their eyes to be opened to the Lord Jesus.
3. Pray that the Church may be kept from divisions, doctrinal disputes and error. Pray specifically for the Nepal Christian Society as it seeks to provide a forum for prayer, sharing, unity and cooperative ministries
4. Pray for grace and perseverance for believers through persecution. Pray that Christians may be accepted and appreciated for their contribution to the country’s well-being
5. Pray for wisdom and sensitivity in partnership between churches and foreign agencies
6. Pray that many Nepalis may be challenged, called, equipped and sent out by local churches to Nepal, the Himalayan region, needy North India and beyond

OCF Sydney

President: Xiangliang, Lin
Theme: -
Campus: University of Sydney

Attendance:

2004: 25
2005: 20
2006: 20
2007: 16
2008: 14

Description:

Our centre consists mainly of Malaysians, Singaporeans. We thank God for continuing to sustain our centre and raising new leaders ever year willing to take up various positions. We thank God for Esther Lukaybo who has been serving as our resource person until this year and thank God for Roopesh Dhar, a former ocfer who is now guiding us. This year we are praying that God will continue to unite our centre as we grow seeking after God and His righteousness and that God will send new members into our midst even as we reach out to them.

Praise God For:

• Roopesh Dhar for guiding us over the last semester
• Bringing us through the book of James and reminding us that faith cannot be divorced from works
• A committed group of regular members who are faithful in attending our meetings
• A new committee for this year and bible study leaders who are willing to serve in joy
• The faith of our fellow brothers and sisters that we share

Please Pray For:

• That members will continue to thirst and hunger for the righteousness of God
• That members will reach out actively to the student body of Sydney and their friends
• That members will be bonded together as one serving in unity as we are grown in Christ’s body each individual performing his role
• That God will grant us wisdom in serving Him that we may bear good fruit for Him.

Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!

The first Christians whilst maintaining respect for the civil authorities that were over them, saw that their first allegiance was to God.

Taiwan

Population: 23,036,087
Religion: Chinese/Buddhist 93%, Christian 1-4%, Other 2.6%

Most people in Taiwan follow a mixture of animism, Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, with a strong emphasis on ancestor worship. There are more than 16,000 registered temples.

Challenges for Prayer:

• Taiwan’s political future is a matter for intense political debate and international diplomacy. Pray for wisdom and guidance for leaders.
• Pray for the removal of barriers preventing the growth of the Church:

o    Resurgence of Buddhism and Taoism and subjection to the spirit world.
o    Few Chinese want to give up ancestor worship.
o    Disillusioned young people are turning to crime.
o    Taiwanese society is very materialistic. There are many Pachinko parlours, lotteries and other forms of gambling.

• Taiwan is the only major Chinese society where there has not been significant church growth this generation.
• Pray for a nationwide prayer movement to unite the Church.
• Pray for a breakthrough among the working class. Taiwan’s Christians are generally highly educated and do not find it easy to reach out to their working-class neighbours.
• Pray for more missionaries to go to Taiwan and that those who are called may be encouraged and willing to stay.
• There is a lack of pastors and full-time workers. Many experienced pastors emigrate to Western nations. In small churches the congregation expect the pastor to do all the work.
• In big cities there are some large vibrant churches that are flourishing. Pray for relevant, spiritual training and more effective lay training.
• The witness among students is encouraging and students are now permitted to form Christian groups in schools. Pray for an awakening of interest and commitment to pray and send out missionaries.
• Pray for sales of Christian literature in the secular book market and for the creative use of video/DVD, music and the internet in evangelism.

OCF UNSW

President: James Tang
Theme: Reach out, Build up, Send back
Campus: University of New South Wales

Attendance:

2006: 25
2007: 10
2008: 10

Description:

The Lord has been good to us this year, as we have new members joining us, mainly from Malaysia and Singapore. With a group of 10, may we not be discouraged by the small number but rather strife for unity and closeness that can only be seen in a small group. We are currently holding our meetings at KCOC (Kingsford Church of Christ) on Saturday mornings.

Praise God For:

• Thank God for the local church’s (KCOC) support, especially in providing a place to meet for our weekly bible studies and also the support and assistance provided by the ex-ocfers
• Thank God also for Rob Robayna, OCF Sydney’s staff worker who has been a great help and great source of encouragement not only to OCF UNSW but also to the other centres in NSW as well.

Please Pray For:

• God will provide OCF UNSW with a vision and a mission statement that will be central to all that the centre does and its activities
• God will continue to send “ready-made” leaders to OCF UNSW so that the core group may be strengthened
• God will strengthen and empower the leadership, that they will continue to stay faithful to the ministry and have a passion for the people, edifying and encouraging the members with a servant attitude
• Relationship and fellowship among current members will grow deeper and be strengthened
• OCF UNSW will have the desire to reach out and impact the university community

“God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear…Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

As Jesus is Lord and Christ, let us as Christian disciples be recognised by our devotion to the Master, evidenced by obedience to His precept and example.

China

Population: 1,313,973,713
Religion: Non-religious/other 49.58%, Chinese 28.5%, Buddhist 8.38%, Christian 7.25%, Traditional 4.29%, Muslim 2%
92% ethnic Han Chinese, 55 ethnic minorities

The People’s Republic of China is the world’s largest country by population and is the third largest country by area. China’s recent rapid development has made the country a major force in world affairs.

Challenges for Prayer:

• For peaceful, stable and honest government.
• For Christian professionals to offer their skills for work and witness amongst Chinese intellectuals, the business community, and in both urban and rural areas.
• For good Bible-based teaching in the churches.
• For the training of godly pastors. These men and women are often poorly paid and sacrifice much to lead their churches. As China develops rapidly, young people see the attractiveness of a secular lifestyle and secular work.
• Pray that more young people will respond to the gospel and the needs of the church.
• For an end to persecution of house churches who refuse to register with the TSPM and for the witness of those in prison.
• For Hong Kong Christians to have a sensitive and significant influence in churches in southern China.
• For witness amongst Christian minority peoples; most have no viable church or no known Christians.
• Radio broadcasts into China provide a valuable means of training leaders and evangelising non-believers.
• For the growing missionary movement within China. Pray for wisdom and appropriate training for the many Christians from rural areas planning to take the gospel to other parts of the world.
• Give thanks for the great growth of the Church.

OCF Perth

President: Judy Goh
Theme: By His side, In His might, Shine His light - Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV)
Campus: University of Western Australia

Attendance:

2001: 10
2002: 20
2003: 25-30
2004: 30-40
2005: 30
2006: 30
2007: 30
2008: 30-40

Description:

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Indeed, OCF Perth has been faithfully obeying the Lord’s commandments and has been an example to the students around us in campus. Praise God! We have seen a greater desire in the hearts of our members to pray for our campus and to show love to them. And we have seen God’s hands working in the Christians on campus; witnessing various Christian groups working together to reach out to students.  In His guidance, we also had the opportunity to have a mission’s day whereby we had the chance to extend our love to Western Australia by doing social work in the suburbs. All glory to God for He has showered His love unto OCF Perth that has been manifested over flowingly through our members.

Praise God For:

• An increase in membership and new members who are willing to serve.
• those who have put the time and effort into preparing and leading bible studies, which have been a great blessing
• Campus Prayer meets where we meet to pray for the varsity
• Our home church Subiaco Church of Christ - they have been very supportive all these years
• An increase in service in church - for example: communion cup washing, keeping of chairs, serving in worship ministry, data entry, children’s ministry and sermon recording
• Mission’s day where our members had the opportunity to witness how God has been helping the aged, poor and disabled in Western Australia. Also, the chance to step out of our comfort zones to help them
• The unity that we have between the 3 centres in WA (Murdoch, Curtin & UWA)
• The start of our discipleship groups that have provided support to our students

Please Pray For:

• Pray that the new leaders will see continuity in the vision that has been cast this year
• A heart of prayer, outreach and acts of giving among members
• Bible study leaders and members to catch and ponder the vision in their hearts
• Pro-activeness in members to serve

My journey in discovering the “D” words…
…disciple, discipleship and discipling

by Joanne Chew

Dr Joanne Chew was a member of OCF Adelaide from 1999-2004. During her time in OCF, she served for many years on the local committee, and was the chairperson of the OCF Convention 2002 in Adelaide. She is now working as a doctor in Adelaide, and serves as a life group leader in church with her husband Dr Andrew Kiu.

Allow me to share with you my story briefly. I became a Christian in December 1996, at the age of 16. Before that I have been going to Sunday School for many years and subsequently attended my church youth group. In the early few years of my Christian life, I basically learnt how to journey with Christ on my own, not knowing if anything should change at all from my life ‘before Christ’. Sure, I received teachings; through talks, sermons and bible studies but it took me a few years to fully understand my salvation, what it means to be a ‘new creation’, and what prayer and quiet time is all about. At that stage I did not even understand the full extent of what being a disciple meant. I had not been discipled and did not realize there was such a thing called ‘making disciples / discipling’ even though I had been exposed to the Great Commission.

Anyway, in 1999, I came to Australia for my studies and also started joining OCF. So there I was, my first year here, enjoying, absorbing and learning what I can…until the following year, my second year. There was a group of non-Christians who had started coming to OCF and within 6 months, one of them accepted Christ (praise God!). She comes from a non-Christian family - Buddhist, with NO Christians at all in her family. Before she came to Australia, her duty was to pray and burn joss sticks to her ancestors every morning as she is the eldest child. She also accompanies her grandma to pray and to go to the temple every week. When she became a Christian here, she only had 6 more months left before going back to her home and family, only this time as a Christian. She was here just for a year in total, but a year was what the Lord felt was sufficient; a year that was life changing for her as well as for me.

Remember, at that time, I was only 19+ years old, and 3+years of being a Christian. So there I was, excited for her but also very fearful…because I could just imagine the hostile environment that she would be going back to as a baby Christian, with no Christians friends, no ‘OCF’ and no church support. There were many questions in my head, ‘what if, what if…’ And it was at that point that I sensed the urgency and the need for her to be grounded in her walk with God as well as to be taught in God’s word and truth in order that even if / when things becomes stormy and difficult back home, her foundation in the Lord will be firm.

Someone once said to me - give them a fish & you will feed them for a day, teach them how to fish and you will feed them for a lifetime…And that thought pounded in my heart and mind..”someone has to teach her how to fish…” So with no experience, no prior ‘training’, not having been discipled ever in my life at that stage, and still a young-ish Christian myself,  I decided to disciple her…I figured what little I could give, teach and share with her was better than nothing at all. And thus our journey together started as we committed ourselves to meeting up every week, reading and learning His word as well as praying and sharing our lives together. It was in that few months that the Lord built her up and also in that short period that He showed me the value and effectiveness of discipling…what I had taken 3+years to discover, she had learnt and grown in those few months!!

It was then that I realized that nothing is more effective in helping another brother or sister to follow Christ than to disciple him or her, to help them walk closer than ever before with Christ, and subsequently reach those around them. Not only that, I have also found this relationship to be two-way. As much as she has ‘learnt’ from this journey, so have I as I have been greatly blessed and ‘sharpened’ in my walk.

Two verses I will leave with you…

Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.”
Luke 9:23-24

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20

Reflection

Perhaps take a moment to reflect, asking yourself this question…”Where am I in the spectrum of discipleship?”

If you do not understand what it means to be a disciple, then you may not understand the value of being discipled…if you do not understand the value of being discipled, then you may not understand the importance or need to disciple others…

Challenge

Are you passionate about being a disciple, falling in love with and committed to Him?
If you are, may I challenge you to consider being discipled and especially to disciple others. If you are not, then I urge you to prayerfully reconsider your relationship with Him and His Lordship over your life.

It is in Christ’s heart that his disciples “GO & Make Disciples of all nations…”…Is it in our hearts too as His disciples…even if it means giving and sacrificing our time and energy, one (or more) life at a time?

If you are not discipling anyone, will you consider discipling someone? Will you consider becoming a disciple-maker?

If you are already discipling…WELL DONE, but don’t stop there! May I challenge you to teach and train your disciple to be a disciple-maker and to disciple others. May I also challenge you to perhaps consider discipling one more and to encourage other Christians around you about discipleship and becoming disciple-makers.

Will leave with you a closing thought…

Those who teach by their doctrine must teach by their life, or else they pull down with one hand what they build up with the other.
-Matthew Henry-

So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

The longer our lives are immersed in the study of the Bible and living by it, the stronger our lives become.

Madagascar

Population: 20,042,551
Religion: Christian 47.63%, Traditional ethnic 44.77%, Muslim 7%

A democratic nation. Subsistence agricultural economy, yet not producing enough rice to feed all. Malaria and malnutrition have become major problems because of the economic slump. A slow economic recovery is under way.

Answers to Prayer:

1. Church growth increased in the 1990s in the midst of political and natural disasters
2. Complete freedom of religion after years of Marxist rhetoric
3. Election of a Christian President in 2002

Challenges for Prayer:

1. The Protestant Church has had a glorious history of faith despite persecution. May this movement continue to grow and be rooted in Scripture
2. Spiritual deadness rather than revival characterizes many congregations. Pray that the power of Jesus might be manifested, and that many may trust Him completely
3. Evangelical believers are predominantly found in the revival movements in mainline churches. Pray for unity among true believers and also for effective evangelism through them. The need for practical training for outreach is great.
4. Theological training is the greatest source of weakness for the Church. Pray that Bible schools may return to the biblical theology for which their forebears laid down their lives. Pray for the provision of well-trained, Spirit-led leaders who are able to apply biblical truths to the Malagasy worldview.
5. Young people are the key for the future in the rapidly growing population. Pray for mission organizations working in schools and campuses and for the mobilization of young people for evangelism.
6. Less reached areas and peoples
   • Over 5000 villages and 5 million people in the less-evangelized north and south
   • Malagasy traditionalists
   • Muslims
   • Ethnic minorities
7. The Protestant mission force has been small, but visa restrictions are a big limitation for increasing their numbers. Pray for more pioneers, willing to go to areas where health and living conditions are difficult
8. Christian support ministries - pray for eternal fruit!
   • Bibles. Pray that its message may enter hearts.
   • Christian radio.
   • The Jesus film

OCF Murdoch

President: Jeremy Ong
Theme: To Grow a Fervent Community of Self-sacrificing Disciples for Christ
Campus: Murdoch University

Attendance:

2005: 10
2006: 19
2007: 20
2008: 20

Description:

Our centre consists of Malaysians, Singaporeans and Hong Kongers. This year sees a fellowship that is close in bonding and open to one other, especially during thanksgiving night when brothers and sisters pour out heartfelt thoughts and feelings. The verse which spurs our theme is “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:10-11 (NIV). We pray that God will continue to lead us and keep us focused on our call to serve our brothers and sisters as well as the students on campus.

Praise God For:

• An increase in membership and close fellowship with one another
• Bible study and starter’s group leaders and assistants for preparing bible studies
• New partnership with secondary churches for Campus Prayer Meets
• Ongoing support from Mount Pleasant Baptist Church and centre advisor
• New staff worker-in-training

Please Pray For:

• Members who have stepped up into the new local committee to serve the Lord
• Members to be sensitive to the needs of people within the fellowship, friends as well as campus
• Campus prayer meets and guys and girls prayer meets to be fruitful times of prayer and intercession.
• Fellowship to be Christ-centred and pleasing to God
• Mission trip with YWAM and OCF WA in December to Jakarta

Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

God has given us a mind with which to think through the great truths in the Bible, and to obey them.

Fiji

Population: 931,741
Religion: Christian 58.32%, Hindu 33%, Muslim 7%. Non-religious/other 0.8%

A politically volatile democratic nation that has experienced a number of coups.

Praise God that 10 years of racial discord and discrimination by Christian Fijians against mainly non-Christian Indians has ended with the unanimous approval of the 1999 Constitution. Pray on for inter-racial respect and harmony in the future.

Challenges for Prayer:

1. The legacy of British colonial greed has had a long-term impact on Fiji.
   • Resentment of the indigenous Fijians against the importation of Indian indentured labour from 1870 onwards. The results were manifest in the high crime rate among Fijians and the 1987 coup and following discrimination against Indians
   • Discrediting of Christianity in the eyes of the Indians and the present ingrained attitudes of fear, mistrust, minority complex and insecurity
   • Close link between Fijian nationalism and politicized Christianity. The coup split the dominant Methodist Church, Pray for a spirit of repentance, healing of past wounds, a fair society, and a new freedom for the true gospel
2. Fijians embraced Christianity over a century ago, but this was often cultural rather than spiritual. Pray for a deep work of the Holy Spirit to deal with compromise and ethnic hatred and to bring revival.
3. Newer churches with a more strongly evangelical message are growing, but so too are Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses. Pray for agencies involved in church planting and evangelism.
4. Less reached peoples.
   • Hindus, who have been patchily evangelized
   • Sikhs and Panjabis have retained more of their culture and language, but there has been little specific outreach to them
   • 59,000 Muslim community is tightly knit and very resistant to the gospel. Little is being done to reach them, and the few converted to Christ have suffered considerable persecution
   • Chinese - mostly Cantonese in origin. Many speak English. There had been no ministry specifically directed to reach them until 1992
5. Pray for the spiritual revival and health of the Church
   • Leadership training for the churches
   • Ministry to young people
   • Evangelical networks. Pray for a deep unity among believers that transcends denomination, distance and ethnicity
   • Mission vision
6. Christian help ministries: The Bible Society, Jesus film

OCF Curtin

President: Cheryl Weng
Theme: Transforming Truth
Campus: Curtin University of Technology

Attendance:

2005: 30
2006: 30
2007: 20 -30
2008: 30 -40

Description:

Our centre consists of a diverse group of students, over 6 countries. Our focus this year is to understand the transforming power of Christ and how that truth changes our lives. God is doing an overhaul in OCF Curtin and almost everything we do has taken a notch forward. We have moved out of our old premise and into a newer and better one. God has been faithful and have increased the number of our non-Christian friend’s participation in OCF. We are also in the process of settling down in a church and we trying to devise a plan to build stronger partnership with the church. God has also provided us a new and very faithful advisor (unofficial). God is indeed working in OCF Curtin and we have seen many signs from Him. Here we would want to testify of His grace, mercy and power as a fellowship.

Praise God For:

• The increased of non-Christians in our centre.
• The willingness of the members to serve in BS-leading, music, food prep, etc.
• The spiritual growth within the fellowship which is evident.
• The overhaul (mention above) as it is indeed an exciting time to be in Curtin: OCF.

Please Pray For:

• The members of the new local committee that they will be sensitive to God’s guidance
• The unity of the fellowship to be stronger
• The church partnership as we continue to build a stronger partnership
• The members that they will be more involved in discipleship and evangelism