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Imagine walking seven days to reach your destination. Then imagine that your purpose in going there was not for your own pleasure, comfort, or gain, but to bring the most precious treasure in the world to people who live in that remote place.
For the indigenous missionaries working in the Himalayas, walking is the only way to reach the very remote villages, so they do it. To be a missionary in those parts, you have to be willing to give up everything for the call of God. There is danger, fierce opposition, and little support. For this reason Philemon and Elishiba Chhetri prayerfully choose the people who work with their mission.
Astonishingly, there have been 127 church plants since 1990, and a Bible school was established in 2002.
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The Chhetri's
visited Canada in July
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The Chhetris were in Manitoba in July. While here, they spoke at four different church services, and connected with believers in many different settings. In conversation they shared about the challenges and opportunities of their ministry.
In preparation for the visit of Philemon & Elishiba Chhetri, the staff at AIM took some time to reflect on Romans 1: 11-12: 'For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other's faith, both yours and mine."; Our prayer was that they would be encouraged by the faith among us and the believers here in Canada.
While we pray that the Chhetri's were built up during their stay here in Canada, we also were built up and encouraged; not only were their stories inspiring, but also the gentle and humble spirit that they displayed. It was a great blessing to have them walk with us for three weeks.
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The Boazes visited Canada in September - Pictured above: activities of their ministry
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Salma and Ruth Boaz always seem to be wearing many hats in the various roles they perform. Although they find it difficult to leave their home and ministry – which is in a primarily Muslim region of South Asia – they were able to be in Canada in September. While in Manitoba, they visited with individuals and church groups, encouraging the believers, and trusting God for prayer and financial support for their ministries.
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In addition to being a pastor, a husband and a father, Salma oversees 160 churches, supervises 105 staff, and teaches in the Bible School. His wife Ruth is equally industrious as co-pastor and principal of the Bible School. The church they shepherd is the second one they have planted in the city in which they live. Together, they lead a ministry focused on church planting and discipleship among Muslim people.
We asked Salma and Ruth, “In a predominantly Muslim context, how does one approach mission work?” First of all, the Boazes believe that there is no ‘single’ approach to sharing the Gospel with Muslims; each person and community is unique. Thus, they advise their Bible School students to go out and live among the people, get to know them, and share the Gospel appropriate to the context.
Secondly, Salma urges missionaries to be inquirers, seeking to discover what each individual Muslim believes. This approach, Boaz suggests, is intended to help find a point by which to introduce Jesus to them. Thirdly, similarities in several beliefs between Muslims and Christians can be suitable connecting points for sharing the Gospel. Quoting the Koran, for example, has proven to be an effective way through which the Boazes have encouraged Muslims to investigate who Jesus really is.
The focus of the Boaz’s ministry to Muslims is to simply present Christ as Saviour: not a good teacher, not a great leader, but as Saviour. They strongly encourage the missionaries they work with not to say anything, either good or bad, about Mohammed. Instead, they insist that missionaries focus on Christ alone. He is sufficient.
God is at work through their ministry. In the first six months of 2008 they were privileged to baptize 325 Muslim background believers (MBB). This is simply a continuation of what God has been doing in the last few years. There is tremendous growth in the areas where they are working. Meanwhile, prayer is going up for ‘hard ground’ regions where the Gospel has yet to be taken. Heber, an MBB currently studying at the Boaz’s Bible School, is being considered as someone who could initiate the work in the most difficult of these areas.
Note: The identity of our guests has been changed in order to protect their ministry
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