You shared the truth with Madiangu!
Madiangu’s family wasn’t Muslim — as many of their neighbors were in the Democratic Republic of Congo — but their spiritual lives were … complicated.
Madiangu’s father was involved in indigenous religion with ancient tribal practices that can include animism and nature worship as well as occult worship and spiritism. His mother was nominally Catholic, but often Catholicism in Africa has become syncretized with tribal religion.
No wonder then that Madiangu fell into the strict and cultish church called Kimbanguist, a syncretized Christian practice based on the beliefs and teachings of a charismatic African leader. The cult enforces strident rules about what church members can eat, drink, and do.
But when you sent The GodMan film to a village where Madiangu was visiting a friend, he was thrilled to see the true story of Jesus and understand for the first time what it means to follow Christ as Savior.
Madiangu joyfully chose to follow Jesus!
He has been baptized and is growing in God at his local church.
My Story of Hope … Zambia
Pastor Richard from Kitwe, Zambia, reports on the results of OneHope’s partnership with Operation Christmas Child, the “shoebox gift” outreach of Samaritan’s Purse.
Millions of children are receiving God’s Word each Christmas season with these shoebox gifts, and this is leading to changed lives, like among those children Pastor Richard serves.
In Kitwe, Pastor Richard’s church received 150 shoebox gifts to share with the neediest children. He says:
We were so overwhelmed to see the children coming in numbers to learn God’s Word. We would hear the kids say, “We are here not for the gifts, but we are here for God’s Word, and we want to learn.”
We can see children so committed to the three outreach events we had held at our orphanage and at church here in Kitwe.
We had 24 who were very committed to be discipled and learn from The Greatest Journey. They were so excited and testified that they previously thought disciples were big people and not smaller ones.
They realized who are disciples, and this was so encouraging even to me as the facilitator.
Thank you for sending God’s Word to help churches like Pastor Richard’s share the power of God’s Word with children in their community!
The children said they thought disciples were big people, not little ones … from their books they learned they can be disciples!
During the Hungry Ghost Taiwanese children learn Jesus there is no fear!
Celebrated in July in Taiwan, the Hungry Ghost Festival is the traditional season to feed the hungry ghosts at the gates of hell — but Do Not Be Afraid is a popular new program that combats these superstitions and helps children release their fear of ghosts while introducing them to Jesus.
The festival lasts a month, a month when, according to tradition, ghosts roam among the living. As the season began this year, Pastor Zheng worked with a village leader to provide a community summer camp for many children from vulnerable families.
Forty children participated and received the Do Not Be Afraid and Gospel teaching from Pastor Zheng — and 15 of them decided to follow Jesus! Thanks for showing Taiwanese children the way to new life in Christ.
A gift of forgiveness … Renata’s story
In the heart of Venezuela, 16-year-old Renata’s life was overshadowed by family struggles and school difficulties.
The weight of her home life pressed heavily on her young shoulders, leaving her feeling isolated and defensive. Sadness and anxiety became her constant companions, and her relationships suffered as she pushed others away with her harsh responses.
But then, something extraordinary happened. Thanks to your generous support, Renata experienced a OneHope Lumo Project Film, and her world began to change. As she watched Jesus’ story unfold, a spark of hope ignited in her heart. She realized that with Jesus’ help, she could find the strength to love and forgive, even when it seemed impossible.
In a moment of faith, Renata invited Jesus into her life. The transformation was remarkable. Peace replaced her anxiety, and the sadness that had plagued her melted away. She discovered the power of forgiveness — not just for others, but for herself, too.
Today, Renata’s family marvels at the change in her. Your gift has not only touched Renata’s life, but is now reaching her entire family as they see Jesus’ love at work in her.
Embracing God’s Unwavering Love
By OneHope President Rob Hoskins
As we journey through the season of Advent, we find ourselves focusing on the theme of love.
Love serves as the cornerstone of the divine promise made to King David and his lineage.
God’s love for David serves as a reflection of His love for the entire nation of Israel, and His love for Israel mirrors His boundless love for all of humanity. A pivotal moment unfolds when the Babylonian Empire conquers Israel over five centuries before the era of Jesus, causing the lineage of David to lose its earthly kingdom.
Then, one extraordinary day, an angelic visitation descends upon a humble Nazarene girl named Mary. The angel proclaims that the time has come for the son of David, who is also the Son of God, to be born. He will usher in an everlasting kingdom.
Mary serves as a poignant symbol, representing the collective anticipation of the people of Israel. She carries within her womb the hope of Israel, the promised child, the Messiah. God’s promise is realized; His love remains steadfast, and we, like Mary, must patiently await the advent of that promised time.
During the Advent season, we align ourselves with Mary’s expectant waiting and trust in God’s unwavering love. It is a season of anticipation and hope, as we believe that God’s love, as exemplified in the birth of Jesus, transcends time and fills our lives with profound and enduring love.
Just as you will give and receive Christmas gifts, consider how you can also share the gift of Jesus with those who may not yet know Him during this Advent season. Share the light of Christ’s love with others through your actions and words.
With Christmas around the corner, I encourage you to take a moment to pray for the children and youth of the world, that they may encounter the transformative power of God and His Word this season. In doing so, we reflect God’s love and emulate the spirit of Advent — anticipation, hope, and unwavering love for all of humanity.
NATION BY NATION
PHILIPPINES
Camille had recently lost both parents to cancer. Looking for comfort and hope, she found our digital program What If It’s True? She connected with an online missionary who prayed with her and shared the Gospel message. Today Camille is following Jesus and feels she has the hope to go on.
HONDURAS
Danae met Jesus in her Superbook program and came to know Him as her Savior! Now she believes she is a friend of God and that Jesus gives her the strength to be good.
LIBERIA
Massayan received the Unstoppable Book of Hope at school but didn’t read it until a friend suggested it might be helpful. Now Massayan says, “From the day I started reading Unstoppable, my life has turned around. I understand the importance of truth and love. Now I have hope in God.”
Lead Today inspires Christian to lead children in his village to Jesus!
For millions of children and youth in Africa — and other places as well — being a leader meant being corrupt and enriching oneself at the expense of others. For this reason most young people didn’t aspire to be leaders.
Lead Today inspires Christian to lead children in his village to Jesus!
Our research on the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of young people in Ghana, for instance, showed …
Approximately 70 percent indicate that they are satisfied or very satisfied with their lives. Good physical health, a close relationship with God, and obtaining a degree were the three areas that students indicated the strongest desire to have in their futures. Of least importance to students for their future is the ability to influence the lives of other people.
They didn’t understand why leadership was important because so many leaders they knew were not good people. Understanding that godly Christian leaders for today and tomorrow are needed across Africa and around the world, we partnered with leadership expert John C. Maxwell’s EQUIP organization to create Lead Today special-edition Book of Hope.
It empowers teens to lead by showing them a leadership model built on biblical principles and the ultimate example of servant leadership, Jesus Christ. Lead Today shares the life-transforming power of God’s Word and helps build teenagers into Christian leaders.
It was this book that inspired Christian, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to organize a Bible study for children in his village after he completed the Lead Today program.
“The chapter about initiative touched me so much I had to take the initiative and gather the children,” Christian reports.
You reached out to him through Lead Today, now he’s reaching out to younger children in his village. Thanks for sending God’s Word to lead the transformation!
Lead Today inspired Christian, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to organize a Bible study for children in his village.
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