CMA HeartBeat September 2022 | Page 13

MINISTRY PARTNER

MINISTRY PARTNER

As many of you know , one of the newer areas that CMA is supporting the persecuted is by providing trauma care . Bibles are still being distributed , tens of thousands of them , through CMA . But CMA also is supporting the persecuted by helping them through the most traumatic events that we could ever imagine , during war , death , persecution , and open hostility . CMA is on the ground in many countries left devastated by war .
And we see the result in stories like Shefa ’ s . Thousands of men , women , and children are being impacted . Through the most heinous aspects of war , people are not only coming to Christ , but they are also receiving healing care for their hearts and souls through Christian trauma care . As they return to their villages to rebuild their homes , CMA is helping by providing God ’ s Word as well as by providing the care needed when people , especially children , witness firsthand the unspeakable evil of which humans are capable .
So often , I share that the number one request we receive from the field is not for money . It ’ s not for supplies , or Bibles , or books , or anything physical . It ’ s for prayer . The persecuted , above all , want to know that their brothers and sisters are praying with them , not for them . That people know that it is not “ their ” church and “ our ” church . It ’ s not a “ western ” church and an “ eastern ” church . It is ONE church – the church founded on the testimony of Peter . Matthew 16 shares this story :
“ Now when Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi , He was asking His disciples , “ Who do people say that the Son of Man is ?” And they said , “ Some say John the Baptist ; and others , Elijah ; and still others , Jeremiah , or one of the other prophets .” He said to them , “ But who do you yourselves say that I am ?” Simon Peter answered , “ You are the Christ , the Son of the living God .” And Jesus said to him , “ Blessed are you , Simon Barjona , because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you , but My Father who is in heaven . And I also say to you that you are Peter , and upon this rock I will build My church ; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it . I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven ; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven , and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven ’” ( Matthew 16:13-29 , NASB ).
Jesus told Peter that the church would be built , not on Peter himself , but upon his unshakable faith and belief in Jesus . Peter expressed this unwavering truth ; that Jesus is the Christ , the Son of the Living God . CMA family , you are expressing the same through your commitment to Run for the Son , and your commitment to the persecuted . Despite the challenges that we all face , you are taking the hand of your brothers and sisters and declaring to the world that we are One Church , One Faith , serving One God , through One Blood .
Thank you for your gift . Thank you for your commitment . Thank you for being family . OPEN DOORS
13⎪SEPTEMBER 2022⎪www . cmausa . org