The Shepherd's Staff, World MAP's

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WORLD MAP 

WORLD MISSIONARY ASSISTANCE PLAN 

A Chorus of 

Thanksgiving 

IS ECHOED AROUND THE WORLD 

BY LEADERS RECEIVING ACTS 

MAGAZINE & THE SHEPHERD’S STAFF 

Fall 2008 

DIGEST 

During a recent Philippines seminar, 

this leader was equipped with sound 

World MAP training resources – 

strong reasons for thanksgiving!


FRANK R. 

PARRISH 

It is a joy to be writing to you as 

we enter into yet another busy 

fall season for the ministry of 

World MAP. 

We are partners in three church 

leadership seminars in Nigeria in 

November; still translating, printing 

and mailing the “double-sized” 

issue of ACTS Magazine, a very 

important and biblically-thorough 

study on The Anointing Of The 

Holy Spirit; writing yet another 

biblical study for ACTS Magazine; 

coordinating ongoing Shepherd’s 

Staff distribution worldwide; 

and so much 

more! 

In over 140 

nations around the world, 

multiplied tens of thousands of 

pastors are receiving World MAP’s 

equipping and training materials. 

These important teachings have 

wide-reaching impact – on the pastors’ 

lives and families, their ministries, 

their churches and cities, 

and even their nations! 

Let me say quickly and 

adamantly that we are fully aware 

that this impact is not our doing. 

We have the grateful privilege of 

partnering with the Lord – the 

2 • WORLD MAP DIGEST 

Chorus of 

Thanksgiving 

King of all kings, who is working 

powerfully by His Spirit, through 

His eternal Word, to bring life, wisdom, 

salvation and hope to countless 

souls around the world! 

Though not of our doing, I can 

share with you the impact of World 

MAP’s ministry around the world 

with absolute surety and confidence. 

First, because I know without 

doubt that it is our Lord’s 

desire – and His right as the inheritor 

of the nations (Ps 2:8) – to 

bring glory to His Father as He 

moves in the hearts of every 

tribe, tongue and nation in 

these days. 

Second, because we 

receive so many testimonies 

and heartfelt 

thanks from church leaders 

all over the world. 

They express again and 

again that the materials 

we are sending to them are 

producing much fruit in their 

lives and the lives of those they 

shepherd. 

Many of those testimonies 

and sincere words of gratitude 

have been included in this 

Thanksgiving issue of DIGEST for 

your enjoyment. 

Honored To Serve 

With You 

All of what I’ve shared is likely 

not new to you, as a long-time 

partner and member of the World 

MAP family. 

So why, then, am I writing to 

you about this? 

by Frank R. Parrish 

“For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may 

cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God” (2Cor 4:15). 

Anthem of praise and thanks 

For the simple, yet very sincere, 

reason that Wendy and I want 

to join our voices and hearts with 

those thousands of church leaders 

who have already testified and proclaimed 

their gratitude. Though 

they may be saying how grateful 

they are to World MAP and our 

staff, the reality is that they are 

thanking YOU! For without your 

prayers and faithful, often sacrificial, 

giving we could not fulfill 

God’s call to “send portions to 

those for whom nothing is prepared” 

(Neh 8:10). 

It is because of you – and your 

commitment to the cause of Christ 

– “that grace, having spread 

through the many, may cause 

thanksgiving to abound to the 

glory of God”. Your partnership 

allows God’s grace to be multiplied 

into the hearts of people 

around the world. Together with 

them, we join the never-ending and 

ever-growing anthem of praise and 

thanksgiving to the One who 

makes it all possible! Hallelujah! 

Some of you give out of your 

abundance, and for that we are 

grateful. Others have written to 

explain your circumstances of limited 

income or recent illness, or 

even the loss of a loved one, and 

yet continue to give what you can – 

and for that we are immensely 

humbled, and still very grateful. 

In either case, we are overwhelmed 

with thanksgiving for 

your willingness to do all you can, 

to reach all you can, while you still 

can! Even in these days of seeming


uncertainty and challenge in our 

world, you have been faithful to 

partner with us in the Gospel. 

The words of thanksgiving 

that we have received on your 

behalf could not be contained 

even in several issues of 

DIGEST! But we have gleaned 

from the testimonies, and in this 

magazine you will read some 

amazing stories and some profound 

expressions of thanksgiving. 

Since they are written 

to you, I trust you will take 

time to read them – and 

receive them! I know you 

will be blessed, as we also 

have been encouraged and 

blessed. 

Church leaders are thanking 

you for caring about them enough 

to pray for them and regularly 

allow your heart to be touched by 

their circumstance. They are 

grateful that you have responded 

faithfully to the prompting of the 

Holy Spirit, and have been the 

Lord’s hand extended to them to 

help. 

Your help equips and trains 

the church leaders in some of the 

most desperate and difficult 

places – giving them confidence, 

hope, strength, boldness and a 

building up of their faith. Truly, 

God’s grace is being multiplied to 

them through you! 

Wendy and I, in this season of 

thanksgiving, pause to express our 

thanks to you. We are honored to 

serve with you in assisting the 

Thank you, World MAP! 

Body 

of Christ in so 

many nations. 

Please know that the words of 

gratitude you will read are from 

real people who are living – and 

sometimes suffering and even 

dying – for their faith. Their faces 

you may never see on this side of 

Heaven. But be encouraged that 

on that Day, when we all join in a 

glorious song of praise and thanks 

to our Savior, Lord and King, you 

will meet them. 

And you will know that all 

that you have done for Jesus’ sake, 

whether large or small, will have 

counted for the glory of God and 

the salvation and blessing of 

countless people. Now that’s 

something to be thankful for! 

That all may know Jesus, 

Frank Parrish, Director 

WMAP 

VISION AND MISSION OF WORLD MAP 

World MAP (Missionary Assistance Plan) is a transdenominational, 

nonprofit ministry dedicated to fulfilling the Great 

Commission – making disciples of all nations – by: 

• Equipping indigenous church leaders in Third-World nations 

through biblically-based, Spirit-filled teaching resources and 

practical ministry training so that they can be more effective, and 

in turn raise up and equip still more leaders (2Tim 2:2). 

• Sharing the triumphs and trials of these front-line ministers with 

believers in Western nations, to inspire the Body of Christ to 

fervently pray and sacrificially give, so that “this gospel of the 

kingdom will be preached in all the world” (Matt 24:14). 

The Third-World church stands poised and ready to reach the 

nations with the Gospel, if they could just be equipped to do so. 

Thank you for partnering with World MAP to supply this urgent need! 

Vol. 48 • No. 4 

Fall 2008 

World MAP 

World Missionary Assistance Plan 

DIGEST 

CONTENTS 

2 Chorus Of Thanksgiving 

4 Praise The 

Lord For Your 

Work & Effort 

9 Shepherd’s Staff 

Distribution 

10 The Galilee Zone 

11 ACTS Magazine Excerpt 

12 “World MAP Has Trained 

You Very Well” 

12 They Learn By Lantern 

WORLD MAP 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Jon Cook, Skip Mahoney, Hank Morris, 

Frank Parrish, Vic Torres. 

WMAP CANADA 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Paul Dreher, Helmuth Lange, Dave 

McTaggart, Frank Parrish, Wendy Parrish, 

Horst Senkbeil, Alex Tingstad. 

DIGEST STAFF 

Frank and 

Wendy Parrish .......... Directors / Editors 

Gayla Dease.... Publications Coordinator 

Keith Balser......................... Copy Editor 

World MAP DIGEST is published 

quarterly by World Missionary 

Assistance Plan, whose editorial and 

business offices are at 1419 N. San 

Fernando Blvd., Burbank CA 91504. 

The subscription price is $5.00 per 

year. Receipts for contributions are 

tax-deductible. Periodicals postage 

paid at N. Hollywood, California 

91605 and additional mailing offices 

(USPS 692240). Postmaster: Please 

send form 3579 to 1419 N. San 

Fernando Blvd., Burbank, California 

91504. 

HOW TO CONTACT US: 

Visit us at our website on the Internet at 

www.world-map.com 

• Email us at wmap@world-map.com 

• Call us at 1-818-843-7233 

• Fax us at 1-818-845-5000 

WORLD MAP DIGEST • 3


“Praise The Lord For Your 

From the foreign office managers and round-theworld 

translators who help carry ACTS and 

Shepherd’s Staff teachings to the developing 

nations, to the World MAP staff and the faithful supporters 

who make the ministry possible, all hearts 

share the same mission: to fulfill the Great 

Commission by making disciples of all nations. 

Working together they equip indigenous church leaders 

to be more effective, and in turn raise up and equip 

even more leaders for Christ. This united effort is 

much appreciated by hundreds of thousands of church 

leaders in Asia, Africa and Latin America whose ministries 

are often built on the foundation provided by 

World MAP supporters and teams. 

“It is our greatest privilege to do our part in fulfilling 

the Great Commission by serving our brothers 

and sisters around the world,” said Frank Parrish, 

director of World MAP, following one of the daily 

World MAP prayer meetings where staff members 



Director Frank 

Parrish, right, 

leads 

staff in 

prayer 

African church 

leaders rely on The 

Shepherd’s Staff 

pray for church leaders, World MAP supporters and 

nations around the world. The church leaders in 

developing nations “are truly heroes of the faith,” 

added co-director Wendy Parrish. “We’re honored to 

assist them with equipping resources.” 

As we approach the holiday season, we would 

like to share with you some words of encouragement 

and thanks for those of you who fund ACTS 

Magazine and The Shepherd’s Staff. 

CHINA: Co-Working In God’s Kingdom 

While the world’s eyes were on Beijing and the 

Olympics this past summer, China has had the attention 

of World MAP supporters for nearly two decades. 

In conjunction with Revival Christian Ministries 

International, World MAP has provided 356,313 

Chinese copies of The Shepherd’s Staff to underground 

house church leaders, many of whom are persecuted 

for their Christian faith. 

Filipino cell leaders (left) and 

the Indian church leader above count on 

World MAP to provide training material 

U

he 

ff 


ur Work And Your Effort” 

By Gayla Dease, World MAP Publications Coordinator 

Used in remote 

villages! 

In places 

where identities 

must be hidden 

“World MAP has been a great blessing to our 

work in China and to the Chinese churches,” an 

RCMI spokeswoman recently said. “The Shepherd’s 

Staff has been a great tool book for all Chinese 

church leaders.” 

“This book,” she said, “is also considered as the 

other ‘must-have’ book – other than the Bible – to all 

Chinese house church leaders, and even now the 

Three-Self Government official church leaders find it 

useful, too. The Shepherd’s Staff has a lot of practical 

and useful teaching material, which helps Chinese 

church leaders understand more about God’s Word, 

thus helps a lot in shepherding their flocks.” 

The book is “a great blessing,” she explained, 

since “many church leaders do not have chances to 

receive systematic Bible training.” 

“We are very grateful for World MAP’s generosity,” 

she added, “and we look forward to more chances 

of co-working in God’s kingdom in the future.” 

Sig & Joy Feser 

oversee WMAP’s 

East African operations 

INDONESIA: Reaching The Remotest 

Meanwhile in Indonesia, where roughly 88 percent 

of the population is Muslim, Robert and Eliana 

Mambu have worked with World MAP since 1987 to 

print and distribute ACTS and The Shepherd’s Staff to 

a small but growing group of Christian leaders. 

“Publishing ACTS Magazine has been a great blessing 

to many pastors in Indonesia,” said Robert, who was 

happy to share this recent unedited testimony from 

long-time ACTS reader Pastor Y. Halim from North 

Sulawesi: 

“I really thank the Lord because until now ACTS 

is still visiting me in Tagulandang, a small and desolated 

village in North Sulawesi. Through this magazine 

I receive many lessons, my faith is strengthened, 

especially when I face the work of darkness such as 

witchcraft and black magic. There was ever happened 

an epidemic disease in my village; in four or five days 

the patient died. My children were often attacked, but 

Robert & Eliana Mambu, 

managers of Indonesian office 

Vander Santos, right, 

shown with his family, 

manages ATOS 



In Pakistan (above) Alex Sarfraz hands out an Urdu 

Shepherd’s Staff during a conference in Lahore. Below, the 

Emmanuel Press staff in South Africa reviews ACTS 

mail. 

praise the Lord for ACTS; when I practiced the lessons 

I received, ‘How to Face and Overcome the Power of 

Darkness’, God’s power really worked and my children 

were healed! 

“Once one of my children was almost paralyzed; it 

happened many times; we were confused; however 

when my wife and I practiced the lessons from ACTS: 

to praise and worship God, to drive out the devils, suddenly 

a black creature run away and until now the sickness 

is gone. Praise the Lord! 

“Just recently we also faced a problem that tested 

our faith. We thank the Lord for ACTS. At that time we 

had no money anymore; and we practiced the lessons 

of faith, and God really poured His blessings. Thank 

you for your prayers and ministry to us.” 

Testimonies such as this, said Eliana, encourage 

them and assure them that their work for the Lord “is 

never in vain”. 

“We cannot visit every pastor individually because 

of distance and time, but through ACTS magazines we 

can reach distant and remote places and be a blessing to 

them,” Robert added. 

BRAZIL: “What All Of Them Say” To You 

Vander Santos, who oversees the production and 

distribution of ATOS, the Portuguese edition of ACTS, 

said, “For me, [it] is a great pleasure to participate in 

this ministry, because I know that many leaders here in 

Brazil have been receiving spiritual food of quality. 

I receive a lot of letters of leaders of churches, cells, 

biblical schools, distant and poor communities, leaders 


in prisons and more,” he added. “All of them affirm 

that World MAP material is a true seminar for them, 

that the material has been vastly enriching their ministry, 

and they can offer much more with the knowledge 

that they have been acquiring with the material of 

ACTS and The Shepherd’s Staff. ‘Praise the Lord for 

your work and your effort’ is what all of them say.” 

PAKISTAN: Tower Of Light 

World MAP’s Pakistani office manager Alex 

Sarfraz recently shared this message of appreciation 

from church leader Younas Zia: “God bless you with 

spiritual blessings abundantly. Praise God for every 

thing which we receive in the name of Jesus Christ. 

Except Gospel, ACTS is the magazine which opens the 

eyes spiritually of mankind. I have been benefited by it 

greatly. Your organization has really a wonderful purpose 

to publishing it in Pakistan. It is like a tower of 

light for church leaders specially. It has changed my 

life as I have learned many things by reading it.” (Read 

more from Brother Alex on page 12.) 

SOUTH AFRICA: Vibrant Partnership 

Emmanuel Press – in White River, South Africa – 

has partnered with World MAP for more than 30 years, 

once as a major printing and distribution point but over 

the past decade primarily as “a depot” that receives 

World MAP mail from African Acts Magazine and 

Shepherd’s Staff readers who cannot afford a postage 

stamp to mail a letter to the World MAP headquarters 

in Burbank, California. 

“These requests are often accompanied by testimonies 

of great blessing received through the World 

MAP publications,” said Margaret Hooker, who pointed 

out that church leaders who write to World MAP’s 

South Africa address get an added benefit: “We here at 

Emmanuel Press, on our part, make contact with all 

those who have sent in ACTS and Shepherd’s Staff 

requests, by sending them a small set of Gospel tracts, 

which often then leads to them becoming tract distributors 

and/or people who do our free Bible 

Correspondence course.” 

EAST AFRICA: Quality Ventures 

Elim missionaries Sig and Joy Feser, serving on the 

African continent for many years, provide World 

MAP’s vital link to East African nations. Sig also provided 

the topical concordance material included in The 

Shepherd’s Staff. 

Joy recalls: “We started with World MAP in 1989 

when Marvin Fast [the late president of World MAP 

Canada] picked up on the one sentence Sig wrote about 

the Topical Concordance he intended to write. That 

became part of The Shepherd’s Staff and paved the way 

for the Swahili translation of The Shepherd’s Staff and 

ACTS Magazine. According to Operation World, 

Christianity has grown from 33% to 54% during the 

time we have been distributing books and magazines to 

church leaders.... They send us wonderful testimonies 

of church growth, and of changed lives due to the 

teachings. What a privilege to be part of this wonder-


Maria Franz, shown above left with husband Roy, has worked 

on the Spanish ACTS nearly 25 years. At right, a couple 

enjoy HECHOS, largely the result of Maria’s labor. Below 

left, Edith Maglipon in WMAP’s Manila office coordinates 

shipment of Shepherd’s Staff books to leaders such as the 

Filipino pastor (below, right) who received his copy during a 

conference hosted by missionary Paul Adams. 

fully effective gift to the church in Africa and the 

world!” 

The Fesers’ own ministry has also grown and 

expanded. “For many years Pamoja Ministries has partnered 

with World MAP to bring quality materials to 

tens of thousands of church leaders in East and Central 

Africa,” said Sig. 

“Recently the door has opened for us to connect to 

many other African countries and we anticipate that 

many tens of thousands more leaders will be asking for 

The Shepherd’s Staff and ACTS Magazine in English, 

Swahili, French and Portuguese,” Sig added. 

Swahili leaders 

receive copies of The 

Shepherd’s Staff 

in Tanzania 

SPANISH Proofreader: 

“Blessed Every Time I Work” 

Maria Franz also enjoys a long-running relationship 

with World MAP, having worked with World MAP 

for 24 years, first as “office help” in 1983, then later – 

after she and her husband started a family – working 

from home as the proofreader of HECHOS (Spanish 

ACTS). “At first it was difficult to do, for the material 

was so good,” she recently recalled. “I just wanted to 

read and study, but what I really had to do was proofread!” 

For years she also translated letters from 

Spanish-speaking church leaders. “The reading of the 

letters was encouraging. It allowed me to hear firsthand 

what God was doing through HECHOS all over 

the world. I loved that God let me be a small part of 

their lives. I continue to be blessed every time I sit to 

work with a manuscript, knowing that from my home I 

can be a part of God’s plan all over the world.” 

Maria and Roy (also a former World MAP staff member) 

are serving as associate pastors at New Life 

Community Church in Pomona, California. 

PHILIPPINES: 

“You Are A Blessing To All Filipinos” 

Edith Maglipon in World MAP’s Manila, 

Philippines office has similar feelings of gratitude, and 

feels “really blessed” each time a Filipino church 

leader acknowledges receipt of The Shepherd’s Staff, 

which Edith has personally mailed or delivered to thousands 

of church leaders since 2000. “We often get comments 

like this: ‘The book which you have sent to me 

is really of great help. I can now teach with confidence 

about the Word of God.’” 

“May the good Lord continue to bless us,” Edith 

recently said. “I know in our own little way, we have 

helped those people who are in need of the Word of 

God. I thank God because I find my work so interesting 

and at least I was able to do work that glorifies God. 

Let us pray together for the continued success of World 

MAP and the very precious Shepherd’s Staff books and 

Acts magazines, which I consider the service and ministry 

of World MAP to humanity. 

“I applaud our dear boss, Mr. Frank Parrish, for his 

undying love to promulgate the Word of God to all people 

of all races.” 

“May the people continue to give their donations to 

World MAP so that the Shepherd’s Staff book and Acts 

magazines will reach the ends of the earth,” said Edith, 

who recently shared this collection of appreciative 

comments from Filipino readers: 

• It’s a great tool for my ministry. God Bless. 

• The book is very inspiring. It changes lives. God 

bless. 

• The book is of good quality materials. Glory to 

God. 

• The book is very integrative. It contains everything 

in one. 

• The book is full of wisdom. Thanks from the people 

of the Philippines. 

• The book is a great blessing to us. May we also 

request for ACTS magazines. 

• The book is great. May the Lord continue to bless 

World MAP. 

• May the Lord continue to bless World MAP. 

You’re really a blessing to all Filipinos. 



India staff members process applications and letters from around the world - and fill Shepherd’s Staff book orders 

• The book is well developed and catered for all. 

Thank you and God bless. 

• We find the book very useful. Can we ask for a 

dozen for our other church workers? 

While the book has already been published in 17 

languages, Edith said the church leaders in the 

Philippines are praying for one more edition: “We’re 

looking forward to having the Shepherd’s Staff books 

in Tagalog [Philippine-language] version because this 

is the dominant request of our leaders, pastors, missionaries 

and men of God here in the Philippines,” 

Edith said, noting these additional reader comments: 

• “The book is of great help to enhance my learning 

about the Word of God. Can we request also 

books in Tagalog version?” 

• “How we wish and pray that you have available 

Tagalog version. The book is really good if it will be 

translated in Tagalog. Thank you and more power to 

you.” 

INDIA: New Heights 

The Shepherd’s Staff books for China – and other 

parts of the developing world – are printed in India, 

where World MAP partners with India Bible 

Literature to produce and distribute not just the 

books, but also many editions of ACTS Magazine, 

including French, Spanish and Swahili as well as 

English and seven Indian dialects. Because of low 

printing and postage costs, and economical wages for 

efficient Christian workers in India, World MAP is 

able to stretch its resources to reach a larger number 

of church leaders. 

IBL was founded in the mid-1950s by Dr. 

William Scott and his wife, the late Dr. Joyce M. 

Scott; their vision and burden was to place a portion 

of Scripture in every home in India – a country with 

1.1 billion population. Their own innovative programs, 

reaching 20 million people on an annual basis, 

target the needs of India in such a way as to bring 

about a long-term impact. In a relationship with 

World MAP that has grown steadily since 1980 and 

now includes annual seminars as well as publishing 

ventures, IBL reaches beyond the borders of India; it 

now impacts the world. “It is always a joy and privilege 

to partner with the wonderful people at World 

MAP,” said IBL Executive Director E. Velayutham. 

“We pray and hope that it would grow to new heights 

in the days to come.” 


Indian pastors agree, as evidenced by these recent 

letters: 

Pastor N. Samuel, of Khammam, Andhra Pradesh 

State, South India writes: “The Shepherd’s Staff is 

wonderful and very much helpful in my ministry. 

Each and every article is inspiring, motivating, 

encouraging and edifying and it lifts me up to be 

strong in the Lord”. 

Elder L. O. Panwok from West Bengal says: “The 

Shepherd’s Staff is a treasure of rich subjects and 

more and more as I study, I feel inadequate and [it] 

makes me humble. It has been a great help to my 

spiritual life and ministry”. 

Pastor S. F. Thanga of Mizoram notes: “I 

continually use The Shepherd’s Staff in the Crusades 

– very helpful to prepare messages”. 

Pastor M. Ninghor from Manipur shares: 

“The ACTS Magazine helps me a lot in teaching as 

well as in spiritual life. It is also very easy to 

understand and the topics are valuable in our daily 

lives and profitable in giving the sermon during 

church service”. 

Rev. Prabal J. G. Minz of Ranchi, in Jharkhand 

State, says: “I am associated with the ACTS 

Magazine and World MAP since 1980, which has edified 

my spiritual growth and enlarged my biblical 

knowledge to a great extent. These in turn have 

helped me to serve my congregations more effectively 

for His Great Glory. I thank you whole-heartedly 

and pray that God bless the ACTS Magazine through 

the coming years”. 

Editor’s Note: With your ongoing prayers 

and financial support, World MAP will continue to 

provide ACTS and The Shepherd’s Staff in current 

language editions and possibly new ones, 

such as Tagalog and Arabic (a project that is 

underway). During the upcoming holiday season, 

please remember that your $5 gift will provide 

a subscription to ACTS or a copy of The 

Shepherd’s Staff to a church leader who will 

indeed “praise the Lord for your work and effort”. 

You may use the coupon on the back of this 

magazine to designate your support. God can 

work miracles through the ministries being built – 

and leaders strongly built up – by the God-glorifying 

equipping your partnership provides. 

WMAP


From the printing press in India... 

In partnership with World MAP supporters and Pastor 

John Morrow of Living Word Christian Ministries, Intl., more 

than 25,000 copies of El Cayado del Pastor (the Spanish edition 

of The Shepherd’s Staff) have been placed into the hands 

of Latin American church leaders. This fall, 10,000 leaders in 

Honduras and Guatemala were the most recent leaders to 

receive the book because of this valued partnership. 

To church leaders in Latin America 

To date, World MAP has given away 

870,317 copies of The Shepherd’s Staff to 

readers in 140 developing nations! 

COLOR LEGEND 

The Shepherd’s Staff Distribution 

293,627 

ENGLISH 

356,313 

CHINESE 

English 

Spanish 

Swahili 

Russian 

Tamil 

Malayalam 

Bengali 

Oriya 

Portuguese 

French 

Urdu 

Chinese 

Telugu 

Hindi 

Marathi 

Indonesian 

Chinese 356,313 

English Int’l 222,903 

Spanish 56,872 

English Philippines 40,225 

Swahili 33,912 

English India 30,499 

Portuguese 24,692 

French 22,057 

Telugu 16,898 

Russian 16,057 

Urdu 8,987 

Tamil 8,929 

Malayalam 8,670 

Hindi 8,537 

Indonesian 7,500 

Oriya 3,067 

Bengali 2,475 

Marathi 1,724 



THE GALILEE ZONE 

ACTS Hopeful Maps Out Vibrant Ministry Landscape 

by Keith G. Balser 

“I am a church worker in Asia, Africa or Latin 

America and I preach or teach from the Bible to 20 or 

more persons at least once a week” is a key qualification 

on the ACTS Magazine/Shepherd’s Staff application 

form. A church leader in Tanzania captured the 

spirit of that requirement in especially eloquent form 

when he wrote us this letter of request: 

“Praise the Lord!! It’s my hope 

that everything is going on well at 

World MAP. Pass my sincere greetings 

to all. May God bless you all in 

serving our Lord Jesus Christ. 

“Recently I came across your 

ACTS publication (Swahili version). 

After carefully reading that publication, 

I was delighted and came to a 

conclusion to be one of your recipients. 

By reading your lessons in 

ACTS, I’m sure my knowledge of the 

Word will be enhanced so as to lead 

me to live a victorious Christian life. 

Also to share with others the knowledge 

of the Word, thereby serving 

our Lord Jesus Christ. 

“My relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is as 

follows: I’m a born-again Christian. I’m a member of 

a Bible church in Arusha town. In serving our Lord 

Jesus Christ, churchwise Arusha town is divided into 

five zones. Each zone is led by a zonal leader who 

works under the church senior pastor. A zone comprises 

a minimum of three sections headed by section 

leaders. A section is made up of at least two 

home churches headed by home church leaders. 

“I’m one of the zonal leaders. My zone goes by 

the name, Galilee Zone. As a zonal leader, my duties 

in serving our Lord Jesus Christ are as follows: 

• to make sure those under my leadership live 

in harmony as Christians; 

• to help each other at times of trouble and to 

rejoice together at times of joy; 


• to make sure everyone strides forward in 

faith, to strengthen the lukewarm and to make a 

follow-up of backsliders and put them back on 

course; 

• to make sure everyone is engaged in winning 

souls for Jesus Christ; 

• to make sure each home 

church conducts weekly prayers 

(held on Thursdays) and home 

church gatherings (held on 

Saturdays); 

• any other duty which may 

arise in serving our Lord Jesus 

Christ. 

“Besides being a zonal leader, 

I’m a section and a home church 

leader too. At present my zone 

comprises three sections and six 

home churches. They average 30 

members. Our goal by God’s 

grace is to double in the near 

future. 

“At the central church every 

Tuesday, classes are conducted 

for the newly born again. I do teach one of the 

classes and I really enjoy it. 

“Due to these facts, I feel I qualify to be one of 

your recipients of your ACTS publication. It is my 

hope I’ll be considered.” 

And it is our joy and privilege to add him to our 

ACTS Magazine mailing list, and to send him a free 

copy of The Shepherd’s Staff, World MAP’s “Bible 

School in a Book”. 

What an honor to partner in the Gospel with faithful 

and diligent saints such as this brother. We thank 

God that we are able to assist him in his very fruitful 

ministry efforts. 

And we’re thankful for your help in making this 

possible! 

WMAP


The Evangelist And Evangelism – 

Taking The Gospel Into All The World! 

By Julie A. Young 

Edited for ACTS by Frank and Wendy Parrish 

Part Eight-A 

How God Prepares an Evangelist 

Editor’s Note: As the evangelist seeks to be used by God to make the Body of 

Christ grow, it is important that he not neglect his own growth. This section offers 

detailed guidelines for prayerful self-examination, with the goal of seeing the fruit of 

the Spirit manifest in and through the evangelist’s personal and ministerial life. 

God Desires Full Devotion 

When Jesus Christ became 

the Lord of your life, He became 

Lord of everything. Your plans, 

your talents and skills, your 

thoughts, your feelings, your 

family, your body, your life – all 

these now belong to Jesus Christ, 

not to you. If you have not given 

Him everything, from your heart, to 

do with as He wills, then do this 

today. Tell this to the 

Lord in prayer. 

Then every day, 

pray to be searched by 

the Holy Spirit, who 

brings conviction. Let 

Him show you the things 

that you need to freshly 

surrender to God. Confess 

and repent when you recognize 

sin or failure, selfishness or fleshly desires. 

Disciplining your flesh will make you a much 

stronger disciple of Christ. The Bible says to “humble 

yourselves under the mighty hand of God…” 

(1 Pet 5:6). 

Following is a list to help you examine your 

life. This is not about rules or outward conformity. 

This is a way to honestly evaluate your life and 

ministry, from the heart. These questions are 

meant to help you grow in your personal life and 

become a better tool in God’s hands. Be honest 

with yourself; and above all, be honest with God. 

We cannot fool God. He knows what is in our 

heart, and He sees everything about our lives. It is 

always best to approach God humbly, asking for 

His help and grace so that we can grow into 

stronger and more faithful servants of His. 

If some of these things are not yet true of 

you, but you want them to be, ask the 

Lord to help you. 

Then make time to actually do them! 

It has been said that we make time for 

what is truly important. If these things are 

important to you, you must begin to make 

time for them. 

An Evangelist’s Growth List 

• Do I spend regular time in prayer 

and Bible study each day? 

• Do I take time to listen to 

God, to wait for Him to speak 

and reveal His thoughts and 

plans to me? 

• Do I ask the Holy Spirit to 

search my life? Do I confess my 

sins regularly? 

• Do I study the Bible and plan carefully any 

preaching work I am to do? 

• Am I trying to improve myself in speech, 

appearance, knowledge of the Bible and my 

skills? 

• When I go to preach, do I have other believers 

with me? 

• Have I asked God to attend the ministry He 

has given me with His anointing and power? 

• Am I filled with the power of the Holy Spirit 

according to Acts 2? 

• Do I have people who will pray every day for 

my ministry and for me, especially when I go to 

preach or share the Gospel with others? 

Continued on page 14 



"World MAP Has 

Trained You Very Well" 

World MAP’s Pakistan publications manager 

Alexander Sarfraz has grown and benefited 

from the 13 years of service he has given to 

World MAP. A former employee of an engineering 

firm, Brother Sarfraz chose to devote more of his life 

to ministry work after serving as a translator on the 

Urdu version of The Shepherd’s Staff. “I completed it 

in three years,” he says of the translation project. “I 

think it was God’s plan and way to bring us into fulltime 

ministry.” 

Today he coordinates the printing and mailing of 

the Urdu Shepherd’s Staff, as well as the translation, 

printing and mailing of the Urdu edition of ACTS 

Magazine. 

“The ministry has also blessed me and my family 

a lot,” he says. “I have become a full-time Gospel 

preacher. Different churches and para-churches invite 

me to deliver sermons, as a seminar speaker, and as a 

chief guest in their programmes.” 

He recalls with fondness one seminar in the 

northern part of Pakistan where he was one of two 

speakers addressing a group of 50 participants. His 

topic was “God’s Plan of Salvation”. Sarfraz turned to 

ACTS and The Shepherd’s Staff to prepare his material, 

and was pleased when one participant later told 

him, “World MAP has trained you very well.” 

Sarfraz listens to God’s voice when making 

ministry decisions. Twice he was offered jobs in 

churches; but he refused them, he explains, “because 

I don’t have calling of pastor.” 

Because World MAP is an interdenominational 

They Learn By Lantern... Overjoyed To Have The Shepherd’s Staff 

One pastor in Ghana says he has a vision similar to that of World MAP. 

“It was my vision to set up a Bible school program which could support young missionaries in their desire 

to share God’s Word over the world,” Rev. Kwame Darkwa recently 

wrote. Step by step, he said, the Lord led him. Today he is training 24 

students for the mission field – and the number is set to grow. Today, 

his Bible Institute continues to make progress both in Israel and Ghana! 

Recently, three of his African students received The Shepherd’s 

Staff and “they were overjoyed!” said Darkwa. “Many thanks for your 

love, prayers and support. These young ministers are sharing wonderful 

testimonies of what God is doing in their lives.” 

Medie, a town in southern Ghana, is home to the Sar Shalom 

Congregation, where the pastor oversees a congregation of 70 people. 

Although his new auditorium is still being built, he said “the 

Shepherd’s Staff is helping bring LIGHT into the places of darkness.” 

Local medical school students have also been training for missions as well as medicine, and Brother 

Kwame worked with World MAP to see that they also received a copy of the Shepherd’s Staff. “These young 

people have a heart for missions both in Ghana and the world,” he said. “They have applied themselves to 

months of hard study. The Shepherd’s Staff ministerial manual will be a key tool in their desire to spread the 

Gospel of God’s forgiveness and righteousness by faith in Yeshua the Messiah.” 

“They learn by lantern but are overjoyed to have at their disposal The Shepherd’s Staff,” he wrote. “Thank 

you so much for these precious items. Please keep them coming. Your love and support is expanding the 

Kingdom and is very much needed! Blessings to you!” 

WMAP 


Brother Sarfraz presents 

The Shepherd’s Staff to Pastor 

Albert in Karachi, as Bishop 

Bashir Mall looks on. At right, 

Alex and Amina Sarfraz. 

organization, Sarfraz says 

God is providing him with 

“many opportunities to 

witness among Muslims, Hindus and national 

Christians.” 

“If I had been a worker or pastor of any denomination, 

churches and other communities would have 

not invited me to speak in their gatherings,” he points 

out. 

“I want to follow Jesus daily so that I become like 

Him and serve Him with the humble spirit of a child 

till death. May God use me to expand His Kingdom 

in Pakistan to bringing many people far and near to 

Him.” 

In addition to other challenges, economic problems 

are pervasive in his country, and Sarfraz asks 

that World MAP supporters join him and his wife, 

Amina, in praying for the economic condition of 

Pakistan and its people. 

WMAP


Praying for the World 

Join the World MAP Prayer 

Corps as we circle the globe 

with intercession for 

the advance 

of God’s 

Kingdom. 

ZIMBABWE: 

WASHING AWAY 

THE CHAFF 

Population: 12,382,920 

50% professing Christianity while holding to native superstition 

25% Christian 

24% spiritist, ancestor-worshipping 

1% Muslim, Hindu, other 

Chief of State of the Republic of Zimbabwe: Executive President 

Zimbabwe 

Robert Gabriel Mugabe (since 1987; Prime Minister 1980-1987) 

Vice President: Joseph Msika 

Vice President: Joyce Mujuru 

Commissioner General of the Zimbabwe Republic Police: Augustine Chihuri 

Life expectancy: 40 years 

Zimbabwean dollar inflation rate: estimated 4,000,000% 

The wrong lesson: Robert Mugabe, who has dominated his landlocked country since its violent transformation in 1979 from 

Rhodesia, a British colony, into Zimbabwe (meaning “houses of stone”), spent 10 years as a political prisoner under British 

rule. While incarcerated, he earned degrees in law and administration via correspondence courses from universities in London 

and South Africa. He also learned to despise white European colonialism – with, many believe, a bitterly racist intensity. Yet his 

hatred is not limited to color-prejudice. While quelling a 1980 uprising, his North Korean-trained 5th Brigade – an elite unit under 

his direct command, independent of the normal Zimbabwean Army hierarchy – massacred 20,000 civilians of the minority Ndebele 

tribe (Mugabe being of the majority Shona). Mugabe termed his campaign to quell the uprising gukurahundi – Shona for “the early 

rain which washes away the chaff before the spring rains”. Chaff is indeed how Mugabe seems to view any opposition or dissent, 

and his national police are infamous for their cold brutality. 

PRAY FOR: 

• Economic relief for the suffering people of Zimbabwe. 

• A reformed government that tolerates dissent and encourages free political debate. 

• True regeneration among Zimbabweans professing Christianity, with the chaff of religious syncretism peacefully washed away. 

UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUP 

The SILVER 

PALAUNG of 

MYANMAR 

Home: Rugged, well-watered Shan State in eastern Myanmar (Burma). 

Population: 20,000 

Religion: Buddhism, with a strong undercurrent of spiritism. 

Dark tyranny: The Palaung have five traditional enemies: fire, 

famine, flood, pestilence… and government. War, civil strife, 

strong-arm rulership and dark political intrigue have plagued Burma 

for centuries. The Palaung traditionally look to a far darker 

governance: nats, malevolent spirits they believe inhabit rocks, 

mountains, rivers, other natural objects and dead ancestors – spirits 

that must be repeatedly appeased to hold back the floodgates of 

calamity. The “silver” in “Silver Palaung” refers to heavy silver hoops 

Palaung women wear around the waist, supposedly for spiritual 

protection. 

PRAY FOR: 

• A joyful Gospel witness in this fear-infested spiritual landscape. 

• The Myanmar government to become a shining outpost of 

benevolence. 

• Wide dissemination of Scripture, the pure silver found only in the 

Word of God (Ps 12:6). 



ACTS excerpt, continued from page 11 

• Do I pray for more boldness, in order to best 

preach Christ? 

• Have I fasted and prayed this month? 

• Do I know what the Bible says about praying 

and trusting God for finances, so that the 

provision will be there to provide for my family 

AND my ministry? 

• Do I have a mentor to help me? Have I asked 

God for someone to train me? 

• Is there a man or woman I should ask to invest 

time and work into my life and ministry? 

• Have I prayed and asked God to show me 

other men or women I must train and help in 

evangelism? If so, what am I doing about it? 

• Am I disciplined in my walk with God or am I 

lazy? 

• Do I spend good, nurturing time with my 

spouse and children? 

• Do I put things off or do I work hard, keep my 

commitments and honor my word? 

• Is my thought life pure? Does my thought life 

belong totally to God? 

• Do I read the Bible and other Christian books 

to help me grow? 

• Do I work with pastors to help fill their churches 

or plant new ones? 

• Have I read and studied – and do I follow – the 

qualifications in Scripture for those who are 

called to leadership in Christ’s Church? 

(1Tim 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9) 

Use this list to give yourself – and fellow evangelists 

– reminders and encouragement. 

A Cost To Be An Effective Evangelist 

It is not easy to be in ministry, but the rewards 

of obedience to Christ’s call far outweigh the hardships. 

Seeing people come to Christ is one of the 

greatest rewards we can have 


on earth. The Bible teaches that he who wins 

[brings] souls is wise (Prov 11:30). 

There are eternal rewards awaiting all who are 

obedient and faithful to Christ. For those who influence 

others for righteousness, Daniel 12:3 states: 

“Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness 

of the firmament, and those who turn many 

to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.” 

The fruit of the Gospel and telling others about 

Christ is eternal fruit that will remain! God will both 

comfort and reward those who serve Him with faith 

and devotion. 

Jesus understands better than any other the 

trials and opposition that we face in this life as His 

disciples. But we have His great example and can 

endure, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher 

of our faith, who for the joy that was set before 

Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and 

has sat down at the right hand of the throne of 

God” (Heb 12:2). 

Christ’s joy included knowing that His death 

would bring us back into relationship with God, His 

Father – our heavenly Father! We believers are 

also Christ’s joy, His beloved Bride for whom He 

anxiously waits (Eph 5:25-27; Rev 19:7-9). 

Bringing other people to salvation through Jesus 

should be our joy, also. 

Fulfilling God’s call upon your life may cost you 

a great deal. There is a cost to every believer to 

give up riches, selfishness and fleshly desire and 

become like Jesus. 

As you give up your life to live Christ’s life of 

sacrifice, you will do more of what Your Father is 

doing. You will see more of God’s power and 

presence with you. As you remain disciplined and 

faithful, you will become more skilled at winning 

souls, and in becoming a “fisher of men” 

(Matt 4:19). You will grow in wisdom, and be rich in 

the things of God. Serving God with our lives is 

well worth any cost to us! (1Cor 9:19-22) 

Personal Life Of The Evangelist 

An evangelist – like all believers – must 

strive to live pure and upright before God. 

He or she must have right relationships 

with their family and community. 

Fruits of the flesh, such as wrath or 

being judgmental, will reflect badly 

in your preaching. Treating your 

wife or children poorly displeases 

God, and affects the reliability of 

your witness to others. Cheating 

someone gives Christ, whom you 

represent, a bad name. Saying you 

will do a thing and then not doing it 

is dishonest and ungodly. Your sinful 

behavior must be dealt with in 

order that you represent Christ for


Every relationship of business, family, church or friendship must be above 

reproach so that the work of Jesus is not compromised or spoken of in a bad 

way. Many of us have heard of someone resisting Christ’s salvation because a 

believer they knew was unkind, untruthful or unfaithful. They have “stumbled” 

because of the believer’s sinful actions (1Cor 10:32,33). 

who He is and for what His redeeming power can 

do! 

An evangelist loves the Bible and reads it and 

studies it. He looks for opportunities to share the 

truth of the Lord, but he does not neglect his other 

responsibilities such as his family or work. An 

evangelist prays much – on the train, walking, in 

the company of others or alone, always praying 

and listening to God. 

The heart of the evangelist must be soft and 

teachable. As you wait upon God, He will help you 

know Him better. As you grow to know Him more, 

you will be a better evangelist because you understand 

your Father. Jesus did only what the Father 

did, said only what the Father said (John 5:19; 

8:26). Our goal as ministers is to know God so intimately 

that we are led by His voice and know His 

will. 

If you are married you must treat your spouse 

the way Jesus would treat them, and love them as 

He loves His Church (Eph 5:25). Treat your wife 

with gentleness and understanding (1 Pet 3:7). 

Treat your husband with honor and respect 

(Eph 5:33). 

If you are not married, you 

must keep pure in mind and in 

body (1Thess 4:3-5). The 

Lord knows what you do in 

private beyond the eyes and 

ears of others. The single 

minister must strive for purity 

in both thoughts and actions. 

They must quickly confess any 

failure and keep themselves 

from bondage to sinful behavior. 

Every relationship of business, 

family, church or friendship must be 

above reproach so that the work of Jesus is 

not compromised or spoken of in a bad way. Many 

of us have heard of someone resisting Christ’s salvation 

because a believer they knew was unkind, 

untruthful or unfaithful. They have “stumbled” 

because of the believer’s sinful actions 

(1Cor 10:32,33). 

As a minister, you represent the King of kings. 

Your words must be true; you must do what you 

have promised. If you do not live up to your words 

but instead make excuses, it may be a point of 

stumbling for another, causing them to resist 

Christ. You represent Jesus every minute of the 

day, not only when you preach, but through every 

action. Let your speech be encouraging, not foul 

or full of criticism (Eph 4:15,29; Col 4:6). 

God desires us to be useful vessels of honor 

(2Tim 2:21). You would not serve your guests with 

dirty dishes. You would want to offer them food on 

clean vessels. God receives honor when you are 

clean and made ready as His vessel. If sin, evil 

speaking or bad habits dirty your life, you will not 

be as effective for God. 

Take time now to 

ask the Holy Spirit 

to search your 

heart. When He 

speaks to you, 

confess, repent 

in prayer and 

allow Jesus to 

remove the dirty 

things. 

You will be free and much more useful to the 

Master. Repent before God often. Take the low 

place so that God may lift you into His higher purposes. 

Make repentance and confession part of 

your daily prayer: Ask God to search you; ask for 

His forgiveness; ask God to make you whole. 

Next issue: Strategy and vision. 

WMAP 



THE 

WORD 

DELIVERED 

“I am much grateful for ACTS Magazine, which has put me deeper in searching, 

holding and delivering the Word of God to the children of God,” a Kenyan pastor writes. 

Delivering the Word is their calling; delivering the equipping for that is ours. $5 delivers 

one free ACTS subscription to a church leader. $10 supplies that and a free Shepherd’s Staff. 

$25 does both plus funding a week at a World MAP Spiritual Renewal Seminar. Please 

help us equip them to “Preach the Word!” and keep them fully equipped “in season and out of 

season” (2Tim 4:2). 

In Canada, send contributions 

and correspondence to: 


P.O. Box 75420 

White Rock, B.C. / V4B 5L5 

All others write to: 


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Burbank CA 91504 

USA 

Dear Frank and Wendy: 

Yes! I want to help pastors as they 

shepherd and equip believers to 

bring in the Harvest! CB4 

Thank you. We are grateful for your donation to WMAP! 

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