Tim Beavis: Coups, Capitals & Covid Evangelism

Coups, Capital's and Covid Evangelism

Even though we're still restricted from international travel at moment (keep reading to learn more about our plan to resume this soon), our team at Carey has been busily engaged in a number of exciting ministry projects in recent months.  We're continuing to conduct training for pastors in several regions via zoom, we're working on translation projects for several of our training resources, and we're approaching completion of another publication.  This month however, we want to give you a glimpse into one of the many challenges that we face as a ministry (and more importantly that believers in other regions of the world are face), and to share with you two exciting stories of how God is on the move even in the midst of this global pandemic.

Please a take 5 minutes to keep reading, because if you do, we promise that you'll be both encouraged and prompted to prayer.  Thanks for your continuing partnership in the work of the gospel as we train leaders for the global church!

Tim & Lisa Beavis

Military Coup in Myanmar
Carey has been working in Myanmar for the past few years (Tim had the privilege of launching our first training center there in 2018). Since then we have been excited to see the hunger for training and equipping in the church there. As the Lord has been allowing us to develop networks there we were preparing to launch 2 new additional training centers, one in Yangon and another in Kalay.
Like most of the rest of the world, the borders in Myanmar have been closed since the Spring of 2020. However, the government there had announced that as on February 1 they would begin permitting international travelers to return. As a result we were making plans to resume our training work there over the next few months. However, when the morning of February 1 arrived news began to emerge of a military coup. Despite a recent landslide election that made clear the people's resolve to be led by a democratic government, military leaders arrested the government officials and declared a state of emergency, taking complete power for themselves.
After weeks of mass protests and at times violent suppression of the crowds by the military junta there is still no clear indication of the path forward.
Myanmar only emerged from the suppressive rule of a military junta in 2010 and so many of its people are fearful of a return to this kind of leadership.
Please pray for the church in Myanmar and for our regional coordinators, David, Pau, John and Sorbon. Under the previous military rule persecution against Christians became widespread and many churches were burned down or closed. Ask the Lord to protect and sustain His people and to allow the door for the gospel to remain widely open. Pray also for our Carey team as we evaluate how we might be able to continue to encourage and equip leaders for the church in the days ahead.

A New Church & New Training Center in Cuba's Capital

Pastors and church leaders from all over Cuba have been traveling to our training center near the city of Holguin for the past 6 years and now in partnership with Carey, one of of key leaders there is preparing to plant a new church in the heart of Cuba's capital, Havana. Due to the generosity of some of Carey's donors we have been able to help them secure a building (no easy task in Havana) just a stones through from the major government centers and a leading university. This new facility will not only house the brand new church plant, but will also serve as a new training center location for Carey and a publishing and distribution center for biblical resources that will be made available to churches all throughout the country.
This location will allow us to serve and equip more pastors and church leaders and will provide greater accessibility both for Cuban Pastors and for our teaching team. Our prayer is that in conjunction with our existing center near Holguin we will be able to impact the church across the length and breadth of this island nation. Please pray for the Lord's provision of the remaining funds needed for this project and for the establishment of a strong and healthy church that reaches this nations key influencers with the truth of the gospel.

Evangelism in the midst of a Covid Lockdown

In recent months the country of Lebanon has faced what many consider to be the world's strictest Covid lockdown. Businesses have been closed and the entire population has been instructed to remain at home. Even grocery stores are closed, the only way to access basic supplies has been to order delivery from one of very small number of government authorized delivery services. Yet in the midst of this a group of pastors from our training center in Beirut have been putting their heads together and have received permission to take boxes of food and basic supplies to Syrian refugees and those left displaced by last summer's massive explosion. Through networking together, the pastors that we are training there in Lebanon have mobilized their churches to take not only food and supplies but also to share the gospel with over 1,000 families since the beginning of the year, most of which are from Islamic backgrounds.
Pray for the Lord's provision for His church in Lebanon, many of the believers themselves are facing desperate economic hardship, yet are giving out of their poverty to reach others. Pray also that through this work, the Lord will bring about a great harvest of souls.