American Missionary Fellowship

As a teen, Jeff went on a short-term mission trip with AMF missionaries Bob and Sharon Mathieu. His youth group helped the Mathieus paint an abandoned cellar to be used as a meeting place for ministry. Jeff got to know Bob on that trip and became a regular financial supporter of the Mathieus’ work.

When people think about missions, they often think about evangelism. But missions work is more than just telling people about Christ; it is also teaching them how to follow Him in their daily lives. COO Bryce Bartruff knows the importance of helping people apply biblical truths in practical ways. He brings his knowledge and experience in personal finance to churches across the country by leading Fiscal Fitness seminars.

As I look back on this summer of ministry, my mind is flooded with prayer requests. Please pray for the children who tonight are at risk. We have children in not-safe homes, places where they are not loved or taken care of, with nowhere else to go…

Recently an inmate wrote:

“I am 28 years old. Before I came to jail, I knew of God and that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, but I didn’t know Him, nor have faith in Him like I do today. I lived by and did what I wanted to do. I did not care what God wanted me to do or His wishes for my life.

“I got arrested in October for domestic violence. I realized that something in my life had to change. I saw the chaplain come. He had the only message I needed to hear, one from God. I began to see God’s love coming into my life. It cleansed my soul to be exposed to God’s love. It reached all parts of my life even the deepest, darkest holes that only I knew about in my life.

“I have put all my faith in the Lord. I no longer worry about my future or what will happen to me. Jesus’ love for us knows no bounds. The least I can offer is myself, a living sacrifice. When you think about it, you aren’t giving up anything of value – unless you want worry, sin, guilt, depression and shame in your life. Grace brought me to jail to be free of the self-imposed jail I had myself locked away in all those years.”

By AMF missionary Roger Gerber, director of Ministry of New Life Foundations

The Ethnic Workers’ Summit this year was one of the best I have attended. Three of the plenary speakers were excellent and really connected with people. Their messages were challenging and informative.

The worship times in the evening were phenomenal, having a worship team made up of groups from churches with at least seven different cultures and ethnicities represented. They were led by a very talented man of God. One of the interesting things was that he was always on the sidelines and never in the spotlight. Each song (or medley of songs) was led by someone different in the group. All this helped the worship to be Christ-centered and not people-oriented. One evening we were all led in singing a praise chorus in at least seven different languages, one after another.