World Christian Ministries: God's Special Agents

1. Why the fuss over indigenous missions?

According to Patrick Johnstone’s OperationWorld, there were 84.5 million evangelicals in the world in 1960. By 2000 their number had grown to 420 million, an increase from 2.8% to 6.9% of the world’s population. What accounted for this phenomenal growth?

2. The Reluctant Preacher

The story of Aley Gonzalez and Agape Evangelistic Mission in the Philippines

Aley didn't want to be a preacher like his dad. The family suffered because he was so poorly paid. After a secret career in boxing, he and his father finally agreed he could pursue Christian studies as a musician. But look what happened next.

3. Warrior for the Lord

The story of Luis Alberto Guerrero and the Lord's Vineyard in Colombia

Guerrero was rescued from a mental ward and formed a team of church-planting missionaries that works among drug lords, warring rebels, right-wing paramilitary patrols, and government military forces in Colombia.

4. Carving a Stone Mountain

The story of P.M. Thomas and the Himalaya Evangelical Mission

(formerly Kashmir Evangelical Fellowship)

Thomas seemingly carved churches out of a rock of resistance in Kashmir and other Himalaya mountain areas in North India and beyond that today are part of Himalaya Evangelical Mission.

5. The Galloping Horse of North India

The story of P.G. Vargis and the Indian Evangelical Team

P.G. Vargis came on the scene like a "Galloping Horse of North India." He and his Indian Evangelical Team have planted over 2,000 churches since 1971, and have a goal of planting 7,777 by 2010.

6. Vision for Mission

The story of William Johnson and the Pakistan Gospel Assemblies

God gave William Johnson a vision and a challenge to plant 5,000 churches in Muslim Pakistan. This story tells how God has led him toward the fulfillment of that vision.

7. Pentecost Revisited

The story of Silas Owiti and the Voice of Salvation and Healing Movement in East Africa

After a “Pentecost Revisited” experience, Silas Owiti started the Voice of Salvation and Healing during the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya and has since planted over 1000 churches in Kenya and neighboring states.

8. Outfoxing the Witch Doctors

The story of Cebien Alexis and the Army of Christ Church in Haiti

Cebien Alexis, evangelist extraordinaire and phytotherapy specialist, outfoxes the witch doctors as he leads an “Army of Christ” in Haiti with some 600 churches and thousands of school children.

9. The Goldfish and the Whale

The story of Dr. Paul Pang and Schools For Christ in Hong Kong

After study in America, Dr. Paul Pang returned to Hong Kong with his bride to begin a Christian High school. He eventually began three educational endeavors on hot spot. Contrary some, he actually looked forward to Hong Kong's reversion to Chinese control. Read why.

10. The Sadhu's Legacy

The story of Painummoottil John Thomas and Sharon Fellowship in India

Dedicated by Sadhu Sundar Singh as a child, Painummoottil John Thomas walked in Sadhu's legacy as he planted a hundred churches and operated two Bible schools (including the first ever for women in India) based on the Sermon on the Mount. Perhaps his most successful endeavor was his "chickens for children" project.

11. Church Planter Extradordinaire

The story of Rizzy Montes and Living Rock Ministries in the Philippines

Rizzy already had a successful ministry on Mindanao Island. Why should he go to Leyte? But God was calling and heeding God's call he planted an unprecedented number of churches there—despite a devastating illness. What happened after that is even more remarkable.

12. He Danced with Angels

The story of Subhang Sodemba and Himalaya Crusade in northern India

As teenager Subhang Sodemba experienced the wonders of the 1940s revival in Kalimpong as was transported through the air and danced with angels. Later in life began Himalaya Crusade that has 300 church planters working among the Himalaya Mountains of Nepal, Bhutan, North and Northeastern India.

13. Undoing Goliath

The story of Vasily Boyechko and the Good Samaritan Mission in Ukraine and former Soviet Union

Most Americans think Russia opened to the gospel when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990. Actually, the preaching of heroic native missionaries under the leadership of Vasily Boyechko in the 1980s helped trigger the end of communism. Read how gospel workers spied out the whole land and made pettion to Mikhail Gorbechev for religious freedom, and how they lived through the consequences.

Appendix: Letter to Gorbachev

God's Special Agents

gives the first published English translation of the letter the underground Pentecostal church leaders sent to Chairman Mikhail Gorbachev spelling out seven requested freedoms.

The book, God’s Special Agents, by John M. Lindner, is free, though contributions to defray the cost of publication and postage are appreciated. No single request will be refused as long as supplies last.