south pacific
W inter 2011
NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD Check in on how our international Foursquare family is making an impact around the world.
East Africa (Beto Paz)
Thousands of people from Somalia, Kenya, and surrounding East African countries have been suffering due to the most severe drought and famine in decades. An estimated 11 million people have been affected. Foursquare Kenya, in partnership with Foursquare Relief and Compassion, is reaching out to the people in need with the love of Christ and resources such as food and water. In Somalia, where there currently is no Foursquare presence, Foursquare is working through partner organizations to assess needs and respond.
Japan (Renee Williams)
Nato-san, a 69-year-old Japanese woman from Hirosaki Zion Church in Hirosaki, Japan, is a modern-day example of the widow in the Bible who gave even when she didn’t have much. Nato-san is still paying off the debt her husband incurred before his death
from cancer 20 years ago. Yet, every week, she looks for something she can buy for people affected by the Tohoku disaster. Renee Williams, a Foursquare missionary associate who drives 10 hours round-trip to deliver food, clothing and other necessities to affected areas, says Nato-san is an example of how even small gifts make a big difference.
North America (Ted Vail) The Foursquare Church and FMI have commissioned Foursquare ministers Rod and Teresa Koop to their state of origin in a firstof-its-kind partnership as missionaries to the state of Alaska. The effort is focused on seeing existing leaders and works strengthened; reaching and discipling more people for Christ; raising new leaders; planting new churches; and seeing an expanded Alaskan movement. Currently, seven churches with a total of 360 attendees make up the Foursquare presence, but as many as 200 other people in and around Anchorage and on the Kenai Peninsula share a strong Foursquare background and have expressed a desire to help reach the state with the gospel. Anchorage and Fairbanks are among the highest per capita multi-ethnic cities in the U.S., and missionaries from other nations will be involved in helping reach these ethnic people groups, as well.
MORE ABOUT MISSIONS » Read more about what Foursquare is doing around the world. Visit 4sq.ca/missionsnews, or use your smart phone to scan the QR code (right).
Go to the web for more
FOURSQUARE MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL Stories and News From Around the World
FOCUS:
SOUTH PACIFIC
More than 21,000 Foursquare churches and meeting places are located in the South Pacific region, making it the largest Foursquare region in the world.
INTERNATIONAL FOCUS
MISSIONARY SPOTLIGHT
South Pacific
Jerry Stott, FMI’s area missionary to the South Pacific, says that Foursquare has grown dramatically in this region in the past eight years, going from three registered nations to 12. Jerry and his wife, Julie, reside in Jakarta, Indonesia. “These nations honor the elderly, their tribal leaders, and traditions within their cultures,” Jerry explains. “Our job is not to mix our culture with theirs or change their cultures, but to simply bring the love of Jesus.” The gospel is spreading through The Foursquare Church across the region, and rapidly. The most recent statistics document 21,059 churches and meeting places in the area— 18,980 in Indonesia alone. The Foursquare Church in Indonesia, in fact, plants around 600 churches each year.
The Hartels are FMI missionaries to Amsterdam, a beautiful city rich in the arts and diversity but very challenging spiritually. They’ve been there just over a year, and are starting to see some great things happen. By hosting special events and outreaches, including a “missional cafe,” they desire to add value to the community and share the love of Christ with their neighbors.
Jerry and Julie Stott In the past year, 762,935 people made first-time decisions to follow Christ—10,000 of those new converts in Papua New Guinea; 358,679 were baptized in water; and 415,097 were baptized with the Holy Spirit. Totaling Foursquare members and adherents in the region reveals an astounding number: 2.3 million.
Amsterdam is a stage-one city in Foursquare’s Four-Stage Development Model. The Netherlands overall is a stagefour nation. Statistics for 2010 record 43 Foursquare churches and meeting places in the Netherlands, and 4,357 members.
In addition to churches and meeting places, Jerry notes, are many other ministries, including orphanages, schools, colleges and medical centers. Foursquare members have dug water wells, built new church buildings and homes, and conducted food outreaches, AIDS awareness, children’s ministries, women’s ministries, youth evangelism and evangelistic crusades. Leadership training and church planting are also ongoing.
–bill shepson, contributing editor
Foursquare members and adherents churches and meeting places decisions for Christ water baptisms
sending a thoughtful gift, or simply a note of encouragement. Keep up with Adam and Sarah via their blog, www.hartel.com, or contact them at the following address: Adam and Sarah Hartel Latherusstraat 54 1032 EC Amsterdam, Netherlands
What would you like people in the U.S. to know about Amsterdam?
Visit 4sq.ca/southpacific to read more about how Foursquare is making an impact in the South Pacific.
2.3 million South 21,059 Pacific 762,935 At-a-Glance 358,679
You can make a difference by
ADAM Our desire is that the relationships formed here will become a bridge for connecting people to Christ and into fellowship with His family. We are interested in serving the community through acts of kindness and artistic expression. Because of the diversity that is created in the communities in Amsterdam, endless possibilities exist to connect with people and create new things!
“The harvest is truly ripe in the South Pacific,” Jerry affirms. “We are believing for every Pacific Island nation to open to the Foursquare Gospel in the next 10 years.”
BY THE NUMBERS
Bless the Hartels
Describe your passion for the people of Amsterdam.
* These numbers reflect data for 2010 and part of 2011
Foursquare’s South Pacific region is the largest of the denomination’s areas, both geographically and numerically. Stretching from Southeast Asia throughout the Pacific Ocean, the South Pacific region comprises scores of countries and islands. Nations included in the region are American Samoa, Australia, the Cook Islands, Easter Island, East Timor, Fiji, Indonesia, Kiribati, Micronesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tahiti (French Polynesia), Tonga, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna.
Adam and Sarah Hartel
HOW YOU CAN
ADAM Many people associate this city with legalized soft drugs and prostitution, but that is not the primary “face” of the city. The people of Amsterdam are courageous, determined and merciful. Some could interpret them as “liberal” or against the church, but we believe that their love for truth, beauty and kindness will draw them to know the love of God and be transformed by Him. Have any short-term missions teams come from the U.S.? ADAM Last year, we received two teams from Pasadena Foursquare Church (our sending church) in Pasadena, Calif., and one team from the Foursquare church in Kristiansand, Norway (which we helped to plant in 2002). To read the full interview online, visit 4sq.ca/hartels.
HOW TO PRAY
For the Hartels ¼¼ Pray
that believers will reach out into their communities.
¼¼ Pray
for the ministry/ missional events being planned this year.
¼¼ Pray
that the Hartels will continue to learn Dutch at a fast pace.
¼¼ Pray
for increased financial support.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD Check in on how our international Foursquare family is making an impact around the world.
East Africa (Beto Paz)
Thousands of people from Somalia, Kenya, and surrounding East African countries have been suffering due to the most severe drought and famine in decades. An estimated 11 million people have been affected. Foursquare Kenya, in partnership with Foursquare Relief and Compassion, is reaching out to the people in need with the love of Christ and resources such as food and water. In Somalia, where there currently is no Foursquare presence, Foursquare is working through partner organizations to assess needs and respond.
Japan (Renee Williams)
Nato-san, a 69-year-old Japanese woman from Hirosaki Zion Church in Hirosaki, Japan, is a modern-day example of the widow in the Bible who gave even when she didn’t have much. Nato-san is still paying off the debt her husband incurred before his death
from cancer 20 years ago. Yet, every week, she looks for something she can buy for people affected by the Tohoku disaster. Renee Williams, a Foursquare missionary associate who drives 10 hours round-trip to deliver food, clothing and other necessities to affected areas, says Nato-san is an example of how even small gifts make a big difference.
North America (Ted Vail) The Foursquare Church and FMI have commissioned Foursquare ministers Rod and Teresa Koop to their state of origin in a firstof-its-kind partnership as missionaries to the state of Alaska. The effort is focused on seeing existing leaders and works strengthened; reaching and discipling more people for Christ; raising new leaders; planting new churches; and seeing an expanded Alaskan movement. Currently, seven churches with a total of 360 attendees make up the Foursquare presence, but as many as 200 other people in and around Anchorage and on the Kenai Peninsula share a strong Foursquare background and have expressed a desire to help reach the state with the gospel. Anchorage and Fairbanks are among the highest per capita multi-ethnic cities in the U.S., and missionaries from other nations will be involved in helping reach these ethnic people groups, as well.
MORE ABOUT MISSIONS » Read more about what Foursquare is doing around the world. Visit 4sq.ca/missionsnews, or use your smart phone to scan the QR code (right).
Go to the web for more
FOURSQUARE MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL Stories and News From Around the World
FOCUS:
SOUTH PACIFIC
More than 21,000 Foursquare churches and meeting places are located in the South Pacific region, making it the largest Foursquare region in the world.
INTERNATIONAL FOCUS
MISSIONARY SPOTLIGHT
South Pacific
Jerry Stott, FMI’s area missionary to the South Pacific, says that Foursquare has grown dramatically in this region in the past eight years, going from three registered nations to 12. Jerry and his wife, Julie, reside in Jakarta, Indonesia. “These nations honor the elderly, their tribal leaders, and traditions within their cultures,” Jerry explains. “Our job is not to mix our culture with theirs or change their cultures, but to simply bring the love of Jesus.” The gospel is spreading through The Foursquare Church across the region, and rapidly. The most recent statistics document 21,059 churches and meeting places in the area— 18,980 in Indonesia alone. The Foursquare Church in Indonesia, in fact, plants around 600 churches each year.
The Hartels are FMI missionaries to Amsterdam, a beautiful city rich in the arts and diversity but very challenging spiritually. They’ve been there just over a year, and are starting to see some great things happen. By hosting special events and outreaches, including a “missional cafe,” they desire to add value to the community and share the love of Christ with their neighbors.
Jerry and Julie Stott In the past year, 762,935 people made first-time decisions to follow Christ—10,000 of those new converts in Papua New Guinea; 358,679 were baptized in water; and 415,097 were baptized with the Holy Spirit. Totaling Foursquare members and adherents in the region reveals an astounding number: 2.3 million.
Amsterdam is a stage-one city in Foursquare’s Four-Stage Development Model. The Netherlands overall is a stagefour nation. Statistics for 2010 record 43 Foursquare churches and meeting places in the Netherlands, and 4,357 members.
In addition to churches and meeting places, Jerry notes, are many other ministries, including orphanages, schools, colleges and medical centers. Foursquare members have dug water wells, built new church buildings and homes, and conducted food outreaches, AIDS awareness, children’s ministries, women’s ministries, youth evangelism and evangelistic crusades. Leadership training and church planting are also ongoing.
–bill shepson, contributing editor
Foursquare members and adherents churches and meeting places decisions for Christ water baptisms
sending a thoughtful gift, or simply a note of encouragement. Keep up with Adam and Sarah via their blog, www.hartel.com, or contact them at the following address: Adam and Sarah Hartel Latherusstraat 54 1032 EC Amsterdam, Netherlands
What would you like people in the U.S. to know about Amsterdam?
Visit 4sq.ca/southpacific to read more about how Foursquare is making an impact in the South Pacific.
2.3 million South 21,059 Pacific 762,935 At-a-Glance 358,679
You can make a difference by
ADAM Our desire is that the relationships formed here will become a bridge for connecting people to Christ and into fellowship with His family. We are interested in serving the community through acts of kindness and artistic expression. Because of the diversity that is created in the communities in Amsterdam, endless possibilities exist to connect with people and create new things!
“The harvest is truly ripe in the South Pacific,” Jerry affirms. “We are believing for every Pacific Island nation to open to the Foursquare Gospel in the next 10 years.”
BY THE NUMBERS
Bless the Hartels
Describe your passion for the people of Amsterdam.
* These numbers reflect data for 2010 and part of 2011
Foursquare’s South Pacific region is the largest of the denomination’s areas, both geographically and numerically. Stretching from Southeast Asia throughout the Pacific Ocean, the South Pacific region comprises scores of countries and islands. Nations included in the region are American Samoa, Australia, the Cook Islands, Easter Island, East Timor, Fiji, Indonesia, Kiribati, Micronesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tahiti (French Polynesia), Tonga, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna.
Adam and Sarah Hartel
HOW YOU CAN
ADAM Many people associate this city with legalized soft drugs and prostitution, but that is not the primary “face” of the city. The people of Amsterdam are courageous, determined and merciful. Some could interpret them as “liberal” or against the church, but we believe that their love for truth, beauty and kindness will draw them to know the love of God and be transformed by Him. Have any short-term missions teams come from the U.S.? ADAM Last year, we received two teams from Pasadena Foursquare Church (our sending church) in Pasadena, Calif., and one team from the Foursquare church in Kristiansand, Norway (which we helped to plant in 2002). To read the full interview online, visit 4sq.ca/hartels.
HOW TO PRAY
For the Hartels ¼¼ Pray
that believers will reach out into their communities.
¼¼ Pray
for the ministry/ missional events being planned this year.
¼¼ Pray
that the Hartels will continue to learn Dutch at a fast pace.
¼¼ Pray
for increased financial support.
