“Hello SEMC family!

Thank you for including Empower Ministries in your Around the World Series! The SEMC family has partnered with Empower for many years, and we are so incredibly thrilled with our friendship. Empower Ministries is a global missions organization that seeks to strengthen and equip the national, or indigenous churches around the world, and to revitalize the Church here in North America.

During the pandemic, we have had to change very little in how we operate. We continue to empower the national workers and stay in touch with all our incredible partners via Zoom and WhatsApp. 

Like the SEMC, Empower Ministries also serves, prays and responds to the Lord in thousands of communities around the world. We serve by following His directive to come alongside those working tirelessly to build His Kingdom. We pray for guidance continually, so we know when, where and who to support. We respond by providing money, bibles, training, food, and other valuable resources where it is needed most.

Despite a difficult year, the Lord was faithful to continue the great work He is doing to build up His Kingdom. Hundreds and thousands of seeking individuals accepted Jesus as Saviour and are now living their lives for His purposes. We are seeing the greatest turning to God since the book of Acts! 

You are likely aware that persecution for believers in China is escalating. A new generation of believer faces beatings, jail time, and constant harassment from their government. Still, they persevere. A leader of the house church movement reminded us that the real miracle of China is that thousands upon thousands of believers faithfully preach the Word of God knowing a horrendous fate awaits them if they get caught. Here is one story from our partners in China, not about suffering, but of God’s great faithfulness.

Two young pastors fresh out of Bible School bought one-way tickets to a northern province in China where the temperatures dropped to -40. They searched for a host family to take them in without success. After walking for two days looking for shelter, they finally fell asleep outside not knowing if they would ever wake up again. When the sun rose so did they; warm and rested, with a group of desert deer surrounding them-sleeping on top of them! They praised God for his provision and carried on with their mission. In 1 Kings 17:4-6 he did for we read:

It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.” So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook.

We know our Lord is faithful. We know He provides. This reminder of what He will do to protect His Children is another glimpse into His character.” – From Empower Ministries