Issuu

T H E M AG AZI N E O F THEALLIANCE SI NC E 1882

YOU ARE WITH ME

Living in awareness of God's presence in prayer pg. 6 THE WAY OF BLESSING

Walking the path of Jesus through the Beatitudes pg. 24

TO OUR GOD

A liturgy pg. 4

VOLUME 161

No. 01

| JA N/ FEB 2026

EDITORIAL

THE NARROW AND UNEXPECTED WAY

ALLIANCELIFE VO LU ME 1 6 1

N o. 0 1

Founder A. B. Simpson Managing Editor Hannah Packard

One of my favorite things about Jesus is how thoroughly He defies expectation. Throughout the Gospels, people wanted Him to behave a certain way or do a certain thing, yet He so often chose to be subversive. The Twelve wanted Him to be a conquering politician; He was the suffering Servant instead. The Pharisees wanted Him to uphold their laws and traditions and defer to their authority; but He is God made flesh, the fulfillment of the Law. When expected to be charismatic and diplomatic, He was offensive. When He was supposed to turn away from the unclean, sinner, and heretic, He drew near. Where Israel expected the Lion of Judah, they instead saw the slain Lamb. I think our God likes to flip a lot more than tables. And in this same vein, Jesus preached His first recorded and most famous address—the Sermon on the Mount. With every word, He changed the understanding of what it means to belong to the Kingdom of the Most High God. His repeated refrain was “You have heard it said this way, but I say to you—” as He both raised standards to dizzying heights and yet welcomed anyone. The Sermon on the Mount not only proves the impossibility of righteousness through our own efforts but also outlines the astonishing threshold of entrance to His Kingdom—simply acknowledging our own utter need of Him. What Scripture says of His character is true: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6b, NRSVUE). Near the end of His sermon, Jesus says, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matt. 7:13–14). In my mind’s eye, this gate that leads to life, the way of Jesus, is hidden from the casual observer or passerby. It can only be seen if you are looking for it—and can only be entered in the right posture of humility, on your knees. The only way to follow in the steps of our Savior is by this strange, unexpected road—in need, humble and meek, with mercy and generosity and love. This is the way where being formed into the character of God means not striving for perfection but depending with all your heart on the One who is perfect. As we follow Him, may His overturning of our expectations continue to draw us even closer to His heart.

Assistant Editor Lorie Huneycutt Graphic Designer Caylie Faudree Staff Writers/Editors Hannah Castro Emily Smith Editorial Assistant Lauren Toney Circulation Fulfillment Julie Connon Contact alifesubs@cmalliance.org for address and subscription changes. Contact alliancelife@cmalliance.org for questions, submissions, and advertising information. Cont ac t media@c malliance.or g for press inquiries. All Scripture quotations are taken from the New International Version® (NIV®), 2011 edition, unless otherwise noted. © ALLIANCELIFE ALLIANCELIFE i s p ub li s h e d by T h e Christian and Missionary Alliance, One Alliance Place, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068. Printed in the USA. Member, Evangelical Press Association. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ALLIANCELIFE, One Alliance Place, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068. When requesting a change of address, pleas e gi ve b ot h t he old and new addresses. Direct all correspondence and changes of address to ALLIANCELIFE, One Alliance Place, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068. Toll free: (877) 284-3262; email: alliancelife@cmalliance.org. Website: www.alliancelife.org.

The Alliance is commit ted to world missions, stressing the fullness of Christ in personal experience, building the Church, and preaching the gospel to the ends of the earth. ALLIANCELIFE carries on the tradition of more than 143 years of publishing stories of God at work through Alliance people in the United States and throughout the world.

Hannah Packard Managing Editor of Alliance Life www.alliancelife.org cover: Illustration by Caylie Faudree

JAN/FEB 2026 04 Christ-Centered TO OUR GOD A liturgy by Efrain Perdomo-Lopez | pg. 4 YOU ARE WITH ME Living in awareness of God's presence in prayer | by Jonathan Schaeffer | pg. 6 COMING HOME TO EACH OTHER A reflection on the 2025 Dalat School reunion | by Stephen M. Livingston and Carolyn Cathey Castelli | pg. 10 FREE VERSE Quotes from the Kingdom | pg. 13 TOZER ANTHOLOGY Compiled by Harry Verploegh | pg. 13 BLESSED ARE WE Reflections from the Mount by Hannah Castro | pg. 14

18 Acts 1:8 GOING TOGETHER Celebrating 50 years of the Alliance World Fellowship and our lasting call to take the gospel to all the world by Hannah Packard | pg. 18

24 22 CONTENTS pg.

THE WAY OF BLESSING Walking the path of Jesus through the Beatitudes | by various authors | pg. 24 YOUR GENEROSITY IN ACTION Planted Among the Nations by Justin and Brittany, Alliance international workers | pg. 34

38 Family

BOARD SUMMARY LETTER by Thomas George | pg. 38 PRAYER IS PRIMARY Requests from Alliance workers | pg. 39 ALLIANCE FAMILY NEWS Personnel changes, obituaries, and classified ads | pg. 40

Plus 02 EDITORIAL 08 THE PEOPLE WE SERVE 16 INFOCUS 36 INFOCUS

10 6

TO OUR GOD A liturgy by Efrain Perdomo-Lopez

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“‘I

am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.’” —Revelation 1:8

PAST To the God of history, remind us of Your faithfulness to our forefathers and mothers, parents, and children. Curate our souls toward the goodness that has tethered our past toward love’s end. Fill us with divine joy, that our stories may sing the praises of our salvation, that our wounds of the past be markers of promised redemption. We surrender our fantasies and our nightmares in exchange for the hope that has never wavered. O Lord, master our memories toward Your eternal presence. To the God of history, give us a vision for Your heavenly city. PRESENT To the Spirit who is present, awake us from our slumber toward the holy Power that dwells in us, to the holy Fire that forms us. May our journey of faith be a constant chase to clear our vision for full awareness of You, to see, sense, taste, and smell heavenly realities in our now. Lord, help us to not be carried along by hurry and control, but let us be carried by the Spirit who is slow and gentle. To the Spirit who is present, give us hunger to experience more of You.

Illustration by Caylie Faudree

FUTURE To Christ who shall return, in the chaos of Your absence, may we bear the light of eternal longing. Let our unity be the peace of hopeful anticipation. Allow us to be conduits of future realities as provision for present needs. Stir within us a worship that summons our voices to praise, a worship that beckons our bodies toward movement, a life that signals a Kingdom yet to be fully realized. As we wait, we contemplate the redemptive arc of our stories, wounds, and cities. Let our gaze be active and contemplative of hope on the horizon. To Christ who shall return, give us faith to persevere. Efrain Perdomo-Lopez serves as the academic dean of Missio College and as a pastor at Salem Alliance Church alongside his wife, Greta, who is the worship pastor. Efrain is passionate about equipping the next generation for global Kingdom work.

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YOU ARE WITH ME Living in awareness of God's presence in prayer by Jonathan Schaeffer

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hen I talk to people about spiritual rhythms and deeper-life habits, I often ask, “What do you wish you could do better? If you could take the next step in your journey, what would it be?” The most common response I’ve heard is: “I wish I did better in prayer. I wish I talked to God more.” Most of us know the Scriptures—we know we are meant to pray continually and on all occasions (see 1 Thess. 5:17; Eph. 6:18). In Colossians 4:2, Paul says, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Jesus taught His followers that they should “always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1). We know these passages, and yet I think many of us, at one time or another, are discouraged with our lives of prayer. The struggle could be due to a multitude of reasons— distractions, a feeling of unworthiness, or even the sense that prayer isn’t productive, at least in the moment. Sometimes the issue is simply remembering that God’s presence is always with us and in us. For me, I have time set aside in the morning to spend with Jesus before I do anything else. But once I start going throughout the day, I can sometimes look back and feel like I left Jesus behind. It can be easy to believe that God is with us, but functionally to go through the day without frequently interacting with Him. What if we really believed that God is with us all the time? How would we live and pray differently? In Matthew’s Gospel, the presence of God is how the story begins and how it ends:

survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. They said to me, ‘Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.’ When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven” (Neh. 1:2b–4). Prayer was Nehemiah’s first response to crisis. When Nehemiah shares his grief with King Artaxerxes, the king asks, “What is it you want?” (Neh. 2:4). Again, Nehemiah’s immediate response is not to answer, but to pray to the God of heaven. I think Nehemiah’s story is not so much about leadership as it is about prayer. He was an effective leader because he was a leader who prayed. Throughout his story, Nehemiah faced constant conflict and opposition. After receiving repeated threats, Nehemiah writes, “They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, ‘Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.’ But I prayed, ‘Now strengthen my hands’” (Neh. 6:9). Even four-word prayers like Nehemiah’s count! I call these arrow prayers—quick shots that I can release up to the Lord.

What if we really believed that God is with us all the time?

Jesus, I need Your help. Lord, I’m anxious—will You replace that with Your peace? Father, would You guide my words? God, help me listen. Holy Spirit, help me love like You love.

“‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’)” (Matt. 1:23). “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:20b).

These kinds of quick prayers are a simple way to connect with God throughout the day. Nehemiah was an effective leader because he was a leader who prayed constantly—and because he had the vision of Moses: “He persevered because he saw him who is invisible” (Heb. 11:27b). As Paul says in 2 Corinthians, “We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18). How often do we mix this up, only focusing on what is seen? But if we had the perspective of Moses and Nehemiah, how would we pray differently? Instead, we sometimes have the perspective of Jacob, who, while on the run from his brother, thinking he was all alone, had a dream. You probably remember the story—a stairway reaching up to heaven with angels

Illustration by Erin Lillie

God wants us to know and believe this deeply—and to live it out. WHEN PRAYER COMES FIRST Let’s look at the example of a man in the Scripture who did live this out—Nehemiah. Nehemiah was a great leader. In a time when Israel was coming back from Babylonian captivity, he led them through crisis. Yet the Book of Nehemiah doesn’t begin with his leadership exploits, but with prayer. It says: “I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had

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ascending and descending on it. When Jacob woke up, he made a statement: “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it” (Gen. 28:16). Like Jacob, we can be surrounded by God’s presence—in our cars, at our jobs, in our kitchens, even amid crisis—and not notice. Nehemiah seemed to always see Him who is invisible. But Jacob missed it for a time. This is a spiritual battle. The enemy will do everything he can to keep us out of fellowship with Jesus. He works against God’s people, trying to blind us. But we can invite Jesus to take the scales off our eyes. Lord, 25, 50, 100 times a day, would You help us see You? LEARNING TO SEE THE INVISIBLE A few years ago, I jotted some words down on a card: “Lord Jesus, You are with me right now.” Praying this throughout the day is one of the practices of my soul—one of my favorite arrow prayers. The Lord is in this place. Lord Jesus, You are with me right now. It’s not only about saying these words but also about having faith—confidence in hope and assurance about what is unseen (see Heb. 11:1)—that they are true. No matter the distractions or doubts you face, regardless of feeling, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is with us. This is my prayer for you—that you would be able to walk in the way of Nehemiah and Moses, and in the way of other saints before you, praying continually, and on all occasions being devoted to prayer. I pray that you would believe that God is with you, and that soon you would be able to say, “This is one of my strengths—I see God’s presence with me.” Dr. Jonathan Schaeffer serves as the thirteenth president of The Christian and Missionary Alliance. He previously spent over 25 years as lead pastor of Grace Church in Middleburg Heights, Ohio, and he and his wife, Mary, have a desire to grow in love for Jesus and extend that love to people everywhere.

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THE

PE OPLE W E S E RV E

y name is Kaito,* and I am 20 years old. For 11 months, I have rarely left my bedroom. I sleep during the day and stay awake at night so I won’t have to see anyone—not even my family. I don’t work or go to school. In Japan, where I live, people like me are called hikikomori. It means someone who isolates themselves from the world.

A few weeks ago, I was invited to attend something called a Refresh Seminar, led by some Christian foreigners. I don’t know why, but I decided to go. I thought maybe it would be easier to meet people who aren’t Japanese. That day, we had fun cooking a meal together, and we even sang a song called “O Happy Day.” I didn’t know the words, but I found myself singing along. No one asked why I struggled to interact or what was wrong with me. They just seemed glad that I was there. At the end of the day, one of these Christians asked how I felt. I told them, “This is the happiest day I think I’ve ever had.” I don’t know what will happen next, but now I feel a little less isolated. Maybe I’ll even join them again. For the first time in years, I feel like I belong somewhere. *Name changed

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Below: Esther Fitzstevens poses with Thanh Le from the Christian Library.

COMING HOME TO EACH OTHER

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A reflection on the 2025 Dalat School reunion by Stephen M. Livingston and Carolyn Cathey Castelli

Photograph by Stephen M. Livingston

he smell of tropical rain, the sound of cicadas at dusk, and the feel of long-awaited airmail paper from Mom and Dad between our fingers—these are memories that never quite fade for those of us who grew up as missionary kids (MKs) in Southeast Asia during the 1960s and 1970s. Back then, our lives were threaded together by handwritten Sunday letters home, the distant rumble of political unrest, and the deeprooted faith of parents serving far from their passport countries. We learned early to adapt, to cross cultures with ease, and to call more than one place “home.” When we come together as missionary kids, something remarkable happens: the past finds its place in the present. We can speak a shared language of childhood that few others understand, weaving our personal histories into a larger tapestry of God’s faithfulness. One alumnus put it simply: “I had compartmentalized my MK years, but at the reunion, it was a safe place. I realized I wasn’t alone.”

Some of us attended during Dalat’s early years in Vietnam. At the reunion, we were notably gifted by the presence of Esther Van Hine Fitzstevens, class of 1947, who later served with her husband as dorm parents. Others who attended came to Dalat through its seasons in Thailand, the Cameron Highlands, or Penang, Malaysia. What united us was not just a shared alma mater but a shared way of seeing the world—shaped by a childhood in motion, friendships forged across cultures, and a deepening trust in God’s providence. THE JOY OF RECONNECTION The reunion was rich with moments of joy. Age differences faded as we sang favorite Dalat songs and hymns from the early ’60s and ’70s; their lyrics, sung in rich harmony, now resonating with new meaning. We shared stories of God’s faithfulness—how He had carried us from childhood in distant lands into diverse callings as artists, educators, health-care specialists, military officers, public officials, pastors, project managers, technologists, writers, and more. We marveled at how our cross-cultural upbringing prepared us to connect easily with people from all walks of life. As one MK reflected, “Of all the affinity groups to which I have belonged during the past 70 years, my identity as an MK and as a ‘Dalat school kid’ has had, perhaps, the most profound effect on me. That identity—as a child of missionary parents working in a dangerous war zone, with schoolmates who lost their parents and friends who became adopted siblings—has stayed with me throughout my life. So, the greatest value for me was affirming an identity that was unique in many ways and owning it once again—this time without apology, embarrassment, or shame.” We were also blessed by unexpected connections, including a delegation from the Christian Library in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. They came to record our stories and preserve the history and the MK perspective on mission work in Vietnam—ensuring future Vietnamese seminary students understand the faith and sacrifice of those who served during such turbulent times. One MK from the 1960s added, “I often think of the Vietnamese people we ‘left behind’ and never want to forget them. I continue to pray for them.”

A SHARED WAY OF SEEING THE WORLD That sense of connection is exactly what brought over 130 alumni together June 24–27, 2025, at the Pioneers retreat center in Orlando, Florida. Missionary kids— now often called third culture kids (TCKs)—from The Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) and other denominations, all with ties to Dalat School (now Dalat International School), gathered from across the globe. Founded in 1929 by the C&MA in Dalat, Vietnam, the school was established to give missionaries’ children a North American-style education while their parents served in remote and often challenging locations throughout Southeast Asia. Over the decades, the school weathered major transitions—beginning in 1954 when students were sent homebound toward the end of the French-Indochina War. Again, in 1965, escalating conflict during the Vietnam War forced a dramatic evacuation: students, staff, and more than 11 tons of school equipment were airlifted by four U.S. Air Force cargo planes to Bangkok. Months later, Dalat relocated to Malaysia’s Cameron Highlands, and by 1971 had found a permanent home in Penang, where today it continues to serve students from many nations with a Christ-centered, academically rigorous education.

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deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” This truth breathed life into our reunion. LOOKING BACK, MOVING FORWARD For those of us who were MKs/TCKs in the ’60s and ’70s, the reunion was more than a nostalgic trip—it was an affirmation of who we are. We carry with us the complexity, resilience, and joy of a life shaped by valued relationships within a primarily missions community. As one participant shared, “It helped me integrate this part of my childhood more with who I am now . . . most of my friends today have no idea about this part of my life.” We came as individuals with decades of varied life experiences. We left reminded that we are part of a family—one knit together by God’s hand in the midst of a tumultuous history, and one that still has much to share with the world.

A SPIRIT OF GRATITUDE Gratitude permeated the gathering—not only for each other but also for the faculty and staff who poured into our lives, for parents who modeled faith in action, and for the C&MA community whose prayers and support sustained us. One alum said it best: “I’m thankful for the adults God put into my life during those years. They helped me grow intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally. I can see now how complete God’s care was.” And as another MK shared, “Even though I have lost all of my siblings, I have found my brothers and sisters here.” As Hebrews 10:24–25 reminds us, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good

Stephen M. Livingston is the son of C&MA missionaries to Vietnam, and served with his wife, Becky Lay Livingston, at Dalat School for 13 years. In 1998, he became the founding head of school at Houston Christian High School, where he served for 25 years. He is now retired.

Carolyn Cathey Castelli is the daughter of Rev. Gordon and Astrid Cathey, who ministered in Vietnam. She attended Dalat School in Thailand and Malaysia and worked as a psychiatric nurse for over four decades until her retirement in 2020. Carolyn and her husband, Jay, have two adult daughters, two sons-in-law, and six grandchildren.

Above: Dalat School reunion attendees gather for a group photo.

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Photograph by Mark Overgaard

HONORING THE CHALLENGES Of course, we didn’t shy away from the harder parts of our upbringing. Some spoke openly about the loneliness of boarding school, the challenges of returning to our passport countries, and the unspoken expectation to remain “spiritually strong” despite personal struggles. The reunion offered time for reflection and a safe space to acknowledge these difficult personal experiences without fear of judgment. As one participant put it, “It’s okay to be honest about the challenges. Some MKs have walked away from the form of faith of their parents, while others shared stories of profound returning to belief as they looked at Scripture through the lens of their work. Other MKs are still looking for connection and a way to make peace with their growing-up years.”

FREE VERSE

THE

TOZ ER

“I have ascended to the highest in me, and look, the Word is towering above that. I have descended to explore my lowest depths, and I found Him deeper still.”

ANTHOLOGY

Compiled by Harry Verploegh

—BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX If we would find God amid all the religious externals, we must first determine to find Him, and then proceed in the way of simplicity. Now as always God reveals Himself to “babes” and hides Himself in thick darkness from the wise and prudent. We must simplify our approach to Him. We must strip down to essentials (and they will be found to be blessedly few). We must put away all effort to impress and come with the guileless candor of childhood. If we do this, without doubt God will quickly respond. When religion has said its last word, there is little that we need other than God Himself.

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

The way to deeper knowledge of God is through the lonely valleys of soul poverty and abnegation of all things. The blessed ones who possess the Kingdom are they who have repudiated every external thing and have rooted from their hearts all sense of possessing.

—ISAIAH 43:1b–2

“In comparison with this big world, the human heart is only a small thing. Though the world is so large, it is utterly unable to satisfy this tiny heart. Our ever-growing soul and its capacities can be satisfied only in the infinite God.”

As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing all things (2 Cor. 6:9–10).

These blessed are no longer slaves to the tyranny of things. They have broken the yoke of the oppressor; and this they have done not by fighting but by surrendering. Though free from all sense of possessing, they yet possess all things. “Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

—SADHU SUNDAR SINGH

“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.” —JOHN 15:9, NRSVUE JAN/FEB 2024

—from The Pursuit of God. Originally published in The Alliance Witness on December 8, 1982. 13

ALLIANCELIFE

BLESSED ARE WE Reflections from the Mount

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by Hannah Castro

e climbed the hill— not to reign but to rest— and let blessing fall from His lips.

Because the pure in heart see with eyes of living water and behold the face of God in the smallest flicker of His glory, in the hush of holy moments.

The crowd leaned in— the weary, the waiting, the ones clutching shards of shattered hope— as He spoke.

Those who sow calm in the cracks of chaos will be called the children of the King, for peace runs in our blood, and stillness is scattered. And we who bear the bruises of truth— our wounds will one day shine like stars, glowing constellations of grace, for the Kingdom of heaven is surely ours.

And chains began to break with each whisper of His words. For blessed are we who have nothing, because heaven begins in the empty hands and reaching hearts.

Holiness bent His knee toward that leaned‑in crowd, and they lifted their eyes, beholding the gaze that held theirs— the very same that holds our own.

And those of us whose tears baptize the earth, the Comforter bends low to gather every sorrow and every sigh.

Take heart, for the story continues with Heaven calling our names. For truly, blessed are we.

As our strength is gentled into peace, we will walk the quiet fields of the Almighty and call the soil our own. For as we hunger and thirst for what is right and good and pure, we will be filled. The feast is being prepared— and hunger is the sign we were made for more.

Hannah Castro is the story & editorial manager for the Alliance National Office. She has her master of theological studies from Asbury Theological Seminary and is passionate about cultivating stories that glorify the Lord.

Photography by Olivia, Alliance Video

Our souls shall be fed with the bread of heaven. And whoever’s hands refuse to throw the stone will find mercy waiting for them like morning dew upon their skin.

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inFocus ”You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” —Matthew 5:14–16 Photograph by Rosie, Alliance Video

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GOING TOGETHER Celebrating 50 years of the Alliance World Fellowship and our lasting call to take the gospel to all the world

Photography by Rosie, Alliane Video

by Hannah Packard

he auditorium was about three-quarters full, and a choir had just ascended the stage to sing a song of praise. They were one of many groups who performed that day at the Alliance World Fellowship (AWF) 50th anniversary celebration, worshiping God through song and dance. But that choir—they were my favorite of the entire week we had

spent in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, for the 2025 AWF Quadrennial gathering. The choir leader’s voice cut through the quiet room as they began their song, the sound of drums soon accompanying, and I was again surprised at how quickly tears sprang to my eyes, just as they had during worship throughout the previous days. Without understanding any of the

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words, it was worship of Jesus, and my soul seemed to know that very well. As I looked around the room, I couldn’t help being moved even further by the sight of representatives from 50 Alliance national churches around the world worshiping together. This is just a taste of the fruit of countless prayers, sacrifices, and gospel seeds sown by the global Alliance family, I thought.

Opposite: Attendees worship and pray together at the 2025 AWF Quadrennial.

FOUNDATIONS OF A GLOBAL FELLOWSHIP The Alliance World Fellowship was founded in 1975 to serve the purpose of uniting churches and ministries around the world that are affiliated with The Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA). The AWF has its own executive committee, independent of any national Alliance church, and every four years a quadrennial council is held, gathering leaders and delegates from C&MA national churches around the globe for a time of Christ-centered fellowship, reaffirmation of core theology and vision, and to discuss challenges facing Alliance churches. The Quadrennial held in Yamoussoukro in October 2025 was particularly special because it marked the AWF’s 50th anniversary, yet the foundations for this fellowship were laid at the very beginning of our missionary movement in the 19th century. In the C&MA, establishing a self-sustaining and selfspreading indigenous church on every mission field where our workers are present has always been a high priority, if not the goal, of our pioneer, cross-cultural mission work. Additionally, there has been a recognition of the extreme limits of the “from the West to the rest” mentality, which can stunt church growth and impose Western culture and thought as part of the gospel message. Rather, the hope has been for fully independent, spiritually mature national churches that would begin to send their own missionaries to their neighbors and to regions beyond themselves. Despite this early ideal, by the mid- to late-1920s, it had become clear that many of the churches on foreign fields had not achieved independence from the North American C&MA but were dependent both financially and spiritually. In response, at the 1926 U.S. Alliance General Council, legislation was enacted to reduce spending and subsidies for overseas fields and to gradually hand authority and leadership to the national church. Yet the chaos of the following decades, particularly the Great Depression and World War II, meant this gradual process never managed to reach its conclusion. At General Council in 1955, the passion for national church autonomy was renewed, and the policies were reinforced. Leaders reaffirmed that they believed the national church autonomy would result in flourishing. As the policy was adopted over the course of five years, it proved true. Newly independent national churches flourished, and the number of believers increased. But as time went on, a desire emerged to establish a fellowship that would help

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1887 1887 - CMA founded by A.B. The Christian and Missionary AlliSimpson ance founded by A. B. Simpson

1926 Legistation enacted at General Council to promote autonomy of national churches 1929–1939 The Great Depression 1939–1945 World War II

1955 Passion for national church autonomy renewed at General Council 1975 Alliance World Fellowship founded

1975 - Alliance World Fellowship founded

2025 - Quadrennial of 2025 Alliance World of Fellowship 50th anniversary the Alliance World celebrated Fellowship celebrated

Alliance World Fellowship

THEN (1979)

NOW (2025)

1.2 million believers

6.7 million believers

🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍

🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍 🧍

12,700 churches

⛪⛪⛪⛪⛪⛪⛪⛪ ⛪⛪⛪⛪ 47 countries

🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴

24,000 churches

⛪⛪⛪⛪⛪⛪⛪⛪ ⛪⛪⛪⛪⛪⛪⛪⛪ ⛪⛪⛪⛪⛪⛪⛪⛪ 88 countries

🧍 = 100,000 believers ⛪ = 1,000 churches

🏴 = one country

🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴 🏴

maintain unity and theological cohesion among the churches. On May 20–23, 1975, a historic meeting took place for the founding of the Alliance World Fellowship. At Simpson Memorial Church in Nyack, New York, 74 official delegates representing 34 countries met together in what was, at the time, the largest gathering of nations in Alliance history. This group established a founding constitution, which was unanimously adopted, and signed by each delegate. Out of all the countries where Alliance work took place at the time, only eight were not represented. In his keynote speech at the gathering, the U.S. C&MA president, Dr. Nathan Bailey, said, “Today we stand side by side—none above the other.” GROWING TOGETHER ON MISSION A few months later in The Alliance Witness, the editor reported on the event, describing from those few days the beauty of their surroundings, the way that delegates surmounted language barriers to share with one another, and the joy of hearing testimonies and reports from around the world. Over 50 years later, as I read my predecessor’s words, I was struck by how much had not changed. At the 2025 Quadrennial in Yamoussoukro, approximately 50 out of 88 countries in the AWF were represented by hundreds of delegates and attendees. Sounds of translation into multiple languages were present in every seminar, coffee break, and meal. The delight of being together was palpable in the air as people eagerly greeted old friends and colleagues and listened to one another’s stories. It is always a joy to gather with the Body of Christ, but this—it was a privilege. Times of prayer were also uniquely special. It can feel

“Jesus made us one, and He wants to send us as one.”

impersonal, praying for brothers and sisters in Christ on the other side of the world who are living in war zones or being persecuted. But not so when your brother in Christ stands before you, describing the depth of the persecution and violence his churches face, saying, “Please remember us. As a family, let’s walk together.” It was a time of learning and realigning as well. Dr. Jura Yanagihara, president of the AWF, spoke the opening night outlining the challenges that the global Alliance family is facing and exhorting us to be unified around Christ, together as one. For some, the diversity of a family like ours could be a stumbling block. But with God, our diversity becomes a great strength. “Jesus made us one, and He wants to send us as one,” he shared. Rev. Jan Wolsheimer, director of CAMA Zending in the Netherlands, spoke the following morning about the shifting balance of missions. The vast majority of Alliance believers, nearly 90 percent, come from the global South. The church in Africa is the largest, followed by Asia and Latin America. “Christianity is rapidly becoming a non-Western religion,” he shared, describing how, as the global Church, we must work together and share what resources we have— for the sake of the world.

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SENT AS ONE After the time of worship at the AWF 50th anniversary celebration, Dr. Jonathan Schaeffer, president of the U.S. C&MA, spoke, sharing out of Galatians: “Whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Gal. 6:8b–9). Highlighting the phrase “at the proper time,” President Schaeffer said, “God’s crops grow according to His sovereign plan. It might be months after you plant, or years. Some crops grow fast, some grow slowly. But every seed sown in Jesus’ name will produce a crop.” In 1979, at the AWF’s second quadrennial gathering, Dr. Nathan Bailey reported that the global Alliance was made up of 1.2 million believers worshiping God in 12,700 churches and preaching locations in 47 countries. Now, the Alliance World Fellowship is made up of 6.7 million believers who worship Jesus in over 24,000 churches in 88 countries. And 29 national churches in these countries are actively sending more than 1,700 international workers to preach the gospel throughout the world. Praise the Lord! “In God’s economy,” Schaeffer shared, “you always harvest more than you plant.” This is true! Because of generations of faithful

Left: Jonathan and Mary Schaeffer celebrate the AWF's 50th anniversary. Bottom left: A dancer performs at the anniversary celebration.

believers who have sown seeds of the gospel, God has multiplied our global Alliance family. Yet there are still so many fields to be cultivated and so many seeds to be planted. There remain 2.25 billion people who do not have access to the gospel, and an estimated 80 percent of all nonbelievers do not even know a Christ follower. In obedience to God’s call, the Alliance World Fellowship will not grow weary in doing good and will not give up, remaining committed to proclaiming the gospel, demonstrating the power of the Kingdom, growing deeper in discipleship, engaging the world through word and deed, partnering with local and global churches, educating and equipping new leaders for ministry, and recommitting to take the gospel where it has not been preached in the hard and costly places. The voices raised in worship that filled that auditorium in Yamoussoukro still reverberate in my heart. I am reminded that what began in Nyack, New York, 50 years ago was not a culmination but a commission—to go together, to sow seeds of the gospel, and to trust that in God’s timing, an even greater harvest will come if we do not give up.

Hannah Packard is the managing editor of Alliance Life magazine. She earned her master of divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2021 and is pleased to serve the Lord, and The Alliance, through storytelling.

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THE WAY OF BLESSING

Walking the path of Jesus through the Beatitudes

t the beginning of His public ministry, Jesus preached to a crowd on a hillside. This Sermon on the Mount, His most famous teaching, revealed the heart of His Kingdom. And in the Beatitudes, He redefined what it means to live a blessed life and to whom His Kingdom belongs. These verses turn the world’s logic upside down, showing that true blessing is not found in abundance, power, or ease but in dependence, surrender, and intimacy with God. To be blessed is to recognize our need and

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to discover that God meets us there. Each Beatitude draws us deeper into the life of Christ, who perfectly embodies every word He spoke. In the reflections that follow, four writers share what it looks like to live these words of Christ—where deficiency becomes a doorway, hunger becomes holiness, mercy becomes victory, and peace becomes our purpose. May their words invite you to pause, listen for the voice of Jesus, and rediscover the blessed way of walking closely with Him.

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“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” — M AT T H E W 5 : 3 – 4

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Deficiency Is a Doorway by Ciro Castro

t the opening of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declares that true blessing belongs to the poor in spirit—those who recognize their spiritual bankruptcy. This is not about material poverty but a posture of humility, acknowledging our utter insufficiency apart from God. Until we admit our spiritual poverty, we cannot fully receive the riches of His grace and the fullness of His Spirit. We are not only poor but powerless without Him. As Charles Spurgeon observed, “Not what I have, but what I have not, is the first point of contact, between my soul and God.” Our deficiency becomes a doorway; from this place of need, we open our hands to God’s lavish love and are welcomed as heirs into His Kingdom—the recipients of His heavenly blessings. The Kingdom will be filled with the poor and powerless, delighting together in our rich and powerful God. Blessedness, however, does not only follow poverty but pain. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matt. 5:4). Mourning reflects deep grief and loss. It is not

blessed because sorrow is pleasant, but because it draws us into the presence of the great Comforter. Mourning creates space for the Spirit to minister to the depths of our pain and loss; it opens us up to receive from others that which we cannot give ourselves—a listening ear, a shared meal, a shoulder to cry on, a warm embrace. It is implied in our Christian walk that we were never meant to mourn alone, but in community, to “weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15b, NLT). Yet the deepest mourning we are called to is over our sin and brokenness—to grieve how far we have wandered from God and to find comfort in Christ, who sympathizes with our weaknesses and washes away our sins. In Him, sorrow becomes the gateway to grace, and grief becomes the soil where hope takes root. These are the blessed ones, the poor in spirit and the mourning souls. Through them, God channels His promises: a Kingdom inheritance and a heart made whole. For poverty and grief expose our incompleteness and invite the fullness of Christ, who is all in all.

When Hunger Becomes Holiness

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

by Jenny Karr

o be honest, every time I read or hear Matthew 5:5, it stings a little—because anyone who knows me would likely never describe me as meek. It can be easy to read this verse and think of a shallow, behavioral level of meekness, or even understand it as meaning passive or weak—but that’s not what Jesus is really talking about, is it? I love Matthew Henry’s commentary on this verse, where he says, “The meek — M AT T H E W 5 : 5 – 6 are those who quietly submit to God . . . who can bear provocation without being inflamed by it; are either silent or return a soft answer . . . and in their something He had just recently experipatience keep possession of their own enced and modeled as He was tempted souls, when they can scarcely keep pos- in the wilderness. He went off into the session of anything else.” wild knowing He would be tempted by As you’d expect from Jesus, His the evil one, yet He quietly submitted teaching goes beyond a surface level Himself to His Father’s will. He felt and cuts deep to the soul. In living my physical hunger and thirst and turned life and getting more time to spend in those physical feelings into a spiritual prayer and conversation with God, I’m hunger and thirst for righteousness— grateful for His sanctifying work that, and He was filled. I believe it was out of albeit slowly, is helping me learn to this place, out of His personal experiquietly submit to Him. ence, that caused the Beatitudes to roll The very next verse gives me hope so eloquently off His tongue. as well—that the hunger and thirst for As I struggle with a feeling of lack and righteousness, and a filling of that righ- work to turn that into hunger and thirst teousness, assists a posture of meek- for more of Him—and you do too—I feel ness. God fills us with a righteousness Jesus smiling down on me like a kind, that provides those qualities that help gentle parent joyfully observing their us “keep possession of our souls.” At child. Not in a patronizing way, but in an “I love to watch you work” kind of way. I least, this is my prayer. I imagine that, as Jesus shared these feel Him cheering me along in my discovwords, He wasn’t just reciting promises ery of Him and who I am in Him. I hope He knew to be true. Instead, they were you feel the warmth of His smile too.

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The Victory of Mercy by Kim Valenzuela

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” — M AT T H E W 5 : 7 – 8

Illustration by Caylie Faudree

used to play a game with my older brothers. Or rather, they seemed to only play it on me! They would say, “Give me a handshake,” and when I extended my hand, they would squeeze as hard as they possibly could. The only way to end the pain was to cry out “mercy,” but to do so meant I had lost; the pain was too great. Yet Jesus transforms this childhood understanding completely: when we cry out for mercy, we have actually won. Throughout Scripture, mercy appears at the most desperate moments. Blind Bartimaeus cries out, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47). The Canaanite woman pleads for mercy when her daughter suffers. These are not cries of weakness but of recognition that we are helpless to heal ourselves and hopeless without divine intervention. The problem with mercy is that it is required when we are harmed or harmful, helpless, or even hopeless. Mercy is a far cry from a childhood game. We need mercy . . .

When our churches and ministries seem broken beyond repair. Jesus can receive these cries because, as Hebrews 2:17 tells us, “he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest.” Jesus knows our harm, sees our helplessness, and understands our hopelessness because He experienced the pain and temptation of them Himself. When we cry out for mercy, we are not admitting defeat; we are clinging to the One who sees, knows, and remains faithful. But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He connects mercy to purity of heart, showing us that mercy acts like a refining agent. When we receive God’s mercy and extend it to others, even those who have hurt us most, we allow God to purify our hearts from bitterness and vengeance. This purification enables us to see the face of God even in those who have harmed us. This is both promise and invitation. When the people we love and serve most are the ones who hurt us deepest, Jesus asks: “Are you willing to extend the mercy you have received?” When we answer yes, mercy becomes our victory, not our surrender.

When our children reject what we have taught them. When our families are at odds over the daily headlines. When we have been betrayed by someone we love. When we await test results for a diagnosis we fear.

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Blessed to Be a Blessing by Charles Chapman

n our materialistic society, we tend to consider someone to be blessed by the size of their house, the speed of their car, or the amount of money in their bank account. But here in Jesus’ first recorded sermon, He defines blessing differently. One is blessed, not because of what they have, but because of the work that they do. The Beatitudes teach us that those who work for peace and righteousness are the ones who are truly blessed. They are the ones that most resemble their Heavenly Father and have a place in His Kingdom. There are many people who love peace and righteousness. They wear flashy T-shirts, share inspirational posts, and even attend rallies that promote these ideals. But Jesus’ promise of blessing is not reserved for fans but actual practitioners. As followers of Jesus, we must be people that pursue peace and righteousness, even when that brings a level of scorn or persecution. Jesus is our example for what it means to work for peace and righteousness. He came in the Spirit of God “to proclaim good news to the poor. . . . to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at

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liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18–19, ESV). He came “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). Ultimately, Jesus’ desire was for people to experience the wholeness and harmony found in a relationship with God. Even His prayer for His disciples was that they would be one as He and the Father are one so that the world would believe and have hope in Him (see John 17:21). This commitment to peace and righteousness did not win Jesus many friends. People despised Him and ultimately sought His execution because of these things. But Jesus was, and is, the living fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant, that the nations of the earth would be blessed by the Blessed One (see Gen. 12:2). And truly, Jesus was blessed to be a blessing. As you consider your life, would you say that you are blessed? Do you labor for peace and righteousness, despite the cost? No matter where you find yourself today, may you be encouraged to know that your life is not blessed because of what you have, but because of your commitment to following Jesus in working for peace and righteousness.

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“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” — M AT T H E W 5 : 9 – 1 0

YOUR GENEROSITY in action

PLANTED AMONG THE NATIONS by Justin and Brittany, Alliance workers serving with Envision in Manchester, England

hen God called our family to Europe after six fruitful years of ministry in Asia, we grieved over what we were leaving behind. Friends and partners even asked why we would move on after investing so much in work God had called us to, especially since it was going so well. Now, four years later, while the setting for our ministry may have changed, we recognize the Lord is still using your prayers and giving to accomplish the same work He had been doing through us in Asia. Greater Manchester is a city of almost three million people. Home to more than 200 languages, thriving industries, and top universities drawing students from around the world, Manchester is one of Europe’s fastest-growing cities. It is here that, 30 years ago, the Hong Kong Alliance planted a small church for Chinese immigrants. Today, this church has grown to over 2,000 people and has helped plant other churches around the country, including a small international church in the heart of Manchester’s most infamous neighborhood, Moss Side, where, according to recent estimates, only around 25 percent of people are Christian.

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In the 1990s, Moss Side became known for gang violence and Pakistani restaurants known as “curry houses,” which were often operated by local immigrants. Manchester City’s historic soccer stadium—now demolished— was just a brisk, 15-minute walk from our pub-turnedcafé, The Giving Tree. Like many cities around the world, ours is changing and, thankfully, Moss Side is, too. It has become something different, diverse, and made young by the many Muslim families and university students who call it home. There, The Giving Tree continues to stand tall, an ode to the past, but also as a sign of renewal. JOINING THE WORK OF THE LOCAL CHURCH Through an invitation from the local Chinese Alliance church, Envision Manchester was launched with a desire to collaborate with what God was already doing in the city. And the Lord has certainly exceeded our expectations. Sustained by your prayers and generosity, The Giving Tree has grown quickly into a place where the community comes for English classes, prayer meetings, coffee trainings, art, study, and more.

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After six years of doing coffee ministry in Taiwan, we were ready to answer the call when our local church asked us to take part. Today, our vision is to continue building a Christ-centered community that nurtures spiritual growth, strengthens relationships, and serves our multicultural neighborhood with love and compassion. Everything we do is about creating welcoming spaces where people can connect, grow, explore faith, and, ultimately, be transformed by the love and truth of Jesus. What a blessing it has been to see God at work through His people. Any given month at The Giving Tree, you may see believers from places like Ethiopia and Brazil volunteering behind the coffee bar; workers with an international student ministry holding staff meetings; a woman from Hong Kong teaching about fair trade and ethics in the coffee industry; or a local baker from our Chinese-heritage church leading a cookiedecorating workshop. Each week, Manchester University’s Christian Union coordinator leads Bible studies, and Manchester House of Prayer facilitates gatherings led by local church leaders. On top of all that, our local international Alliance church also meets weekly, leading worship in multiple languages. Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. The people mentioned above are just a glimpse of those who serve alongside us. As we have learned, God had been preparing this place and this team long before the city was put on our hearts. We praise Him for the opportunity to work alongside colleagues from the nations. Still, the diversity of the surrounding community is even greater. As you can imagine, cultures often clash, and we spent much of our first year here listening to the heart cries of as many groups as we could. It has not been easy. Conflict, language barriers, and cultural expectations all test unity. Yet, we thank God that the gospel is big enough for every culture and believer in this city, and our small team is united in a common goal: reaching the lost for Christ.

turning the back auditorium into a multipurpose event space for open mic nights and art exhibits celebrating our Creator’s gift of creativity. Also, by hosting language exchanges for international students and morning playgroups for mothers, we seek to demonstrate Christ-inspired hospitality to some of the people in our community whose needs are often overlooked. Finally, we envision the upstairs apartment someday being used as a classroom and meeting space for missionaries and church partners to pray over our neighborhood. God works in unexpected ways, and He never wastes our experiences. In a city known for its diversity and grit, The Giving Tree stands in celebratory contrast. Once a place of alcohol and back-alley drug deals, it has become a place where the nations meet—a place where hearts are renewed and homes and neighborhoods witness Jesus at work. As you pray for and give to our work, The Giving Tree will become an even more dynamic, inviting place for people to connect, grow, explore faith, and be transformed by the love and truth of Jesus.

HELP CULTIVATE STUDENT OUTREACH Located in one of England’s most diverse cities, The Giving Tree is a café where Alliance workers serve coffee, lead ESL classes, and hold church services and other gospel-advancing events. Your gifts to this project will enable the purchase and renovation of the building where all this important work takes place. To cultivate a gathering spot where people from all nations can learn what God’s love looks and feels like, visit cmalliance.org/the-giving-tree. Learn more about Alliance strategic projects throughout the world in need of your prayers and financial support by accessing the 2025–2026 Strategic Giving Opportunities Gift Catalog at cmalliance.org/25-strategic-gift-catalog or by calling toll-free (866) 443-8262.

THE VITAL ROLE YOU PLAY We can’t do this without you, though. Your prayers are vital as we wait for more teammates to join us. Oh, and that café in Moss Side, The Giving Tree? The building housing it is up for sale. While the work we do will continue regardless of the building we inhabit, we recognize The Giving Tree’s strategic location among Arab peoples and university students presents an amazing opportunity to reach the nations, as God has already demonstrated. In addition to your prayers, we are also seeking financial support to buy the property. The building itself needs a new roof, updated plumbing, and another boiler, but what stands firm is its calling: to serve the surrounding community by declaring and demonstrating God’s reign through Christ. We dream of

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inFocus “I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord the Maker of heaven and earth.” —Psalm 121:1–2 Photograph by Daron Short

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BOARD SUMMARY LETTER October 2025

Dear family, Your Board of Directors met at Beulah Beach Camp and Retreat Center in Vermilion, Ohio, on October 22–23. This meeting was preceded by an orientation session for new Board members elected at Council 2025. This was the first full Board of Directors meeting for President Jonathan Schaeffer and Chairperson Mark Ashton. Our president shared what the Lord has been laying on his heart for the Alliance family. Melissa Singfiel led us through Scripture in a devotion of how we live out the Great Commandment in seasons of polarization. To be able to serve others and love them well when they hold views different from our own will require our submission to the Lord and His power at work in and through us. Gabe Bruno led devotions on the second day through questions from Numbers 13 and 14. He wrestled through Scripture, asking us the questions, “What is our posture in hard assignments? And how are our surrender, attitude, and trust toward the Lord in these seasons?” There were many subjects for discussion as a Board. Each vice president shared a part of their current journey with God, and their respective committees submitted items that needed Board approval. In addition, the new vice president for Church Ministries, Kelvin Walker, and the new vice president for Development, Paul Crosby, shared how the Lord led them to these new roles and what it was they were tackling in the first days of their appointments.

We celebrated the exceptional 20-year service of Ken Baldes as the treasurer and vice president for Operations. His work has transformed the ability of our Alliance family to steward God’s finances as we carry out our mission. Ken will be transitioning out of his current role with the National Office to serve as a pastor at his home church in Colorado Springs. A few highlights of the Board’s discussion included: • • •

Defining current realities in our Alliance family with an eye for future vision. Officially appointing and affirming 10 individuals for global work on various teams. Approving the final contract for building One Alliance Place.

God’s presence in our midst was obvious, and He was at work in our days together. In Christ’s love,

Thomas George Corporate Secretary

JANUARY 4–FEBRUARY 12

There is power in praying together. Join us for 40 Days of Prayer 2026! Visit 40days.cmalliance.org to sign up and learn more.

PRAYER IS PRIMARY Requests from Alliance workers

INDONESIA Recently at a mission school in a tiny village, a man cut a teacher down with a machete in front of her elementary students while they were planting trees near the school. She bled to death before the medevac flight could get her out. This occurred exactly three weeks from when another teacher in another mission school in a tiny

village was shot with an arrow while cooking dinner. This past March, a female Catholic teacher was also killed, six other teachers were injured, and the school was burned down. We recently had to pull our teachers out of one village because a man who had murdered before violently threatened them. This is all shrouded in mystery as to

who and why. We are not sure who will be next, but this is certainly challenging those who follow Jesus to count the cost—is it worth it? Please pray for peace and safety, as well as for the name of Jesus to be worth it in the eyes of new Jesus followers and those hearing His Word and considering it for themselves.

—an Alliance international worker serving with marketplace ministries

SOUTH PACIFIC ALLIANCE We study the Bible each week in a small group in a mosque. We were studying Acts, so I offered to give some background to a woman who was new to the group. Instead, she recounted all of Acts 2 to us! I later found out that she had been reading it through an ESL class in a

church. We caught up briefly on Acts 3 and discussed God affirming Peter’s ministry by validating it with a true miracle. We read the passage, and another group member was really interested in Jesus being the cornerstone. They are engineers and talked about it for a

long time—they discussed what a cornerstone is in architecture and what the equivalent would be in mathematics and how Jesus could be this. When we read that there is no other name by which we can be saved, the new woman asked what it meant. All in all, they seemed like the crowd in Jerusalem, watching these events unfold but not yet giving themselves over to belief—but we can see their amazement, whispering and sharing these things with those around them. Please pray for them to trust in Jesus as the only One by whom they can be saved. We are so thankful that we get to do this, and your prayers clear the path!

—Kelly and Diana, Alliance official workers

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ALLIANCE FAMILY NEWS From around the block to the ends of the earth

TO THE FIELD

AFRICA Kevin and Bonnie Oberg, in August. The Obergs serve with aXcess. Stanley and Jayne Walker and family, in August. The Walkers serve with aXcess. GABON Eric and Gwen Hofman and family, in August. The Hofmans serve with aXcess. Zachary and Jennifer O’Connor and family, in August. The O’Connors serve with aXcess. GUINEA Kenna Hull, in August. Kenna serves with CAMA.

ASIA-PACIFIC

EUROPE

PERSONNEL CHANGES

Joel and Kristen Cagwin and family, in August. The Cagwins serve with aXcess. Valary McLoughlin and family, in August. Valary serves with aXcess.

David E. Augustine, interim pastor, Wayside Chapel Community Church, Rosamond, Calif.

BALKANS

Leonardo Ayala, pastor de formacion spiritual, La Alianza en la Ciudad, San Juan, P.R.

Robert and Heidi Scott and family, in August. The Scotts serve with aXcess. Dianna L. Ullrich, in August. Dianna serves with CAMA. FRANCE Joshua and Caris Cloyd and family, in August. The Cloyds serve with Envision. Melissa Longley, in August. Melissa serves with aXcess. GERMANY

INDONESIA

Joel and Katelyn Damon, in September. The Damons serve with Envision.

Daniel and Karis Stringer, in September. The Stringers serve with aXcess.

Michael and Elissa Picconatto, in September. The Picconattos serve with Envision.

MONGOLIA

SPAIN

Daniel and Kathryn Hackett and family, in August. The Hacketts serve with CAMA. Peter and Sarah Lee and family, in September. The Lees serve with CAMA. TAIWAN Chueh-Sheng Ho and Yu Fen Kuo and family, in September. The Hos serve with aXcess.

Timothy P. Allen, institutional chaplain, Mid-Atlantic District

Timothy and Marilyn Westergren, in August. The Westergrens serve with aXcess.

LATIN AMERICA

Dawn E. Bailey, ministry associate, Calvary Church, Milford, Conn. Samuel M. Baker, assistant pastor, Friendship Alliance Church, Moultrie, Ga. Timothee J. Bateman, pastor, Colonie Alliance Church, Albany, N.Y. Jeffrey A. Bean, campus pastor, Stewartstown (Pa.) Alliance Church Erin D. Bell, Board of Directors, C&MA National Office, Reynoldsburg, Ohio Charles P. Bohl, pastor of discipleship, care, and small groups, Essex Alliance Church, Essex Junction, Vt. Bryan T. Buravah, association vice president, Association of Montagnard Churches, Greensboro, N.C. Ivette Cardona de Concepcion, pastora asistente educacion cristiana y adoracion, ACM Lares (P.R.) Robert J. Cash, special assignment, Eastern PA District

MEXICO

Kenneth Castor, non-Alliance assignment, North Central District

Darrol and Kimberly Prusia and family, in September. The Prusias serve with aXcess.

Bokkun Chang, assistant pastor, The Little Flock Church of New York, Woodside, N.Y.

ALLIANCELIFE

JAN/FEB 2026

Philip N. Chapman, pastor, Ohio Valley District

William H. Klees Jr., special assignment, Eastern PA District

Jessica Mitchell, assistant director of church health, Metropolitan District

Jonathan S. Coates, pastor, Swiftwater Church Thorp Campus, Cle Alum, Wash.

Erin K. Kohl, missions engagement counselor, The Alliance Midwest District

Scott H. Moats, president, Anderson University, The Alliance Midwest District

Charles A. Davis, non-Alliance assignment, Metropolitan District

William F. Kosel, interim pastor, North Central District

Micah J. Dodson, special assignment, Alliance Northwest District

Joseph Kue, pastor, The New Vine Alliance Church, Hermet, Calif.

William J. Motosicky III, assistant pastor, Uplift Church, Jacksonville, Fla.

Jason M. Fickes, executive pastor, Daybreak Church South, Mechanicsburg, Pa. Dennis D. Findorff, lead pastor, Lance Creek (Wyo.) Community Church Graham T. Fouts, pastor of middle school, First Alliance Church, Lexington, Ky. Zach B. Freitas, lead pastor, Freshwater Community Church, St. Bonifacius, Minn. Noah A. Fultz, associate pastor, East Park Church, Vancouver, Wash. F. Xavier Godoy, Spanish speaking pastor, Chambersburg (Pa.) Alliance Church

Charlotte T. Lackey, pastor of youth and worship, Real Life Church, Bigfork, Mont.

Sean P. Muldowney, pastor, Hillside Alliance Church, Ithaca, N.Y.

Isaiah J. Lackey, pastor of youth and worship, Real Life Church, Bigfork, Mont.

Tim D. Nam, executive pastor, Redeemer Alliance Church, Robbinsville Twp., N.J.

Richard W. LaFountain, pastor, Grace Fellowship Church, Sandy Lake, Pa.

Marvin E. Nelson, civil air patrol chaplain, C&MA National Office, Reynoldsburg, Ohio

Jordan D. Lang, senior high youth pastor, Eagle Church, Whitestown, Ind.

Tim Ng, Kent (Wash.) Chinese Alliance Church

Gordon W. Lanpher, children’s pastor, Leeward Community Church, Pearl City, Hawaii Wesley A. Lavrinc, church planter, First Alliance Church, Lexington, N.C.

Seth J. Grunder, youth pastor, Movement Church, Charlotte, Fla.

Daniel B. Lawrence Jr., Board of Directors, C&MA National Office, Reynoldsburg, Ohio

Arthur Y. Gwion Sr., lead pastor, MidAmerica District

David F. Lee, special assignment, Western PA District

Tyler C. Hall, church planter, Springfield (Vt.) Plant

Samuel D. Lee, special assignment, Metropolitan District

Brian W. Heath, lead pastor, Main Street Church, Vancouver, Wash.

Sung Han Lee, pastor, Woori Church, Thornton, Colo.

Chong Tou Her, DM pastor, St. Paul Hmong Alliance Church, Maplewood, Minn.

John A. Malone, church planter, Christ Kingdom Community Church, Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Paul L. Hoffmeyer Jr., pastor, Tyler (Minn.) Alliance Church

Barton F. McKelvey, chaplain, Central District

Brittany R. Jacobs, discipleship pastor, ACF Church, Eagle River, Ark.

Owen P. Mears, associate pastor, Riverside Chapel, Florence, N.J.

Eric W. Jacobs, campus pastor, Daybreak Church East, New Cumberland, Pa.

Kevin T. Moua, special assignment, Eastern PA District

Zachary M. Meerkreebs, executive director of Barnabas Collective, Ohio Valley District

Min Kyoung Kim, pastor, Korean District

Timothy G. Meier, lead pastor, Grace Church, Middleburg Heights, Ohio

Sun Hee Kim, pastor, Korean District

Mike Mika, chaplain, Central District

JAN/FEB 2026

ALLIANCELIFE

Khanh N. Nguyen, interim pastor, Philadelphia (Pa.) Vietnamese Alliance Church Chad L. Oberholtzer, special assignment, Pine Glen C&MA Church, Lewistown, Pa. Jonatan L. Martinez Otero, pastor, La Alianza en la Ciudad, San Juan, P.R. Jihoon Park, federal chaplain, MidAmerica District Robert Peet, lead pastor, Kingdom of God, Kingman, Ariz. Nathan A. Pharr, missions candidate in residence, Renovation Church, Bartlett, Ill. Sarah E. Polera, associate pastor, Bedford Community Church, Bedford Hills, N.Y. Mykel L. Pollock, district personnel, Great Lakes District Benjamin L. Pressnall, chaplain candidate, Ohio Valley District Cassandra R. Pritchard, next generation ministry director, Destiny Church, Twinsburg, Ohio Then Rahlan, association treasurer, Association of Montagnard Churches, Greensboro, N.C. Carlos J. Ramirez, lead pastor, Armonk (N.Y.) Alliance Church

Dania R. Ramirez, pastor of spiritual formation, Armonk (N.Y.) Alliance Church Alan W. Rathbun, Board of Directors, C&MA National Office, Reynoldsburg, Ohio Robert Redman Jr., lead pastor, Real Hope Community Church, Lacey, Wash. Joel A. Repic, special assignment, Western PA District Michael Dean Reynolds, executive director of SEEDS, MidAmerica District Puen H. Roo, association secretary, Association of Montagnard Churches, Greensboro, N.C. Daniel E. Rudolf, next generation pastor, Ridgeway Alliance Church, White Plains, N.Y. Gabriela Martinez Seda, assistant pastor, La Alianza en la Ciudad, San Juan, P.R. Taylor Sharp, youth pastor, York (Pa.) Alliance Church Daih Siu, association president, Association of Montagnard Churches, Greensboro, N.C. Jon E. Smith, institutional chaplain, Mid-Atlantic District Dwayne L. Smithgall, community pastor, Swiftwater Church, Roslyn, Wash. Andre J. Snodgrass, special assignment, Alliance Northwest District Nicholas J. Stumbo, director of Pure Desire Ministries, Ohio Valley District Hiram Soto, pastor asistente de visitacion, ACM Lares (P.R.) Robert R. Thomas II, church planter, The Collective, Greenwich, Ohio

Peter Vincent, pastor of pastoral care, Salem (Ore.) Alliance Church Ronald C. Walborn, special assignment, Metropolitan District Kelvin L. Walker, Board of Directors, C&MA National Office, Reynoldsburg, Ohio Heather L. Wallace, special assignment, Metropolitan District Shawn F. Wallace, district personnel, Metropolitan District Richard W. Wallace Jr., other ministry, Envision Twin Cities Nathan L. Watson, special assignment, South Pacific Alliance Daniel R. Wetzel, interim pastor, Cornerstone Fellowship, Shenandoah, Iowa Jonas P. Wharton, campus pastor, Spring Grove (Pa.) Area C&MA Church Donald A. Wiggins, Board of Directors, C&MA National Office, Reynoldsburg, Ohio Daniel F. Wright, associate pastor, Family Empowerment Centers Chicago (Ill.) John Y. Yang, pastor, Holy Covenant Alliance Church, Sheboygan, Wis. Kong Yang, worship pastor, Sacramento Hmong Alliance Church, Elk Grove, Calif. Sherman Y. Yang, pastor, Hmong Christian Alliance Church, Winder, Ga. Tswvpuam P. Yang, pastor, MidFlorida Hmong Alliance Church, Wauchula, Fla. Jamie S. Zacharias, pastor of church life, First Alliance Church, Columbus, Ohio

NEW CHURCHES

Richard W. Todd, senior vice president for ministry development, Ohio Valley District

East McKeesport, Pa., Iglesia Hispana Church, 1000 Broadway Ave., 15035

Nhia V. Vang, church planter pastor, Hmong District

Great Falls, Va., INTO Church, 11321 Beach Mill Rd., 22066

John M. Vargo, chaplain, Eastern PA District

Guayanbo, P.R., Alianza Cristiana y Misionera, La Alianza en la

ALLIANCELIFE

JAN/FEB 2026

Ciudad, Urb. Juan Ponce de Leon, Calle 25 Esq. Ave. Lopategui, 00969 Kingman, Ariz., Kingdom of God, 4435 Shadow Rd., 86409 St. Paul, Minn., Mosaic Alliance Church, 1632 Charles Ave., 55104 Toledo, Ohio, Jesus is the Light of the World Church, 2500 Wilford Dr., 43615

NEW WORKERS Fuad Almasri, church planting pastor, Arabic Evangelical Church, Madison Heights, Mich. Devanee Auel, adult ministries assistant, Christ Community Church, Omaha, Neb. Amit A. Bhatia, pastor, Dallas (Ore.) Alliance Church Annabelle G. Brown, assistant pastor for student ministries, Friendship Alliance Church, Moultrie, Ga. Jonathan Brown, assistant pastor for student ministries, Friendship Alliance Church, Moultrie, Ga. Onesime B. Bokweya, church planter, Amour du Christ, Cleveland, Ohio Albert S. Buni, church planter, Amour du Christ, Cleveland, Ohio Robert V. Caywood, military chaplain, Great Lakes District Robert Cook, assistant pastor, Alliance Chapel, Oak Harbor, Ohio Hassan Dicks, special assignment, Scio Community Alliance Church, Ann Arbor, Mich. Lukas Dunn, pastor, Fairlawn Community Church, Cogan Station, Pa. Blake L. Fillinger, associate pastor, New Hope C&MA Church, Scottsdale, Pa. Kenneth J. Fisher, pastor, Iron Mill Church, Danville, Pa. Clayce Fletcher, assistant pastor, Jericho Road Church, Muskegon, Mich.

Southwest Florida Retirement Living Resort Amenities | State-of-the-art Health Care Scott P. Fox, pastor of student ministries, Kenmore Alliance Church, Tonawanda, N.Y. Rigoberto Gomez, assistant pastor, Iglesia Alianza Vida, Houston, Tex. Sarina Groce, disciplemaking ministries, Allegheny Center C&MA Church, Pittsburgh, Pa. Greyson Hanowell, other ministry, Salem (Ore.) Alliance Church Jason Hinton, assistant pastor, First Alliance Church, Silver Spring, Md. Leah N. Jackson, Baraka English ministry intern, Salem (Ore.) Alliance Church Eun Jung, associate pastor, Manhattan Mission Church, New York, N.Y. Theodros Kelemwork, pastor, Ethiopian Evangelical Church, Prospect Park, Pa. Michael B. Larkin, Albany Park youth director, Midwest District Michelle S. Lazurek, director of disciplemaking, Gateway Alliance Church, Sidney, N.Y.

Vibrant Faithful Joyful Living Fulfilled Artful Healthy

Cleto E. Lerma Jr., director of youth ministries, First Alliance Church, Lexington, N.C. Sarah E. Lewan, director of family care and outreach, Bridge Community Church, Troy, Mich. Jireh Jair G. Maing, lead pastor, Fellowship Alliance Church, Truth or Consequences, N.M. Drew Miller, adult ministries intern, Salem (Ore.) Alliance Church Noah Miller, Baraka English ministry intern, Salem (Ore.) Alliance Church Luis D. del Rio Miranda, assistant pastor, ACM Vega Baja (P.R.) Playa

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Elijah D. Morris, youth pastor, Hawley (Minn.) Alliance Church Elba I. Robles Muniz, assistant pastor, ACM Isabela, Arecibo, P.R. LoAnn H. Nguyen, special assignment, The Alliance South

JAN/FEB 2026

ALLIANCELIFE

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Vinh T. Nguyen, pastor, Vietnamese Alliance Church, Phoenix, Ariz.

Clint D. Walker, youth pastor, Exit Church, Gas City, Ind.

Maurice R. Irvin, Eastern PA District

Ezra L. Nixon-Barreto, pastor for intercultural ministries, Immanuel C&MA Church, Mechanicsburg, Pa.

Luke Pengda Wang, interim pastor, Grace Christian Alliance Church, Flushing, N.Y.

Richard P. Jenks Sr., Western PA District

Ashley Njenga, young adult pastor, Allegheny Center C&MA Church, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Joy Weyand-Campos, director of Baraka workforce development, Salem (Ore.) Alliance Church

Wayde E. Kenneke, North Central District

Jim P. St. Onge, assistant pastor, REACH Community Church, Saginaw, Mich.

Worku Wolderufael, pastor, International Ethiopian Evangelical Church, Montgomery Village, Md.

Naolue T. Kue, Hmong District

Steven Petersheim, college personnel, Toccoa Falls (Ga.) College Christopher Pottenger, military chaplain candidate, Rocky Mountain District Arok Rahlan, assistant pastor, Hope Montagnard Alliance Church, Belmont, N.C. Erik R. Rasmussen, pastor, Pathways Community Church, Ramsey, Minn. Phi Rolan, assistant pastor, Hope Montagnard Alliance Church, Belmont, N.C. Cynthia Romberg, field shepherd, Standing Stone Ministry, MidAmerica District Joshua C. Sanders, lead pastor, Midwest District Kenneth J. Staples, pastor, New Buffalo Alliance Church, Duncannon, Pa. Zachary H. Summers, worship and creative arts pastor, Arise Church, Hillsboro, Ore. Kou Tho, assistant pastor, True Life Church, Hickory, N.C. Terence M. Thornton, pastor, New Spring Church, Colorado Springs, Colo. Temesgen S. Tilahun, church planter, Ebenezer Church, Cleveland, Ohio Timothy S. Tjernagel, pastor, Dover Avenue Alliance Church, Orange City, Iowa Terasue A. Trempert, leadership pipeline manager, district office, MidAmerica District

Allen T. Wong, assistant pastor, Silicon Valley Alliance Church, Milpitas, Calif. Colin T. Wood, pastor, Connexion Church, Bowling Green, Ky. Jonathon Wren, executive pastor, Snoqualmie Valley Alliance Church, Fall City, Wash. Eric T. Wu, pastoral resident, Providence Church, Omaha, Neb. Shua Yang, pastor of preschool ministries, Salem (Ore.) Alliance Church Vin Yang, pastor, San Diego (Calif.) Hmong Church

RETIRED Samuel Bellavia, Eastern PA District Gordon Bergman, Alliance Northwest District Samuel L. Bundy, Western PA District Ukwon Chong, Korean District Charles W. Davis Jr., Eastern PA District Charles B. DeWitt, Alliance Southeast Samuel B. Felix, South Pacific Alliance Randolph A. Franco, Spanish Eastern District Sanford S. Hashimoto, Alliance Southeast Randall D. Hickman, The Alliance South Keith A. Hobson Sr., Northeastern District

ALLIANCELIFE

JAN/FEB 2026

Paul R. Keidel, Eastern PA District

Stephen M. Kroh, Western PA District Jimmy J. Kunes, Western PA District Kou L. Lee, Hmong District Myung Han Lee, Korean District Joel Martinez, Spanish Eastern District Porfirio Medina, Spanish Eastern District Stephen R. Miller, Alliance Northwest District A. Wyatt Mullinax, The Alliance Midwest District James A. Murphy, Alliance New England Jonathan R. Mutchler, Alliance Northwest District Marvin E. Nelson, Great Lakes District Philip L. Nelson, Alliance Northwest District Hung P. Phan, Vietnamese District Abraham Sandler, Eastern PA District David P. Sipp, The Alliance South Pieter F. Theron, Alliance Northwest District Stanley A. Tyson, Great Lakes District Larry K. Williams, Ohio Valley District Mchaiv Pao Xiong, Hmong District

In later years, Eunice navigated a journey with cognitive decline with quiet strength and was lovingly cared for by her Oregon family.

WITH THE LORD Eunice L. Irwin March 12, 1948–August 31, 2025 Born March 12, 1948, to Rev. Rogers and Esther Irwin in Salem, Oregon, Eunice traveled the world and arrived at her final heavenly destination from her most recent home in Woodburn, Oregon. Her life was a remarkable journey of learning, travel, faith, and family. Eunice earned degrees from Seattle (Wash.) Pacific College, Western Conservative Baptist Seminary (Portland, Ore.), and a PhD from the University of Birmingham in England. She spent many years as a missionary in Irian Jaya and the Philippines, embracing cultures across the globe. Later, she served as associate professor of mission and contextual theology at Asbury Theological Seminary (Wilmore, Ky.). Among her many travels, she especially treasured journeys shared with family and countless games of checkers, Pit, and other favorites.

She leaves behind a large, loving family that also includes her brother, Paul; sister-in-law, Carolyn; nieces; and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and her oldest brother, Robert. Ruth G. (Rieger) Fitch June 28, 1927–September 4, 2025 Ruth was born on June 28, 1927, in Chicago, Illinois. After graduating from high school, Ruth worked at Hartford Insurance Company while attending Moody Bible Institute (Chicago, Ill.) in the evenings. Ruth married Elmer Fitch in 1947, after which Ruth became a supportive and faithful pastor’s wife serving alongside her husband in Christian and Missionary Alliance churches in Dixon, Ill.; Owen Sound, Ontario; Elmhurst, Ill.; Hamilton, Ontario; Brockton, Mass.; and once again in the Chicago area when Elmer became the district superintendent for the Midwest District. Elmer and Ruth were the loving parents of

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Joel Sawyer February 28, 1935–July 2, 2025

Karen, Donna, Dan, and David. She dearly loved and prayed for her 6 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and raised across the Susquehanna River in Lemoyne, Joel was born again as a young teenager. He met his wife, Nancy, during high school at a Youth for Christ rally. He graduated from Nyack (N.Y.) College in 1969, married Nancy, and went on to graduate from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Hamilton, Mass.).

After Elmer’s death, Ruth filled her days by working for Dr. David Wenz and the Midwest District office of The Christian and Missionary Alliance. She also volunteered at a local hospital and Lifeline Pregnancy Center. Ruth enjoyed participating in several quilting groups, Bible studies, and using her people-care gifts as head deaconess at the Lombard Bible Church. In her final years, Ruth was cared for with loving devotion by her daughter, Karen, and hospice personnel, as well as home caregivers. Even in declining health, Ruth shared her love of Jesus with those who visited and cared for her. Ruth was predeceased by her husband, parents, and brother.

Ordained by The Christian and Missionary Alliance in 1972, Joel’s first pastorate was an extension in Nashua, New Hampshire. He continued as an associate in Portland, Maine, and pastored a church plant in Connecticut. In the mid-1970s, he served as associate pastor for 10 years at First Alliance Church of Erie, Penn. Joel then was pastor for 10 years at Washington Valley Christian Church in Cambridge Springs, Penn. In 1987, he became pastor of Franconia Alliance Church in Alexandria, Virginia, where he ministered until his retirement in 2013. From that time forward, Joel and Nancy were members of Arlington Community Church, where Joel served as an elder.

Lisa Meilani Plunket January 17, 1959–May 21, 2025 Lisa was born January 17, 1959, in Owensboro, Kentucky.

She was married to Dr. Michael Plunket for 45 years, and together they planted and pastored churches in Mississippi, Mexico City, Atlanta, and New City, N.Y. For 21 years, Lisa served as a pastor at Risen King Church, where she revitalized children’s ministry, developed discipleship programs, and discipled hundreds with creativity, deep biblical insight, and an intimate walk with Jesus.

Joel was a loving husband and father, fan of vintage big-band jazz, Anglophile, and a long-suffering Nats supporter who reveled in puns. Joel is survived by his wife, Nancy; son, Chris; daughter, Rebecca; son-in-law, Timothy; and granddaughter, Mandy.

Lisa was a powerful teacher, prayer warrior, and global ministry leader through College of Prayer International, leading prayer gatherings worldwide. One of the highlights of her ministry was leading over 3,000 people to Christ in Uganda in 2007. She co-founded Empower, a ministry training and equipping women around the world. She taught, mentored, and modeled humble, Spirit-filled leadership, always pointing people to Jesus.

Lisa is survived by her husband, Michael; children Joseph and Anna; grandchildren Ali and Kai; her mother, Norma Lei Noland; five siblings; extended family; and countless spiritual sons and daughters. She was preceded in death by her father, Joseph Noland. Even in her final days, Lisa’s passion for prayer and for others to know Jesus never wavered. Her last words were, “Jesus, You have made a way for me.”

ALLIANCELIFE

JAN/FEB 2026

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Orchard Alliance / 866.351.2553 / invest@orchardalliance.org This is not an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities of Orchard Alliance (Orchard). The offering is made solely through and by Orchard’s Offering Circular, which you should read carefully before making an investment decision. Orchard’s securities are subject to certain risk factors as described in the Offering Circular. Orchard’s securities are offered only in states where authorized. Orchard is a religious, nonprofit organization;JAN/FEB therefore,2026 Orchard’s47 securities are not bank deposit accounts and are not insured by the FDIC, SIPC or any other ALLIANCELIFE governmental agency. Orchard is not licensed to offer investment advice with respect to its securities, including those for retirement accounts. ©2026 Orchard Alliance. All rights reserved.

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