Ordinary, everyday Iranians are begging us to not forget them as the world witnesses the continuing joint American and Israeli military operations in their country.

One of our Persian Diaspora partners sent an urgent plea this week for us to share with you the increasing blanket of isolation that is being pulled across Iran. According to Netblocks, an organization that tracks global internet outages, the people of Iran have been without outside internet access for more than 13 days, and connectivity is at just 1% of normal levels. The Iranian state-run media agency has not made a single mention of the internet blackout on its English language website.

Even before intense military action began in Iran on Saturday, February 28, as protests against the Iranian regime rose inside the country, The Outreach Foundation and our church partners have been passionately in prayer for our mission partners who are doing God’s work for the people of Iran. We pray alongside our Iranian brothers and sisters for an end to conflict and the beginning of transition that will usher in religious freedom for the people of Iran. But birthing that essential, God-given freedom will not be easy and the complex mix of deep emotions Iranians are experiencing can’t be understated.

Today, after the demonstration in The Hague in support of the people of Iran, Hadi and I separated from the group as we were heading home. On our way back, a woman approached us and suddenly began to cry. She said, “I need to talk to you. I haven’t heard from my family in Iran for several days.” 

Something inside the heart of Iran is blooming that many prayed and hoped for decades: freedom. Yet we are in awe of how quickly the reel is spinning. Despite the regime darkening internet and cell phones, videos are sending the songs of Iranians from inside to the world — a free country is being birthed before our eyes.

Paul wrote, “For freedom Christ has set us free” (Gal 5:1). While he was not speaking about the earthly freedoms many of us enjoy, the story we must share is of one family’s journey from darkness in Afghanistan to freedom in Brazil. Their freedom is the result of much prayer, the miraculous way God works through trusted partnerships, and the generosity of donors to The Outreach Foundation.

Greetings from southern Madagascar!

Today is the last day of partner church Fiangonan’i Jesoa Kristy eto Madagasikara (FJKM’s) General Assembly meeting.

General Assembly members will elect a 100-member General Council that will govern the FJKM until the next General Assembly in 2029. FJKM’s officers including the president will be elected from the 100-member General Council.  The FJKM will also vote on major priorities for the next 4 years.

Dear Friends, 

My name is Dariush Golbaghi, founder of Safehouse Ministries—a movement born from nearly two decades of ministry among persecuted believers and diaspora communities across Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. I’m thrilled to share that I will be traveling to the United States from October 5th to 10th for a season of ministry, teaching, and mission engagement.

Advent Greetings from NESSL

Dear Supporters,

We are honored to share with you a powerful message we received from our partner Rev. Joseph Kassab, General Secretary, National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL). In his message, Rev. Kassab expressively describes the current situation in Syria, shedding light on the hopes, concerns, and challenges faced by our Syrian sisters and brothers in Christ. We invite you to read his words and join us in prayerful solidarity. Here is his message:

“A land yearning for peace yet has never seen it. Peace to the Middle East, with all it holds, and to all who live in it.” These words, circulating on social media and spoken from the depths of sorrow, reflect the grief and hope of Middle Eastern people amidst relentless turmoil. Just days after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, a major escalation in the Syrian war took place last weekend, casting a shadow over fleeting hopes of stability in the region.

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the greatest gift ever given, remember your loved ones this Christmas by making a gift in their honor to The Outreach Foundation. Whether it’s for someone with a special heart for mission or for the person who has everything, it’s a beautiful way to demonstrate God’s love for us through the gift of His son, Jesus. Gifts can be designated to a specific partner that you or your loved one are passionate about. To give a gift, please mail a check to our address below with your designation listed in the memo line or give online via the link below. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us at info@theoutreachfoundation.org. 

In the wake of the escalating conflict between Israel and Gaza, the situation in South Lebanon has become increasingly perilous. While the exchange of hostilities from both sides remained contained within previously accepted “rules of engagement,” the situation has escalated quickly as of mid-September. Communities near the border have been greatly affected, leading to a significant displacement of residents from their homes. Our partner organizations like the Compassion Protestant Society, which is the diaconal arm of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon, the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees of the Middle East Council of Churches, and the Forum for Development Culture and Dialogue in Lebanon are all on the ground providing much-needed support and relief to some of the 112,000 internally displaced persons.

It is with deep sadness that we share the news that Rev. Dr. William T. “Bill” Bryant passed away today. Please keep his wife, Bette, their sons and daughter, and their grandchildren in your prayers during this difficult time.

On Monday, September 23, 2024, the war between Israel and Hezbollah took a devastating turn as Israel unleashed new waves of airstrikes on Lebanon. The moment I heard the news, my heart raced, and I immediately reached out to my sister and my 12-year-old niece, who live in southern Lebanon. When my sister finally picked up the phone, her voice was trembling, barely able to speak. Just minutes before my call, an Israeli missile had struck an apartment building a mere 900 feet from their home.

The church in Iraq is growing, indeed! As a result of the partnership between the Presbyterian Church in Iraq and the Synod of the Nile in Egypt, a fourth church has been planted. Located in Dohuk, this new church plant will be pastored by Adel Hanin from the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo, another Outreach partner. Pastor Adel, pictured here with his family, is the fourth Egyptian pastor sent to serve in Iraq. Pastor Manassa Nesem, Executive Director of the Pastoral, Outreach, and Mission Council (POMC) in Egypt, shared this joyful news and need:

It is well-known that the Word of the Lord is rapidly spreading in China, even though the religious policy environment has changed in the recent decade. What does this look like on the ground? What and how can we pray for them? Are there mission opportunities for us? Now, you are invited to attend our China Ministry Forum in Charlotte, NC, this Labor Day weekend.

Founded in 1979, The Outreach Foundation celebrates 45 years of global ministry this year. While talking with donors, trustees, pastors, and lay leaders this winter, we heard rich reflections and insightful observations about our executive leadership here at Outreach. These skilled, tireless, and Spirit-filled executive directors have been a blessing to The Outreach Foundation. Around the globe, much has changed socially, politically, and economically; but the ministry of The Outreach Foundation has remained Christ-centered and partner-focused. We’ve also been alert to the ever-evolving needs and circumstances of God’s people through disasters, war, persecution, and explosive growth of the global church.

We mourn the loss of Richard “Dick” Knox Swayze, Sr., who died peacefully Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at Highland Home in Ridgeland, MS. Rick and his wife Bibby served as Brazil Consultants for The Outreach Foundation, taking short-term mission groups to various areas of Brazil, including the Northeast, South Brazil, and the Amazon River Basin.  They facilitated the formation of partnerships between the partner denomination in Brazil and Presbyterian congregations throughout the United States.

One of our core priorities at The Outreach Foundation is investing in the capacity of the global church through efforts to strengthen church leadership by providing theological training and helping equip conferences put on by our global mission partners. Our friends at the Western Gambella Bethel Synod in Ethiopia are planning to host a conference that will do just this for 128 active pastors in their synod.

We know them as Immediate First Aid Kits, “IFAKs” for short. Dr. Ivan Rusyn tells us that other than ammunition and missiles, these are the number one request from soldiers and their commanders. Outreach Foundation donors, churches, and a partnership through Delta Airlines all came together to deliver 1,000 IFAKs to Ukraine during our April 2024 visit. This was just in time for the anticipated escalation of military activity this summer.