Evangelism
AEF International’s vision is to reach Asia with the Gospel by equipping and supporting national pastors and other workers. Nobody knows the culture, customs, languages and dialects of a country better than the people that live there. Thanks to the support over more than 50 years of many people like you, AEFI has been able to continue in growing people’s understanding and acceptance of the Gospel in Asia.
Evangelism takes many forms including Gospel campaigns, literature and video distribution, personal witnessing and testimonies, and praying for the sick and needy.
AEF also ministers Christ’s love through humanitarian services such as taking care of orphans, providing education, health services, family and youth counselling, hospital visits, and community infrastructure and micro-economic projects.ssion national workers to carry out pioneer mission work in their own Asian countries. It achieves this through its training arm, the Asia College of Ministry (ACOM). The late Dr. G.D. James founded the Tamil Bible Institute in Johor Bahru, Malaysia in 1977. Its successor, ACOM, now operates in three semi-autonomous centres: Kathmandu, Nepal (teaching in Nepali); Yangon, Myanmar (teaching in Burmese), and Johor Bahru (teaching in Tamil). It is now in the early stages of development in China.
Since 2004, through the leadership of an Australian, Dr Alan Meers, the ACOM program transitioned to Bachelor, and finally Masters level, and some graduates have achieved the Masters level. ACOM programs in various centres operate in a self – accredited manner except for Indonesia, where we are required by the government to be accredited by the local authority.
Church planting
Through God’s wonderful use of the ‘multiplier effect’ AEF International pastors, often reaching the most isolated areas of their countries, have planted churches that have in turn planted other churches and associated buildings. Though often simple in construction, but usually highly practical, these buildings have brought together communities in a most powerful way.
Biblical Training
AEF International’s mission statement is to identify, train and commission national workers to carry out pioneer mission work in their own Asian countries. It achieves this through its training arm, the Asia College of Ministry (ACOM). The late Dr G.D. James founded the Tamil Bible Institute in Johor Bahru, Malaysia in 1977. Its successor, ACOM, now operates in three semi-autonomous centres: Kathmandu, Nepal (teaching in Nepali); Yangon, Myanmar (teaching in Burmese), and Johor Bahru (teaching in Tamil). It is now in the early stages of development in China.
Since 2004, through the leadership of an Australian, Dr Alan Meers, the ACOM program transitioned to Bachelor, and finally Masters level, and some graduates have achieved the Masters level. ACOM has been recognised in these countries in achieving excellence in providing tertiary theological study programs.
Community Development
Primary and Secondary Education
AEF International provides education from the most basic such as teaching slum children who may otherwise receive none, to primary and secondary such as that provided in Nepal. The Grace Academy in Nepal started with fewer than 20 students but now has over 500, providing opportunities mainly for children of poor families and also orphans who would otherwise have limited education. The school has 30 teachers and staff and thanks to the continued sponsorship program it has grown significantly in terms of buildings and equipment. The Academy’s Train up a Child program offers opportunities for people to sponsor children and to receive reports on their progress. This program has given great hope for many who otherwise had none. Some have gone through primary and secondary school and returned as teachers to the Academy, a truly inspirational achievement!
Orphanages
AEF International workers are amongst the most compassionate people in the world and this is demonstrated in their love and support of children in need and at risk. When there is no one else to care for a child AEF workers will step in and meet the most basic of human needs; food, shelter, protection and love. Many children rescued from the streets by AEF workers have gone on to lead successful lives.
Community health projects
AEF International is really a holistic ministry in that it serves every part of the community including meeting people’s health needs. At the same time those workers responsible for providing this relief also, if invited, offer spiritual relief to those in need. A number of health clinics operate in most AEF countries providing free check-ups, immunisations, general practice and dental health. A new hospital is being completed in stages in Cambodia and is already proving to be an asset to the local community. In another country, AEF workers are reaching out to HIV-Aids patients who would otherwise be ostracised by their community.
Infrastructure projects
Because AEF workers are indigenous to the country they work in they also understand issues surrounding the infrastructure requirements of their community and they have the knowledge and networks to enable planning permissions for projects such as clean water supplies, roads and street lighting.
Self-sustainable projects
AEF International recognises that it is important to assist national workers to gain the knowledge and expertise to develop self –sustainable projects in their local community. These projects enable income for local pastors’ families for example, whilst at the same time providing meaningful jobs as well as affordable and good quality produce for their community.
Media Ministries
In 2002 AEF International’s media and training arm, Destiny Communications began a partnership with HCJB Radio (now called Reach Beyond Australia) to provide a half-hour program called Destiny that is broadcast from Kununurra Western Australia via shortwave to a potential Asian audience of nearly two billion people.
In 2008 a contextualised newspaper, Divya Destiny was established to reach the peoples of India through testimonials and other relational topics. Its circulation continues to grow.
The G D James Neighbour Training initiative reaches out to people of various religions to provide a basic understanding of the Divinity of Christ.
Support following natural disasters
When natural disasters strike AEF is there providing help in the form of food, clean water, first aid and shelter. A prime example was the 2008 Cyclone Nargis that was the worst natural disaster in Myanmar’s history. AEF Myanmar staff provided food, shelter, health services and comfort to many displaced persons and also helped rebuild many houses and other buildings.