What Is ADVENT CONSPIRACY?
Advent Conspiracy was founded on the radical idea that we can celebrate Christmas humbly, beautifully, and generously. Advent is the story of a wondrous moment when God entered our world to make things right. It is the greatest story ever told and it changes everything - including the way we celebrate Christmas. It is based on four concepts:
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WORSHIP FULLY:
Christmas begins and ends with Jesus. |
SPEND LESS:
Free up your resources to support things that truly matter. |
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GIVE MORE:
Give more intentionally and relationally. |
LOVE ALL:
Radically love others like Jesus did. |
ASLAN CHILD RESCUE MINISTRIES
Bringing Hope to the Poorest & Most Persecuted People in the World.
This year we are partnering with Aslan Child Rescue Ministries, founded by John Ramey. By partnering with us, your gift brings hope to the poorest and most persecuted people in the world. Aslan uses 100% of the proceeds from these shows to target three specific and disturbing areas: West Africa, Ethiopia, and India. John tells us of unspeakable horrors that are happening daily in these areas - young families fleeing from their villages; a nurse midwife being stoned to death; family members being abducted for ransom - all under the shadow of poverty, reproach, and persecution. We thank you, in advance, for your generosity this Christmas, and for partnering with us to give the world a little more hope.
A Letter From John Ramey of Aslan Ministries
Dear Friends at First Baptist Lodi,
Aslan Child Rescue Ministries and its national partners have seen a move of the Holy Spirit to both unite the church and bring forth a sizable harvest of followers of our Lord especially in the Sahel (that is, Niger, Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali and N. Nigeria), Ethiopia, and India. Every week I am getting news of baptisms! Praise the Lord! And, thanks to ZOOM and WhatsApp and Signal technology, I am able to visit with and minister the Word to our partners!
But I am keenly aware that this surge of response to the gospel will mean persecution. We are putting our collective finger on the nerve of the dragon and there will be a reaction. It is on my heart, and on the hearts of our board members, to be ready to stand in solidarity with our partners and their networks as this persecution comes. In our Aslan network we have had three martyrdoms in the last four months. Many pastors and Jesus-followers have had to flee their villages or towns. A nurse midwife was stoned to death and her adult children injured. A young man was shot dead for playing Christian music in his shop. One brother was abducted and held for four days before being miraculously released. As has happened before, he had a dream the night before he was released in which he saw exactly what would and indeed did happen to bring about his release the next day! Others have suffered the loss of jobs, the killing of their animals, threats against their wives and children, rapes, fires to their property and other humiliations. On my recent trip to Burkina Faso to minister to pastors, there were many stories of persecution in many forms, including threats, theft of property and livestock, social isolation, poisonings and one pastor – who was seeing many come to the Lord in his village – was taken out to be shot. Thankfully, the pastors who were poisoned and the pastor who was taken out to be shot, miraculously survived and are continuing in their calling.
The pictures are a sampling of Ethiopian evangelists who work in our Aslan network. I asked our leader, Ermias, to give me a report of the various pressures and difficulties these men and women work under. In reading this sampling, you will see not only that they are riding a wave of the Spirit’s opening the hearts of multiplied Muslims to the message of the gospel, but that they are doing it under the shadow of poverty, reproach, and even persecution. It is men and women like this that we want to be at the ready to assist in both the partnership of prayer and encouraging teaching, but also in practical, appropriate financial ways. What they are experiencing is also being experienced among our Aslan partners in India. There is a high price being paid to live and minister the gospel in these highly resistant populations.
These words of our Lord are so fitting:
“And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, ‘Blessed be ye poor; for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now; for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy; for, behold, your reward is great in heaven, for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.’” Luke 6:20-23
It is deeply encouraging to me personally, and I commend the First Baptist pastors and elders for being sensitive to the mandate to stand in solidarity with persecuted brothers and sisters “of whom the world is not worthy.” There are a few things quite unique to Aslan in the world of Christian charity. Our admin costs are very small, less than 2%. We are also directly and personally involved with all the national ministers we partner with and assist. Thank you for all you have helped Aslan do in the past and as they say in the Middle East, “The Lord reward you.” I am happy to answer any questions or provide more details about individuals and photos also.
Together in Christ,
John Ramey,
President, Aslan Child Rescue Ministries
Aslan Child Rescue Ministries and its national partners have seen a move of the Holy Spirit to both unite the church and bring forth a sizable harvest of followers of our Lord especially in the Sahel (that is, Niger, Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali and N. Nigeria), Ethiopia, and India. Every week I am getting news of baptisms! Praise the Lord! And, thanks to ZOOM and WhatsApp and Signal technology, I am able to visit with and minister the Word to our partners!
But I am keenly aware that this surge of response to the gospel will mean persecution. We are putting our collective finger on the nerve of the dragon and there will be a reaction. It is on my heart, and on the hearts of our board members, to be ready to stand in solidarity with our partners and their networks as this persecution comes. In our Aslan network we have had three martyrdoms in the last four months. Many pastors and Jesus-followers have had to flee their villages or towns. A nurse midwife was stoned to death and her adult children injured. A young man was shot dead for playing Christian music in his shop. One brother was abducted and held for four days before being miraculously released. As has happened before, he had a dream the night before he was released in which he saw exactly what would and indeed did happen to bring about his release the next day! Others have suffered the loss of jobs, the killing of their animals, threats against their wives and children, rapes, fires to their property and other humiliations. On my recent trip to Burkina Faso to minister to pastors, there were many stories of persecution in many forms, including threats, theft of property and livestock, social isolation, poisonings and one pastor – who was seeing many come to the Lord in his village – was taken out to be shot. Thankfully, the pastors who were poisoned and the pastor who was taken out to be shot, miraculously survived and are continuing in their calling.
The pictures are a sampling of Ethiopian evangelists who work in our Aslan network. I asked our leader, Ermias, to give me a report of the various pressures and difficulties these men and women work under. In reading this sampling, you will see not only that they are riding a wave of the Spirit’s opening the hearts of multiplied Muslims to the message of the gospel, but that they are doing it under the shadow of poverty, reproach, and even persecution. It is men and women like this that we want to be at the ready to assist in both the partnership of prayer and encouraging teaching, but also in practical, appropriate financial ways. What they are experiencing is also being experienced among our Aslan partners in India. There is a high price being paid to live and minister the gospel in these highly resistant populations.
These words of our Lord are so fitting:
“And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, ‘Blessed be ye poor; for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now; for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy; for, behold, your reward is great in heaven, for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.’” Luke 6:20-23
It is deeply encouraging to me personally, and I commend the First Baptist pastors and elders for being sensitive to the mandate to stand in solidarity with persecuted brothers and sisters “of whom the world is not worthy.” There are a few things quite unique to Aslan in the world of Christian charity. Our admin costs are very small, less than 2%. We are also directly and personally involved with all the national ministers we partner with and assist. Thank you for all you have helped Aslan do in the past and as they say in the Middle East, “The Lord reward you.” I am happy to answer any questions or provide more details about individuals and photos also.
Together in Christ,
John Ramey,
President, Aslan Child Rescue Ministries
Aslan Is on the Move
These are the twelve: pastors, disciple makers, and baptizers in the Aslan network.
Teddesse Kaso, no income. He has two children, four family member, his Father persecuted as he is following Isa. Some Christian family used to help him, and now there is no job opportunities, because of Covid-19 and violence, but he is very successful in evangelistic work and discipleship on the outreach, he baptized 17 people and 6 are ready for baptism for 2nd round.
Dani'el Edewo, he has nothing to provide for his 7 children and they start to eat un ripped corn/maize in order to survive and that is very difficult for him. he has no income that he may wait, he depend on farm that he collect once per year which is very small and there is no daily work for him around. but he is a little bit successful in outreach and follow up he baptized 9 people and about 5 people are ready for baptism.
Aliyi Guddata, need help, because his 0.25 hectare farm destroyed by flood and he suffer a lot for what he eat because the Bishop around him avoid him not to plough the farm land on time and the Bishop gathered themselves to scare him and tray to kill him but he stand firm not to move from the position that Christ gave him and he help another persecuted brother whose name is Kasim, so this time is important for to be helped.
Bini Abu, no income and have 5 children, even he is suffering from getting daily food and there is no work around, he used to depend on his small farm which is not enough for the family. but he is very successful in evangelism and outreach daily and started to discipleship in new places, he baptized 23 people and about 18 people are ready for baptism.
Shiek-Hasan, has been persecuted by his families since 4 years, for being following Isa, and he used to get small support from local church for now the church is closed and not able to help him. He has big heart for the lost Muslim soul and in one place he gathered 30 people to teach them and 3 another new. house church were led by him he baptized 7 Muslim including two sheiks.
Mohammad Kusre, has 5 children, used to work in a barber shop, almost no one is coming to the shop because of Covid. He is a little bit weak in evangelism and disciplining, specially this year he is not doing but in the beginning of the 1st training he was doing better but now he need spiritual and social help.
Mohammad Ambayo, He has four children and they six family member, no work because of Covid. He used to work daily labor in addition to his small farm. Now he has nothing to provide for his children. He is successful in evangelistic work and outreach daily, and started to outreach in new places. He baptized 9 Muslims and has about 4 people ready for baptism.
Teshala Jeldu, He has one child, mean three family member, has income but specially at this time is not good for more people because they collect once per year which is not ready now. He used to get help from one of the local church before Covid-19, but now no church gathering because Covid -19. He baptized 25 Muslims and has planted six house churches,.. but now no needs his help.
Adam Shonta, is very bold brother, fearless. He is the only believer in the family. Muslim In his place are not very soft, they are resistance and spiritually, he doesn’t have a lot of fruit. So far he only baptized one person which is very poor relative to another disciples. he is suffering a lot to win his daily bread.
Abdalla Neneso, He has seven children depending on him. He has very small farm, and he has Apostolic gifted disciple, since we trained he planted three house churches and twenty six ready for baptism, also has a potential for more for the kingdom of God, he used to get also small support from the local church, now nothing at all.
Ganna Gudata, persecuted and has pressure on him from his families that they take away everything belongs to him as he started to follow Isa for. they also killed his cows, goats ,.. even tried to kill him and his wife also destroyed his house. because of this all he couldn't provide for his 7 children that means 9 family member . But they stand firm to follow Isa, so they are both strong in Evangelistic work and discipleship but not success very much on wining soul, he baptized 6 people and 2 families are ready for baptism. Ganna had small farm land which is part of what his families took away and he depend on this farm land.
Shiek Abdella, His wife Madina and daughter Olifun. Sheik Abdella is one of our trainee, Before he came to follow Isa, he learn Quran for seven years. He is a persecuted follower of Isa. He used to work in village as a farmer but now in Ziway. He living working as a daily laborer, but now hard to get daily.