Ministry Continues in East Timor

CA president Bob Houlihan is visiting and continuing ministry in East Timor this Spring. CA has been working alongside many Singaporean evangelical churches in this country as there is still in much turmoil after President Horta was shot in the beginning of 2008. The real emphasis of CA's ministry is alliance... working with other churches to transform the whole nation for Christ.

Years of violence and war have permeated the land of East Timor. This violence and conflict is so pervasive that even Christians have been impacted and tend to be suspicious of other Christian groups. The challenges of trying to eke out a simple living have caused people to retreat into their own denominational groups, communities and villages.

A new day is dawning in the land, however. There is new hope for peace in East Timor, the result of prayer from intercessors in surrounding nations. For four years, Compassionate Alliance has partnered with Transformational Alliance of Singapore in a plan to holistically transform East Timor village by village. To date, 60 missionary volunteers from 15 nations are working in the 13 provinces to minister to the people. Water projects have been completed, food distributed, English classes for the youth started, and medical assistance given where needed. However, there are still 100,000 people living in tents in the nation because of a fear of violence if they return to their villages.

In May 2008, a team of CA and TA leaders met with the Prime Minister, Mr. Xanana Gusmao, to unveil a new initiative to help curb the anger and violence by teaching biblical principles and values in the 446 villages and communities of the nation. The program is a series of classes for adults taught by trained Christians. The "Peace Plan" gives biblical answers to the seeds of conflict: anger, violence, hatred, envy and jealousy. The Christian value system of love, forgiveness, hope and cooperation are presented as the only path that will lead to the end of the 25 years of war and conflict.

The Prime Minister received the plan and is now working with our leadership in the nation to implement this program of peace. To begin the process of bringing this plan to the nation, a Pastor's Prayer Summit was held for three days in May. Bob Houlihan, Rick Seaward, Chua Hock Lin and Selvam Muttto shared from Scripture about God's desire for East Timor. The leadership of eleven different church denominations met together (for the first time in years) and asked for forgiveness from each other for actions and words of criticism of the past.

For this newest nation on earth, there is a ray of hope that has broken across the land... the Gospel of peace. This is truly the day of God's blessing.

Late May 2006: Crisis Prayer Alert

Compassionate Alliance is partnering with churches in Singapore in a plan to transform the newest nation on earth, East Timor. Hundreds of believers and over 200 church leaders have taken trips to all areas of the country to show kindness offer deeds of mercy.

This week, however, over 500 East Timor soldiers have been staging riots in the capital city of Dili. Several people have been killed and hundreds of homes destroyed. The situation is very chaotic and unstable.

There are more than 15 of our personnel in Dili whose lives are in danger. Here are two excerpts from May 25th e-mails: "At 12:20 AM our neighborhood was suddenly caught up in very heavy bombardment with grenades and gun-fire non-stop until 3:00 AM. Ten of us went to our hide-out." "We are under fire... lots of gun shots and grenades around this place. Rebels are running in the streets in front of our house. We are ok, scared with so much noise, but not in panic yet. Pray for us..."

Pray for...

• The safety of our personnel and the national pastors
• The frightened people who are taking refuge in the churches
• Peace to prevail in the land
• A great open door for the presentation of the Gospel.

"Seek the peace and prosperity of the city� Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." Jer.29:7

Early May 2006: Traumas, Riots and Compassion

The newest nation on earth, East Timor, is at the edge of war, riots, and chaos. Two decades of war have traumatized the whole nation. Because 20% of the population was killed in a forced Indonesian occupation, to say nothing of all those who suffered injuries, it is understandable that a deep scar was left on the psyche of the people.

Compassionate Alliance is in partnership with 100 Singapore churches in a holistic mission to East Timor called Transformation Alliance. The purpose is to send many teams to live among the people and to serve in the 422 villages. In February of this year, however, 591 soldiers of the country's military were expelled from the army for protesting against the government. As a way to display their power, this group of soldiers vandalized businesses and homes on April 28th causing destruction which resulted in the deaths of six people and wounding 35 others. With the mounting tension, 70% of the population of the capital city of Dili panicked and headed for the mountains. After years of traumatic experiences, the population is especially sensitive to displays of force which are worsened by the absence of accurate information.

What should a compassion ministry do in the face of this mounting tension? Everything possible. This is the very time when the people of the nation need to see how the grace and peace of God will help them when they go through trials. The Bible says: "Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap." Our greatest work often occurs in the darkest hour of the night.

Within one week of the riots, four teams of compassion workers entered the country and traveled to the mountain areas. In June, eight more teams are scheduled to help and assist the people. In July, over 100 Christian medical professionals from Singapore will hold clinics in the districts and bring healing to the traumatized people. This is how Christians respond to people in desperate situations. Your mission, Compassion Alliance, is in the middle of the riots. We thank God for placing us there. Thank you for praying for East Timor, the leaders of this nation, and those of us committed to be where we can have the greatest impact for good.

Bob Houlihan, President

The children who are fortunate enough to have the chance to go to school study without desks. In a junior college, students use the base of a seat on a chair as a desk to take exams. Other children not so fortunate hawk maps or newspapers to raise enough money to buy food.

Such is life in a typical East Timor town that is still feeling the impact of a war that went on for two decades. Close to the center of town stands a large building that was once a Protestant church. The windows and doors have long since been destroyed and the meeting hall is now a hovel for street children and dogs. Where once the praises of God rang out to the community, now the howls of dogs and the silent cries of displaced children fill the sanctuary. The story of Liquica is repeated hundreds of times in the thirteen districts of this nation.

But a new day is beginning to dawn in this Pacific nation. The united evangelical churches of Singapore have targeted East Timor as the focus of their compassionate and evangelistic efforts. Compassion Alliance has been invited to lead the initiative to "Love East Timor, Village by Village". A year of planning and prayer has gone into the dream to help East Timor become the second "Singapore" in Asia. The two nations have similar histories. World War II left Singapore, a small nation, without hope. Singapore became the economic miracle of the 21st century, however. The revolutionary war in East Timor left the nation without hope, but the chance to raise this small nation from the rubble of conflict is being addressed by the Church.

You can have an eternal impact on East Timor, the newest nation on earth. Partner with us by praying and supporting Compassionate Alliance's efforts in this area. Help us deliver needed food and medicine as well as providing hope for the children and the poor.

March 2005: Compassionate Alliance has been invited to build relationships with the evangelical churches of Singapore

How do you help the world�s youngest democracy? How can you minister to people who have gone through a war for more than 20 years? How do you help a nation where 41 percent of the population lived on less than US 55 cents a day? What should you do when 50 percent of those who are old enough to work can�t find jobs?

Alone, this task would be formidable. But together, much can be done to change the course of history in East Timor.

• Moses didn�t try to release the children of Israel from bondage alone.
• Joshua didn�t try to take Jericho alone.
• David needed his champions to build Israel into a nation.
• George Washington couldn�t establish a free America alone.

There is power in alliances. The Lord Jesus said it most clearly, �For where two or three come together in my name, there am I...� Evangelical churches of Singapore have a burden for East Timor and they have asked Compassionate Alliance to partner together with them to help alleviate the poverty, spiritual and physical pain of this small nation. The First Lady of East Timor believes we can make a difference if we work together: �There is so much still to be done in East Timor to restore the most basic services. The needs of the people are overwhelming. Nevertheless, I believe that having young kids in our circumstances helps to keep us grounded and focused on the future.�

The strategy is to help East Timor village by village. There are 498 villages distributed across 13 districts. Individual churches in Singapore are adopting a village by:

• Sponsoring a mother-help group
• Running a feeding program
• Supporting a kindergarten
• Setting up a health clinic
• Assisting a local church
• Jointly planting new churches

Compassionate Alliance�s part will be to help supply the food, medicine and medical equipment that is needed to assist our Singapore partners.

The window of opportunity for East Timor may be short. If we all pull together now, much can be done to change the course of hundreds of thousands of people who are waiting for us to come. This is God�s moment for East Timor.

Pray for this young nation, then join us to make a difference for those who live in darkness... that they may see the great Light.

To ship a container of supplies or medical equipment to East Timor costs approximately $10,000. Possibly your church, your Sunday school class or a prayer group would partner with us to love East Timor village by village and child by child.

Thank you for praying for this open door to reveal the mystery of Christ.

Bob Houlihan

Please contact us if you'd like to partner in this ministry to East Timor.