RMM News Bulletin

Recently, RMM missionaries Leon and Naomi Zimmerman and their children stopped by the RMM office to share about their ongoing work in Albania.

The Zimmermans arrived in Albania in March of 2006, where they lived in the capital city of Tirana and studied the Albanian language. Recently they moved to the city of Lezhe (pronounced LASIA).

One interesting thing that they shared was the difficulty in learning the language. Albanian does not derive from any other language—it is totally unique. Consequently, there is nothing to compare it to and learning it requires diligence.

But apparently, God speaks Albanian quite well, as a movement of God among the churches in Albania is happening. In fact, Leon will now be the pastor of a congregation in Lezhe. He shared with the RMM staff that there are not many Albanian church leaders—most of the pastors and elders are Western missionaries. Consequently, his focus will be to help the congregation grow to maturity and to identify and train leaders who can lead the church into the future in a uniquely Albanian way.

The Zimmermans also shared how their children have been especially effective witnesses in Albania. They have picked up on the language well and formed many relationships through sports and other activities. This has encouraged Leon and Naomi that they can all have an impact for the Kingdom of God in Albania.

The Zimmermans have now returned to Albania to continue their work. Please join us in prayer for the Holy Spirit to move in a great way in Albania and in the ministry of the Zimmermans, and that many Albanians would be trained to lead the church for the glory of Christ.

Get Involved
Pray in specific ways for Albania.
Give a financial gift toward RMM's work like this around the world (this links to RMM's mailing address where contributions can be sent).

Posted by RMM Blog Administrator at 01:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

By Chris Skinner
Oscar Wilde famously said, "Life imitates art far more than art imitates life." But for Esther Reynolds*, it was the idea that art can bring life that shaped the past two years. The young artist has just returned from a missionary internship with RMM, where she used her skills to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the inhabitants of the Middle East.

“One of my goals (in going overseas) was to see how God could use me, or artists in general, in missions,” she said. What she found was that God can use artists in many ways. “Art opens up so many doors that I couldn’t open up if I were teaching English. This was just so different. I said I was an artist, and (Middle Eastern people) immediately had interest and were curious about it.”

She also was able to contribute to many art projects, including design for theater productions that presented the Gospel, mural painting, teaching art lessons, and more. Those opportunities allowed her to meet many Middle Eastern people and build relationships that pointed toward Christ. “It was great to see God break down the walls of (Middle Eastern peoples’) views on Christians. They thought I had something neat going on, and people were drawn to it.” She sees this as an advantage in missions: “Art provides me with a way to build relationships and have a legitimate way to live my life in another country,” she said.

She also saw God’s plan and provision unfold. “I am just amazed at how many doors were opened through the arts, and I know God provided those doors,” she said. Seeing God work in this way has convinced her that He will continue to do so in the future, no matter what the next step is in her life. “God has proven to me that I can use my gift wherever I am, wherever he puts me. He’ll provide the opportunities. Art isn’t something you typically think of as a form of ministry. But God used art in the Middle East. Five years ago I would’ve never said that. I have seen God’s faithfulness.”

Please join with us in prayer for more artists like Esther to answer the call to be the “Gospel incarnate” to the unreached peoples of the world, and for the Middle East. Also pray that the next steps of God’s plan would be revealed to Esther, and that she and RMM would continually say, “We have seen God’s faithfulness.”

Get Involved
Pray for unreached countries in the Middle East.
Go to the Middle East with RMM.
Give toward the work in the Middle East (this links to our mailing address).

*Name has been changed for security reasons.

Posted by RMM Blog Administrator at 10:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)