Making international mission possible
From school planting to gospel sharing to supporting those rescued from sex trafficking, Elim missionaries are making a huge difference around the world. New International Missions Director Marty Davison is supporting them and drumming up awareness of their work. Chris Rolfe reports
“I’ve been an Elim pastor and a missionary in the heart of the Amazon. And that’s a real help now I’m building connections between both camps,” says Marty Davison.
Marty took up his role as Elim’s International Missions Director (IMD) in September and is telling how he has dived straight into supporting missionaries and enthusing Elim churches about international missions.
Meeting the missionaries “Elim has 60 missionaries serving in around 39 areas, so one of the first things I’ve done is connect with them,” he says.
“There was a year between former IMD Iain Hesketh leaving and me starting so it’s been important to tell them what I’m doing and assure them I’m representing them.”
One-to-one Zoom calls and monthly group hubs covering six different time zones have proved hugely useful, he says.
“It’s really been fun. I’m hearing how God has called people into mission, about miracle after miracle and getting to pray with them.
“One missionary in the Philippines was in typhoon season so we prayed God would prevent any flooding. At the same time it’s dry season in the Amazon so we were praying for rain for them there!”
Having experienced the challenges of working in Maues – a 24-hour boat ride from the nearest city – Marty and his wife Rebeca are well-versed in the trials of missionary life. During one hub call that meant Marty could relate to a missionary in Africa.
“I’d been online for a while but no one had come on, then I heard someone say, ‘Thank God you’re here Marty – it’s taken me 15 minutes to get online!’ I used to sit into the night trying to send emails in the Amazon so I understood exactly what she was going through. If it was raining it could take me four hours to upload my newsletter!”
She told Marty about translating the Bible in a place where English isn’t spoken and there are no Christians. “She had an amazing story about sharing the Bible among communities with oral traditions.
“She’d asked people from six communities to pick a Bible story they wanted to put into song and sent me a clip of them singing about Joseph and the jealousy of his brothers. This is phenomenal because they don’t believe in Jesus, they haven’t got the Bible translated, but they’re turning the Word of God into song!
“For her to get online – even though it took 15 minutes – then to speak in English and share these stories was so important.”
Attending the Elim’s global European conference in November also allowed Marty to meet missionaries from Sweden, Estonia and France and join forces with Elim Spain to provide flood relief in Valencia.
Mission-hearted churches
A second priority for Marty is to increase the profile of Elim missionaries in our churches and encourage a heart for international missions.
“Some churches are really outwardlooking; partnering with missionaries and projects at home or overseas. That transforms your church as you move away from ‘me, myself and I Christianity’ to being a blessing to others.”
In Elim churches, Marty shares stories of phenomenal work and encourages congregations to adopt or support missionaries and their projects.
“They’re planting churches in Nepal, Cambodia and Guyana, for example. They’re setting up schools, bringing people the Word of God.
“Elim partners in Cambodia are supporting ladies rescued from sex trafficking and giving them the opportunity to learn skills in a safe environment. It’s really important to get these stories out so churches can offer support.
“Recently a pastor told me they’d like to become more involved in missions. I told him about a project where children are being rescued from slavery in brick factories and being schooled.
“The landlord had kicked them off their land so I encouraged his church to support a project to buy land and build a permanent home for them.”
Marty is hugely aware of the need to share mission stories with children and teenagers as well as adults. “We have this idea of passing on the baton, but actually it’s about taking them with us and restoring that sense of calling.
“My son’s first missionary trip was into the Amazon when he was eight. He prayed for adults much bigger than him and came home enthused about sharing the gospel. I’m saying to our missionaries, don’t just speak in Sunday services; go into the Sunday schools, come alongside the youth, inspire the young adults because one story can stay with them for the rest of their lives.
“Something on my heart for 2025 is how to inspire and facilitate our young people to go on short-term mission trips.”
As much as Marty is enjoying meeting Elim missionaries online, his plan for this year is to travel and meet more of them in person.
“It’s important to see first-hand what they’re doing because it’s so much easier to encourage people when you’ve been somewhere yourself. There’s nothing better than smelling the smells and sweating the sweat.”
He is also excited about the opportunity to meet missionaries and missionary partners at Elim Missions’ global conference in May and visit more churches to enthuse hearts for mission.
“A call to mission is part of every Christian’s DNA because we’re empowered to go to ‘Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth’, whether that’s talking to your neighbour or serving overseas. “If we’re on fire for God, then we’re on fire for mission.”
This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.