Foursquare Missions Directors Ewald Zelmer (Germany) and Jim Scott (U.S.) are excited about Kazakh pastors training local leaders to reach out to 68 million people in Central Asia.
“In my church I can still preach, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ but not outside in the streets,” says Kazakhstan Foursquare National Leader Tomas Tomassov.
This may seem like a limitation to pastors in America, but for the leaders who oversee the 27 Foursquare churches in Kazakhstan where less than 10% of the population claims to serve Christ, it presents an opportunity.
At Foursquare Connection 2016, Foursquare Missions International (FMI) introduced Kazakh pastors Tomas Tomassov and Yerkinbek Serikbeyev to the U.S. Foursquare Church. We presented a bold vision to help these Kazakh pastors establish a regional ministry training center that would potentially reach 68 million people in their own languages and cultures throughout Central Asia.
Foursquare leaders around the U.S. caught the vision and as of August 2, 2016 we have received $119,862.13 in donations toward the $140,000 needed to establish the training center. Jim Scott, director of FMI, says that the partnership is what The Foursquare Church was birthed to do, calling it a “kairos moment” that only a global movement can accomplish together.
This offering will open new possibilities to train as many as 60 people each year and plant 50-70 new churches over the course of the next decade,
or as long as the door of opportunity remains open.
Foursquare Germany Missions Director Ewald Zelmer and Jim Scott recently visited Kazakhstan and affirmed that the training center project is well on its way. Even before they had a formal location, Foursquare leaders in Kazakhstan have trained 120 people for ministry in the region who have helped plant three new churches.
Under the leadership of Pastor Tomas, Ewald and Jim are optimistic that this offering will open new possibilities to train as many as 60 people each year and plant 50-70 new churches over the course of the next decade, or as long as the door of opportunity remains open.
Ewald grew up among Kazakhs, Uzbeks, and Russians in Kazakhstan and served as the Foursquare leader in the nation at a time when the once underground Church began to have more freedom. As people of 
different cultures and faiths began to accept the love of Christ, Ewald embraced a vision about the possibility of more leaders to take the gospel to other nations in the region.
“It is a great privilege to work with these leaders of vision who are willing to serve in humility wanting only to glorify God,” says FMI MENACA Area Missionary Sam Johnson. How exciting to hear voices raised in worship and the name of Jesus being praised by those that did not previously know the beauty of that name.”
We are almost there. You can help us fulfill the vision for this regional training center and reach people in Central Asia, 90% of who have never heard about the love and mercy of Jesus Christ.
Give to help establish this training center
Watch Kazakh Leaders say “Thank You”
Read more about the history of this project
Discover how to Pray for Central Asia
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By: Rod Light, M.A., an ordained Foursquare minister and communications coordinator for Foursquare Missions International