WILLOW Magazine, Fall 2008 Greater Things Yet to Come by Kim Anderson The International Church gains momentum Government pressure and restrictions and yet … faith. Crushing poverty and debilitating social issues and yet … hope. Held at knife-point and robbed and yet … love. The international churches and leaders profiled on the following pages demonstrate immense amounts of faith, hope, and love to the people in their communities in places around the world. From Durban, South Africa to Almaty, Kazakhstan, to Cairo, Egypt, God’s plan for His people and His Church is being fulfilled through courageous and faithful church leaders. Overcoming a variety of cultural, economic, spiritual, and political obstacles proves to be an ongoing ministry challenge, but these six leaders have committed their lives to making an eternal impact in the cities to which God’s called them. The lyrics to Chris Tomlin’s inspiring song “God of This City” resonate deeply in the hearts of these leaders. The chorus states: Greater things have yet to come Greater things are still to be done in this city Greater things have yet to come And greater things are still to be done here. Leaders Mark van Straaten, Peter Tan-Chi, Yuri Shumayev, Chris Lane, Ramez Sami, and Eduardo Correa de Godoy couldn’t agree more. Great things are being done in their cities as lives are being transformed by the power of God’s love and grace. But there’s increasing hope that even greater things are still to be done. WILLOW recently talked with these six church leaders to hear more about the highs and lows of doing ministry in their cities and how God is at work. Here are their stories. Agape Church, Almaty, Kazakhstan Christ's Commission Fellowship, Mandaluyong, Philippines Grace Family Church, Durban, South Africa Kasr El-Dobara Evangelical Church, Cairo, Egypt Memorial Baptist Church of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil The Vineyard Church, St. Albans, England Top