FRONTLINE MISSIONS PUBLICATION

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Fall 2026 Publication

Boots On The Ground

As the world reeled from earthquakes in Venezuela and Colombia, followed by devastating floods in Nepal, Frontline Missions immediately mobilized our “Boots on the Ground.”

Because of decades-long relationships in Venezuela, trusted contacts were ready to respond. Venezuelans stateside connected us with relatives who distributed aid in six locations, providing meals, mattresses, necessities, and counseling.

When an earthquake struck Colombia soon afterward, our pastors immediately gathered and delivered essentials funded by friends in America, bringing practical help to those who were hurting.

Then came Nepal. Sandi Haner, Steve Haner, and I had just flown to Seoul when we learned of the torrential flooding. Only the day before, we had been in Chitwan, one of the hardest-hit areas. Thousands were killed, and the number of children left without parents continues to climb. Our Nepalese friends quickly organized a relief team, made possible through your generosity.

In the midst of such trauma, God is present to comfort and uphold, often through those willing to be His “Boots on the Ground.” Sometimes hope looks like a meal. A mattress. A listening ear. A human touch. An opportunity to share the hope of Christ.

We are deeply grateful for those serving in these three nations and for those at home who pray and give.

Together, God has positioned us to respond quickly, bringing tangible help and lasting hope to people in desperate need.

An Urgency To Obey

by Sandi Haner

While in Nepal, the Lord highlighted John 1:5: “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.” I felt an urgency to share that verse everywhere: no matter how dark it gets, His Light always overcomes! I also felt compelled to declare Jesus’ words, “The gates of hell will not prevail against the Church!” We didn’t realize how dark it would become after our departure, but God knew. He simply asked me to be obedient and speak what He had placed on my heart.

Nepal was swept into shock after a section of glacier and mountain fell, sending twenty million cubic meters of ice, rock, debris, and water 124 miles down the Trishuli River. From the Tibet-Nepal border to Chitwan, the flood wiped out villages, churches, bridges, and power stations. We had stood in Chitwan for a church groundbreaking just one day before. By the time we heard the news, we were in Seoul, shocked and heartbroken.

But God! His Church shines brightly in Nepal. Thousands rushed to rescue and care for those who lost everything. A quarter of the ECC Bible college student body formed a relief team, and your generosity helped extend their reach. Let us pray that amid this darkness, many will be delivered into the Light of Jesus Christ.

RATAN SUMAR: FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT

Third-year student of ECC

I was born into a Hindu family. In my early years, my family’s lives were steeped in darkness and idolatry, which included seeking the help of witch doctors. Hence, my father was demon-possessed. My mother became desperate for help. One of our neighbors told my mother to go to a church, and he would be healed. My mother listened to the Gospel and took my father to church. The pastor prayed for him. After one month, my father was healed. That’s when my family and I became Christians.

Truly, I came to know God. After several years of struggling as a young believer, I cried out to Jesus. During this time, He became very real to me. My desire to know Him and what He had for me became overwhelming. I sought Him for forty days through prayer and fasting, asking Him to show me His great plan for my life. His answer led me to ECC, where I am being prepared to pastor my village’s local church, which has no leader. From there, I desire to take the Gospel to the surrounding villages, plant more churches, and to highlight serving the youth in Nepal. So many of the youth of Nepal are without hope and want to leave Nepal due to a lack of economic opportunities. They do not seek God—they seek deliverance from poverty.

I want to encourage them to find Jesus in the midst of their darkness and to help share the light of Jesus Christ throughout our beautiful nation.