New Wineskins: Renewed Passion for the Great Commission

by David Handy

Wow—what an incredible week! I hardly know where to begin. I was at Ridgecrest for the full conference, including the Anglican Frontier Mission (AFM) Pre-Conference. I found the Pre-Conference especially meaningful.

As someone who’s still fairly new to AFM as a prayer warrior, I loved getting to know the AFM Cross-Cultural Workers (CCWs) more personally. About 35 of the 50 missionaries were there, and each gave a five-minute update on their lives and ministries. What a remarkable group—pioneering ambassadors for Jesus with such diverse gifts, callings, and passions! I came away deeply inspired and ready to pray for them with greater understanding, persistence, and fervency.

Another highlight for me was hearing Bishop Yassir share his powerful testimony and ministry stories—both at the Pre-Conference and later during the main sessions. He spoke several times to the AFM group, and each time I was gripped by his bold faith and miraculous experiences among Muslim Background Believers (MBBs).

One story that especially moved me was his own dramatic conversion at age 16, after witnessing the instant healing of his younger cousin—something God did in response to the bold prayers of two Coptic Christians. But what truly left me in tears was hearing about Zechariah, a Sudanese Christian classmate whom Bishop Yassir and his radical Islamic friends had nearly beaten to death years earlier. Zechariah, who was left permanently crippled and disfigured, had prayed faithfully for his attackers for years. To hear how God later brought reconciliation and transformation through that story—it still haunts me (in a good way).

There were so many such stories—testimonies of courage, faith, and the miraculous power of God—that left me awestruck. Bishop Yassir’s witness is a reminder that the same Spirit who worked through the apostles is still at work today in some of the hardest places on earth.

I came home from Ridgecrest with my heart burning more than ever for the Great Commission. For me, that means leading Global Anglican Prayer - Richmond, VA (GAP-RVA) with renewed passion, prayer, and effectiveness.

The Rev. David Handy is the Founder of GAP-RVA. Learn more about GAP-RVA at the next gathering on October 12. Details here.