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Young alumnus published in "Christianity Today"

WILMORE, KY—Christopher Heuertz ’94 published an article about his ministry with Word Made Flesh in the February issue of Christianity Today.

In the article, Heuertz describes visiting a camp for war-wounded in Sierra Leone. While there, he met a few survivors of the nearly 250,000 people who had their limbs amputated by rebels, militia groups or government soldiers.

To view the article, visit the Christianity Today web site.

Heuertz and his wife, Phileena Bacon ’95 Heuertz shared the 2005 Young Alum Award. Before he graduated from Asbury College, Chris felt a calling to work among the impoverished as a result of his service in India with Mother Teresa. When he graduated with a degree in missiology and theology, he returned to India and began working to establish a children’s home through Word Made Flesh Ministries.

The home’s focus on children suffering from leprosy or AIDS was tied closely to the organization’s goal to “birth communities...placed and nurtured within the Two-Thirds World mega-cities.” Within a year, as Indian field director for Word Made Flesh, Chris began a second children’s home in Madras.

At the same time, Phileena was traveling to Madras on a Word Made Flesh short-term team to explore her lifelong calling to missions. After graduating from Asbury College with a degree in elementary education, she joined with Word Made Flesh on a long-term basis in India.

Chris was appointed executive director of the organization in the fall of 1996, leading an American staff of three people. During his term at the helm, Word Made Flesh has grown to include more than 100 staff members in Bolivia, Brazil, India, Nepal, Peru, Romania and Thailand, focusing on ministry to destitute children and women.

The Association of Evangelical Churches and Ministries ordained Chris as a minister in 1997, he has served as an adjunct professor at Lakeview Bible College and Seminary in Chennai, India, and he has contributed to several books. The couple has traveled as speakers, teachers and servants to nearly 60 nations from their home in Omaha, Nebraska, Word Made Flesh’s headquarters.

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