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Fall 2011

How placidly normal is your world?


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Global Harvest
Editor: Wayne Barrier Founding Editor: J.C. Choate (deceased) Associate Editor, Design, Layout: Betty Burton Choate Publishers: World Evangelism Publications for Churches of Christ

A Mission Information Magazine for Churches of Christ

Team Members and Contact Information:


Wayne and Janet Barrier: 3000 County Road 10, Florence, AL 35633; Phone: 256-766-2807; Email: wbarrier@ highwaay.net Betty (J. C.) Choate: 708 Burton Drive, Winona, MS 38967; Ph. 662-283-1192; Email, Choate@WorldEvangelism.org; Website: WorldEvangelism.org Byron and Gay Nichols: P.O. Box 11218, Springeld, MO 65808; Phone: 417-823-4918; Email: byron.nichols@att.net Jerry and Paula Bates: P.O. Box 172, Winona, MS 38967; Ph. 870-897-2373; Email: jerry@worldevangelism.org Louis and Bonnie Rushmore: 705 Devine St., Winona, MS 38967; Ph: 662-739-3035; Email: rushmore@GospelGazette.com; Website: GospelGazette.com Rafael and Kattia Barrantes: 19 Standridge Cv., Jackson TN 38305. Phone: 731-267-32 Email: manuelkattia@msn.com

Are you a part of our support team yet???


We want the Lords people to be inspired and challenged by the accounts of evangelism, given in the pages of Global Harvest. We believe that preaching the Gospel to every nation is the responsibility of the church, and that its accomplishment is the

reason each Christian has been left in this broken and sin-sick world. We believe that, as we involve ourselves in this work, we become co-workers with God, enabling Him to use us providentially to bring the Gospel to those who are desperately searching for it. We ask you to join hands with us, in supporting the publication of Global Harvest, in encouraging others to support it and read it, and in getting deeply involved monetarily and/or with your time/talents/life in one of the mission efforts reported in these pages. Singly, we cant do much; together, we can evangelize the world!

isclaimer: We believe that we must answer to God for what we teach and promote. It is our purpose to be biblical in all that we do and, to the best of our knowledge, we will not promote in these pages the work of unsound brethren. Because we cannot personally know all that anyone believes and teaches, we ask your help in guarding against unknowingly publicizing those who are either liberal or fanatical. If such material is inadvertantly printed, we ask your understanding

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e invite submission of feature and report articles from biblically-sound brethren, along with colored photographs, for inclusion in future issues of Global Harvest.

and cooperation.

Global Harvest

Volume 6

Fall, 2011

Table of Contents
Editorials
2011 Maywood Missionary Retreat....Wayne Barrier...6 Changing Directions.............J.C. Choate......................7

Articles
A Little Quiz from the Pages........................................4 The Church; the Glorious Culmination... ....................5 Printing Here and There..........Betty B. Choate...........8 The Compassion of Christians.....................................28 Our Awesome God................Betty B. Choate...............83 Lessons Learned from Disasters....Jane Maynard.......84

The Kees Busy World................Doyle Kee................39 Romanian Churches at Work.......Harvey Starling.....39 Lyon, France..............Charles O. White.......................40 The Story of the Syktyvkar Church ....Larry Little......41 Operation French World............Bren White...............42 New Christians in a Muslim Country.........WEI...........43 Martyrs in Pakistan.................Bill Warner....................43 Events in and Around Cotonou......George Akpabli.....44 A Story of Love................Felix Aniamalu....................45 Years of WBS Work in Nigeria..........Ruth Orr...........46 The Malawi Project.............Richard Stephens.............49 The Heart of Zimbabwe............Loy Mitchell..............50 Those Gospel Chariots ... .............George Funk............51 Training Preachers and Teachers...J.C. Enlow............52 African Christian Schools.........Trent H. Wheeler.......53 Village of Hope..................Araba M. Amuasi.................54 The Church with a Mission .... ......Sylvester Imogoh.....55 Developments in Pakistan..........Shahid Khokhar..........56 From Lahore, Pakistan................Asghar Ali................57 Persecution in India................Earnest Gill..................59 Pure and Undeled in India..........Laurel Sewell........61 Persecution of Christians...................WEI....................62 Outreach through Literature and Videos...Sunny David...63 Fourteenth Annual Bible Camp....S. Rajanayagam......64 Triumphs of Truth in a Hindu Nation....Philemon Rajah...66 Myanmar Update...............Wayne Barrier...................67 Chinese Agape Foundation..........................................68 Amazing Opportunities in Yunnan, China...Joey Barrier..69 Cambodia Mission Trip................Luis Cusi................70 Dreams Being Realized ... ............Colin McKee..........71 The ODonnells in New Zealand.....Kent ODonnell....72 The Missing Link in the Philippines...Priscilla Sellers..73 Funds for Furlough.................Barry Murrell...............74 Spiritual and Physical Livlihoods...Salvador Cariaga...75 Philippine Theological College........Demar Elam..........76 Culture and Christianity ... ........Scott Shanahan..........77 New Full-Power Radio Station.....Randy E. English....79 The Power of the Printed Page.........Robert Martin......81 Where Do the Australian ...?.....Howard Hampton.......82

Europe

Africa

Memorials
Remembering L.D. Willis ........Wayne Barrier.............15 Barry Gilreath ...................Jim Dearman....................34

Reports from Team Members


The Foolishness of Idolatry.........Jerry Bates...............10 Missions Program Literature....Louis Rushmore......11 The Voice of Truth International....Byron Nichols.....13 Mission Training Manual......Louis Rushmore............15 W.E. School of Missions..........Wayne Barrier.............17 Tracts I Guess We Were Wrong.............................22

Indian Sub-Continent

Here Am I; Send Me.........Timothy Wilkes II................18 Update for Project Rescue..........Ronnie Crocker........19 Focus Press...................................................................20 House to House.............................................................21 he Search Light...........................................................23 T Outreach in Moab, Utah.........Martin Johnson.............25 Work Among the Burmese in the US...George Achard...26 Sooner Prison Ministries..............Larry Ware..............27 Mission Printing................Richard Renfro..................32 Partnering with Mission Printing.....Ron Pottberg.....32 World Video Bible School............................................33 Gospel Broadcasting Network......Tyler Gilreath........34 Biblical Institute of Central America...George Hall...35 On-Going Work in Haiti.........Dr. David Smith..........36 Half a Century of Church Growth in Peru..Glover Shipp..37 Ameridian Missions..........Jerry O. Davidson...............38

Gleaning from the Fields North America

Asia

Central and South America

Global Harvest
churches of Christ in 1961. Fifty years later, how many exist there now? P. 37 9. Name two countries in which believers in Christ are being persecuted. Pgs. 43, 59, 62 10. Who underwrites the cost of the Annual Bible Camp in Tamil Nadu, India? P. 64 11. In what unexpected country is the church of Christ legally recognized? P. 69 12. What kind of community outreach program is being used in New Zealand to make contacts? P. 72 13. How does the goat program help people to be independent in the Philippines? P. 75 14. How can American children help evangelize in the Philippines? P. 76 15. What great tool does the church have for evangelizing the Pacic Islands? P. 79

A little quiz from the pages..


1. What is the culmination of Gods plan of the ages? P. 5 2. Can you describe three practices used in idolatrous worship? P. 10 3. Who rst chose the printed page as the means of spreading Gods word? P. 11 4. What are the four questions people ask when there is a re? P. 21 5. Who works among the Burmese people living in Smyrna, TN? P. 26 6. Name three natural disasters, and their locations, occurring since April, 2011. P. 29 7. What is GBN? P. 34 8. In Brazil, there were three congregations of

Global Harvest

We Need Your Help!

In order to make Global Harvest the informative, useful, and inspiring magazine we envision, we must have input from brethren, churches, and program projects throughout the brotherhood and all over the world. We will try to make you aware of services available and of needs you might help to cover.

We need four things from our readers/participants:


(1) Your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address. (2) Submissions of articles (with accompanying high quality color photos; if sent over the internet, photos must be at least 200 dpi and 4x5 in size). Articles need to be story-form, rather than general report form; they need to focus on a particular event, specic method of work, some turn of events, an exemplary person, etc. Writing should be succinct, professionally done, without exaggerations or embellishment of truth to make a more exciting story, allowing 750 to 1000 words for one page, preferably 11 pt., Times New Roman. (3) Please understand that we cover services made available through brethren, of printing, magazines, and various programs of work. We do not solicit or accept paid advertisements. (4) At this time it is our intention to print Global Harvest twice yearly, in the interest of helping bretren to be more aware of what is being done and of what needs to be done. Financial support will be greatly appreciated from brethren who will make a personal donation to receive the magazine individually, and from congregations that will pay for bundles to be supplied to their members. Individual donation: $5.00 per copy Congregational donation: $75.00 per 25 copies; $100.00 per 50 copies

The Church: the Glorious Culmination of Gods Plan of the Ages


Satan is the vigilant, never-resting enemy of God. The Scriptures clearly state that before the creation, God knew that man would fall, and He made the complete plan for his redemption: through the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). What would the death of Christ accomplish? The bringing together of His followers, in one Body, as they are called out of the world and born through the waters of baptism into the Family of God, which HE calls the church (John 15:19; Ephesians 1:10; John 3:3,5). Colossians 1:18 declares, And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the rstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. The book of Ephesians is rich with denitive statements of what it means to be in Christ. Certainly, there is no salvation outside of Christ, and Ephesians 1:22,23 underscores the statement made to the Colossians: And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who lls all in all. Gods plan from before the creation was to call people out of the world, washing them clean of their sins in the blood of His Son, and bringing them by that birth into the body of Christ the church of Christ separate from the contamination of the world. The oneness and the glory of that sanctied body ll the remaining pages of the New Testament. The church itself is the culmination of Gods work of redemption throughout the ages. The actual inheritance of Christ is in the saints (Ephesians 1:18). We are intended to be the glory of Christ, the fullness of Christ. WE Christians, the church are the end result of Gods entire work of the ages! What a beautiful and triumphant picture! But satan must work to destroy, malign, or at least confuse, the identication and understanding of the church, in order to prevent sinners from entering that refuge of salvation. What has he done? First, through false religious leaders, he tells the lie that we can be saved, as individuals, without belonging to any church and he makes the claim without any authority to support that promise. Then he says that churches started by men, and governed by mens rules, are under the umbrella of the church as described in the New Testament, even though Christ warned, In vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men (Matthew 15:9; 7:21-23). There are false teachers today, even in the church, who are audacious to the point of opening the doors of fellowship to all believers, regardless of the name they wear, religiously, or the doctrines they teach and practice. BEWARE! BBC

Global Harvest

The fifth annual Maywood Missionary Retreat in Hamilton, Alabama on May 12-14, 2011 was an exciting, encouraging, informative and motivating gathering of about 90 missionaries and mission work supporters. Two days of reports, presentations, and relaxation seemed much too short, but many important mission work subjects were discussed by an unusually experienced team of missionaries. Featured speakers included Loy Mitchell, Gordon Hogan, Don Green, Don Petty, Dr. Jeremy Barrier, Colin McKee, Jeff Jenkins, Jerry Bates and Louis Rushmore. The theme of the retreat this year was Are We Willing to Do the Job? Several subject areas dominated the discussion. I will attempt to summarize some of these subjects, with each being very relevant to the massive task of taking the Gospel to the worlds population of almost 7 billion souls. First, the importance of missionary long-term commitment and involvement with the particular field of work are essential for success. Leadership and management on a continuous longterm basis are required to (1) develop relationships, (2) implement teaching and training programs, (3) develop local competence in leadership, preaching, and teaching, (4) encourage support and

participation of the home church, (5) develop personal competence for working in foreign environments, (6) develop relevant plans, goals, and objectives, and (7) evaluate progress and make adjustment to improve work programs. A commitment of this level requires good communication and effective leadership skills, unquestionable Christian character, ability and willingness to travel, team building skills, a high level of teaching competence, and relationship management skills. Success is impossible without the example of Christ-like love and compassion. Successful work can be accomplished by missionaries both in resident and visitor status. Long-term, continuous involvement is the key success factor. Next, the requirement for planning was defined as an extremely important factor in mission program success. Every work should be guided by day-today operational plans that include goals, objectives, operating plans, methods, implementation schedules, budgets, and other work function management plans. Plans should be flexible, realizing that our best efforts may not align with unforeseen opportunities, obstacles, and circumstances. Strategic planning is much needed in our collective and individual mission efforts. Strategic plans are broad, long term, and require visionary prayer, intensive intelligence, informative inputs and careful consideration of Biblical principles and guidance. What is our strategy for taking the Gospel to all the world today? We seem to be operating without a plan, when we consider that

thousands of people die every day who have never heard the Gospel. We need to better share information across the brotherhood about areas of need, fields, methods, resources, experiences, and challenges. More trust, love, humility, hard work, prayer, and communication are needed to improve our strategic planning. The influence of Islam and Muslim aggression were discussed by several speakers. Everyone agreed that the work of evangelizing Muslim populations is most difficult and that Muslim influence across the world is resulting in increased hostility and resistance toward Christianity. Muslim resistance follows a progressive movement as the percentage of population in a region or country increases. As Muslims move into a non-Muslim population, they usually are low-key and quiet, but as the percentage of the population increases, they become more vocal and will ultimately take control, if possible. When allowed, Muslim systems of law and social control replace all others. Mission efforts are being affected across the world because of the spread of Islamic teaching, influence, and rule. Many of the speakers referred to the necessity of mission efforts to focus on incorporation of methods that are both effective and efficient in communicating the simple Bible truths of the Gospel. Methods should meet both of these criteria. Why? We dont have the resources to be poor stewards of time, money, people, etc. These two
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Global Harvest

Changing Directions
J.C.Choate (Deceased)
Christ, and we are heading in the concepts of the church, unity, and direction of heaven. worship. These brethren are changing No, we cant save ourselves, but directions. They have decided to neither can we be saved unless we follow the lead of the religious world in comply with the Lords will and live so general, turning away from the Biblical that the promise of eternal life can be truths that they once espoused and ours (Ephesians 2:8,9). defended. Looking at the current situation But if the Lords way leads to with the church, we must all admit that heaven, where will these brethren go? we are living in perilous times. Paul If they had been following the Lord, but could see in his day that the factors have now changed directions, where were there for a falling away from the will this new way take them? Not to truth (2 Timothy 3:1). Any number heaven, you can be sure. of things could have caused the All of this reminds us again of apostasy. The Christians were living the many statements in the Scriptures, in hard times, with persecution running warning that we are not to love the rampant. The setting was right for world (1 John 2:l5-17), that we are not elders to join forces even sincerely to be deceived (Galatians 6:7,8; 1 John trying to better understand the truth 3,7,8), that we are to take heed lest but in the process, to lead groups of we fall (l Corinthians 10:12), that we brethren away from the Lords way. must seek first the kingdom of heaven History has a tendency to repeat itself (Matthew 6:33), that man shall not live again and again. Isnt this same thing by bread alone but by every word that happening today? Arent we in the proceedeth out of the mouth of God middle of another apostasy? (Matthew 4:4), that we must do the will Brethren are getting too involved of the Lord (Matthew 7:21), and we in the world, with emphasis on ma- must be faithful unto death to receive a terialism. Husbands and wives are crown of life (Revelation 2:10). working long hours, with no time for Some may say that this change that spiritual matters, no time to study is taking place is simply a reaction to Gods word, no time for the family. brethren who have been too negative We have a weak pulpit in the churches, about the religious world, that there are and no time for evangelism. Too many too many hypocrites in the church, that Christians and leaders in the church are we dont have enough love. Change reading and listening to denominational advocates point out that our religious men, getting too involved with the friends love the Lord, too, that they religious world, and now instead of may not be right on every point but that following the Lords way believing neither are we, that the grace of God that His way is the only way, that He has will cover the sins of sincere people. but one Gospel, one church, one way It is true that none of us can be saved to worship, one way to live some without the grace of God (Ephesians brethren are deciding to compromise 2:8,9), and that even after we do all the and to join the denominations in their Continued on page 14

Sometimes, in business or any endeavor, it is advisable to assess matters to see how things are going. It may even be better to stop what one is doing and to go in another direction. The wise do this. The foolish never seem to learn. The Scriptures tell us that Christ is the one and only way. That way is clearly set forth in Gods word. One does not make a mistake when he reads and studies the things that are revealed there. How do we know there is a Creator, that Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world? How do we know about the Gospel and what one must do to be saved? How do we know about the Lords church, who established it, who is its Head, who is the Savior, that there is but one, that it wears the Lords name, and that when the Lord saves us He adds us to that church? How do we know about worship, what is acceptable and what is unacceptable? How do we know the kind of life the Lord wants us to live, of the hope of heaven, and of the warning of hell? We know all of these things when we read and study Gods word (2 Timothy 3:16,17). It is so simple and easy to understand, to believe, and to obey, in order that we may be saved and live the Christian life. When we do follow that path, we are following

Global Harvest

Printing . . . Here and There


Yes, this is an age of changing technology. Perhaps, in the immediate years to come, digital books will completely replace hard copy. But perhaps not. For millennia, it has been the written word on stone, clay, parchment, papyrus, animal skins, and paper that has survived the ravages of time. And, though languages do change, the simple technology for preserving those records has not. Behold, the demise of 78, 45 and 33 rpm records, the short life of 8-tracks; the coming end of audio tapes, of video tapes and who knows when everything that is todays cutting edge will end up on tomorrows big trash heap, with no viable equipment to read the valuable words recorded thereon? We, of the world evangelism team still believe in the printed page, and we want to share with you some of the work we are doing, here in the States as well as in other parts of the world. Were excited, because of the long history of the effectiveness of literature. Isnt that the form God Himself chose for delivering His word to humanity?

Editions of The Voice of Truth International


Are you familiar with our quarterly magazine, The Voice of Truth International? Begun in 1993, the 70th volume is currently with the printer. There are seven editions: 40,000 of the US English edition are usually printed, of which about 20,000 copies are shipped Jerry Bates does a lot of the assemoverseas each quarter, in response to bling of boxes for shipment, but the requests from churches, preachers, and rest of us also help, and sometimes volunteer groups come to take part. individuals in 80 countries. Those statistics, alone, are exciting. But, in addition to the US printing, we also do 5,000 in English in India, sending those by request throughout the country and to some addresses in neighboring countries. We also print a Spanish edition here in Clayton Malone and Paula Bates, with pallets of books the States, not yet on a being shipped out from our Winona ofce. quarterly basis but that Word be shared with those who want is our goal. to learn. But because of the prevalence In India, there is a Telugu edition of denominational error everywhere in (5,000 copies), a Tamil edition (5,000 the world, it is also vital that materials copies) and Braille in English and Tamil. exposing error and teaching Truth be Hindi and Nepali editions are in their made available. On these pages you see first printing, totalling 5,000 and 1,000 covers of Bible correspondence courses, copies, respectively. ladies study books, sermon outlines, Other Printing books on evidences showing that the We use radio, TV, and personal God of the Bible is the true God, that the outreach to make the contacts for Bible is His Word; studies on the basics sharing printed materials. Weve helped of what we believe and why we believe it, with funds for Bibles for distribution by congregational development, Revelation, all of the brethren with whom we work, radio sermons, and other similar studies. because it is imperative that Gods Continued on page 9

Global Harvest

Printing . . .
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New Books!!!
Check the Bookstore at:

WorldEvangelism.org
A reprint of Wyatt Sawyers classic workbook offering in one volume a panoramic view of the entire Bible. Designed for one year of study. $10.00 An analysis of the current culture in America and of the effect it is having on individual Christians and the Lords church. Kenneth Morvant $8.00

These books have been printed in English, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Oriya, Burmese, Indonesian, and Urdu. In addition to books, we also support the printing of numerous 24-page monthly magazines in various languages in India. We have looked into printing in other countries, primarily in Africa, but have found that the cost is prohibitive, and the quality of the work is not good. The alternative choice is to continue printing quantities here that will allow us to make shipments in containers to various points overseas, particularly where English is spoken, although we do have a limited number of titles available in Spanish and French, and with one study in German and Russian. In the past six months, we have shipped more than 35,000 books to destinations overseas, free of charge. You might ask, How is all of this printing paid for? Our World Literature Fund covers the overseas printing, and most of the shipping costs, while the printing here in the States is primarily covered by the sale of our World Evangelism Publications. No one in the office draws a salary from the book sales, making it possible to re-invest the proceeds in a cycle of printing. Our goal is to keep enough books on hand for sale to fund the sharing of the copies that are so desperately needed in countries where very little literature, written by Christians, is available. We are grateful to congregations and Christians whose love makes this possible.

Paul Ecksteins very practical study for new Christians. Ideal for individual or classroom study, with application exercises. $6.00

Louis Rushmores study of the church that was divinely planned and established by Christ. $8.00 Order from:

World Evangelism Publications P.O. Box 72 Winona, MS 38967 662-283-1192

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The Foolishness of Idolatry


Jerry and Paula Bates
When Paul went to the city of Athens, he found a peoplegiven over to idols (Acts 17:16). As we travel to countries such as India, Nepal, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, our minds often go back to the words of Paul. All these countries are primarily Hindu and Buddhist, religiously, and filled with beautiful idols and ancient and revered temples. We hear the chants and bells of the worshippers. We witness many acts of religious devotion, such as prayer flags, the lighting of candles, physical acts of homage, and of course, gifts and offerings. We are continually humbled and somewhat down heartened when we see many millions of people devoted to false gods, which are really no gods at all. The more we travel and work in these countries, the more we realize how much idolatry is a part of the lives of these people. I went to Nepal in January and stayed in a small hotel adjacent to a very large Buddhist pagoda or a complete circle around the temple, requiring hundreds of prostrations before finishing the rotation. All of this is done is an effort to achieve favor with the gods. As we traveled to Myanmar, we found a similar attitude. Becoming a Buddhist priest Jerry and Paula Bates is considered a great honor in that country, and the firstborn son, the favorite son, or the brightest son in families is chosen for a lifetime of priesthood. It is a rite of passage that all teenage boys become a priest for at least 30 days. Such an event is a time of great celebration. The young man wears an elaborate costume and headdress, rides a horse down the street to the temple, followed by all the family members who participate in a feast and bring many flowers and gifts. Im sure all the celebrations would require a significant amount of money. Huge amounts of money and gifts are also given to build and maintain the elaborate temple complexes. We toured one complex, surrounding a beautiful pagoda, with many different places for people to come and bring gifts. This pagoda had a conical-shaped spire, topped with an umbrella-shaped top. This top was made of solid gold and many diamonds and precious stones were embedded in it. A sign describing the dome said that it contained over 70,000 diamonds! The value of such a dome would probably be almost unbelievable and in a country where the people live in abject poverty. Traveling into India, we change religions but not the attitude. India is filled with Hindu temples and holy places. Some of these are very small, but some are large and beautiful. We have seen many acts of great sacrifice and devotions by the Indian people, again, all done in an effort to earn some favor with the gods. Sometimes, both men and women will walk a great distance barefoot to the temple to bring a large gift, thinking this will surely please the gods. Almost every hill is topped with a temple that you can see from a great
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temple. As I walked by the pagoda every day, I saw many acts of religious devotion. One day, hundreds of candles were being lit as worship, with a fee from the worshipper, of course. I saw hundreds of prayer flags. These were pieces of cloth inscribed with the prayers of people and hung on ropes to catch the breeze. The belief is that, as the wind blew, it would carry the prayers up to the gods. I saw some small and large prayer wheels. Similar to the prayer flags, the worshipper would say his prayer, then turn the prayer wheel, which in turn would send his prayer to the gods. Many would bow in prayer before the pagoda. Some would actually prostrate themselves on the stones, get up and move a bodys length, then prostrate themselves again to the ground. They would do this over and over until they made

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Missions Program Literature Literature


Louis Rushmore
glorifying God and edifying souls. While radio preaching is an invaluable tool for taking the light of the Gospel to the farthest reaches of planet earth, perhaps into every nook and cranny, the radio alone cannot effectively evangelize the world. Radio is a media of opportunity, as is television, and even specific occasions on which preachers and teachers present a Gospel message to a live assembly. Media of opportunity requires listeners to be in the right place at the right time to benefit from the presentation. Not listening to the radio or television broadcast, or not being in a particular assembly of people means that that particular opportunity eludes reception and is forever gone. Probably no particular media alone can effectively evangelize the world with the Gospel of Christ. Radio cannot baptize anyone. Television cannot acknowledge repentance by erring Christians and offer prayers on their behalf. However, various types of media (e.g., radio, TV, literature, Internet, telephone, etc.) working in concert with local brethren, missionaries, Bible schools, etc. can offer a well-rounded and effective effort to evangelize the world. It is not radio to the exclusion of literature. It is not literature to the exclusion of television. It is not any particular method to the exclusion of any other specific method by which the churches of Christ will succeed in evangelizing our billions of neighbors, but it is the use of every viable type of media in a given circumstance or location that may be affordable (therefore, doable) and likely to be effective. Dont use what is too costly to achieve at this point in time, but use each type of media and every activity that can be accomplished in a given scenario that has a reasonable expectation of being effective in communicating the Gospel to the target population. That said, literature has some distinct advantages over other types of media, including radio and television. Gospel literature is less of a media of opportunity only than either radio or TV. Literature is always ready when someone is ready to scrutinize it, rather than having to be in the right place at the right time. Furthermore, Gospel literature provides for repeat performances, whereas radio and television broadcasts are gone for good when the noise fades from ones ears. Literature can be read over and over again, and it can be transferred from one person to another. Gospel literature can be reproduced and thereby multiplied, too. Literature can stay behind when missionaries or evangelists leave. Literature can be an extension of Gods children who cannot otherwise reach out in different directions simultaneously. Literature has some distinctly unique benefits over radio and television preaching, and deserves to be companion with other viable methods instead of displacing other methods or being itself displaced by other methods. From Romans 10:13-17 one certainly can ascertain that preaching is Gods chosen and primary vehicle for the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ. Radio, television and public speaking to assembled groups make good use of preaching the Gospel of Christ. However, what shall they preach? Notice verse 17: So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing
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Louis and Bonnie Rushmore

A few years ago, the keynote speaker for a school of preaching lectureship was a brother in Christ renowned for his decades of experience in radio preaching. Doubtlessly, his oratory was well suited for that type of media and was probably effective for him. However, he also expressed the firm and unmovable opinion that radio alone was the media with which the churches of Christ ought to attempt to reach the worlds masses with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As far as he was concerned, other media venues, such as the printed word, were virtually, if not entirely, useless! Brethren, there is something to be said for confidence in the application of ones talents for the cause of Christ. Each of us ought to do what we do best, and do it persistently so that God may be glorified and so that souls may be edified. However, unrestrained, abounding confidence can lead to unfounded arrogance, which can stand in the way of effectively evangelizing the world,

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Continued from page 11

by the word of God (Romans 10:17). The Word of God, or the Bible, is the obvious source of Gospel teaching and preaching, for sure. However, brethren, the Bible itself is literature! One cannot discount literature, then, without in effect discounting the source of teaching and preaching the Bible. Remember, various methods of proclaiming Gods Word work in conjunction with each other, rather than in opposition to each other. Literature is a band of missionaries attending to the needs of souls, stateside and abroad. Literature is a tireless and relentless missionary and instructor. Occasionally, we hear of persons coming across a tract or an outreach book that was initially distributed maybe three decades before. One of my primary affections for Gospel literature is that it will outlive me! I can influence people for good with the Gospel of Christ, through the printed word, after my inevitable death, and I am working toward that end. The churchs mission is worldwide, and America is simply one country in the world. The responsibility of the Lords church is not to take the world for Christ, but to turn it upside down for Christ (Acts 17:6). Remember, Jesus Christ did not take the world for Christ owing to human freewill that can opt out of obeying the Gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8). It is the Christian responsibility to saturate the world with opportunity to know the Gospel;

we must plant the seed of the kingdom (Luke 8:11) and water it (1 Corinthians 3:6), but we are not responsible for the increase. We are culpable if we do not plant and water, but we cannot make anyone obey the Gospel. Methods like radio, television, Internet, literature, Bible schools, preaching, and teaching are members of the body of methods that, when used together, demonstrate a coordinated approach to effectively trying to continue the mission of our Lord to seek and to save that which is lost (Luke 19:10). Media methods are merely tools in the toolbox of God in the hands of mortals to turn the world upside down with the Gospel. Literature can take many forms. Gospel literature may be a printed manuscript of a radio or of a TV sermon. Gospel literature may be the printed word on a computer screen, such as a text file, PDF or a webpage on the Internet. Gospel literature may be collected in the pages of a book, or may be condensed into a pamphlet or tract; both have their standings in evangelizing or otherwise edifying souls. Especially tracts ought to occupy a primary place in efforts to evangelize souls whose first language is not English. As far as introductory material about Christianity or a particular Christian doctrine, even among English speakers, the brief introduction of biblical information is more likely to attract rather than drive away interested souls. Furthermore, because of their

brevity, tracts require the best possible word choices and selection of Scriptures to concisely represent the truth of Gods Word about a specific topic; tracts require better writing skills than what an author might find necessary to bring to bear in writing a book. Good tracts or pamphlets provide the core of teaching on a particular subject in short order and with a minimal of reading. In addition, tracts are affordable compared to the heavy outlays of funds often required for radio, TV and books. Tracts are portable and durable. Bible correspondence courses, Bible reading schedules, bookmarks, Bible references, Bible dictionaries, lexicons and religious books in general round out missions program literature whereby precious souls not only can learn about Gods plan of salvation, but also mature as Christians. In short, Gospel literature reaches souls at home and abroad, out of the church and in the church, non-Christians and Christians, and Gospel literature is ready whenever and wherever a soul can and wants to make use of it. Gospel literature is an indispensible tool among other tools in the toolbox of God to fulfill the Great Commission (Mark 16:15,16). The Bible is literature! Forasmuch as many members of one body are essential components of the whole, coordinated body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:1228), literature is an essential component of the whole, coordinated effort to lead souls to become Christians and then to help them to mature.

Global Harvest

13

Byron Nichols
There are numerous blessings associated with being involved in the work of The Voice of Truth International, and one of the greatest is the opportunity to come in contact with so many fellow Christians who become fervent in their interest in and support of this work. Abe Woodson has been devoting himself to prison ministry in the state of Nevada for many years, and we have been able to supply him with copies of The Voice of Truth International for use in that ministry. As a result, he and I have had occasion to talk several times on the phone and have corresponded by mail. Just recently he made a trip from Nevada to Illinois, and we made arrangements for him to come to Springfield on his way home so that we could actually meet and become better acquainted. Gay and I really enjoyed having him as our guest for those few days as we learned more about his work and he about ours. We are grateful for the addition of two new supporting congregations in recent weeks. These are the Lincoln, MO church and the Curry St. church in West Plains, MO. In addition, we have gained some new supporting families and/or individuals. Every decision to support this work enables us to do

more to spread the word. Beside the American English edition, we now have an English edition printed in Inda, a Spanish edition, a Tamil edition, a Telugu edition, and Hindi and Nepali editions are in the translation process. Back in 1993 when The Voice of Truth International had its birth, we never dreamed that the magazine would grow to such wonderful levels of use. Sadly, because of the economy, we have lost some support, but we have been greatly blessed by gaining some new helpers to aid in partially offsetting the losses. With all of us submitting ourselves to being clay to be shaped and molded to the purpose and satisfaction of the Potter, marvelous things are bound to happen for the benefit of His glorious cause. We are thankful to be instruments for use in His hands. In mid-December we took delivery of a book I wrote, entitled Messages of Truth, printed through our World Evangelism Publications. It is a compilation of several of the editorials that I have written over the years for The Voice of Truth International. I made a few slight changes to the material and then arranged the articles in a manner that I hope will make them more useful and meaningful. I want to emphasize the fact that I have not and will not receive any money at all for this. Every penny of the proceeds from the sale of the book will be used to pay the printing and distribution cost and to help in supplying free copies for use in many different countries.

Messages of Truth will normally sell for $10.00, however, in an effort to help introduce the book, it is being made available on an introductory basis at the reduced price of $7.00, plus postage. Please help us in any way that you can to sell as many copies as possible so that we can send many free copies to earnest workers for the Lord and to hungering souls around the world. I have been overjoyed with the favorable response to the book, for more reasons than one. It gives me great satisfaction to know that the Messages of Truth is already blessing the lives of folks here in this country who are purchasing it, and it also is thrilling to think of the numbers of copies that have been sent in containers to people, free of charge, in many other countries as a result of the contributions and sales here in America. It is both humbling and exhilarating to think about the prospect of influencing thousands of people for Christ through this means.

Messages of Truth Byron Nichols call 662-2831192 or 417-8234918.


An excellent book to share with a friend who is not a Christian.

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Global Harvest

Changing Directions
Continued from page 7

Lord asks of us, it will still require the grace of God to see us through. But, at the same time, we must keep in mind that all of Gods grace cannot take us to heaven if we refuse or fail to comply with His will. Regardless of the logic, the fact still remains that the Lord has a way. He has revealed that way, and we cannot follow His way and mans way at the same time. Do we want to wear their man-made names and titles, worship with them and believe and practice the things they teach that are in opposition to what the Lord has said? If so, we have changed directions, and our new direction is not in the way of the Lord and heaven, but it is taking us away from Him, sending us in the direction of eternal destruction (Proverbs 14:12). My brothers and sisters in Christ, I can tell you the direction I am going. I believe in the Lord and His way, and I am not ashamed of it. Christ died that I might be saved, and that is good news. When I obeyed Him, He saved me and added me to His church. Christ loved the church, and I love the church, my brothers and sisters in Christ. But how can I love the Lord and His way, how can I follow Christ, how can I be saved, and how can I go to heaven if I refuse to

do and be what He wants, and if I join His enemies, if I have fellowship with man-made churches and if I worship with those who meet in the names of men and do things that are contrary to the Lords will? I am saddened to see both old and young, and even whole congregations, deciding to go in another direction, away from the Lord, and to cease to be faithful to Him. But that doesnt mean that I have to join them, and neither do you have to become a part of their error. Numbers even large numbers do not make something right. Wrong is never right. Christ says that the majority are on the broad way and only a few are on the narrow way (Matthew 7:l3,14). That was true in the Lords day, in the day of Paul and the other apostles, and it is true now. The Lords strait and narrow way is the one and only way that leads to heaven. That is the way I am going. If you have left that way, I hope you will change your mind and return to it before it is too late. If you dont, I am sorry but I will not be seeing you in that new heaven and new earth because only those who are faithful unto death will be there.
J.C. Choate, founder of Global Harvest, served as a missionary in Asia until his death in 2008.

2011 Maywood Missionary Retreat


Continued from page 6

factors can determine how many people hear the Gospel, with a fixed resource base. Most mission efforts can include components to enable large numbers to be reached by a single missionary. The use of literature, electronic media, and teams of co-workers can be used to enhance the work of the individual missionary. Finally, much was said about replacement of current missionary corps. We need many more young workers with the motivation, competence, soundness, love, endurance, and compassion of those working across the world over the past 60 years, since WWII. These experienced, great soldiers of the cross are the example for new workers to follow. Too often newcomers rely on theory and academic models, ignoring the guidance of Scripture and of successful current workers. We can succeed, if we are properly motivated and follow Biblical patterns. Young workers are motivated, strong, courageous, and zealous. Their potential is great, but they should build on the strong foundation of workers preceding them in the eld.
Wayne Barrier, living in Florence, AL, is Editor of Global Harvest.

Will You Take the Challenge?


1. Will you determine today to give just $1.00 extra each Lords day for missions? 2. Will you encourage others in the congregation to do the same, working toward 100% participation among the membership, to reach the goal? Please write us (World Evangelism Team, P.O. Box 72, Winona, MS 38967; or email: Choate@WorldEvangelism.org) or call: 662-283-1192.

Global Harvest

15
gathered for monthly instruction for eight months. Finally, it was published, following the two years of development, two years of review and one year of implementation. The Mission Training Manual is the most practical and potentially effective material of which I am aware for preparing new missionaries for foreign missions or for continuing education even of experienced missionaries. Please contact Wayne Barrier at 256-766-2807 or wbarrier@highwaay. net to schedule a series of courses at your congregation where, in conjunction with the Mission Training Manual, experienced missionaries will augment the classes. Or, the manual can be used, stand alone, for local instruction. The mission of the church is to evangelize the world, near and far, and this new publication is an invaluable tool, available today, to help make evangelism more effective.

Mission Training Manual


Louis Rushmore
Five years in the making, a wonderful new tool for missionary preparation and instruction is now available. J.C. Choate Publications now offers the Mission Training Manual authored by Wayne Barrier, with material developed by the World Evangelism team. One brotherhood school has already adopted it for inclusion in its curriculum. In addition to the World Evangelism team, several other experienced missionaries worked for two years under the guidance of Wayne Barrier to develop course material. The next two years, the missionaries and invited participants painstakingly tested it upon themselves and tweaked it as needed. Then, the Mission Training Manual was taught through to dozens of brethren who

Remembering L.D. Willis


Wayne Barrier
L.D. Willis, 87, died Thursday, May 19, 2011 at his residence in Cherokee, Alabama. He is survived by his wife, Pat, two daughters and grandchildren. L.D. was a minister for the church of Christ for more than 60 years, having preached in many states and foreign countries. For the past 30 years, his primary emphasis was raising funds L.D. Willis for various mission efforts. I was honored to be asked to help with his funeral service. For many years, L.D. worked to aid young churches and Christians overseas, but because of failing health, in recent years was conned to the U.S. He didnt want to reduce his aid to mission elds. He and I had worked in many of the same areas of Asia for over 25 years and often crossed paths there. With the limitations of failing health, L.D. offered to help me in my ministry by encouraging brethren here to support our needs. This year at our annual Missionary Retreat in Hamilton, Alabama, L.D.s short presentation was powerful and motivating. Several people came to me and praised his message. They remarked that even at his advanced age, his ability to motivate, persuade and encourage was exceptional. L.D. summarized his work that started in the 1950s. He referred to his beginning relationship with J.C. Choate. I worked with both of these great men for many years and both are now gone. The memories are great. The benet to me and countless others is beyond measure. Sunny David: Its shocking to hear of L.D.s passing, creating a great vacuum which cannot be lled. I loved his preaching, learned from him, and especially appreciated his chart sermons. Douglas Swamy: We miss brother L.D. Willis. He was a pioneer evangelist in India, and a great blessing to the country. He lives in the heart of many thousands of Indian Christians. Francis and Elsie David: We have admired L.D. as a brave soldier of Christ. I remember one time when we came to the United States. We, along with L.D., visited nursing homes and met many people down there. We are all indebted to him.

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Global Harvest

...Idolatry
Continued from page 10

Spanish Books Available


El Evangelio De Cristo
(The Gospel of Christ)

distance, those sites becoming very holy places. Hindus burn the bodies of their dead rather than burying them. Some will take the ashes of the dead to a holy place, such as the Ganges River or to the sea, again gaining some benefit for their relatives in the next life. Every house has a special little room reserved for the familys god and idol, for private worship. Idolatry is not just a religion to the peoples of these countries, but it is the basis of their culture and heritage. Thus, when they renounce idolatry and become Christians, they do more than just change religions. To a large extent they renounce their family and their entire way of living. They make a firm commitment to

La Iglesia de la Biblia
(The Church of the Bible)

La Adoracion del Nuevo Testamento


(New Testament Worship)

Tu Puedes Ser Simplemente Cristiano!


(You Can Be Just a Christian!)

Que Es el Christianismo?
(What Is Christianity?)

$4.00 per copy for individual use


Reduced price of $1.50 for evangelism.

Volume 8 of

One box of 35 copies, $50; Single copy, $2.00, plus postage


The lights that shine in paganism....
Order from: World Evangelism Publications P.O. Box 72 Winona, MS 38967 662-283-1192

La Voz de la Verdad Internacional

Christ and vow to completely change their lifestyle. It is reminiscent of the ancient people of Ephesus when they turned to Christ and burned all their books of magic, valued at 50,000 pieces of silver (Acts 19:18-20). It is our privilege to be able to take the saving Gospel of Christ to a world filled with religious people who are trying to earn their version of salvation. But even more than that, we are privileged to uphold the hands of the national Christians as they sacrifice to teach the Gospel to their countrymen. The fields are white until harvest, but the workers are few. Gods call is the same now as it was when Paul came to the city of Athens. Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead. (Acts 17:30,31).

Hey! How would you like to give away a million dollars?


Its fake, of course (Uncle Sam hasnt started printing million dollar bills YET) but Gods plan of salvation on the back is real. This is an eye-catching little tract.
35 cents each; $30 for 100. Call 662-283-1192

email: Choate@ WorldEvangelism. org

Global Harvest
PLANS:

17

WORLD EVANGELISM SCHOOL OF MISSIONS


Wayne Barrier

New Books!!!
Check the Bookstore at:

WorldEvangelism.org
Byron Nichols compilation of Messages of Truth. 140 pages, $8.00

The last session of World Evan- this year, with other congregations gelism School of Missions (WESM) as alternates. For each congregation, classes for the 2010-2011 year was held classes are held on Wednesday on May 21, 2011 at the Double Springs, evening each week for the school year. Alabama congregation. During the Weekend seminars (2-3) with the listed year, classes averaged 36 in attendance instructors are held to supplement the with a total of 72 students participating weekly meetings. The newly published and 18 students completing the entire Missions Training Manual by Wayne program. Students are encouraged to Barrier from J.C. Choate Publications attend, even if they cannot participate serves as the primary study guide. over the entire year. Some choose Video course material presented by specific sessions to receive instruction Jeremy and Joey Barrier in Missions on topics of interest and need. Feed- classes at Heritage Christian University back from participants was very posi- is also being used. tive and plans for the next year are The goal of the school is to prepare being implemented. workers for mission field assignments. Instructors are selected for each Courses cover every aspect of mission course, based on experience and topics work and are designed to be practical covered. The instructors for 2011-2012 and applications oriented. Individuals include Gordon Hogan (Southeast Asia preparing for both long-term assignand Australia), Dr. Jeremy Barrier (Latin ments and short-term teaching trips are America, India, and Southeast Asia), prepared for work. Joey Barrier (Latin America, India, and Please pray for this new effort Southeast Asia), Loy Mitchell (Africa), and contact us if you are interested in Don Petty (Pakistan and Iran), Colin attending a session of class or hosting McKee (Indonesia), Louis Rushmore a program. We can also provide a (India and Burma), Wayne Barrier compacted weekend seminar with (India and Southeast Asia), Jerry Bates an abbreviated version of the entire (India, Nepal), L.T. Gurganus (Japan, program, or we can cover specific areas Russia), Dennis Larson (Indo-nesia), of interest for church leaders, teachers, James Jones (Kenya), and Thurman and others. Hodge. Classes are scheduled to begin in August 2011 and be completed in May 2012. The class format for the next year is being adjusted to meet the schedule of congregations hosting classes this year. The Killen and Madison, Alabama congregations are tentatively Serious discussions during lunch! scheduled to be hosts

Louis Rushmores study of Biblical Companions: how sacred history, archaelology, and geography work together to conrm truth. 212 pages, $8.00

Louis Rushmores warnings concerning proper handling of Scripture: No Hermaneutical Gymnastics, Please! 59 pages, $6.00

Bonnie Rushmores study for ladies classes, Living Principles; an analysis of well-known and little known women of Scripture. 128 pages, $7.00 Order from: World Evangelism Publications P.O. Box 72 Winona, MS 38967 662-283-1192

18

Global Harvest

Here Am I; Send Me
Tim Wilkes, II
his to serve the God of heaven, Isaiah responded with the beautiful words, Here am I; send me (v. 8). We would all do well to have the attitude we find in Gods great prophet, Isaiah. We need to recognize what a privilege it is to serve the Creator of all things and to be busy for Him. Like Paul, we are debtors (Romans 1:14) to preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord has placed His Gospel in our hands. Really, consider that responsibility. We have in our hands the power of God to save mankind (Romans 1:16). Are we using it the way He intends? We are to be stewards of the mysteries of God (1 Corinthians 4:1,2). The mystery has been revealed; it is Gods plan to redeem mankind! Through the centuries God had a plan, and He was working to bring about its completion. The prophets of old did not fully understand what God was doing, but now it has been revealed. It is Gods plan to redeem man, Jews and Gentiles alike, through the precious blood of His beloved Son and our magnificent Savior! It is the church purchased with His precious blood. Are we being good stewards? The worlds population is quickly approaching seven billion! How far have we gotten in carrying out the command to Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15)? No doubt, great things have been done for the Lord. However, we understand that there is plenty more that needs to be done. There are still billions who have never heard the pure, uncontaminated Gospel of Christ. Not everyone has the ability to go into all the world, but we are asking fellow Christians to send us. My beloved wife, Rachel, and I have made the prayerful decision to be a part of the Open Door Ministry and to use our bodies for the Lord to Go ... teach all nations (Matthew 28:19). We recognize the great honor and privilege it is to be able to work for the Lord in this capacity, and we are crying out as Isaiah did, Here am I; send me! We are of that younger generation of missionaries that is so badly needed, to take up the responsibilities being left as older people are forced to leave the field because of age or health problems. But we need your help. These are difficult times, economically, and raising support for foreign work is even more challenging than usual. We are just getting started and we need you with us. We are ready to take the Gospel to the lost. We are ready to bring in the harvest that is so plenteous. We are ready to allow God to use us to answer the prayer for laborers (Matthew 9:37,38). Please send prayers to the Father on our behalf and please send funds for this work to our sponsoring congregation, Coldwater Church of Christ.
Tim Wilkes, II is sponsored by the Coldwater Church of Christ, P.O. Box 321, Coldwater, MS 38618; phone: 662-6227951; email: timwilkesii@gmail.com; the website is coldwatercofc.com/opendoorministry.html.

Tim, Rachel, and Titus Wilkes

In Isaiah 6, we find Isaiah in a vision, before the throne of God Almighty. He sees the seraphim and hears them crying out, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory (Isaiah 6:3). Isaiah was overwhelmed with what he saw and said, Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts (v. 5). Isaiah recognized he was not worthy to be in the presence of Almighty God. He was overwhelmed with His majesty and was undone. He was brought to silence in his awe of the all-powerful Creator. The Lord needed a worker; He had a task that needed to be accomplished, a message needed to be delivered to the people. God asked, Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us? (v. 8). Recognizing the great privilege that was

Open Door Ministry is the coordinated effort of several families, under individual elderships, working with Demar Elam, to bring the Gospel to numerous countries on ve continents.

Global Harvest

19

Update for Project Rescue


Ronnie Crocker
P j t Rescue i now settled i D t Al b Project R is ttl d in Decatur, Alabama. With the help of several Barnabas-type givers and encouragers, we now have a main house surrounded by 11 apartments, situated on 19 acres! You can view pictures of this peaceful place at www.projectrescue.org. S far, we have b h bl to furnish ll the t t ith So f been able t f i h all th apartments with furniture we brought from Georgia. We have brought several truck loads and plan to get one more load next week. We currently have 10 program members Aaron, Brett, Craig, James, Leroy, Lony, Rick, Royce, Timothy and Travis (all but one are members of the Lords church). These come to us with their own unique stories and backgrounds. One is a preachers son, another an elders son and a couple of the others are deacons sons. We are encouraged with the group we have now and enjoy working with them. Rick is doing an excellent job as our teaching minister. The new program members have four Bible classes a day (9:00, 1:00, 4:00 and 7:00). Rick, David and I also study with them individually. In the last couple of months, four have come and gone. James, Jeff, Ryan, and Tim were with us for a while but were not ready for the spiritual commitment required by this program. This is always disappointing to us but is part of the process we have come to accept, despite our reluctance to let them go. We never give up on them, but we realize how critical timing can be. We hope and pray they will live to see another chance for recovery. Jeanie and I are now in Louisville, Kentucky for the National Prison Ministry Workshop. We have a booth, to spread the word about our work. In August, Rick will be attending Polishing the Pulpit and will man a booth there. As our facilities are becoming available, we want families and

When we (Jeanie and I) moved into the main house, all the apartments were occupied by renters. While we were still getting settled in the house, the rst renter moved out and apartment #1 became available. We immediately diverted our attention from unpacking our belongings and attacked that apartment. It required some major cleaning carpets, oven, refrigerator, cabinets, bathroom and several coats of paint. After a few days of group effort, it was sparkling and ready for David Wallace to move into. David is our house manager and a valuable addition to our staff. He joined us from Georgia soon after our arrival here. He has shared his apartment with several men over the last couple of months. Gradually, other apartments are opening up, so we have repeated the above process several times. We are currently working on apartment #6. It is now painted and new oor is being laid. We are blessed with program members with many talents, so they are able to do the work. This keeps us from having to hire professionals from the outside. We now have two men in apartment #1, three in apartment #2 and three in apartment #3. There are two men in apartment #9 and one in apartment #12. By the end of the month, apartments #5 and #7 will become available. This will require a lot of work to renovate and furnish, but hopefully they will be ready for occupancy within a few weeks.

elderships to know we are now ready to accommodate those who are in need of this program. If you know of anyone, please send them our way.
Continued on page 24

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Global Harvest

As we begin the new month, our emphasis will shift to the all important topic of Evangelism. We have all been called to carry out the Great Commission wherever we are. In so doing, that means we will look for opportunities to both show and tell the people we come in contact with about the saving power of the blood of Jesus. Through our catalog and on our website, we want to introduce you to some wonderful resources that you might consider add-

ing to your home and congregations libraries. Also, we pray you will enjoy the articles as they help encourage and equip you in the sowing of the Seed of Gods Word. Exciting things are happening at Focus Press, and one of the biggest is the launch of our brand new HARVEST Evangelism Series of products. As Christians, we must be concerned about bringing as many souls to Jesus Christ as possible. He will convert

them. Our job is to sow the seed of the Word. This brand new line of products will help you in this task. We will be adding new products to this series. For starters, consider the brand new DVD Cultivate: Reaching the World with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is our rst in this series and is a strong resource for every home and congregation.
Focus Press, 1600 Westgate Circle, Suite 125, Brentwood, TN 37027 Phone: 615-324-5870 Toll free: 866 313-6474 Brad Harrub, founder, Focus Press, Inc www.focuspress.org

THINK: monthly magazine dealing with timely themes; annual subscription: $25. Go to the website to order the catalog. This excellent magazine is now available at Borders Bookstores.

Global Harvest
We shudder to think that one day a frantic call may come for us: Your house is on fire! What would go through our minds? What immediate action would we take? Perhaps a better question is, What preventative steps have we already taken? One day every house on earth is going to burn. No one can mark that day on a calendar, but it will be the worlds last day (cf. Matthew 24:36). It is as sure as the reputation of the eternal God: But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works therein shall be burned up (2 Peter 3:10). Considering this, we should ask ourselves four important questions.

21
have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also (John 14:2,3). Paul was confident of his future abode (2 Corinthians 5:1). Have you made reservations for a place to live after this life? (1 Peter 1:4; cf. Matthew 7:13,14, 2123). If not, the devil is reserving you a place in his guest house (2 Peter 2:4, 9, 17; 3:7; Jude 6, 13). Its not an ideal place the thermostat is stuck on high, theres no water to drink, the neighbors are rotten, and you can never leave. Why not have your name written on Heavens roll, now, by obeying the Gospel? (cf. Philippians 4:3; Revelation 20:12; Acts 2:38).

Am I insured?
One of the first questions asked when a house burns is, Were they insured? We want to know that the people will have some starting over money to restock and rebuild. It lessens todays pain to know that there is hope for tomorrow. As important as a homeowners policy is, we should be more concerned with spiritual fire insurance. The uninsured will face Christs wrath when He comes in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:8). Christians will not be hurt by the fire, for they have fire insurance. The rich man did not have it and lifted his eyes in tormenting, flaming fire (Luke 16:19-31). The Bible refers to Hell as a lake of fire (Revelation

20:14), a furnace of fire (Matthew 13:42), and a baptism of fire (Matthew 3:11). Jesus referred to it as an unquenchable fire five times in three sentences (Mark 9:43 48). He said, in a fearful thought, For every one shall be salted with fire (Mark 9:49). Jesus said no cost is too great to obtain this insurance: If thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched (Mark 9:43). He is not speaking of literally mutilating the body, which would be sinful (1 Corinthians 6:19,20); He is speaking in exaggerated terms to impress the skeptical of the seriousness of avoiding Hell.

Will I lose everything?


We generally ask those who are burned out, Did you lose everything? When this earth burns, many will lose everything for which they have worked and lived. The rich farmer did. He had built bigger barns in which to store his bigger harvest, but he had sent nothing ahead to where he was moving. He was not rich toward God (Luke 12:1621). God asked him a sobering question: Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? (Luke 12:20). What good did big barns do him when he no longer had access to them? We need lose nothing of consequence in our eventual house fire, for we can put everything valuable in a safe place. We can store our treasures where no thief can get to them, no fire can consume them, no length of time Continued on page 23

Do I have somewhere else to live?


An immediate concern for families left homeless is, Where will we live? Family members or friends usually take them in. Lacking that, a church or the government will provide temporary shelter. When the earth burns, where will we live? Jesus has promised His people a place to live and it wont be a temporary apartment! He said, In my Fathers house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would

22

Global Harvest

Available NOW! Full-color, pocket-sized, tri-fold tracts on 76 topics, written in old-time Gospel clarity. Call 662-283-1192 for a list of the titles and to place your order. These conveniently-sized tools will be helpful for outreach and for strengthening young Christians. We are making an introductory price of only ten cents each, $5.00 for 50, plus postage.

I Guess We Were Wrong...


Recently, again, a man had the audacity to set a date for the return of Christ. The 2011 end times prediction made by American Christian radio host Harold Camping stated that the Rapture and Judgment Day would take place on May 21, 2011, and that the end of the world would take place five months later on October 21, 2011. Predictions concerning the date of the Lords return have been made repeatedly through the years. These false teachers in amassing fame, followers, and even fortunes have declared that they know the date, in direct contradiction to Christs own statement, But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only (Matthew 24:36-39). Let each of us be aware of the fact that when someone claims to know when the end of the world will take place, he is, in the same statement, professing himself to be a liar and a fraud, while having the audacity to blatantly say that he knows more than the Son of God knew. Two very sad things happen as a result of such erroneous predictions: sincere people mistakenly lose faith in God and Christianity, rather than discounting the false teacher; and atheists make a mockery of Christianity. There should be a third effect: to cause all people to be more wary about following men while, instead, dedicating themselves to a continual study of Scripture, to understand what God is really teaching.

Overseas Containers????
We folks in the ofce here in Winona would like to partner with others in the church who are shipping containers to points overseas. We have books, tracts, and magazines (English, Spanish, French) that we want to share with those brethren who so desperately need literature. We would be willing to pay our percentage of the cost for shipping, believing that sharing the load will enable all of us to do more. Please contact us at 662-283-1192.

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Glenda Williams, a few weeks ago, told of the heart-searching question a villager in Guyana asked of Jerry Davidson. Jerry is a missionary and had been studying the Bible with a family in Paramakatoi Village. The

Where Have You People Been?

husband in the home asked, If what you are saying is right, if what youre teaching is true, then where have you people been and why are you just now coming to our village? This story reminds us of the daunting task of taking the Gospel to every corner of the world in fulfillment of our Lords Great Commission (Matthew 28:19,20;

Continued from page 21

nor harsh elements can deface them, and where we will never have to leave them behind. That storage vault is called heaven (Matthew 6:19,20).

Will my family escape?


Losing possessions is serious, but that loss is insignificant compared to losing loved ones. Our hearts are torn up and poured out to those who have lost beloved children, parents, or spouses in fires. But what about when the fire that destroys the world is finished? Will our families survive? Someone said, You cannot go to heaven alone, and you will not go to hell alone. We are influencing others, and usually it is those whom we love the most that we influence the most (Matthew 5:1416). Whether our spouses and children go to heaven depends largely upon our influence. Many would spare no cost or effort to save a family member from a burning building, but these same people make only weak and halfhearted efforts to

save their souls from eternal destruction. Each of us must ask, Am I doing all I can to take my family to heaven? There may come a time when there is nothing else we can do, but have we reached that point yet? Is there another invitation we can extend, another heartto-heart talk we can have, another Bible study we can conduct, another tract we can give, another visit we can make, another phone call we can take time for, or another prayer we can offer? Your house is not on fire yet. Will you be ready when the earth is destroyed by fire?
Allen Webster is Editor of House to House, Heart to Heart, a bi-monthly 8-page, full color paper, lled with excellent articles for evangelism in your area. Contact the Jacksonville, AL Church of Christ, (Phone) 256-435-9356 for information about distribution of this paper through their services. Almost 3 million copies of each issue are distributed, in the US and abroad. Email: info@ jvillecoc.org; Websites: www.jvillecoc. org; www.housetohouse.com

Mark 16:15,16). There is still so much work to do to touch souls with the precious message of the Gospel. The Gospel is a message of hope and of life. Nothing can replace or supplant it. No one can live without it. It is as necessary to the soul as air and water are to life. At SEARCH we are doing our best to reach as many people with the Gospel of Christ as we can. Since the first of the year we have opened three new markets in America: Jackson, MS; Sioux City, IA; and Billings, MT. Recently we added Merced, CA to our cable network. By the way, SEARCH appears on television every week in Guyana. As I read each piece of mail, I give thanks to God for your encouragement and contributions. I thank God for your memorials and your gifts to this ministry. Each gift participates in the preaching we do. Each donation opens hearts to the Gospel. Your love and support encourages us greatly to do our very best each week to speak the truth in love. We are making a difference in little corners of the country, going into homes we could not reach otherwise. Where have we been? Preaching the truth in love to everyone we can, and opening new doors. This is the most exciting, wonderful journey into hearts. Please continue to go with us and help us in this effort. The Lord be with you.
Phil Sanders and Mack Lyon work with In Search of the Lords Way, TV broadcasting sponsored by the Church of Christ, P.O. Box 371, Edmond, OK 73083; email: searchtv@searchtv.org; Website: www.searchtv.org; phone: 405-348-3242; 800-321-8633.

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Project Rescue
Continued from page 19

Rules
You must have completed the detoxication process. You must WANT help. We are interested only in individuals who truly want help with their addiction. We dont have time for playing games and deception. You must agree to random drug testing. Relapse will cause the loss of all privileges. If you are a smoker, you must supply your own cigarettes. Smoking is not allowed inside any facility. You will not be allowed to have money in your possession. When you are ready to work in the community, your check will be turned over to us for safe keeping and returned to you at the end of the program, minus any additional expenses you may have incurred. If you fail to complete the program all the money in your account will be turned over to a family member. You will not be allowed to own your own car while you are living in our facility. Your car must be in the name of a family member. The car will be transferred into your name when you complete the program. You will be required to attend every service of the Beltline church of Christ Sunday, Wednesday and special meetings. Project Rescue and 12-step recovery meetings are also required. You will not be allowed to leave the Project Rescue property unless you have permission. You are not allowed to have any contact with the neighbors. All outside activities are limited to the backyard. You will be expected to keep your bed made, clean up after yourself, take care of the yard, do your laundry and your own cooking. There will be regular inspections. Profanity is prohibited.
Ronnie Crocker works under the oversight of the elders of the Beltline church of Christ in Decatur, AL, and can be reached at 256-616-1522.

The process we use for addiction recovery.


...If anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness... Galatians 6:1 Regarding the word restore in this verse, Vines Dictionary states, The tense is the continuous present, suggesting the necessity for patience and perseverance in the process.

We are well aware of the patience and perseverance needed in the addiction recovery ministry. Restoring ruined lives is hard work! Recoveringaddicts do very well for short periods of time. They are great sprinters! We are striving to make them great marathon runners (Hebrews 12:1-3). The restoration (recovery) process we use is community-based, with control. We take control of their lives as we teach them self-control. Because of the controlling nature of our program, we need the help of a stable family member. We have a 6-month program. The rst three-month period is very restrictive. As each man lives in the community, we control his social activities. As he works in the community, we keep control of his money, vehicle, and other assets. The second three-month period is like a father letting go of the bicycle seat and watching to see if his son can peddle and maintain his own balance.

The letting go of the seat is allowing them to have cash in their pockets and freedom of travel while they continue to attend all classes and church services and submit to random drug testing. If/ When they relapse (fall down), we require them to start all over. Galatians 6:1 points to the recovering addicts need of restoration and healing: Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. We have meditation time in our schedule to promote spiritual healing and restoration! 1 Timothy 4:16 points to the importance of both practical and doctrinal instruction: Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. We have included both doctrinal and practical instruction in our schedule. We also want to give our members a good taste of the church, which they get on Sundays and Wednesday evenings. Another aspect of Project Rescue is to help each man to become self-supported, so they do not need to rely on their parents for nancial support. We help them to nd a job and save their money.

Attendance is required for all the scheduled activities.


Members do not work for the rst 30 days. During this time, they must attend all the scheduled activities. Members who are working must attend 15 minutes of morning meditation on week-days, either the 9 a.m. or 7 p.m. Bible class on weekdays, and either the Sunday morning or evening worship service.

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Outreach in Moab, Utah


Martin and Julie Johnson Training
What better way to teach your kids to evangelize than to have them help you while they are little? Sarah and Seth helped to hand out these invitations to come to Bible class and worship services. We placed them on car windows and gave them to individuals walking to and from their cars. In an hour and a half we handed out almost 200. the church. Tyson Kalisz then gave a lesson on Fighting the Good Fight. Thursday evening and all day Friday, Marty spent in in-depth study on the book of Ephesians, led by brother Guy Orbison, Jr. of Durango, CO and Denny Petrillo of Denver, CO. In all, there were over 130 men in attendance. Julie and the kids were able to visit with many of the members that they hadnt seen in a while. It was a very fun and encouraging experience.

Murray Park Ladies Day


Julie and Sarah enjoyed the Ladies Day in Murray, UT. The fellowship was great and the lessons very encouraging. The theme was focused on Micah 6:68, Do Justly, Love Kindness and Walk Humbly. The three speakers were all ladies from Utah congregations.

Martin, Julie, Sara and Seth

Spring is Here
The snow has melted here in Moab and the flowers are starting to bloom. Tourists are beginning to pour into the town every weekend to enjoy the beauty of the canyon lands that surround us.

Preaching
Marty is preaching through the book of Daniel on Sunday mornings and teaching on Christian evidences in the evenings. Along with other visitors, a young lady from Thailand has begun attending our services on a regular basis. She works at a local motel and will be with us for only a few more months before returning to Thailand. Please pray for us as we use our time wisely to influence her soul.

Looking For Opportunities


As we begin to assimilate ourselves into the community of Moab we are constantly looking for ways to meet people to whom we might be Christian influences. During the last couple of months we enrolled Sarah in a soccer program. Through this we were able to make many contacts with other families in the area. The library continues to be a great place to meet people as well as to make friends with the librarians. An annual rubber duck race was held at the Rotary Park, and we participated in that, involving the family in community activities. While these are small efforts, we pray that God will use them to do big things for His glory. We are on the lookout for souls searching for the Truth. Please continue to pray for our family and the church here in Moab.

The Workshop in the Word


We participated in the 17th Annual Workshop in the Word, held in Durango, CO. We arrived in time to enjoy a meal and great fellowship with

Fellowship
The church eats together regularly, which provides for a time of building relationships. We are excited about the opportunities to share Gods word with the people of this area, as well as to strengthen those who are already Christians.
Guy Orbison, Jr., leading the studies in the book of Ephesians.
Martin Johnsons email address is papuamissions@mac.com.

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Work Among the Burmese in the USA


George and Gertrude Achard
studied with us regularly and participated with our worship service when it was possible. We have hope also for him and other members of the family. One more amazing person is Ma San Yee who was baptized on our 35th trip. She was once Ma Ayes Sunday school teacher when they lived in Burma! As Ma San Yee graduated from one of the Chin Baptist Bible Schools in Myanmar, she taught the children in her class about once saved, always saved, inherited original sin, to obey the Ten Commandments, the Thousand Years Reign etc. Now Ma San Yee has come to know the truth, and she is very strong in teaching for the Lords Kingdoms sake. She has a firm foundation and continues to attend regular Bible study and trying to worship on every first day of the week, whether we can be there or not. Ma San Yees husband, Ko Tin Aung, was baptized by George on our 35th trip and he is also still strong. I hope to give you some more good news very soon. Please continue to pray for us.
George and Gertrude Achard are some of the earliest converts in Myanmar. They travel most weekends from Florence, AL to Nashville, TN, to work among Burmese people in the Smyrna area. George has just completed a Masters program at Heritage University.

George Achard, studying with some of the Burmese immigrants in the Nashville, TN area, particularly in Smyrna.

May I humbly request for your prayers. George and I need to go up to Smyrna and Nashville, TN for our mission trip, number 103 on this weekend after his graduation. Were going to have Bible study and Bible discussions with strong S.D.A.s and strong Baptists on that evening. On our last trip we had Bible study with them, starting at 7:30 p.m. and ending at almost 1:00 a.m., past midnight on Saturday evening. We have hope for one S.D.A.s leader whose name is Steven, who once said to us that he is not interested in the Bible, only interested in politics. Afterwards, he was the only one (among Karen tribal connections) who did regular Bible study with us and organized his S.D.A. people to study also. On our second to the last trip, after our study, he said, Now I came to know that the Sabbath Day is seventh day of the week, and only Israelites needed to keep the Sabbath. After the Cross, Christians need to worship on the first day of each week, and if we all go back to the Bible, there shouldnt be any division. Those were his words only. But

he didnt convert yet. He relies for physical help on one of the Burmese Baptist pastors who can communicate in English, and help him, but they have racial problems, being of different tribes. Anyway, we strongly believe that The Gospel is for all, not just for our own tribal group among the people of Burma. Please pray for us to be able to reach these lost souls. We need your prayers and cooperation. On our 98th trip, a young lady whose name is Ma Aye Yin Yin Aye was baptized by George at Woodson Chapel Church of Christ, after our regular Bible study there. She was one of the youth leaders of their Myanmar Chin Baptist church. Now she can explain to her sisters that she has been added to the Lords Church by the Lord Himself. How wonderful! I am so glad to see anyones baptism, anywhere, by anyone! Praise the Lord for everything. Sometimes we have opportunity to study at Ma Ayes house with her family, and at Ko Hang Htangs house. Ko Hang Htang is Ma Ayes father. He once

Lest We Forget, by Philip


Slate. A compilation of minibiographies of 84 missionaries of churches of Christ in the early part of the 20th Century. 120 pages, $8.00.

Call 662-283-1192

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Sooner Prison Ministries


Larry Ware

... I was in prison and you came to Me ... inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me (Matthew 25:36,40).
This has been a great quarter here in Oklahoma State Reformatory (OSR). We have had a few lock downs because of cell phones being smuggled in to inmates, and also we have had a few fights between inmates resulting in at least one person being stabbed. However, there have been fewer than usual. We have had to miss out on only two Sunday morning church services as a result of these events. Our attendance has been up, and we have had eleven (11) baptisms. I have had a Sunday afternoon NewLife Behavior (NLBM) IV class completion with 33 graduates; Christians Against Substance Abuse (CASA) class with 18 graduates; NLBM Managing My Anger (MMA) class graduation with 9 graduates; MMA class in the Faith and Character Community Unit (FCCU) with 51 graduates. There were also 15 graduates of these same courses at our Minimum Security Unit (MSU). The problem is there is no one teaching at MSU now, due to Terry moving near Woodward, OK, where he now works. We also had graduation from both the Faith and Character sides of the FCCU, located here in OSR. We graduated seventy nine (79) inmates from our third Graduation class this April, 2011. We have one hundred nineteen (119) in the two groups, but some will have to attend additional classes before they can graduate. I was requested to give the Invocation for this ceremony. As I stood before this group, along with many dignitaries from Oklahoma Department of Corrections, I looked into the faces of these graduates and realized that I had the opportunity to teach all these men during this past 15 months. I also recognized many men that I had had the pleasure of baptizing into Christ, because of the teaching of Gods Word. There were several men present as honored guests who had graduated from the two earlier class years. Some of these I had also baptized into Christ. There have been many changes in this program since it began. We have a different director and teachers (except for me) and some new rules and regulations. We have learned much; so have the inmates. We are in the process of moving out the graduates to other living units in the yard, and bringing in the next class members. Some of these men will be going on parole or to lower security yards. We have at least one man who is moving up to Hominy Prison near Tulsa to help facilitate the FCCU there. Our very first class three years ago, which was the first in the state, sent 10 men to Hominy to help facilitate their program. I surely missed those men from church services and classes, but they were soon replaced by other inmates here that had grown in the Lord. This moving will take a while to accomplish. The next group starts June 6, 2011. During this period of transition I have asked for permission to use some of this time to have classes for the men who will be there. I believe I can utilize this time. There will be training times by the State for the new and returning Moderators who will help facilitate the classes for the coming sessions. I am looking forward to getting to work with these new inmates. I am amazed at how much I have learned over the past 16 years in prison ministry. I have wondered how I knew enough to ever do the work in those first years. I have also learned it was not me but Christ who did all that work. I am thankful for Gods Grace that carried me through, and is still carrying me, as I continue to learn. I lost $400 in salary January, 2011. If any congregation could make this up I would be very grateful. We are making it financially, but it would be easier if we had that support back. My salary is paid to me by Lakehoma Church of Church of Mustang, OK. You can contact the elders there regarding this matter. My expense support comes through Mangum, Hobart and Sayre Churches of Christ. I have enough support for expenses, just short in the salary. I am looking for someone to help with our work at our Minimum Security Unit (MSU). I cannot do the work in MSU because I already have a full schedule inside the Walls of OSR. My cell phone is turned off when I am in OSR so if you call me and get no reply, please call the house phone (580) 535-4088.
Larry and Rose Marie Ware, Prison Ministers. Email: larryeware@sbcglobal. net

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The Compassion of Christians


History is replete with records of natural disasters that destroyed entire cities and killed hundreds of thousands of people. 2011 has been just such a year. On March 11, an 8.9 earthquake hit Sendai, Japan, followed by the 23-foot high tsunami waves that swept the entire coastal area, and culminating with damage to the Fukushima atomic power plants. Reports say 250,000 people were displaced, and 26,000 were counted as dead or missing. The total effects of leaking radiation will not be fully known for years to come. April 25-28, dozens of tornadoes swept through the southern United States, destroying most of the small town of Smithville, MS, moving on to Hackleburg and Phil Campbell, AL, then wreaking havoc in the larger city of Tuscaloosa. More than 300 died, thousands of people lost their homes, and millions of dollars of damage was done.

Wildres burned over hundreds of thousands of square miles in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico.

What is the result of such calamities? In the midst of the pain and desolation, the sympathy and concern of fellow human beings overflows. Individuals, groups, organizations, agencies, churches, and governments rush to the aid of the stricken. Individual Christians and congregations of churches of Christ have responded magnanimously to the need.

Such pictures are indicative of the destruction in Smithville, MS, and in Hackleburg, Phil Campbell, and Tuscaloosa, AL.

Flooding of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers began the latter part of April, forcing many to leave their homes and resulting in the destruction of more than 130,000 acres of crops in Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Continued snow melt and heavy rains caused the Souris River in North Dakota to rise to higher levels than any previous record, leaving thousands homeless. Wildfires in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico burned hundreds of thousands of acres, and many homes, with some loss of life. May 22, another tornado cut a six-mile-wide swath through Missouri, destroying much of the city of Joplin, killing more than 150 people, and injuring hundreds more, making it the deadliest single storm in our history.

This building, meeting place of one congregation of the Lords church, was greatly damaged but served as a distribution center for the hurting.

Japan
Park Avenue Church of Christ
Among many others throughout the States, the Park Avenue Church of Christ (5295 Park Avenue Memphis, TN 38119. 901-682-1220) has, through Dwight & Josephine Albright, Joel Osborne, and others too numerous to name, provided leadership in bringing aid and recovery teams to the
Continued on page 29

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... Compassion
Continued from page 28

striken people of Japan. The Facebook group, Working and Praying for Japan Earthquake has been most helpful in providing news, after the subject was abandoned by the traditional news media. The following is a sampling of the work and reporting that have been done: Nonogaki Quake Report through the Park Avenue Church of Christ (www. parkave.org) On the 14th I went to Watari, just outside of Sendai, in order to meet Shin, who is a graduate of Harding University. He has been staying at a school gym for two months, but amazingly he has been in good spirit. He told me 300 people

took me where his house and shop were standing. I suppose Ground Zero may be good words to describe this. I looked around 360 degrees, but saw nothing but trash. The area he lived was actually a great tourist spot visited by millions of people every year. Nothing was left but only piles of trash like a big mountain.

are living in the gym. It will go on at least a couple of months. Shin lost his house and business. Fortunately, his family was away and now lives in Tokyo because of his daughters school situation. She goes to Christian Academy of Japan in the suburb of Tokyo. I gave him Y50,000 as a gift from many Christians in the US. Shin took me to disaster areas not very far from the school gym. The areas are restricted to only specialized workers. Since he is one of them, he was able to take me there. Although I expected really bad conditions there because I have seen news on TV, the reality hit me hard when I saw devastations just in front of me. He

Although he attended Harding University, he has never become a Christian. I hope this is just the beginning of his journey to know Jesus Christ. Even though I am away from him in long distance, I can always communicate with him by email or other things like Facebook. On 15 May Lords Day, I attended the worship service at Sendai Church of Christ. Shin came to the worship service too. I spoke on how we should understand the Disaster and Earthquake. Since the church does not have someone to minister them, they have hardly an opportunity to listen to a message from the Bible. I was very impressed with their positive attitude. This church building has been used as a storage room for the rescue mission done by Mito Church of Christ. All the material gifts have been sent here and stored. This is a nice neighborhood. It seems to me there is much work any missionary or preacher can get done there. I have added their names on my prayer list. Also pray that missionaries and workers will come to serve there. Another Report from Japan: ...we passed a small shed that said something about needing to survive on the side of the road. That got our

After a great tour, we went out to eat at a restaurant. He began to ask me about church and Christianity. He asked me about Christian life in Japan. He even told me that he wanted to go to church next day if it is OK with me. I was very happy to hear that because I was thinking when to ask him to come to worship. I was moved by his sincere attitude.

Food and other essential items being distributed by Christians. Continued on page 30

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Continued from page 29

attention so we called the number on the side of the shed. As it turns out, there was a man who survived the tsunami and was now living in the shed. He hadnt had any protein lately so we gave him all the food we had in our 3 cars. We chatted with him for a bit. Basically, he said he was in his house on the first floor and went to second floor to escape. As he was escaping the heavy furniture fell on him and he was trapped, but when the water came it loosened the stuff on him so he could get out. He was tossed around in the water in whirlpools, but he was able to get on top of a tatami mat for a while, but when large objects came he had to dive under the water several meters to escape. He thought he wouldnt survive, but he did, though he was pretty badly bruised and cut up. As we left we prayed for him and took a quick picture. Then, a couple of hours later, he called us as we drove home and said: I felt so angry that I havent received support from our government, but after just one phone call I have connected with people from all over the world. I felt

so encouraged, so peaceful and joyful that I couldnt keep quiet, so I just had to call you. Since the tsunami I have been so bitter, but today I felt such joy! Its like a chain was broken. I was saved in some divine way but I dont know why. After you came I kept tearing up and I felt like I could survive.

Healing Hands International


Larry Musick, through Healing Hands International [hhi.org], Nashville, TN reported, concerning his recovery efforts: Saw lots of devastation the last few days. However, I also saw lots of love across many Christian groups as they combine efforts to share Gods love.

Joplin, Missouri
David M. Franklin

On Sunday evening, May 22, an F5 tornado struck Joplin, Missouri. My wifes parents live in Joplin and for the last 23 years we have worshipped with the 26th and Connecticut Street Church of Christ at least once a year. Thankfully, my in-laws home was spared, but the church building was within the six mile path of devastation. My family and I arrived at the church building the following Saturday, to

find the parking lot full of cars and relief workers. Our trailer of supplies, donated from friends and church family members, was quickly unloaded. The building had sustained damage to one third of the roof, and 3 to 4 inches of water had collected in the auditorium. All of the carpet had been removed and the pews had been moved to the foyer. The auditorium had become a warehouse for supplies from several relief organizations, and a steady buzz of Christians could be seen assisting those in need. Prayers were being offered in the parking lot. Later, my wifes parents drove us through the devastated area. We fell silent, taking in the loss all around us. It looked like a giant blender had been turned on and the contents poured back out. Cars were tossed around like crumpled pieces of paper. Windows were blown out. Any remaining trees were debarked. Houses looked like bombs had exploded. Restaurants we had often frequented were just gone. Street names had to be written on cinder blocks because all landmarks had been destroyed. Saint Johns Hospital lay abandoned and windowless. All of the doctors offices were gone. Home after home, business after business was completely destroyed. How did anyone survive? On the day of the tornado, those already gathered for worship took refuge beneath a stairwell. Seven families of this congregation lost homes, along with 6 families who regularly visited. The congregations greatest loss was the deaths of brother Bill Anderson and his wife. He was the deacon over the Bible class program. Their daughter, Grace, had been away at college and was told
Continued on page 31

Thousands of meals have been served by Christians.

Damaged auditoriums have become storage places for essentials.

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... Compassion
Continued from page30

that her 17-year- old brother, Quentin, had also perished in the storm. The next day, by the grace of God, he was found alive in a hospital in Springfield, Mo. The first Sunday after the tornado, the congregation met for worship at the La Quinta Inn. The room was packed. Many of those who had lost everything were there. Grace was there. Minister Richard Chambers expressed gratitude with words and tears, stating that the outpouring of love they had received from the brotherhood had been a reminder of Gods love and had served to encourage and to motivate them during their time of crisis. He spoke of the concern their members had for one another; how they had opened their homes to one another; how they had rejoiced at finding Quentin alive. Its about the people. Nothing else really matters. Brother Richard quoted several verses from Psalms, noting our God is worthy of our praise. Looking over those congregated to worship, he said this was evidenced by the presence of so many who had lost so much. He encouraged the survivors, many of whom were feeling unworthy of the help being offered to them, to allow others to help. We need to help. Dont take that away from us. Yes, please dont take that away from us.
David M. Franklin is a Christian, a member of the West President Church of Christ in Greenwood, MS.

Reflections on the Tornado in Joplin, Missouri


John Deffenbaugh
After receiving a call to come to work, I hurriedly drove to Joplin on the evening of May 22, 2011. I had no idea what kind of storm lay ahead

of me. Nor did I have any clue of the horrendous tragedy then unfolding between me and my work location. In view of this past weeks events and all that we have witnessed, there are some things I feel compelled to share. Untold dollars lost in the storm, dreams shattered, homes destroyed, lives forever altered, a baby plucked from its mothers arms, a teenager pulled from his father through the roof of an SUV, a husband sacrificing his own life to save his wifes, frantic searches for lost loved ones feared dead, and on and on and on this list could go! If you and I havent shed tears over the sad plight of our fellow man, something is very wrong! These tragic accounts tug at our hearts, and rightfully so (Romans 12:15). Yet there is a greater tragedy amidst all of this pain and suffering. That tragedy is that many souls were hurled into eternity in the blink of an eye. How many were prepared to make that journey? It is not the loss of life which Jesus tells us to fear, but the loss of our souls for eternity (Matthew 10:28). The true tragedy of May 22nd was the scores of souls who were launched into eternal damnation, unprepared to meet their God! If we could have witnessed those souls departing their lifeless bodies on that evening, all over Joplin, how many would we have seen escorted by angels (Luke 16:22) to Gods tender care? I feared the loss of a co-worker on that night as I worked. My constant thought was this; Did I ever offer to study the Bible with him? How many of those, lost that day, were in constant contact with members of the Lords church and yet never learned of Gods plan to save their souls? We must do better! God deserves better from us!

Can we say with Jesus; My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work (John 4:34)? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest (John 4:35b). If the church which is called the Lords will not do His will in teaching the lost, then it is not the Lords church (Luke 6:46)! Life is a precious gift. Life is fragile. Death is certain (Hebrews 9:27). Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit. Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that (James 4:13-15). Indeed our life should be lived in constant view of Gods will and purpose. Many souls that evening between 5 and 6 p.m. were caught unaware and unprepared. Though May 22nd started out like any other Sunday morning, before the day ended, the lives of infants, children, parents, and elderly alike were done. Were they ready? Are you ready? Are you ready for death? Are you ready for the Lords return? Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour (Matthew 25:13).
John Deffenbaugh serves as an elder in the Hillcrest Church of Christ in Neosho, Missouri.

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Mission Printing
Richard Renfro Our Facility
Mission Printing is located in Arlington, TX, and our facility has all the equipment necessary to print and ship a large volume of Gospel literature each year. The facility also provides adequate accommodations for volunteer workers. There are offices for the volunteer secretaries, two large rooms for collating, where thirty to forty men and women work, stapling, packing and shipping, a dining room for volunteers to eat lunch, and where daily devotionals are held. During these meetings, excerpts are read from letters received from many countries around the world, telling what they have accomplished and their additional need for books and booklets to use in teaching the Gospel to their fellow countrymen. These letters are always filled with thanksgiving, as well as complimentary statements that are uplifting. Several songs are sung during this period, the sick are prayed for, and many encouraging words come to those who are helping do this work.

Partnering with MISSION PRINTING


Ron Pottberg, World Bible School
Each year my travels take me to more than fifteen countries, and it never ceases to amaze me as to how all of our ministries have a part in reaching the lost. World Bible School is just one way to reach out to a lost world with the Gospel of Christ, but so many other ministries are doing the same thing, but with a different approach. We are thankful for Mission Printing sending literally tens of thousands of pieces of printed literature around the world each year. W.B.S. has enjoyed a partnership with Mission Printing for many years now and that is because it gets results. On the back cover of all Mission Printing pieces is an offer for the reader to enroll to study even further through the W.B.S. correspondence courses. What a partnership this is, and it is as Paul said so long ago; I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. Each of our ministries doing their part to reach out to a lost world makes a difference. We want to thank Mission Printing and all of their volunteers who make it possible for tens of thousands of souls to have an opportunity to study Bible materials each year. Keep up the good work, and we look forward to partnering with Mission Printing for many years to come.
Ron Pottbergs email address is ron@ worldbible school.net

Mission Printing, a work of churches of Christ, is an incorporated, nonprofit organization, entirely supported by donations. It has an independent board of directors and is not directly associated with any particular congregation of the church. It was established to provide Bible oriented teaching and study literature to missionaries in many countries around the world, at no cost to them, and is dedicated to bringing the Gospel of our Lord and Savior to a hurting world. Requests for printed materials continue weekly in the many letters received. Production has increased significantly over the years. Last year, we shipped close to 50 tons (that is 100,000 pounds)! The bulk of these materials is sent primarily to emerging nations, although not exclusively. Other materials are sent to teachers of Bible correspondence courses, and those in this country (USA) who are making efforts to convert sinners in their local areas.

Support
Many individuals and congregations support this work through donations, making either regular monthly contributions or special purpose gifts, such as memorials. Many are investing in the future of Mission Printing by naming this work in their wills, or by giving paid-up insurance policies. Others have given to an Endowment Fund so that, in the future, the interest on that money will help pay for necessary operating costs, such as paper, postage, and utilities.
Richard Renfros email address is: renfro.richard@att.net.

Volunteers
Our work force is comprised of volunteers except for a paid director and an office manager. The amount of work done by our approximately 150 volunteers is difficult to believe. Most of them are over 65 years of age and some are in their 80s and 90s. They have so arranged their schedules that we have from 10 to 30 people working on any given day (Monday Thursday).

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Twenty-five years ago three brethren decided to create a complete Bible school on video tape. They were Rudy Cain, Charlie DiPalma and Chuck Horner. In just a few years their goal of having all of the Bible textual courses, along with all related courses for the school, was completed. The name of the school is the World Video Bible School. The idea was to make this training program available to all congregations of the Lord and to their Bible training schools anywhere in the world. This they have done. Of course, as time progressed, there were requests for many more Bible related courses that would not come within the school curriculum. Many of these courses have now been filmed and are also available. This school has met the high standards set by the originators. First

WVBS
of all, there would be nothing taught in any course that differed from the Bible. Secondly, in the Bible school courses, every instructor had to have experience teaching in a brotherhood school of preaching. This insures that the quality of teaching is excellent. Also, where possible, student notebooks were prepared by the instructors to go with their courses. Now, at this time, the courses are being sent into 371 brotherhood congregations and schools, in 49 different countries. This is a large and aggressive undertaking. It is with the Lords blessing that all of this has been accomplished. Of course, with the advancement of technology, the courses

are now being produced on DVDs. One evangelistic tool created for the brotherhood is entitled Searching for Truth. By the end of this year over one million of these DVDs will have been placed in the hands of the church worldwide. Some of WVBS courses have been taught in Tamil, Telugu, Russian, Korean, Spanish, Hindi, Ki-Swahili, Mandarin Chinese and American Sign Language. All courses have the difficult words and phrases in them thoroughly explained. Therefore, even if your native language is not English, you will be able to have a full understanding of what the Scripture is saying. If your congregation or school would like to use any of the courses, please contact World Video Bible School for a catalog.

Contact Information: World Video Bible School, 25 Lantana Lane, Maxwell, TX 78656; www.WVBS.org Bible Study@wvbs,org; Orders: 877-398-5211

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Gospel Broadcasting Network


Tyler Gilreath
GBN has recently changed sponsors and is now under the direction of the Southhaven Church of Christ, Southhaven, MS. The website is GBNTV.org

Soon you will be able to get GBN live on your home television, 24/7, with the aid of device called a Roku box. You may ask, What is a Roku box? In answer to this question, the Roku website states: Roku is a little box that allows you to instantly stream tons of entertainment on your TV. Watch movies and TV shows from Netflix, Hulu Plus or Amazon Instant Video, listen to music on Pandora, catch the latest ballgame, and more its all available whenever you want it. We have recently learned that this box also allows others to create custom channels that can be added to the Roku library and streamed to your TV. It seemed like an obvious choice for GBN. So, in February, we started development of our own custom channel, which will stream GBN live, 24/7, to anyone who owns a Roku. The process will be easy and free. First, you will need high speed internet and a Roku box, which you may purchase online at www.roku.com. The cost ranges from $59 to $99, depending on the options chosen. When it arrives, the setup is easy similar to setting up a VCR. I set mine up in about ten minutes. You may connect the Roku box to the internet via a cable or wirelessly. Once the box is installed, the GBN channel is available for download at the online Roku channel store free of charge. Thats it! GBN is ready to watch whenever you desire! We believe the GBN Roku channel is going to be a wonderful way for Christians to get GBN, but we also believe it is going to be a great evangelistic tool. There are already over one million homes that currently have Roku boxes, and the number is climbing all the time. Of course, most of the people who are buying Rokus are getting them for entertainment purposes; but, when they do buy them, GBN will be sitting there waiting for them! Also in development at the present time are apps for the iPhone and Android smartphones. When they are finished, a person who owns one of these smartphones will be able to click on the app store (market) and download a native app for GBN. After installing the free app, it will be as simple as a few clicks to have GBN streaming in the palm of ones hand. When 2010 came to a close, 73.5 million iPhones had been sold, and Android phones were shipping at the rate of 300,000 a day. In light of these staggering figures, we would be remiss not to try to take advantage of this tremendous opportunity for teaching the Gospel.

Barry Gilreath
Gospel Broadcasting Network recently announced the death of Barry Gilreath, Sr.: We, sorrowfully, announce the passing of our dear brother, Barry Gilreath, early this morning, June 7, 2011. Brother Gilreath was the original executive director of the Gospel Broadcasting Network and was active in its operation as late as yesterday. Brother Gilreath was one of the elders of the Highland church in Dalton, GA, which oversaw the creation and operation of GBN until this year. Jim Dearman, GBN Program Director and close personal friend of brother Gilreath, wrote: In April of 2004, I received a phone call from a man with a dream. The man was Barry Gilreath, Sr., and the dream was to launch a 24-hour-per-day television network to reach the world with the Gospel of Christ. Yes, Barry Gilreath, Sr., who passed from this life on June 7, was a dreamer; but he was a dreamer in the best sense of the word. His dream was to make the dream of God a reality in his lifetime. Gods dream, as it has been called, is found in 1 Timothy 2:3,4: For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (NKJV). When I received that call in 2004, I knew and respected Barry as a faithful Gospel preacher, who had labored tirelessly in the kingdom, with various congregations and with media outreaches, such as Preaching the Gospel with James Watkins, the Know Your Bible television program in Chattanooga, and other worthy efforts that have contributed so much to the cause. Now, seven years after that phone call in 2004, I say farewell to the friend whom the inspired writer describes as sticking closer than a brother. Only eternity will reveal the souls who will be saved because Barry Gilreath, Sr., acted upon his dream to help make the dream of God a reality. Life brings us many acquaintances, but God brings us friends like Barry Gilreath, Sr. I will continue to thank God for that gift. (Jim Dearman)

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Biblical Institute of Central America


George W. Hall
God bless you in the name of Jesus! baptized, and 12 restored. Then in in the development of the lectureships. Soon we shall leave the troubles of this April, we had a campaign in Bluefields. They work hard in personal evangelism world to be at peace with Jesus. While It was a 14-hour trip (5 hours were in before and during the lectureship; also we wait, our compassion for the lost a boat). The travel time shortened our they serve in different areas of the activkeeps us joined to the purpose of Jesus week; however, God blessed us with ity, such as counseling, baptisms, order, the Gospel for all. 33 baptisms and 8 restorations. This discipline etc. Last month, my trip to Honduras resulted from 250 Bible studies. We Monthly Evangelistic and Nicaragua was delayed twice by encountered several different languages Campaign in La Campesina hospital visits. My heart was out of in this area, which made our mission Suchitepequez rhythm (A-fib). One hospital stay was more difficult. One week before the national for five days. My medication still is The vision, dream, purpose, and lectureship, we were developing our not right. I am having nervous, shaky commission of God are kept before the monthly evangelistic campaign. During feelings, plus I get only about four students constantly. They make those the week, the students were presenting the hours of sleep each night. Pray for me. goals their own. Their trust in God is Gospel, house by house; also they were Also, please pray for my family. solid. All glory and praise to Him. preaching at night in Gospel services. After two years and five months During the week of the campaign, we National Lectureship of this work in Nicaragua, the school had 23 baptisms plus six restorations, of Churches of Christ has established twenty-seven churches. and during the days of the National in Guatemala When questioned about the average Lectureship, we had 46 more baptisms, This lectureship was started in Guatenumber in each group, Erick indicated plus 33 restorations. that about 40-50 members, plus 50 mala in 1965 by the North American RESULTS: 69 Baptisms, 39 children, would be part of each group. missionaries, Jerry Hill, Dan Coker, and Restorations, 716 Contacts. Thats 90-100 people total 2400- others. The original purpose was that Weekend Evangelistic Work 2700! When I said that number would the members of the church in different Thanks to God, for the salvation be too large for the average home, he places of the country had communion explained that they would multiply for a few days. At that time, 30 people of the lost in the small churches that into other homes. So, when we go attended the first lectureship. In this year, BICA is helping every weekend. Also, into a town to establish the church, that 2011, approximately 4,300 attended the we continue making emphasis in church may be meeting in 2 or 3 houses Lectureship in La Campesina Suchite- teaching to the local brethren the Good as a practical matter. This has proven pequez (south of the country)! The News, and as a result of this, the local to be an effective, biblical, low-cost students of BICA have an important part members are converting people, too. RESULTS: (in two week-ends method to reach thousands. of work) 29 Baptisms, 310 When I asked him what Contacts, 19 Restorations, 51 percentage of the converts are disciples to teach others. remaining faithful, Erick said How You Can Help at least 90% are faithful. We If you go to our website, know we will lose some. The www.bica.info, you now can Bible teaches this in many areas, donate to BICA by credit card. the different kinds of soil, etc. Simply go to Donate to BICA When the students graduate, in the left column at the bottom. they are skilled in establishing Also, the address information for and maintaining churches. regular donations by checks is More good news comes from Nicaragua. In March, 69 were All set up for a full house at the evening meeting. given. Thanks!

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On-going Work in Haiti


Dr. David Smith
1. Accountability improvements In an effort to improve our accounting/accountability of the HCDP work in Gonaives, Kristen Brown, CPA, (from the Pleasant Valley Church of Christ) and I just completed our trip (May 13-16) to Haiti. Following is a brief report of the exciting findings of our journey. 2. Church plant in Port au Prince slums As we were leaving the slum of Cite Soleil, Pacius pointed out a new church plant that his church was participating in, in a tent city behind the police station. A church of 16 is meeting in a tent very close to the police station. 3. Meeting and planning with elders On the following morning, I met with the elders for about 3 hours and discussed a thorough review of the work in Poteau. I saw the Chinese 125 cc motorcycle that they had purchased ($1500) which allows 2 men to go out on Sundays, and one of them goes two hours over the mountains to Nan Pol where there have been more than 300 baptisms since last August. Now, a total of 8 preachers go out each Sunday, and 5 men stay behind to teach classes. I learned of many new church plants, and two of those are in Gonaives and involve almost 120 people. 4. Positive effect of the ve new wells drilled On the way to Bangnol, we stopped at one of the new wells (near Poteau) that had been drilled in February by Living Water/Healing Hands of Nashville. Two of the women there told about the major impact that the well has had on the community and how it has positively impacted more than 5001000 people. Their words of thank you were profuse and heartfelt! 5. Earthbag houses bring great excitement to community, and demands for expansion At Bangnol, we went in the two new earthbag houses nearing completion (and enjoyed the 10-15 degree cooler temperatures). These are two-room houses that are bigger, have better ventilation and cooling than our first house. Thus far, they have cost about $1850 each to build, and we feel confident that their final cost projects to be under $2000. At the earlier meeting with the elders, we spent a great deal of time talking about how to determine who would get the houses, and we discussed how these subsidized houses could be built. 6. Sustained church growth and new locations multiple reasons a. Local leadership training demonstration of those skills b. Radio program the Poteau eldership is completing plans to oversee a St Marc radio program that will cover the entire Artibonite Valley 2,000,000 people. This will be sponsored in cooperation with World Radio (Whites Ferry Road). This will be a great blessing as new preaching points, and as Christians as well as non-Christians will be able to have more extensive exposure to New Testament teaching.

with Pacius for two hours each Tuesday afternoon. 8. Multipurpose headquarters Living quarters for director, directors office, communications center, library and teaching center, guest quarters for 24-Haitian guest house. We are in the process of restoring Pacius library which was destroyed in the 2008 flood. Finally, he has an office and a place to keep his books and computer. 9. Bois Marchand Training Center We are completing plans for developing internships for at least three former refugee/residents, earthbag dormitory, future conferences and expanded facilities for teaching (covered teaching center). Ongoing training seminars are being held as well as plans being made for a national preachers conference in 2012. 10. Bois Marchand Feeding Center Of the 110 children that are being fed six days each week (with probably enough food to supply two meals), I learned that at least 26 of those children are orphans of the Port au Prince earthquake disaster. This is a great work that we continue to try to enhance and sustain.
David E. Smith, MD, Haiti Christian Development Project, www.hcdp.net, Heart Clinic Arkansas, 10100 Kanis Road, Little Rock, AR 72205

7. Ongoing, weekly training Thirty-seven preachers are meeting

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Half a Century Sees Impressive Church Growth in Brazil


Glover Shipp
group totaled, at peak, fifteen families. Among initial works in Belo Horizonte was a School of the Bible, The team purchased, during its first year, a site in the hills south of the city for a Bible camp, calling it Retiro dos Pinheiros (Retreat of the Pines). In that same year the magazine, Volta Bblia (Back to the Bible) began in So Paulo, and moved to Belo Horizonte in 1969. Also in 1967 the work began in Curitiba, a capital city southeast of So Paulo. In 1967, Allen Dutton and his family became the first missionaries for the church in Porto Alegre. The next year, Walter Kreidel and his family moved to the state of Paran to work in the city of Curittiba. In 1969, the team in So Paulo bought O Acampamento Monte das Oliveiras (Mount of Olives Bible Camp). Workers in Belo Horizonte envisioned a dream called Breakthrough/Brazil, which it shared with the So Paulo These men were on the rst team team. Jointly, the two teams of missionaries of Churches of Christ to Brazil. presented this plan at the 1974 In 1959, a radio ministry was Pan-American Lectures, held in Belo launched. Within ten years, the effort Horizonte. The dream was to recruit had grown to twenty-eight radio sta- workers for fifteen major cities that tions, broadcasting programs in seven had not yet been evangelized twelve in Brazil and one each in Paraguay, different languages. In the 1960s, the team launched the Uruguay, and Argentina. So Paulo Escola de Treinamento de Obreiros missionary, Ellis Long, began recruiting (Training School for Workers), along teams for Breakthrough/Brazil, out of with several new congregations. Women which grew the Continent of Great of the mission team launched Mulher Cities ministry. In the 1970s, The Instituto de Crist, a magazine for women. In the mid-1960s, counselors at Estudos Bblicos (Bible Institute) was Camp Yamhill, Oregon, challenged organized in So Paulo, with a like their campers to be missionaries. This program formed in Belo Horizonte. In 1974, the church was launched marked the beginning of Operation 68, the goal of which was to move a body in Salvador. In 1975, the magazine, of missionaries to Brazil by 1968. The Ministrio Cristo (Christian Ministry)

History in a Brazil Nut Shell

The first of our long line of missionaries to Brazil were Arlie and Alma Smith, who arrived in So Paulo in 1956, moving later to Rio de Janeiro. In 1958, thirteen families from Abilene Christian formed a team, entering So Paulo in 1961. The team believed that group effort can accomplish a task otherwise hopeless for an individual alone or many individuals functioning in an uncoordinated way. The group initiated multiple congregations and saw a large number of converts in less than twenty years.

Arlie and Alma Smith, rst workers.

began. In 1976, three families initiated the work in Campinas, So Paulo State. In Braslia, the church began, and the publishing house, Editora Vida Crist, was founded by Alaor Leite. In 1980, new families arrived in Recife, to begin what has been a successful outreach. In 1981, missionary teams entered Braslia, the national capital, Manaus, Campo Grande and Fortaleza, all state capitals. In 1982, a team arrived in Rio de Janeiro. The year 1984 saw a team arrive in Salvador. In 1987 missionary families arrived in Florianpolis, Santa Catarina State. In 1992, new efforts began in Vitria, Esprito Santo State, and Natal, Rio Grande do Norte. In 2008, an all-Brazilian team was formed to serve in Braslia. In 2010, the church was planted in Niteroi, and, recently, in Belm. Currently, a nationwide TV program is aired from Belo Horizonte.

Current Status of Churches of Christ in Brazil


In 1961 there were three tiny churches in all of Brazil. Today there are about 265. At least twelve have elders and deacons, and 124 have their own building. Some support their own ministers, and a number have planted new congregations.
Continued on page 38

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Amerindian Missions Guyana


Jerry O. Davidson
dian Missions Bible Correspon-dence School. This School will be operated within the country in order to save time and money that would be involved if it were done from the States. This presents an ideal situation for teaching the Gospel to these students, so that when they return to their home village, they will take the Truth with them. This same situation exists in every region, and in time, we hope to expand our efforts into other secondary schools. We are asking you to make a contribution of whatever amount you feel you can give for funding Amerindian Missions Bible Correspondence School to teach the Gospel to hundreds of young people in Guyana. Please make your check to Amerindian Missions, and send it to the address below. We are looking forward to a great mission trip June 27 July 11, 2011 in Moruca Village and Moraikobai Village. Our mission group members will form two teams, with one going into Moraikobai Village to conduct a Vacation Bible School and have evangelistic services each night. The other team will go into Moruca Village to conduct an evangelistic campaign. On July 13, 2011, we will conduct our second graduation at the Guyana Christian University in Lethem, with ten men graduating. Brother Tom Holland, President of the school, will be the main speaker at the graduation ceremony. Thank you sincerely for your continued support in preaching the Gospel to the Amerindians of Guyana, South America. May God continue to bless you as you strive to live the Christian life and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).
Summerdale Church of Christ P.O. Box 314. Summerdale, Alabama 36580

50 Years in Brazil
Continued from page 37

For our latest campaign in Guyana, we had a team of eight Americans, two brethren from Trinidad, and several of the Guyanese Christians with us. We conducted a Campaign for Christ in Yupukari Village, located 300 miles south of Georgetown in Region Nine, and six people were baptized. A church building and preachers house are currently under construction. Our mission team also went into Moruca Village in Region One, located in the northwest part of Guyana. We worked there for five days, holding services at night, and conducting Bible studies and visiting during the day. The Lords church was established in Moruca Village with nine baptisms. There is great potential in this area, because there are several villages with a population of 14,000. There is a secondary school in Moruca Village with 742 students. There is a government-sponsored ele-mentary school in every village. When children finish the sixth grade, they are given an exam. Those passing are allowed to go to a secondary school and the rest have to leave school and learn a trade. What this means is that the best students from Region One are enrolled in this school in Moruca Village as boarding students. We have plans to set up an Amerin-

From the beginning, nationals have been prepared to evangelize. At the 2011 ENOC (National Encounter of Christian Workers), some 400 such leaders from all over the nation participated. This session was dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the team in So Paulo. The church continues to grow in Brazil. However, there are still more than twenty major cities and forty unreached tribes without the churchs presence. In addition, the Brazilian church should become a leader in evangelizing other Portuguese-speaking lands. *Glover Shipp is a veteran missionary to Belo Horizonte, devoting 18 years of service to the work in Brazil. This report was produced from his historical notes, along with contributions by a number of other workers.
Read Glover Shipps account of the rst decade of work by the team that was called Brazil Nuts. Entertaining, enlightening... Hardback, $8.00 Order from: World Evangelism Publications P.O. Box 72 Winona, MS 38967 662-283-1192

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The Kees Busy World


Doyle Kee
Pam White before returning to Geneva. Barbara and I had an opportunity to visit a day and night with our daughter, Bonnie, and grandson, Stryder, in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. Bonnie was leading a small French study group and this was their closest layover to us. During my work in Burkina Faso, Barbara stayed home and worked on correspondence courses and participated in a number of activities with the ladies of the Geneva church. Brady Smith (Lausanne) and I made an 11-day mission trip to Burkina Faso, West Africa. This was a follow-up to the campaign conducted there last July by seven people from Geneva and three from the USA. We spent a weekend in P (on the Ghanian border) where there is a church, but most of our time was in the capital, Ouagadougou. There we had private studies with French WBS students, spoke to high schoolers in their classroom, had a conference with 10 pastors and preachers, met with and encouraged the local Christians in three churches, and then concluded with two public conferences. In spite of a military uprising, daily cutting off of the electricity, and temperatures between 105-110 in the shade, the mission trip, partially supported by the Geneva church, was very encouraging. Brady and I were kept safe and had no health problems. Thanks for your prayers. In the coming month there is a possibility of a quick trip to Denmark to have a seminar with an African French-speaking group that has started a church in Varde. We have the Marseille chorale coming for an evangelistic concert and I will be going to Schaffhausen, Switzerland, with the Geneva church soccer team that is participating in the annuel tournament of teams from churches in several countries. It is always an enjoyable multilingual fellowship, with almost 200 people participating last year.
Doyle Kees email: Thekees@bluewin.ch

Twelve teenagers from Geneva and three from Lyon had a weekend retreat in the French Alps in the chalet of one of the members. Three of the Geneva young adults organized a retreat for French young single adults and 33 people from six churches participated. Barbara and I drove to Lyon and spent the night with the Hendrixes. The next morning, Arlin Hendrix and I drove to Pau, France, to baptize a military man who had first been contacted by Bren White in Colmar, France. We studied with him for several hours and then he was baptized in a small river close to his house. Arlin and I drove back to Lyon that evening (14 hours of driving in all). The next morning, Barbara and I visited with Charles and

Romanian Churches at Work


Harvey Starling
You would be thrilled and blessed to be in the midst of the many activities underway in this part of Romania! There have already been seven souls converted to the Lord in the past three months, with hundreds of one-to-one Bible Studies having been taught by several Romanians and by dedicated U.S. teachers who came over to work. Every week Ladies Bible Classes are taught in Craiova and Pitesti. The number participating varies from 15 to 25 at each place, including visitors. Ladies in all seven churches provide a solid core of strong faithful workers in each congregation. In a recent Ladies Day, featuring Dr. Sandy Hazelip of Eastland, TX, the attendance in Craiova was 102, and in Pitesti the number was 104! Wonderful! One of the greatest areas of progress in the past year has been with the teenagers and young adults. A large group, whch often includes several visitors, meets regularly for Bible Study. Many of these men preach and teach classes. During the first part of this year, I participated in a very important program in Dolj, Arges, and Valcca, an area with a population of 2,000,000 souls. After working short term in Romania in 1991-1995, it has been my joy to work fulltime in this former Communist nation for the past 15 years. The schedule has been to return in late February and preach through March. Then I go back to the U.S. to visit eight congregations, to encourage and inform them concerning the Romanian work. During June and July, I am in Romania again. Much, much planning has been done for the continuation of the work this year. Pray for these efforts.
Harvey Starling: hmsstar@bellsouth.net or ionelav@xnet.ro

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Lyon, France
Charles O. White
personal and group Bible study are important (something these Catholic youngsters dont do), faith and baptism, personal holiness, etc. The Lyon brother is a high school teacher and has some of those young Catholics in his classes. He feels, as do we all, that Biblical truth was shared and good seed was sown that day toward a harvest down the line, in whatever form the Lord sees fit to give. We have held two round table discussions on the qualifications of elders, with the idea that we would then go on to nominating the men to serve. However, those meetings convinced us that the group is not ready at the present time to move immediately toward nominations. In the last meeting, it was decided that we would temporarily suspend the process, and do some more teaching and discussing before moving back into an active selection. Working with a first-generation church has its special challenges, and I guess this is one of them. My own hopes for having elders within the next 15 months have had to be put on hold, and I have had to remind myself that the church is the Lords. So, we continue to work and to serve, and pray that His will be done! We have recently had two rather large orders for song books, both from churches in Canada. Since our present stock numbers about 900 books, we are glad to see some of those going out. We are also happy to see the Frenchspeaking church using the songs we worked so hard to assemble, a collection that represents some of the best that spiritually-minded people of the last couple of centuries have composed and authored. My personal feeling about

The natural disasters continue in the States, and we are horrified by their frequency and intensity. Such destruction is hard to imagine. Many of you are directly affected. We pray for you and ask the Lord to do whatever He feels best. We hosted the Chorale Harmonie from Marseilles. This is a choral group made up mostly of teachers and students at the CEM (Chretiens en Mission) Bible School run by the Church of Christ in Marseilles. We always rent a Catholic Church building (or two) for this chorus. Last year it was Villeurbanne one night and Meximieux the next, but this year it was only Meximieux, about 30 kilometers from Lyon. The group always sings well, and this year was no exception. What was different this year was that the priest in Meximieux is very open. He invited the chorus members, as well as one of our Lyon brothers (whom he knows personally), and all of our Lyon adolescents to a pre-presentation session where they were able to share their faith with a group of the parish youngsters. The Lyon brother was so excited afterward that he could hardly contain himself. They had broached all sorts of subjects, including the pope, Mary and the saints, the Lords Supper, acceptable Christian worship, why

the current movement toward lighter songs is that they may make the church lighter as well. I am also very wary of the youth teaching the adults in the church to sing; it seems to me that it ought to be the other way around. Perhaps I am generalizing and/or being unfair. But, as they say, thems my sentiments. Unfortunately, none of the present generation will be around when the effects of the current trends are known. But God is in control, so Im OK with that. Pam and I were thinking the other day about the members here, and we discovered that there is not a single family or individual in the Lyon Church that isnt going through some kind of suffering right now. Some of it goes way back, and some of it is relatively new, but all of it is real, and suffering is never a pleasant thing. But the Lord has taught us to look to Him and to use suffering as an opportunity to develop a greater faith in His strength. Thats what we are encouraging the group to do. Good will come of it, as God has promised (Romans 8.28).
Charles White's email address is cwhitelyon@aol.com

Charles O. White writes on two subjects:

Upright, Traits of the Righteous Heart ... Lessons for

serious Christians $8.00 The Missionary Myth... An important study for those planning to send or go. $8.00 World Evangelism Publications 662-283-1192

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The Story of the Syktyvkar Church


Larry Little
The decade of the 90s began with the dramatic downfall of the Iron Curtain and communism in the Soviet Union. Immediately, hundreds of Christians from the West began pouring into the atheistic country with evangelistic campaigns. The Gospel was proclaimed, believers were baptized, and churches were planted. In the fall of 1991, one city where this occurred was Syktyvkar, the capital of the Komi Republic, in northern European Russia. Within a year of the first campaign, there existed a congregation of around 50 Christians. It soon became evident that attention needed to be directed toward grounding these babes in Christ and preparing Gospel preachers. Rising to the challenge, two American elderships made long-term commitments, destined to serve both the Syktyvkar church and the Russian brotherhood at large, in the years to come. This is the story of the Lords work in Syktyvkar, Russia. Demar Elam, of what was then Southern Christian University, was primarily responsible for organizing and leading the first campaigns into Syktyvkar. Two elders and others from the Midway congregation in Trinity, Alabama participated in those first campaigns that resulted in the church being planted. In the winter of 1992, in response to the Syktyvkar churchs invitation, the Midway elders assumed oversight of Larry and Kay Little to work full-time with the young church. From the beginning, the Syktyvkar church was unusually blessed with excellent leadership material. Thus, by the year 2000, they had selected and appointed two qualified men to serve as their first shepherds and, in the following year, full-time missionary presence ceased. Brother Elam also envisioned a Bible and preacher training school, based in Syktyvkar. In 1993 the elders of the West Main congregation in Tupelo, Mississippi committed to overseeing and underwriting what is now called the Syktyvkar Bible School. Following Demar as the first Dean were Charles Tharp, West Mains preacher at the time, and W.C. (Dub) Hill, one of their elders. Larry Little currently serves as Dean. From the beginning, the simple purpose of the two-year mens program and one-year womens program was to prepare Russian men in their own country and culture to become evangelists, Bible teachers and church leaders, and to equip Russian women to teach the Bible to children. Through the years, qualified American and Russian Christians have taught the courses. Now in its 17th year, over 90 men and women have been trained by the school and are at work in the Kingdom. Gennady Scherbakov, one of Syktyvkars elders, serves as director. While West Main continues to support and oversee the financial aspects, local administration of the school is now under the oversight of the Syktyvkar elders.

In addition to the school, the Lord has continued to use the Syktyvkar Church of Christ in other mighty ways within the Kingdom in Russia. Beginning In 1996, James Mettenbrink, a former missionary in the Komi Republic, began a ministry of translating sound brotherhood works into Russian for the Russian church. The Syktyvkar church agreed to work with him and now serves as distribution center for the country. To date, 42 books and 9 monographs have been distributed and are now in the hands of Russian Christians, free of charge. In 2000 W.C. (Dub) Hill and his wife Shirley had a dream of establishing a foster home for children in Syktyvkar. He worked with the Syktyvkar elders and the dream became reality. Today, the program is under the oversight and administration of the Syktyvkar church and boasts 15 homes, housing some 85 widows, destitute women and children, including 35 foster children. Another 90 women and children have benefited, having already passed through the program. Many have obeyed the Gospel and the church has received much credibility in the eyes of the government and community. Through the years, men such as Marlon Rutherford and Mike Nix, along with others, have continued to return to the Komi region, evangelizing and strengthening the
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Operation French World


Bren White
Gods Mission! The Laurel leaders have a very bold vision of how to reach souls in the DC area and around the world for Christ! Already Bren has conducted Mission 1 Training Series weekends at Laurel twice! Thank God for churches and leaders who put Gods mission above everything else! What an outstanding example and what a joy to be a part of! If you are ever in the Washington, DC area, the Laurel church welcomes you to come visit! If you are a spiritual leader, perhaps you will come and participate in upcoming True Leader retreats, or the Global Leadership Summit. If you are a French-speaker, perhaps you can be with us for the next French World Mission Workshop. Get more information at www.ofwmissions.com! of Saba, God had used Lipscomb University students annual VBS efforts to prepare the way. We met their group arriving as we were leaving. Saba is ripe for a New Testament church. Outreach meetings are being planned for next year!

Strasbourg Church News


During Brens visit to Alsace in October, he preached at the Strasbourg Church of Christ, and did outreach in Colmar with members of the Geneva church. The Sunday Bren preached, there were members from the Karlruhe Church of Christ and the Zurich Church of Christ. Christophe Muller, who was baptized during Bren and Cheryls time living in Strasbourg (1994-96), was restored to the church in a loving and wonderful way. He also helped with the outreach work in Colmar. Daniel and Tammy Frerot and their girls, Candice and Marilena, and Tammys mom, are doing an outstanding job! If you are ever traveling in Europe, make a point to stop in Strasbourg to worship with this wonderful church! Pray for them! Help them in other ways! Contact them today at daniel.frerot@gmail.com.

Walk worthy of God, who calls you into His own Kingdom and Glory (1 Thessalonians 1:12). Walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him...strengthened with all power...for all endurance and patience, with joy giving thanks to the Father (Colossians 1:10,11). How can we walk worthy of the Only One who is truly worthy? Only by relying on Him fully, on His Spirit, His power, His love, and His amazing truth each day! There is no other way to walk worthy of the One who is true and faithful and deserves all glory! Can we learn in our daily walk with Jesus how to actively depend on and submit to the Father? Can we focus on Him and value our relationship with Him above all else? Doing Gods will comes down to this. Can we do it? Can we look to HIM? Just one thing: live your life in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ(Philippians 1:27). Pay careful attention to how you walk...making the most of the time... (Ephesisns 5:15,16). Bren and Cheryl are now overseen by the elders of the Laurel Church of Christ in Laurel, Maryland. Bren will be Outreach Minister and Missionary, continuing to focus on OPERATION FRENCH WORLD, even expanding efforts to recruit and train workers for

Saba and Statia Church


He who loves little prays little; he who loves much, prays much. Augustine (354-430) March 6-14, Bren and Cheryl met up with Marlon and Subrena Lawrie to do outreach on two Dutch Antilles islands near St. Maarten where Marlon is the preacher for the Phillipsburg Church of Christ (Bren preached there on Sunday). The trip was also a survey trip to explore the possibility of starting the first churches of Christ on these islands. God unfolded things perfectly. All day long, every day, God presented people who were searching and open to His Word! Pocket New Testaments (in three languages), WBS materials, tracts and Choate publication books were distributed, and Bible studies were conducted. A Gospel message was shared live on Radio Statia, and many good contacts were established in the community. On the beautiful island

Colmar Campaign Update


In June 2011 (15th-21st) a campaign team came together in Colmar, France for a week long outreach effort, including Christians from the Strasbourg church, the Geneva, Switzerland church, the Karlsruhe, Germany church, the Zurich, Switerland church, the Rockville, MD church, the Laurel, MD church, Bright Road church in Findlay, OH, the Elmwood church in Lafayette, IN and several others.
Operation French World/Operation Monde Francophone, P.O. Box 245, New Market, MD 21774 USA, ofwmissions@ gmail.com

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New Christians in a Muslim Country


World English Report
At great risk to themselves, a Muslim student who has been studying with Katheryn Haddad via the Internet is now our brother in Christ, and his wife is our sister. Leaving Islam and embracing Christianity in his country is a capital offense. Consequently, he and his wife baptized each other secretly. The picture here is only suggestive of our new brother and sister and their children. It is not their picture. For obvious reasons, we cannot show their faces. a church, and could I help him find one. If only people in America could see what people like Tariq go through, rather than saying, Do I HAVE to go to church? Let us pray earnestly that God will protect this courageous couple as they follow Jesus in a hostile environment. They are the third Muslim couple to baptize each other recently. Sheikhupura police this month tortured a young Christian woman into revealing the whereabouts of the legal team helping her family after an inuential Muslim family kidnapped her and her sister, sources said. Police also helped the Muslim family beat relatives of the Christian woman on court premises and attacked the ofces of the organization trying to help her family, they said. Pakistans Islamist party, Jamiat-Ulema-e-Islami (JUI), has petitioned to have the Bible banned from Pakistan because it violates the nations notorious blasphemy laws. The move by the JUI is just the latest episode in the ongoing and increasingly deadly persecution of Christians in that Islamic nation. At least 10 Christian families in a village in Pakistans Punjab Province have ed their homes after a throng of area Muslims accused a Christian of blaspheming Islam on Friday, June 10th. The students of a madrassa tried to force a Christian child to convert to Islam. His uncle was attacked for defending him, and accused of blasphemy. A priest said, This is a common practice in the region. Many cases of forced conversions are not made known. The authorities turn a blind eye to the problem. Christians in Pakistan remained fearful Thursday, June 16, after a court in Pakistan acquitted 70 Muslims who were suspected of killing Christians in one of the countrys worst sectarian clashes in recent memory. At least eight Christians burned to death in August 2009, in what became known as the Gojra Massacre, named after the town where the killings took place, some 160 kilometers (100 miles) outside Punjab provinces capital, Lahore. Two others also died in separate attacks on Gojras Christian colony by Muslim extremists, and churches and homes were reportedly set on re.
Courtesy: Bill Warner -- email address: bw@politicalislam.com

PAKISTAN

On February 21, Katheryn wrote, Praise God! My Muslim student in XXXX wants to be baptized. He wrote, I am going to baptize as soon as possible. Please tell me how can I do it and how I pray. Soon thereafter, he wrote, I am very happy this morning. I have baptized with my wife. She helped me baptizing. We baptized in the bathtub together. Katheryn traces the history of this study as follows: Tariq (not his real name) is in his forties. He was impressed with the lesson on the prophecies of the Messiah that were fulfilled by Jesus, especially prophecies in Isaiah. One week later, he wrote me, I need your help and your special guidance to my decision to become a Christian, but now it is dangerous for me in my country. What can I do? This is one of the most dangerous nations in the world to leave Islam and become a Christian. Men have been imprisoned and put on trial for their lives for giving a Bible to someone. Women have had acid thrown in their faces. I encouraged him to try praying to Yahweh (the Great I AM). I continued to encourage him to be baptized, explaining that it can be done in secret. He asked how it is done. I explained what to say, and asked if his wife, a brother, or a trusted friend could help him. Two days later, he and his wife baptized each other in secret. On March 17, Katheryn wrote, My newly baptized ex-Muslim wrote me today that he wants to worship with

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Events In and Around Cotonou, Benin


George Akpabli Visits to Congregations
As is often the case, I have been to several congregations to worship, Agla, Akpakpa, Agon, and Hinvi. All warmly welcomed my family as we joined them to worship the Lord. I have also spent a couple of Sundays with the campus church. The Zinvie congregation held a three-day seminar for its members on the theme Contentement. Some of the subjects were: God, the Only Source of Contentement; Taking Care of Your Health; Managing Personal Resources. School of Evangelism and of the Sonrise Primary and High Schools. He invited Joyce and me to attend and speak at a marriage seminar for some of the area churches. We met some of our preacher friends from Ghana that we have not seen in a very long time. I spoke on the subject, The role of sex in marriage and also taught the Adult Sunday morning class. Daniel Ampadu-Asiamah and his wife were also invited to speak. Daniel had been the preacher of the church where I was baptized, and he also got me involved in mission work. We both left Ghana in 1984 to go to Togo for a two-year mission work. That work laid the foundation for our present mission work. During the seminar, I met one member of the church that I baptized in 1989 and had not seen since 1990.

Elections
Benin conducts presidential elections every five years. This years election took place in the wake of the very bad presidential elections in the Ivory Coast. It therefore came up with so much tension. During the electoral period, our radio speakers did a wonderful job using the radio sermons to call on the Cotonou public to look to Jesus, the Prince of Peace. They spoke on some of the following subjects: Attitudes that Destroy Peace; Attitudes that Favor Peace; Duties of a Good Citizen; Seeking and Pursuing Peace and the Saturday before the Sunday elections, they spoke on the subject: Vote for Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

Gifts Received
A 20-foot sea container shipped from the USA to Cotonou arrived on campus on April 12. It contained several filters for the bus, clothings, French religious books from World Evangelism Publications, tracts, song books, Bible correspondence courses, a Honda tiller, several tools and implements.

Agriculture Report
The Smith Agricultural project, initiated some five months ago, is now taking its own shape. The pigs that we bought, weighing less than 5 pounds, are now very heavy. A couple of them are carrying babies and should be giving us some piglets very soon. We have planted several rows of carrots and they look really good, growing up nicely. The patches of some local legumes on high demand that had been planted are also looking green. We are reducing the number of rabbits from over 400 to 200 so that we can use the second room to raise chickens. We have been buying chicken droppings for manure, so this change is being made to produce this in-house. The students participate fully in watering and feeding the animals.

Marriage Seminar in Ho, Ghana


I have had a very good personal and family relationship with one of the hard working preachers in Ghana by the name of Samuel Dzamesi. He is the principal of the Volta

Prayers Needed
As one dearly beloved Sister once wrote me, when things are going too well, Satan is not happy. We need your fervent prayers. I carry enormous burdens that cannot be resolved counting on human forces or capability. We must not fail.
George Akpabli: E-mail: akpabli@yahoo.com

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A Story of Love
Felix Aniamalu
I love stories so well, especially when they are not just illusory or fantasy but real life stories. Memories are made of such beautiful stories as the one I am about to tell, a story that one would love to relive, a story of fellowship, love and fraternity, a story that edifies and gives a push, an encouragement to press on in the service of the King of Kings our God. Love is the only thing no one ever gets tired of, and no one feels he has an overdose of it in our world. With genuine love, hatred is entombed, all sorts of skirmishes and wars will go into oblivion. Families, relationships and, in fact, the entire new world will be a paradise, and God (from whom true love emanates 1 John 4:8) will be enthroned while the devil will be forever banished to his hell. This is the story of a WBS teacher, Ruth Orr of the Church Street Church of Christ, Lewisburg, Tennessee, and her formidable team from the USA, soldiers of Christ who lifted His banner high as they ministered to ministers about ministering in a five-day dynamic workshop. The Dynamic Workshop took place in the auditorium of the church of Christ, Akpu Village, Abagana, Anambra State of Nigeria. The beautiful edifice, a work made possible by the love and able leadership of the Church Street Church of Christ, through a WBS teacher, missionary and member of the congregation Ruth Orr was agog with celebration of love as Ruth herself, Ron Pottberg, Prissy Sellers, and Greg and Sheila Hamlin were there to share the message of love with the assemblage of celebrants. Fiftyseven preachers were invited to the workshop, but no fewer than eighty men were in attendance. Besides, over one hundred and fifty women were present on Saturday to listen to Ruth, Prissy, and Sheila. After brother Raymond Onwumere, the host minister of the workshop, welcomed the assembly, Felix Aniamalu introduced the theme with the following words: Our Theme, Hold to Gods Unchanging Hand was chosen by sister Ruth Orr, a woman who out of love hazarded her life for the spread of the Kingdom of Christ across the globe. The workshop was dynamic for the following reasons among others: a) It marked a decade of sister Ruths tireless work of fanning the flame of WBS work, in Nigeria as a whole, and in Anambra State in particular. b) It brought together preachers from at least eight different states of the Nigerian nation, including Enugu, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Akwa-Ibom, Delta, Cross-River and of course the host State, Anambra. c) It afforded preachers from these states an opportunity to interact, fraternize, and share experiences of their evangelistic work together. d) The preachers were fed with the bread of life (Word of God) by eminent preachers of the Gospel, including Ron Pottberg of the WBS, Greg Hamlin, Monday John Akpakpan, Mike Udam, Anayo Ohama, Christian Nwachukwu, and Everest Ene (a convert through the WBS evangelistic effort of Ruth Orr in Anambra State and a graduate of one of the foremost schools of preaching in Nigeria). With every fiber of their being, these preachers impressed the participants on the how and the need to Hold to Gods Unchanging Hand. On the next to the last day of the workshop, participants were so overwhelmed and saturated with love that they were unable to contain it any longer. Thus, they were constrained to go to the streets of Abagana to share the incomparable love of Christ and enroll new students into WBS. Time rolled by swiftly and by the end of the five days, it really seemed as if it were five hours of stay, and participants had wished time stood still to enable them to go on drinking from the deeper well and wealth of experience of the teachers, and to continue in the heaven-like interaction of praise and devotion. It was indeed and in truth, Love in Action. To cap-up the Workshop, sister Orr distributed Bibles, Christian literatures, items of personal hygiene and of course WBS enrollment forms to all participants. We cannot indeed forget sister Ruths work and labour of love (Hebrews 6:10) in Anambra State, a work which led so many souls to the feet of Christ over the years: 2001 (142 souls); 2002 (118); 2003 (98); 2004 (82); 2005 (250); 2006 (370); 2007 (251); 2008 (231); 2009 (172). Ruth was not privileged to be in Anambra State last year, but worked instead in Ibadan and Lagos areas where over one hundred obeyed the Gospel. This year 37 souls obeyed the Gospel. These conversions were also made possible by the strong support, encouragement, and involvement of brother Ron Pottberg. Sister Ruth has seen to the training of no fewer than eight preachers in the schools of preaching, and she raises support for a number of ministers.
Felix Aniamalu, Church of Christ, Okpoko, POB 14220, Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria

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Years of WBS Work in Nigeria


Ruth Orr
Our lives seem to go in many directions with different people of all races and different cultures, but in the end if we are found to be faithful, we are all one in Christ and can almost feel each others heart beat. Thats the way I feel about the Christians in Anambra State, Nigeria, W. Africa. I have traveled overseas 33 times in the past 12 years, teaching thousands of World Bible School students, making endless friends and, hopefully, have left footprints that will never be erased, leaving a piece of me that will have a lasting impression on souls that now know Christ and Him crucified. My first trip to Africa was to Abagana in Anambra State, Nigeria where I had 50 World Bible School students. Two preachers, Raymond Onwumere and Benson Onwuchuruba were working in that area and asked me to come and work with them in teaching these students and in teaching ladies classes. So in 2000 a friend of mine, Sheila Hamlin, and I decided with the help of God we would go. I knew that before I could effectively give of myself to others, however, I must first turn my thoughts inward to my true self. If I did not serve others with the right attitude, I would find myself growing resentful of the time and effort I would have to devote to His Kingdom. As long as the spiritual part of my nature was in tune with God, the outward manifestations would follow without a conscious effort: for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). With Gods help I spent months preparing for His service. After much study and prayer and preparation, I found myself on my way to Nigeria to Africa, a continent of incredible size and unfathomable mystery. We went over with Doug Wheeler and a group of workers, but I had already been warned that we would be on our own when we landed in Lagos. How true that was. Doug did help us to a place where he said, Someone will come and get you. Then he left. Well, then we found ourselves, as my children say, in the dark continent of Africa. My heart was pounding and I was praying with every breath. We were in a country to which we had never been before, with people we had never met before, leaving with a driver and preacher we had only corresponded with, and going to a place so far out I wondered if I would ever see Doug or my family again. But I soon learned that our driver was one of my World Bible School students, and immediately my mind eased a little. After studying the next morning, he was the first one baptized for the remission of his sins. A wonderful welcome Ruth Orr with Raymond Onwumere and Benson Onwuchuruba, the men who asked her to come. was given us in Abagana, but we were not prepared for what we experienced there. We found we would be teaching in the open sun and it was already hitting the 100 degree mark. There was no church building to teach or worship in, and little shade. But we knew we had come thousands of miles from home to make a better world for a people hungry for the Gospel, and now we prayed for God to be with us and help us as we set out to work three weeks in a foreign field with no men traveling with us. We were grateful that there were 10 preachers in the area who at one time had all been converted through World Bible School, so with their help we prepared to teach what I thought would be my 50 students. But the people came by the hundreds to study. Over-whelming wasnt even the word, and total exhaustion soon came on us. The women were begging for classes so they could learn to be better wives and mothers, and to be able to teach their children. Women were not thought of very highly. They were treated with little or no respect, and more like property instead of wives. They attended worship but the children rarely came with them and, if so, they ran outside all the time. The women needed lessons on child-rearing and being better wives and mothers. They were willing to learn, but our time was so limited to do all that needed to be done. The preachers and men also seemed serious in wanting to know how to be better husbands and fathers, and they wanted classes on leadership and subjects that two women could not handle. My heart broke one day as I was speaking to a large group of women and
Continued on page 47

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... WBS Work in Nigeria


Continued from page 46

I asked them to open their Bibles. There were no Bibles. The whole village might have had one or two. Raymond, the preacher, had one I had given him several years ago, and his wife had one. In the open cover were the words, The devil will get you if you steal this Bible. At the end of three weeks and 250 baptisms, I challenged the women that if I could get each one a Bible, would they read it through or at least try, before I would come back next year. They took that challenge and we sent over 400 Bibles for the church and the World Bible School students. That first trip turned out to be one of the greatest blessings and one of the rare experiences most people only dream of but never have. We could not have realized at that time what the next 11 years would mean to us, as well as to the church in Abagana. In 2001 Ron Pottberg, Vice President of World Bible School, began going to Abagana with me. Classes were conducted for preachers of the area, and ladies and mens classes became a blessing for all. Childrens classes were started and they were taught Bible truths, but we also had to teach the women the importance of the children being there and learning to sit quietly instead of running outside and playing. This took a long time, but the church was growing and maturing in the Lord, as each year we would have almost 300 baptisms, and our World Bible School students were numbering almost 4,000 by the third year. We began staying five to six weeks at a time so we could go to nearby villages, teach and start new congregations where many of those converted lived. Our message was a simple Gospel, for a simple people, because the Gospel of Christ is so simple to teach. In all

classes we taught three basic truths: the ladies slept in the WBS office. The 1. God is our Creator and He ladies of the congregation fed all three meals a day, the whole week. What a made us in His image (Genesis 1:26). 2. The Bible is Gods inspired labor of love! God blessed our efforts with 37 baptisms, as we also taught Word (1 Timothy 3:16-17). 3. We are all lost sinners in need WBS students throughout the week. One day a man by the name of of salvation (Romans 3:23). Fredrick came in and said that as a God told us to evangelize not only so the church may grow, but also so that young boy he had taken the WBS lessons and had never forgotten what he we ourselves may mature spiritually. Today, a new church building sits had learned, but that he had quit years on three beautiful acres of land in ago. He saw our sign outside and came Abagana. The Church Street Church in out of curiosity, he said. Raymond, of Christ in Lewisburg, TN built as he talked to him, asked him who his the building that will seat about 600 teacher had been. It shocked us all when people. Jerry Cranfield so graciously he said that it was Ruth Orr of Tennessee helped with putting the roof on for USA! Frederick was now 42 years old them. The members themselves did and it had been 30 years since he had much of the work by building a fence taken those lessons. After studying for around the property and they also built some time, Frederick was baptized for a separate WBS office and library on the remission of his sins and is now a the property for students to come and faithful member of the Abagana Church! study and do WBS lessons. Both have As we reminisced over the past 11 years, electricity, water, and fans for comfort and saw what God had done through the cooperation of all the preachers in in worship and study. We were much impressed in Feb- Anambra State and all the churches ruary 2011 as we spent a week there working together, their love for one for a workshop for the 65 preachers in another and the spiritual growth of each and around Anambra State. I wanted member, it seemed almost impossible so so much to see all the preachers in the much could have been accomplished in area, so Felix Aniamalu and Raymond 11 years. But we know, with God all Onwumere helped me in planning one things are possible. of the best weeks I have ever spent in Continued on page 48 Nigeria. Many said, This years Dynamic Workshop was the greatest thing that ever happened to us. Great lessons from Gods Word were taught daily by Ron Pottberg and Greg Hamlin and also native preachers. We also had ladies classes twice a day, taught by Prissy Sellers, Sheila Hamlin and me. The preachers slept One of the gatherings of the Abagaba church. in the church building while

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...Syktyvkar
Continued from page 41

...WBS Work in Nigeria


Continued from page 47

congregations. In 2009 the Syktyvkar church, working with Marlon and Ronnie Morrison, established a new congregation in a nearby village and continues to nurture it Today, nearing their 20th anniversary, the Syktyvkar church is around 140 in number, served by three shepherds, a full-time evangelist (paid from the church treasury), has numerous classes for children and adults, is engaged in many ministries and has its own building, which also houses the Syktyvkar Bible School. Today, there are new challenges for the Lords church in Syktyvkar. Under the elders oversight, the church is active in regional evangelization and developing a distance learning program through the school that will take Bible training throughout Russia to congregations that are weak in the faith. Indeed, to use the language of 1 Thessalonians 1:8, the Word of the Lord continues to sound forth from Syktyvkar, evangelizing the lost and strengthening a Russian brotherhood in need of revival. Thanks be unto God and all praise, honor and glory be unto Him for His church in Syktyvkar.

Womens Program
Recently the brethren in Syktyvkar celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Womens Program in the school. Kay was heavily involved in the early organization of this program and in teaching many of the courses while we lived there. It was gratifying, going through pictures that were sent for them to display. This is a good work and balances the overall program of Syktyvkar Bible School.

We are proud that now there is a TV program and a daily radio program through the cooperation of the churches in Anambra State. Felix Aniamalu also has a big prison ministry where many prisoners have become Christians by studying the WBS lessons. After being released from prison, many have become good citizens, fathers, and husbands. In the past 11 years, 34 denominational preachers have been baptized. Most have gone to one of our Biblical schools, and some are now preaching the Gospel. Today, we have four former Muslims, a former Mormon, three former Pentecostals, and a former Catholic priest in our Biblical schools. Three doctors have been baptized. Uchenna, who just got his doctors license said, I am a Christian first and a doctor second. The Abagana church is now sending out missionaries to different places. Four who graduated from Jos Bible School are now teaching and preaching in Cameroon. Three other graduates of Jos are preaching in other mission areas. Isaac, a former preacher of the church of God, went to West Nigeria Christian School after his conversion. He is now preaching, and his mission is teaching the Muslims in a Mosque in Lagos. The past two years he has taught and baptized almost 500 Muslim men for the remission of their sins, along with many of their wives. It was our privilege to worship with this group in February while in Lagos. It was joy unspeakable as we heard them sing and praise God. They have all seen their share of persecutions, but they say, We counted the cost before being baptized and will never turn back. May their determination always remain strong.
Ruth Orrs email address is wbsteach@yahoo.com

Artyem and Victoria Ivashov


Artyem Ivashov, the newly appointed full-time minister of the church, was born in 1984 in Syktyvkar, Russia. He is the eldest son of his parents who are faithful Christians and good people. In 1999, thanks to the Lord and patient instructions of his parents, Artyem accepted Christ and was baptized for the forgiveness of sins. After he graduated from high school, he continued his education in the construction school, and then worked for a time at the fire department. In 2003, Artyem started his studies at the Syktyvkar School of Biblical Studies. Graduating in 2005, he started his service as a full-time instructor of the Fishers of Men Ministry in Russia, and has now been chosen to be the minister of the church.
Larry Littles email address is larrylittle2@yahoo.com

Preachers who do World Bible School follow-up.

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The Malawi Project


Richard Stephens
each time they got up and continued on based organization, the Malawi Project course with the Master. The second was focuses on the spiritual and physical entitled Gideon and described the well being of the people being served. way this man of God went against all Preaching, teaching, literature, medical odds to serve Jehovah. His faithfulness care, serving orphans, widows and led to one of the greatest military the handicapped bring attention to victories the world has ever seen. The the teachings of Jesus to care for our third booklet describes the stories of neighbors, to love them as we love conversion in the New Testament and ourselves, to preach the Gospel to all teaches the reader each step taken in men everywhere, and to help those who the first century to become a Christian. are in need. It is entitled A New Beginning. The Malawi Project has been With the creation of a supply serving the needs of the Malawi warehouse at the Namikango Mission people, both spiritual and physical, in southern Malawi, the Malawi Pro- since its inception in 1999. In recent ject has been able to ship thousands of years, the principles and programs of books and tracts, as well as hundreds the Malawi Project have caught the of thousands of Bible Correspondence attention of other groups, including Courses, for nationwide distribution. those in nearby Zambia, and Southern The Mamadzi school is another Sudan. The Malawi Project is pleased in a long list of schools, hospitals, with its association with the Zambia churches, and other organizations re- Project and the Sudan Project, as well ceiving supplies through an intricate as a number of other church-related nationwide distribution system. groups, community groups, civic and The Malawi Project is committed government agencies, and international to improving the lives of the people of corporations, serving the needs of Malawi, Africa. This is accomplished people in other parts of the world. through a series of agricultural, educa- Malawi Project Inc., 3314 Van Tassel Dr., tional, and medical support programs, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46340, USA as well as funding and supplies for a number of local Malawi organizations in order for them to carry out programs that are operated by the Malawians themselves. Students receiving the promised books. As a faith

Basani Mphongolo, Administrator of the Namikango Mission in southern Malawi, started his lesson by turning to Genesis 37:2-9, and calling the attention of his audience to Joseph and the challenges he had to overcame to become the Prime Minister of Egypt. Basani continued, In life, people will hate you, they wont want you to move foreword in life, but dont let anyone kill your dream. Keep it alive. You may think you are a nobody, but God regards you as somebody. God loves you and wants you to be saved, today. Although his lesson would easily have fit a Sunday morning audience at the local church assembly, it was not Sunday, and his audience was not a Sunday morning service at the local church of Christ. His audience on that Thursday was actually the student body of the Mamadzi Community Day Secondary School, a school located a 25-minute drive from the Namikango Mission in Thondwe, Malawi. At the conclusion of his lesson, Basani was able to supplement his message with evidence that someone cares for these young people in this poor, destitute, far off land. A total of 39 English novels were donated to the school library. Then each student was given a pen and three booklets about Christianity. One was about Simon Peter, the Apostle. It is called From Defeat to Victory, and outlines the way the disciples repeatedly fell down, but

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The Heart of Zimbabwe


Loy Mitchell
Who then is Apollos? Who is Paul? They are servants by whom you believed, even as the Lord has given to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God is giving the increase (1 Corinthians 3:5,6). Thank God who still is giving the increase where His Word is planted and watered! We thank the Lord God for the increase in Africa, as faithful servants continue to plant and water. at Sakubva we have a lot of additions to the church and also we have many movements. Most of our people are moving to other places looking for jobs and new land settlement. We are only happy that we are doing follow-up and helping them start new congregations. We have already started Mutanda Church of Christ, south of Odzi, which now has a membership of 17 people. I visited the prisons and preached to the prisoners. I gave them their graded lessons and new lessons to study. In Zimbabwe we are allowed to study with the inmates and to baptize them, if they request to be baptized. In the evening we had 37 men who came for mens training class. We are training to equip these men to become able leaders with sound doctrine. When they finish these lessons, we plan to give them certificates of merit in order to encourage them. We are seeing growth in their performances in leading singing, preaching, and teaching their friends. I was asked to preach in the chapel at the probation center. This is a prison for youth below 18 years. I preached to 78 and enrolled them in our WBS. Brother Chimedza, our youth preacher, goes there every Monday for lessons, and Mutare School of Preaching is sending two preacher students every Sunday morning for services. In the afternoon I gave a lesson to 98 ladies of our congregation. They meet on Wednesdays at 2 P.M. to 4 P.M. They invite me to give them a lesson on a quarterly basis. I also had a meeting with the teachers from Mutare School of Preaching. We discussed about the

CAMPION MUGWENI
Fifty years ago, Campion enrolled in the school of preaching in Zimbabwe. I met him the first time in 1959 at Wedza where he served as a teacher in a farm school. He obeyed the Gospel of Christ and came with his wife, Joyce, to be trained at Nhowe. He graduated from this threeyear program and began preaching at Dombotombo in Marondera. In 1965, we both moved to Mutare to plant the message of the Gospel of Jesus. Today, he serves as a preacher and an elder at the Sakubva congregation. He is known throughout Zimbabwe as a busy servant, planting and watering the seed. Here is part of his last report. We are praying that God will help us to win souls to His side and put the devil to shame. Our God must win and the devil loses. The month of February was a busy month, and the Lord was blessing our ministries in that seven people were added to the church through baptisms. We also want to thank God for providing us with good health and support from you so that we can be able to do effective work here in Zimbabwe. Yesterday, I was checking our church records and I discovered that

pending (drip) irrigation training that is to be done in Zimbabwe in July to September 2011. We call this sustainment training. The training will help the churches in Zimbabwe to sustain themselves. In the evening we had our zone group meeting for prayer at sister Musiteyis home. Brother Mvumi preached, and I led songs. Sunday, we had a good worship service that was attended by 382. Brother Chimdeza preached on the importance of attendance. Our giving was $379, and we baptized three people: Winny Muunga, Peety Musiteyi, and January Ciminnya.

BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST


(Romans 6:1-6) The following churches report baptisms: Insukumini, l; Mutoko, 2; Sakubva, 7; Manica, Mozambique, 1; Dzivaresekwa, l; Chakowa, 4; Shumba, 1; Nyanga, 1; Rusike, 1; Igava, 1; Dangamvura, 1; Machongwe, 4; Ruwani, 2; Makanda, l; Messica, Mozambique, 2; Derembwe, 3; Valley View, 1; Mutasa, 4; Magwadini, 8; Redwood, 3; Kambuzuma, 8. TOTAL=57. Pray that each soul converted to Christ will grow to maturity.
Loy Mitchells email: lsmitchell@juno.com

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Those Gospel Chariots, in Namibia


George Funk

George and Ria Funk

Last April we were in Namibia with Chariot number 2. It was fantastic. We have been working in Namibia for some 10 years now and it has been hard. Churches have been planted and much evangelism has been done with USA campaigners. This year was a little different; we got together all the congregations we had planted, in Tsumeb, for a mini-lectureship. It was the best thing we could have done. Now the brethren know each other better and we got to encourage brother Dalton from Tsumeb. He heads up the Tsumeb Bible Academy. The Fredericksburg Church of Christ once again came over to help. They and the Northside Church of Christ in Benton have been our helpers over many years in Namibia. Thanks, guys. Look what God is doing through you!

Preachers who participated in the Gospel meetings.

The growing Wanaheda congregation in Windhoek. Brother Zack, one of the Fredericksburg elders, teaching two ladies.

Gospel Chariot, No. 2, getting a washdown after a gruelling trip.

What Are Gospel Chariots?


The Gospel Chariot was erected next to the Bible Academy. We then met in the building during the weekend when brethren came into town. We encouraged brethren to send Christians to this school for further studies. It is imperative that leaders study Gods Word. They are the brainchild of George Funk who has built and equipped trucks as mobile evangelism units for transporting workers to unevangelized areas of Africa, and has outfitted them with the necessities for setting up Gospel meetings, sharing literature, teaching, and baptizing! Director George Funks email: george.gcm@gmail.com

Door-knocking, looking for Bible students on a rainy day.

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Training Preachers and Teachers


J.C. Enlow
the preacher for the Buchanan church to do the baptizing. I knew he would be there to encourage and help them to grow as babes in Christ. The next morning, we left about 8:00 a.m. for the city of Gorblee. We were greeted there with a large banner which read, Liberia Rural Bible School. We give God the glory for going before us and preparing the brethrens hearts for a school to train preachers and teachers of the Gospel.

Dr. A.D. Smith and I made a trip to Monrovia, Liberia for the purpose of teaching in the Liberia Bible school. Brethren Isaac Daye and Arthur David were at the airport to greet us and take us to our guesthouse. The next morning, Arthur brought brother Samuel Wouyene to visit us. It was good to renew our friendship with each of them. It had been fifteen years since I had seen Arthur and Samuel on the campus of International Bible College in Florence, AL. Later in the morning, we left for Buchanan where we would be staying at another guesthouse. Buchanan is about a three-hour car drive down the coast from Monrovia. The Lord blessed our stay in Buchanan the first night with two Bible studies. We studied with two men, Andrea and Moses. They both were converted and obeyed the Gospel. Moses drew the water from a well about 15 to 20 feet deep and filled a tub for the two to be baptized. We invited

Arriving at the church building, we were greeted by about 70-75 people (brethren and visitors) who had gathered for the two-day seminar. We taught from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., daily. The book of Romans was taught, and five denominational preachers came for the lessons.. Our local preaching brethren were going to do follow-up studies with those in attendance.. We also gathered with preachers and church leaders and discussed the establishing of a permanent Bible school. Brother Maxwell J. Whea was appointed to direct the school, Ms. Fannie W. Roberts was invited to become the secretary for the school. The teachers are preachers in Gorblee and Buchanan. Sixty-seven brethren registered to enroll as students. We worshipped Sunday morning with the Buchanan Church and they invited me to preach the Gospel. The

building was filled and almost all attending spoke English. An interpreter was used for a small number, 6-8, speaking a dialect. The lesson text was Luke 24:44-48. We really enjoyed worshipping and working with the brethren in Buchanan. Sunday evening we returned to Monrovia. Again, we arrived at the guesthouse where we had spent the first night in Liberia. The Lord opened another door of opportunity, enabling us to study with another co-worker of the guesthouse. A young lady (a former Muslim) was converted, and brother Alassis Goldore baptized her. The people in Liberia are very receptive to the Gospel of Christ. The next and final day of our stay was very encouraging. We met with brethren in Monrovia, desiring us to start a Saturday school in Monrovia. We committed to establishing one as soon as monthly funds have been raised for the school in Gorblee. The director will be brother Alassis N. Goldore, secretary will be sister Emma Jacobson, and one of the teachers will be brother Philip Montgomery. The next day, Dr. Smith and I returned to the States and our families. We thank and praise God for a very successful work in Liberia, West Africa. In Him we live!
J.C. Enlow: global_miss@yahoo.com

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Islam Unveiled
The Reason Why!
Sirajo SaTeh was sent to Islamic clerics, ostracized by his family and finally taken to be executed, simply because he wanted to learn more about the Bible and the Christian faith. Raised in the Kano State, Sirajos mother died when he was 3 and he was raised harshly by his father and step-mother. Sirajo was intrigued by a nomadic group of people called the Angas who would travel from Jos to Kano to hunt wild dogs and other animals for food. He was impressed how everyone in the tribe would work together and the peace they all seemed to enjoy, but what impressed him most was their practice of prayer before each meal. As Sirajo grew more and more engaged with the Angas people, his father became concerned that he was spending too much time with infidels (non-Islamic people) and they were
-

filling his head with strange notions of the Christian religion. After repeated warnings to stay away, his father took him to the Hizbah (these are people who were responsible for executing those who convert from Islam to Christianity). Locked in a dark room and starved for days, Sirajo didnt expect to live much longer, but one of his captors helped him escape and started him on the next phase of his journey. Sirajo traveled for days until he arrived at Jos and asked to be introduced to Christians in the area. Realizing that he was still in danger because of the large Islamic population in that State, they decided to send him to Lagos, to the Bauchi Ring Road Church of Christ. Christians there agreed to send Sirajo to West Nigeria Christian College. The congregation gave him letters of introduction to WNCC and to the churches in the area. Two weeks after arriving at WNCC, Sirajo Saleh was baptized into Christ and started his studies. He interacts freely with all the students on campus, but has been particularly blessed that there are those who speak the Hausa language and have assisted him in his transition. We would ask that you join us in the struggle to spread Christianity and to defeat the powers of Islam. Trent H. Wheeler, President, African Christian Schools. trent.wheeler@charter.net

Islam Unveiled is a look at the history, teachings and current philosophy of the Islamic faith. This program is sponsored by African Christian Schools Foundation. This is a one-day event that can be conducted on a Saturday, or Sunday. It is designed to give an overview and historical and biblical perspective of this growing movement.

Sample Program:
Sunday Bible Class: A Biblical & Historical view of Islam Sunday Worship: Preaching the Gospel in a Terrorist World Sunday Evening: The Five Pillars of Islam Contact AFC at 615-427-8688 for further information and to arrange a schedule. >

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The Church with a Mission and a Vision


Sylvester Imogoh
Here at Ugbogbo, we like to be known as The Church with a Mission and a Vision. Our Mission is The Great Commission. And our Vision is F To be a pace-setting congregation in the entire north of Edo state; F To be a congregation where the light of Gods Gospel is proclaimed to areas far and wide; F And to be a congregation that mimics Christs pattern in Servanthood Leadership. In pursuance of these goals, we have been trying in as many ways as we can to lead the brotherhood in our part of the state in evangelism, lectures and leadership development, and now in the tract ministry. As we had planned, on Saturday, we [the army as we like to be called] marched out to Oke quarters in the village of Ososo, where brother Sylvanus Owolijah is preaching. This fourth congregation in the Ososo area was started last year, and since then, this is the fourth time we are going there for evangelism. The congregation is slowly, but gradually, getting a foothold. The work on the road to Ososo, which started last year, is still going on very, very slowly. And since we are still in the dry season, the dust on that road is simply punishing to the eyes. Many who travel through it have to wear extra clothing on top of the regular clothes. And you receive a good dose of whipping, to help clear some of the dust when you arrive! We now have the van for our transport, and that has made all the difference. Even though with the van, we still need to arrange for anyone to bring cars, and many motorcycles to convey the army. As usual, we went out in twos armed with many tracts and WBS materials, and knocked on doors. After a meal of rice and beef, this [door-knocking] continued until near nightfall. We were rewarded with two young men who were taken to the river for baptism by Cosmas Momoh and the area preachers as we departed. A part of the reason for the better turnout for this work was that the Auchi Polytechnic congregation with the preacher Ayo Dada a lecturer at the Poly, has now joined us in the Evangelism Team, thus enriching the army. Please, pray for our next effort, planned for Ibillo. The Gospel is Gods power to save sinners. However it is preached whether by personal contact, radio, TV or by correspondence, The seed is the word. And when the seed is alive and healthy, in favorable conditions, it yields fruits. The efforts that American teachers are putting into the teaching of souls in foreign countries via the World Bible School cannot be quantified. So much time, money, and efforts are needed to place the Gospel in the hearts of people in far away places, like Africa. And we are happy to have a little part in this work. Since the death of my co-worker E.O. Ajagun who started the WBS program here at Igarra Girls Grammar School, with the assistance of Ruth Orr, I have been working with Jim and Jamie Hall to facilitate the Bible courses program. So many have been taught. From our end, one of the hardest parts is the follow up, yet it is so very vital to actualizing the aim of WBS. Very many factors hinder the students from obeying the Gospel: among others, their relative youth and the consequent lack of independence; their mobility often transferring from one town or school to another, poor address system, etc. I am constantly working on lists from my American teachers and congregations, for follow-up of their students. Yesterday, as I sorted out WBS lessons to mail to the US, I came across the names of two more students that require follow-up. I contacted one of the Ugbogbo members who is a student at their school. At break time, Oke helped to bring the students out. One of their friends came also. I studied with them, and they were ready for baptism. I called one other preacher, Dan Adewole, and we took the girls on bikes to hunt for water. We did not succeed. We planned to go farther today. At break time, they came, and together with my associate preacher, Onipe Momoh, we took them in the car and went to Ojirami, where there is a dam, and we had enough water to immerse them. The students are Bello Aiana Oziofu, Aweh Gift Dayo, and Sumanu Sikira Mary. I do not yet know whose student Sikira is, for she was not one of those referred to me for follow-up, although she is a WBS student as well. I have asked her to bring her lesson envelope on Sunday, so I will know who has been teaching her. I gave them each a Bible, and bus fares to come to worship on Sunday. I thank you all for your part in helping these young Nigerians to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Sylvester A Imogoh: imogoh@yahoo.com

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Developments in Pakistan
Shahid Igbal Khokhar
year 2005, I saw that she and her family were deeply involved in the Roman Catholic church in Hyderabad. I became much impressed, and again I started following the Catholic Church. In the first two years of our marriage we observed that no one from the Catholic Church gave attention to my family in sharing the Gospel and talking about Jesus Christ. Again, I became disappointed. In the meantime, Jennifers cousin, who is Pentecostal, asked us to join their church. Slowly and gradually Jennifers family and I started coming toward Pentecostalism and forgot the Roman Catholic Church. But, still I had thirst in my mind and heart to know more about the true Gospel which was not delivered in the messages of Pentecostal preachers. Their focus was only on speaking in tongues. I never agreed with such practice of tongues and could not understand why people talk in languages which they themselves cannot understand. Once, when we were attending the Pentecostal church, everyone was crying and shouting aloud. This scared our little son, Sterling, and he started crying bitterly. In another service, one of the pastors came and wanted me to fall on the ground just to show the power of the Holy Spirit, and he was continuously pushing me by keeping his hand on my forehead. This thing really made me think, Was it a prayer or something else? I had never experienced such a situation and it really made me embarrassed. At that moment, we decided not to attend the Pentecostal meetings again. We had never agreed on the teachings and attitude of Pentecostals, as they did not satisfy us. After that, we thought that somehow we should affiliate ourselves to some church just to show ourselves Christians, and Jennifer and I started going to a Protestant church, as Jennifers parents told us to do so because they are also the members of Protestant church now, although they were baptized in a Pentecostal church. But they also have some reservations and are no longer members of that church. We attended the meetings of Protestants also but still the message from the Bible was not clearly and exactly given in any of the churches. By the beginning of this year it seemed that in everything and everywhere there was something missing. We stopped going to any church and decided not to join any congregation, but we would simply pray to God at our own home, with the people who would like to listen to the Word of God in its true sense without adding or deleting anything in the given verses.
Continued on page 57

We rejoice in this good news of a new church of our Lord in Hyderabad, Pakistan. Shahid Igbal Khokhar was recently baptized at Sahiwal, Punjab Bible College, after studies through World Bible School and one of our East Ridge teachers! Shahid wrote this e-mail message to his teacher, Mary McKinney: Let me tell you the journey toward the truth of the Gospel. I was born in Toba Tek Singh, Punjab, in 1975 in a Roman Catholic family. I have three sisters and seven brothers, three of the brothers died in their childhood. One sister recently died two years back, leaving a daughter and four sons to her husband. My parents were strict Roman Catholics and asked us to attend and pray regularly in the church. As I was growing in the faith I was becoming stronger in my beliefs and became more mature in my thoughts. One of the cousins of my father became the priest of Roman Catholic church and this made me look closer into the lives of priests of that church. I became completely discouraged and disappointed when I looked at the bad and corrupt deeds of Catholic priests of Toba Tek. My father also came to know about this, and then he also never encourage us to go to the church. When I married Jennifer in the

Shahid preaching his rst sermon.

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From Lahore, Pakistan


Asghar Ali
We came back home Saturday brother and the other two were trained evening after a journey of 25 and a half at Lahore Preachers School. One hours, exhausted in the true sense. We of these preachers, named Shamoon had a good time both at Hyderabad and Talib, attended the meeting one day in Karachi. Brother Sajjad had arranged Bataya Abad. The other two attended four meetings in Karachi, one at Bataya all four meetings. Brother Sajjad is the Abad and three in Malir Kala. The busiest person, involved in different topics of the meeting suggested by the responsibilities of the school started by brother were The Glorious Chuch, late brother Anwar Masih. Maybe for The Second Coming of Christ and this reason, he had no time to take us The Millenial Reign at Malir. The to congregations besides Bataya Abad topic for the meeting at Bataya Abad and Malir. The good things noted were that: was left to me. Sajjad had arranged our stay with one of the church members 1. Contribution was not taken at at Bataya Abad. This place is half an any meeting besides Sunday service. hours run by taxi from Sajjads place. 2. The Lords prayer was not said The preachers on support are four: verbatim as is done in denominations. one of these is brother Sajjads real Continued on page 58

We had asked brother Asghar Ali to visit and study with Shahid and Jennifer, and then to go on to Karachi, to assess the general situation of the church there, after many years without outside or more mature influence:

...in Pakistan
is the truth of Gospel for which I had longed for more than 10 years of my life. This was the time when I realized and told Jennifer that we should go for this course as we will not only increase our knowledge of the Bible but we can also become true Christians who only follow the teachings of Christ, and the focus is always Christ. Here I would also thank God that He provided us with such an encouraging study helper who clarified all the questions in our minds, and the love and dedication for the work of Christ is visible through her correspondence and e-mails. Now the Lords Church at Hyderabad is in its initial stage of establishment. People show their thirst of hearing the Word of God exactly as it is written in the Gospel. They welcome us and show their affection toward us as we read the Gospel in front of them. I believe that it is the

Continued from page 56

In April, when I was browsing the Internet, I found this [World Bible School] website and registered myself, with the belief that somehow I would study from the Bible to increase my knowledge of being a Christian. The early course inspired me, and I gradually got a lot of answers regarding Holy Spirit, baptism, and the church. The best thing which influenced me

result of our constant prayers to God and the thirst to find the truth of Gospel and our sincerity and commitment, and of course the blessings of God made us this much capable that He has filled our hearts with His love and grace. May the Lord bless us all who are in the Lords family on this earth. Since this letter was written, several have been worshipping in the Khokahars home. There have been 12 baptisms to date. Their baptistry is an inflatable swimming pool purchased with funds donated by Shahids WBS teacher, Mary, and her husband.

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From Lahore, Pakistan


Continued from page 57

3. Instruments were not used. 4. Singing was quite good, as the whole of the congregation was familiar with the words of the songs. 5. Their hospitality was outstanding, and they tried their best to make our stay comfortable.

and clappings during the meetings. We advised them not do so in and during the meeting. They should do it either before or after the meeting, but if they do not do it at all it would be the best.

IN HYDERABAD
It was thrilling to meet a welleducated couple at Hyderabad who has established a church there. We were glad that Shahid Iqbal is a confident personality, one who can aggressively convince his audience of the Truth. Both husband and wife are eager to learn in depth the teachings of the Bible. We wonder if there can be a possibility for at least one of them (Shahid) to avail this opportunity. We were much impressed by the attitude of Jennifer toward her parents. If her parents disagree with any Truth of the Bible, she is there with her husband to disagree with her parents and stand with the Truth. We had the opportunity to attend church services, and I preached for them. There were 18-20 present. Before the closing prayer, Shahid asked for a kind of chain prayer which was started by Jennifer and ended with Jennifers father who is not member of the church. Before the church service, I baptized a young couple. I pointed out the mistake of chain prayer, and they accepted it gladly. We had taken some tracts both in English and in Urdu which could be of some help to Shahid. He and Jennifer plan to come to our area during summer vacations. He wants to visit with us and we would be able to provide him communion cups and needful literature. It is our prayer that these visits can be the beginning of WVBS classes among the Christians in Lahore, Hyderabad, and Karachi, and that the Lords church can be preserved there through sound teachings. BBC

HOWEVER...
1. All their meetings looked and sounded like those of denominations. Their singing was just like Pentecostals. A couple of songs had the wording, Give us the Holy Spirit and annoint us with the Holy Spirit. 2. It seemed that they did like the songs composed by the locals, having no serenity and serious thought in them as is there in Sialkot Convention in which the Psalms of David are translated in the local language and the songs translated from English Hymn books. A couple of words were repeated over and over again just to match the self-made tunes 3. For me (Asghar) they used the title The Lords annointed, and during the meeting they mentioned that there was annointing of the Spirit working there. 4. When they were preparing the church for the meeting, recorded songs with instruments were continuously played in the church building. 5. They repeat the benediction of 2 Corinthians 13:14 at the close of every meeting. The air of slum areas was prevailing during all these meetings, especially because no one seemed conscious about the wastage and misuse of time. The time printed on the hand-bills and banners was 7:00 P.M to begin the programme. Almost two-and-a-half hours were spent on singing. This they called paying homage to Jesus and praising Him. There was food after every meeting and hardly we reached our place of stay until 1:00 A.M., quite exhausted.
Asghar baptizing a lady in Hyderabad.

Participants in the meeting in the newly established church in Hyderabad.

In a brotherly and friendly atmosphere, I pointed out that the singing with instruments, though recorded and played on cassettes, is not authorised by the Bible and gives a wrong impression about the church. Moreover, I made clear that I was not the Lords annointed, and there was no annointing of the Holy Spirit during the meeting. As Sajjad had spent so much for the arrangements of the meeting, we contributed Rs. 4000 as compensation. We took three books of Basic Bible Course by Brother Rice, translated into Urdu, a couple of tracts by Brother Perry Cotham, some Urdu tracts and six copies of Rahats book. Since Rahats book is in Urdu and tackles some of the crucial subjects, it was welcomed. We promised to mail him The Church of the Bible and any other material needed by him. They have made it a custom to welcome the guests with floral wreaths

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Persecution in India
Earnest Gill
We are thankful that the Lord is keeping us and using us abundantly for His kingdoms increase in the northern parts of India. Our pass-out students go to the places where people have not even heard about Jesus. These days, burning news is coming from Gangoh, a town of Saharanpur District in UP state. Brother Sonu has been working there wholeheartedly. He was working in a private firm for his earning, but recently he told me that he has left the job, because he wanted to put more time in the ministerial work. He had chosen a few villages nearby to preach the Gospel. RSS (Hindu fundamentalist) people had been threatening him and asking for the past several months that he not preach the Gospel. After he left the job and was devoting more time, they were agitated and I was told that they beat him, and the matter is with the police now as they have published in the local news paper also. Brother Sonu and the congregation there are strong enough that they do not want to stop evangelizing the villages. But as we are the people of faith in prayer, I wish that prayers be lifted to the heavenly throne about the present situation. Throughout India, especially in the northern part, it has been difficult to share the good news, but we believe that we serve the living God, and we must not stop telling about Him. part of India. Again 70+ people from nine states (Delhi, Chandigarh, Punjab, Bihar, UP, MP, Orissa, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand) attended this lectureship. It shows that in northern India, the church is active and is growing stronger. We have graduated 42 people so far who are serving in these states, and new works are being established across northern India. A few brothers could not attend this year because of personal reasons but, overall, the lectureship was rejuvenating. It was felt that the brethren now wait for this day each year. It has become an important event for a North Indian preacher. A few men brought their wives also, and sister Benu took them aside for a womens fellowship. We had no room for them in the building we hired, so they gathered in a nearby Park. I believe that a preacher is handicapped without the support of his wife, and his wife is equally important for his work. Keeping this in mind, we think we should have a preachers wives lectureship in the near future, or at least involve them more in this great event. Brother Russell Bell presented three lessons during the lectures and one in the graduation ceremony. With the closing of the ceremony we have announced the opening of new session. Students have started coming. Two from Chhattisgarh have already arrived, and invitations to other places have also been sent.

we took students to brother Salatials place, 250 kms. from here. It is near the Pakistan international border. They visited houses and the villages, and arranged a Gospel meeting where I preached. They enjoyed the village ministry, met people, prayed with them and taught them.

Daily Outreach and Cottage Meetings


It is our daily routine to go to people and share with them the Word of God. On Mondays, Benu has ladies class in our home; on Wednesday we have Bible study.

First Wednesday
Each month on the first Wednesday, we invite people and preachers from the state to have fellowship and share their experiences as they labor for the Lord.

Free SMS Service


Sending a daily Bible verse was started in November last year with 200 readers, and it has touched 1,000 marks in just a few months. This service was started, keeping in view the people of unbelieving India. We thought to send each day one verse, related to people, and that way they will be allowed to know about the Bible. We get telephone calls from all over India. Some are
Continued on page 60

Fields White unto Harvest


The Fifth North India Preachers Lectureship in Chandigarh and the North India Bible College graduation ceremony went very well. Prior to the lectureship, we had no fellowship with each other, and it seemed as there was no work in the northern

Field Work
Apart from this, our other efforts to enhance the work are continued. Every preacher of the Lords church is deeply involved in this great effort. Gandhi once said that India lives in villages, and it is very much true. The real India lives in villages. Before graduation,

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Persecution and Work in North India


Continued from page 59

interested in Bible study; some ask for prayer, some forward that massage and some give more contacts to reach the unreached. It has been a real blessing that we have been instrumental in feeding this many people by the Word of God daily.

Bible Ki Baat
Recently we have started a new service called Bible Ki Baat (Let the Bible Say). In this service, a brief personal letter is planned to print with a Bible topic on an inland letter. This is cheaper than the regular letter. We send an inland letter and fix postal stamps on it and send each month to various people. This way we can send 12 different articles a year. In the first step, we have already sent 1,000 letters in January and are planning to print 3,000 more. Presently we have 4,000 addresses in our list, nationwide. We believe that we can reach more souls through this kind of tiny, simple and easy-to-digest weapon in less time. We want to fill the peoples minds with the Apostles doctrine. A letter would cost us Rs. 6 (approximately $0.14). For 4,000 letters, we will need $600 each month. We want to involve people in that and ask your prayer for this ministry.

and these booklets, and the Truth for Today literature as well. Again, this year 25,000 Hindi copies, and 3,000 Punjabi copies of the Indian version of Becoming a Faithful Christian were distributed throughout India. Brother Peter Singh from Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) telephoned that he needs 500 more copies of Understanding New Testament Christianity.

World Video Bible School


We have English and Hindi video lessons from the WVBS. We show to the regular students. We have encouraged the local people to study the lessons, but sometimes they discontinue after some time. I plan to offer them a certificate of participation once they complete the course. Hopefully this will work well. We had started this program a few years ago with an old TV. This TV is not working well. Sometimes the picture comes and sometimes the audio. We need a good TV with big screen where about 20 people can sit together and watch the classes. Please Pray for that.

requests for the Bible correspondence course in the Hindi language as well. We printed more that 5,000 request cards and sent them to different people. The names of those who respond are forwarded to the local preachers of churches of Christ for follow up. The Voice of Truth International (Hindi) is being translated and is ready for printing and distribution. Please pray that the Lord may provide a permanent place to operate these good works for His glory. We are facing problems where we have classrooms, as well as with our living quarters. People have difficulty that we use residential accommodation for the church activities and our house owner wants us to vacate. It is matter of real concern for us as we lose peace of mind with these kinds of obstacles. They hurt the Lords work. Any kind of help for the work can be sent in the name of CHURCH OF CHRIST, paid in Chandigarh and sent to Earnest Gill, 5721A, Sector 38-west, Chandigarh-160014, India.
EARNEST GILL is a preacher of the Gospel, does translation and printing work, and operates a preacher training school in Chandigarh, India.

More
Requests for Bibles and tracts from the brothers are received, as they know that we help with this material. We get

Booklets and Tracts


We had translated and printed Why I am a Member of the Church of Christ (Leroy Brownlow) and Some Things you Should Know in Hindi, Things Eternally Important (Charles F. Scott), Understanding New Testament Christianity (Charles F. Scott), 10 Simple Rules to Understand the Bible (Charles F. Scott) and Bridge of Life in Hindi and Punjabi languages. All these are helpful for the brothers in their evangelism work. We helped preachers with the Bibles, song books,

The group attending the Fifth North India Preachers Lectureship in Chandigarh.

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Pure and Undefiled in India


Laurel Sewell
Outside the Vijayawada, India airport terminal a small crowd gathered, carrying a large banner, welcoming our group from the United States. Thirty-one hours after leaving Atlanta, Georgia, with a stop in Dubai, and one in Hyderabad, we were finally at our destination. The seven of us, Arliss Gray, of Leoma, Tennessee; Jay and Hilde Dryden of Toney, Alabama; Lynnwood and Janet Cockerham, of Madison, Alabama, and my husband Milton and I of Henderson, Tennessee had come to work at the Jack Nelle Institute, a mission overseen by the elders of the Leoma Church of Christ in Leoma, Tennessee. We boarded a bus and rode a short distance to the school campus. Founded in 1991 and later named in honor of Jack and Nelle Cox from Oklahoma for their great mission efforts, the Institute trains young men to preach the Gospel and serves as an orphanage and a government-accredited English media Christian school for 300 children in grades preschool through tenth class. Brother K.B.B. Chandrapaul serves as president of the Institute. His son, Bro. K. Titus Bharath, serves as director of the school. The school cares for 78 orphans, assisted by several widowed or abandoned women who also make their home there. In addition to the schools, the Institute produces audio and video lessons, and prints and distributes Bible teaching materials, tracts, a monthly magazine, and a church of Christ directory. Another interesting service performed by the Institute is the Christian Marriage Bureau. In a land where marriages are still arranged by the parents, this service helps parents find suitable Christian mates for their sons and daughters. Characteristics of their marriageable children are listed, such as age, height, weight, education, occupation, and degree of skin color. Some of the orphan girls told us that they will ask Kumari, Chandrapauls wife, to approve of their potential mates. Orphaned girls are at a distinct disadvantage in this society because of having no dowry set aside. Though Indian law now prohibits the requirement of a dowry, it is still an expected practice. The Bible Training Center offers several programs to teach men the skills and knowledge needed in preaching. Some of their wives take Bible classes also. One of the teachers in this school, Vijaya Babu, was formerly an atheist and full-time worker for the Communist Party. Taught and converted by brother Chandrapaul, he studied at the Institute and is now, as he says, a full-time worker in Gods work. As a part of our mission, the men on our team taught classes in the Bible Training Center and spoke at the graduation ceremony where thirty-two men and women received diplomas. The ladies on our team taught childrens Bible classes and conducted the Institutes first Ladies Lectureship, with 140 ladies attending the final lecture. There were ten baptisms during these combined efforts. On Saturday we visited Jakkula Nekkalem, a church without walls. Donations are made for a foundation and roof where the church can meet and fill in the walls as they can afford to. One of the ladies, Malleswari, told us that she formerly worshipped idols. Her husband often beat her and she appealed to her idols but with no result. She decided to

The gathering for the graduation of the students.

Preparation of food for a church fellowship meal. Continued on page 62

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Persecution of Christians
World English Institute Prabhu Encounters Hostility
The rapid growth of Christianity in India has triggered a reaction by radical Hindu nationalists. Church buildings have been burned. Missionaries and national preachers have been beaten, robbed, and even killed. Anti-Christian hate literature has been circulated, and many Christian converts have been forced to return to Hinduism. India is the largest democracy in the world, and the Indian constitution guarantees religious freedom. But Indian authorities have been known to turn a blind eye to atrocities committed by Hindus against Christians. Eight Indian states have passed anticonversion laws designed to prevent Hindus from converting to Christianity. It is not without risk that Prabhu Kumar travels all over India setting up WORLD ENGLISH INSTITUTE classes and teaching Hindu students about Jesus Christ. On Tuesday, March 22, Prabhu traveled to Kodad, Surypet, and Nalgonda to inaugurate new WEI branches. Things went well at Kodad and Surypet, but at Nalgonda, Prabhu ran into trouble. Arriving at Nalgonda at 6:00 p.m., he gave the WEI materials to brother John Paul, the WEI teacher, and asked him to arrange the materials on a table. Prabhu writes, At the time I went to bathe, many young people came and covered the area. They went up the stairs where the [WEI] banner was tied, and they checked the books. Then they understood that this English teaching is connected with the Bible. So they became ready to beat us if we will inaugurate the WEI branch there. They were all from RSS (Rsstriya Swyam Sevak Sangh which is the sister concern of Viswa Hindu Parishad, India), and they were ready to catch us. They had already warned our local teacher not to teach the Bible, but we were not aware of this. So, in fear, the local teacher kept us in the room and served food. We were there for two hours. The RSS people were not gone from the surrounding places. Though our teacher was afraid, I decided to go out to reach the railway station. My train was to leave at 12:30 a.m., so I needed to catch that. Even auto people would not come to that area because of RSS fear. Then, I and Michael both started to go out by taking a daring step. I caught the train and reached Vijayawada by 6:00 a.m. Please pray for those foolish people so that God may work on their hearts. Later, Prabhu wrote, I have traveled to many areas in various states where these Hindu people are quite against our Christianity. But I have never experienced a fearful condition like this. Certainly it is the grace of God which saved us on that night. Brother John Paul called me and said that after my departure, there was a big quarrel between his family and the RSS people. They were almost beaten with long rods. When I heard that, I was surprised by the seriousness of the Hindu opponents. Please pray for Prabhu as he risks his life to spread the Gospel of Christ in India.

...India
Continued from page 61

I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you (John 14:18).

end her life by throwing herself into a well. The minister, Elisha, rescued her and began teaching her about the one true God. Both she and her husband were eventually baptized, and now she says he is a very good man! Driving through the country, we witnessed many evidences of the different religions. We drove past the huge statue of Hanuman, the Hindu monkey god. Red-robed Hindus walked barefoot through town on their Bhavanni Deeksha pilgrimage, honoring the goddess Kanakadurga of Vijayawada. India is a land of contrasts. While women can be seen washing their clothes outside by hand, wireless internet subscribers number 250 million. India is the largest seller of cell phone connections. Although India has the highest concentration of poor on the planet, we were dazzled by the elegant saris and colorful punjabs, or shalwar kameeze, (long tunic tops over pants), decorated with sparkling sequins and golden threads. Soon it was time to return home. As we left the Institute, the lane was lined with the same children as when we arrived the week before. But they were no longer a sea of faces that looked as much alike as their little school uniforms. Each person has a story to tell of providential rescue which gave them a home, a church family, an education, and a chance for a happier and more productive life. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unspotted from the world (James 1:27).
Mrs. Laurel Sewell: mlsewell@bellsouth.net

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Outreach through Literature and Video


Sunny David
Before he went back to his home, I gave Prashant some literature and CDs to take with him, for his personal study and for sharing the message of Jesus with others. His entire family is Hindu and did not approve his decision of becoming a Christian. As far as I know, there is no congregation of the Herman Topno shows our videos to local friends. Lords church in Eternal Sacrifice, by Betty Choate, Kanpur. Prashant is a good contact, and has been translated into Hindi and is I hope we may be able to reach others now available. It is an excellent book through him. for home Bible Another man, Herman Topno, study and for who was converted from the Lutheran Bible classes church some time back through in the church. literature, in the state of Jharkhand, Another informed me that he has acquired a book that needs small battery operated video machine, reprinting is and he has been showing those videos The church of to his friends in the villages around the Bible by where he lives. J.C. Choate. A Brother Steven Martin from Bom- brother callbay called and informed me that he has ed me from The Hindi version been making good use of the videos Shillong in the of Jesus Christ the he has received from Delhi. He said northeast part of Eternal Sacrice. that he is putting them on a cable India and asked network in South Bombay and has me to send a few dozen copies, as it is been broadcasting Bible messages on needed in the church there for Bible class. a regular basis. Also brother Craig We deeply appreciate all who are Phillips wrote and asked me to send helping the cause of Christ everywhere. him more copies of videos to give to May God bless us all as we together members of the church and to other continue to spread His kingdom. contacts. A new book in the Hindi language Sunny David works with the church in has been added to our literature New Delhi, India. Email: Sunny_davidin@ outreach program, Jesus Christ the yahoo.co.in. Cell: 011-91-981-089-6789.

Sunny David

On 31 of May a young man, Prashant Gupta, was immersed into Christ. Prashant was a Hindu, living in Kanpur, about 300 miles from Delhi. He came in contact with the World Bible School in the USA some time back, and when he wanted to be baptized, his teacher asked him to contact me. Soon Prashant and I got together in Delhi and I baptized him at India Gate. We had a very nice two hours long Bible study, both before and after his baptism into Christ.
st

Prashant was baptized into Christ in the pool at India Gate.

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Fourteenth Annual Bible Camp


S. Rajanayagam
Here, I am so happy to write about our 14th Annual Bible Camp, held in a place called Yelagiri hills, which is almost 200 miles from where we meet as a church. The reason I mention the distance is that we have to carry all of the goods that are needed to feed more than 500 people for three days, besides taking literature, Bibles and a PA system. It is a challenge every year, but the church here enjoys it very much. This camp site belongs to the YMCA, which has the facility to accommodate just 120 people. But we crowd Christians in the allotted rooms and all the places available on the campus. To my surprise, all the ones who attend, year after year, adjust very well to this challenging situation. This shows their thirst for the Gospel messages and the fellowship of other Christians. This time we had rain during the night, and this gave some trouble to the ones who were sleeping outside, but it was taken in the right spirit by the participants. According to our register, we had 525 people from not less than 50 towns and cities, representing at least 52 congregations from FOUR STATES of South India. Yes, Christians from Andhra, Pondicherry, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu took part! We had fourteen baptisms and, by this, ten congregations were benefitted numerically, including the church at Kangayam, where I am privileged to preach. We had twelve speakers for the mixed gatherings and twelve for split groups, including morning devotion sessions. Everyone really enjoyed the devotion time as it portrays the picture of Jesus Sermon on the Mount. In fact, this was one of the reasons I selected this camp site, 15 years back. Yes, when I saw this spot first, my mind went back to the first century period of how my Lord had His sermon to the many thousands of people and how the scene would have been. Even after many visits, I enjoy this place. We split the gathering after lunch into five different groups: children, young men and girls, men and women, with special speakers for each group. We give the selected topics well in advance so that the teachers can be fully prepared. We also have special sessions for magazine readers and TV contacts and, of course, for the non-Christians who come with the different congregations. These special sessions allow people to raise questions and clear their doubts. We took more than 100 Bibles and several hundred books to share: Why We Believe What We Believe, Vols. 1 & 2, written by our respected brother J.C. Choate, Rust As a Witness by brother V.P. Black, Soul Saving Sermons by myself, The Role of Women by Betty Choate, Tamil version of the The Voice of Truth, etc., and distributed among the participants. They all said that those books are very useful to their spiritual life. Besides our regular work of a monthly magazine, now we are entrusted with the work of the Tamil version of the The Voice of Truth International. Brother Benny Martin translates it before it comes to my hands for proof reading. It is a very good tool for the Tamil population across the globe to know the TRUTH about the one true church, and it also helps Christians to increase their spirituality in their journey to Heaven. We thank God for this blessing. Since we have established contact with many congregations through our Annual Bible Camps and Annual Lectures, we are asked to send literature to help in their work. So, the books that we translate into Tamil help us to fulfil the spiritual needs of many congregations and individuals. The church here in Kangayam is a self-supported one, supporting me financially to preach, and it also takes care of all financial needs of our Annual Bible Camps and Lectureships. I always thank God for this congregation. We pray fervently that many more will rise to this level. We also want to thank all the World Evangelism Team partners, especially sister Betty Choate, brother Jerry Bates, and sister Paula Bates, who encourage and support us much to do a better work to propagate the Gospel of Christ. In closing, dear brethren, please be assured that you are in our constant prayers, and we covet your prayers on our behalf to be good stewards for our Lord.
Rajanayagams email address is rajarichal@yahoo.co.in.

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Continued from page 64

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...Bible Camp

One of the ladies gatherings.

Literature and Bibles shared with attendees.

FOOD for the multitude!!! Preaching brethren who participated.

The childrens class.

New births into the family of God.

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Triumphs of Truth in a Hindu Nation


Philemon and Kingsly Rajah
It is a great pleasure to share the Gospel news concerning things that are happening here in India. As usual, God is great in honoring the simple efforts of these ordinary servants of Christ. In the month of February 2011, new contacts were met in a new village, which is some 5 hours bus travelling distance from Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, and were taught the Gospel. By the grace of God, 11 souls (four women and seven men) were baptized in this new work. Primarily, the English readers among these baptized contacts were given the soul-saving and encouraging material, The Voice of Truth International and our Bible correspondence course in English. At least twice in a year, brothers Philemon Rajah and Kingslyrajah used to meet the contacts of our Bible course and magazine in these areas, with brother Arath Pani who is a native of Orissa. Due to such efforts, already two congregations in the areas, Shangi Nagar and Karmanghat, were started near to Hyderabad. Since the new converts are from another village, we have a new congregation started. We conducted a Bible camp for the blind people in a nearby place called Vadipatti and, unusual for these camps, we had some 10 physically handicapped people also attending the camp with the other 40 blind people. Most or all of these attendees are illiterates, and we are requested by them to come once in a month to learn the Word of God, since they could not immediately decide for their salvation. Also, we had a Bible camp for the blind in Thiruvallur district, near to our state capital, with some 55 attending. We introduced them to our Braille magazine THE VOICE OF TRUTH in Tamil and English, and also Braille Bible lessons were distributed. As usual, as with the results from earlier Bible camps for the blind, we expect these contacts also to study the materials we have given and that a number of them will obey the Gospel in the near future. For the Annual Bible Camp for our TV contacts and magazine readers, nearly 200 people participated in the twoday seminar and individual classes for men and women. The camp was attended by people from Tamilnadu, Andhra, Kerala and Orissa. During the camp time itself, I was asked to preach in a denominational preachers meeting, organized by Brethren Assembly church and, along with me, our JC School students distributed 100 Bible courses to them. Beginning with volume 61, we have been managing the printing of an English edition of THE VOICE OF TRUTH INTERNATIONAL here in India. We have now printed and

Masses of Hindus attend an annual religious parade. distributed seven volumes (volumes 61 to 67), 5000 copies each, and we thank Betty, Jerry and Paula Bates for trusting us and giving this opportunity. Pray for us, as we are in the process of registering the magazine with the Registrar of Newspapers in india, and with the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Graduation
At Kumarapalayam, we had the graduation of those who have participated in our JC School of Evangelism. The so-called idol god, Two people were baptized KALLALAGAR, coming due to students efforts, on a 15 million rupees and one worship started worth Golden horse. This at a new place. Because year the god came with of the lessons, the local a green cloth, and they becongregations offering in- lieve that it will bring proscreased by 40%, as reported perity to the land. by the preacher during graduation. We had a three-day meeting with TV contacts among a denominational (CSI) group. Three hundred people attended Continued on page 67

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Triumphs...
Continued from page 66

Myanmar Update
Wayne Barrier
World Evangelism efforts in Myanmar led by the Double Springs, Alabama congregation are now in their 15th year. During that period, four Bible Schools have been formed to provide students from across the country with classes to encourage individual growth and development. Students are now helping congregations (small groups meeting in homes) across the country. Thousands of baptisms have been reported by former students, and U.S. teachers have assisted with over a thousand conversions during school sessions. The oldest school, Myanmar Bible College, was started in 1997 and is located about 30 miles north of Yangon in a rural community. Each year 2-3 intensive class programs are conducted for 40-80 students. Each program is 2-5 weeks in length and students reside on campus for the entire session. This effort has been the primary vehicle for providing well-equipped teachers, preachers, and leaders for work across the entire country. Teams of U.S. teachers provide most of the instruction for this school. In recent years, local brethren have started to handle part of the teaching load. The three other schools are located in Kalay, Myitkyina, and Mandalay. Each has a different format for classes. Classes are relatively small (10-20 students) and all teachers are local brethren. In the Kalay and Myitkyina locations, several 2-5 day intensive Bible seminars are offered each year and attendance varies from 50 to over 500 participants. U.S. visitors often help with one seminar per year at each location. In every location, instruction is provided in the language of the area. Burmese is the official language of the country, but there are more than 12 local languages, with millions of people speaking each one. Also, teaching materials are printed and distributed in several languages. Preaching and campaign efforts are conducted throughout the year by local brethren. These men are taking the Gospel to villages, towns, and cities we are unable to visit. The work in Myanmar has also resulted in a new work in China, as brethren from northern Myanmar have travelled across the border to areas of China to spread the Gospel. Due to strict rules and laws regulating religious activities, the Burma work is very difficult. Our brethren are in constant danger because of the resistance of the military government to Christianity. The country is very poor, with large portions of the population suffering from the lack of basic necessities. In spite of these obstacles, the church is growing and Burmese brethren are increasingly assuming responsibility for leadership and teaching across the country. Pray for these brave and courageous Christians.

and were given Seekers Bible lessons, TVOTI ,and our monthly Magazine. Also, among the tribals with whom we have been working, 13 people were baptized in Mirayalguda, AP., and a new congregation was started. Please pray for our continued outreach through TV, Braille materials, and other literature.
Philemon Rajah: philemonrajahpc@yahoo.com

Baptisms Classes

Sharing literature

Baptisms

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CHINESE AGAPE FOUNDATION


Employees from the Ren Ji Medical Center in Zigong and the Medical School of Zigong came to the care center to give free health check-ups to the children and to help establish health guidelines. They donated medicines, snacks, and ointments, etc. They also promised to come back every year to conduct free check-ups for the children in the future. Some miscellaneous donations also recently received included a projection camera valued at 5,000 yuan ($741 U.S.). The children have enjoyed seeing movies during the weekends and during special holiday times. In early winter, they received cotton-wadded shoes valued at 2,000 yuan ($296 U.S.). The local Female Entrepreneur Association in Zigong, along with the Chamber of Commerce, donated cotton quilts, pillows, sheets, pillowcases and towels valued at 30,000 yuan ($4,444 U.S.). The Zigong church youth fellowship donated 1,601 yuan ($237 U.S.) for the care center to purchase computers, more library bookshelves, and fire extinguishers.

In the past few months, the Jackson Family Christian Care Center received a large number of donations from local individuals and businesses. Medicines from a pharmaceutical company were valued at 7,000 yuan ($1,037 U.S.). These included commonly used medicines such as cold medicine, antiinflammatory drugs, rubbing alcohol, etc. This donation helps solve the drug shortage the care center usually experiences. We also received school supplies and book donations valued at 4,000 yuan ($592 U.S.): 100 pencil boxes, twelve English-Chinese dictionaries, 100 Chinese dictionaries and several other reference books. These school supplies will greatly benefit the children with their homework and school work each day. Earlier in the month, the Vice General Manager and Union President of China Telecom Company in Zigong came to visit the care center. This company donated two broadband lines valued at 4,000 yuan ($592 U.S.). They connected a telecommunications cable to the care center valued at 100,000 yuan ($14,814 U.S.) and saved the care center a great deal of money. The General Manager promised that the two broadband lines are free to the care center forever. Over a period of the next twenty years, the Jackson Family Christian Care Center will be able to save 80,000 yuan ($11,851 U.S.) with these generous donations. China Telecom also donated some school supplies and paper kites for the children.

All of these donations were gratefully received at the Jackson Family Christian Care Center. The total U.S. dollar value is over $40,000! This was wonderful news to hear about, and we are very grateful to all the local businesses and individuals whose compassion stirs them to help the children in the care center.

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Amazing Opportunities in Yunnan, China


Joey Barrier
The work in Yunnan, China among the Lisu speaking people, actually began by an ambitious Burmese doctor named Ahkhi. Before he passed away, he made several campaigns into the Himalayan foothills, planting over 30 house congregations along the way. We were always amazed at his pictures and his reports. On January 1, 2007, Ahkhi returned from a very successful campaign, too tired to tell his wife about the trip. He said Ill tell you about it in the morning, as he lay down in the bed of his bamboo shack. He fell asleep and never woke up (physically). Later in 2007, I was able to travel to Myitkyina, Kachin State, to pay my respects, and also to find out how we could continue what Ahkhi had begun. This work was reaching a language population of 300 million people, stretching throughout northern Burma, western China, and Tibet. I stood at the bed where he died as his widow told me of his last hours. What an amazing man. Who would fill his shoes?

Luke and his wife.

They spoke of a time when persecutions were so intense that worship could only be done inside their heads. Our praise could not reach our lips, they told us.
On his last trip, Ahkhi had taken two men, Luke and Isaac, with him to the Himalayan area. After his death, they continued to follow up with the contacts that he had made on his campaigns. This was a very difficult task, because many of the congregations met in homes and were located in tiny villages along three river valleys that stretched hundreds of miles near the China Border. It was during my second trip to Myitkyina, northern Myanmar, when Lee Shan Chin (Luke) told me that he wanted to move to China because going back and forth from Myanmar to China was not working out for him. He had family in China, spoke the language, and had a promise of a good job, so we encouraged this idea and began making plans to help this work from the China side of the border. As Luke moved across the border, he brought with him boxes full of New Testament Worship, written by J.C. Choate, as our first tool of mass evangelism. They later began to distribute The One True Church of the Bible, a pamphlet written by Louis Rushmore and translated into the

The second session of the Kumming Bible College.

Lisu language, that has proved to be very useful. This was phase one of our plan. As we began our efforts to flood this area with literature, a training session in Kunming was planned. We (L.T. Gurganus and I) met in a hotel room for two long days of intensive studying and planning with Luke and three of his contacts. We were moved by their stories and those of their ancestors. They spoke of a time when persecutions were so intense that worship could only be done inside their heads. Our praise could not reach our lips, they told us. They also informed us of the current religious/
Continued on page78

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Cambodia Mission Trip


Luis Cusi
Mike taught in high school classrooms, Buddhist courtyards, and on property next to a Muslim mosque. Nearly all the students were captivated by the Gospel message, and many of them signed up for continuing Bible classes to be taught by Sokhom and some of his workers. The medical mission team fitted people with prescription eyeglasses, conducted medical checkups, and prescribed medicine to those in need. They also performed minor surgeries, pulled many, many teeth, and even fitted a young man with a glass eye. The number treated by this huge medical team totaled 14,714 patients. The leader of one area said we are the only people who ever come to provide medical care. They begged us to come back next year to help them physically and spiritually. One Buddhist village leader told us, Christians from America are the only ones who ever come to help our people the Buddhists do nothing to help us. As a result, there were 49 people who requested we come back and continue teaching them the Bible in that area. This was our third major medical mission trip to Cambodia. It is absolutely astounding that each trip yields fruit from the Lord that is beyond our wildest dreams. These trips also open up many doors for Sokhom to share the Good News. All of us on the team thank God for Sokhom Huns great organizational and supervisory skills which help make these medical mission trips so successful for the Lord. We also thank God for the faithful churches and individual Christians who financially partner with Sokhom. God bless you.
Luis Cusi lives and works primarily in the Philippines. He organizes medical mission teams, under the banner, MARCH, to help with recovery efforts following natural disasters: lpcusi@ yahoo.com

Medical/missionary team for Cambodia.

The medical missions bus.

On January 6, 2011, 72 laborers met in Phnom Penh to prepare for the 2011 Medical Mission Trip. There were doctors, general surgeons, nurses, eye doctors, dentists, and other workers, to serve in poverty stricken villages in Cambodia where there is no access to medical care. Workers from Cambodia, USA, Philippines, New Zealand, and Vietnam made up our team. Although we were from many different countries, we all had the same mission in mind: bless the Cambodian people physically and spiritually. Mark Banks and Mike Meierhofer taught the Bible to an average of 100+ students per day. Students consisted of newer converts from Buddhism, Buddhists with no knowledge of Jesus Christ, and Muslims who had never heard the Good News of Jesus Christ. Chito and his wife, Tes, (Philippines) taught Jesus to large groups of children. In the Svay Rieng area on January 9, approximately 93 people were baptized into Christ at the conclusion of a Sunday morning worship service conducted on public school grounds in an all Buddhist area. During the medical mission trip, Mark and

Mike Meierhofer teaching 60+ Muslims

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Dr e am s Be ing Re alized a n d Pra ye r s A nsw ered in Indo ne si a


Colin McKee
in this project, and we believe that it will be an effective tool for the church in that area of Medan. Brother Tuloasa Ndruru, the preacher for the Suka Baru congregation, reports that there have been several baptisms recently and that he is conducting a number of ongoing studies with interested prospects.

Colin and Ellen McKee

After many years of waiting, hoping and praying for a place of their own, the Suka Baru congregation in Medan, Indonesia, is seeing its dreams realized. Medan is strategically located as the capital of North Sumatra and the church needs a facility such as this to give them the appearance of permanency. The brethren at Suka Baru have been meeting for more than thirty years in the home of the late brother T. Laiya who passed away in 2005. The process of getting the permit for the building was tedious, but was finally granted, and work was begun in March of 2011. The building, as shown in the pictures, is almost complete and should be ready to be occupied soon. Many have given so much, including the local brethren, to bring this project to fruition, and now they will have a permanent place to use for outreach in the community. We are deeply thankful for all who gave funds to help
The orphanage in Gunung Sitoli, Nias.

N i a s Ne w s
I taught special training classes for local evangelists and teachers on Nias during the last trip there in February. These men come in for about 10 days of intensive training and serve in various capacities in their local congregations. Dennis Cady reports that they have just finished and are using a second building at the orphanage site in Gunung Sitoli, and they are now accommodating 15 more orphans, which brings their total number of children to 46. A medical group from Malaysia is now visiting on Nias and will conduct a medical clinic for three days also. They have just selected 23 new dorm students from church families who come from the villages to further their education, as they do not have access to high schools in the villages. The vocational training courses and evangelism continue apace and Dennis says things are going well, as a whole. We will be returning to Indonesia in the fall for more literature production and training classes.
Colin McKees email is cohamckee@att. net

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The Kent ODonnells in New Zealand


Kent ODonnell
class); What We Owe Our Parents (teen class); My Family Is Watching the Church Family (Sunday sermon). Aside from the excellent teaching (ahem) there were also some fun team activities: a tug of war, a three-legged race, and an adventure relay. Inside, there was an eating contest where competitors had to devour items as fast as possible, some of which were less than appealing (whole livers, for example). On Saturday evening there was a skit show and Bible quiz. We dont get to see our Northern brethren often, so it was great to renew connections and make some new ones, too. Since my family and I will be in the States later on in the year, we decided to bring our Holiday Bible Program forward to April, and because of other events, we shortened it from five days to four. The theme this time was Occupations and the Bible. Sunday evening we covered Tent-Makers. Nathan was down to do the devotional but picked up a stomach virus and was in no shape to come in, so I did it instead; this was followed by a movie. The plan was to spend the night in tents outside, but the weather wasnt the best, so we thought it wiser to set up booths of sorts on our auditorium pews and sleep inside. Some of us adults were a little worse for wear Monday morning, but we slowly came alive after breakfast (and copious amounts of coffee ). That day we looked at Sellers of Purple. Of course, Lydia was the key character of our lessons. For the morning activity, the kids tie-dyed pillow cases, and in the afternoon we did a dye and breakfast cereal relay. Wednesday was Farmers Day, and we travelled to Brent Paynes farm in Wanganui. He showed us around his property and discussed the various animals and fruit trees he works with. There were three tribes (teams) during the program and they earned credit for the best art and craft projects. They also competed for points in other activities, such as Bible lesson quizzes, Simon Says, the side game, relays, etc. On Thursday night, parents, family, friends, and our local brethren were invited to share a meal with us. To cap things off, we gathered in the auditorium to display some of the kids handiwork, to give out certificates, and to watch a slide presentation of the weeks events. This year we had a record attendance of 38, and the exciting thing was that 12 of those were visitors from outside the church.
Kent ODonnells email address is kentus73@gmail.com.

For 3 weekends in March, we put the Good Samaritan Outreach program into practice. I felt a bit awkward at first because it is quite a different doorknocking approach than I am used to, but by the second weekend I was getting into the swing of it a lot better. Since we were simply offering our assistance and free information resources, the general consensus was that we were able to have conversations with certain people who otherwise probably wouldnt have given us the time of day. In their minds, instead of us being Bible Bashers or a crazy cult, they saw that we sincerely just wanted to help. I think it left behind a very positive impression of the church. Our goal was to make 30 contacts and in the end we got 27. The requests ranged from bags of groceries, borrowing DVDs, correspondence courses, to simple yard work. One lady could not believe that we were willing to clean the side of her house and guttering for free. Are you sure we cant pay you, are you sure?! She did give us some baking and a bar of chocolate, though, which was nice. Another lady, who asked to borrow a ladder for a few hours, is now meeting with us every Sunday and is bringing her mother, too, which is a fantastic result. There is still much follow-up to do, so hopefully in time some of the other contacts will show similar interest. In May we had another campaign with the aid of more university students from America. It is a chilly time of year, but we always make the most of any help that comes our way. We did letter-boxing, door-knocking, brethren visitation, and follow up on some of the contacts mentioned above. The Morningside congregation in Auckland hosted a Family Retreat during the first weekend of March and the topic was Building Better Christian Families. My brother Todd and I taught four lessons each, and our wives taught a class each to the ladies and teen-age girls. My lessons were entitled The Family Its Gods Idea (devo); A Worthy Father (mens

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The Missing Link in the Philippines


Prissy Sellers
Well, we have been here in the Philippines for ve weeks now. This trip has been more unique than any I have been on for Hope, Amelia, Matt, Rose, Aaron (our adopted Filipino daughter and her son) because besides the usual works that we do, we have added a new one. As many of you know, we have been working for over a year now on our Missing Link Tutorial Kit project. I was talking to one of the local preachers here last trip, and I shared with him that I thought that there existed a gap between the congregations and their communities. He agreed completely. I shared with him that, in years past, when Dale and I were working with small congregations in the states, we would start a childrens program during the week at the congregation and invited community children to be a part of it. In this way, we would be reaching out to the community and meeting a need with the children. We made many lasting contacts this way. I shared with this preacher that this could be the Missing Link between the churches and their communities in the Philippines. He agreed completely. Because we decided to call these Childrens Tutorials, we do not have to comply with any government regulations as we would with a school. In regard to this, I knew that, without help, this ministry would never get off the ground, because the churches would not have the resources to start such a program. So my family and I designed the Missing Link Tutorial Kit. It contains everything needed to do a childrens tutorial in a congregation for the rst year. In includes tables, chairs, academic curriculum workbooks, Bible curriculum and workbooks, TV, DVD player, Bible DVDs, memory work charts, uniforms, summer VBS, teachers salary for one year ,etc., etc. The congregations that receive a kit have everything needed to run a tutorial for one year. For year two and following, if the congregation wants to continue, then they would be responsible for replacing the consumable items. Anyway, I said all of this to say that so much of our time this trip has been trying to gather all of the materials, equipment, etc. needed to produce these kits. Matthew has worked diligently with the carpenters to make the tables and the cabinets to house all of the materials. We have bought a printer, comb-binding machine, and laminator and are making all of the workbooks and booklets ourselves. We are having the uniforms made and buying all of the crayons, scissors, etc. to complete the kit. Last Saturday, we had a whole day seminar to train the congregations how to use the kits. We try to nd individuals and/or congregations in the US who will sponsor one kit for the rst year. This way Christians are equipping Christians to do works of service (Ephesians 4). The Filipino people are very capable of doing their own work, but they do need our help to equip them at the beginning. Then, they are on their own to get the job done. If everything goes as planned, when we return to the US, eight congregations here will be hosting a childrens tutorial this school year, with the potential of teaching 290 students. This will open the door to the hearts of their parents, and then Christians will be able to teach, teach, teach and share the Gospel with them. Besides the work with the tutorials, God has opened many doors for service. Matthew has preached every Sunday he has been here and has been very bold and effective. Hope and Rose have taught, counseled, and encouraged on a daily basis. We have taught in the Annual Youth Fellowship, Bible camp, conducted eight VBSs, taught in a ladies seminar, Conict Resolution seminar, Widows Banquet, Friendship Evangelism seminar, Teaching Young Mothers seminar, and one-on-one Bible studies. God has blessed with 35 baptisms. Every day, new needs rise up, and we try our best to attend to them. God has sustained our energy level and we are so grateful for that. I am so proud of my Matthew, Hope and Rose, who are with me. They have given of themselves unselshly, of their money, their time, and their talents in behalf of the Lords work and the needs of others. They have all been very effective in their lessons and their examples. I thank the Lord for what He has done and is doing with their lives in service to Him. Before I close, I do want to share a need. God provided my support as He always does for each one of my mission trips. I had budgeted out everything including the Missing Link Kits. However, it has cost more for the carpenters and their supplies for the cabinets and tables needed for these congregations. Also, right before we arrived here, the local transportation rates and domestic air fares went up. The amount needed is $1000.00. If you can help, please do. I thank you in advance for partnering with us in this mission trip. God is awesome and doing some awesome things through His servants. Thank you also for your prayers. They have sustained us and encouraged us each and every day.
Priscilla Sellers can be reached at: sellers7@sbcglobal.net

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Funds for Furlough


Barry Murrell
I cannot believe it has been two weeks since I last wrote about our upcoming furlough trip back to the States, and our financial difficulties. We have been on a roller coaster ride that has taken us from lows of frustration to amazing heights! We were pretty depressed about the financial picture we were facing. Over $9,000.00 in uncollected support, with the prospect of having to dip into our retirement funds to make it good, was unsettling to say the least. Within 24 hours after I sent the update we had commitments for over $7,000 of it and the possibility of a couple of thousand more if circumstances work out. So once again we find how the Lord through the hearts and hands of folks like you takes care of folks like us who do HIS work. It is humbling but at the same time it is awesome! Thank you all so much for your willingness to help and for your prayers. We had a good first session for 2011, here in Cebu. I had a very good turnout for the new course I put together for church members. It was on COMMITMENT and is designed for Christians who have been members for several years. It seeks to review the basics of what we all were agreeing to do when we gave to God our promise of loyalty in the water of our baptism. I started working on this project because we were seeing a common pattern in many of the brethren. At the beginning of their new faith, there was an eagerness to study and participate in the church as family. However, as time passed we noted that many lost the zeal and began reverting back to the kind of normal behavior they experienced in their former religions. As a result, we began seeing a gradual loss of the family aspect that is supposed to set us apart from the world. Problems began to surface like the ones we commonly see in all the epistles and we realized that we needed to give the situation a shot in the arm, or else face the prospect of losing the wonder of what was! Beginning with Jesus remarks about the importance of yes meaning yes we journeyed together back to the time before they were immersed and tried to recapture all the various revelations and emotions each person experienced, culminating with how each person felt and what they thought about as he/she stood in the water of baptism. The goal was to help them relive the context in which each soul said his/her yes to God. Everything in the course after that was simply a review of the counting the cost topics we studied and discussed with them before they were immersed, but this time around we asked each one to self-evaluate the job he feels he has been doing from the day in the water up until the present, to see if there has been progress in each ones metamorphosis (Romans 12:12; 2 Corinthians 3:18). Since this is a new course and there is so much we COULD discuss, we ran out of class time long before we exhausted good material. Therefore, what originally was planned as a one course project has now grown into a two-part course! Over 20 members enrolled in the initial offering of the course, and all of them passed the final exam. I am also very pleased to report that several who were seldom seen anymore in the assemblies were present last Sunday, and so maybe the course will help us to keep one another going!
Barry & Shari Murrell work in Cebu, Philippines. barry@biblestudycenter.net

Booksthe Bookstore at: You Need!!! Check


WorldEvangelism.org
A 13-week study, designed for teenagers, showing the depth of Gods love for us, in the great sacrice of Christ. $8.00

The 13-week adult study of the same theme, awakening students to the magnitude of Gods love for His children. $8.00

Study Pauls life as a missionary from a new perspective, learning how the church today can emulate his divinely inspired methods. $6.00 An extremely helpful study of involvement for congregations that are losing numbers and facing closing the doors. $6.00 A second type of study for those who are looking for remedies to turn things around for dying congregations. $6.00 Order from:

World Evangelism Publications P.O. Box 72 Winona, MS 38967 662-283-1192 Choate@WorldEvangelism.org

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Spiritual and Physical Livlihoods


Salvador Cariaga
We are planting more churches and saving more souls since we incorporated livelihood programs with our soul winning effort. There is something to be said about people do not care how much you know until they know how much you care. Through this approach, we can plant more churches and win more souls at the lowest financial cost possible, and it can become self-sufficient and self-perpetuating. The next few months, we are helping John and Ellen Jumaoas start a church in Compostella. A group of Leyte orphans will be going there next week to conduct VBS. Our goat trainers will conduct a livelihood seminar with people John has contacted. We are focusing our work on the house church approach. We are using volunteers, students, and part-time workers. Short-term, full-time workers eventually become self-sufficient through goat raising and livelihood programs. Dodong Cabarles is a successful goat raiser. He is able to send his daughter through college through the income he makes raising goats. He also trains others how to raise goats. Dodong is also a preacher. He conducts Bible studies, campus ministry and preaches every Sunday. Whereever and whatever he does to conduct goat seminars, he brings religious materials to distribute, such as these from World Evangelism Publications.

Arapal Young People to Travel to Siargao Island to Help Conduct VBS


A team of Arapal young people are going to Siargao Island next week to conduct VBS there. Two of those young people are already students of Leyte Christian College. More are planning to study there next month from Arapal. The fact that our Arapal youth are going out of town to help others is a testimony about their growth and development. This coming Sunday, another group of grade schoolers will perform during the 26th Anniversary Celebration of the Mactan Church of Christ.

Comments from our young VBS teachers....


John Lenon: We are now here in the gym teaching these cute kids. They are so talented. I can see the beauty of God in them... Thank God, we could do this. We came home with a great joy in our hearts. We did it every night because of our unity and with the help of our heavenly God. Shelah Silva: Today is our VBS graduation in Arapal. For three days, we were able to share the story of Paul, and teach Bible songs, and memory verses. Thank you, Lord, for giving us a chance to be able to spread the WORD. Bill Westerberg: 81 kids who attended the VBS for three days received a certificate and slippers at the graduation ceremony. More attended two out of three days and received a certificate. Seven adults were baptized and eleven more after VBS.
Salvador Carigas email address: cariaga@yahoo.com

We met Joy Dizon about five years ago. She was one of the orphans we sponsored to study at Sunrise Christian College. She was only 16 years old then. This summer, Joy and another former orphan, Rose Cabaljen, planned and coordinated the 2011 VBS curriculum that will cover 15 different locations, conducted by about 50 young people, mostly college students. Some of them were from our Sunrise orphanage.

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Philippine Theological College


Demar Elam
Thanks to the generous contributions from our brethren, we had funds to keep the doors of Philippine Theological College open for the first quarter of 2011. Faith that everything is going to be alright is as strong as ever. However, previously we needed to raise the extra $2900 a month from April, onward. We recently learned Demar and Dixie Elam that a congregation had to discontinue their support designated for PTC, and so we needed to replace an additional $1000. We are thankful for the $300 monthly that they will continue to give to PTC. We never know where the funds for doing Gods work will come from, but God is the Great God of provisions. We have administrators, faculty, staff, and 25 students to support. Please help with this need. The amount is easily attainable if everyone will do what they can. We need some elders and individuals to step in and help save the day. We have come too far to fail now. As I said, we now have 25 students enrolled at PTC, but our goal is to have 52 in the program. That is the number we can accommodate in our dorms. We are preparing these men for ministry in the Philippines and for missionary service in China, when God opens the door of evangelism. Over the years, one of the short-comings of many endeavors in the church has been a lack of proper preparation. We need to change that, regarding China. We have a great vision of China becoming an Open Door Opportunity. Therefore, we need to have a dynamic educational program to educate, motivate, train, and activate those individuals in reaping what will surely be the greatest opportunity to harvest souls ever known. Everything is in place, because God has blessed us with the physical plant to do the job. Philippine Theological College is sitting near the South China Sea, across from Mainland China. All that is lacking now is operational funds so our teaching staff can get their jobs done in equipping and preparing these young men for ministry in the Philippines and later for missionary service in China. I do not think our great God will be pleased with us if we fail. Lets get the job done!

Those PTC Cans!


Calvin Reneau
Here is how you can help with the funding for the new college in the Philippines. First, I would ask congregations to increase their monthly support, or begin supporting PTC. Second, individuals could work together in small groups to support a student at PTC. It takes $260 monthly to fully support a student. Five families sharing the cost would reduce individual commitment to $52 a month for each family. Whether an individual or a small group provides for one student, just think of what a talented young Filipino preacher will do in his lifetime, preaching the Gospel of Christ and converting souls to Jesus. You can have a direct part in bringing that about. Third, we are conducting a fund-raising drive entitled PTC and ME! We distribute collection cans and are asking that all ages participate by putting their loose change in those cans to support the work of the Open Door Ministry. This method is a penny-nickel-dime-and-quarter way of supporting missions, and EVERYONE can afford to participate! I have presented this method to congregations, and the young people in one congregation raised $1400 in five months. Here is one method that works well for filling the cans: The Dollar Bill Method! When you buy something and the cost is $5.81, you will probably give the clerk $6.00. Instead of using the change for something else, put it in the can. Do this each time you have change in your pocket. This will work! Ann and I do this all the time, and it is something that is so simple and yet is so productive. Souls will be won to Jesus by the coins you give! How do you get started in this program? Phone me at 404-317-6460 and I will furnish you with a PTC and ME! fund-raising can, and you may begin immediately!
Demar Elam: Phone: 256-777-6477; email: demar.dixie@charter.net.

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Culture and Christianity in Micronesia


Scott and Rebecca Shanahan
Greetings to all of you from the beautiful island of Pohnpei! We bring you great news this month about the baptism of Josephine. We first came to know Josephine when her daughter, Karihn, was hospitalized at the same time as Halverson. Josephine is close friends with Asko, who is one of the early converts in Mand (we worship in Askos house). After Karihn passed away, Josephine came to worship a few times, and we had some studies with her, but her interest in studying faded, and we did not see much of her after that. Last year, her mother and step-father (Ekerihna and Ofrank) became Christians. In order to accommodate Ekerihna, who was very ill, we began worshipping in the home that she shared with Josephines family. Josephine and her children would join us most of the time. After her mothers death, Josephine became more interested in becoming a Christian. Unfortunately, she was involved in a sinful relationship, as she was not married to the man that she lived with. We asked Josephine if she thought Arnold would be willing to be married legally and she said, Yes, he is waiting for that. I did not know exactly what that meant, but I was glad to hear that he also was willing to make their marriage official. Rebecca and I had studies with them about marriage and the roles of the husband and the wife in the family. We spoke with them for a long time and left them to decide if they still wanted to be married. They contacted us and we made arrangements for the marriage. The ceremony was very simple with just a few friends and their children in attendance. They were both very excited to make their marriage official, and the kids had a great laugh when I said, You may kiss your bride.
Arnold and Josephine

After taking care of that situation, we continued to have studies with Josephine. The Thursday night before she became a Christian, Rebecca had a long study with her about the meaning and purpose of baptism. The next Sunday she said to me, Scott, when am I going to be baptized? I told her that her question made me think that she still did not understand what it meant. We

Scott baptizing Rebecca

studied further and then she said, Scott, I want to be baptized right now! We were about to have a fellowship meal with the congregation, but everyone was happy to delay that until after Josephine put on Christ (Galatians 3:27). Please keep the Solomon family in your prayers, that they will have a strong, Christ-centered marriage, and that Josephine will remain faithful to the Lord. Also please pray for Arnold

and for their children, that they will follow her example. In Pohnpei there are three kinds of weddings: A customary wedding which involves the families coming together and having a great feast, a church wedding, and what is now called the local marriage which is just a man and a woman moving in together and referring to one another as husband and wife. [Isnt this custom becoming all too common in the US, with the growing laxness in our own culture? BBC] The first two marriages are legally recognized, but only if they are registered with the court. The third and, unfortunately, most common marriage today is not official. Very often we run into couples that are simply living together. According to Romans 13, a Christian must obey the laws of the land. Because of this, when someone wants to become a Christian, we have to make sure they are legally married. If they are not, they have two choices, to get legally married or separate until they can or will be legally married. Recently, we were blessed to have Robert Martin and Joey Treat come to Pohnpei and teach courses. Robert taught the books of Galatians and Hebrews while Joey taught the books of Job through Song of Solomon. The classes went very well. The attendance was not what I had hoped it would be, but there were 12 students to take the courses for credit in Kolonia and five got credit in Mand. We met in Mand in the mornings and Kolonia in the evenings, Monday through Friday, for three-and-a-half weeks. This was a very taxing schedule for the brethren and for the instructors, but it was also a
Continued on page 78

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Culture...
Continued from page 77

...in Yunnan, China


Joey Barrier
Continued from page 69

great blessing. The brethren seemed to enjoy the classes greatly, and we were all blessed for having been involved. One very exciting aspect to the courses was that a man named Yoshio Samuel joined the classes in Mand. Yoshio is the brother of Ekerihna and Rekihna, but he is not a Christian. However, he joined the classes everyday, usually arriving early. Also he attended worship each Sunday during the workshop. We had met Yoshio before, but we had not gotten to know him until this time. We are praying that he will continue to attend worship and Bible class with us and one day follow the example of his sisters and become a Christian. This month, we saw the beginning of what will, Lord willing, be a third congregation in Pohnpei. Several months ago, we told you about the baptisms of Mitchuo and Berihna Daniel. We had studied with them for a long time, and finally after four years they obeyed the Lord. The Daniel family lives in a municipality called, Kitti. Kitti is on the west side of Pohnpei. Their house is about a thirty-minute ride from Kolonia. They have a car, but it is not dependable. As a result, the Daniels have not been able to attend worship with us very much. We approached them a few weeks ago about worshipping in their home on Sunday evenings. Since we started worshipping with both Kolonia and Mand in the mornings, we have had Sunday evenings free and thought this would be a great way to use them. We are praying that the Daniel family and we will be able to get this congregation off the ground and growing in the Lord.
Scott Shanahans email address: scottshanahan@hotmail.com.

political situation. There are four legal Christian religions in Yunnan Province, and the Church of Christ is one of them. Most follow the teachings of the Christian Church and many simply call themselves Believers. They told us that they follow the Bible,

story of the Bible as they studied with them. They also informed us that even if permission is granted for Americans to teach in public, the responsibility still falls on them. They begged us to train and equip them so that they can do the job. This is the next phase of our mass evangelism plan. Please pray that

Group assembled for one of Lukes campaigns

but need to be taught more. Many are uneducated and do not know what the Scriptures actually say. Luke has also been given permission by the Minister of Religious Affairs in Yunnan State, to revitalize the Church of Christ in this area. What an opportunity we have! In April, Jamie and Katie Barrier, and I met with Luke and some of the same contacts for more training and planning. Once again, we met in our hotel room. It was very exciting to hear of the doors being opened in China. It may be possible for us to get permission to hold our next training session in public, with possibly hundreds in attendance. Please pray that this will happen, as this will multiply our efforts. As we talked to the Christians there, they requested childrens story books with pictures in them. They wanted to show the nonbelievers the

we can teach them so they can teach others. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also 2 Timothy 2:2.
Joey Barrier, the son of Wayne and Janet Barrier, works full time with the World Evangelism team.

A new congregation in Kalay, Myanmar (Burma), being taught by brother Rofee.

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Pacic Broadcast Launches

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New Full-Power Radio Station


Randy E. English
In American Samoa, we are focusing on the powerful Word of God going into every facet of life, into every area of our country, and into every other island nation in the Pacic. This is being done, face to face, with precious people that we are blessed to meet each day, like John and Susuga who have obeyed the Gospel this month. Gods Word is also being proclaimed to people through the marvelous instrument of radio broadcast, reaching thousands each hour of the day with the Truth. There simply is no end to His Word, and no obstacle that cannot be overcome for His sake. The past six weeks have been a culmination of a lot of different work coming together, and many prayers answered, as we have launched a new radio station here in the Pacic! Initial efforts for this station began in 2008, with planning, licensing, and agreements. The non-commercial station has a full-power FM broadcast, which is designed to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in reaching cities, villages, and remote areas throughout the two nations that make up the Samoan Islands. ed for this very powerful broadcast in which God addresses every facet of life. Theres still more work to do, but as of this month, we are reaching people that weve never been able to reach before! Attention has been given to every detail of this station, with members of the churches of Christ providing all of the volunteer labor. Even the call letters, KIOE, are unique. of course, the letter K is required by the FCC. However, the last 3 letters IOE spell out the Samoan word for YES. Therefore, daily the call letters KIOE will personify saying Yes!....to Gods way for life.

Dealing With Discouragement Series Now Airing:


This month weve started a special series of radio Bible lessons entitled Dealing with Discouragement. These lessons are broadcasting throughout American Samoa on a large commercial FM station. The topics address areas of our lives in which discouragement often shows up, in our families, in teaching others, and yes, even in spiritual matters! The lessons are timely, as our nation is experiencing layoffs, poor economy, the pressures of denominationalism, and much more. Even in the church in American Samoa, while there is a high level of enthusiasm for the Lords work, brethren are still dealing with the discouragement of death, false brethren, and brethren who would harm Gods Way with their behavior. Still, steady leaders like Falo Faifaimalie and others, are helping to encourage members as they deal with discouragement!
Continued on page 80 The Word of God goes into the far reaches of the Islands through the voice of KIOE Radio.

Randy English at the controls of the new radio station.

Initial testing shows the broadcast to be reaching into even the most difcult places in American Samoa and Samoa. This is great news for thousands of people in the Samoan Islands that listen to radio each day and for others who have not been able to receive a signal. God and His true ways are at the forefront of this broadcast and will thus guide every step in serving the needs of these Samoan communities. The stations format will include addressing some of the minority groups in these areas as well. Over the past year, weve been working to seek out and obtain the content need-

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Continued from page 79

Excellent Gospel Meeting Topics


Jimmie Hill and Ron Gilbert both have lots of experience in teaching Gods Word, and it showed this month as they joined the Leone congregation for a great Gospel meeting series! Their choice of topics for this meeting included The Bad Bargain of Esau, Condemned by Others, Who Killed Jesus?, Attitudes of Naaman, Things David Did Not See from the Rooftop and others. Also, we were very encouraged about recording the lessons for broadcast on radio station KULA. Each morning between 6:00 8:00 a.m., the lessons were aired on 95.1 FM and area translators. Already weve been having good response from these lessons, and especially the fact that they were presented in both languages!

Local I-Kiribati Christians were on every team, working side-by-side with visiting team members. In doing so, they were putting into practice those things they had been learning in the Bible classes. Not only were they observing

Christians. Lessons were taught on first principles and beyond. It was evident that these students were eager and interested in receiving these things from the Word of God. Several from the class asked very good questions about baptism, and its likely that some will obey the Gospel. This was Noahs first time to teach a group Bible class, and he did a very good job, as did his brothers in personal work and teaching classes.
Randy English, Email: sonlight@samoatelco.com; Telephone: 1-684-699-2940 (Am. Samoa), or 1-479-935-9692 (U.S.)

A typical study group.

Establishing Churches and Laboring with Them


This months Pacific Campaign provided evangelism, edification, and equipping. While in this issue weve only focused on the first weeks work, in the next issue of Sonlight we look forward to sharing with you a report on the second weeks campaign work. In all, we thank God for the 15 precious people that obeyed the Gospel and also the one who was restored to the Lord! In every mission trip that we make to areas where the church has been established, we dedicate a good amount time to the work of edification through teaching. Likewise, training members to do the work of God is important, and this is accomplished through both the classroom and out in the field each day. For example, during the first week of the Pacific Campaign 2011, we sent out teams of four into some of the new settlement areas of Christmas Island.

their fellow campaign workers doing the work, but they were also actively doing the work themselves, helping to build up this new congregation. Establishing churches, and then laboring together with them for a period of training time, is invaluable to the long range growth of these isolated congregations. We were blessed to have our four sons to work with us in teaching at Christmas Island. Even Cassie was able to meet and encourage many new friends in the village. Attendance in the teen class grew to about 20 students each night, most of whom were not

Noah English teaching his class.

A happy group, following baptisms into Christ!

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The Power of the Printed Page


Robert Martin
Over the last 38 years of our work for Jesus Christ in the Pacific Islands, we have known that our main priority must be communicating the Word of God to others. We know that methods of communicating fall in the realm of judgment or opinion, and we should thank the Lord for every type of media available to us. Over the years we have used many methods: Tracts, Bible correspondence courses, booklets, newspaper, radio, TV, and doing personal work on the streets, in the open air market places, and house to house. The printed page is still our most effective means of getting the Gospel to the masses. The Bible often speaks of the printed page in such passages as Matthew 4:4 where Jesus communicated by saying, It is written. In Ephesians 3:3,4 Paul said, how that by revelation he made known to me the mystery (as I wrote before in a few words, by which when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ). The printed word is of great importance in civilization and salvation. God has established His Word, which includes teachings, commands, promises, warnings, and the offer of mercy for all mankind for all time, and it has been providentially preserved by His power through the ages. He could have accomplished His communication with man in several ways, but how did He choose to do it? He did it in print. Since God put His message in book (or scroll) form, we are intended to read it. It is to be part of everyday life. Today, and through the centuries, there have been many ways to communicate Gods Word, but the printed form has outlasted them all. In 1975 J.C. Choate began to encourage us to write tracts, books, and booklets to use in our work for the Master. Over the past thirty-eight years I have written many tracts, soulwinning books, and booklets. I have helped to write Bible correspondence courses for the work of evangelism, edification, and equipping. Evangelism Publications in Winona, Mississippi. For many years J.C. and Betty Choate have been so good to supply many books and magazines in English, French, and Spanish for the Pacific Islands. Those who oversee them, support their work, and partner with them are a blessing to the Lords cause throughout the world. Since the beginning of THE VOICE OF TRUTH INTERNATIONAL and the great help of the Choates and World Evangelism congregations, this publication has been used very effectively throughout the Pacific Islands. The brethren and congregations distribute The Voice of Truth International to hospitals, stores, offices, and to individuals. It is nothing for me to be working in a country in the Pacific Islands and come across someone reading The Voice of Truth International and tracts. I recently walked into an insurance office and had the opportunity to meet the manager. Guess what he was reading? Thats right, The Voice of Truth International ! I was able to set up a study with him and continue to study with him and his family as we have the opportunity.
Continued on page 82

I have encouraged all of the younger missionaries serving with us in the Pacific Islands to do the same, and some of them are writing. Mary and I feel so blessed to have Christians at our overseeing congregation at Forest Park in Atlanta, Georgia who give their time and energy to do massive printing, folding, and collating for the work in the Pacific Islands. These materials are taken and boxed up and stored in a bulk storage area at the Pacific Islands Bible College office. The printing needs are so great and constant that we also contract outside some printing to be done. We use many materials that come from World

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Continued from page 81

A few years ago I came into Tarawa, Kiribati and went through immigration as easy as always. The wait for my luggage was long, which is also normal, but finally I collected it and headed for customs. While I was in the line to get to the customs agent, I could see that the supervisor was reading a tract that I had written on HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST? When I came up to the customs agent, and while she was checking my luggage, I spoke quietly to the supervisor. I asked her if she was enjoying reading the tract, and in the shy way that a I-Kiribati lady would answer, she said, Yes. Then she asked me (I guess because I have white skin), Have you ever heard of this man, Robert H. Martin? I said, I am he. She just about fainted. She had been taught and baptized since my previous trip into Tarawa, Kiribati! She was so happy and said, I will see you tonight at the Pacific Islands Bible studies at the Eita church building. I could tell you similar stories throughout the Pacific Islands.

WHY IS THE PRINTED PAGE SO EFFECTIVE?


{1} It can be read and studied today, tomorrow, next week, next month or next year. {2} It can be passed on from one person to others. {3} It does not need a passport, visa or work permit. {4} It can travel from one person to a city, town, village or to an entire country. {5} It is the most economical way of spreading the Gospel of Christ. We not only use the printed page in our work of evangelizing the masses, but also to edify and equip congregations and individual Christians.

LET US USE EVERY FORM OF MEDIA THAT WE CAN IN REACHING THE LOST FOR JESUS CHRIST IN THE WORLD! Our work for Jesus during the fall quarter of 2011 will take us into three nations of the Pacific Islands: to the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and the Fiji Islands. We will be three weeks in each country, teaching Pacific Islands Bible College courses, teaching the lost, strengthening the saints, and edifying congregations. Other co-workers with us will be Richard Harp, Mike Olson, and David Riley. These men will be a blessing to the native brethren as they labor together with us on the field. From the time that we carry the Gospel and plant the Lords church in any country, city, town, or village, our hearts desire is to bring that congregation to maturity. We know that for the Gospel to spread throughout a country to other areas, we must nurture congregations to the point that they can become independent and church planters themselves. It is truly exciting to see these congregations setting the example to do just that. One such church is in the Naila village in the Fiji Islands. They were the first brethren to have built their own meeting place, and they have added to it twice and refurbished it a number of times. When our family left the brethren after ten years, they said, Do not worry about the younger congregations. We will minister to them. For years, the Naila church has been sending out mature preachers to struggling churches, doing the work of visiting and evangelizing, carrying their responsibility given by the Lord, ...to go and preach the Gospel.
Robert and Mary Martin have worked in the Pacic Islands many years, reaching for the goal of bringing the Gospel to every island in the area. Email: Robert Martin RobertFIJI@aol.com.

Robert and Mary Martin

Where Do the Saints Meet in Australia?


Howard Hampton

The Internet version of this directory is located at: www.aussiechristians.net. au/coc.html. Changes for inclusion in this directory can be emailed to Howard Hampton (spenserion@yahoo.com), or mailed to Mr. H. Hampton, 2a Clarke Street, Sunshine, Victoria, 3020. This directory has been produced from information supplied by others. Consequently, the listing of a church here does not mean that it is a faithful church. Individuals using this directory must form their own conclusion on this matter. The print version of this directory is issued twice a year (January and July). Published 1st June, 2011.

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Our Awesome God


Betty Burton Choate
Humanists have held sway in our educational system and most forms of communicating information for more than fifty years. For decades after Darwins theory of evolution was formulated, it was taught as that as a theory but today the presentation is that neo-evolution is an established fact, the foundation on which most statements concerning the existence of all matter are made. Yet, believers in the theory of evolution have not been able to explain where matter originated or how life came into existence. No one has ever observed something coming into being in a vacuum. No one has ever observed a non-living object coming to life. No one has ever observed material things getting to be newer with age. These three facts are in harmony with all known laws of science, while the theory of evolution is in direct contradiction to those basic and longrecognized laws. To believe a scientific theory that is disproved by known scientific laws requires more than blind faith; it requires commitment to the god of atheism that will not allow otherwise intelligent people to see undeniable truths. Hebrews 1:1-3 makes this declaration concerning Christ: that it was through Him that all things were made, and that He upholds all things by the word of His power! The universe is here. We cant deny its existence, any more than we can deny our own. I exist. Almost 7 billion souls currently live on this planet. And what wonders lie all around us, inside us, and in the far reaches of every galaxy of space! If only scientists would stop trying to disprove God, and would instead study His handiwork with an open mind, what even greater scientific truths they would discover! Our earth, the moon, the sun, the planets, and the multitudes of galaxies are governed by laws, many of which have been learned by scientists. Their movements can be predicted and measured precisely. Can the stars be numbered? (1 Corinthians 15:41; Psalm 147:4) The latest count by man is 70,000 million million million. The Psalmist was inspired to write that not only does God know the number, but he has given names to all of them! And how far away is the farthest star? They say more than 13 billion light years! And how far does light travel in a year? 5,878,630,000,000 miles! Multiply that by 13 billion and you will know how expansive scientists say the universe is. That should cause us to gasp with bated breath at the overwhelming power of our God, who holds all things in place! Now look at yourself. The average adult human is composed of about 100 trillion cells, each one more complex than a large metropolitan area, busy at breakneck speed with manufacturing and dispersing finished products that keep the body functioning as the most marvelous machine in existence. No matter how deep man goes with his microscopes and searches, he finds working design, on an ever smaller scale, yet functioning perfectly. Yes, we as humans, are the important objects of creation, made in the very image of God! But take the time to look at anything of the unimportant parts of creation. These two photos, one of a flower bud magnified 20 times, the other of the head of an aquatic larva (fly), magnified 40 times, show excellent examples of Gods Papaver subpiriforme imaginative and intricate design, (corn poppies) ower even of things the human eye bud (20X) would never expect to see. Many children from homes of Christians become so indoctrinated by evolutionary teachings that their faith is destroyed. Parents, there is no excuse for not equipping them! The books and videos are available! Arm your Head of Simulidae (y) children with knowledge! aquatic larva (40X)
Take this trip to outer space and then to inner space: Fantastic_ trip.pps. Read these books: The Compass in Your Nose by Marc McCutcheon (ignore occasional evolutionary references); Darwins Black Box by Michael Behe; What Darwin Didnt Know by Dr. Geoffrey Simmons; and among publications of Christians, go to ApologeticsPress.org and FocusPress.org.

Lessons Learned from Disasters


Jane Maynard
Lifes greatest lessons can come from lifes greatest tragedies. Many people, both victims and volunteer workers, have learned life-changing lessons from the tornado that ravished the city of Joplin, Missouri. Having worked there right after the storm for over a week with three other sisters, we all came away with not only broken hearts, but also with changed hearts. The destruction in that city is unreal. We worked in those most devastated areas, helping with debris, and helping people sift through what was once their homes in an attempt to find anything they could still call theirs. That, in itself, was a work that will break any heart. But the spirit of the people searching through their belongings was the same and, without fail, we heard the words, We still have our lives. We found that every victim we met, regardless of the amount of their personal loss, was concerned with others who had also lost everything. In a world characterized by greed and selfishness, we forget just how selfless others can be, but we did not meet one victim who had a greedy spirit. I carried a stack of Wal-Mart gift cards to give to those with special needs, and more than once grown men would stand and cry as I gave him a card. One, in particular, held the card to his chest and tried to say thank you through his tears. His job was gone, his house was almost gone, and he had no gas to drive anywhere to get a hot meal or personal items. Yet suddenly he handed the card back to me and said, But maybe you should give it to someone who needs it worse than me. We just wrapped our arms around each other and cried together, a scene that was repeated again and again throughout the week. The victims were selfless, always thinking of others first. Those who did not lose their homes, opened their homes and were busy transforming carports and back porches into living quarters for those who had nowhere to go. We saw a totally selfless and caring people in Joplin, teaching us many lessons, especially in how we view others. That spirit caused us to do a reality check on our spiritual view of humanity. While it is true that there is a big difference between the saved and the lost, spiritually, I wonder if we in the Lords church have allowed Satan to color our perception of the world around us as being basically bad. He is crafty and full of deceit, and his only prey are the people of God. If he can convince us to look at those whom we have been given the mission to save as being too bad to bother with (certainly this is not Gods perception of them), then Satan has been successful in thwarting our purpose in the world. God sees and knows that there is good in the worst of human beings redeemable good and I believe that when we see others through His eyes and go to those who are lost, with the heart of compassion and selfless caring shown to us by our Lord, we will see what God has always seen: the potential for the good in men to become godliness in men, as their sins are washed away. I pray that God will help us to approach our task of saving the lost with the same spirit we saw in Joplin a totally selfless spirit of good toward all others.

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