Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Simply put, the Orlando Conference was grand! I received hundreds of comments not only expressing joy and renewal, but also that we consider having it every other year instead of every third year.
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The following link will get you to three songs of Juan Barrero, son of Hector and Paulina Barerro. He and his brother assist in worship leading in Colombia and they also attended our Orlando Conference. http://www.youtube.com/user/peapleee
Recruiting Church Planters and Pastors
Members of the CAD, CMM and GenMin staff met with Drs. Gary Deddo and Elmer Colyer to discuss strategies for recruiting church planters, pastors and interns for GCI. The meetings took place during the GCI International Conference in Orlando, FL. Drs. Deddo and Colyer are willing to provide assistance that will enable CAD to recruit seminary students and graduates who embrace Trinitarian theology.
GenMin camps
Texas
The new “Heart O’ Texas” GenMin camp was launched in the Dallas area in June. Fifteen campers and 17 staffers made it a tremendous success. The most memorable activity was the “Acts of Random Kindness” (ARK) event. Four groups, dressed in Heart O’ Texas t-shirts, went into the community performing acts of kindness for neighboring businesses. Each group was given $10 seed money and an hour and a half to come up with their ideas and to accomplish their acts of kindness. Some purchased small gifts and handed them to children at a gas station, others offered to sweep sidewalks. Some purchased cleaning materials to clean windows, others offered to spruce up merchandise on store shelves, open doors for customers, and pick up trash in parking lots. Each group then came back with exciting stories of responses. A group of boys went to a donut shop and offered to wash the windows. When the job was finished, the proprietor handed the boys a full box of donuts – the boys said, “no you don’t have to give us donuts – we just want to help out.” With that the lady promptly stacked a second full box of donuts on the first, and before she was finished, gave them a third! Later that evening, the campers and staff recounted the many blessings they received by serving others. Some noticed store customers joining in and helping others. God’s grace is contagious!
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Minnesota
“Northern Light 2010” was this camp’s fourth year of operation. There were 30 campers age 9 to 17 served by 27 staffers. Through ELATION! (our GenMin teaching curriculum) the campers and staffers uncovered nuggets of joy in the relationship that we are given with God in Christ. Campers enjoyed canoeing, archery, pond life (biology), firearms, tree top courses, rock climbing, orienteering, cup stacking, fishing, worship leading, Bible reading and study, Prayer 101, Miss Manners, an Amazing Race game and several other activities. Worship leading class was a high point for many. Each camper group prepared a chapel service and then led the chapel worship service. We enjoyed some pretty exciting worship! An additional blessing this year was to see several young emerging leaders step up. We will give them greater leadership opportunities next year.
Pakistan
From Rod Matthews:
Near the end of May, there was a natural disaster of immense proportions in north-eastern Pakistan near the border with Kashmir. After heavy rain, a massive landslide in a gorge blocked the fast-flowing Hunza River and created a growing lake. As the waters built up behind the rock slide (see picture), they flooded the valley upstream, entering low-lying areas and inundating many villages. Tens of thousands of people left their homes as entire towns disappeared under the water, and crops were submerged. According to initial disaster assessment reports, around 30,000 affected people have been displaced.
On May 25, our ministry partner in Pakistan, Dr. Muqaddam Zia, reported that the Pakistan Army had established 30 relief camps since the people had lost everything and food was in short supply. But the numbers needing help outstripped what the authorities and humanitarian organizations could provide.
Dr. Zia said at the time, “We are making plans to launch a relief project with items including food, milk, tents and generators for the affected/displaced people of Hunza. There are hundreds of children in open air without any shelter and food, etc. and have been at a high risk. Pakistan’s government is already under fire for its handling of crippling power cuts, its struggle to contain a Taliban insurgency and efforts to strengthen a sluggish economy. It can ill-afford a catastrophe like widespread flooding. These areas are one of the most unreached and least evangelized areas of the world. This relief project will also open doors for the gospel. Please join us in prayer and if possible, please sow a seed in this initiative. Any seed, small or large, will certainly help us launch this initiative.”
In response, we sent him A$1,000 from our CarePac emergency fund to help provide materials and supplies for his relief expedition, which left Faisalabad for the Hunza area on May 30.
Later, Dr. Zia sent us some photos taken during his distribution of relief aid.
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India
Rod Matthews wrote:
Dr. Piria Suntharam, a church member, and his wife Banu Priya, run a home and orphanage for disadvantaged children in the rural village of Kalthanipadi in the state of Tamil Nadu.
In early May this year, they were riding a motorcycle in a remote village when another cycle hit them, injuring them severely. They both suffered head and leg injuries, but had to look after themselves because there was no transport or hospital nearby. Dr. Suntharam took action to stop the bleeding until help arrived. Both spent time in hospital and have recovered from their head injuries, but Mrs. Suntharam’s severe leg and foot injury is still giving her problems. It took a three-hour operation to reconstruct her ligaments and dislocated toes. The healing is slow, and she still suffers pain and walks with difficulty. She may yet need skin grafts. Unfortunately, the healing is complicated by diabetes. Mrs. Suntharam would be encouraged to know that others are praying for her complete healing.
The home and orphanage cares for 40 boys and girls who cannot be supported by their parents for various reasons. Not only do the Suntharams have the responsibility of nurturing the children, but there are onerous laws to comply with because unscrupulous people have tried to take advantage of orphans.
The government requires all orphanages to be licensed annually after an incident in the same state in which an orphanage was found to be selling orphans. After a lot of paperwork, official recognition of this facility should be complete within weeks.
There is another government requirement that an orphanage must have a six-foot high compound wall around the property to protect the people inside. To construct such a wall around this rural property is estimated to cost 1.5 million rupees (about US$32,000 or A$36,500). Dr. Suntharam and the orphanage are highly regarded in the local community, and with the help of a very supportive local Member of the Legislative Assembly, he has gained some government assistance for infrastructure development to cover over half the costs. Something that seemed to be outside the realm of possibility now seems feasible as long the authorities permit a reasonable time frame for construction.
The church in Australia funded the construction of a septic tank, but work has been delayed due to unseasonal rain. Just below the soil level, there is rock from which a pit had to be chipped out to allow for the tank. But groundwater seeps from the bottom and sides of the pit when it rains. So when it is completed, the tank has to keep some water in and other water out. The toilets are completed but cannot be used until the septic tank is completed.
Our congregation in Bangalore, pastored by Joe D’Costa, and some of the teachers at the school where Joanna D’Costa teaches have donated money, books, stationery, clothes, stainless steel plates, toys, mosquito nets and other materials to the orphanage. Joe also gave Dr. Suntharam an old but functioning computer which his son, Mark, set up. Dr. Suntharam and the children were thrilled because it offers them new educational opportunities beyond what is available at the nearby school that the young people attend.
Prayer Requests and Updates:
District Superintendent Lorenzo Arroyo sent me an update after completing tests with his doctor.He wrote:
I was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the end of June. After seeing three specialists along with taking several exams and tests, it has boiled down to radiation as the primary treatment. Surgical removal of the prostate gland and lymph nodes was ruled out because of two prior surgeries (perforated diverticula). There is too much scar tissue to do laparoscopic surgery, and conventional surgery would just add more scar tissue. The doctors have opted for 8 weeks M-F of precision imaging radiation as well as 1-2 years of hormone therapy (one injection per month). God’s blessing comes in the surprise that the radiation facility is just 2 1/2 blocks from our home. Your prayers are much appreciated.
Cards may be sent to:
Lorenzo and Rita Arroyo
4035 Mount Day CT
ANTIOCH, CA 94531-8279
Paul Miller, pastor of Mountain Home Arkansas, died Thursday, July 23 from the effects of Mesothelioma. Paul was known as a kind, gentle, joyful and humble servant and friend. Mary wanted to thank everyone for the cards and calls that meant so much to them as Paul’s health declined.
Cards may be sent to:
Mary Miller
422 Hwy 14 S
Yellville, AR 72687-7501
Remember that prayer is the battleground where we fight the good fight of faith. Let’s encourage everyone to join together in prayer, for we belong to Christ, and by the Spirit it is in Christ that we pray. Prayer and other spiritual activities help keep our hearts in tune with God and remind us of who we are in Christ. He is our all in all, and in him we are eternally beloved of the Father and blessed to share his good news with others.
Love from my family to yours,
Joseph Tkach
