Hector Barrero, GCI Mission Director for Chile, has forwarded a note from Thomas Keller, a GCI house church leader in Santiago, stating that the members in Santiago are all safe following the devastating 8.8 earthquake that struck the southern part of the country February 27. Thomas experienced some minor damage to his home and currently doesn’t have electricity or internet service at his residence, but otherwise is fine. We do not know of any specific member needs yet, but information is still limited at this time.
We have been able to send GCI Disaster Relief funds to Haiti to help the members there with emergency needs following the quake in that region. We have some additional funds that can still be sent as they are requested by Haitian Pastor Joseph Franklin.
The Disaster Relief Fund was established to help provide members in disaster areas with emergency needs such as food, water, medicine, clothing, temporary housing, home and/or church hall repairs, temporary local pastoral salary expenses and other emergency needs. Monies received into the Fund, but not immediately needed, remain in the Fund to be allocated for future disasters.
Since inception, money from this Fund have been used to help members recover from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, storms and flooding in Bangladesh, an earthquake and tsunami in the Solomon Islands, typhoons in the Philippines and the recent earthquake in Haiti.
On behalf of all those who have been helped, let me express their sincere appreciation to the congregations and individuals who have generously provided these funds.
If your congregation would like to donate to the GCI Disaster Relief Fund, please send a check to Grace Communion International, indicating on the memo line that the donation is for the GCI Disaster Relief Fund. The donation should be sent to:
GCI Disaster Relief Fund Grace Communion International P.O Box 5005 Glendora, California 91740
Thank you for your prayers and financial contributions to help members of the GCI family who are suffering.
Typical Mozambique Church Building.
South Africa
GCI South Africa National Director Tim Maguire, and Regional Pastor Caleb Makhela recently spent two weeks visiting dozens of congregations in Mozambique who want to affiliate with our denomination. Here are some excerpts from their report:
Caleb Makhela and I travelled through four of the central and northern provinces of the country and spoke in 44 churches. There are 13 churches in Mozambique we weren’t able to visit, and another eight in Malawi.
Due to the lack of communication about a specific time to meet, we often found that a congregation had been diligently waiting all day for us and were still waiting when we arrived in the late afternoon. The welcome we received in every church was unbelievable! These are men, women and even children who hunger and thirst and live for the Word. Most of them are subsistence farmers, who live from day to day, not always sure where their next meal will come from, but they are spiritually energized and praising God.
Regional Pastor Mariano on a bicycle.
Every church we visited had built or were building a place of worship, from timber, home-baked bricks, mud and grass or reeds. The leaders and pastors seem deeply committed to serving God and his people. Public transport to the churches is nonexistent. Some churches only have paths leading to them, so it is not unusual for a pastor (one regional pastor is 68 years old) to walk or cycle 20 or 30 km to church.
Rain has been late this year, and maize, their main crop, looks set to fail or yield very little. Without crops, the people go hungry. Domingos, their national leader, serves full-time but receives no remuneration for it. When I asked him how he survives, he says sometimes he goes to bed hungry but he trusts God to provide.
Another need is that of Bibles. Most are able to read in their home language (for most, that is Senna) and/or Portuguese, but they don’t have access to a Bible. I have asked our South African churches to take up a collection so we can purchase five Bibles apiece for each of these congregations. Bibles are available for about 30 Rand in Mozambique.
Before we left, we met with Domingos and his regional leaders and they asked if our members would pray for the members in Mozambique, specifically about the following:
The need for rain and good crops
The need for some sort of transport for Domingos to allow him to travel to visit the churches. (The distance between Chimoio, where Domingos lives, and the furthest church is about 800km on very poor roads.)
Their upcoming Easter conference in April. Many leaders may not be able to attend as they do not have the fare needed to get them there.
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Bogota, Columbia
Mission Director Hector Barrero and his wife, Paulina, began a new round of outreach marriage enrichment classes in our Bogota congregation in February. Twenty-six couples not associated with the church responded to their invitation and joined the four-month series of classes to improve their marriages. Last round 17 couples received certificates of completion. One of them is now helping teach the class.
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Estonia: Young Adult Summer Program 2010
This will be the fifth year that the church will hold a summer school in Kallaste, Estonia.
Dates: From Friday, July 30 through Sunday, August 8, 2010.
Place: The first two days will be sightseeing in the capital city, Tallinn. The rest of the time we will be in the small Estonian town of Kallaste on the shores of Lake Peipsi, the fourth largest lake in Europe. The town of Kallaste has a population of 1300, which mostly consists of Russian-speaking Estonians.
New activities for teens and young adults have been added to the 2010 GCI International Conference in Orlando, Florida. A printable flier is available at the conference website at http://2010.gci.org/category/youngadulttrack/
In addition, because the host hotel for our international conference is part of the Walt Disney World Resort, conference attendees will have access to discounted Disney tickets. These discounts, which are only available to groups holding meetings within the resort, grant extended hours to many of the attractions. For advance purchase of specially priced Disney Meeting/Convention Theme Park tickets, go to www.disneyconventionear.com/GCI
Please note that these Theme Park tickets must be purchased no later than July 20, 2010.
Pastor Paul Miller of our Mountian Home, Arkansas, church has been diagnosed with mesothelioma. Paul asked for prayer for his health and his family.
Cards can be sent to: 422 Hwy 14 S Yellville, AR 72687-7501
Jeanette Wendt, widow of longtime headquarters employee Jim Wendt, died February 27, in her home. Please remember the Wendt family in their loss. Pastor Glen Weber of our Eagle Rock, California, congregation sent this update about his father:
They took Dad back into surgery to re-install the electrodes on his new pacemaker. During the procedure his heart stopped. After extensive CPR they were able to revive him, but could not complete the procedure. They wanted to re-do the surgery by opening his chest and installing the electrode that way (rather than through the blood vessel like they were doing before). But he is so feeble now from all he’s been through that the family doesn’t want him to go through another procedure.
Yesterday he was moved out of the main hospital and into their Acute Rehab Unit. He is walking fairly well and doing everything he would typically be doing, but he is very weak and shaky. His mind is working very well. He will go through extensive therapy for the next few days.
Cards may be sent to: Glen Weber, Sr. 17 Cozad Rd Wheatland, WY 82201-8987
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.
Emmanuel Okai, the chairman of our ecclesiastical council in Ghana, sent a note about their new church plant. He wrote: Following initial contacts made from a group located at the Buduburam Refugee Camp, a church has started for the mainly Liberian refugees and other residents of the Buduburam community near Kasoa. A church hall has been leased for the next three years for the group, and plans are far advanced to purchase the property and its associated land for the church. Donations of chairs, food and clothing are being received from the various church areas for the use of the refugees, who now are faced with a serious dilemma. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is currently pulling out its activities there and has made a number of efforts to repatriate the refugees back home to their countries. Those who opt to stay will receive no more funding and will be on their own. They will therefore need a lot of support to integrate them into mainstream Ghanaian society. The group is very vibrant, energetic and fired up with the love of Christ. At the December Youth Camp, four of their youths who attended requested for and received baptism. Twenty-three of their adult group are also undergoing counseling for baptism. Another development that occurred is the adoption of the group by Mr. William Akoto and Mrs. Ernestina Akoto, who now regularly worship with them and take turns to bring sermons to them. They have also been instrumental in seeing the group established and have been donating various gifts, clothing and food to the group.
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Colombia
From Hector Barrero:
Hector and Paulina Barrero conducted a seminar on February 13-16 for our Barranquilla congregation on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. Our congregation is pastored by Sonia Orozco and it was great to see that 70 people attended and there were three baptisms. We are happy to see that congregation growing. Attached are a few pictures including two of the seminar, and members of the same family baptized: grandmother, daughter and grandchild, as well as the Orozco family.
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You’re Included
Michael Feazell, Tony Murphy, Nathan Smith, and I traveled to Scotland for the Thomas F. Torrance Conference at St. Andrews University, and to interview some of the Trinitarian theologians. James Henderson, John and Phil Halford met us to assist in the interview set-up and taping. So far, we have interviews with Alan Torrance and Trevor Hart. We hope to complete 12 -15 interviews.
Prayer requests and updates
From Marjorie Friddle:
The 3-D CT scan done on my knee last week shows fluid around the kneecap area, where it should not be. There seems to be something wrong with the synovial fluid — I’m not sure of the medical terms. No infection, thankfully, but a definite problem. My doctor is sending me to a doctor in a different orthopedic group. I heard that he is very good, but I can’t see him until March 4. My knee is still very painful, and I have to be on medication in order to walk. I have “cried a river” because of this problem. It has been stressful and I would love not to be on the verge of tears all the time.
We deeply appreciate everyone’s love and prayers. I will let you know after I know more. With love to all.
Cards may be sent to: Marj Friddle 7404 Stillwater Drive Bayonet Point, FL 34667
Norma Dick
Funeral services for Norma Dick, 84, of Hawkins, TX, were held on Sunday, February 21, 2010 in Hawkins. Norma died in the early hours of February 18 after being diagnosed with inoperable cancer six months earlier. Norma was blessed with relative freedom from pain and was able to spend quality time with all of her descendants who live in the United States.
Mrs. Dick was born Norma Porter on September 16, 1925, in Cokeville, Wyoming. She was married in 1942 to Raymond C. Dick, long-time employee of the Worldwide Church of God, who preceded her in death five years earlier. Norma is survived by two siblings, three sons, Robert, Ronald and Randal and their wives, Dyanne, Linda and Susan. She also has seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Cards to the family may be sent to:
Randal & Susan Dick 2516 179 Avenue E Lake Tapps, WA 98391-6453
Ron & Linda Dick 3445 Lansdowne Dr. Lexington, KY 40517-1123
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.
Eric Shaw and Charles Albrecht conducted the baptism of Charles and Susie’s son, Noah, during Altadena’s Community Life Fellowship worship service on December 26, 2009. Noah wanted to be baptized the day after Christmas so he would always remember his baptism date.
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Mikayla Faith Truman
Congratulations to Terry and Nancy Akers, the new grandparents! Mikayla Faith Truman, Terry and Nancy’s new granddaughter, was born on Friday, February 12, at 7:09 p.m. She weighed 8 lbs. 13 oz and is 20½ inches long. Everyone is doing fine.
UK Church Organizes Tour Of Holy Land 6th to 14th October
From James Henderson:
Hello to all you adventurous travelers out there!
Often, when Christian groups go to the Holy Land, they go from one church to another to see the possible sites where biblical incidents took place. We plan to visit some churches, but will be concentrating on the history, topography and archaeology of the land. Going up the Mount of Olives, visiting Jericho, floating on the Dead Sea, sailing over the Sea of Galilee, meandering through Masada, walking where Jesus would have walked all those years ago. I can’t wait! And, what’s more, they say October is a good time of year, weather wise.
So I am excited at the prospect of this trip! Come join us…see you there!
Almost forgot!!! To find out more, check out our website – www.wcg.org.uk
New Pastors’ Training Conference
Over the Presidents Day weekend, new pastors’ training sessions were conducted for Leroy Joines from Jamaica; Nisho & Michelle Cherison; Max & Janie DeVilbiss; Brian Carlisle; Paul-David Faustino; Francisco Garcia; Tom & Sandy Kennebeck; Stuart Mahan; Bill & Katie Ritzman; Todd Woods; and Michael & LaVerne Wyatt-Paige.
SEP Zambia
Gary Moore shared Kalengule Kaoma’s report from several projects funded by donations to our African Mission Fund, and from a number of our Canadian congregations.
The first concerns the Summer Youth Camp held December 16 – 23 near Livingstone, Zambia. We provided $3,000 U.S. in support, which was instrumental in this camp happening. There were 30 campers, and 20 staff this year. Five girls were baptized. Three photos to follow, at the bottom of this update – the first of Kalengule teaching Christian Education, the second of a girls’ dorm, and the third of a bike trip taken by some of the boys. Janet Morrison, wife of Mike Morrison, taught team building to the campers, and brought some support from her local congregation in California. The assistance was essential and greatly appreciated.
A number of our congregations provided support so national ministry leaders in Africa could visit their churches – especially encouraging for outlying areas. Visits we have funded have taken place now in Togo, Benin, and to four outlying congregations in northern Zambia. Many of our African congregations face huge challenges. Our pastors are pretty much all unpaid and are trying to hold down full-time jobs in stressed economies, look after their own families, as well as serve a congregation. They need and appreciate our prayers. These visits have been very, very encouraging. Other visits we have funded will take place as they can be scheduled.
Finally, the Kingston, Ontario small group church and the Prince George, B.C. congregation each funded a $350 poverty alleviation project. Each project was hosted by the women’s ministry in a Zambian congregation (the Central congregation in Lusaka, for Kingston; the Chawama congregation for Prince George). Each project involved the purchase of a sewing machine and fabric. Ladies were trained in how to use the machine and make items for sale. In one case, the products were of sufficient quality to be marketed. In the other case, the products weren’t the best and few sold. However, a further training session is now planned to raise the skill level of that group. Of course, in both cases the investment is long term, and the machines will be used many times in the future to teach skills, and allow products to be sold to relieve poverty, and even earn funds to further the gospel. Many thanks to the brethren in Kingston and Prince George for making this possible.
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Papua New Guinea
In December, Ben Galwa and Richard Kindle, two of our church leaders in the Mt. Wilhelm congregation in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, attended a seminar on biblical preaching presented by Langham Preaching, a ministry of Langham Partnership International, founded by renowned author and theologian, Dr. John Stott. Here is the report from Langham’s December email newsletter:
Spiritual Renewal for PNG Preachers
by Wendy Toulmin, Langham Partnership Australia
The first Level 1 Langham Preaching seminar in Papua New Guinea has taken place earlier this month at the Christian Leaders Training College (CLTC) Banz, an hour’s drive east of Mt Hagen. We were warmly welcomed by Principal Ezekiel Ivihi and his staff.
This is Langham Preaching’s third initiative in the Pacific, supported and funded by Langham Partnership Australia.118 preachers attended from 24 different denominational groups, as well as students from CLTC, a contingent from SIL-Wycliffe, delegates from Gospel Recordings, Evangelical Alliance, and a number of other organisations.
The seminar was facilitated by Paul Windsor, Associate Director for Langham Preaching, with Melbourne’s Andrew Reid and Tim Johnson. This was Andrew’s first return to PNG after spending his childhood there. Many participants spoke of the seminar as a time of deep personal renewal.
“A long time in ministry can leave the tools going blunt,” said Pastor Gireva, a senior pastor with the Christian Life Centre. “This week has been about becoming spiritually sharpened again.”
During the group feedback sessions we posted the preachers’ sermon outlines all around the auditorium.
“It resembled an art gallery as people wandered around,” said Paul Windsor. “The quality of their work progressed so much through the week that during the final feedback session I decided to walk through the gallery myself and stop and ‘commentate’ on the various features of each outline,” he said.
Dr. Rosie Crowter with seminar participants.
Five associates of Australian Indigenous Ministries joined the seminar, building partnerships with CLTC and Langham as they develop preaching training for an indigenous Australian context, and David Kima, Director of the very active Evangelical Alliance-PNG brought an enthusiastic contingent from Goroka.
Another key initiative of the seminar was the provision of the late Phil Crowter’s highly-acclaimed Pray-Prepare-Preach resources to many of the participants. It was a highlight having Phil’s sister, Dr. Rosie Crowter, a missionary in PNG, with us. Rosie came with a group of pastors from Western Province.
The Level 2 seminar in PNG, preceded by a condensed Level 1 for a small group to be selected from denominations and provinces under-represented this year, is on track for December 2010. Pray for Emmanuel Kauna, David Kima and other members of the local organising committee.
Generations Ministries
Generations Ministries announces that the Journey with the Master National Celebration scheduled for Rome, GA on June 11-13 is being merged with the GCI 2010 International Conference in Orlando on July 22-25. The International Conference will gather GCI members and friends from around the world, and GenMin is hosting a special conference track for teens and young adults. That track will include special events for this age group and times with the larger group as we celebrate together as one family.
We received this update from pastor James Roberts, for his wife Hazel who fell down a flight of stairs.
THANK YOU for the prayers! In our fourth day of this situation, we are seeing perhaps the first appreciable progress. We had another five-hour stint with two doctors on Thursday. They took more X-rays and discussed results and options. The fracture of the humerus just below the shoulder joint looks absolutely scary. The top end of the break has at least two splintered sections sticking downward. The lower end shows the bone shaft misaligned with the top end, offset almost completely. So it’s a nasty break that affects a lot of tissue. The first option was to have surgery involving a metal plate with several screws to cinch the ends together all at once. The alternative was to have a custom-made brace/harness assembly that would immobilize the arm and “squeeze” from all sides to encourage the ends to come back together at least enough for new connective tissue to develop and complete the bone again. This would take six weeks to three months. A sling will also be in place for at least two weeks. Hazel opted for the second option, so we got a brace fitted last night by the second doctor. It’s too soon to see what the pain/comfort level will be, but Hazel made it through the night without a bout with pain, a good sign. She’s sitting up a lot more so far today.
Cards may be sent to:
Hazel Roberts 32727 Gustine Street Union City, CA 94587-5603
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.
Caribbean Mission Director Charles Fleming sent this update on our church in Haiti:
Yesterday I had a long talk with Haiti pastor Joseph Franklin. He, his family and all our members are doing relatively well and in good spirits. They are still sleeping outside and are fearful of aftershocks, but they have access to a flea market where they can buy food. The big news is that one of the two bank branches open in the city is within walking distance of the Franklins’ home. So we are finally able to get some money through to them. Mat Morgan has already sent it, but it may take a few days to get it to the Franklins.
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Attached are some pictures showing the damage done to the church building (the school is a newer building but Mr. Franklin did not sent pictures of it). Also attached are some pictures Mr. Franklin sent of his family and some relatives sleeping under a tarpaulin in his backyard.
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Please pass on sincere thanks from the Franklins and all the members in Haiti to all who are praying for them and sending them help. All the members are planning to get together this weekend for the first time since the earthquake.
Phoenix, Arizona
On January 17, District Pastoral Leader Glen Weber traveled to Phoenix, Arizona, to participate in the installation of Phoenix Co-Pastors Al Yeager and Michael Wyatt-Paige, as well as Michael Wyatt-Paige’s ordination as an elder.
Al Yeager has been serving for many years as pastor of the Phoenix congregation that meets on Saturday. His heath now requires that he restrict his duties, so he will share pastoral responsibilities with newly installed Community of Hope pastor, Michael Wyatt-Paige. Michael Wyatt-Paige has been serving the Community of Hope congregation for some time under recently retired pastor, Larry Marshall. Community of Hope meets on Sunday. Mrs. Sheila Yeager and Mrs. LaVerne Wyatt-Paige took part in the ceremony.
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Denver, Colorado
January 29-31, ministry trainers Randy Bloom (Church Multiplication Ministries) and Greg Williams (Generations Ministries) visited Ground Zero, a group of people in the Denver area who are working to start a GCI church in the Denver area. Randy and Greg, as well as Lorenzo Arroyo, are providing Church-Next Training (training for starting new churches) for the group leaders. Ground Zero is searching for a place to meet within a community they feel called by Jesus to make disciples. A highlight of the weekend was a blessing ceremony for Mikalaya Pearman, five-month old daughter of Jason and Rachel Pearman.
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Asia
Rod Matthews sent these reports about India and Myanmar.
India
In December, Hyderabad pastor Daniel Zachariah was asked to conduct a counseling course in Mumbai under the auspices of the Person to Person Counseling organization in India. He had the opportunity to teach pastors at the Free Methodist Church and counselors at the YMCA counseling center in Mumbai.
Then in late January, Daniel was asked to go to New Delhi to be in involved in a three-day conference conducted by the Association of Christian Counselors. About 150 people participated and Danny was asked to conduct the communion service at the end of the conference.
He discovered on arrival that the plenary speaker was Dr. Ajith Fernando, Principal of the Colombo Theological Seminary (CTS) in Sri Lanka, whom Mohan Jayasekera and I had met in Colombo this past December. CTS had printed the Sinhala edition of our discipleship course for us in Sri Lanka, and our meeting was to express our thanks and strengthen our contacts with CTS as we prepare a Tamil edition. Danny was surprised that Dr. Fernando knew so much about our church, and he expressed to Danny that the changes in our church are nothing short of a miracle.
Myanmar
In late November, Malaysian senior pastor, Wong Mein Kong, travelled to Myanmar (Burma) to meet with pastors and leaders and respond to several new requests for contact. His conclusion is that there is much potential for future growth and involvement of the church in Myanmar.
Firstly, Mein Kong met with Tluang Kung, a young man from the north of the country whom we got to know several years ago. He was “adopted” by the Gold Coast congregation in Australia who helped him financially in getting a masters degree in theology so he could serve his people more effectively in ministry. Tluang Kung currently teaches at a theological seminary in Yangon.
Tluang Kung has appreciated our literature and teachings, and we have developed a close relationship with him. Through him we are in the process of having the discipleship course translated into Burmese. Wong Mein Kong discussed its progress with him and suggestions as to its use and distribution after we have it printed, possibly later this year.
Tluang Kung’s father, Peter Za Hmung, through whom came our first contact with this family and their fellowship of churches in northern Myanmar, is now a pastor of a house church in Yangon and active in evangelism and outreach to the local community.
Wong Mein Kong wrote, “Saturday morning Tluang Kung and I took a taxi to [Tluang Kung’s] father’s house in [a] township about 40 km north of the city. A group was waiting for a worship service. Also present were a pastor and his wife from the AOG church. A total of 10 children and 18 adults attended. Peter and Tluang Kung introduced me. Tluang Kung led worship, the children sang special music and recited scripture, followed by short messages from Peter and the AOG pastor. Then I gave the sermon with Tluang Kung translating. We had lunch together in the house.”
I should insert here that after Wong Mein Kong’s visit, Tluang Kung was married and here he is with his new wife, Ro Din Pui.
Mein Kong also met with Saw Hler Ghaw, who is now the effective leader of our group in the southern delta area, who had travelled to Yangon for the meeting. His father, Saw Htoo Plow, our pastor there, whose wife died in May, has been in ill health for quite some time and is often bedridden and limited in what he can do. Hler Ghaw holds services in his home for the group (mainly Htoo Plow’s children and their families) totaling 43 people. Two members of the group were baptized earlier in the year by our northern pastor, Naing Key Har. Mein Kong gave Hler Ghaw some used clothing, children’s Bible stories, Karen language Bibles, Bible study materials, sermon outlines, and some funds for his family’s medical expenses and his house roofing repairs.
One of our new contacts is a young man of 26, with a BSc in Botany who works as a volunteer with World Vision in Yangon. He got to know us through Hler Ghaw and the denominational website and is very keen to learn more. He and a group of his friends interested in Christianity meet as a cell group for study and worship. He invited Wong Mein Kong to visit his family and meet his friends; and volunteered to help Mein Kong in communicating with the other Yangon people in the future.
In another new contact, Mein Kong said,
Mein Kong concluded it had been a profitable trip filled with potential for the development of new connections and opportunities to serve small ministries bringing the gospel to a country in great need of good news.
Soon after I arrived, Pastor Aung Kyaw Moe and his cell group leader Nyinyi Tun came to see me. Both are young men about 30 years old. Aung had contacted our website and wished to learn more about us. He graduated from a Bible college in Yangon and started church planting. He has a church and several cell groups in Thaketa Township just east of the city. They are active in evangelism and even have a football outreach in the local community. Aung realizes the need for leadership training and discipleship for new converts, which he hopes we can help provide. I told him about our collaboration with other groups in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka and gave him copies of the Malaysian magazine, WCG Today and A Brief Introduction to Trinitarian Theology. He is dynamic and sincerely wants to learn to develop his ministry. He wanted me to visit his church, but I didn’t have the time, so he invited me to conduct a seminar for his leaders on my next trip.
Immediately after Aung left, pastor Daniel Ling Thang came to see me. He is 32 years old, a graduate of the Gospel For Asia Bible College in Yangon (same as Tluang Kung) and a seminary in northwest India. He planted a house church and several cell groups through his evangelism and outreach efforts in the same township as Peter Za Hmung, so I arranged for him to meet with Peter. Our discussion was similar to the one I had with Aung earlier. Daniel seems a humble, simple man full of faith. He too wanted me to speak to his group.
Sunday morning Tluang Kung, Hler Ghaw and I took a one-hour bus ride to hold a Bible study in Peter’s house for a group of four children and 14 adults. I also had a Q&A session that they really appreciated. Peter then telephoned Daniel Ling Thang, who came over to fellowship with us. Daniel, too, originally came from Kalaymyo and he recognized Tluang Kung from his Bible college days. I wanted the two groups to know each other and they seemed glad for the opportunity to work together in future. Daniel then led me, Tluang Kung and Hler Ghaw to take a bus to his house where we met his wife. The three of us left shortly after to take two bus rides back to Yangon.
On the way we stopped in Insein Township and walked 20 minutes to Thant Zin’s house, where his grandfather, parents, two brothers and a friend were waiting. They spoke good English and asked me to pray for them. They were very pleased with my sharing in response to their questions and requested for a visit again on my next trip. Thant Zin and his brother also asked me for books on counseling and Christian topics. Since it was already dark, a relative of Thant Zin drove us to my motel before sending them back.
Mein Kong concluded it had been a profitable trip filled with potential for the development of new connections and opportunities to serve small ministries bringing the gospel to a country in great need of good news.
Prayer Requests and Updates
Deben Sam
Last week Rod Matthews received an urgent message from Deben Sam, our ministry partner in Nepal. Deben reported that a small congregation in the town of Dolakha, part of his network of rural congregations, established only in the last year, had been attacked by a mob of ethnical religious leaders and their followers. They had destroyed their “cottage of fellowship,” badly beaten the believers and driven them from the village with threats that they should not gather for fellowship any more or speak about Christianity in the village. The local leader and his family had just arrived in Kathmandu with the news, saying that the environment in Dolakha was not safe for any Christians at the moment. He asked for prayers for all the persecuted believers wherever they had fled so that they would stand strong in the faith. In the meantime, he needed to be accommodated and supported in Kathmandu, and since Deben’s local congregations there are small and poor, the Australian office sent some money to Deben to provide him with additional means to look after their needs until it was safe for them to return home.
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.
Please join me in congratulating Mohan and Nihara Jayasekera on the wedding of their second daughter, Niranga, to Miland Warakaulle. Mohan and Nihara travelled to Sri Lanka for the event, where Mohan performed the ceremony.
The newlyweds are living in Sri Lanka and plan to move in the next year or so to Perth, Australia, where Mohan is Pastor. Mohan said: “It was a wonderful family occasion for us and I have attached some pictures to share with you this blessing we experienced.”
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Haiti
Thank you for your continued prayers for Haiti and for our GCI brothers and sisters there. None of our members were killed in the earthquake, and for that we are so deeply grateful to our Savior. Mission Director Charles Fleming and Pastor Joseph Franklin have asked that we wait until general order has been restored before we begin disbursing GCI disaster relief funds to them, so as to avoid the currently high prospect of theft or robbery. However, because of the outpouring of generous hearts, the fund stands ready to help as soon as the local leadership deems it safe to proceed with disbursement.
Los Angeles
From Church Multiplication Ministries (CMM):
On January 30 CMM trainers Heber Ticas and Lorenzo Arroyo met with a newly formed district team of five families to discuss plans for a new church plant in the Los Angeles area. The team worked on developing the plant’s core values, mission and vision and began mapping the demographics of their target area and developing a discipleship pathway strategy for making new contacts and reaching the community.
The plant team recently reached their goal of 100 prayer partners and requests your prayers as well. Their next meeting is scheduled for February 20.
South Africa
From Tim Maguire, National Director for South Africa:
On behalf of WCG South Africa I’d like to again thank the Red Deer and Crossfield, Alberta, congregations for their generous donation towards the 2009 SEP. As a result of their generosity, we were able to assist in sponsoring many deserving WCG children from the Moruleng tent church, as well as several other kids who could not afford the full fees. We were also able to purchase portable basketball posts and hoops, as Bekker School did not have these facilities, and basketball is always very popular among the kids.
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Camp was a huge success! It ran for nine days, December 13-22. Eighy-one teenagers, 40 pre-teens, and 27 young adult staff trainees participated in swimming, soccer, basketball, softball, volleyball, obstacle course, hiking, ballroom dancing, rock climbing, abseiling, handcrafts, Christian living and life skills classes. We were assisted by 40 dedicated volunteer staff members. Each morning we started the day with praise and worship and a devotional, and each evening we closed in worshipping God, who made it all possible. As always, many expressed their thanks for a life-changing experience that helped them develop on a personal level as well as being led into a closer relationship with God.
Estonia
From Carl Fredrik Aas:
We had been concerned about the future of the summer school project in Estonia because a new major took office in the town of Kallaste. But I have now been informed that the new major will support the summer school in the same way the former major has. So I would like to ask those who are interested in participating as teachers at the 2010 summer school, scheduled for the first week in August, to please contact me as soon as possible for more information. I will have to decide by the middle of March whether we have enough personnel to proceed.
This will be the fifth time we will have held this project, which I think has been very helpful for the youth of Kallaste and a unique experience for young adults in the church who were teachers. Several of the youth of Kallaste have contacted me hoping that we will come again this year.
Those interested in serving should contact Carl Fredrik Aas at: cfaas@online.no
I must remind you that this project is challenging work.
Prayer Requests and Updates
Curtis May sent his thanks for our prayers about his Moody Radio interview. He wrote: “Your prayers meant a lot. I thought the interview went well, and the host seemed pleased with it also. I hope we will have a copy to post on the ORM website once they edit it for airing.”
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.
Caribbean Mission Director Charles Fleming received this email on Saturday from our pastor in Haiti, Joseph Franklin:
We thank everyone for directing prayers from all over the planet toward us in this time of distress. We just received an encouraging message from a former Ambassador College student who visited with us back in 1983. It is wonderful to be so bound together in the love of God.
We had a quiet night last night and this morning. We are able to get online, and even though it is difficult, we are able to communicate with the Jean Renel family in Les Cayes, with Serges Jacques in Saint Marc and with Daniel Leconte in Port-de-Paix. They are all okay. Later on I will send a complete update with photos.
Now we are 13, sleeping under a tent in our front yard. Besides Georgette, Billy and me, we have one family of four from the church and another six of our relatives. From time to time the house receives a light shock, so we just go in quickly for urgent needs and hurry back outside.
No service is available as yet. I still need to get one generator to recharge my six batteries. These cost 1000HTG, the equivalent of 25USD. This is our only availability to have light and keep our computer running. Every few hours another aftershock comes to do more damage to what is still left of houses and buildings. It is highly recommended not to walk around the streets because of hundreds of corpses are decaying under the debris.
It will take some time to gather enough details for a complete update. Thank you for joining me in praise to our Lord Almighty who has kept us alive a little longer for his purpose. In Jesus’ mission on earth, the cross precedes the crown.
Papike Lebelo
Africa
Please join me in thanking God for providing more leadership in Africa. Papike Lebelo, shown here leading worship at church, was ordained an elder at a church service at Sizwe hospital in South Africa.
2010 International Pastors Conference Registration Discount Deadline Reminder
At 9:00 am on Friday, January 29, registration will be opened to our elders and members. At that time the pastors discount for hotel nights will end, and the pastors registration fee will no longer be waived. You should register before 9:00 am (Pacific Time) on Friday to receive these discounts.
Register before 9:00 am on Friday, January 29, and the denomination will still cover your registration fee and provide you with a $10/night discount for the hotel (for Wednesday through Saturday nights). To register, just click on this link, www.2010.gci.org and it will take you to the conference website. You will then need to click on the “Register” button.
Minnesota
From Pastor Doug Johannsen:
Sixty-five people of all ages from Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota enjoyed Snowblast 2010 at Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch near Stewartville, MN. The event began Saturday, January 16, and ended Monday morning, January 18. The theme this year centered on freedom, making choices, and the consequences of those freedoms and choices.
Activities included snow tubing, snowshoeing, making pottery on a pottery wheel, arts and crafts, making peanut brittle, photography, practicing worship leading, playing cards, board games, as well as indoor arena horse rides and a nighttime sleigh ride, courtesy of two draft horses named Bill and Barney. Recent heavy snowfall made the scenery a winter wonderland.
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Prayer Requests and Updates
Reconciliation Ministries director Curtis May asked for prayer for his interview this Thursday at 10 a.m. Pacific Time on the “God at Work” program broadcast by Moody Radio in Cleveland. Curtis will be interviewed on the topic “What God is Doing in Reconciliation.” He asked that we pray that God would be glorified through the interview.
Patama Banks, wife of Pastor Leonard Banks of our Rochester, NY, congregation, underwent surgery this week at the Strong Memorial Hospital emergency room following an early morning heart attack. Leonard wrote:
Thank you all for your prayers and phone calls. The power of prayer is awesome. All the catheters were removed last night and the heart is pumping by itself.
Cards can be sent to: 40 Fountain St. Rochester, NY 14620-1902
Pastor Steve Posiak of our Salmon Arm, British Columbia, congregation asked for prayer for Karen Leach, wife of elder Darcy Leach, who is in the hospital awaiting a blood transfusion due to an extremely low red cell blood count. Karen has been battling cancer for some time, and the cancer is now in her bones, liver and breast.
Darcy’s father, Roy Leach, is in the same hospital with a broken shoulder. Roy is also battling cancer of the prostate, which has spread to his bones.
Cards may be sent to: Karen Leach 2431 Tamarack Terr. RR 2 Sorrento, B.C. V0E 2W2 Canada
Last week’s update included a picture of Pat and Cliff Rabe (misspelled as Rage), but the text was not included. Here is the correct copy:
Funeral services were held January 6, at Bergvallei, Muldersdrift, for Pastor Cliff Rabe (78) of our Johannesburg Central congregation. Cliff passed away on Thursday after a short illness. He was diagnosed to be suffering from acute leukemia.
Pat and Cliff Rabe
Cliff will be missed by his wife of 48 years, Pat, his children Avril, John, Michael, Giselle, Paul and Jenny, and his grandchildren Dwane, Keri, Jessica, Rochelle, Jonathan, Katelyn and Megan.
Cliff was baptized in August 1969 and ordained an elder in 1989. He served faithfully in many church areas within southern Africa, including Johannesburg Central, Krugersdorp, Klerksdorp, Botwsana, Bloemfontein, Kimberly, Lesotho, and QwaQwa. He loved the word of God and God’s creation. Cliff will be fondly remembered for his colorful sermons.
Grant Millar conducted the funeral service.
Cards may be sent to: PO Box 4093 Helikon Park 1771 South Africa
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.
Thank you and your congregations for your prayers and support for Haiti. Caribbean Mission Director Charles Fleming sent this update on Friday:
Joseph & Georgette Franklin
I spoke with Mr. Franklin, our Haitian pastor, a few minutes ago. He, his wife and adult son, Billy, are all fine. Mr. Franklin said he did not sleep for two days as they were staying outside for fear of aftershocks, but last night he finally got some sleep. Their home suffered minor damage. He operates a bakery, and his oven, which was in a shed in the backyard, fell into a creek that runs by the house. He has not been able to communicate with all the church members, but he believes they are safe. One church family is staying at the Franklin home.
The church building and school have suffered some damage, but not major structural damage.
The ever-resourceful Mr. Franklin has a backup power system that uses truck batteries. Join us in praying that keeps going, as it will likely be his source of power for a while. It is also what he uses to recharge his cell phone, which is our link to him.
Thanks to all who have already contributed to the Disaster Relief Fund.
Congregations and individual members who would like to help may donate to the GCI Disaster Relief Fund. The Fund was established to help with costs of emergency member needs in the wake of such disasters. These costs include such items as food, water, clothing, and temporary housing, as well as temporary local pastoral salary expenses and other emergency local church expenses. The Fund is coordinated by regional leaders and local pastors in the affected areas. Since Grace Communion International is a non-profit organization, donations to the Disaster Relief Fund are tax-deductible in the United States. If more donations are received into this fund than can be used effectively at the time, the excess is to be held ready to assist with future disaster needs.
Donations can be made online at our website at www.wcg.org/DisasterDonation.asp or for those who would prefer to mail a check, the address is:
Disaster Relief Fund Grace Communion International PO Box 5005 Glendora, CA 91740
From left to right: Bob Klynsmith, Gordon Green, Trevor Weber, Emmanuel Clifford, Maria Clifford, Sandra de Greeff, Shaun de Greeff.
South Africa
Emmanuel Clifford and Shaun de Greeff were ordained as elders December 6 at a combined church service in Cape Town. On the same day, Papike Lebelo was ordained at a church service at Sizwe hospital.
July international conference in Orlando
Pastor registration is now open for our international conference in July, and pastors have begun signing up for this special event www.2010.gci.org. The conference promises to be a wonderful time of reconnecting with friends and colleagues from around the world.
If your congregation wants to help sponsor one of our pastors from an underprivileged area, please contact Church Administration and Development as soon as possible. We will open registration to our general membership at the end of January and at that time space may start to become tight. If you have any questions on how you could join with other congregations to sponsor a pastor, please e-mail Charles Albrecht (charles.albrecht@gci.org).
Eric, his wife Kareena, their children and Richard (left)
Toronto, Canada
Eric Wilding was ordained an elder at a church service in a Toronto East church service. Eric’s father, Richard, delivered the day’s sermon. Below is a picture of Eric, his wife Kareena, their children and Richard (left).
Prayer Requests and Updates
Mission Director Gary Moore asked that we keep Bill Rabey in prayer during his upcoming trip. Gary wrote:
Pastor Bill Rabey is heading to Africa this Saturday night for about a month. He will be in Kampala, Uganda, helping to renovate a home for an orphanage. The orphanage is run by an organization called Cup for Africa. He got to know this ministry through the Ottawa congregation’s 10-year relationship with Jericho Road Christian Ministry, which takes care of recovering addicts in homes across Ottawa.
Bill Rabey used to provide quarterly Bible studies for group homes that this ministry supports, and now Fraser Henderson is doing a Bible study for this group on a weekly basis. Bill will take a three-hour bus ride February 5 from Kampala to our GCI church in Tororo, Uganda, where he will speak both Saturday and Sunday. He will then take a 7-hour bus ride to meet with Kimani, who is our regional pastor for East Africa. The following Tuesday, Bill will fly and then take about an hour’s bus ride to the refugee camp in Kakuma to meet with our church there.
He hopes to spend three days at the camp (the UN has its own accommodations for all visitors – a good security measure), and then head back to Nairobi for the weekend and speak in the churches there. He will fly back to Canada from Nairobi on Tuesday, February 16. Please support Bill in prayer during this month.
George Affeldt sent this update on the condition of his wife Jackie:
Jackie and I appreciate everyone’s concern and prayers. Jackie had to stay in the hospital until the dizziness went away. She came home Sunday, but they still don’t know what is causing the dizziness. They did find a small aneurism in her brain, but it is very small, and the doctor thinks that she may have had it from birth. He doesn’t believe it is causing the problem. She is scheduled to be checked every six months so they can keep an eye on it. Her chest pains are gone and they found no problem with her heart. We want to thank everyone for their prayers; it is very comforting to know that people care about you and are praying for you.
Love to you all, George & Jackie
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.
A few minutes ago, District Superintendent Larry Hinkle sent this update to Caribbean Mission Developer Charles Fleming regarding our Haitian Pastor, Joseph Franklin and our Haitian members.
I just received a call from Mr. Franklin. He said he wasn’t able to reach you, so called me. He says that he and his family are safe, except for a cousin who works in government ministry and is still under the debris of that collapsed building. He has another friend who works for the Board of Education who is also still under the debris. He spent three hours walking the streets of Port-au-Prince and said that it is every bit as bad as what we see on TV. He said the country is falling apart. One church family who lost their home is staying with him. Fortunately, the school received only slight damage–a separation wall fell down. He is working on a plan to help as many people as possible. In spite of it all he is in good spirits and is looking forward to coming to the International Conference in July.
Blessings. Larry
We are deeply thankful for God’s mercy and provision. Please continue praying for our members there and for entire region as the aftershocks continue and rescue efforts get into full swing.
Congregations and individual members who would like to help may donate to the GCI Disaster Relief Fund. The Fund was established to help with costs of emergency member needs in the wake of such disasters. These costs include such items as food, water, clothing, and temporary housing, as well as temporary local pastoral salary expenses and other emergency local church expenses. The Fund is coordinated by regional leaders and local pastors in the affected areas. Since Grace Communion International is a non-profit organization, donations to the Disaster Relief Fund are tax-deductible in the United States. If more donations are received into this fund than can be used effectively at the time, the excess is to be held ready to assist with future disaster needs.
Donations can be made online at our website at www.wcg.org/DisasterDonation.asp or for those who would prefer to mail a check, the address is:
Disaster Relief Fund Grace Communion International PO Box 5005 Glendora, CA 91740
Alexander Julian Soto
Despite calamity and tragedy, the blessing of new life continues. Grandpa Terry and Grandma Nancy Akers joyfully announce the birth of Alexander Julian Soto on January 10. Mom Ashley and Dad Mayo are doing fine.
GenMin Camps
From Ted Johnston:
Frederick Moore’s report on Souled Out camp in Memphis concludes our GenMin camps for 2009. And thanks to all GenMin camp and event directors and leaders for your sacrificial service in helping kids know and journey with Jesus and our congregations grow as cross-generational, cross-cultural outposts of the Father’s kingdom.
Souled Out was a tremendous success. We went through “higher ground” and beyond the “mountaintop” to reach “new heights” as we “crossed borders” to reach the “gateway” of the Lord for whom we were Souled Out. Okay, so I’ve had my fun now.
Anyway, although the temperature was frigid outside (coldest temps in Memphis in 20 years), there was nothing but exuberant warmth inside. Twenty-six teen campers were served by 24 staffers for four days and three nights of fellowship and fun. Our guest chaplain, Jeff Broadnax, gave inspiring youth-friendly messages that led many of the youth to thoughtful introspection. I’ve read several of their Facebook statuses and the effect that this camp had on their hearts is readily apparent. Also on hand to give a message and add to the experience was Anthony Rice.
One teen asked for prayer as he became poignantly aware of the love that Jesus has expressed toward him. Besides chapel and other activities, one of the highlights was the ’80s style dance.
Before camp began, young adults and teens were able to partake in a Journey with the Master workshop conducted by Anthony Mullins. It helped set the stage as Jennifer Moore followed up with camp specific training. We’re already excitedly planning for next year (which is really later this year). That’s Dec. 30, 2010, through Jan. 2, 2011, when we will once again start the New Year Souled Out!
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Crossing Borders Mission Trip
From Lee Berger:
Twenty-one of us from Texas, Colorado and the Washington, D.C., area participated. Our first stop was at a church in a “pallet city” on the outskirts of Nuevo Laredo. We joined with a local pastor in visiting children and parents, playing games, leading a sing-a-long of Christmas music and distributing shoeboxes full of useful and fun gifts for the children. It brought tears to the eyes of both the givers and receivers when we gave the mothers some lovely blankets that had been knitted and crocheted by ladies from the Fort Worth, Texas, GCI congregation.
We then traveled to the local pastor’s second church, visiting the people and distributing shoebox gifts. For many of the children, these small gifts may be the only new items of any kind they’ll get during the year. Our final stop was at a children’s home for abused and abandoned children. We cooked dinner for the group, watched spiritual dramas, treated them to craft projects, sang songs, distributed shoebox gifts, and spent time laughing with, hugging and holding the lovable children. We have visited this home many times over the years, but each visit brings new joy along with the prayer, “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Crossing Borders is a camp/mission ministry of Generations Ministries of Grace Communion International. The camp motto is “Crossing national, cultural and personal borders with the Good News of Jesus Christ.” Whether for our week-long summer camp or our mini-mission winter trip, we invite you and your friends to participate in a life-transforming experience. We welcome anyone from youth to seniors, and we love to see families share this experience together. For more details, go to www.cbmission.org or call 903-746-4463.
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Church Next Training Schedule for 2010
Church-Next Training is Trinitarian-based and designed to introduce pastors and other ministry leaders to the key principles and processes for starting healthy new congregations in GCI.
This year Church-Next Training will be conducted in two sessions at two locations.
• Part 1 – April 8-10, 2010 (Tipp City, OH) • Part 2 – September 9-11, 2010 (Staten Island, NY)
Materials discussed in Part 1 will not be duplicated in Part 2. Both sessions combine to provide the entire training experience. The time between the two parts is to be used to apply lessons learned.
Church-Next Training is for pastors, ministry leaders and members working together for church health and renewal. It is also for young and emerging ministry leaders.
Church-Next Training includes:
• Trinitarian principles and practices for participating in Jesus’ mission to the world • Church planting values • Characteristics of church start leaders • Clarifying and communicating your vision for starting a new church • Identifying a focus group or community • Developing a church planting team • Developing culturally relevant ministries and worship services • Trinitarian-based evangelism, gathering people … and more
Pastor George Affeldt of our Sioux Falls, South Dakota, congregation asked for prayer for his wife, Jackie, who was taken to the emergency room last week with vomiting, dizziness and chest pains. George said that the vomiting has stopped but the other symptoms remain. The cause is still unknown and they are awaiting test results.
Cards may be sent to: George and Jackie Affeldt 508 N Marquette Ave Sioux Falls, SD 57110-5736
Pastor Dave and Hinke Gilbert of our Philadelphia and Allentown, Pennsylvania, congregations request prayer for their 19-year-old son, Nathan, who is still in the hospital after surgery for a ruptured appendix. Dave wrote:
Nate called early this morning and said he’s not been able to urinate since last night’s appendectomy. He really doesn’t want to have a catheter, so please pray the “plumbing” starts to work right away. The surgeon told us that his appendix had ruptured by the time he’d gotten “in there.” He said Nate will probably need to be hospitalized for at least five days so they can pump him full of antibiotics and monitor for infection. We appreciate every one of your prayers for him.
Nate is going to be 19 in July and is a senior at Palisades High School. He has been working at Grandview Hospital as an orderly for a couple of months now, and it was heartening to see that almost everybody who was working with knew him and seemed to appreciate him. The nurse in the recovery room mentioned how it was so nice to have an orderly come right away whenever she called for him. All were sympathetic and encouraging to him. As many of you know, Nate would like to become a doctor in the future. I’m sure his experience will help him develop even greater compassion for those he deals with in the future.
We know he is going to get exceptional care and we know your prayers and encouragement will greatly help at this time.
Cards can be sent to: Nathan Gilbert c/o Grandview Hospital 700 Lawn Avenue Sellersville, PA 18960.
Pastor Walter Deptula of our Lufkin, Texas, congregation sent this update on the health of our co-pastor Kenn Allbright:
I last reported that Kenn was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis. This diagnosis turned out to be premature. After several weeks of more tests he has been finally diagnosed with Large Cell Lymphoma and is currently in the M.D. Anderson cancer center in Houston receiving chemotherapy and intensive physical therapy. He had lost some of the use of his legs but is slowly and steadily improving.
Kenn is very appreciative of our prayers, the cards and phone calls of encouagement he has received.
Cards can be sent to: Kenn Allbright 550 Club Dr. Suite 215 Montgomery TX 77316-3190
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.
A combined Life Club meeting was held on October 24 at the Hilton Castle Hotel, Mbaise, Nigeria. Three Clubs took part: Mbaise, Port Harcourt, and Owerri. A normal Club programme was the format. Mr. Meschack Igbineweka was the Chairperson. Mrs. C.C. Kanu of Mbaise Life Club was awarded the Best Achievement Cup while Master Victor George and Mrs. Mercy George of Port Harcourt Life Club won the Best Contribution Cup and the Best Speaker Cup respectively. Members requested for similar meetings to be held more than once a year.
The Great Baddow Life Club met on December 5. The Club opened with Proverbs 25:11, which says our speech should be “fitly spoken.”Speakers were Len Maylin, Chiemeka Ozumba, David Plumley and Seb Woolford. The Chairperson, Jonathan Luxton, presented David Plumley with the Best Speaker Cup (which contained a Mars bar!).The Director, Tony Goudie, said that ”the Club is an opportunity to serve each other.”
The Luton Church held their second Life Club on December 5. Speakers were Daria Fowler, Duncan McLean, Julie Robas, and Margaret Woolston. The Club concluded with some encouraging words from Harry Sullivan, Tina Sullivan, and Angela Kiernander.
The dates for the U.K. SEP 2010 are July 24 to August 7. (More details from admin@sepuk.org.)
Marriage Enrichment as Outreach Ministry in Colombia
Thirteen couples out of 17 that took the class on how to better your marriage, graduated December 12 in a ceremony at our church hall in Bogota.
Nestor and Clara Goyeneche
Most of the couples gave their testimony on how the class helped them improve their marriages. All of them said they had been very happy with the class. We had six small groups led by trained leaders and their wives. These leaders, Paulina and I included, are planning to invite more couples for the four-month class.
One of the most impressive testimonies came from, who divorced 13 years ago after 18 years of marriage. Clara never stopped praying for her husband, and some months before the class, they had started dating again. A couple introduced them to Paulina and me, and we invited them to take the class. Nestor and Clara enjoyed each class every week so much that we were inspired to see their marriage flourish. They were married again in a ceremony December 11 with the presence of their four children, four grandchildren and other relatives. During the ceremony, Nestor asked all his relatives to forgive him for all the past suffering and distress that he had caused because he had been the reason of the divorce with Clara. But now that he had accepted Jesus, he wanted to start a new life with his family. It certainly was a very moving moment.
Herman Hoeh Community Center
Herman Hoeh Community Center
The Herman L. Hoeh community center in Bangladesh has been fully functional for over a year and is proving to be of great value to people in the surrounding villages. As the building is on the flat lands near the sea coast, it was intended to be both a place of refuge during a tsunami, and as a cyclone shelter. On a day-to-day basis, it acts as our free medical clinic and community center. It has already been well tested during recent cyclones and saved many lives. The center was named in memory of Dr. Hoeh because of his help and encouragement to both to the evangelistic efforts of BEA, and other developing countries and to John Biswas and others in the world mission field. As you can see from the photos, it has three levels and a flat roof, which is also used as a place of safety when needed. The cost of construction was partly covered by many small donations, but mainly by two of Pastor Rand Holm’s congregations, West Valley and Port Hueneme. We are presently raising funds for the needs of the clinic, which is the only medical facility for many miles serving a huge population in the many surrounding villages. People say this building is a fitting tribute to Herman Hoeh’s life’s work.
Looking for a summer camp?
Generations Ministries is pleased to announce that in 2010 there will be 17 camps and short-term mission trips in the United States. A list of GenMin 2010 camps and events is found at http://genmin.wcg.org/calendar.htm. The list includes links to the websites of individual camps and events.
Prayer Requests and Updates
We are saddened to report that after a battle with a rare form of sarcoma, Carol Norman, wife of elder and former Ambassador University professor Gil Norman, passed away at home in Medford, Oregon, surrounded by her family on December 22. Carol’s memorial service will be held Friday, January 8, at 3:00 p.m. at Memory Gardens Mortuary and Memorial Park, 1395 Arnold Lane, Medford, OR 97501. For more information about the service, contact Memory Gardens at 541-773-7338. Following the memorial service, there will be a celebration of Carol’s life at Ashland Elks Lodge #944, 255 East Main Street, Ashland, Oregon 97520.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please consider sending donations to The Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University (www.ohsucancer.com), The American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org), or The Look Good…Feel Better program (www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org). For those who would like to send flowers for the memorial service, please call Memory Gardens at the phone number above.
Cards can be sent to: Gil Norman, Rochelle Norman-Capo & Renee Norman-Martin 4601 South Pacific Hwy, Unit 53 Phoenix, OR 97535
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.
Due to the holidays, there will be no Update this week.
May God’s peace be with you.
Prayer Requests and Updates
Please join us in earnest prayer for Joanne and Pastor Lloyd Barrie of Kalispell, Montana. After what was expected to be a routine gallstone surgery, Joanne was diagnosed with stage four gall bladder cancer which has spread to the colon and liver.
Lloyd wrote, “Removal of the gall bladder was not an option due to the difficulty and length of the procedure and the limited benefit. They performed gastric bypass surgery and Joanne is recovering well from the procedure. She will possibly be out of the hospital on January 2. Apart from miraculous healing, there are no good long term outcomes with this cancer. Joanne will be consulting an oncologist after she is released and will start chemotherapy in three to four weeks. We feel Jesus holding us very tightly and we know His grace is sufficient in all trials. Please keep Joanne, myself, our family and our church family in your prayers.”
Cards may be sent to:
Lloyd and Joanne Barrie 503 2nd Ave E Kalispell, MT 59901-4903
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.
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In addition, because the host hotel for our international conference is part of the Walt Disney World Resort, conference attendees will have access to discounted Disney tickets. These discounts, which are only available to groups holding meetings within the resort, grant extended hours to many of the attractions. For advance purchase of specially priced Disney Meeting/Convention Theme Park tickets, go to www.disneyconventionear.com/GCI
