Global Harvest, Volume 4
Global Harvest, Volume 4
Global Harvest, Volume 4
W e invite submission of feature and report articles from biblically-sound brethren, along with
colored photographs, for inclusion in future issues of Global Harvest.
D 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
and cooperation.
Global Harvest Volume 4 Fall, 2010
Table of Contents
Editorials Europe
u Mission to Ukraine................Jim Sherman..................37
u Becoming Global in our Vision........Wayne Barrier......6
u A Taste of Heaven..............Roy Davidson....................38
u The Power of Evangelism.............J.C. Choate..............7
u France.........................Charles White............................39
Articles u Romania’s Needs...........Harvey Starling......................39
u Jesus Christ the Eternal Sacrifice .............................4 Middle East
u Alert to Doors of Opportunity.........Glover Shipp........21 u A Persian Shepherd and His Sheep....Don Petty.........40
u Mission Vision............George W. Hall.........................32 u The Rose Hill Church........Sylvio Salomon.................40
u Why Aren’t Churches Standing in Line?...L. West.....36 Africa
u The Crisis Before Us.........Roger Dickson...................41 u Changing Earth — Touching Heaven....Ruth Orr......43
u Lifetime Guarantee!...........Betty B. Choate................83 u Counting the Cost of Discipleship....Ron Pottberg......45
Reports from Team Members u Whom Shall We Fear?..........Doug Wheeler................46
u Church Growth in India Today.....Jerry Bates............8 u Child Witches....................Larry D. Mathis..................48
u The World Evangelism Team......Louis Rushmore.......9 u Churches in the Democratic Republic...Doyle Kee....48
u A Global Tool...............................Byron Nichols.........11 u God at Work in Bujambura, Barundi....Doyle Kee.....49
u World Evangelism School of Missions........................13 u Denominational Preacher Converted...K. Odogwu 50
u Maywood Missionary Retreat......................................15 u 17 Years of Labor...............Steve Worley......................51
u A Good Time Was Had by All....................................16 u A Christian Brother Dies..........Steve Worley..............52
u Tracts and Overseas Containers?...............................19 u The Power of the Printed Page.......S. Imogoh.............53
u Spanish Voice of Truth International........................24 Indian Sub-Continent
u Historically, the First Church........Sunny David........55
Gleaning from the Fields u N. India’s Preachers’ Lectureship.....Earnest Gill......56
North America u Impact of TV in India...............Joshua Gootam...........57
u Dorcas in Tennessee....................................................12 u On the Road with Arjunan and Glory.......................59
u You’ve Got About 3 Mnutes.......Eileen Shaver...........14 u J.C. School of Evangelism....Philemon and Kingsly...60
u Silently Suffering....................Ronnie Crocker............17 u Vignettes of Trivandrum............P.K. Varghese...........62
u A Strong Word of Commendation................................17 u Annual Summer Bible Camp.....S. Rajanayagam........63
u ChristianCourier.com..............Wayne Jackson...........18 u Mission Trip to Bihar..................Vernon Douglas.......65
u House to House.........................Matt Wallin................19 u Travel with P.R. Swamy................................................76
u The Master’s Wall...............Sandi Rog........................19 Asia
u Polishing the Pulpit.............Matt Wallin.......................22 u Chinese Agape Foundation..........................................66
u Victory in Christ at Bogalusa, LA...Mike Price..........23 u I Can Take the Gospel to China...................................67
u Lads to Leaders..............Roy Johnson.........................24 u The Final Push............................Robert Martin...........68
u SEARCH.............Phil Sanders and Mack Lyon...........25 u Papua New Guinea.................Jab Mesa.......................70
u Reaching Our Hispanic World....Paul Swanson..........27 u Sonlight in the Pacific.................Randy English............71
u World Video Bible School............................................28 u The Missing Link..................Priscilla Sellers................72
u Gospel Broadcasting Network....................................28 u Praying with Expectation........Demar Elam.................73
u Somers Ave. World Bible School....F. Stinebaugh.......29 u Trials and Love.....................Dominador Belo..............74
Central and South America u Salvador Cariaga’s Goat Project..................................75
u Haiti Christian Development......Dr.David Smith........30 u A Plea from Sunrise Christian Orphan Home............75
u Biblical Institute of Central America...G. Hall..........33 u Voice from Micronesia.............Scott Shanahan.............77
u Fernanda Is Baptized........J. Randal Matheny............34 u Campaign in Australia and NZ...Kent O’Donnell......78
u “Volante” Evangelism........Troy Spradlin...................34 u Mission Team to New Zealand.....Kevin Moore..........80
u Missionary Trip to Iquitos........Helmut Garcia...........35 u A Refreshing Approach to Evangelism....Ian Terry......81
4 Global Harvest
1, What kind of work have the ladies of the Acton 9. Have Christians responded well to the needs in Haiti?
church chosen to do to help destitute children? 10. Who attacked ------------ with machetes?
2. The new book, LEST WE FORGET, tells of the 11. Who was killed in Jos, Nigeria by a Muslim mob?
work of missionaries of the church during what time? 12. What did Augustine Agwulor learn from a piece
3. What question does Eileen Shaver ask visitors to of trash?
the U.S. Capitol? 13. How did the people in a Presbyterian church in
4. Name three things the adults and young people Shillong, Assam, India learn the truth?
from the Central church in Cleveland, TN did when 14. What do students in the J.C. School of Evange-
they worked in Winona recently. lism learn to do?
5. What kind of work does Ronnie Crocker do? 15. Are there people today who have the disease of
6. Into how many homes is “House to House” sent leprosy?
each time it is printed? 16. Besides English and local languages, name two
7.What is the name of the program that has been so other languages spoken in the Pacific Islands.
successful in teaching young people in the church? 17. What kind of “Lifetime Guarantee” do Christians
8. Who are the two speakers on the longest-running have?
Global Harvest 5
Becoming Global
in Our Vision
Wayne Barrier
in 2001 revealed another threat to global gation of the church should think glob-
security and freedom. The last ten years ally when considering their work. Our
have been influenced by this threat. The mission has always been global. Jesus
United States economy has struggled as commanded His people to take the Gos-
this threat has been addressed. China pel to “every person in every nation”
has grown a massive economy and is an (Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16).
economic world power now. We can do a much better job of design-
Almost every successful big busi- ing our evangelism efforts to reach all
ness has had to become global in itsfield the world. Businesses depend on their
The past 30 years have been a pe- of reach. Small businesses in America ability to operate in a global economy to
riod of great change all across the world. are the backbone of our overall eco- survive and make a profit. We can think
In 1980, communism was a major force nomic system, but large corporations globally, too. That doesn’t mean that we
used to rule two massive populations of are needed to connect our local needs neglect efforts to grow and edify locally,
people in China and the Soviet Union. with global resources and markets. but it simply means that our “mission
These two nations shared superpower Raw materials from foreign countries work” program within the local congre-
status with the United States and were are essential to the production of many gation should incorporate methods to be
considered by most of the world to be everyday goods needed by everyone. effective as a global effort.
serious threats to freedom and national Successful businesses must know how What are the methods and approach-
security. It seemed that their reach and to operate in a global system of market- es that are important for a mission effort
power would only grow stronger and ing, communications, production, and to be “global”? What do businesses do?
that they would gather other nations into logistics. Even small businesses with Businesses make certain that the global
their sphere of influence and control. very local markets must offer products community knows about their product.
The United States was generally made halfway around the world. They They do this by employing mass market-
regarded as the greatest superpower, must know how to provide customer ing methods. Businesses know how to
with ability to protect its sovereignty service on products made far away communicate with masses. We should
and way of life. Changes started to oc- from the United States, and they have evaluate proposed mission efforts that
cur. Both the Soviet Union and China made the necessary changes to operate we would support to make certain that
moved away from traditional commu- in this way. they are designed to reach masses. The
nism. Their expansion into other coun- What does all of this have to do church has limited resources for its
tries stopped. Their economies moved with world evangelism and the church? world-wide outreach, so we must be
in the direction of market driven sys- I believe the church has failed to adapt careful to use them effectively. Both
tems to replace the communist-style as quickly as we should to changes in individual efforts and overall programs
command economy. As we entered the the global environment. Our message should meet this criteria.
21st century, the United States seemed never changes, but the most effective Too often we fund expensive mis-
to be all alone as a superpower. China way to get the message to all the world sion programs that are poorly designed
became a major player in international can change. We have resources today and doomed to failure before they even
trade and the United States market was that can be used to help spread the Gos- start. Spreading the Gospel certainly
one of its best customers. pel that were not available in the past. involves individual teaching and com-
Change continued to occur. The We should use these resources. Let’s munication, but the personal contact
New York World Trade Center destruc- consider some things we could do. should be a component of an overall ef-
tion at the hands of Muslim extremists First, every Christian and congre- Continued on page 12
Global Harvest 7
The Power of
Evangelism J.C.Choate
cure in Him, was to give them the work Christian life, teaching and edifying
of teaching others! As we teach and each other, and being a compassionate
pray, we grow, regardless of how that element in the community to help those
soul out in the world responds. in need, but each Christian — the local
Yes, the Lord’s church has been giv- congregation itself — should be very
en a great work to do. That work is to much aware of the opportunity and the
evangelize the world. Jesus commanded responsibility to take the Gospel to their
the apostles, and all of us who came af- family members, to friends, to those
ter them to “go into all the world and with whom they work, and to people
preach the Gospel to every creature” in general. “But as we have been ap-
(Mark 16:15, 16). proved by God to be entrusted with the
As our Lord was preparing to re- The Gospel is the good news that Je- Gospel, even so we speak, not as pleas-
turn to His Father in heaven, He spoke sus died on the cross for the sins of the ing men, but God who tests our hearts”
the words that have come down to us world, that He was buried, and that He (1 Thessalonians 2:4). “For though I
as “the Great Commission”. This was was resurrected from the grave, so that preach the Gospel, I have nothing to
His command to weak, failing human man might be saved and have the hope glory of: for necessity is laid upon me;
beings to take up His unfinished work of eternal life. Christ said that it was the yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the
of salvation and to carry the news of facts of that Gospel — the facts of that Gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16)
what He had done to every creature in good news — that were to be taken to When the church is busy taking
all the world. Have you ever wondered all the world. He also said that the com- the Gospel to others then it is happy,
why Jesus gave that huge responsibil- mands of the Gospel were to be preached it has a mission, it has plans and goals
ity to humans and not to angels? The and obeyed if man was to be saved. to reach the lost, and as a result the
angels could have simply appeared as Individual Christians exist as the congregation will grow both spiritually
humans, and they could have untiring- Lord’s church in a city or a village, and and numerically. That’s God’s plan.
ly and ceaselessly carried the message, throughout the world, wherever the Are you a Christian? If so, what
without fail, to every soul. In contrast, Gospel has been preached and there are are you doing? Are you teaching God’s
humans have obeyed the commission those who have been willing to obey Word to those around you? Have you
only once since it was given. Repeat- it. With the conversion of two or more, converted anyone? What are your
edly, we have failed our Lord. So why a local congregation is formed, and it plans for the future?
did He entrust the greatest treasure of begins to function as a body of God’s As a member of the Lord’s
the ages in our weak hands? people. In addition to meeting each church, a member of a local con-
Stop and consider: Who learns more first day of the week to worship, its gregation, what is that congrega-
from the studies in a class, the teacher main work is to evangelize, to preach tion doing? What efforts is it mak-
or the student? And when a Christian is the Gospel to those in that area, and as ing to take the Gospel to others? Is
studying God’s Word, as he is teaching it grows in knowledge and numbers, it the church growing? Is it establish-
some lost and erring soul, who does the is to reach out to the whole area in an ing other congregations in the area
most extensive studying and learning effort to establish other congregations. around where you live? What plans
and growing? The teacher! The group of Christians that make does it have for the future?
Does that explain why Jesus en- up a local congregation should never be May God help us to do more to
trusted the Gospel in our hands? He satisfied to just meet on the first day of take the Gospel to the world. This
knew that the surest way to keep new- the week to worship. Worship is very is the hope of mankind. This is your
borns in the kingdom, growing and se- important, as well as living the daily hope and my hope. U
8 Global Harvest
Church Growth
in India
Jerry and Paula Bates
canal, knowing that a new congregation of the Lord’s church
had just been established, made the effort worthwhile.
We also worked with Philemon Rajah and the J.C. School
of Evangelism. This school is achieving amazing results.
Jerry Bates with students in the school in Takoradi, Ghana.
Sessions are now being held in two locations, and we were
About the first of April my wife and I returned from In- able to teach at the new location for two days. Philemon
dia. Due to a family emergency we had to cut this trip short. handled the other two days until we were able to arrive. The
Nevertheless, it was a busy and profitable time. During the students at this location are busy working for the kingdom.
trip, we witnessed 29 people immersed into Christ, which is The preacher for that congregation is attempting to establish
the most of any of our trips thus far. Those responses simply a new congregation in a nearby village. There is an inde-
emphasize how the native people with whom we labor are pendent denominational group with whom he is studying,
out working trying to teach others the truth. We are only and we had a Gospel meeting with them one night. Again, I
privileged to see a few results of those labors. Since we preached on the identifying marks of the church, and it was
returned, we have received reports of several more that have well received. The preacher for this group commented after
obeyed the Gospel. the lesson that he had never heard such things before, but
Fifteen of those baptisms occurred when we were with that he would continue to study. Pray that the truth will fall
the Gootams. On the very last day we were there, Ricky and upon good and honest hearts. More requests for the school
I traveled north about two hours, leaving Paula behind to take are coming from several locations. It is certainly rewarding
care of some business and to teach a ladies’ class. We visited to know the school is being so well received and is achieving
an independent denominational church in Pulugogulapadu, a great results.
small rural village. The preacher in that location had been During this abbreviated trip, our main focus was on the
listening to Joshua Gootam on the TV for about one year. He schools associated with Bear Valley. Schools have proven
had also traveled to Kakinada to study with him, and he want- to probably be one of the most effective ways of spreading
ed someone to come and preach to his congregation. This the Gospel in most countries. Educating people in their own
was Friday at midday and a small crowd of 25 had gathered language and culture, by their own people, is unquestionably
in a shelter that served as the church building. I preached on the cheapest and best way in most situations. The results
the identifying marks of the church for about two hours, in- of a school compared with the work of a located mission-
cluding translation. After the lesson, 13 people wanted to be ary, as has often been practiced in the past, are incredible. Let
baptized, along with the preacher and his wife. There was no me give one illustration. Andrew Connelly worked in Tan-
water nearby, so we had to travel to a canal a few miles away zania for about 32 years, and during that time he established
to immerse the people. It took a while to make the arrange- two congregations with a total membership of about fifty. The
ments, but to see the special event in the dirty waters of the school that bears his name was begun about 12 years ago. It is
now associated with Bear Valley, although initially it was not.
During those years the school has graduated about 90 men.
These men have since begun approximately 70 congregations
and baptized roughly 5,000 people. In most places we are able
to train 15 men or so for less than $2,000 a month.
The school in Vishak, India is going well. They have nearly
finished the second floor of their building, which will include a
classroom, library, a sleeping room for the students as well as a
room for visiting teachers. This extra room is much needed as
The baptism of converts in Pulugogulapadu.
Continued on page 10
Global Harvest 9
If every member of the Lord’s church were a mission- conversions per year. Worthy of notice, the foreign brethren
ary, there are not enough Christians to take the Gospel of with whom we labor take the third part of the Great Commission
Christ personally to the over six billion souls inhabiting our in Matthew 28:19-20 more seriously than their counterparts, es-
planet. Consequently, mass evangelism must play a crucial pecially in America; they as enthusiastically and tirelessly teach
role in fulfilling the Great Commission of Christ for each new converts as they do teach candidates for conversion, which
generation to evangelize the world. Yet, mass evangelism results in a 75% to 80% retention rate and more rapid maturation
alone is an inadequate response to the Great Commission. of new Christians.
There are several components of especially effective foreign Bible Schools in various nations, each adapted to local
evangelism that complement each other when used together. circumstances, stabilize and contribute to future growth of
For instance, neither radio, television, Internet, literature, the Lord’s church. World Evangelism team members equip
campaigns, benevolence, schools, orphanages, building pro- brothers and sisters in Christ to know God’s Word more per-
grams abroad nor vocational programs individually are as fectly, encourage foreign brethren to evangelize their fellow
effective as combining some of these to increase the likeli- countrymen and teach them how to exercise correct biblical
hood of satisfactorily evangelizing a foreign field with the
Gospel.
The World Evangelism Team refers to several mission-
aries who, along with their respective sponsoring congrega-
tions, voluntarily cooperate to implement this philosophy
in taking the Gospel throughout the world.
Mass evangelism leads off the World Evangelism ap-
proach to taking the Gospel effectively to the foreign field.
This includes extensive radio and literature, plus television
and the Internet. Numerous radio programs weekly in a vari-
ety of languages garner hundreds of thousands of respons- J Ahti, a Burmese brother, teaching
es annually. Brethren native to various Asian countries who across the border of Tibet, in China.
have matured in the Lord’s church over the past five decades
follow up these radio responses with various kinds of lit- interpretation for themselves; we teach and urge develop-
erature and personal contact, resulting in several thousand ment of self-sufficiency — instead of fostering a never-end-
ing dependency on American Christians.
Campaigns for six to eight weeks at a time twice (or
more) yearly to several countries, especially in Asia, but also
in Africa and South America, provide for seminars and staff-
ing of Bible schools. These occasions heighten the knowl-
edge of God’s Word in those Christian brothers and sisters
whose task it is to take the Gospel to their respective nations.
Internet websites and television programs augment
forms of mass evangelism mentioned already. The Internet
affords opportunity to disseminate the Word of God in parts
of the world where either it may be impossible to physically
take the Gospel or where the Internet provides additional re-
sources. Gospel Gazette Online (www.Gospelgazette.com)
is now in its 12th year of publication; it is published monthly
Louis giving a tract to a Catholic lady in Bangalore. Continued on page 10
10 Global Harvest
the
s work in
Ambitiou roo m .
archives
Shelving constructed for
“almost out-of-prints”.
A Strong Word
Silently Suffering of
Commendation
Ronnie Crocker Among the speakers for our May-
wood Missionary Retreat — primar-
ily, men with many years of experi-
around
nd the country.
nt I hhave be
been
ence in foreign work — was a unique
hearing the cries of mothers, fathers,
figure. Brother Ronnie Crocker is a
grandmothers, brothers, and sisters of
missionary in our own mission fields,
drug addicts and alcoholics. For years
working with substance addicts and
they have been privately praying for
with those involved in prison minis-
answers and secretly searching for so-
tries. His message was powerful and
lutions. It is sad to see these brethren
motivating, bringing tears to many
silently suffering alone from the fall-
eyes in the audience.
out of addiction.
The feeling among those of us
On occasion, I will speak about
who heard him was that he needs to
drug and alcohol addiction for vari-
be out every week, saying the same
ous churches of Christ. Almost every
words to congregations through-
time, at the end, a church member will
out the brotherhood. His is a mes-
stealthily approach me in tears to talk
sage that ought to be heard by every
about what they are too ashamed to
Christian.
share with their brothers and sisters.
Increasingly, elders and preach-
Brethren, please be aware of the
ers in the church are becoming in-
souls sitting next to you on Sunday
Today when one of our members volved in prison work. We know
morning. They may be silently suffer-
has a heart attack or stroke, we publish that the number is growing be-
ing over an addicted love one. Please
it in our bulletin for prayers. In our Sun- cause of the requests we receive in
refer them to our web page (www.
day services, we spread the word to pray the “world evangelism” office for
projectrescue.org). Please set up an
for someone diagnosed with cancer. On study materials to be sent to prison-
appointment for me to speak to your
Wednesday nights we update the con- ers. This is as it should be. It is no
congregation about drug and alcohol
gregation and more prayers are offered. trivial thing that in Matthew 25, Je-
addiction within the Lord’s church!
In situations like these, it is great to see sus specifically named the work of
This is a way for you to “fulfill the law
the church spring into action with visits, ministering to those in prison as one
of Christ”, as Paul urged in Galatians
support and even financial help. of the responsibilities of Christians.
6:1,2: “Brethren, if a man is overtak-
However, there are prayers that When people have hit rock bottom,
en in any trespass, you who are spiri-
never make it to our pulpits. For some that can be the turning point in their
tual restore such a one in a spirit of
members, their situation is too shame- lives, and we need to be there to of-
gentleness, considering yourself lest
ful to share with the church. These fer the Gospel to them.
you also be tempted. Bear one anoth-
brothers and sisters in Christ have been If the congregation with which
er’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of
silently suffering for months and even you work is already involved in pris-
Christ.” U
years. They assemble with us every on ministry, or if you need a platform
Sunday for worship, however, we nev- Ronnie Crocker is Director of “Project for launching such a program, call
er hear their cries. Rescue” under the oversight of the brother Ronnie and arrange for him
As the director of an addiction recov- City Boulevard Church of Christ at 618
City Boulevard, Waycross, GA 31501;
to come and share his story with you.
ery program carried out by the City Email: [email protected]; What he says will do more to rally
Boulevard church of Christ, I have Phone: (C) 912-816-0518 the church behind this much-needed
been receiving calls from Christians (H) 912-283-3727 and commanded work than anything
anyone else could say or do. Check
“…if one member suffers, all the members suffer…” out his web site. Give him a call.
1 Corinthians 12:26 You’ll be thankful you did.
18 Global Harvest
ChristianCourier.com
Wayne Jackson
For the past eleven years the Christian Courier has Anglican priest who had read one of our articles, and though
been a feature on the world wide web, with the printed ver- disagreeing with certain elements, he praised the informa-
sion being in circulation for forty-five years. During this tion he obtained and was most courteous.
span, several thousand articles have gone into virtually ev- * We are even attracting attention within the world-
ery nation of the world. We have never kept meticulous re- wide infidel community. Richard Dawkins of Oxford Uni-
cords of our responses for two reasons. First, such work versity in England is probably the worlds most famous
is very time consuming and we are so overloaded with our atheist. His book, The God Delusion, has been a bestseller
schedule that we can scarcely keep up with pressing duties. in skeptical literature. A while back, I wrote a review of that
Second, we are satisfied to let the Lord keep the records (2 hateful tirade. A few weeks ago, he sent me an email ac-
Timothy 2:19), and reap our happy reward at the appropriate knowledging that he had read my article.
time. We do confess that our hearts are warmed with such Examples of this nature exist by the hundreds. Perhaps
a constant flow of encouragement that we do not lack for these will assist in illustrating the value of the Christian
joy at the efforts expended. Permit me, however, to provide Courier on the Web. We deeply appreciate the support of
some brief examples that have demonstrated to us the value our fellow Christians. U
of our labor. Wayne Jackson is a preacher of the Gospel and Editor of the
* A few weeks ago a young man (20 years of age) con- web site, ChristianCourier.com
tacted me from a town near Atlanta. He had read an article
on baptism on our site and felt he had never been baptized THE MASTER’S WALL
scripturally. I put him in contact with a preacher in the area, He fights for his freedom. She fights for her life. To-
and he was immersed into Christ within a week. gether, they fight for each other.
* Recently I received a note from a brother who teaches After watching Roman soldiers drag his parents away
prisoners in several institutions. He praised our material and to their death, David, a young Hebrew, is sold and en-
said that he uses it frequently in his work. His words were: slaved to serve at a villa outside of Rome. David trains
“You are teaching many who are in prison.” He mentioned to become a skilled fighter. He works hard to please his
four recent baptisms. master and hopes to earn his freedom. However, an op-
* A lady in Florida was a “Jehovahs Witness”. Some- portunity to escape tempts him with its whispering call.
how she found her way to our web site and had her eyes Freedom beckons, but invisible chains hold him captive
opened to the Gospel. She contacted me and I helped her to the master’s granddaughter, an innocent girl with a fi-
make a connection with a sound church near her. She was ery spirit. David vows to protect Alethea from his master,
baptized and was very happy to have discovered the truth. the murderous patriarch, and contrives a daring plan —
* Ive been contacted several times by a brother who sacrifice his own life to save hers.
is employed in one of the Arab countries of the Middle East. THE MASTER’S WALL was a
He meets with a small congregation of Arabs who have be- 2009 finalist in the Historical Fiction
come Christians. They have to assemble in secret for fear of category in the Genesis. The story
Moslem persecution. They use our web site for Bible classes takes place near Rome in 76 AD,
and are tremendously grateful for the assistance. We occa- and Sandi (a member of the Lord’s
sionally send them printed material; we cannot mail the lit- church) just signed a three book
erature directly. We have to send it to a third party in another deal with DeWard Publishing, THE
country who smuggles it in to these brethren when possible. MASTER’S WALL being the first in
* We are constantly receiving emails from denomina- her IRON AND THE STONE series!
tional preachers who thank us profusely for the web materi-
als. They use these in their sermons. They are still in error, Order from Sandi Rog, 11043 Depew St., West-
of course, but they are learning and they are recommending minster, CO 80020; Ph. 303-438-7276; Email:
our site to others. Not long ago, I received a letter from an [email protected]
Global Harvest 19
can list your congregation’s name, contact information, loca-
tion, service times, and services offered; you can even include
a picture of the building or of your minister. You can start
out being “that church that sends those magazines,” or “that
preacher that writes those articles,” and grow from there.
House to House also allows you to customize your back
Matt Wallin page. You can write an article about something your com-
Teamwork is a beautiful thing. There’s no better exam- munity is dealing with, advertise a Gospel meeting, or offer
ple of Christ’s prayer for unity than a congregation or group a free Bible correspondence course. The back page is fully
of believers all working together as one team for a common customizable and can take you as far as your imagination
goal. The teamwork that is seen in the brotherhood is amaz- will allow. Promote your Gospel meeting in the spring, va-
ing. Christian doctors writing apologetics; radio, television, cation Bible school in the summer, homecoming in the fall,
and print ministries reaching out to the masses; missionaries, and give away coats in the winter.
preachers, and members taking the message to the streets You can reach out to teens by emphasizing your youth
and to individuals—all of us are working together with the program, to parents by showing the benefits of your Bible
one goal of reaching the lost with the Gospel. school, to women by emphasizing your ladies’ day, to fami-
Thankfully, people still want the Gospel. And the Gos- lies by promoting your family days and fellowship events,
pel is the best value out there. You can’t find anything that’s and to singles, primetimers, and those new to the community
worth more than the Gospel. Psalm 19:7 says, “The law of when you have events and activities that might interest them.
the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” The Word of God House to House will plant Gospel seeds, that when you
is perfect for converting people; but we have to put it before water, will produce a God-given increase.
them. We can’t give away eternal life if we keep the Gos- How much would it cost you to send
pel hidden under a bushel, hidden in a church building under
House to House into your community?
lock and key. We have to put the opportunity out there. House
to House Heart to Heart is one way, one of the best ways, that House to House costs 29¢ per copy to print and mail.
you can put the Gospel into the hands of the people. Can you afford to reach the people in your community with
What is House to House Heart to Heart? an attractive, personal, series of Gospel sermons and invita-
tions for only 29¢ per household?
How does it work? If you mail the minimum of 1,000 copies each issue, you
What can it do for you and your congregation? will be looking at about $300 an issue, or $150 per month. You
The title “House to House” comes from Acts 2:46: “from can send House to House into 1,000 homes in your community
house to house . . . with gladness and singleness of heart.” for what it costs three families just to have cable TV. If your
We’re trying to get to what’s mentioned just two verses ear- congregation has 50 members, an extra dollar contribution per
lier in verse 44 where it says, “All that believed were to- member each week would produce $200 a month, more than
gether, and had all things common.” We want everyone to enough to send House to House into your community.
be believers and to have everything in common, and we’re Authorities say “going to the mailbox” is “the most
taking the Gospel from house to house until that happens. looked-forward-to event of the day” for many people—the
House to House is a customizable, eight-page, color most looked-forward-to event of the day! If your congrega-
magazine. It’s printed every two months, for a total of six tion sends out House to House you can be part of the most
issues a year, and is directly mailed into the homes in your looked-forward-to event of the day for every home in your
community. Each issue is filled with Gospel lessons, simple community.
biblical truths, and encouraging stories that help your con- Where is House to House today?
gregation build bridges with those in your communities. To let you see where we are, let me show you where
House to House Heart to Heart puts a positive face on your we’ve been. House to House Heart to Heart started in 1994,
congregation as it introduces you to the community. It is a with one congregation sending out 1,000 copies of each is-
personal invitation to the members of your community to sue. Today, we work with more than 1,100 congregations
visit services and to ask Bible questions. each issue to mail House to House into more than 2.8 million
Even though House to House is mailed out for you, you homes every single time. That’s more than 1,100 churches
have the ability to customize each issue, making it personal
and relevant for your community. Using the front page, you Continued on page 20
20 Global Harvest
Who Is
Jesus Christ?
J.C. Choate
House to House
Heart to Heart Overseas Containers????
We folks in the office here in Winona would like
Continued from page 19
to partner with others in the church who are shipping
working together and cooperating to
containers to points overseas. We have books, tracts,
spread the one Gospel.
and magazines (English, Spanish, French) that we
We have worked with churches in all 50
states, Washington D.C., and 23 foreign countries (South Af- want to share with those brethren who so desperately
rica, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Japan, India, Australia, England, need literature. We would be willing to pay our per-
Canada, Mexico, Bahamas, Belize, British Virgin Islands, centage of the cost for shipping, believing that shar-
Honduras, Netherlands Antilles, Argentina, Guyana, Peru, ing the load will enable all of us to do more.
Iraq, Trinidad, Ghana, Haiti, Nigeria, and Malawi). Read Please contact us at 662-283-1192.
success stories from some of these congregations at www.
housetohouse.com/contacts.
Now we’re ready to work with you to help spread the
Gospel in your area.
How do we send House to House
Heart to Heart into our community?
For more information about the benefits of the program
and its costs, or to request a free packet of information, you
may e-mail us at [email protected], or call the
office at 256-435-9356 and ask for Blake Hamm or Derek
Raulerson. For additional information and archives of ar-
ticles, please visit our Web site at http://www.housetohouse.
com. U
Global Harvest 21
ALERT TO OPPORTUNITY
Continued from page 21
and had discovered that their old way of life was gone. Ma-
carthur perceived this as an open door and called for 50,000
missionaries to go there. How many of all American religious
groups put together responded? About 500, only a token force
at best. Not long afterward the door began to close and Japan
is now worshiping the almighty yen, rather than God.
Currently, Nations University, an Internet Bible school with
which I serve as a regent and professor, has hundreds of students
in Iran studying its courses. No one is welcome in that Islamic
country for face-to-face evangelism, yet a door remains open, at A Brief History of
least for now, to teach God’s Word there via the Internet.
Voodoo-ridden Haiti has been devastated by an earth-
Polishing the Pulpit
quake of unimagined proportions. A great and challenging Polishing the Pulpit began with three friends getting to-
door has been opened there to not only help physically, but gether to brainstorm sermon ideas. We soon invited a few
even more urgent, to teach Haiti’s shattered people about a other friends and someone said, “This is great! We should
loving and caring Lord. tell others.”
We did and invited a speaker to discuss sermon prepa-
How to Respond to Open Doors and Windows ration and give sample sermons. Interest increased; more
It is easy to be complacent in our comfortable and busy speakers were invited. We moved to a hotel conference
lives, and so miss golden opportunities placed before us by the area. We dreamed big. “Let’s invite the best speakers in the
Lord. The solution to this difficulty is to pray for Pauline-type brotherhood and see who we can get.” They came. Wives
vision to see these doors and windows cracking open and then wanted in, so we added women’s classes. While these
to do something about them. great speakers were assembled in one place, we decided to
When Isaiah saw a vision that shook him from his com- offer classes for elders. They loved it. People began com-
placency and heard the Lord’s voice asking, “Whom shall I ing from all over the country.
send? And who will go for us?” he answered, “Here am I. Send Youth workers and deacons became interested. We add-
me!” (Isaiah 6:1-8). That is how ed tracks for them. PTP moved to a large event center in the
we are to respond to doors of op- Smoky Mountains. Attendance approached 1000. Chris-
portunity to share God’s message.
tians from other nations began coming.
Wherever we are and whatever
the opportunity God has placed “Why don’t you have classes for regular members?”
before us, even if it is far differ- we were asked. So we added a Spiritual Renewal Weekend,
ent than we had ever anticipated, as well as tracks for members, teens, and children. Atten-
let us say with Isaiah, “Here am I. dance surpassed 1400.
Send me.” U That brings us to 2010. The largest PTP ever is in the
Glover Shipp is an elder in the Ed- works: 102 speakers and worship leaders, 10 concurrent
mond Church of Christ in Edmond, sessions each hour, 375 separate classes spread over seven
OK, sponsors of the “Search for days. Our attendance goal is 2000!
the Lord’s Way” TV programs, What does God have in store for PTP now? Come and
featuring brethren Mack Lyon and
see! U
Phil Sanders. Glover’s email ad-
dress is [email protected]. Check the web site at: polishingthepulpit.com.
You will find helpful information about Polish-
The quad-fold tract, entitled ing the Pulpit, “House to House”, the Spiritual
“Interviews with Early Christians:
‘How Were You Converted’?”
Renewal Weekend, all sponsored by a thriving,
may be ordered from World sound, and visionary church!
Evangelism, P.O. Box 72, Winona, Jacksonville Church of Christ, P.O. Box 520. Jacksonville,
MS 38967, for ten cents per copy, AL 36265; Email: [email protected]
plus postage.
Global Harvest 23
What a journey it has been! Nancy second Gospel meeting and now have a ting close to being full when three fac-
and I have been in the Lord’s work for new sister in Christ. We are averaging tories closed and the congregation was
over 36 years. There are not enough between 25 and 35 in attendance. This is left with only a few members. We can
words to describe the gracious love so wonderful when you consider that two seat 100 comfortably, and when the day
of God. I find the depth of his love years ago there were only 12 in worship. comes that we fill up the auditorium,
beyond my comprehension at times. God has blessed us with some won- there is an area already prepared for us
Nancy and I began working with the derful contacts, which turned into Bi- to finish a balcony. 13,500 live within
church of Christ in Bogalusa, Louisi- ble studies and new converts. We now the Bogalusa city limits, with 40,000 in
ana in the spring of 2008. The congre- have 8 men, including me, and have the surrounding area.
gation is very small, but we have put formed a men’s fellowship and train- Stuart Parker, one of the members,
our trust in Jesus Christ and the power ing class that meets every Tuesday. did the preaching for over three years,
of His message as we lift Him up in the We have a meal together, then a devo- but he and the brethren needed help.
preaching of the death, burial and res- tional study from Scripture concerning They asked Nancy and me to begin
urrection. Just as God’s Word prom- the Christian life style and leadership. full time work with them and build the
ised, people have been drawn unto Him That is followed by a discussion of the church back. The men met together
and we have new brothers and sisters. work in Bogalusa and making plans for this last fall, and we have made a five-
We have now set an attendance re- future activities to attract the lost and year plan, with the expectation of be-
cord of 47. That number was in spite of establish contacts for Bible studies. ing self-supported in about five years.
the fact that two were out ill and three The church here had a real set back The following is the plan for our future
were traveling. We just finished our some years ago. The building was get- growth.
Lads to Leaders
and Mainor Perez, overcoming ob-
stacles in Spanish! (Sometimes, we
just have to have a little fun in the
Pioneers for the Lord office....)
Roy Johnson, Executive Director Well, actually, they worked together
in great patience and harmony, and fi-
To those who are concerned So, I would like to say that you nally we were able to submit the file to
about the future of the church: are a pioneer. You have decided to the printer. It is now available for use,
Pioneers come in many shapes do something about this problem! both in Central and South America,
and sizes. Our country — especially You see this problem developing in and among Spanish works here in the
the Southwest — was founded by pio- your hometown and in your home States.
neers! Many of you came from great state, and you plan to do something We do have copies of back num-
about it. We understand! Lads to bers of La Voz de la Verdad Interna-
pioneering families. I would like to tell
Leaders/Leaderettes is committed
you today, that you are a pioneer. Why? cional, as well as Spanish versions of
to providing you with events and
You have decided that you materials to help you train your The Gospel of Christ, The Church
want your youth to be trained in youth so that they will learn “thus of the Bible, New Testament Wor-
the nurture and admonition of the saith the Lord” about important ship, You Can Be Just a Christian,
Lord. You recognize the seriousness spiritual issues. and What Is Christianity?, available
of the situation that exists in the Lads to Leaders/Leaderettes for use in evangelism or for bulk ship-
church today. You see what is going has over 40 years of evidence that ment to workers in Spanish-speaking
on in congregations around you, training youth to be leaders in the countries. If you need these materials,
congregations that once stood on church, school, and community
New Testament principles but today please contact us at 662-283-1192. We
works! We look forward to serving want to work with you to get the Word
do not know where they stand. you! Thank you for your pioneer
You have seen what happens out to those who are looking for the
spirit! U
to a congregation when its youth truth. U
are entertained but not spiritually “Pioneers for the Lord” was published
trained, when exorbitant amounts in the event program for the first ever
of time and money are spent on Lads Express on April 25, 2010 at the
entertaining the youth, but the Bible Gaylord Texan Resort & Conference
is not studied. You see that these Center in Grapevine, Texas.
youth are never taught the reasons
WHY they are New Testament Lads to Leaders/Leaderettes, 5280
West Alabama Christian Drive, •
Christians and they do not have an Montgomery, Alabama 36109; •
answer when asked about baptism, Phone: 334.215.0251; Fax: 334.215.0856;
the Lord’s Supper, women’s roles in Web: www.lads-to-leaders.org;
church, or instrumental music. Email:[email protected].
Global Harvest 25
In Search of
the Lord’s Way
Phil Sanders and Mack Lyon
The extended value of the videos is books, CDs, and DVDs in the coming year.
that they can provide sound biblical train- It is through ‘Searching for Truth’ DVD that
ing for men in preacher schools throughout a Moslem, after watching it, became fully
the world, at little or no cost to the foreign convinced and surrendered himself to Christ.
school. Let me quote from a review of last Since his conversion he has remained faith-
What is World Video Bi-
year’s work: “We have sent out an average ful to the Lord up till now. Never has he let
ble School? It is a service, in
of over 19,000 videos per month, which the verbal attacks from his relatives cause
its 24th year of operation, sup-
translates into over 55,700 hours of teach- him to renounce his faith in Christ.”
plying vital teaching materials
ing, or 85,000 lessons each month during World Video also makes available evan-
for churches of Christ in the
the year. That brings the total of videos that gelistic videos and study books, in English,
US and throughout the world.
we have sent out to more than 1,200,000 Spanish, and other languages. Teaching
The name defines the ser-
since we started in 1986.” posters on the church, the Gospel, and “The
vice: a very full Bible School
Letters of appreciation come from many Gospel Re-enacted” are available in Chinese,
curriculum on a college level
different situations: “Beloved, accept my English, Spanish, and Swahili. The prices,
for preachers, leaders, and stu-
profound gratitude for the various materi- especially for bulk use, are often $2.00 or
dious Christians, enabling any
als you made available to me this year. The less. It will be in your interest, and in the
who are hungry for increased
number of CDs and DVDs you sent have interest of the congregation with which you
knowledge to gain that knowl-
been tremendous help to me and the church worship, to order the catalog and to use these
edge in the convenient loca-
in general in our quest for the truth and its materials. Also, help them with a generous
tion of “home”, and at a frac-
dissemination to the world. May God con- gift, to share the cost of all that WVBS gives
tion of what it would cost to
tinue to grant you the financial means to send away. Call: 512-398-5211. U
attend classes on a campus.
happen effortlessly. the local preacher, the girls came up to
The second need can be met in this me after my update on GBN to make a
way: “For one concerned Christian in contribution. At first they handed me
each county to take it upon himself/ 50 cents. I asked what this was for, and
herself to locate and recruit members their Mom and Dad explained that the
Gospel Broadcasting Network, of the church (or “a team” within the girls raised chickens and sold the eggs,
under its newly appointed Executive Di- church) who would be eager to contact all and sometimes they contributed their
rector, Gary McDade, is looking for help. the congregations in the county that cur- money to worthy causes.
What he needs is beyond the scope of rently do not support GBN, and to edu- “The small crowd that was gath-
anything GBN personnel can do on their cate them on the vital need for their aid. ered chuckled, and I said, ‘Wait a min-
own, but the task is within the reach of in- The third way you can help GBN to ute. This contribution means more
dividual Christians in specific locations. reach the goal of becoming a 24-hour than meets the eye.’ Patiently they lis-
Three major things need atten- network cable, continually televising tened as I explained: “Soon GBN will
tion: the national economic slump has quality programs developed by sound be viewed by 2.1 million people in the
affected revenues for telecasting. Is it men in the church is to go to your lo- Philadelphia area. The annual budget
possible for you who support GBN on a cal cable management and urge them for GBN happens to be 2.1 million
monthly basis (individuals and congre- to include GBN in their regularly trans- dollars. And that means that 2.1 mil-
gations) to talk among Christian friends mitted telecasts. A gratifying number lion people can be taught the Gospel in
and relatives (and area elders) and to find is willing to do this. Philadelphia for only $1.00 each for a
matching support? If you’re giving $50 Gary McDade wrote: “Erin and Er- whole year! The girls gave me another
a month, can you raise that much in ica Cantrell are the daughters of Wayne $7, and I observed, See? This $7 will
matching funds through commitments and Peggye Cantrell of McMinnville, bring Bible teaching into seven homes,
of one or two folks (or congregations)? Tennessee. On a recent visit with the 24 hours a day, for a year!” U
If so, overnight the revenues would dou- Arlington Church of Christ, where they
ble, and many goals of expansion would worship and where Wayne serves as Phone: 866-525-4677; www.gbntv.org
Global Harvest 29
Many of us at Somers Avenue country was not giving the money that foreign country personally, but we can
had heard about the success of World had been deposited for postage to the reach the people where they are by mail.
Bible School through the years but did school. While we were waiting for this There is a place for all to serve.
not become involved with the program stalled situation to clear up, we received Now that we have mailed out all
until 2009. New members who came more requests from another country. of these thousands of lessons, mostly
to us from other congregations that Some people worked at the build- to Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe, we are
were already actively involved in WBS ing after Bible study on Wednesday waiting for the responses. Mark Phil-
asked the elders if they had considered night, preparing the lessons for mailing. lips said that recently 16 responses
participating in the work. At the same Others worked days during the week as from Muslims were received from Si-
time, another member approached the they had opportunity. Some came in as erra Leone. They had completed the
elders about our being part of WBS. teams, and some worked individually. Christian course and asked for Bibles.
After contact with WBS, they sent a Team effort is a “fun” way to participate. Mark sent Bibles to them and a letter
representative to meet with the elders, Some of us made a day of it by meeting letting them know that there are cours-
to give details of the process and costs early in the morning, breaking for lunch es available for Muslims to use as well
that would be required of our congre- at a local eating place, then coming back as the one for Christians.
gation to be a part of this mission work. and finishing the task after lunch. We or- Our task has just begun! We pray
Mark Phillips volunteered to take the ganized our own assembly line operation that the work we do will reach good and
lead in setting up the program. in order to speed the process. One team honest hearts that will obey the Gospel
After discussion with people in of four mailed almost 1,000 lessons this and be able to teach others in their own
other congregations who were work- way. Different approaches work for dif- villages and towns. U
ing in WBS, the elders decided to move ferent people. Retirees are an asset to this
Yvonne Stinebaugh (Somers Avenue
forward with the commitment. At the kind of program. We are more flexible in
Church of Christ, North Little Rock,
request of the elders, John Reese spent our schedule and have more “free” time Arkansas) 106 S. Claremont Ave., Sher-
time with us, explaining the need for than those who are still committed to full wood, AR 72120; Phone (501) 835-3859;
workers in this kind of mission effort time jobs. Most of us cannot go into a Email: [email protected]
and how we could participate. Thirty-six
individuals signed a list that they would
be willing to help with mailing out and
grading the courses going into different
countries.
Mark Phillips set up a room at
the church building, devoted to World
Bible School. He ordered all materials
and first lessons, and arranged the room
for easy access for volunteers to come
in at times that were suitable for them.
Mark ordered 3,600 of the first lessons
and, to date, only a few have not been
used. The lessons were mailed to Zim-
babwe, Sierra Leone, and Kenya. After
a few months with no responses, it was
discovered that the government in one
30 Global Harvest
Haiti Christian
Development Project
Dr. David Smith
P Complete food support is being children from Port au Prince who had
given to scores of refugees in Gona- their schooling disrupted in the middle
ives, Poteau, and Gros Morne. of the year; some were high school se-
Grateful Haitians with aid buckets. P Other food distribution to other niors about to graduate
refugees of Port au Prince and to the P Distribution of tents and tarps do-
I want to thank everyone for what Bois Marchand community (outside of nated by various church and aid groups
you have done. Your outpouring of Gonaives and where our development P Providing selected injured individ-
love and concern for the people of Haiti farm is located) and other areas sur- uals medical, surgical, and emotional
and for the Lord’s church is amazing rounding Gonaives and spiritual support while aided at
and profoundly appreciated. Frankly, I P Gueston Pacius is coordinating the several non-Port au Prince hospitals
have never witnessed such generosity in reception of shipping containers from oth- P Providing general medical support
my life. In the past, I have always sent er aid groups, which are loaded with food for local refugees
hand-written notes to donors. I feel so and supplies, and assisting these organiza- P Upgrading our farm to provide
guilty in not doing this, but I hope you tions in their distribution in the area. housing, security, water facilities, and
understand as I attempt to update you. P HCDP is identifying and preparing latrine facilities to accommodate refu-
The responsibility to be good stew- safe and secure areas for support (the gees from Port au Prince
ards of your funds that I and the board incidence of abuse of women is alarm- P Replenished our seed bank and
of HCDP feel is overwhelming. You ing; this must be done before further plants support. This provides agricul-
have given generously, and many have refugee relocation is completed). tural families the means to plant food to
given sacrificially. Thank you for your P Providing school support for many Continued on page 31
trust. We share the expectations that
your funds will be used wisely, and
with the help of God, we are committed
to doing everything within our power
to use every dollar wisely. The funding
must last for more than two years, and
every spending decision is important.
With no housing, food or facilities,
up to 400,000 people left Port au Prince
and fled to relatives in the Artibonite
Valley where Gonaives, our base of
operations, is the major city. Its popu-
lation has swollen from 200,000 to
300,000 or more in a matter of weeks.
The population on our HCDP head-
quarters has risen from 3 to 65 persons
in a few days. Like every other city in
Haiti, the strains on already poverty-
stricken individuals and families have
been enormous.
Here is a brief overview of what we
are doing: The excitement of unloading desperately needed foods and supplies.
Global Harvest 31
Mission Vision
George W. Hall
“Easter” week is called Holy Week What I am about to describe is amaz- this method works!
in Central America. The countries pret- ing. It represents nearly three months of Erick, the director of the school,
ty much shut down, and the people head work by one of three BICA schools (all conducted nine conferences. He was on
for the beaches. The brethren in Gua- glory to God!) Many would be thrilled if four campaigns (preached in three): two
temala take this opportunity to have a their missions produce these results in 10 baptisms and 12 restorations. He taught
national lectureship (conference) for years. It is dedication. It is method! In three seminars; he taught seven differ-
edification and fellowship. It was es- Nicaragua, Director Erick Garcia, M.D., ent conferences in seven churches about
timated that nearly 5,000 attended this provides the following report: They had BICA concepts. The government re-
year. The brethren honored me by ask- three week-long evangelistic campaigns, quired him to attend 15 meetings (educa-
ing me to speak on two occasions. one week each in Boaco (this was to es- tion ministry, mayor’s office, vocational
This was a campaign week for the tablish a new church), Matagalpa (also a center), he attended 10 meetings with
students of our Biblical Institute. Most church was established this week), and churches. Erick preaches in the north
of them worked the area around the Fatima. Eighty were baptized and thirty- at Ciudad Dairo; they plan to re-open a
conference location in Guatemala City. five restored. church in this area at Sebaco. He trains
Twenty-three were baptized by the stu- On our weekend works 40 were bap- leaders in the local church, Jinotepe,
dents, plus seven more that responded to tized and 18 restored. In Jinotepe (school twice a week (6-9 PM). He also preach-
Christ during the lectureship. Eight stu- location) on the Monday and Wednesday es once a month at the Jinotepe church.
dents were invited to spend the week in afternoon work, 15 baptisms and three He has served as youth director for three
Peten, Guatemala, where they had their restorations. Totals for three months, not months. Oh, by the way, he teaches the
own lectureship. Around 300 attended in including Erick’s personal conversions, ladies every Friday night. Erick usually
this jungle area. The students taught and are 135 baptisms, 56 restorations, two walks about five miles in the mornings
baptized thirteen believers. Four more churches established. and he is ready to meet the staff at 6:00
were added as a result of Gospel preach- Other works include: conducted a AM. Does he work too much? Yes!! We
ing in the lectureship. The week’s results youth seminar for 600 young people in all work hard. We need your backing.
of just the students: 36 baptisms, 14 res- January; March 29th-April 3rd, Erick Support is a constant problem. Please
torations. Total for March: Baptisms 57, trained 100 leaders for one week (7 AM- help. U
restored 47. The most important number 11:30 PM), long days. Some lost were
there—five baptized and three restored. Biblical Institute of Central America:
is 53. They, the 53, are being taught by
A two-year Bible school to prepare
the students on weekends to teach others. BICA Baptisms, Restorations, evangelists and church leaders;
The same thing is happening in the two New Churches Established http://www.bica.info
other institutes. Nicaragua
A number of American Christians 600; 375; 9
participated in the June 7-13 campaign Guatemala
in Granada, Nicaragua. The cost per per- 448; 238; 2
son was about $1,150. The value—price- Honduras
less! We encourage Bible classes, ladies’ 649; 750; 10
classes, youth groups, individuals, etc., to Total
sponsor their own student/missionary in 1,697; 1,363; 21
future campaigns. This personal hands-
on approach will bless your soul. Keep 1,697 baptisms + 1,363 resto-
in touch by email with your student. Af- rations = 3,060 saved in 2009
ter graduation, as they are self-supported, by students. Based upon 365
you can follow them for years. Call me days, that is 8.4 souls saved
at: 325-388-0000. Claim your blessing! per day. Glory to God! These
Be bold! Reject complacency! results from 2009 prove that Students at the Biblical Institute of Central America.
34 Global Harvest
Fernanda Is Baptized
J. Randal Matheny
“Volante” Evangelism
Troy Spradlin
Fernanda Porto was baptized on Tuesday, April 21, in her Andrea and I
parents’ swimming pool here in São José dos Campos, Bra- embarked in Janu-
zil. She had been studying two to three times a week with ary on our flight to
my wife, Vicki, and with our daughter, Debora. Then, the a long-term mis-
following Saturday, May 1, she had a Caesarian section for sions commitment
baby Loretta’s birth. What a blessed week! in the South Ameri-
When possible, we prefer to have women study with can nation of Para-
women and men with men, so when Fernanda approached guay. We are over-
me one Wednesday night after our home group Bible read- seen by the Margaret
ing, I passed her request on to Vicki. Street congregation
Fernanda’s home is in Campinas, about two hours away, in Milton, Fla.
so it’s possible she may be returning there after she regains I attribute to the providence of God our readiness to
her strength from the delivery. begin the work. We have hit every one of our targets and met
Vicki had just recently finished a series of studies with all the goals we set out to achieve. We are fully funded and
Fernanda’s mother Ritinha, who also sat in on the studies with have completed all the preparation that we possibly could.
her daughter. We pray she will decide to follow the Lord. Andrea and I are still learning the language. We can speak
Fernanda and Ritinha have been participating in our Sunday pretty well, but it is still dif-
worship and in our midweek home Bible readings. Fernanda ficult to communicate ef-
has also been twice to the monthly ladies’ meetings. We re- fectively (especially about
joice in her decision to obey Christ in baptism. U religious matters). But, we
were wanting to do SOME-
J. Randal Matheny, in São José dos Campos, Brazil
Email: [email protected]; Website: brotherhoodnews.com
THING that would benefit
the church — even if we
weren’t capable just yet to
speak the language. So, we
decided to start handing out
flyers in the parks, street corners, and bus stops to invite people
to worship. In Paraguay, they are called “Volantes” and almost
everyone will take one if you offer it. Thanks be to the Lord, we
have already had several to
respond!! Please pray that
these flyers will reach those
souls who are searching to
know the Truth!
This past weekend we
Fernanda Porto being baptized into Christ had a congregational retreat.
by Randal Matheny. We spent two days singing,
studying, worshiping, and
Order J. Randal Matheny’s new book fellowshipping, with Chris-
tians of Paraguay and Amer-
CHOOSE! ica. The spiritual fellowship
13 Choices to Transform Your Heart and Soul was wonderful, even in a
is now available and makes a great gift. different language! U
See information here:
http://forthrightpress.com. Troy Spradlin: web blog:
The Spradlin Summary
Global Harvest 35
More than 80 We Care Ministries Cadre workers given me. But again, we have no answer for them. If
from 18 states showed up recently to join hands with the that be true, all we can do is grieve!
saints at the Southwest Church of Christ in Phoenix, Ari- 6. Churches don’t want to spend the money it
zona, to reach out to the neighborhood and win souls. By will cost? The answer: And this answer too has been
Victory Sunday, 64 had obeyed the Gospel and four more given to us. Well, again, we have no answer for them.
had come back to the Lord during the 12-day event. And If that be true, all we can do is grieve! For what is the
what is more amazing is, the workers traveled not more than value of one soul? If the air conditioner in the building
one mile away from the church building in any direction in were to break, wouldn’t the money be there by the next
their search for souls! Some neighbors, seeing all the activ- Sunday, to have it fixed? Especially if it be in July and
ity actually drove up to the building, asked what was hap- in the South!
pening, got out of their cars, came in, heard the Gospel, and Maybe you know of other reasons, which are actual-
were obedient to the Gospel before they left to go home! ly just excuses! But our nation is in trouble! We all know
The fields are truly white! What God needs is caring but it. We are convinced the answer to our nation’s trauma is
fearless workers! not more bailouts. It’s not in greater armaments. It’s not
“Why aren’t churches standing in line to invite tried- liberal arts education, as valuable as that is. The answer is
and-proven soul-winning ministries such as We Care Minis- where it always has been. “Blessed is the nation whose God
tries to come to their congregations to help rescue the lost?” is the LORD” (Psalm. 33:12). When the church wins souls
That is what members of the We Care Ministries staff are it brings, among other things, national security, prosperity,
asking me, their director. And I don’t know what to tell blessings of all kinds — in addition to the deliverance of that
them. Maybe you can help. soul from Satan’s grasp. The answer to this world’s prob-
Is it because: lems is in the hands of Christians!
The kingdom is filled with citizens, but only a few have
1. Churches don’t know about us? The answer joined God’s military service! Ours is a SAR mission, Search
I get is, we have been conducting our Campaigns 35 And Rescue! It’s time we repent and go to work as soldiers. U
years, now. We have been conducting training Sem-
inars about 25 of those years, sometimes as often as We Care Ministries, 3201 N. 7th Street, West Monroe, LA 71291
three times a month, all over the nation. We have been www.wecareministries.com, Phone: 318.397.2000
writing articles the 35 years.
2. Churches don’t believe we are really winning Hey!
many souls as we claim? The answer I get is, we have How would you like to give away
published converts names, have told their conversion
stories, have spent tens of thousands of dollars getting
a million dollars?
It’s fake, of course (Uncle Sam hasn’t started printing
the news out.
million dollar bills YET) but God’s plan of salvation on
3. Churches don’t believe enough new souls the back is real. This is an eye-catching little tract.
are being kept? The answer: Isn’t one soul worth the
whole world? Yet, the truth is, when churches put our 35 cents each;
“AfterCare” package to work, we are finding they are $30 for 100.
Call 662-283-1192
keeping 40-60% of those we are baptizing.
4. Churches really just don’t want to grow? The
answer: We have no answer for them. If that be true,
all we can do is grieve! email: Choate@
5. Churches really just don’t want to work that WorldEvangelism.
hard? The answer: Such an excuse has actually been org
Global Harvest 37
May 6-23: Glimpses of events in my 15 allowed his second marriage. great fellowship.
most recent trip to Ukraine: May 11, Tuesday May 13, Thursday
I flew into Donetsk, and Vlad and Ever since I arrived, I have tried to The water was off yesterday and
Oksana Pirizs picked me up at the air- change my US dollars into grievnas. today. We had our class from 11:00 AM
port and drove me to the church build- The banks were closed for the week- to 2:00 PM, finishing up the study on
ing in Kramatorsk where I taught a class end and Monday was a holiday. Today “The Formula for Happiness” and go-
on “The Fruits of Righteousness.” At I tried again but the lines were too long ing through the study of “Why Miracles
8:30 PM they drove me to Lina’s (I do in the morning. Our class was from Cannot Happen Today.” We had 10 in at-
not know her last name) where I stayed 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, with the regular tendance. Later that evening we had tea,
through Sunday. Vladia and her mother break. We studied “True Love” and had and Valantina said that the congregation
are not Christians, but Vladia attends 11 people. In the afternoon we went to had been resurrected from depression and
the youth gatherings of the Kramatorsk the bank, but got there too late. They wanted to get busy again. They have had
Church of Christ. She is a fifteen-year- close at 4:00 PM. some major problems the last few months.
old who speaks English. Her mother, May 12, Wednesday May 14, Friday
Lina, speaks very a little English. I finally got some local currency. It The water was still off. We finished
May 8, Saturday made me feel a little more secure. our classes for the week. We answered
Two mosquitoes and jetlag kept me questions and studied “Why Suffering
awake some of the night. Both Vladia Exists”?
and her mother were gone when I woke May 15, Saturday
up. Lina came back about 9:00 AM and Gorlovka had a youth rally from
fixed some breakfast and cooked for the 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Bear Valley
meal that afternoon. I used the morn- Bible Institute of Ukraine. In the after-
ing to get ready for my class at 3:00 noon I visited with Lynn and Vieta (an
PM with the young people. I taught on orphan boy they have into their home
“Young People of the Bible.” almost every weekend). That night at
May 9, Sunday the church building we had about 25 in
Sunday morning, I taught a class on attendance and I spoke on “The Age of a
“Paul’s Positive Outlook in Philippi- We had class at the regular time, Christian.”
ans”. At the worship service I preached 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM with a break. Sa- May 16, Sunday
on “Romans 7”. Vlad picked me up and sha did well for his first time as a Bible We had Bible class at 10:00 and
we drove to Krasnoarmeysk where Sa- class translator. He is the preacher for worship at 11:00. I taught 2 Peter 1 for
sha and I were dropped off at Terry’s Krasnoarmeysk and has his Master de- the class and “Righteousness” for wor-
mother-in-law’s, Valentina’s house, gree from Bear Valley Bible Institute of ship service. We had 45 in attendance.
where we spent the week teaching and the Ukraine. We had 10 people, count- Continued on page 38
uplifting the church. ing Sasha and me. Three were men
May 10, Monday from Krasnyi Laman; two of them are
We had nine people in attendance. not members of the church. We stud-
We studied “What is Happiness” until ied “The Positive Thinking of Philip-
2:00 PM, with a short break. At 5:00 pians” and “How the Blood Works”.
PM, Sergey (a member of the church Lionid and Tatiana (members of the
living in adultery) came for a Bible church), Sasha (a non-member who has
study. We walked to a little lake and been coming to the assemblies for five
he tried to convince us that his second years) invited us to their flat. We had
marriage was alright, using 1 Corinthi- tea and studied the Bible on “Marriage,
ans 7, but he could not prove that verse Divorce and Remarriage.” We also had
38 Global Harvest
A Taste of Heaven
Roy Davison
On Sunday, the sixteen who as- ity to avoid backsliding and apostasy.
sembled in Burcht could speak nine- There were two visitors from the
teen languages! church in Eindhoven, Holland. It was
The English-language congre- a foretaste of heaven. Part of the New
gation that meets in Burcht, Belgium Song is, “For You were slain, and have
(across the river from Antwerp) is redeemed us to God by Your blood out
small. Sixteen met on Sunday. Two of every tribe and tongue and people
regulars were absent. Brother Philip and nation” (Revelation 13:7).
Dela and his family from the church in Those gathered to remember the
Maastricht, Holland were visiting, and Lord’s death could communicate in nine-
Philip preached on the need for humil- teen langauges: Aramaic, Bassar, Chinese,
Dutch, English, Ewe, Gallego, German,
Fanti, French, Italian, Nzema, Papiamen-
Ukraine . . . to, Polish, Portugese, Spanish, Turkish,
Twi, and sign language for the deaf.
Continued from page 37 after chapel. We went from 10:45 AM Roel De Gruyter and Roy Davison
May 17, Monday until 1:00 PM, because Dan Owens work with this congregation. U
Classes for me at Bear Valley Bible from Paducah, Kentucky telecasts a
Roy Davison Email: RoyDavison@
Institute of Ukraine started. My subject Bible study from Paducah at 3:00 PM. oldpaths.net
for the week was “The Preacher and May 20, Thursday
His Work.” Classes continued from Our classes were on schedule and
8:30 to 3:15, with breaks for chapel and we finished by 3:30 PM. At 3:45 Egor Do you remember what Jesus said
for lunch. Three of my students will Kramarenko picked the Fergusons and in Matthew 25? One of His stipu-
graduate next week with their Bach- me up for supper at their flat. Ira Kra- lations for approval of His people
elor Degree in Bible. Steve Hollister marenko is a member of the church and was that they had visited those in
from Montgomery, Alabama taught the an English teacher at the local language prison.
“Gospel of John” this week and next institute. Her husband is not a member. Thankfully, Christians are do-
week he will teach 1, 2, 3 John. We had a wonderful time and I arrived ing much more “prison ministry”
May 18, Tuesday back at my room at 8:00 PM. Dennis now than in earlier years. But one
Classes continued until 3:30 PM. Curd and one of his elders were there problem that must be overcome is
At 5:00, the young people wanted to and Terry was making arrangements the tendency to be unforgiving to-
sing with all the parts, so we sang until for them for the night. ward those who have committed a
5:45 and then went to the youth get-to- May 21, Friday crime. That is the message of The
gether where I spoke on “Young People Friday was test day. They all passed Jonah Complex by brother Ezra
of the Old Testament.” and will graduate with a Bachelor de- Lucas, Jr.
May 19, Wednesday gree next Friday.
The class schedule was changed May 22-23, Saturday and Sunday Order your
We left for Donetsk at 10:30 AM. copy from:
Terry, his family and Steve Hollister www.xlibris.
went shopping and eating before they com, for
took me to the airport. My flights were $15.99 in
on time, with a stop-over in Munich. book form
Jim Lucas picked me up and we were or 9.99 in the
home by 7:30 PM. U e-version.
Jim Sherman, email: jdsherman1@
hughes.net
Global Harvest 39
One large delight for us here in While I was there, they were preparing
France
Lyon was the visit of Richard Wolfe, a program for the children and were in
the preacher at the 1515’ Street Church heavy rehearsals. It was fun to see the
of Christ in Olathe, Kansas (our spon- kids so excited about the event. They
soring congregation). Richard came to Charles White asked some excellent questions and lis-
Europe for several reasons: 1) to visit tened well during the 18 hours we stud-
the work in Lyon ; 2) to speak at the an- spent together way back when. Our ied together.
nual family retreat of the French speak- three girls and their two boys became The theme of the retreat this year
ing Churches of Christ ; 3) to visit and — and have remained — good friends. was “Edification,” with special empha-
encourage the Church in Liege, Bel- Precious memories. sis on fathers and sons. The major at-
gium, where he and his family lived and Last month I announced the birth traction (outside of Richard’s presence)
worked for 22 years, from 1971 to 1993. of a baby to one of our young couples. was the fact that several sessions were
Richard exhorted us during our worship Another of our couples had a baby directed by a father and a son working
period on May 9”’ ; then he spoke twice this month. I have to tell you about the together in the same congregation. It
at the family retreat, on the book of unique name he was given. It’s a boy, was a way of showing that the Church in
Ecclesiastes. His French has remained and when I asked his name, the father Europe has grown into its second gen-
excellent over the 17 years he has been told me (here’s what it sounded like:) eration and that we have a new group
away from Europe; the only criticism I EE-VEN. So, I thought it would be of young people taking on responsibil-
would have is that he speaks with a Bel- Yven (as in Yvan), or something like ity and carrying on the work into the
gian accent! Just joking. that. As I spelled it out to make sure I future. It’s a great sign of maturity and
It was really great to have Richard was understanding, the father corrected an encouragement to all of us who have
with us for a few days. We missed see- me: H-E-A-V-E-N. This child is not worked here for so long. Brethren, the
ing his wife Jade, who was not able to only heaven’s gift, that’s his name, too! Church in French-speaking Europe is
travel with him this time. Richard and I just returned from three days in strong and stable, even if its numbers
Jade made a large contribution to the Marseille to teach the book of Hebrews are not what many would like. Pray for
French work in the many years they to the four students in their “Christians us, and for all those who are working’to
worked here, and all of us who worked in Missions” one-year school. The Mar- take it into the next generation. U
with them will remember and love seilles church works uniquely in their Charles White, 6 Impasse Mil-
them to the end of our days. Pam and neighborhood, so they have lots of ac- lon, 69100 Villeurbane, France;
I remember the times our two families tivities for the children around them. Email: [email protected]
cannot and will never do just that! es, selecting, training and working with
Romania’s Needs What is the great need? We must
continue to “evangelize”, to spread the
Romanian Christians who know the
seven congregations and help us com-
Harvey Starling message to the 2,000,000 in our area and municate regularly with as many people
to be diligent to teach those converted as possible by email, phone, newsletters
This is serious information you to the Lord! This means seven meeting and personal letters, conducting special
want to consider: There are seven con- places, training teachers and preachers soul- winning programs in which the lo-
for seven places, travel to and from sev- cal people participate, directing about
gregations in three districts in which
en cities and towns, Bibles, books and 20-25 different U.S. Bible teachers who
we work in Romania. The challenge
pamphlets for seven places, Bible class- come for short term teaching here in Ro-
with just one congregation is tremen-
es for ladies, men and youth in seven mania each year — and then we must
dous, but to work with seven churches
places, children’s Bible class materials have a highly competent accountant to
is a monstrous task and means the work for 16 weekly children’s Bible classes, report what funds are received and what
to do, the funds needed and the respon- men to handle the funds and be account- they are used for to a particular depart-
sibility are seven fold! able in each place, evaluating scores of ment of the Romanian government.
The financial needs and the bud- emergency calls for help for food, medi- Do you think we could use more
get would not be nearly as great if we cine and general physical needs, and help? U
were content to simply work and wor- then providing the funds which are be- Harvey Starling, P.O. Box 915, Madison,
ship with just one congregation. We yond the capabilities of the local church- AL 35758
40 Global Harvest
He wasn’t much for stirrin’ out, These are times for serious Lord Jesus, then I understand that
It wasn’t his desire; repentance on the part of us Chris- Jesus is more than a sweet teach-
No matter what the others did, tians. In many ways we have lost er meandering down Judean path-
He was sittin’ by the fire. our identity. We have forsaken the ways with His disciples. I read 2
Same old habit, day by day, identity by which Jesus said the Thessalonians 1:6-9 frequently. It
He never seemed to tire; world would know that we are His talks about a Jesus of vengeance
While others helped disciples. Our identity was to be when He comes again. As Paul
to build the church, manifested by our love. That love said, though we knew Jesus ac-
He was sittin’ by the fire.
was to extend to unbelievers as cording to the flesh, we want to
And when he died as all must do,
well as to believers. A love that will know Him as He now is as King,
They said he went up higher;
not take us to our lost neighbor’s Head, and Judge over all things (2
But if he’s still doin’
what he always did,
house will certainly not take us Corinthians 5:16). He is coming
He’s still sittin’ by the fire. to heaven. Paul had it right: “For with vengeance on all those who
the love of Christ compels us ...” do not obey the Gospel of His
— Author unknown (2 Corinthians 5:14). We will not death for our sins. He is coming
We Christians are in an evan- bring the world into Christ unless with vengeance on a “whatever”
gelism crisis. We have blended the love of Christ compels us to generation that has lost its pas-
a “whatever” generation with a take His name into the entire world. sion for lost souls.
biblically ignorant generation and We have a bookshelf full of It’s time for an evangelistic
come up with a generation that “feel good books” that seek to mo- paradigm shift. And, believe me,
could care less about snatching tivate us to do this or that in order such shifts come with great pain,
people off the pathway to hell. It to feel good about ourselves. But the pain of repentance. Our laugh-
is a generation that wants to live there is a limit to feeling good when ter must be turned into mourning.
within the sound of church build- the feeling does not come from do- We must remember the words of
ing and the chapel bell but not ing that which I know I should do Jesus, “Blessed are those who
within yelling distance of souls in saving the lost. So where are the mourn.” We must start mourning
that are falling through death into books that emphasize the wrath, over our sin of laziness in order to
eternal damnation. terror, judgment, fear, and con- be blessed.
There’s little excitement to- demnation of a just God who will I write these words in or-
day about sowing the seed of the send people to a fiery hell because der that no one misunderstands
kingdom, because there is no ex- they did not obey the Gospel? Or the motives of all of those who
citement in seeing the need of a worse, where are the books that are sincerely concerned about
spiritually starved generation of tell me where I am headed if I am world evangelism. We are seri-
people. When challenged about just “sittin’ by the fire ...”? Again, ous about accomplishing the
their lack of evangelistic fervor, Paul said it right, and probably only reason for the existence of
we receive only the reply, “What- correctly translated by the old ver- this world. That reason is why
ever.” When a generation arises sions, “Knowing therefore the ter- we search throughout the popu-
that is ignorant of what the Bible ror of the Lord, we persuade men” lation of the world for those who
says concerning the damnation (2 Corinthians 5:11). want to prepare themselves for
of those who do not obey the If I understand the fact that eternal dwelling in the presence
Gospel, then they have little con- the Bible teaches that those who of God. We are in the business
cern for preaching the Gospel. do not obey the Gospel will be of populating heaven. U
Where are those who have a pas- punished with everlasting de- [email protected], africainterna-
sion for the lost? struction from the presence of the tional.org
42 Global Harvest
The Lord’s work in Nigeria, along fathers, and children when tribal con- dreds of women, worked with the World
with other West African countries, has flicts break out, especially in Nigeria. Bible School students and saw 11 bap-
been some of the most fruitful in mod- The charge was that, by far, the greatest tized for the remission of their sins. If
ern times. One cannot read about it, or challenge facing Christianity in Africa someone wanted to be taught privately,
visit there and see it firsthand, without is the Muslim world of North Africa. they would take us into a room with
becoming excited. In 2005, after going into Nigeria no windows and shut the door so no
I have been going to Africa for for several years, and because I be- one could see them talking to us. They
eleven years and the excitement every lieve that the Gospel is for everyone, would tell me, “I have to go to my inner
year, as the time approaches for us to my friend Sheila Hamlin and I decided room and hide my lessons so no one will
plan our next trip, is almost ecstatic. to go to Maiduguri, about as far north know I have them. If they see me with
We can hardly wait to get there to see as you can travel without being in the a Bible and these lessons they might kill
World Bible School students and dear Sahara desert. We would be working me”. One Muslim lady was determined
friends we made the previous years. with some World Bible School students to be baptized after our lesson and we
slipped her out to the motel and baptized
her in the bathtub.
One day we took a trip to Chiebok,
a far village from Maiduguri. The most
humbling experience of my life was
there, as over 200 women sat on the
ground, along with their with babies,
for hours, listening to God’s Word be-
ing taught. Then, as we slept there with
them, my prayer to God that night was,
“Thank you, God, for this wonderful
experience you have given me. May it
truly humble me as your servant.” The
next morning, after we taught for four-
and-a-half hours, a Muslim lady who
had just one leg wanted to be baptized.
Now, there is no water in Chiebok.
Twelve courageous men who left Islam to become It has to be hauled in during the dry sea-
New Testament Christians, pictured with Ruth Orr. son, and this really was the dry season.
There was no water to baptize her unless
They look forward to our coming as of mine and the small church in Mai- we went all the way back to Maiduguri,
much as we do. duguri. The population there is 98% over the rough roads that almost tore the
The people in the many countries Muslim. Most had never seen a white car up getting there, plus it would take
where I go in Africa are mostly peaceful woman, but we were treated with the hours to get there and back. Her faith
and loving in nature. They are God-fear- greatest respect among all there. We said, “We will find water.” So as she
ing and receptive to the Gospel, wanting felt completely safe because we were hobbled along with a cane and one leg
the hope of a better life hereafter. But with a young man who was a for- we walked for over two hours and still
there was always the talk of the Muslims mer Muslim but had been converted found no water, but she insisted we keep
and their hatred toward Christians. through the World Bible School cours- going. Then someone said they saw a
Muslims were said to be violent, es and was now a Gospel preacher. very small bubble of water coming up
that they would kill innocent mothers, We visited the villages, taught hun- Continued on page 43
Global Harvest 43
Each year World Bible School loss for the sake of Christ. More than ally believe. The more he studied, the
teachers have the opportunity to study that, I count all things to be loss in more he began to believe in Christ, and
with over one million new students. At view of the surpassing value of know- to realize his own need for` a Savior to
any given moment there are over two ing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I forgive him of his sins. Brother Isaac
million students studying the Bible! have suffered the loss of all things, and Onyebuchi met him and studied with
And all of these people, spending time count them but rubbish in order that I him further. Riliwan also studied with
in the Word of God, results in many may gain Christ.” I have heard some us and was then baptized into Christ for
coming to an understanding of the truth comment upon their baptism, saying: the forgiveness of his sins. On the front
and requesting to be baptized into Jesus “I have to do what is right, regardless cover of this magazine, you can see the
Christ. They come from different cul- of loss or consequence.” And while joy on his face after his baptism.
tures, backgrounds, and religious be- we admire their dedication and convic- That was Friday, and on the fol-
liefs. But God gives the increase, as tion to their new-found faith, giving up lowing Sunday in Lagos, as we were at
they give their lives to Him. family or even wealth is a small price worship, we saw Riliwan. His former
We travel to many different coun- to pay for eternal life. Muslim friends had taken clubs and
tries each year to work with our WBS But what about when their very a machete to him. They struck many
follow-up people, and we have the op- lives are at stake? What happens when blows, beating and kicking him, and
portunity to see thousands of baptisms. they receive death threats or, worse then they nearly cut off his left ear. A
I always marvel at some who truly do yet, when attempts are made on their week later others saw him reading a
count the cost of discipleship in ways lives, often by their own families or Bible and questioned him. They then
that most of us will never fully under- friends? Over the years we have met took the machetes and almost killed
stand or could even comprehend. Hav- many WBS students whose lives were him. Isaac found him, as he had been
ing grown up in the US in a Christian threatened because they converted to left for dead, and took him to a hospital.
environment, we sometimes find it hard Christianity. I met one young man He was unconscious and would have
to imagine what it must be like in count- whose family tried to have him killed. died if Isaac had not found him.
ing the cost when converting from a I have met others who had to go into Riliwan spent three weeks in the
totally different cultural background. hiding because their lives were in con- hospital. Upon his release, having no-
Over the years as I have worked in many stant danger. The threat is real, and we where to go but back to the place where
different countries, I have studied with often have a hard time understanding they had already abused him, he re-
Hindus, Muslims, and Buddhists, as this counting the cost, as it is so foreign turned, set on standing up for his new
well as atheists and other groups. I have to our life’s experiences. faith. That next Sunday, following
come to realize that often times when a What I am about to tell you hap- his release, we saw him at the church
person from one of these cultures choos- pened recently while we were on a services. He was determined not to
es to convert to Christ, there truly is a mission trip to Nigeria. We have seen forsake his new faith and the gather-
counting the cost of discipleship. Many persecution in the past and have heard ing together with other Christians. He
of them are disowned by their families, the stories, but this time we saw it first sang the songs, listened to the teaching,
shunned, and even considered as dead to hand, and it becomes very personal committed to growing in faith in the
the family. Many lose jobs, wealth, and when you know the people who are Lord Jesus.
even inheritances that would have been persecuted. When we saw him and saw his
theirs if they had stayed true to their Riliwan Adesan grew up in a Mus- wounds, we knew something had to be
family’s belief system. lim environment and followed after done, for there was no doubt he would
But I am reminded of Paul’s words that faith into adulthood, but last year lose his life if he stayed where he was.
to the Philippians in chapter 3, verses 7 he enrolled to receive the World Bible Arrangements were made to rent an
and 8 “But whatever things were gain School lessons in order to get a better
to me, those things I have counted as understanding of what Christians re- Continued on page 46
46 Global Harvest
The most densely populated country might meet armed robbers and be shot
on the continent of Africa — Nigeria to death, that they might be kidnapped
— can frighten almost anyone. As a for- and held for ransom, that they might fall
eigner who has been traveling to Nigeria sick with some serious illness that they
since 1984 on annual mission trips for can’t afford to treat and thus will die,
Christ, I can assure you that even most that they might be in the wrong place at
Nigerians have fears for their personal the wrong time when Muslims begin to Doug’s armed police guards.
safety and security. At times, they be- kill Christians. These fears grow from
come afraid that they won’t have enough REAL experiences that your Nigerian
to eat and could actually starve to death, brethren face in their world. exploded in Warri, Delta State, killing
that they can’t pay their rent and will be When I was in Nigeria earlier this four and wounding others — a city in
evicted and have nowhere to sleep, that year, and planning to be there for three which I was to be preaching the Gospel
they might be killed in a tragic accident months, outbreaks of violent killings be- from April 9th -12th ... but didn’t ... because
while they are traveling by public trans- tween Muslims and Christians took place my Elders called me to come back home
portation in poorly equipped vehicles in the Jos, Plateau State, area. In mid-Jan- on March 17th. They made a wise deci-
on poorly maintained roads, that they uary, and again in early March, around sion, and I appreciate being called home.
350 people were killed in each of these Dangers such as these cause FEAR
the Cost... two clashes between Muslims and Chris- in the hearts of Nigerians! I felt FEAR
tians — a total of over 700 killed, and two at times on my recent mission trip! In
of them were your brethren. There have Matthew 10:24-42, our Lord Jesus en-
been multiple kidnappings in the south- courages us to not be afraid of those
Continued from page 45
east corner of Nigeria (Abia and Akwa who call us names or who can even kill
apartment some distance away from our body but not our soul, for God cares
Ibom States) in recent months, even while
those who wanted him dead. And for us even as we are being persecuted
I was in Nigeria. Four of your brethren
while our sympathy and sorrow went for His sake. If we are faithful in His
— Mkpong, Achinefu, Akpan, Aniefiok
out to him, he was still devoted to stay- mission for us, we will not lose our re-
— have been kidnapped, mistreated, and
ing true to his Lord and to the church. ward from Him. So ... more trips to Ni-
then released when expensive ransoms
This sobering experience made me geria to preach the Gospel of Christ are
were paid — and all these in just the
ask myself the question we all need to in my plans! What about you?! U
months of February, March, and April.
ask: “Am I willing to lay down my
On March 15th, a bomb was planted and Doug Wheeler: [email protected]
life for my faith?” We often times talk
about “Counting the cost of disciple-
ship” and while that is easy to say and
contemplate in our safe setting, it is not
the case for many of our brothers and
sisters around the world. Since we re-
turned home from Nigeria, others have
also been persecuted and have had to be
placed in safe houses.
Pray for those who are persecuted
for their faith. Pray for your brothers
and sisters who are willing to lay down
their lives for their faith. One day, you
might have to do the same. U Evangelists of the church of Christ, headed out for
Ron Pottberg: [email protected] campaigns in northern Edo State.
Global Harvest 47
violent conflicts, smoking of marijua- geria for about 15 years. He has been
na and other misfortunes. invited by the ACSF Board of Directors
“Suspected” witch children are to operate his orphanage on the campus
mistreated in various ways. Some are: of Nigerian Christian Bible College,
• abandoned, isolated and ostracized which is located in Akwa Ibom State,
from their community. where the atrocities are being commit-
• taken into the bush and slaugh- ted. Perhaps some of these children can
tered. be rescued before it is too late!
• disgraced publicly and murdered. At this point, it is not clear what
• bathed in acid or acid is forced the exact role of NCBC will be; but,
down their throat as an exorcism. one thing is certain — the need to teach
• poisoned to death. the Truth of the Gospel remains urgent!
• buried alive. Whoever you are, wherever you
• chained and tortured in churches to are, these children need your help now!
extract confessions. Your prayers are needed, but we also
It is reported that 15,000 children need your financial assistance in either
have been accused of witchcraft in two one-time gifts or monthly contributions
of Nigeria’s 36 states and that 1,000 so that we can continue training evan-
In Nigeria, so-called “witch
accused children have already been gelists and other church workers who
children” are being blamed for all can help combat such atrocities against
murdered. African Christian Schools
the problems faced there, especially is working with an orphanage in Nige- innocent children. Can they depend on
in Akwa Ibom State and Cross River ria that is operated by Cliff Jarrell, an you? U
State. It is reported that there are some American missionary who is a member
930,000 HIV/AIDS orphans in Nige- of the church and who has lived in Ni- Sources: www.denverpost.com
ria and that some Nigerians believe
HIV/AIDS is spread by witchcraft.
There is a deep belief that a spell FIFI WANDALIKA, AN EXAMPLE FOR YOUNG CHRISTIAN WOMEN
can be given through the consumption Fifi Wandalika, a young sister in the church in Lubumbashi, Democratic Re-
of food and drink, and that the soul of public of the Congo, decided four years ago to do two years of study in the new
the person who eats or drinks this spell Bible school in Kinshasa, DR Congo. In her early twenties, she persevered and
will then leave the body to be initiated graduated from the Bible school. Back in Lubumbashi she began to work out
in a gathering of witches and wizards. of the World Bible School office which serves that area. She was invited to
It is also believed that the make a mission trip to Kolwezi, an important city six hours to the north. With
“witch” can then wreak all manner no support but only her transportation paid, Fifi worked for several weeks
of havoc, causing diseases like HIV/ among five churches of Christ in the area. She worked with groups of women,
AIDS, cancer, typhoid, malaria, and and individually with Christian women, and with those seeking to become
hepatitis. Other calamities include, Christians. She taught the women how to live as Christians and how to confirm
but are not limited to, mental health their faith by a knowledge of the Bible. Fifi is now back in Lubumbashi but is
problems, extreme poverty, rape, ready for other mission trips. She does not ask for regular support but would
abuse of all kinds, accidents, igno- accept money to pay the expenses of her trips. This is how one Christian young
rance, broken families, drunkenness, lady is using her knowledge and talent in Kingdom work..
torture, infertility, divorce, on-going
48 Global Harvest
The Gospel sprouts in the most un- devastated by the civil war in the prov- these churches has been French Bible
inviting fields. The eastern Democratic ince. Goma was also partially destroyed courses. From Uvira the Gospel has
Republic of the Congo (DRC) area from by a volcanic eruption in 2002. Because spread about 50 km south to the area
Goma to Fizi is proving to be a fertile of the civil war, many sisters in the church of Fizi. Four churches have been es-
field, in spite of its tragic history. Pri- have been raped, church buildings have tablished there. The mission team did
marily through French Bible corre- been burned, and many Christians have not visit these churches, because there
spondence courses, churches are being fled to refugee camps. When our team was no road on which public transpor-
planted with a growing spirit of evan- reached Goma, we had seminars with tation could go. A brother from Uvira
gelism. Three brothers from Switzer- representatives of churches as far away (65 years old) has walked the distance
land — Brady Smith, Angel Panzano, as 100 km from Goma. The church has twice to edify the churches.
and Doyle Kee — traveled through this some good leadership and is progressing In the eastern DRC, there are two
region to contact and help the recently with little outside help. graduates of the Bible school in Kin-
established churches. The mission team shasa and two others who are now
came into the area by first flying from Bukavu — students. These brethren will be help-
Bujumbura, Burundi, to Kigali, Rwanda, Bible Course Results ing these churches. In addition, there
and then taking a public bus from Kigali South of Goma about 80 km in the are four house churches in Bujumbura,
to Goma. Nord-Kivu province is the hilly city of Burundi, just across the border. Lead-
Bukavu. The Swiss team took a boat for ers from these churches have fellowship
Goma — the three-hour trip from Goma to Bu-
An Afflicted City in eastern DRC with those in eastern RDC.
kavu on Lake Kivu. Through the work After five years, there are now 15
The approach to Goma in the of Bible correspondence courses, two churches in the eastern RDC area and
northern Kivu province of the RDC is churches have been established by stu- six in Burundi, just across the border.
possible from three directions: by plane dents. One remains a house church of 17 There is no one among these churches
from the captital of Kinshasa, by road members and the second one has a small with foreign financial support and no
from Kigali, Rwanda, or from the south building but no chairs. The 35 members buildings have been built or rented for
by boat on Lake Kivu from Bukavu, sit on the floor during the worship. Our these churches. French materials and
RDC. Visas and border crossings are Swiss mission team had an opportunity Bibles have been sent, and World Radio
not always easy. Corruption is a way of to have a day’s seminar for the members pays for a weekly broadcast in French
life for many officials. and for visitors from 14 different reli- in Bujumbura (which is heard across
A Congolese man, Dunia Kaendo, gious groups. We also visited the meet- the border in DRC). U
who was converted in Kenya, began ing places of both assemblies.
establishing churches in the northern Questions and offers of help with Bi-
bles and French materials can be sent
Kivu province in 2002. It took four Uvira — to Doyle Kee: [email protected].
years for the nascent churches to really The Hub of the Province of Sud-Kivu
overcome denominational teachings Another 150 km to the south of Bu-
and traditions and to have fellowship kavu is the strategically important city
with churches of Christ elsewhere. In for Congolese missions of Uvira. The
2007, two graduates returned from two team decided to take an extremely dif-
years of study at the Hilton Terry Bible ficult road through the mountains of
School in Kinshasa. Since then, teach- eastern RDC to avoid visa complica-
ers from the school have twice visited tions by another road through a part of
this group of churches. Rwanda. There are three churches in
In August 2009, $9,000 was raised the Uvira area. For the last four years,
to help these churches which had been the principal influence for growth of
Global Harvest 49
God at Work in
Bujumbura, Burundi
Doyle Kee
Correspondence course work con- locally, Bibles for Burundi. Local lead-
tinued from Geneva, and in 2008 Brady ers are now initiating a program to put
Smith and Doyle Kee returned to Bu- some Bible courses in these two other
jumbura. They found that the Gospel languages. Some help will be needed to
had continued to expand. Through get these printed. If anyone knows of
the active evangelism of Samson and material and courses already available
Burundi is a small country in the Akembe, at least eight house churches in Swahili, contact: Doyle Kee (The-
great lakes’ region of central Africa. had been established in Burundi and [email protected]) U
As a French-speaking country which two others across the border in the Doyle et Barbara Kee, Mission en fran-
borders the Democratic Republic of eastern DR Congo city of Uvira. Smith cophonie 15, ch. des Laz, 1213 Onex/
the Congo to the west, Rwanda to the and Kee encouraged the movement and Genève, Suisse; Tel. 022-793-7537.
north, Kenya to the east, and Tanzania had seminars with more students who
to the south, Burundi has had its own had enrolled through newspaper pub- A PART OF
tragic history. There has not been, licity placed during the visit two years FRENCH WORLD MISSIONS
though, a known history of New Tes- before. The editor of a local newspa- Those of us working in the
tament Christianity in the country. per, Patrice Ndikumasabo, also began French world receive from time to
Six years ago, two Burundian “pas- working with French WBS students. time letters of this kind. We will use
tors” were looking for further bibli- Kee and Baggett set up an arrangement some funds (always needing more!)
cal training and enrolled in the World with a radio station to broadcast pro- contributed for French materials to
Bible School. Kay Patton in Abilene, grams in French, with the support of respond to their request:
Texas, followed their progress until it World Radio from Monroe, LA. “We greet you in the name of our
was evident that a personal French con- Eary in January 2010, three broth- Lord Jesus Christ. Peace to you, may
tact was needed. She eventually com- ers from Switzerland spent a few days in God bless you for the work you are
municated with Doyle Kee in Geneva, Burundi. They confirmed the vitality of doing around the world, to evangelize
Switzerland. The need was for further the restoration movement in the coun- and to teach the Gospel of Christ.
study in French with these two men. try. Inroad has been made in a refugee “We are the Yeoville church of
Through communications with Boni- camp four hours from Bujumbura and, Christ based at Yeoville in South
face Okalo, Joachin Mvuyekure, and oth- during a visit there, the mission team Africa. We are a French congrega-
er student referrals, an active program of confirmed that a church had been estab- tion formed of refugees from French
Bible correspondence courses in French lished among the 9,000 camp residents. countries of Africa living in South
was developed. In 2006, Doyle Kee and Through Bible correspondence Africa. The Yeoville church of Christ
Barry Baggett made a trip to Bujumbura courses and follow-up trips by French- is composed of 69 members and 26
and had seminars with the students. They speaking workers, the church now has children attending Sunday school.
were welcomed by Boniface and Joachin its history underway in Burundi. No “We request help for us with some
and introduced to a number of pastors foreign workers are in the country and French materials (French Gospel ma-
and denominational churches. Two other no outside financial support is coming terials and hymn books for singing).
students, Amou Akembe and Samson in except for the radio program. The na- We would like to know about other
Munahi, showed interest in starting house tional leaders are maturing. French, Ki- French congregations around the
churches in their homes. In time it was rundi, and Swahili Bibles are needed, world so we can communicate with
clear that Joachin and Boniface were too as well as other French materials to en- them. Our address is: Yeoville Church
tied to their denominational background courage the local tent-making leaders. of Christ, Gordon Road, 58A, Ber-
to continue a restoration of the New Tes- Some money has been given by USA trams, South Africa 2094.”
tament church. and European churches to ship and buy, Love you in Christ, Gabriel Kilolo
50 Global Harvest
tize him six years ago but they did not
come. Immediately, I told him that his
Denominational teacher in America had sent me to bap-
tize him and he shouted a loud “Alle-
Preacher luia” on the phone.
Converted I alerted my team concerning the
developments and we took off in search
Kingsley Odogwu of Mr. Victor, whom we discovered in
a remote village at the outskirts of the
city. After a two-hour Bible discus-
in the last lesson sent to him. sion, he was baptized into Christ that
Upon the receipt of Mr.Victor’s same day at about 4:00 PM.
request for water baptism, the teacher Presently, efforts are being made
in the American church sent the request to change the entire denominational
to a Christian brother living in the City church he founded into the New Tes-
of Ibadan where Victor lives but, due to tament church, but that has not been
some other engagements, this special easy because Victor, who is already a
Kingsley Odogwu assignment was not carried out until family man with a wife and four chil-
October of 2009, six whole years after dren, is afraid that we are about to end
I want to tell you the story of the request was sent! his means of feeding his family. Also,
“Pastor” Victor Olarenwaju. Prior to Brethren, God, who was interest- Mr. Victor, who is a strong figure in
his conversion, Mr. Victor was a dili- ed in saving the soul of this Truth seek- the Christian Association of Nigeria
gent seeker of Truth. He hails from an er, preserved this particular envelope of [C.A.N] is being lured by that denomi-
Islamic background before his zeal to Mr. Victor’s request, among heaps of national body not to agree and change
find the Truth got him translated from papers and junk in the brother’s house his church to the church of Christ.
the Islamic religion into a denomina- for six good years, until the day that I Brethren, shall we all fold our arms and
tional church in 1991. came in search of some materials that watch this man be taken back from us?
Therafter, the same zeal to dis- could be used in our Prison Evange- If you were in my shoes, what would
cover the Truth persisted. According lism. On that day, I was asked to go you do to help secure these souls? You
to Mr. Victor, he saw a tract containing and search for some useable materi- may reach me for any help in this par-
an advertizement of a free Bible Cor- als from junk that was already decay- ticular work through: U
respondence programme. Because of ing and wasting in the brother’s office.
his interest, he immediately copied the Mr. Victor’s request for baptism was P.O.Box 20615 U.I, Ibadan 200005, Oyo
State, Nigeria, West Africa.
Postal address and wrote to the adver- among the tracts and papers I packed E-mail:[email protected]
tizers, indicating interest in the Bible that day from the office. [email protected] .
programme, with a view to finding On getting home, I called
more truth about the Bible and God. the local telephone line he [Vic-
After some weeks, the course was sent. tor] had included in his form, to
Through the Bible lessons, Mr. Vic- ascertain whether he had ever been
tor started searching for a church whose baptized.When I finally got him on
teaching corresponded with what he was the phone after several days of at-
studying, but he never found any. tempts, I first asked whether he is
Then, after many years of search- Victor Olarenwaju, to which he re-
ing for the true church and not finding sponded, “Yes”, and following this
it, Mr.Victor decided to begin his own answer, I asked him whether he
church. He called it “POWER CARE knows anything about the World
EVANGELICAL MINISTRY”. At this Bible School. After some pause
point in time, he had completed the cor- he responded with a positive,
respondence programme and had filled “Yes”, but then he told me that he Teaching students on
had asked them to come and bap- a college campus.
in the baptismal request form attached
Global Harvest 51
Sunday morning, January 17, 2010, they jumped off the bike and ran in dif- I talked by phone with Solomon
started out as another day of worship ferent directions because the Muslims on January 24th and he said that every-
for the brethren in Jos. The tragedies of were running after them with cutlasses. one was staying inside their homes. The
that day have changed many people’s The other student was intercepted by officials allow people to be on the streets
lives. Here are details concerning the another Muslim who took him to his from 10 AM until 5 PM each day, but no
events on that morning and the days house and then released him, and then one is going out until after the weekend.
following. he found his way back to the school. Needless to say, rumors are rampant,
I received the following message “But for Ebulla there was no and everyone is fearful. The students of
written Sunday, January 17th by broth- news until on Monday, 18th January, SBS remain on campus.
er Solomon Aguh, President of SBS. his dead body was found in the hos- As soon as we are able to take
“We greet you in the name of our Lord pital. Ebulla was 34 years old and re- possession of brother Ebulla’s remains,
and Savior Jesus Christ. We resumed mained single until his death. He was we plan to hire an ambulance and
classes last week, and I have been pre- a 200 level B.A. Ministry student. He driver for transport. We hope to send
paring the reports to send to you but was from Mbo in Kupe Nwaneguba a staff member and a student at SBS
have not finished yet. Just today after district of Cameroon. His family wants from Ebulla’s village with his remains
the morning worship service, we heard his corpse conveyed to Cameroon, and to the border with Cameroon where his
loud noises about two kilometers away now arrangements are under way. All family will transport him to his village.
from the school. We learned later that our SBS family mourns the demise of Please pray for the people of Ni-
the Muslims had attacked a denomina- brother Ebulla. We believe we will geria. There is danger, both from Mus-
tional church while in worship. meet him in heaven. — James” lim militants and from kidnappers. U
“Two of our students who went to
worship in town were taken while on
their way back. One escaped. The oth-
er, a Cameroonian, is still missing. We 17 Years . . .
reported to the police. We are still hop-
ing the Lord will bring him to us safely. Continued from page 51
Lots of people killed and houses burnt. Our plans are to start the school as soon as the pri-
Pray for us. — Solomon” mary construction is completed. Our teaching staff
On January 22, brother James Ik- will consist of four men and one woman. We plan to
wulono, who is living on campus, sent teach Bible and a two year course in Drip Irrigation
the following: “Greetings and love to Farming. All of our teachers are qualified to teach
you and your family. I am writing to this method of farming. In the near future, we hope
inform you of the current events at Jos. to add two more teachers, a Nigerian missionary who
On 17th January 2010, six days after is completing his Master’s Degree in Nigeria, and a
resumption of SBS classes, brother Sudanese student, who is attending SBS.
Theo-dore Essemo went to worship Our appreciation goes to the loving Christians
with the Township Church of Christ, who have supported SBS and its extended works in
Jos. During the worship, Ebulla helped Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Cameroon, and Uganda. Our
conduct the giving and communion. brother Paul exhorts us through God’s word when he
“After worship he and one of the wrote, “And let us not be weary in well doing for in
students were on the same motorbike due season we shall reap, if we faint not”(Galatians
on their way back to the school when 6:9). May our Lord bless this effort to bring glory to
they ran into Muslim militants that His name. U
were attacking churches. Their mo- Simon Odungo
torbike was stopped by the mob and so Steve Worley email: [email protected]
Global Harvest 53
Jesus’ command in the great from Firm Foundation, Gospel Advo- we talked about the problems of the
commission in Matthew 28:19,20 and cate, Truth For Today, Truth For The many rural preachers who have little
Mark 16:15,16 contains both generic World, Mission Printing, The Chris- or no financial support, and of others
and specific aspects. Specifically, we tian Bible Teacher, Latin American who are getting some support; one idea
are to preach “the Gospel” — and that Crier, and The World Evangelist, to we discussed was ‘how to encourage
excludes fables, human traditions, and name a few. The efforts of J.C. Cho- preachers to save and possibly invest’.
philosophies. Generally, we are not told ate and The Bible Literature For Af- Brother Emeka had some great ideas
“how” to go. Thus, it’s a matter of cost, rica Program of the Berclair church of about investments, but he then told us
convenience, and expediency concern- Christ have been outstanding in provid- he wanted to take us to meet another
ing the method we adopt. Some ‘go’ by ing tools to help others learn to do the brother who has better knowledge.
foot, by land and sea, and others go by will of God through the printed page. We met this other brother — Au-
air. Some go with tracts and books and This is especially so for us in Africa, gustine Agwulo — a very tall and huge
bible correspondence courses, while Asia, and India. person. Brother Augustine was very
others go on the radio, TV and the Inter- Many stories illustrate the great happy to share with us his ideas, for us
net. And it’s safe and many times wise value and power of the printed page in to be able to counsel local preachers.
to combine several methods of going. the work of God. Here are two from We gained much from his talk, but we
God could, but He has not designed my own experiences: ended up gaining even more from the
for souls to be saved by any other way, “Tract in The Trash” story of his conversion:
other than through preaching (Romans I met my first missionaries when Augustine works for the Delta
1:16; 2 Corinthians 4:7). “He who wins Bill Banks and Doug Wheeler came to State Government. His services relate
souls is wise” (Proverbs 11.30). Nigeria in 1984. Since then, my ‘mis- to investment and financial manage-
I have been a Christian since I was sionary efforts’ have been closely in- ment. He has a huge office with many
converted at age 17 in 1979. In these tertwined with Doug. He comes every subordinate staff. One day, as he passed
years, I have known of many wonder- year, and together we travel around the secretary’s office into his, he no-
ful methods by which the churches of much of the South and West of Nige- ticed a squeezed ball of paper. He hates
Christ have tried to spread the Word ria teaching and preaching the saving trash, so he picked it up, intending to
across the globe. Personally, I have tak- message of Christ. In the course of our throw it into the trash basket.
en almost all of the Bible Correspon- tours, we meet many, many different On a second thought, he decided
dence Courses that I knew of in the personalities: Village chiefs, traditional to unwrap the paper and see what it con-
brotherhood. Since I received the Gos- rulers, civil servants, office workers, tained. It turned out to be a tract from the
pel through the World Bible School, I military personnel, police, students church of Christ. He was curious, so he
can tell firsthand of the effectiveness and rural folks. Some are our brethren, took it into his office and read it. He was
of that method. Also, I have received, some are new converts, while many shocked and disturbed to find a church
studied and taught from several materi- can be classed as ‘prospects’. that teaches doctrines ‘completely dif-
als — books and journals — produced In the city of Agbor in Delta ferent’ from most of the denominations
by the brotherhood. Books by Leroy State, our ‘contact person’ — with he had attended and known.
Brownlow, Edward Wharton, Roger whom we stay and work — is a broth-
Augustine was a seeker who had
Dickson, John Waddey, P.D. Wilmeth, er by the name of Emeka Molokwu.
been disgruntled with many denomina-
T. Pierce Brown, Jim Mcguiggan, John Brother Emeka is a great Christian, and
tional practices around him. What he
Stacy, V.P. Black, Eddie Cloer, Jim a most zealous evangelist and church
had found in that piece of paper was
Massey, and J.C. Choate, among oth- planter. Yet he is not a “preacher”. He
‘treasure hidden in the trash’. He made
ers, have helped many of us in Africa is a professional, self-employed and
copies of the tract, and kept one in his
to learn how to be Christians and how runs his own company. Three years
to teach others. I have read publications ago while we were with Emeka, as Continued on page 54
54 Global Harvest
in Nigeria, but most are in the far East
where the strength of our brotherhood
The Preaching Power . . . exists. The Director of the school, Eb-
enezer Olufemi Makinde, was trained
Continued from page 53 in the Far East. With the spirit of ag-
the village for one young boy. We did not
gressive evangelism, he thought it wise
car. He intended to check out ‘what know that after he worked the first book,
to start a local training program for
kind of church is this church of Christ that he moved to the city to live with his
brothers to provide leadership in the
that teaches differently from most oth- uncle. Meanwhile, at home, his cousin
village congregations.
ers?’. One day, in his own town of Ag- brother saw the paper on the table, was
While Doug Wheeler was in Nige-
bor, he saw the sign of the church. On attracted to it, and started to study. He fin-
ria this year, we had the Great Work-
Sunday, he went there to worship, mak- ished several booklets and signed up —
shop at the Inikokoro congregation
ing sure to arrive early so as not to miss requesting to be baptized. We went, and
where Makinde preaches and where the
out on any of the worship activities. at the waterside, he had a “confession”
training takes place. Every year, while
At the end, he asked several questions. to make. It was then that he revealed that
Doug is on his annual mission trip in
With his education and a mind set on he was not the original owner of the les-
Nigeria, we have a ‘Great Workshop’
knowing the truth and not justifying sons, but that his cousin that we thought
that attracts as many as 400–500 of
manmade doctrines, he quickly saw the was working the books had gone to live
our preachers and church leaders from
truth and was baptized. in the city. He then told us his own name,
across the West and South of Nigeria.
Today, brother Agwulor is a pillar and we baptized him. This was a case of
In the “one day for evangelism” dur-
in the church at Agbor and a true ser- someone who learned the Gospel under
ing this year’s workshop, five obeyed
vant of Christ — all because somebody a ‘fake name’ and was saved. That is the
the Gospel in baptism as we massed
saw the need to print a tract. power of the printed page.
out for door knocking. And in the few
My word to you at World Evan-
An ‘Impostor’ weeks that Doug would spend in that
gelism, World Bible School, and oth-
World Bible School Student area, part if his efforts involved teach-
er publishers of the Word of God is
All those who have been involved ing special courses at the SWSE.
to never be weary of doing this good
in the use of WBS as a method of evan- Later, Makinde asked me to teach
work. The spate of technology in the
gelism can tell many stories about their at South West for a week. I taught the
US may have made many alternatives
students in foreign lands. When postage 11 preaching students two courses:
available-in computers, electronics,
increased in Nigeria in 1993 from 30 Hermeneutics and Church Leadership
DVDs etc, Yet, you all must realize that
Naira per letter to 150 Naira, it became and Organization. We spent a total of
many nations have not got to where you
clear that the WBS program would be three or four hours in the class daily,
are in that development. Thus, we still
affected since many of the ‘students’ are beside several informal hours answer-
rely heavily on the printed page here in
high school children who in most cases ing questions, giving advice, and in
Africa. It’s sad to notice how the postal
can hardly afford postage on their own. counseling. The students loved our
system in some parts of the world (as
One response from me and my time together, and I have gained from
in Nigeria) is making it harder to mail
team was that we started an office in the experience.
books and papers to our brethren. I do
Igarra that we have called The Chris- I completed my work and set a test
not have an answer to the situation,
tian Resource Center — CRC. In that for the exercise. Makinde had left for
but it may be wise to consider printing
office, we give out, receive and grade Lagos on Saturday morning, to speak
materials locally in some of such coun-
WBS schools lessons. We established to one of the congregations that was or-
tries. For we must not fail to continue
a network whereby we send the les- daining elders and deacons. I have al-
to take advantage of the power of the
sons to different villages via the local ready received several calls of appreci-
printed page as we strive to obey our
preachers and anyone else who is avail- ation from the students. My joy is that I
Lord’s command to “go’.
able. As we have traded the lessons to had one more opportunity to contribute
The South West
and fro, we sometimes receive a re- to the great task of World Evangelism
School Of Evangelism
quest for a visit, for baptism, or to start by training others who will go out and
The School of Evangelism is located
a congregation. join us all as we must “scatter the pre-
in Ibadan, an ancient city of 15 million
cious Seed” (Luke 8:11). U
In the village of Ugboshi-Ele, we people in the southwest end of Nigeria.
had this incidence: A lesson was sent to There are several Bible training schools (Sylvester) email: [email protected]
Global Harvest 55
Historically,
The First Church of Christ in India
Sunny David
April 16-18, Friday-Sunday, I was in the city of Shil-
long, the capitol city of the state of Meghalya in the north-
east, where I was invited to speak in a Gospel meeting. The
meetings were very well attended with great enthusiasm by
over 200 people.
The church at Mawlai in Shillong had also put around
the building loudspeakers for the outside crowd to hear. Shil-
long is an interesting city in India, where more than 90% of
the people are believers in Christ, mostly Catholics and Pres-
byterians. There are about six congregations of the Lord’s
church in Shillong.
The congregation in attendance.
After the meetings were over, one young man was bap-
tized, and after I returned to Delhi a member of the church
in Mawlai called me to say that there are about four more
contemplating obedience to the Lord’s command of baptism.
Interestingly, the church at Mawlai in Shillong was the
first congregation of the Lord’s church in India in modern
times, established more that sixty years ago.
The following insert is by Betty Choate. It is a recount-
ing of God’s wonderful providence at work.
“Members of a Presbyterian church in Shillong began
to study their Bible and to compare what they were reading
with what they knew to be Presbyterian doctrine. As they
learned the differences, they made changes in themselves
and in their church, to fit what the Scriptures teach concern-
ing obedience to the Gospel and the organization of believ-
ers into a congregation.
IMPACT OF TV...
Continued from page 57
A few months back, one denominational preacher responded
to our telecast. In fact he came over here personally to get
clarification on several Bible subjects. He has been follow-
ing our telecasts for some time and came to the conclusion
he was wrong. I got him to take the Basic Bible Course from Study materials sent
us and also gave several books written by J.C. Choate and oth- to TV viewers and
ers. He began to take more and more interest in the church radio listeners.
and attended a couple of our monthly preachers’ workshops. In
were three in that congregation! Meanwhile, she was getting
books and Bible courses from us, studying the Bible intensely,
and assimilating the truths. Two months ago, both the mother
and the two women came and visited with me. They have now
grown to 21 members, all women, and the visiting preacher
happens to be the only man in their assemby. The husband
who protested vehemently is now neutral. And the congrega-
tion meets in her home every Sunday. Her nine-year-old boy
recites many Scripures and knows all the songs and numbers
in our Telugu hymn book.
These three ladies brought Rs.1500 as a gift fom their
Solomon (right), formerly a denominational preacher, pic- congregtion for our TV work! This good sister’s name is
tured with Ricky Gootam and others who were baptized. Ramadevi. She is so well versed in the Bible and so zeal-
March this year when Jerry and Paula Bates came, Ricky took ous for the truth that she picks up conversations with co-
them over to his village. They held a meeting and, when the passengers on the bus and tells them about Jesus Christ and
invitation was extended, the denominationl preacher was the His only church. She hopes some day both her husband and
first one to get up and obey the Gospel. Thirteen more were father would obey the Gospel.
baptized that day. He is in his late 50s and is very zealous for There are many, many such stories. The Word of God
the truth. He especially likes our singing without instruments. is powerful, and He has given us a powerful medium — the
We not only started a new congregation there, but we also got television — to carry the Gospel to modern homes. This is
their church building. There are scores of instances like this one of the tools we have and we’d better make use of it while
where people started congregtions of the Lord’s Church in it is available in India. God bless you. U
their villages or towns due to our TV programs. Joshua Gootam is the Telugu TV speaker in AP, India.
Email: [email protected]
About three years go one young Hindu lady walked into
our office, wanting to talk to me personally. When told I was Paula Bates having a class with
in the hospital, she wept bitterly and went back to her village the children at the orphanage.
disappointed. A few weeks later, she came again on a Sunday
and declared her intention to obey the Gospel that very day.
She had been following our telecasts in her home. Theirs is a
staunch Hindu home, and her husband was much against her
becoming a Christian. But she put the Lord first, travelled
by bus about four hours and obeyed the Gospel, determined
to start the church of Christ in her village. She broke bread
several weeks all alone in her home.
A few weeks later, she came again to Kakinada, this time
with her mother and younger sister, so they could be baptized
here. She had taught them the Gospel, and from that day there
Global Harvest 59
Vignettes of
the work in
Trivandrum,
Our daughter, Pretty was married to
Aji on August 8, 2009 at Kottayam. He
Kerala,
is a preacher who attended our Bible
School at Trivandrum. His parents South India One of our new contacts
also are Christians. Now they both named Sandhya Rani is taking
are in His service. Praise God for that. P.K. Varghese baptism after several studies.
Remember them in your prayers. She is a faithful member now.
Gigi, the daughter of Vincent, one of our members, Christians at Kovalam worship in the renovated
is taking scriptural immersion. Vincent is a good building. Members are increasing so we had to ex-
learner of the Scriptures. He encourages many to tend the space. Now we have enough room, but
turn to the Lord. still the children are sitting on the floor. We are get-
ting more contacts locally since we started our TV
program in Malayalam. It really helps the work in
Kerala. The churches here appreciate the brethren
who are supporting this program. It is our prayer
that God may give them the right reward.
Annual
Summer
Bible
Camp
S. Rajanayagam
When our family moved to the about to die at Nu’uuli in American on this extended effort. In December
Pacific Island country of the Fiji Islands Samoa and Nuku’alofa, Tonga. We set in 2007, I went to our elders at Forest
in 1973, it was only two years later motion the plan to carry the Gospel to the Park and presented a Power Point
that I began to dream of carrying the nation of Western Samoa, from there to strategy. They gave me the green light,
Gospel to every country in that region. Vanuatu, then the Solomon Islands. We and away we went with climbing this,
There was a need because the Lord’s were getting others involved in helping another mountain, for the Lord Jesus
church had been planted only in Fiji, us in the work of the Lord and in time Christ in the Pacific Islands. With His
American Samoa, and Tonga. There we had missionaries in Western Samoa help we set the plan in motion, looking
was only one congregation in each of and Vanuatu, with plans in motion for at each nation and at the challenge of
these countries; they were very small a missionary in American Samoa. The carrying the Gospel to each nation, as
and barely surviving. Gospel was spreading, and the Lord’s well as getting others to help
In December 1974, I worked up a church was being planted throughout the THE FINAL PUSH IN
strategy plan for carrying the Gospel to South Pacific, into the Central Pacific, CARRYING THE Gospel TO THE
every nation beginning where we were, and finally into the North Pacific. 7 NATIONS IN THE PACIFIC
and then reaching out. When I shared We now have four families over- ISLANDS.
the idea with Mary, she said, “Robert, seen by the Forest Park congregation We started with the first 4 islands:
how can we do this? This is bigger in Atlanta, and five overseen by other We had already laid the ground work
than anything we have ever done for congregations that we are working with with Scott & Rebecca Shanahan who
the Lord.” I said to her, “Mary, God in the Pacific, a total of nine families live in Pohnpei. They would carry the
will help us, and we will take on one laboring for the Lord in the 22 countries, Gospel to Kosrae once they had built
or two nations at a time and get others 30,000 islands, and among the 6+ up a solid foundation in Pohnpei, where
to help us.” In January 1975, we had million people of the Pacific Islands. they now live as missionaries. Scott
a visit from brother John Maner, one In January 2007, we looked at the and Rebecca are working diligently in
of our elders. As I shared this dream nations in the Pacific Islands where we sowing the seed in Kosrae to plant the
with him, he looked at the map on the had not carried the Gospel, the field that Lord’s church there.
wall in my office and said, “Robert, do we know is “white to harvest” (Matthew Then to Nauru, where a number
you know how to eat an elephant?” I 9:37). To climb this mountain for the of us have made short trips and
thought for a minute and said, “One Lord would take: Prayer Power, Man have preached the Gospel on many
bite at a time.” I then thought that this Power, Will Power, and Money Power. occasions. We would use some of our
will be the key to carrying the Gospel I knew that we could not do it Fijian brethren whom we have taught,
and planting the Lord’s church in every by ourselves; we would need others baptized, and trained, and who have
nation in the Pacific. working with us. Stacy Ferguson had contract jobs there, as missionaries for
In January 1976, we started reaching come to help with the responsibilities in the Lord. They have baptized others and
out to strengthen the very small body of Pacific Islands Bible College, allowing are working to plant the church there.
Christ that had been neglected and was me the time, money, and energy to work Continued on page 69
Global Harvest 69
just graduated from the University of of Technology, and then I married her
Technology, after four years, with a Di- to Gilmore. We saw their first-born baby
ploma Degree in Electrical Engineer- girl, Esmo, and now seeing her become
ing-Communications. He won all three a sister in Christ is a joyful time for all
top awards in his department. He is a of us. She will graduate in Business
How time goes by, and here we are very strong and faithful youth leader in in March and then seek employment.
saying, “God is good”. Indeed space our congregation, who will leave Lae Gilmore was also a graduate of the Uni-
cannot fill all God has done for us. We for Port Moresby soon. He is waiting versity of Technology in Building.
continue to give thanks and praise for for his job offer. The 23rd PNG
providing for our daily needs. Cain gave me the challenge to do Women’s Workshop
Radio Ministry my own editing of the sermons. I almost Preparation of three years resulted
World Radio continues to support gave up. God is good. Cain was a tough in Christian women from all over PNG
my Sunday Morning Sermon for 2010. tutor. I am grateful for his help over the gathering to Tami Island and having
Christians from rural areas tune in on past three years. He will be one of the a wonderful time of spiritual feast and
Sundays in the morning and evening to great tools for the Lord’s church where- fellowship. Their guest speaker, Cath-
listen to the Bible lessons. One walked ever he goes. I taught him, his brother erine Scott, could not make it from the
into my office and wanted to see me in Nick, and Arthur Tatara to prepare ser- U.S., but God provided another through
person and say thank you. He gathers mons and preach. All have done well in Kathy Huff, accompanied by her hus-
his family and friends around his radio their spiritual lives and school work. band, Dr. Tobey Huff. Wives of the
each Sunday to listen to the sermons. I Baptism MBC students also attended and, for
was encouraged to hear from him, and After months of prayers and Bi- them, it was a great learning experi-
I offered to visit them if they want me ble studies, Rachael Gabori decided to ence. While the women had their Bible
to come to their village. be buried into Christ. I can remember Classes, the men and youth prepared
My nephew, Cain Desiang, who Rachael staying at our home for a few meals and served the women. Elderly
does the editing of my Sunday Sermons months while attending the University mothers also helped in preparing food.
For Becky and me, we thanked our Lord
for the church on Tami Island that has
grown into maturity in its faith. Three
souls were added to the Lord’s church
during the workshop. About 300 wom-
en attended. The 2011 workshop will be
hosted by the Kundiawa church.
To our sponsoring congregation,
Highland Church of Christ in Mem-
phis, Tennessee, our partner since the
beginning of the Bible College from
the School of Life to MBC for the past
30 years, we thank you and appreciate
your loyalty, love, support, and part-
nership. May our Lord richly bless and
keep you. U
Jab & Becky Mesa – MBC, P.O. Box
409, Lae, M.P. Papua New Guinea;
The students of Melanesian Bible College, with their families. Email: [email protected]
Global Harvest 71
leader who had gone away from the ations, but nothing is impossible with
Lord a few years ago. Him! How great it is to bring the Gos-
We’ve been working with teachers pel to others! “Tanggio tumas” (thank
for the children’s Bible classes (level 1 you)…and again we say thank you! U
and level 2), who’ve just announced the
beginning of a new Bible Quiz program Randy English
[email protected]
for the children, which is also being ex-
[email protected]
tended into the adult Bible class.
More progress has been made in
our search for a suitable place for the
church of Christ in Honiara to construct
a new building, with the government
Greetings to you from the won- accepting a land-use proposal submit-
derful nation of the Solomon Islands, ted on behalf of the local church.
where our team of three is being blessed This week God also opened a
to daily preach and teach God’s Word, great door to us through which we
and to labor in strengthening and en- can help serve the people of Rendo- A new birth
couraging the church that Jesus built! vah Island, an area devastated by an
Mike Burk (Green Forest church earthquake that struck on January 4th,
of Christ) and Buzz Toland (Bellefonte 2010. We’re seeking to get relief sup-
church of Christ) have joined me for plies shipped into the country, which
this important work, and we are grate- can then be placed aboard a ship that
ful to report to you that God is provid- is co-owned/operated by a member, for
ing us with encouraging progress, as delivery to Rendovah.
well as some unexpected opportunities Another unexpected blessing
for the spreading of the Gospel in this came this week while finalizing plans
country. for taking the Gospel to the Kwaio
Here’s an overview of some of people, in the highlands of Malaita.
the wonderful things that have taken We have learned that one of our sisters
place over the past week: in Christ has relatives living among the
In addition to teaching three Bible Kwaio, which will be of great help as
classes each night for the adults, teens, we seek to enter this extremely remote
and children, we’ve been abundantly region in the near weeks to come.
blessed to teach two series of daily God is blessing us in many ways
leadership classes, which both visi- as we labor here. We know that this
tors and members have been attending. would not be possible without your
It has also been our joy to have daily constant prayers, your support, and
personal Bible studies with those who your many acts of kindness that com-
are seeking God’s Way, as well as stud- bine together to advance the cause of
ies with individual Christians who are Christ. In the midst of this, we see
seeking to strengthen their commit- how very good God is, especially in
ment to serving the Lord. Two more the past few weeks as we’ve been la-
precious people were added to the body boring across several nations. God has
of Christ today, and there was the en- brought us through difficulties and dan- A local Christian and Randy English.
couraging return of a very talented gers, and seemingly impossible situ-
72 Global Harvest
Praying with
Trials and Love
Dominador Jack Belo
Expectation . . .
Continued from page 73
Conrad Espenilla, one of the elders with joy and calmness, to pray and wait realized it was Peter, she was so shocked
in the church, has had hard trials since for God to answer in his own way. that she didn’t even let him in but, in-
becoming a New Testament Christian God did answer. His wife has now stead, she ran and told the Christians in
in the Philippines in 1993. He was im- had the surgery, is recuperating and the prayer session that Peter was out-
prisoned in Libya on suspicion of steal- feeling fine. And they are overflowing side, knocking at the gate. What fol-
ing equipment in an oil company where with gratitude for the wonderful way lowed next is both revealing and even
he was working as an engineer, but was God took them out of their worst trial. a little humorous; it revealed that they
later vindicated and released. Then, First, they learned that the surgery were praying without expectation. They
coming home one day, riding with his could be done in the Philippines at St. told Rhoda, “You are beside yourself!”
family from the burial of his father, his Luke’s Hospital for only $10,000 in But Rhoda insisted that Peter was, in
new vehicle, driven by their houseboy, contrast to $30,000 in the U.S. They fact, standing at the gate. These Chris-
ran through a concrete fence. Though did not have that money, but they de- tians then declared, “It is his angel.”
the car was a total wreck, he and his cided to come back to the Philippines Peter continued to knock, wait-
family escaped unhurt. and hope they could find the money ing for entrance, and when they finally
But the biggest trial came when somehow. Then, upon learning of went to open the gate and saw him, the
he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, as an their plight, one of the members of text states “... they were astonished.”
immigrant two years ago. Contrary to the Bright Angel church in Las Vegas Why should they have been aston-
his expectation, he got no job because — Mrs. Gaye Vaughn — decided to ished? Had they not asked God to re-
the U.S. had just begun its economic give a personal contribution of $5,000. lease Peter from prison? Obviously,
downturn. His wife Maggi ended up The elders of the church also decided they had prayed without expectation!
as the breadwinner by accepting a low- to help with $2,500. The remaining Do we not often do the same to-
paying job in a nursing home. Then, it balance was divided between two of day? Let us pray in faith and urgency
was discovered that his wife was suf- their daughters: Myleen (Mrs. Stewart that God will open the doors of com-
fering from a brain tumor. Her doc- McDonald of Australia) gave half, and munist China so that we can have an
tor prescribed surgery, but they had no Monalisa’s IBM insurance took care opportunity to evangelize that massive
money, no insurance, and they knew of of the rest. Stereotactic Radio Surgery number of souls for our Lord. Howev-
no relative to help them. (SRS) was performed on sister Maggi er, let us never pray without expecta-
At my advice as a Christian, I told and she went home the next day. tion. Let us pray and then prepare!
him to expect trial, to accept the trials Both Conrad and Maggi have re- That is what we are trying to
turned to Tacloban, their do with the Lord’s help at Philippine
hometown, to share their Theological College, located on the
experience with a special South China Sea just across from main-
Thanksgiving Fellowship. land China. God has blessed us with a
Sister Maggi says she will four-year Bible college for the purpose
invite 50 of her relatives of preparing men for ministry in the
who are Catholics to be Philippines and to be missionaries, lat-
present at this service. er, to China when God opens that door
She hopes some of them of opportunity for evangelism. Our re-
will open their hearts to sponsibility is to pray and prepare!
the invitation of God to God Has Blessed Us With a “School
the Gospel of Christ, for of Tyrannus Opportunity”... Acts 19. U
the greater blessings of
Demar Elam is Director of Mission Stud-
forgiveness and eternal
ies at Amridge University and is Presi-
life. U dent of Philippines Theological College.
Maggi and Conrad Espenilla [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Global Harvest 75
A little over a week ago, we had a ter. It is difficult here in Pohnpei be- much as we enjoyed seeing all of you.
phone call from someone who could cause we don’t have a lot of places Sadly, we can’t spend the time that we
barely talk. The man, named Salter, had where you can just walk into the ocean, would like with each family member,
listened to our radio program and want- especially for a stroke victim. Even- friend, congregation, and investor, but
ed us to teach him. We came to find tually, the Lord provided us with a we did get to spend some time with
out he is only 35 years old, but he had good spot. We had to make sure it was many of our closest friends and got to
a stroke when he was 31, so he barely clear of sea urchins first, and then two know some new ones.
gets around and is very difficult to un- of the men, Charlie and Velerio, very One of the interesting things about
derstand. However, his mind is incred- carefully brought Salter into the wa- being foreign missionaries is that while
ibly sharp, and he can see well enough ter and baptized him. We didn’t even we were just visiting “home”, we are
to read his Bible. He just can’t turn the need a light to see because God pro- glad to be back “home”. I once heard
pages. vided us with a very bright moon last a man at a missions workshop reading
Anyway, we studied with him a cou- night and a clear sky full of stars. All a list of “You might be a missionary
ple of times and immediately felt close of the brethren were beaming from the if’s”. One of them was, “You might be
to him. Scott gave him a ride home from awesomeness of this man’s determina- a missionary if the only place you feel
the hospital one day, and Salter told Scott tion to be saved, and in my short four- at home is in the airport.” It is confus-
that he wanted to be his brother in Christ. and-a-half years here, this might be the ing at times (especially when someone
The next night Salter came to the as- most beautiful thing that I have seen. asks, “Where are you from?”), but it is
sembly with us for the first time. I It just goes to show that people who are a great reward to have two places that
wish you could have seen how help- truly searching for truth will find it. you consider home.
ful the members were with getting him Reporting Stateside We got right back to work Sunday
into and out of our truck, especially This year, we made our third trip to morning, worshipping with the saints
one 17-year-old brother named Alidger. the States to report to all of our invest- in Kolonia and then Sunday evening in
Scott’s sermon that night was on ing congregations in America. This Mand. Monday morning, we were up
the plan of salvation, and during the trip was by far the busiest we have ever bright and early (one of the benefits of
invitation song Salter raised his hand. had, but I also think it was the best. We jet-lag is that you wake up at 5:00 in the
He wanted to be baptized right then. managed to visit with all but one of our morning, ready to take on the day) and
We spent a couple of hours cart- investing congregations, met one new got to work preparing our classes and
ing the brethren around, looking for a congregation, spent time with both lessons for the week. The preaching
good spot to bring Salter into the wa- sides of our family, and we were able to school started back on Wednesday, and
attend two lecture- there was a lot to do to prepare for that.
ships and a Gospel On top of that, there were a million er-
meeting. All of that rands to run, lots of people to visit, and
brought us to sev- a house to get back in order. Rebecca
en different states. and I had a great visit to the States, but
We put over 8,000 are very glad to be back to work in our
miles on a car, flew adopted homeland.
to three states and Brethren Continue
took a four-hour bus Steadfast In Our Absence
ride. It was exhaust-
One of the goals of the work that
ing, but well worth
you and we are doing is to establish in-
the time spent. We
dependent congregations of the Lord’s
hope that you all en-
joyed seeing us as Continued on page 79
78 Global Harvest
Campaigns in Australia
and New Zealand
Kent O’Donnell
er in spiteful glee, the conditions
After attending the lectureships in
Tasmania last year, I mentioned how likely worked to our advantage.
I hoped that a more active relation- You see, Toowoomba hadn’t had
ship would be developed between New a decent rainfall for 10 years, and
Zealand and Australian brethren. Well,I think this made for a more pleas- Kent, Rachael, Chloe, Ethan, Michael &
ant and successful reception at
I am glad to say I was part of a wonder- Phoebe O’Donnell.
ful example of just that at the end ofthe door. It seemed to me that the A week after returning from the
February. rain caused people to feel happier, and campaign in Toowoomba, we went
thus be friendlier, than they might have down to help with the door-knocking
Two years ago, a couple of sisters
otherwise been. So the cruel joke the effort in Wellington. It was great to
from the Gipps Street Church of Christ,
in Toowoomba, Australia, came over to devil tried to have at our expense actu- work again with Kevin Gray, who used
ally backfired on him. Not only were to be part of the team here in Palmer-
help us with a campaign here in Palmer-
ston North. They saw how things were we still able to knock some doors, but ston North. The weather was blustery
the average attitude we faced was more and cold, which wasn’t ideal, but a real
done, and promptly set about having one
positive; and as a real poke in the old challenging aspect were the pathways
organised for their congregation in 2010.
serpent’s eye, there were five baptisms! we had to negotiate to get to many of
The time arrived and it turned out
God’s greatness is at its greatest when the doors. Some of them were more like
to be a real multi-national effort. In all,
there were about 10 workers from New He uses the least likely circumstances goat tracks: steep, narrow, and rickety.
Zealand, five from Malaysia, two from to achieve the least likely results (cf.
Joshua 23:10; 2 Corinthians 12:9).
America, at least five from other Austra- TOOWOOMBA CAMPAIGN
Doors knocked: 4,922
lian congregations, and a number of the Campaigns always have humorous
People spoken to: 2,071
local brethren, including a man whose moments. My favourite one to tell this
Bible study appointments set: 46
family recently migrated from Africa time is of a lady who came to the door People to call back on later: 88
(Nigeria, I think). and said, “I’m not home.” I looked at Baptisms: 5
I had expected the weather to be my door-knocking partner and looked
Breakdown:
typically Australian, dry and hot, butback again. She said, “Seriously, I’m
Knocked 107 doors to get 1 Bible study.
not here.” All I could think to say was,
this couldn’t have been further from the
Spoke to 45 people to get 1 Bible study.
“I’m going to put a pamphlet in your
case. I could stay only one week, and it Set 9 studies to have 1 baptism.
rained every day — I even had to wear door, so when you are at home you can
three layers at one point! While Satanread it.” We then left and laughed for a Aside from such physical difficul-
was probably rubbing his hands togeth-long time afterwards. ties, it was also a challenge to find much
Thanks to Rod spiritual awareness. I think I had only
Kyle for direct- four or five conversations of any real
ing another well length, and none wanted to study the
organised cam- Bible. One guy made it clear he wasn’t
paign, and to interested and slammed the door, but
the Toowoomba from the way he said it, he expected us
c o n g r e g a t i o n to know that before we even knocked.
for taking care Clearly, my “through walls, mind read-
of us all so well ing ability” was on the blink. Despite
(3 John 5:7). the sparse positive responses, we still
C o m m e n d a - gained the victory in giving hundreds of
Most of the campaign workers for the first week. tions all ’round. Continued on page 79
Global Harvest 79
Campaigns . . . Micronesia
Continued from page 78 Continued from page 77 and we will visit some of the erring
people a chance, which, at the end of the church. Each time Rebecca and I go brethren in the village. Also, Rebecca
day, is all that is expected of us. Any- off the island, it is a test for the brethren has decided, and plans to discuss with
thing beyond that is a bonus, for which who will one day be on their own. So the women in Mand, how we can in-
God deserves the credit anyway. far, we are greatly pleased with the re- crease the attendance for the children’s
In May, we’ll be having another cam- sults. Both congregations met faithful- Bible class. There seem to be a million
paign of our own with the help of students ly for worship and Bible class while we children in this small village, yet often
from Freed Hardeman University. Please were away. The men in each congrega- there is only a handful of kids in Bible
pray for the success of this venture. tion did a great job of developing their class. Rebecca, working with the local
Following the outreach in Wel- own sermons and teaching the adult ladies, is going to look at how to grow
lington, the congregation down there Bible classes. The women made sure this into the kind of program that the vil-
hosted a Family Camp in Waikanae, that the children’s classes were kept up, lage children will want to attend.
which is on the Kapiti Coast (March and they took turns teaching them. G Second, we need to grow the con-
19th-21st). The theme was: How to Also, the brethren took good care of gregation in Kolonia. At least for now
Live in a Lost World, and the keynote our newest brother, Salter. He was able we plan to take Tuesdays for door
speaker was Lonnie Jones, Jr., of the to attend each service and looks like he is knocking and Bible studies in areas of
Blue Ridge Church of Christ, Georgia, much, much stronger than he was when Kolonia where we already have mem-
USA. It was a fun weekend. we left. We are so happy that our family bers living. The idea will be to invite
The church in New Plymouth host- here in Pohnpei is growing in the Lord, their family, friends, and neighbors for
ed their annual Weekend Camp Lecture- and we look forward to it becoming com- Bible studies, and eventually to have
ship. The lessons this year came from pletely independent in the future. larger groups in more concentrated ar-
the book of Psalms and were presented Plan the Work, Work the Plan eas. This will mean that we will not be
by Niel Richey who preaches for the Rebecca and I were blessed with doing the School of Preaching on Tues-
Piedmont Road Church of Christ, in the opportunity to meet several times days anymore. Instead, the school will
Marietta, Georgia, USA. with our deacon of missions while we meet Wednesdays and Thursdays for
On April 15th, we had the first of were in the States. With him we are longer periods of time.
what we plan to be a regular Men’s planning a campaign for 2011. Rebec- G Third, we are looking at doing a
Discussion Group. The purpose of ca and I have also spent a lot of time summer Bible school workshop in both
the meeting is for us to get together together sharing ideas for the work and congregations. There will be classes for
and talk about doctrinal issues, marital making plans for the next few months. adults and children. We have not worked
matters, fatherly responsibilities, and/ Here are some of the things that we out all the details, but we will likely use
or study various Bible verses, etc. This want to try to do. We ask that you pray public buildings. In addition to the cam-
has been long overdue, and I think it for us in these efforts: paign that we are planning with Don
will be of great benefit to those of us G First, we have not been able to in 2011, we are also looking for other
in leadership positions. To kick it off, spend the time that we need in Mand groups to come out in 2011, 2012, and
we deliberated over the topic of how and, as a result, the church there has 2013. We will have more details on
we should dress for worship, especially had negative growth in the last year. We future campaigns and how you can get
when we are serving in some capacity. want to step up our efforts in that com- involved in the future. There is much
It was a robust discussion, and the best munity. One thing that we will do is to work to do, and we desperately need
thing for me is that everyone present spend a part of every Monday there (we your prayers and the help of our Father
made a positive contribution. U plan to call them, “Mand Mondays”). in Heaven to get the work done. We
Kent & Rachael O’Donnell, 44 Suzanne Our goal will be to get Bible studies go- thank you in advance for your prayers!U
Gr., Palmerston North 4414, New Zea- ing with people that may one day come
land. Ph.: 011-64-6-3544944. E-mail: Scott and Rebecca Shanahan, P.O.
to Christ. When we don’t have Bible Box 2467, Kolonia PNI 96941, Feder-
[email protected];
Sponsored by the Central Church of
studies scheduled, we will go door-to- ated States of Micronesia; Email:
Christ in Cleveland, TNt door, inviting people for Bible classes, [email protected]
80 Global Harvest