Saturday, December 13, 2008

Dinesh & Shannon, Update 12/12/08

My apologies for not writing to you earlier. My exams just got over and had been very busy studying. Thank you for asking about my parents.  The incident occurred on the other side of Mumbai so my parents are fine.

We just visited them for a couple of days. They are doing well. We continue to pray for their salvation. Shannon's parents are visiting us presently. We are having a good time with them.

Mack Update, 12/12/08

We are frequently receiving Email from people asking us about our VISA situation. So here's an update. RSA Home Affairs has now accepted our application and taken our money, but we still don't have the final outcome. It looks hopeful and people assure us we will receive them. If not, we have the name of the supervisor and someone who works for the government who will contact her for us. We have received suggestions from many people in RSA and even from the USA and many assurances of prayer. We should know for sure in about 25 days and, if we don't get it, we have some ways of appealing. If all else fails we could go to Botswana for a short period and then could return for three months and then back to Botswana and then back here and so on. We've been contacted by some missionary friends from Kenya suggesting that they would love to have us come there and they think they could get us VISA's there. I think they were half serious and half kidding, but we are fairly sure that RSA is where God wants us to be. GSM classes and other teaching/preaching/ministry commitments already scheduled for 2009 would seem to indicate that this is where God wants us to minister.

We along with Josh and Marda and Beth and Sybrand are having wonderful opportunities to contact, teach, counsel and assist native Africans. Bible Studies are being established in several of the settlements and townships around Pretoria. We have a black brother who has been trained at Christ's Seminary and at Grace School of Ministry living with us along with another black brother from the DRC. Robert, the well trained black brother, is out almost every day in one of these places visiting people and conducting Bible classes. He's doing a great job and growing in usefulness. It's a joy to see him maturing. Jaungo (from the Congo) is entering Christ's Seminary in January. Someone has provided a scholarship for him. He is so excited. He will continue to live with us when he is not in school. He is reading and studying and listening to CDs and is growing like a healthy plant. He soon won't a neophyte (Greek for young plant). Several black men have made professions of faith and are meeting regularly with Josh to be discipled. Josh and marda have become foster parents to another abandoned child - they now have 7 children (4 biological and 3 foster children) and they would fill the house with more refugees and orphans if we would let them have our part of the house. Incidentally, you might join us in prayer as there is a house for sale right next to our house. If we had the money we would consider buying it (once we're sure about the VISA thing) and move into it which would give Josh and Marda room for more orphans and/or having a black family move in so they could disciple them. I don't know of anyone who is more appropriately aggressive and selfless in the way they reach out and sacrifice for the people in South Africa or anywhere than they are. Their zeal and willingness to reach out is a real challenge to us and others. They use whatever they have to the max in ministering  in His Name. Anyway, if the Lord wills we would consider the house next door - that would expand our ability to minister considerably. Part of that willing would be for God to provide enough money to purchase the house. Ephesians 3:20 is still in the Bible and still true.

Meanwhile our daughter and son-in-law to be (January 17) have begun their ministry at a church 10 minutes from us. I preached his installation sermon this past Sunday. The church has a Christian school with 90 children (mostly black children) and Beth is already meeting with the staff and sharing her expertise with them. It is a very well integrated church with godly and knowledgeable black and white Christians serving key roles. Beth will also help us at Grace School of Ministry doing some of the same things she did when she worked with me as Director of the Summer Biblical Counseling Institute at The Master's College. She and Carol and Marda will probably be starting a preschool program for homeless children in a place called Stinkwater where there are 60 parentless pre school children who are left to themselves throughout the day when their older siblings are at school. Hopefully, this will care for these little children, but also open doors for impacting Stinkwater with the Gospel.

Appreciate your prayers. Thanks for your support and encouragement.

Have a blessed Christmas celebrating the One for whom we live and minister; the One who makes life worth living.

Blessings. SDG.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Howell, South Africa Trip On!

Greetings Friends,

This is a just a quick note inviting you to rejoice as the Lord has provided the funds necessary to travel to South Africa!  Thank you for your prayers and encouragements!

Ministry opportunities in South Africa are developing and several are already calendared.  Pray for wisdom in order to maximize my time there with so many beloved South African brethren and churches.

I’ll keep you posted but wanted you to know that God has answered your prayers on behalf of this ministry!

IFO Christmas Party Update

I want to thank all of worked so hard to provide the international students with a wonderful Christmas event.  I love this ministry for many reasons but one reason is the opportunity to serve with you.  I am so honored!  For all who either decorated, cooked, baked, provided Christmas goodies, provided gifts, provided transportation, served, and prayed; I pray that God will multiply your gifts according to Matt 6:33. 

We will soon be posting pictures on the IFO website.  Give us a week or so and then take a look at www.IFOarkansas.org .

Now I ask that you pray with me that God will cause the internationals to seek Him.  That by the power of His mighty Spirit they will hunger for the Truth of His word.  That the Lord would draw them, tear down strongholds and lies, and open their hearts that they might know Him.  Pray that He will bless the words of Steve Bowyer (Grace Church Pastor) and the love of His people shown to each international in every act of serve.  

For you I pray that no matter where right now in you journey in this life, that He would grant the desires of your heart for you and yours.  Remember, God is with us and He will help us. What a great God we serve.  Truly, there is no other!

Serving them for Him – with you,
LaJuana
Note:  In this picture is Richard (my husband/Santa’s hat), Haidar (from Iraq), intls playing Rudolph and elves.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Howell Update 12/9/08

Greetings Everyone,

I am so grateful for the prayers and encouragements of those who are a part of the MissionCrossRoads Team!  Thank you!

The primary travel component of the January trip to South Africa is nearly funded and wisdom is needed to know whether or not to buy tickets--its that close!  So please do pray.

Several venues for ministry are being arranged as I have heard from former students who are now colleagues in ministry along the Cape, in Durban, and Johannesburg.  I am very excited to see them and to Lord willing, be an encouragement to them in their ministry.

Those desiring to fellowship in this ministry financially may do so by sending support to:

Biblical Ministries Worldwide
Patrick Howell - #4141
1595 Herrington Road
Lawrenceville, GA 30043-5616

I will keep you posted and thanks once again for your prayers!

Hart Update 12/9/09 - Christmas Letter

DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS,

At this Christmas season we wish you a blessed Christmas and a prosperous new year.  We, indeed, need to seek God’s face for our nation and our personal lives in these  uncertain economic times. In several places in the Bible the subject of prospering is tied to the study and meditation of the law of the Lord so it is good to remember that one of the names for Jesus in the Christmas story is Immanuel, which means “God with us.”

I (Bud) have found that the Lord is with us even in difficult times this year..  Let me summarize the lesson I learned in 2008.  It started unexpectantly when I went shopping for Carolyn’s birthday present back in July. As I walked  into the store there was a sign at the entrance saying “Free Screening for Diabetes.”  Good idea, I was not in a hurry so I sat down at a little table, the man pricked my finger and read 271.  He said that it was high and suggested I go to see my doctor. 

Next picture – I ended up in the emergency room three days later where I was told I was diabetic and that my liver enzymes were high. Subsequent appointments were made so that July was a series of being “pricked and poked, scanned and scoped.”  Bottom line was that there was a mass in the pancreas that needed to be analyized and taken care of.
Surgery took place in August and the surgeon performed what is called the Whipple procedure which is quite extensive involving the stomach, the duodenum, the pancreas and various ducts running into the small intestine. A tumor in the pancreas was removed and the other areas around it were all negative.  It was a rough time recovering in the hospital but I’m home and taking chemotherapy 3 times a month for ? months.  The biggest visible change is the weight I lost since I am now back at my playing weight when I was at Wheaton running the soccer field.

Now all of this is to say that God was very real during those days when the road was rough and full of potholes.  He has promised His presence (Immanuel) during all our days and in all circumstances but never did He say that all would be smooth and trouble free.  He is the rock, the solid ground,  and the One you can depend on when hurting or frustrated.  He has said that “My grace is sufficient for you for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”  Truly I found this to be true and it remains so today.

So, who knows what 2009 will bring?? God is sufficient for whatever we face and He is to be loved and honored.  Let us be like those wise men of old who bowed down and worshipped the Lord Jesus as Lord of lords and King of kings.  May you know His presence in your lives this year.
 

In His Grace,
Bud and Carolyn

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Bridgman Update - 12/3/08

Thanks for praying all year! May this Christmas bring great blessing!

Praise God for

  1. The wonderful piece of land that God has provided for Sanyo Grace Church
  2. How He has blessed both of our son with good relationships
  3. Very good church attendance during November
  4. 5 of the 6 ladies taking Violette's English Bible course have finished, and one has a few lessons to go (pray for a spiritual harvest)
  5. Two believers who have decided to officially join our church

Pray that
  1. Our financial support will increase to reflect the loss in the value of the US dollar
  2. For our outreach to kids in our neighborhood this Christmas (date not set yet, but probably on the 23rd)
  3. For wisdom and unity of our believers as we plan the new church building
  4. For a city wide Christmas evangelistic event on Dec. 14th
  5. For Paul to finish off well as chairman of the neighborhood committee
  6. For the right people to replace us during our one year home assignment in the USA (July 2009 to July 2010)
http://church.jp/Sanyo_Meg

Central Baptist Church of Mazabuka - Update 12/3/08

Bi-Weekly Prayer Report for the period 17th to 30th Nov 2008


Book launch: We give thanks to God that we were finally able to launch a total of seven booklets as supplementary readers for secondary schools. This is a project we have been working on close to five years now. The objective is to get into our schools using literature which addresses various topics that affect the youths. This first series is on male female relationships and the set of booklets has been approved by the ministry of education for use in schools. The launch took place on the evening of 28th November with the blessing of the Minister of Education who was supposed to attend had he not been out of the country at the time. Those who attended included representatives from schools; the media; and members of both reformed and non reformed circles. Our prayer is that this project will encourage more reformed brethren to write and thus provide resources for our institutions of learning as well as for non reformed readers. Pray that the Lord will bless this project to the benefit of many and the extension of His kingdom. Pray for our writing ministry that wisdom might be granted to us to know how to proceed.

Membership and baptism drive: We had planned to have our very first baptism service on New Year’s Day but we have now postponed it to a later day. This is to give us more time to scrutinize and teach the potential candidates. Some who had shown much promise have of late given us cause to doubt their profession of faith. Pray that the Lord might lead us to his true sheep. Pray for us as we seek with the coming baptism to constitute our first membership. Pray that the Lord establishes his work in the town of Mazabuka.

Home bible study: The Thursday bible study at the home of Mrs. Musonda has continued and we are now looking at the Lord’s Supper. Mrs. Musonda continues to show a lot of interest but we are still not persuaded that she is converted yet. Do pray for her spiritual well being that she might experience genuine conviction of sin and repentance. 

Kennedy: This is the young man the church is sponsoring at a secondary school in the town of Monze. Recently there was a riot by some pupils at his school. This happened in the night and he and some other boys ran into the bush to get away from the rioting pupils. They came back at sunrise but were implicated as having been amongst the trouble makers. About 45 were locked up at the Police station and were later chased from school pending suspension. Pray for Kennedy so that justice might prevail in this matter and that his school should not be disrupted.

Chipo: We have continued counseling sessions with her and she testified that she is already seeing light at the end of the tunnel and she feels energized to go and end the illicit relationship she has been entertaining with a married man. Pray for her as she will need much grace to turn away from a relationship which has been going on for a number of years.

Mr. and Mrs. Kalonga: This couple recently started attending church having come from Lusaka. The husband has a Catholic background and the wife a Pentecostal one. They got married outside church and they are now seeking to have their marriage ‘blessed’ in church. We have a pending appointment to discuss this matter and we hope to take this opportunity to discuss matters of salvation with them. Pray that the Lord will open doors.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

IFO Christmas Party Reminder

IFO CHRISTMAS PARTY REMINDER
There are only a few more days until the world comes together for the IFO Christmas Party.
That’s the world that is studying in Little Rock.
Friday, December 5th, at 7pm IFO will host its International Christmas Party.
Grace Church is our host.
Will you come and celebrate with us?
____Yes LaJuana, I’m coming with _____others.
____No LaJuana, I can’t make it this year but will pray for open hearts.
(a RSVP helps us plan well and gives us some idea of how many to plan for)

If you are planning on attending, please bring 2 dishes of food to feed at least 15 people each.
Something Christmasee or a traditional Christmas dish that you serve at your table.

Also, as we share about The Gift of Christmas, we are trying to give every international student a Christmas gift.
Would you like to help? We are trying to keep each gift around $10. It can either be for a female, male or a family.
Please wrap and mark on the bottom: F for female, M for Male, FM for family.

One more thing: Let me know if you want to provide some baked Christmas goodies for the intl students.
We need to have them in individual cans, bags, plates, or boxes.

I hope to see you on Friday.

South African Update - Howell 12/2/08

Greetings Friends!

I hope your Thanksgiving was fantastic. We enjoyed the day with a family of 30+ folks and they just took us right in--what a great day.

As this email goes out, I am just about to teach Church History at TES.  I love history and studying Church History is a fascinating endeavor. There is so much to inspire one--and so much to learn in order to avoid similar mistakes!

The trip to South Africa is taking shape and God has provided more than 40% of the ministry budget. I will have to make the decision as to whether to go or not soon as the calendar clicks on--so thanks for the many of you who are praying and to those who are giving as well. It all matters and your prayers are greatly needed! (If you're unfamiliar with this South African endeavor, check out the MissionCrossRoads events) or email me and I’ll send you more detailed information.  Some have written and asked about sending support for the trip.  It is a simple process and 100% of all support goes toward ministry.  Checks can be made out to Biblical Ministries Worldwide and mailed to:

Biblical Ministries Worldwide
Pat Howell #4141
1595 Herrington Road
Lawrenceville, GA 30043-5616

Lot's going on these days. Elizabeth's birthday was Monday (12/1) and my birthday is Sunday (don't ask, please). The third semester of TES ends mid-December and with great gratitude for our students and the growing development of the school.

In January, I hope to be in South Africa ministering to churches and former students as well as seeing many old friends from our ministry there.  Then, later in the month, Cathy and I have been invited to Los Angeles for John MacArthur's 40th Anniversary at GCC.  Many former GCC staff members will be there and we will be among them. This will be a great celebration of God's faithfulness through John's ministry to GCC. It is a great blessing to count him a friend--and a privilege to have served with him as Missions Pastor and a Senior Staff member at GCC in the 1990's!

Mid-February brings two weeks in Myanmar and then a return to Los Angeles for the GCC Shepherds Conference.

I continue to pray and seek God's direction for my future ministry.  Such a process is an inexact science for both the man and the church so again, prayers and counsel are always welcome!

Thanks for your encouragement and fellowship!