February 2008 - Posts

• Literacy Camps Focused on Jesus

  A pastor wrote us a letter telling of his dream. “My dream is to start a literacy program with the children and young people of my village. “Many have come to me saying ‘Please help me learn to read.’ In our village most young people have not been able to go to school but they want to learn to read. “I know how they feel. I was one of them, then I heard about a man in Kadiolo. I went to his literacy camp—four weeks of learning to read and write—and I learned to read about Jesus and how He changes lives. I accepted Jesus and later went to Bible school to learn to become a pastor. “I would like to use the same program this pastor uses. I would like to start this program in January and finish it in April. This is the dry season when no one works in the fields so there is free time to learn to read.” Like most dreams, his has a price tag. He needs funding for his camp. He also needs prayer that those who learn to read will find Jesus as Savior. The pastor in Kadiolo continues to hold a Literacy Camp each January. More and more young men learn about Jesus for the first time as they learn to read, write and do numbers. Pray that God will speak to the hearts of the “learners” that they will learn about the Lord and begin their walk with him. Pray also that funds will come in so other young men and women can learn to read, write and walk with God. We've established the Mali: Literacy Camp #6451-902, a special fund-raising project through WorldVenture. If you like to support this ministry, click on the link for more information. Along with teaching the literacy program to children and young people, this pastor also shares his faith. Posted Feb 20 2008, 01:15 AM by Transformed

• Ministry at the University

  Ministry at the University has been quite fruitful. We are now averaging about 30 Chinese students per week at chapel. Seven have accepted Christ. Of those, two who were returning home, received baptism. There are over 10 in the seeker Bible study who are seriously considering the claims of Christ. As the new term begins, we expect 90 new students. We will be contacting each one. We hope many will join us. Posted Feb 19 2008, 01:36 AM by Transformed

• Never Quit

  One of our colleagues, goes to a different Metro stop (subway) every morning and passes out a flyer called, “A Word for Today” (Una ParoIa Per Oggi). On the front page he puts quotes, jokes and interesting stories. On the back page he writes a gospel message. He hands out about 500 a day. His goal is to establish contact with people so that he can share his faith. He works hard and is very faithful. He has been at it for three years with little fruit to show for his efforts. But, he continues, he doesn’t quit. Another one of our colleagues, plays the violin. He practices with two other musicians on a weekly basis. A couple times a year his trio puts on concerts in Rome. He has shared his faith on several occasions with his fellow musicians. He is keen to meet the family and friends of his trio in order to establish opportunities to share his faith. He and his wife work hard at meeting their neighbors to establish relationships. They have seen little fruit from their efforts lately. They continue, they don’t quit. I coach basketball twice a week for the purpose of sharing my faith with basketball players. I have shared with just about everyone I have met at the club at one level or another. I’m sharing my faith with two people at the present time. I keep learning what to say and what not to say. I work hard at it, but, haven’t seen any fruit. I am convinced that I need to continue. Some of my beliefs have changed over the years. For instance, I used to think that if one works hard one would eventually achieve what one was striving for. That is true at times, but when one works with people it also depends on the other person’s response. In this case, Italians are resistant to change and to accept the message we share. Only God can convict the heart, bring repentance to the person’s life if the person is willing to accept His offer. God doesn’t force Himself on anyone. We continue in God’s grace working and waiting for the harvest. Posted Feb 19 2008, 01:01 AM by Transformed

• Janet Brown

  WorldVenture Leadership Conference I am on the committee for the WorldVenture Leadership Conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand, March 2-8. WorldVenture personnel from many areas of the world are gathering for refreshment, networking and discussing leadership. My responsibilities are for the Praise and Worship time in the morning. Praise the Lord that we have found a praise band already in Chiang Mai that can lead the singing time. I have asked several of the WorldVenture Board members to lead the daily devotional time, and missionaries from various countries to lead the prayer sessions. Pray for continued guidance as I put together the details for the morning worship time and as I find the right people for each of the time slots. And pray for the preparation of those presenting the music, devotionals and prayer sessions. Posted Feb 11 2008, 05:19 AM by WorldVenture Prayer Connection

• Rodger & Lynne Schmidt

  Neighborhood Bible Club Megan McHenry and I (Linda) meet weekly with our neighbor kids at our house for a Neighborhood Bible Club. We teach songs, have a Bible story, do a craft and play games. The first week, the children sat quietly and acted kind of nervous around us. The second week, they responded more to questions. The third week, they engaged us in conversations about school and helped Megan learn her colors in Portuguse. The fourth week, both Megan and I got hugs and kisses as they left. The fifth week, two of the fathers showed up at the gate to find out just what in the world is going on with our children and these white girls! God is opening the doors for us in this community and with the families of these children. Pray for continued interest and the development of faith in the children and their family members. Posted Feb 10 2008, 05:00 AM by WorldVenture Prayer Connection

• Caleb & Shannon Campbell

  University Ministry Caleb and David, his Guinean mentor and colleague, have had very good meetings these past months at the university. Because the university began so late and the students arrived early, they were able to put on a "little seminary" which about 20 students attended for four days. They are also having weekly Bible studies on Friday nights. We are encouraged by the welcome so far on the campus as Caleb and David spend time there during the week with students. Pray that spiritually interested people would come to Caleb and David on the campus and that the Holy Spirit will do a mighty work in the hearts of the students. Posted Feb 10 2008, 04:50 AM by WorldVenture Prayer Connection

• Ernie & Jan Eademan

  Power of the Internet For several months, Ernie has been setting up an Internet system that will benefit the radio station and others here in town. The only Internet service available was very slow. What we are using now is much faster and cheaper. The radio station can download programs from Trans World Radio, HCJB, etc. They are also running a cybercafé on the side to help make ends meet. That, in turn, gives students a chance to research online. Some of Ernie’s other contacts are also using the Internet—like the high school and a tech school—which helps supplement the cost of the radio station and provides better training for the African students. Several missionares are also using the service so we feel like we have joined the 21st century! Ernie is training an African young man to do the maintenance and assist with the system while we are on home assignment. Posted Feb 08 2008, 05:33 AM by WorldVenture Prayer Connection

• Unrest in Kenya

  Unrest in Kenya, Missionaries safe Missionaries safe among unrest in Kenya. George Renner, missionary serving at NEGST (an evangelical theological school in Nairobi), writes: We are safe and so far God has shielded the NEGST campus. We had a close call the other night when a gang of Kikuyu youths tried to break into the school's compound and get at some of our Luo members (the Dean is Luo.) [Kenya has about 50 distinct tribes who have been in the region for hundreds of years. Luo and Kikuyu are two of the largest.] For the most part, classes are "normal"—except we are all experiencing the tension that pervades every aspect of life here. Most of our Kenyan students have a family member somwhere who is suffering as a result of the violence. Please, pray for Kenya and the suffering. Posted Feb 08 2008, 02:31 AM by WorldVenture Prayer Connection

• Riots in Mozambique

  Missionaries safe among riots Pray for Mozambique. Reports have come that public transportation rate increases touched off riots in Maputo, the capital. Cars are being burned and transportation is disrupted. We have also received word from Rodger and Lynn Schmidt. They and their boys are okay although separated. The boys are with another missionary family nearer their school. Rodger was not able to drive home but left his vehicle and walked.   Please, pray for the riots in Maputo, Mozambique. WorldVenture missionaries are currently safe. One of the new interns in the Schmidts’ internship program is considerably ill with Malaria. Of course they can’t get him to medical help and the hospitals are reported full also.   Rodger is reported to be healing well from a recent infection in his leg. It seems that water has been cut off and Schmidts don’t have a lot of water either. A couple of Peace Corps workers were robbed of money and documents near Schmidts’ house. Please pray for Schmidts and Mozambique. Posted Feb 07 2008, 02:21 AM by WorldVenture Prayer Connection

• Kirk & Laura Slater

  Responding to the Gospel Praise that a trip to a village resulted in several people coming to Christ during the days of teaching and about 30 proclaimed publicly their commitment and obedience to Christ through baptism. Watching the Jesus film also helped many of the people begin to integrate what they’d been hearing into a cohesive story that they could actually follow and understand. Praise that the Ebola outbreak seems to be improving. Pray for complete containment of the disease. Posted Feb 06 2008, 10:26 AM by WorldVenture Prayer Connection

• Paul & Marti Hindalong

  In Need of Visas Pray for the continuing struggle with the visa to Russia. Many organizations are looking into work visas. This means work permits, high costs to both businesses and to recipients of visa, quotas, and a long process to get the businesses approved by the government. Pray that the Russian government would allow them to get their visas in countries closer to Russia as it is very expensive to travel to and from the States. Posted Feb 06 2008, 10:22 AM by WorldVenture Prayer Connection