June 2011 is the date for an important "Leaders Meeting" in Eastern Europe. Bob Hines is working dilligently to put together a group of leaders of Baptist churches to help encourage church growth and cooperation among the leaders of these countries.
While the Baptist have done a remarkable work here over the past years, they believe they can work together to do a greater work. We as Baptist can learn a lot from these men whose forefathers have paid a heavy price to maintain their integrity in spite of persecution.
Pray for the meeting that God will use it to greatly enhance the work of Baptist in this part of the world.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Report from Mike Peper in Seirra Leone
We are pleased to report to you that, because God is blessing the hard work and capable leadership of our local believers, the ministry in Sierra Leone continues to progress in our absence. Specifically we can report the average attendance in the 13 churches we've planted was 1044 for the month of November, and the number of those accepting Christ was 101.
January 2011 marks a new year, and marks the month when Diane and I will return to Sierra Leone after four months of stateside work for the ministry. The New Year also brings exciting plans for ministry expansion into two neighboring countries: Liberia and Guinea. Liberians speak English; and that country, like Sierra Leone, is ripe for a harvest of souls. French is the heart language in Guinea, and one of our team members who has a heavy burden for the lost of that country speaks French fluently though we envision these two new frontiers, reaching Sierra Leone for Christ remains our priority.
We've also set a goal this year to plant at least one house church a month. In that effort, we have but three limitations: our passion, human resources and financial support. Because we know that God is not willing for any to perish, we forge ahead by faith into the fields God has prepared as we rely on Him and His children to aid us in our endeavors.
Please keep us topmost on your daily prayer list. The grips of spiritual darkness in Sierra Leone are strong, and we face them every day. With your prayers and God's power, we can all be a part of capturing this country for our Savior, Jesus Christ.
In Christ,
Mike & Diane Peper
January 2011 marks a new year, and marks the month when Diane and I will return to Sierra Leone after four months of stateside work for the ministry. The New Year also brings exciting plans for ministry expansion into two neighboring countries: Liberia and Guinea. Liberians speak English; and that country, like Sierra Leone, is ripe for a harvest of souls. French is the heart language in Guinea, and one of our team members who has a heavy burden for the lost of that country speaks French fluently though we envision these two new frontiers, reaching Sierra Leone for Christ remains our priority.
We've also set a goal this year to plant at least one house church a month. In that effort, we have but three limitations: our passion, human resources and financial support. Because we know that God is not willing for any to perish, we forge ahead by faith into the fields God has prepared as we rely on Him and His children to aid us in our endeavors.
Please keep us topmost on your daily prayer list. The grips of spiritual darkness in Sierra Leone are strong, and we face them every day. With your prayers and God's power, we can all be a part of capturing this country for our Savior, Jesus Christ.
In Christ,
Mike & Diane Peper
An Article from the BBFI Mission Director
Now, It Is High Time – Latin America
Matthew 28:18-20: And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
With the Great Commission as our mandate, the churches of our Fellowship have forged ahead for 60 years to reach our world with the Gospel. Only the Lord knows just how many have been saved through our efforts. Hundreds of thousands have been baptized. Thousands have been taught to observe all things that God has commanded and, in turn, are now reaching out to their own people with truth of Jesus Christ and planting churches.
In the last decade, we have seen the missions efforts of the Baptist Bible Fellowship come full circle. Fellowships have been started in other parts of the world by those who have understood their responsibility to do the same in going beyond their borders, crossing cultures and sharing the precious name of Jesus. We have seen this unfold in the Philippines, South Korea, Japan and in other countries.
In November 2010, another chapter of our efforts opened up. I had the opportunity to connect with a large group of pastors and church leaders from Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru, Panama, El Salvador, Spain and Guatemala in Cuernavaca, Mexico, at the Rawlings Foundation Highlands Camp. It was here they gathered to join forces committing to reach the unreached of our world.
At this first ever Hispanic Baptist Bible Fellowship meeting, 797 people gathered to take up the challenge from the Word of God realizing that now is their time to take the Gospel around the world. The theme of the meeting came from Romans 13:11a:
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake…
Emphasis was placed on NOW being the time for Latin Americans to step up and play a larger role in fulfilling the Great Commission.
National pastors and BBFI missionaries all spoke of the tremendous need in the world and the responsibility of all churches, even those in Latin America, to reach out beyond themselves. They were challenged to go to places that those from North America cannot access. They can adapt extremely well to other cultures and enter areas that are more restricted to US missionaries.
Dr. Jack Baskin presented how God has worked in Korea and the Philippines to propel them to take up their part, and he asked why it could not be the same in Latin America. Great excitement was generated after each service. It was wonderful to see the joy come upon the faces of those who attended as they considered the fact that they too could be part of something bigger, something worldwide, and all with the power of God behind them. At the end of the meeting, 38 Hispanics came forward indicating that God had called them during the week to leave their country and serve as missionaries in another part of the world. Pastors accepted the challenge to have their churches pray for more laborers, give to help those who have surrendered to go, and also to be sending churches.
Missionary Ed Hoagland was burdened to see something like this happen. God has blessed him and given him the desires of his heart. What was started over 60 years ago by the DeVilbiss family and Georgia Webb continues on today – ever expanding. Plans are already being made for the second Hispanic Baptist Bible Fellowship meeting in the fall of 2012 at the Highlands Camp in Colombia. We anticipate something great from God at that meeting.
I was so thankful to be a part of this joyful, wonderful, God glorifying meeting and to unite with many of our partners in the Great Commission from Latin America!
Matthew 28:18-20: And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
With the Great Commission as our mandate, the churches of our Fellowship have forged ahead for 60 years to reach our world with the Gospel. Only the Lord knows just how many have been saved through our efforts. Hundreds of thousands have been baptized. Thousands have been taught to observe all things that God has commanded and, in turn, are now reaching out to their own people with truth of Jesus Christ and planting churches.
In the last decade, we have seen the missions efforts of the Baptist Bible Fellowship come full circle. Fellowships have been started in other parts of the world by those who have understood their responsibility to do the same in going beyond their borders, crossing cultures and sharing the precious name of Jesus. We have seen this unfold in the Philippines, South Korea, Japan and in other countries.
In November 2010, another chapter of our efforts opened up. I had the opportunity to connect with a large group of pastors and church leaders from Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru, Panama, El Salvador, Spain and Guatemala in Cuernavaca, Mexico, at the Rawlings Foundation Highlands Camp. It was here they gathered to join forces committing to reach the unreached of our world.
At this first ever Hispanic Baptist Bible Fellowship meeting, 797 people gathered to take up the challenge from the Word of God realizing that now is their time to take the Gospel around the world. The theme of the meeting came from Romans 13:11a:
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake…
Emphasis was placed on NOW being the time for Latin Americans to step up and play a larger role in fulfilling the Great Commission.
National pastors and BBFI missionaries all spoke of the tremendous need in the world and the responsibility of all churches, even those in Latin America, to reach out beyond themselves. They were challenged to go to places that those from North America cannot access. They can adapt extremely well to other cultures and enter areas that are more restricted to US missionaries.
Dr. Jack Baskin presented how God has worked in Korea and the Philippines to propel them to take up their part, and he asked why it could not be the same in Latin America. Great excitement was generated after each service. It was wonderful to see the joy come upon the faces of those who attended as they considered the fact that they too could be part of something bigger, something worldwide, and all with the power of God behind them. At the end of the meeting, 38 Hispanics came forward indicating that God had called them during the week to leave their country and serve as missionaries in another part of the world. Pastors accepted the challenge to have their churches pray for more laborers, give to help those who have surrendered to go, and also to be sending churches.
Missionary Ed Hoagland was burdened to see something like this happen. God has blessed him and given him the desires of his heart. What was started over 60 years ago by the DeVilbiss family and Georgia Webb continues on today – ever expanding. Plans are already being made for the second Hispanic Baptist Bible Fellowship meeting in the fall of 2012 at the Highlands Camp in Colombia. We anticipate something great from God at that meeting.
I was so thankful to be a part of this joyful, wonderful, God glorifying meeting and to unite with many of our partners in the Great Commission from Latin America!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Highlands Camps Totals from 2010
Total results for the year of 2010:
Campers: 154,261
Salvations: 64,328
Baptisms: 11,652
Bible College Applications: 2,131
Campers: 154,261
Salvations: 64,328
Baptisms: 11,652
Bible College Applications: 2,131
Mike Peper's Report from Sierra Leone
We are pleased to report to you that, because God is blessing the hard work and capable leadership of our local believers, the ministry in Sierra Leone continues to progress in our absence.
Specifically we can report the average attendance in the 13 churches we've planted was 1044 for the month of November, and the number of those accepting Christ was 101. January 2011 marks a new year, and marks the month when Diane and I will return to Sierra Leone after four months of stateside work for the ministry.
The New Year also brings exciting plans for ministry expansion into two neighboring countries: Liberia and Guinea. Liberians speak English; and that country, like Sierra Leone, is ripe for a harvest of souls. French is the heart language in Guinea, and one of our team members who has a heavy burden for the lost of that country speaks French fluently though we envision these two new frontiers, reaching Sierra Leone for Christ remains our priority.
We've also set a goal this year to plant at least one house church a month. In that effort, we have but three limitations: our passion, human resources and financial support. Because we know that God is not willing for any to perish, we forge ahead by faith into the fields God has prepared as we rely on Him and His children to aid us in our endeavors.
Please keep us topmost on your daily prayer list. The grips of spiritual darkness in Sierra Leone are strong, and we face them every day. With your prayers and God's power, we can all be a part of capturing this country for our Savior, Jesus Christ. In Christ,
Mike & Diane Peper
Specifically we can report the average attendance in the 13 churches we've planted was 1044 for the month of November, and the number of those accepting Christ was 101. January 2011 marks a new year, and marks the month when Diane and I will return to Sierra Leone after four months of stateside work for the ministry.
The New Year also brings exciting plans for ministry expansion into two neighboring countries: Liberia and Guinea. Liberians speak English; and that country, like Sierra Leone, is ripe for a harvest of souls. French is the heart language in Guinea, and one of our team members who has a heavy burden for the lost of that country speaks French fluently though we envision these two new frontiers, reaching Sierra Leone for Christ remains our priority.
We've also set a goal this year to plant at least one house church a month. In that effort, we have but three limitations: our passion, human resources and financial support. Because we know that God is not willing for any to perish, we forge ahead by faith into the fields God has prepared as we rely on Him and His children to aid us in our endeavors.
Please keep us topmost on your daily prayer list. The grips of spiritual darkness in Sierra Leone are strong, and we face them every day. With your prayers and God's power, we can all be a part of capturing this country for our Savior, Jesus Christ. In Christ,
Mike & Diane Peper
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
