International Baptist Network

IBN Meeting in Eastern Europe

2011-01-27T12:22:00.003-05:00

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.

Report from Mike Peper in Seirra Leone

2011-01-27T12:18:00.000-05:00

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

An Article from the BBFI Mission Director

2011-01-27T12:15:00.000-05:00

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!

Highlands Camps Totals from 2010

2011-01-24T12:23:00.002-05:00

Total results for the year of 2010:

Campers: 154,261
Salvations: 64,328
Baptisms: 11,652
Bible College Applications: 2,131

Mike Peper's Report from Sierra Leone

2011-01-24T12:18:00.001-05:00

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

Final Results for Highlands Camps in 2010

2011-01-24T12:13:00.002-05:00

The Lord blessed the Highland Camp Ministry in such an unusual way during the year 2010. This news bulletin is to thank those who gave so generously last year, and to encourage new Pastors and Churches to become not only a prayer partner with us, but a financial supporter as well!
$21.00 is the average it takes to transport, house and feed a student for camp. As you will see, the results are tremendous. Our mission statement says it all, “A 21st Century Miracle of Youth Evangelism that Really Works.”

Craig Lingo from Colombia, SA (Parents Camp)

This past Sunday we had a special service for all of the parents who went to camp. We had over 632 people in our services. That is almost double what we were averaging. By the end of the day, 4 more adults had accepted Christ as Saviour. I think it was a very worthwhile effort. Thank God for the 120 volunteers we had at camp, and all the great people that helped here in Bogota!

Allen Owen and the OSY camps: (Out of School Youth)

For the year 2010 at Highlands Mexico

42 Camps
17, 392 Campers
4,992 Professions of faith
2,077 Baptisms

This is all in addition to what has been accomplished through the Ed Hoagland camp ministry during the Summer months. God’s Word is powerful and is having a tremendous impact here in Mexico among the youth. I stand amazed at these numbers and what they represent.
I am also overwhelmed that there exists such an entity as the Rawlings Foundation with such a generous and caring heart that makes sure that missionaries have the tools needed to see these kind of results. Than you! You have helped change many lives for eternity.

David Jones Reports from Tanzania
What a tremendous launch of the Highlands Tanzania youth camp. In three camps 1,133 campers and 106 volunteer workers came from five regions of the country. Ninety-four youth responded in the first camp, 70 in the second, and 36 in the third for a total of 200 campers giving their life to Christ. Many other decisions were made as well.
These camps are not church camps, but rather evangelistic camps targeting lost Secondary School aged youth. Kids of all different faiths and lifestyle come to the camp, most with addictions, hangups and hopelessness. Every facet of camp is designed to show them Christ's love and bring them to the place where they acknowledge their need for the Savior The theme "R U Connected?" was simple, to the point, and effective.

All 200 who made salvation decisions are being followed up by our local church leaders. Please pray that they will immediately take steps forward in their new walk with Christ. One of our churches reported that 50 youth from the camp came to the Sunday services this past weekend!

Craig Lingo and the 2010 Report
We had a total of 1125 Students attend evangelistic camps, and 244 Parents who went to an evangelistic camp designed especially for them. There were 476 kids who made professions of faith, and 99 parents who did likewise. This is almost 41% of those who went to camp. We do not baptize the teenagers at camp because they are minors and we would have to obtain parental consent to do so. However, we have baptized 57 people at church, most of them were saved at the various camps.
There were also a total of 575 volunteer attendees at these four camps. We have almost 240 people on our volunteer list, so not everyone went at each camp. This is our big bottleneck, if we had enough volunteers, we could do more camps.
In addition, we took 1203 High School students to three Moral Values Retreats. We cannot share the gospel openly with these kids, but it is our first contact. We are doing one set of Moral Values Retreats at each school, so we are looking to open up two or three more schools this year.
At the same time that the kids are returning from the Moral Values Retreat. \We had over 1200 parents attend these meetings and fill out a form for future contact.
Finally, all in all we hosted 3957 people in The Rawlings Foundation sponsored events. Also, since there is still a lot of open space on the yearly calendar at the Highlands, Colombia, we hosted 4,822 campers from other groups. We have no record of the results in those events. The total of campers hosted at The Highlands Colombia was 8,779 in 2010.

Ed Hoagland from Mexico:
Once again the Mexican Baptist Bible Fellowship would like to express our gratitude to the Rawlings Foundation for their enormous financial & spiritual help in reaching Mexicans with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We had been praying for 20 years for God to supply us with a camp facility in order to impact this society and change the culture. Not only did God use the Rawlings Foundation to provide us with a facility much nicer than we had even dreamed, but they also have taken care of the expenses involved in busing, feeding, and housing all of the unbelieving young people that we can round up to go there. Because of the help that the Rawlings Foundation has given us, our group called “Decisions” here in México was able to take 5,941 unbelieving young people to the camp this past summer where we saw 1,875 make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ (each person was dealt with individually), 575 of them were baptized at the camp, and 133 signed up to enter into our Bible College. This summer 30 churches in México participated with us and all of them have greatly benefited from these camps. To the Rawlings Foundation we say with all of our heart: “¡¡¡Muchas Gracias!!!”

Gus Hernandez and Highlands Dominican Republic

Though we are not yet officially opened, the Lord has done a great work these last 5 months with our events. We had 13 events including a Haitian, Dominican and American pastors conference with 300 pastors in attendance, 2 soccer camps, 3 evangelistic camps, and 4 baseball camps, Compassion International annual day camp, and 2 local churches day camps . We had 2,585 in total attendance and 381 professions of faith. We are really excited to see what the Lord has for our future ministry here in the Dominican.

Results from the Greg Lyons Team and their Evangelistic Camps for Youth.
Thanks so much for all you do! Tens of thousands of souls have been saved through your generosity.
Evangelistic Youth Camps 2010
Camps - 90
Campers - 109,507
Salvation Decisions - 52,651
Baptism Decisions - over 9,000 to date
Student Applications for Baptist Bible College Asia - 1,998
Evangelistic Teachers Camp 2010:
Camps - 11
Campers - 8,292
Salvation Decisions - 3,650
Grand Total - 117,799 Campers; 56,301 Salvation Decisions PRAISE THE LORD!

2011 Camp Goals

I believe we can reach 125,000 campers in 2011. This is a combined total of Youth Camps (110,000 campers) and Teachers Camps. (15,000 campers)

Note: We reached a District Superintendent of the Department of Education for the Rizal Province during Teachers Camp 2010. She offered to approve nearly 5,000 public school teachers in her district to attend Teachers Camp 2011! A great win for the camp ministry!

(Teachers Camp)

10 camps from October 1—November 10, 2010.
Total Teachers present: 8,292
Total Saved: 3,650
These are leaders, school officials, and adults who have seen the change in the young people reached during the Evangelistic Youth Camps of 2010, and are now wanting to find out how to know the same changes in their lives as well
One specific gain:
One of the District Superintendents of the 6 school districts of the greater Metro Manila area brought 500 of her principals, department heads, head teachers, and administrative staff to camp. She wanted to bring her entire school faculty of over 3,000, but we just could not accommodate them this year.
At the end of the camp, the District Superintendent requested a special meeting with us. As we met, she thanked the Rawlings Foundation and our local team for offering the “Teachers Camp to her district.
She called over her personal assistant and said, “Remember these men who lead this camp! Whenever they come to the District offices, allow them to come in, even without an appointment.” She continued, “Pastor, you no longer need to secure specific permits for your ministry’s programs in our school district. Feel free to develop and implement programs that will benefit our students and teachers. We will cooperate with you on any level you would like to pursue.”
Only God does these kind of things.
The District Superintendent desires to send over 20,000 young people to our next series of Youth Camps in 2011! We are impacting a nation through this effort! Only time will tell the impact in the lives of these teachers and the thousands of young people who have come to Christ through the years in the Highland facility the Rawlings Foundation has provided.
Thanks for partnering with us.

Highland Camp Totals for 2010. All Facilities:

Campers: 154,261
Salvations: 64,328
Baptisms: 11,652
Bible College Applications: 2,131

An Unbelievable Weekend! (Ed & Annita Hoagland - Mexico)

2010-12-29T18:08:00.002-05:00

On December 18 we had a wedding for a couple and the groom was a new believer. Here in Mexico we use weddings to present the Gospel to the unbelieving family members who attend. Our auditorium was half-filled with some stone faces as they were not happy that their family member had become a believer in Jesus Christ and on top of that, he was getting married in a Baptist church. However, as the Word of God was proclaimed to them, some of their faces began to change. When the invitation was given, nine people responded by receiving Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Needless to say, this couple had many reasons to be thankful on that day!
The following Sunday, we presented our special Christmas program twice, with a packed house both times. It was very exciting to see all the work our people did to make it all happen. We had 326 attend the first presentation and 317 attend the second. During the two invitations, we saw 34 people make a profession of faith in our Lord.
For that weekend, we had a total of 785 people attend our services with 43 receiving Jesus Christ! What an unbelievable weekend, and it’s all because of your prayers!

End-Time Timeline

2010-12-07T17:59:00.001-05:00

End-Time Timeline – Terry James

This generation stands upon the precipice of the wrap-up of human history. We can say this upon a platform of certainty. Our end-time stage is built upon a solid structure of knowledge. It provides strength of understanding from which no other generation of human beings could have spoken.

The prophet Daniel predicted precisely this time on God's prophetic timeline, I am convinced: "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased" (Dan. 12:4).

The Book Opened

Those who studied Bible prophecy throughout the decades since the close of the second century did so in the dark, from the point of history not shedding much illumination on how God's prophetic Word would unfold. The angel had told Daniel the prophet that this would be the case--that the book (the understanding of end things) would remained closed until the time of the very end was reached.

Bible prophecy was then put on the back burner, for the most part, as far as any endeavors into understanding end-times matters was concerned. The Catholic Church in its various manifestations, then the Reformation church derivatives of Martin Luther and the others, drifted far from the early church fathers' devotion to studying the part of the Scriptures that dealt with prophecy yet future. It was, in my view, intellectual and spiritual laziness, as much as luciferian influence, that caused this callous disregard for prophecy to infect the Body of Christ.

Some would say that this must have been the way God wanted it. He must have desired for believers to not have understanding, so doused the light of understanding during this long period -longer even than the 400-plus year drought of prophetic activity just prior to Christ's first advent. That's one way of looking at the dearth of prophetic enlightenment during the almost 2,000 years since Christ's resurrection. However, I believe the words of the angel to Daniel telling the old prophet to "shut up the book" was more akin to the Bible's telling about Abraham, David, and Solomon having multiple wives, and even concubines. God reported these things, but He did not cause them to happen. Nor did God approve of these goings on. The Lord used reports of these sins to show His children down through the ages the folly, even deadly consequences, of disobeying their heavenly Father. The lessons of these sinful activities of even the greatest of the Bible heroes is that we are fallen, and without staying close to the Creator "our Father" we, too, can and will slip into egregious activities that push us away from God's loving, directing hand.

This disobedience, He is telling us through such reportage, causes severe repercussions and ramifications. There is no better example of those repercussions and ramifications than what has happened since Abraham and Sarah decided to get ahead of God's will when Sarah sent her handmaid, Hagar, into her husband to produce an heir. And, this is where that disobedience and prophecy yet future converge and merge. The whole world faces the consequences of that sin today in the hate-filled conflict between Arabs and Jews that is gushing humanity toward man's final conflagration - Armageddon. So, the angel's instruction to Daniel to "close up the book" (of understanding end-time things) was God's reporting, in my view, the deliberate intellectual and spiritual slothfulness - even callous disregard - that would clutch the minds of even God's best Bible students until the very end of days. God was reporting this dearth of His people being able to ascertain end-time matters. God did not cause the book of understanding to be closed so they would't comprehend.

The vital, glorious thing to see is that now that book has, I'm convinced it is overwhelmingly obvious, been open, and each and every hour seems to bring increased understanding. Knowledge is indeed increasing, and at an exponential rate!

Timeline Issues and Events

Signals that we are in the end times are so ubiquitous, and at the same time proliferating at such a profound pace, that it is sometimes difficult even for those of us who watch diligently to fully gather within our eschatological radar scopes all that is occurring. But Jesus, right after giving those signals that would be prevalent leading up to His second coming, concluded, as reported in the book of Mark: "And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch" (Mk. 13:37).

It is therefore incumbent upon us "all Christians" to discern the signs of the times. We will look at them, trying to put them in the order given us by Jesus and the prophets as they foretold these end-time things. Those who consider such things calculate that about 27 percent of God's Word is given to prophecy. Roughly half, those who figure these things believe, has been fulfilled. Therefore about 14 percent of Bible prophecy is yet to be fulfilled. Careful study of the historical record validates Bible prophets as 100 percent accurate, in considering prophecies already fulfilled. We can, through application of human rationale, therefore, think the rest of prophecy will likely be fulfilled. Christians should trust, without reservation, that their Lord, the "Word" (John 1:1-2), will accomplish fulfillment of the remaining prophecies - those yet future.

Those who read this article following the disappearance of millions of people, the rapture of all believers in Jesus Christ, are urged to examine the history of these matters. Those who read this post-rapture will have considerable, and quite recent, history to look to and consider whether God's Word is true, about end-times matters.

As this is written, the world stands on God's prophetic timeline facing the apocalyptic storm in the distance while it approaches. If you are reading this following the rapture, you are likely actually in the early stages of that prophesied storm of evil - the last seven years of human history that lead to the second coming of Jesus Christ to Planet Earth.

There are no prophecies yet to be fulfilled before the rapture of Christ's Church. That is not to say prophecies yet future will NOT be fulfilled before the rapture, just that none are given that MUST BE fulfilled before that stunning event.

We will not address here all of the many geophysical and even societal and cultural "perilous times" signals we see all around us in this generation. We will look at specific major events scheduled to unfold. However, it is unavoidable to think of the birth-pang like convulsions of earthquakes, record hurricanes, and the upheavals of violence that seems to fill the whole earth, while thinking on the following.

Israel: Prophecy Fulfilled

Many of us who carefully study these matters believe that Israel's once again being a nation in its ancient homeland, and with its ancient language, Hebrew, is a fulfillment of prophecy. I don't see how it can be otherwise. Israel has to be back in the land for the final prophecies to roll out as foretold. That nation is at the very heart of end-times things to come. The most profound prophecy in that regard is the fact that the Messiah - the returning Lord of Lords and King of Kings will set His throne atop Zion once He returns. That will be a dramatic topographically changed Mt. Moriah, with Christ's millennial temple set high above the city of Jerusalem.

But, before that happens, Israel will have to endure the time of "Jacob's trouble" (Jer. 30:7). It will be the worst time ever in history for that people, according to Jesus, himself. As a matter of fact, His prophecy indicates the same degree of horror for the whole world at that time. He said: "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matt. 24:21). Zechariah the prophet foretold there would be an Israel and a Jerusalem during that period of tribulation. God spoke the following through His prophet: "And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it" (Zech. 12:3).

Israel today is already the center of attention, and of much scorn from its neighbors and the rest of the world. As I often say when interviewed, no matter which way the news microphones and cameras turn to capture other stories, they always swing right back to Israel, Jerusalem, and the surrounding areas. That is because that region offers the greatest threat to spark thermonuclear conflagration. The Bible foretells that it WILL host the most horrific conflict of human history - Armageddon!

End-Times Order of Things To Come

With that framework --that Israel is back in the land, which is surely a fulfilling of prophecy-- let us look at where things unfold from here on God's end-Times timeline.

Rapture - While the storm clouds of apocalypse gather and approach, Christians attuned to God's whole word should watch, according to the Lord Jesus Christ. They should be aware of the elements of that approaching storm of tribulation. Things of society, cultures, in every endeavor of life, will, at the same time, seem to be business as usual. Times will be like the days of Noah and Lot at the moment of His next intervention into the affairs of humanity, according to Jesus. (Read Luke 17: 26-30.) It will be a catastrophic intervention. Jesus will step out on the clouds of glory and shout "Come up here!" (Rev. 4:1-2). All Christians - those who accept Christ's blood atonement for salvation (born-again believers) will instantly be with Jesus above the earth. (Read 1 Cor. 15: 51-55 and 1 Thes. 4:13-18.) Millions of people (those raptured) will vanish, will disappear from the planet before the astonished eyes of those left behind. Those who have gone to be with the Lord will be taken back to heaven, where He has prepared a place of eternal dwelling for them (Jn. 14:1-3). The bema judgment (to give rewards for service to the Lord while on earth) will take place. Crowns will be handed out to God's family. The marriage supper of the Lamb will occur (Christ's Bride made ready for the wedding), then the Wedding Feast (Revelation 19:9). Things on Planet Earth will be gearing up for the great end-time storm. God, the Holy Spirit, according to 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2, will remove as restrainer during the times following the rapture.

World Leader Comes Forth - The nations of earth will be in chaos. The turmoil will cause severe ramifications while governments seek to restore civil order and regain governmental and economic equilibrium. Profound shifts of power will likely take place, with the EU becoming the new superpower, absorbing America's power and authority, the U.S. having lost the most people in key places, thus having suffered the most loss of control. According to prophecy, one man will step forward to proffer a plan to quell the fears of war in the Middle East (Daniel 9:27). This prophecy correlates to Revelation 6: 2, with the rider on the white horse riding forth.

Peace Covenant Confirmed - The great world leader will arrive just in time to look to be the shining knight on the white horse. He will have the answer to the looming all-out war in the Middle East. He will be able to sell a seven-year peace plan that is already available, apparently. Israel will agree to the covenant, as will her enemies, and, in effect, the whole world will accept the European leader's masterful sales pitch. But Israel's acceptance will fly in the face of God. This "covenant made with death and Hell," as it is called in Isaiah, chapter 28, will cause God's judgmental wrath to begin to fall.

Attack upon Israel - The Gog-Magog attack prophesied by Ezekiel is one that is controversial, so far as to where it will fit into the end-times timeline is concerned. Some has the event just before or in conjunction with the rapture, while others believe it will happen right after the rapture or nearer the mid-point of the seven-year tribulation period. Russia is destined to present some of the most fearsome trials and tribulations for Israel. Gog, "chief prince of Rosh," is the leader of Russia described in Ezekiel 38 and 39. In ancient language, Gog means "leader." "Rosh" is the ancient name for the land of Russia. In the last days, Russia will be the leading nation of the Gog-Magog coalition of nations that will make a move against Israel and be defeated by a supernatural act of God. Persia (Iran) comes right along beside Russia, in prophetic parlance. According to Ezekiel 38:5, Iran will aid Russia in attacking Israel before or during the tribulation. Even now, Iran acts as a destabilizing force in the world.

144,000 Evangelists - The Lord will not allow the dark, satanic realm to go unchallenged. God will seal (protect from Satan and his minions) 144,000 Jewish men with the gospel message of Jesus Christ, the only way to salvation, redemption, and reconciliation to God, the Father. (Read Rev. 7: 3-8.) These will proclaim the gospel message throughout the world. Millions upon millions of people will hear the message and become Christians of the tribulation period.

Two Old Testament-Type Prophets Preach - Two Jewish men will be placed during this period for preaching then Gospel, and for pointing the finger of judgment if repentance isn't forthcoming. No one knows for sure who these men will be, but there seems good evidence that at least one of them will be Elijah, the Old Testament prophet whom God took up from earth in a fiery whirlwind. The Satanic governmental regime will seek to kill these men, but will not be able to do so until God allows. Anyone who tries to kill them will, in like manner, be killed, according to the prophetic Word. Finally, the regime will be able to kill them. There dead bodies will lie in the streets of Jerusalem for three days, then they will be resurrected to life, and will lift into the sky before the astonished eyes of their murderers and of the whole world.

Antichrist Revealed - The great world leader , who confirmed the seven-year peace covenant, convincing Israel and its enemies to rely on him and his regime to keep the peace, will be struck with a deadly head wound. But, he will resurrect, supposedly, from death. He will, following this, in what I believe will be a false resurrection (possibly following the defeat of the Gog-Magog forces), suddenly walk into the Jewish temple atop Mt. Moriah at Jerusalem and declare himself to be God. He will demand worship from all of the world's inhabitants. (Read 2 Thes. Chapter 2 and Revelation, chapter 13.) He is then revealed as Antichrist, the son of perdition, the man of sin. He will cause all to accept his mark or be cut out of the economic system - all buying and selling. He will order all killed, who will not worship him. The chief method of death dealing will be beheading. His partner in the satanic duo will point all worship to the beast - Antichrist. The false prophet will be AntiChrist's John the Baptist figure.

Jews Flee - Jesus forewarned the Jews who will occupy Jerusalem at the time of AntiChrist's revelation to flee to the mountains. (Read Matthew chapter 24, and Revelation, chapter 12.) This era, the mid-way point of the seven-year tribulation era, will begin the time of Jacob's trouble (Jer. 30: 7) - a time Jesus says will be the worst time of all history (Matt 24: 21). Antichrist will begin the greatest genocide ever to be visited upon the planet.

Antichrist Institutes Regime - AntiChrist's regime will cause all to give worship to the beast, the Revelation 13 term for Antichrist. He will apparently set up some sort of idol, before which all must bow. This will likely be done by the image of himself being telecast in some way to all the world. (Read Revelation chapter 13.) His regime will consist of 10 kingdoms, whose newly crowned kings (political leaders of the region) will give all of their authority and power to Antichrist. We might be seeing the formative months and years of the formation of this 10-kingdom development with the various trading blocs beginning to form. The European Union seems to be the prototype for those that will follow. The North American Union (NAU) that seems to be underway in development, bringing America, Canada, and Mexico together in an economic trading bloc, appears to be one such "kingdom" in the making. Antichrist will bring together one world government, one world economy, and one world religion, to some extent - for a brief time, at least. This is a Babylonian-type system that will all but enslave the entire world.

Babylon System of Religion, Economy, Government Rules - The Babylonian system will actually be an extension of the revived Roman Empire. This was prophesied in Daniel, chapters 2, 7, 9, and 11, as well as in Revelation, chapter 13. Ancient Babylon's and the ancient Roman Empire's influence upon this end-time regime of hell on earth are described in Revelation, chapters 17 and 18. God will completely destroy the chief city of the end time Babylon in one hour, the Bible prophesies in Revelation, chapter 18.

Kings of East Threaten, then Move - China, today, is a growing economic and military behemoth. It exerts hegemony over its neighbors of the Orient. The Bible predicts a day during the tribulation when the "kings of the east" will march across the dried-up Euphrates River to do battle at Armageddon.This juggernaut will consist of 200 million troops, all, prophecy seems to indicate, demon possessed, while they cross the area of the Euphrates. (Read Revelation, Chapters 9 and 16.) All Meet at Armageddon - The kings of the east march toward a rendezvous with all other nations of the world. God says this about this meeting: "For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land" (Joel 3: 10-2). (Also, read Rev. 16:16, and Rev. 19: 17-18.)

Christ Returns - Just as the battle is becoming so violent that it threatens the end of all people and animals on earth, the black clouds of apocalypse unroll like a scroll, and brilliant light from heaven's core breaks through, revealing the King of kings and His armies and myriads of angelic hosts. "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God" (Rev. 19:11-15).

Christ Judges Nations - The conquering Creator of all things will establish His earthly throne atop Mt. Moriah, which will be supernaturally reconfigured from topographical renovations made for the millennium. All the nations of the world will come before the Lord Jesus Christ. (Read about the sheep-goats judgment in Matthew, chapter 25.) Those people who have made it alive through the seven-year tribulation will either be believers or unbelievers. Believers will be ushered into Christ's 1,000-year reign on earth, while unbelievers will be cast into everlasting darkness, the Scripture prophesies.

Christ Sets Up Millennial Kingdom - The millennial reign of Christ will begin, a time during which the false prophet and the beast (Antichrist), the first to be thrown into the lake of fire, will begin to serve their eternal sentences. Satan will be confined in the bottomless pit, and there will be none of his minions to torment and tempt the millennial earth-dwellers. It will be a time much like the times of Eden, with the earth restored to its pristine beauty. (Read Rev. 20-10.) After the 1,000 years, the devil will be released from the pit for a short space of time. He will lead millions of those who have been born during the millennium in an assault on Christ at Jerusalem. God will send down fire and consume them all. Satan will be cast into the lake of fire. The lost dead will be resurrected (their eternal bodies joined to their souls), and all will stand before the great white throne of Christ to be judged. All will be cast into the lake of fire for eternity. (Read Rev. 20:10-15.) God "Jesus Christ" will remake the heavens and the earth in preparation for everlasting, ever-growing ecstasy in God's presence. (Read Rev. 20:16-22: 16.)

Raise from $5,000 to $500,000 In Your Christmas Missions Offering

2010-10-07T11:49:00.002-04:00

What if I could teach you a proven Christmas Offering method that can fully fund your missions efforts for 2011? Just a few days from now - NEXT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, and THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, I'm leading the "How to Plan and Conduct a Christmas Offering" Webinar to help you lead a fully resourced church. This 75-minute webinar will teach you how to avoid the pitfalls of implementing a Christmas Offering AND show you the best practices that I've learned at The Journey and in hundreds of coaching alumni churches. It is designed to train you and everyone who's on your financial/stewardship team! You can gather as many people as possible around a speaker phone and work together to plan out your church's Christmas Offering.

I've helped past participants in a similar webinar raise anywhere from $5,000 to $500,000 in an annual Christmas Offering. No church is too small (or too large) for an effective Christmas Offering that could magnify your Mission Giving, Church Planting, Support for the Poor and Needy or any significant ministry opportunity. This webinar has been filling up fast already (Wednesday's webinar is already full!) and there are limited lines available, so be sure to secure your spot today.

Please see the P.S. below for all the details or follow this link - I hope you'll join me: http://www.churchleaderinsights.com/christmaswebinar Pre-register today for over $115.00 in BONUSES - See the P.P.S. below for the list. We've just gone through the process of planning our Christmas Offering at The Journey and I'm pumped to pass along what we've been learning - this webinar will give you a powerful tool to help resource your church's vision in 2011 (and RIGHT NOW is the time to start)! Hope to 'see' you on the webinar with me NEXT TUESDAY or THURSDAY. Your Partner in Ministry, Nelson

P.S. Here are the details to help you make your decision: THE "HOW TO PLAN AND CONDUCT A CHRISTMAS OFFERING" WEBINARwith Nelson Searcy Tuesday, October 12 2:00pm - 3:15pm Eastern1:00pm - 2:15pm Central12:00pm - 1:15pm Mountain11:00am - 12:15pm Pacific OR Thursday, October 144:00pm - 5:15pm Eastern3:00pm - 4:15pm Central2:00pm - 3:15pm Mountain1:00pm - 2:15pm Pacific Here's what you will learn:
* What is a Christmas Offering and how it will grow your people during the Christmas season
* The complete 'nuts and bolts' of a successful Christmas Offering
* The specific timeline for an effective Christmas Offering
* How to conduct a Christmas Offering especially in a down economy
* How to gain the support of your staff and key leaders
* How to implement a Christmas Offering so as not to detract from your General Budget
* How to identify the causes that will motivate your people to give sacrificially
* 5 simple steps that will increase your Christmas Offering
* How to set the 'right goals' for your Christmas Offering* How to determine the right dollar amount
* A specific process for celebrating your Christmas Offering* Specific examples of graphics, letters, etc used at The Journey Church
* Plus much more!

REGISTER NOW AT: http://www.churchleaderinsights.com/christmaswebinar How does a Webinar work? A webinar is a web-based seminar or presentation that is transmitted over the Internet. Webinars are interactive learning experiences where participants are able to ask the presenter questions, and get answers in real-time. Webinar System Requirements PC-Based Attendees:Requires Windows 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista Macintosh-Based Attendees:Requires Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) or Newer Long distance rates will apply to your next phone bill.

REGISTER NOW AT: http://www.churchleaderinsights.com/christmaswebinar P.P.S. Here's the $115.00 in Bonus Resources you will receive if you Register Today: - Christmas in Narnia Sermon Series ($89.95 value - yours FREE!)- Christmas in October MP3 ($13.95 value - yours FREE!)- How to Lead Your Church During the Financial Crisis MP3 ($13.95 value - yours FREE!)

REGISTER NOW AT: http://www.churchleaderinsights.com/christmaswebinar For questions or if you prefer to register by phone, call Scott @ 1-800-264-5129
Nelson Searcy, Lead Pastor
The Journey Church of New York CityFounder, www.ChurchLeaderInsights.com

Peper's Plant Churches in Sierra Leone

2010-09-22T12:41:00.001-04:00

Even though we are in the midst of the rainy season, our churches haveexperienced excellent growth. The average for the month of August was 705 with 342 accepting the Lord as Savior. Last Sunday we had a total of 810 in the churches. Because all of our baptismal services are conducted outside, we only baptized 47 due to the heavy rains. I am planning on returning to the States this month. Spiritually, this has been a very profitable nine months. As I reflect on where we were just a year ago....less than 200 in our churches....I am so amazed at what the Lord has done in such a short time.

We have our 12 churches with a new one beginning in Mekeni this month. Last year the Bible Institute was started and this month we will be adding our sophomore year. Monday will mark the start of a new elementary school. In the two schools we anticipate approximately 450 students. Also, the feeding program will expand to 5 days a week for each of the students. The college ministry is averaging 270 a month in three locations. Since this ministry began last June, we have had 386 college students saved.

We feel like we have a solid foundation on which we can build. With our members being discipled, there is an increased confidence in the spiritual growth of this ministry. I am always aware of the fact that none of this would be possible without you. A "thank you" does not seem adequate. May God continue to bless you in a wonderful way.

In Christ,
Mike & Diane Peper

Bogata, Colombia, SA and the Highlands Camp

2010-09-21T13:11:00.001-04:00

As far as the Evangelistic Event for Parents (August 6 and 7), we we're bit disappointed with the attendance. I think the last figure was 287 parents who attended. So in spite of factoring in the "no shows", we didn't calculate it well. There were over 100 people that stayed here in Bogota who could have gone if we had just known so many were not going to show up. We had about 2/3 women and 1/3 men. The latest figure as far as people saved was 97 adults. We had several Christians that slipped through, so the proportion was probably close to 40% of the lost who responded to the invitation. We have to get better at filtering out the Christians that just want a free camp, and estimating those who don't show up so that we accept more applications.
This past Sunday we had a special service for all of the parents who went camp. We had over 632 people in our services. That is almost double what we were averaging. By the end of the day, 4 more adults had accepted Christ as Saviour. I think it was a very worthwhile effort. Thank God for the 120 volunteers we had at camp, and all the great people that helped here in Bogota!
We just moved into a larger rented facility last February, and it appears that we will be starting a 2nd service shortly.
Thank you all for making this possible.
Craig and Fran Lingo

Hispanic Work in Houston, TX

2010-09-21T13:01:00.002-04:00

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing you to give testimony of the faithfulness of God in our ministry.
The 14th and 18th of June we had our Baptist Fellowship Youth Camp at the Iglesia Bautista Biblica of Orlando, Florida with pastor Antonio Rivera. There were four participant churches from the states of North and South Carolina, Florida, and Texas, with an attendance of 54 campers. The developed theme was "Discovering the invisible" with an environment reverent and propitious for the Holy Spirit to act in a way so special that there were four decisions for salvation and 51 for consecration and service to God. Two of our youth, Isaias and Judith, made a decision to help us in the Vacation Bible School at the apartments in Pasadena and at a home in Katy, TX. God gave us 16 decisions for salvation. Isaias and Judith also decided to continue with a Good News Club in Katy for the next six months.
As you already know, the 4th of December of 2008 we h ad the opportunity of organize ourselves as a church. We have seen the hand of God blessing us in a marvelous way; one of the blessings is adopting as our missionary the family of our brother Angel de Leon in Austin, TX, who have been doing a wonderful job with a few families, leading to give a step of faith to the organization of the first Baptist church of our fellowship in the capital of Texas. The special service of organization was the 27th of June at 2:00 PM with the participation of a council of six pastors from Mexico and Texas.
Our brothers Angel Gonzalez, Carlos Landeros, and Josue Salazar, are collaborating teaching in Sunday school, or preaching during the activities that we have throughout the week. Please pray for the opportunity to have a specific place to have our services during the week in Katy.
From the 26th to 30th of June we had our national reunion of pastors in Benson, NC with Pastor Daniel Garcia. There were five pastors participating in preaching during the morning and the night services. God blessed us with His word and we plan to work in a team to prepare our youth for the ministry.
Pastor Thank you for your support and your prayers. May God bless you!
ETBBF Hispanic Missionary:
Elías Salazar

Editors note: This work is sponsored by Pastor Tommy Turnbow, and is an outgrowth of his church. The work is supported by the East Texas Baptist Bible Fellowship.

News from Paul Auckland

2010-09-21T12:29:00.003-04:00

I talked yesterday to Pastor Paul Auckland of Faith Baptist Church, Sellersville, PA. He is an alumn of TTU '78. Danny, you will love this; he has planted 7 churches in the region over the past 10 years. He grows his church to 600 then takes 100 and sends them to a region here near Philly to do a new church plant. Last year's is running 200 now. He is a man on a mission.

We talked on the phone yesterday and I'll meet with him in my next visit to the Philly/NYC area at the end of Oct. Here was his comment. "I can't believe someone from Temple has called. I have never had anyone from TTU ever contact me." Glenn, contact him and he is very willing to send some news on what God is doing with his church in these amazing days of Gospel advance. Having great meetings in the area and speak in two churches around the Philly area tomorrow. See you all next week.

Richest blessings to all
Jim O'Neil

Editors note: This was an email sent to Glenn Mosher and Dr. Danny Lovett at Tennessee Temple University.

News From the Peper's in Sierra Leone

2010-09-10T16:24:00.000-04:00

Even though we are in the midst of the rainy season, our churches have experienced excellent growth. The average for the month of August was 705 with 342 accepting the Lord as Savior. Last Sunday we had a total of 810 in the churches. Because all of our baptismal services are conducted outside, we only baptized 47 due to the heavy rains.

I am planning on returning to the States this month. Spiritually, this has been a very profitable nine months. As I reflect on where we were just a year ago....less than 200 in our churches....I am so amazed at what the Lord has done in such a short time. We have our 12 churches with a new one beginning in Mekeni this month. Last year the Bible Institute was started and this month we will be adding our sophomore year. Monday will mark the start of a new elementary school. In the two schools we anticipate approximately 450 students. Also, the feeding program will expand to 5 days a week for each of the students. The college ministry is averaging 270 a month in three locations. Since this ministry began last June, we have had 386 college students saved.

We feel like we have a solid foundation on which we can build. With our members being discipled, there is an increased confidence in the spiritual growth of this ministry. I am always aware of the fact that none of this would be possible without you. A "thank you" does not seem adequate.

May God continue to bless you in a wonderful way.

In Christ,
Mike & Diane Peper

Devastation in Pakistan - Prayer Request

2010-08-16T13:40:00.002-04:00

Dearest Brother & Sister,
Greeting in the almighty name of Lord Jesus. You all know that people in Pakistan are facing a huge natural disaster through floods caused by monsoon rains. 16 million people have lost everything, as homes, livestock, crops, farm machinery and other possessions were simply swept away.
The impact in Sindh and Punjab is not yet reported to be critical, but the situation is likely to change in the coming days, as the floodwaters move towards the south and east. our city is not affected yet but is at risk but few of our Pastor and congregation members in outreach areas of Sargodha, Layya, Mianwali, Jhumra, are affected badly and so many households are in trouble. We have visited them and this time they are living in tents and have nothing to eat and drink to lead their life. We want to support them in this time of trouble with daily use items like Grocery items (cooking oil, sugar, tea, flour, bread, other basics), Cloths for wearing and covering, Medicine, Drinking water etc.
One family needs $150 financial support on urgent basis as it consist of more than six family members and 81 families of our congregation in all those mentioned areas are in serious trouble and needs our help. Your help to any extent will be very big encouragement for them. Invest your money & you will find a great reward & infinite profit from God here and in heaven. Waiting for your kind response.
Pastor Faisal Munir

Ed Hoagland and the Highlands Camps in Mexico

2010-08-16T13:32:00.003-04:00

Our camp season for the summer of 2010 has come to a close. This year we added two more camps from last and because of that God allowed us to present the message of Jesus Christ to more young people than ever before. Even though we did not reach the high goals we had set for this summer’s camps, we have learned from many mistakes and know that the fruit that we reaped was because of God’s involvement in transforming the lives of people, many who had never heard the gospel before. We wish to thank all those who gave a special offering and prayed for this project, your support made it possible for us to do these camps for the last 5 1/2 weeks. Here are the results from camp #11:
Campers – 661
Salvations – 280
Baptisms – 73
Bible College – 21

And the totals for all 11 camps are:
Campers – 5,941
Salvations – 1,875
Baptisms – 575
Bible College – 133

Now begins the real work. All the churches will follow-up on everyone of these campers and the goal is to get them plugged into a local congregation. Jesus didn’t call us to make converts; He called us to make disciples. We’re asking you to pray that this year will be the best ever in our follow-up program. This Saturday we have asked for all campers to attend a special meeting at our main church in México City. We have asked them to bring their friends. Many of the campers who accepted Christ are very excited about their new life and they want to share it with others. We would love to see 3,000 people or more show up. Pray for that meeting. It will be out in our parking lot, and it will be standing room only. And then on Monday we’ll begin our Vacation Bible School for the elementary children. Our goal is to have over 200 children attend. We’re already planning for next year’s camps. There are still many millions of souls in our city who need to be transformed by the message of Jesus Christ. And these camps have been a very effective tool in fulfilling this mission. We hope and pray that you’ll help us again as we seek to saturate one of the world’s largest cities with the gospel. You’ve sent us here to share the good news with this community, and we’ve given our lives to reach these people, so no matter how long it takes; we’ll keep pressing on until it’s done. God bless.
In His Service,
Ed & Annita Hoagland, Your missionaries in México City

Newsletter: Mike and Diane Peper

2010-08-16T13:27:00.001-04:00

One of the strategies instituted among our churches was that of having a monthly combined service. This program began one month after starting our first two churches here in Freetown. This has worked very successfully for the churches here in the capital, but we had not been able, until now, to expand this to the other areas where we have churches. Last Sunday we had our first combined service in Waterloo for our two churches located in that city. We had 77 present with 20 being saved. Everyone was so excited about having their own combined service.
This week the team went to the second largest city in Sierra Leone to conduct a combined service for our two churches in that location. We had 116 present with 46 saved and 25 baptized. It was a great day! For the three churches in Makeni, the third largest city, we will wait until the rainy season is finished. The distance between the churches is too far for the people to walk in the heavy rain. Those churches are doing so good. A week ago they had a total of 271 present with 49 trusting the Lord as Saviour.
In September we will begin a new church in Makeni and then in October we will begin two combined services in that area. For the last two months, I have been appealing for money for a temporary building for one of the churches. I am very thankful to report that we received the money and the building is being built. Thank you for being so faithful to this ministry and to us.
In Christ, Mike & Diane Peper

Bob Hines Reports from Europe

2010-07-08T18:02:00.002-04:00

Many articles that you will see about Western and Eastern Europe will tell you that ministry there is dead. That has not been my experience. Although ministry there can be slow, tedious, and difficult at times, it is being done. I have had the privilege of working with the Rawlings Foundation and the International Baptist Network (IBN) for the last 4 years in Eastern Europe, and the last year in Western Europe.
The Foundation and the IBN are committed to developing a network of Baptist churches and Pastors that have the same doctrinal DNA and want to be able to develop and share resources. After spending 18 mos. meeting and talking with missionaries in most of the Eastern European countries, I found that the resource they most needed was teaching materials to be available in their countries mother tongue.
After discussing the potential of this with Dr. John Rawlings it was decided to translate Harold Rawlings book, Basic Baptist Beliefs, into as many languages for Eastern Europe as possible. Dr. H. Rawlings book is one of the best resources on Baptist Doctrine I have encountered, and has the ability to identify those who are in doctrinal agreement with the traditional Baptist position. Using this mechanism to identify those who would work well with a network, I began the translation projects.
The credibility this brings the IBN has made it possible to begin to network churches and ministries together that had not been able to cooperate on anything before. It takes a great deal of time and work to locate a good translator, and then have the book edited into a working model that can be used by pastors and people. At this point we have the book translated and distributed into the following languages: Romanian, German, Russian, Slovakian, Spanish, and Polish. The French, Slovakian, Hungarian, and Portuguese translations are currently being done. The Polish translation has been done in paper back form for the Pastors, and then developed into lesson sets for the people so that they can use this material to train their own churches.
We have also had Bill Monroe’s book “Go” translated and distributed in the Polish Baptist Churches. We have taken a different approach in Russia. We have translated the book into hardback and paperback for the Pastors and students, then we have produced a c/d copy of the book to be distributed to the Pastors. They can then run off lesson sets for their people as they need them.
We are currently investigating the possibility of putting each translation on Amazon as a free download that can be accessed by the individuals, then used as a study reference. I am currently in the process of identifying leaders in each region to take the responsibility of leading the IBN for that region and promoting the cooperation of the churches and Pastors. I am praying about a potential door that has been opened for us to take the BBB book in Russian to 17 of the former Soviet countries for distribution.
Please pray with me about this opportunity. It will be handled by a Ukrainian national pastor that has contact with leaders in each of these countries.

Working with the people of Eastern and Western Europe has been a blessing and a challenge. They love the Lord and are committed to accelerating evangelism and church planting in their countries.

Bob Hines

Editor's note: The Internation Baptist Network Family will conduct an International Baptist Family meeting in the year 2011. We will conduct that meeting at the Castle, in Belgium. Dates will be forthcoming as soon as they are solidified.

The Pepers' Report from Sierra Leone

2010-07-08T18:00:00.001-04:00

Our 11th church, located in the village of Mabantu, was started two months ago by the pastor of one of our other churches. There was no church of any kind in this villaage and only five Muslims. The first service was attended by 182 people and they have averaged over 130 every Sunday since they began. I had the privilege of preaching in this church two weeks ago and we had 32 people make a profession of faith. After the service the church people walked approximately 5 miles to the river where we conducted their first baptism. Exactly 100 people were baptized and everyone went home rejoicing over what the Lord is doing in their village.
Last week we held a two-day revival in conjunction with the starting of our 12th church. In the two nights we had 114 professions of faith and on Sunday there were 60 in attendance and an additional 11 were saved. Thank you for your prayers for us and for the great opportunity here in Sierra Leone.
We are so grateful for your faithfulness.
In Christ,
Mike & Diane Peper
P.S. We still have need of $400.00 for the temporary building for the church in Bo. The rains have started and there is a great urgency for this young church.

A Day In The Life Of A Camp Director

2010-07-08T17:46:00.004-04:00

June 27, 2010
Rotting flesh has a very distinct odor to it. It is not at all pleasant yet easily recognized. Those with a low tolerance to pungent smells would most likely have to fight gagging at this powerful odor. I have noticed that there is a difference in the smell of rotting flesh attached to a live host as compared to that of a dead host. And of the two, by far the most wretched is rotting flesh attached to a live host. At that I gag.
Why this introduction of rotting flesh? Because God has recently been helping me to more clearly understand this OSY ministry and the role it plays in His Great Commission. In one of our most recent camps a couple of campers arrived from the street; one incapacitated and in a wheel chair. His friends took care of him and got him around to all the activities. When I first met him, he set off my gag reflex and I had to fight to keep from reacting. I tried to inspect his body with my glances without staring in order to discover what smelled so badly about this man. As my casual glances finally worked down to his legs I saw the source of this putrefying stench that was overwhelming my nostrils and head. He had an open wound that covered his shin and wrapped around to his calf muscle. There was rotting flesh in this wound and the smell was coming from this leg.
My eyes have seen the teenage boy with gangrene burns from huffing paint thinner that exploded on him. My olfactory senses have been overwhelmed with human vomit on my shoes, human feces and urine stained clothes, and alcohol laden breath. My hands have held the infant with a soaked diaper and no change of diaper available. I have doctored the festering wound from a human bite inflicted during a street fight. I have placed myself between a cowering, frightened homosexual teen as 3 or 4 others beat him in the dark corner of the boys dorm. I have rolled drunks on their sides to keep them from choking on their own puke as their bodies convulsed with withdrawal. I have been threatened with a machete. I have had stones thrown at me. We have stopped the pyromaniac intent on burning down the dorm with everyone in it, and we have shown the light to teenagers who worship death, or believe that they are ghosts. We have been the strong arm that has stopped many a young person from taking their own life, just when they thought they had nothing to live for. I have put my arms around a scared, lost, desperately hungry prostitute who believed she was going to be abused by our staff, but felt it would be worth it to be able to sleep in a real bed instead of an abandoned car and to eat a warm meal.
In this ministry we have seen men, women, teens and children at the edge of destruction because of sin and God has placed us on what I consider to be one of the front lines of this spiritual warfare for the souls of mankind. In every battlefield there has to be a M.A.S.H.
unit. It is the basics, it is raw, it is urgent care. It is not pretty, it doesn’t take long and it does not include rehabilitation or rest and recreation. The strengthening and recovery takes place further away from the enemy lines. In a hospital or some other advanced facility.
That is much like the local church; that is where more time can be spent with those rescued from the front lines, but as for myself, my family and our staff - we are honored to be near the front lines offering this spiritual M.A.S.H. unit for those lives the enemy is seeking to destroy.
Because our Saviour came to seek and to save those which were lost.
We pray for and would welcome the next couple or family to come along side of us and help us develop the ministry beyond the M.A.S.H. unit. But until then, I humbly thank my Lord and Savior for putting us at the front of this spiritual warfare and for allowing this ministry to be a place of rescue for so many OSY.
To date in 2010 the Rawlings Foundation and others have helped to touched 9,819 campers through this ministry. 2,794 of them making a profession of faith. Those are lives rescued from the destroyer...
Sincerely yours,
Allen S. Owens

Training Session for Highlands Tanzania Camp

2010-07-08T17:44:00.001-04:00

It was an incredible week, as 111 youth and youth leaders gathered at the Highlands Tanzania camp for 4 days of ministry training. With evangelistic camps scheduled to launch in December, these young volunteers signed up for ministry teams ranging from dorm monitoring to altar counseling.
Team building games, skits, powerful worship and teaching sessions, and prayer highlighted the week. Students and leaders left the camp charged with a vision of filling the camp to capacity three times during the December school break.
Please pray for the next 5 months of preparation and promotion as the Highlands Tanzania camp ministry gets underway.
Dave Jones
Dave and Bonnie Jones
P.O. Box 986
MorogoroTanzania

52,651 Saved at Highlands Camp, Philippines

2010-07-08T17:40:00.002-04:00

Hi Bill,
Hope all is well with you! Just a quick note with the final stats from Manila. Not sure if you've gotten them from someone else.
Campers 109,507
Saved - 52,651
Baptism Decisions - 7,697
Baptist Bible College Asia new student applications - 2,005
God blessed with some great results! We give him the Glory! We are also, very grateful to the Rawlings Foundation for their financial support! What a vision!
We are following up the harvest as we speak!
Sincerely,
Greg Lyons,Metro Manila

Editor's note: These results were from 89 Youth Camps held in the Philippines.

Timothy/Barnabas Training for Haiti and Dominacan Pastors and Workers

2010-07-08T17:37:00.002-04:00

Although not officially open, the Highlands Complex in the Dominican Republic hosted almost 200 pastors at the end of June. Herb Rawlings welcomed the pastors from Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

The event was the Timothy/Barnabas Pastors School conducted by Dr. Johnny Hunt, senior pastor of First Baptist Church Woodstock (GA). Dr. Hunt is the past president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Dr. Jonathan Falwell was one of the featured speakers.

In addition to encouraging, equipping, and engaging pastors, the highlight of the conference was the footwashing ceremony in which Dominican pastors washed the feet of Haitian pastors. Dr. Hunt participated in this beautiful ceremony.

During the week, hundreds of American teens viewed the new complex. Gus Hernandez, camp director, had the facility and staff receive the guests although the official opening is not until November.

Great preaching, music, and Bible teaching were featured at the T/B Pastor’s Conference. On the last evening of the week, almost 3,000 people participated in an evangelistic rally held in San Pedro de Macoris. Ron Bishop, President of SCORE International, preached the gospel and there were close to 250 salvation decisions.

The beautiful Highlands Complex located in Boca Chica will be fully operational in 2011. Events are being planned to bring thousands of Dominican youth to hear the Gospel, be discipled to carry the good news of Christ to the entire nation, and plant hundreds of churches. Our goal is to make a spiritual impact to the millions who inhabit the island.

243 Saved At Highlands, Colombia, SA

2010-07-08T17:31:00.002-04:00

We wrapped up our Evangelistic Camps on June 5 – 7.
Here are the stats on the last one:
Campers 538
Volunteers 163
TOTAL 701
We were pretty well running at full capacity. We moved beds up from the ranch house and put our volunteers on the floor. So we ordered more mattresses and brought in 20 tents. We didn’t have enough trays in the kitchen , so the last few had to use disposable plates. As far as lodging and feeding, we were put to the test, and I think we passed it fairly well. Meals were on time and our volunteers are such good sports that we heard no complaining about their sleeping arrangements.
What was really stretched to the limit were our counselors. On the guys side, we had 16 kids per counselor. Considering the kids who came, that made it very difficult to have ,much quality time with each one...something that is extremely important for evangelism and especially follow up. By the last day, we had 243 kids who made professions of faith! So God was good and gave us a great harvest.
Last Saturday we had a Youth Rally at church and this coming Saturday, we start our workshops in order to improve the retention. This is probably the hardest work and where we need a lot of improvement. I’ll never be satisfied with a 20% to 25% retention rate! We have to learn to do better!All in all it has been a fruitful season.
On August 7 – 8, we have our Parent’s Evangelistic Camp. We already have over 20 parents enrolled and we haven’t really opened inscriptions. Getting the parents will certainly improve our chances of keeping the kids.
Thank you for making this possible.
Craig Lingo
Highlands Camp, Colombia, SA

Special Report from Pastor Isaiah Kakinati in India

2010-06-21T09:38:00.006-04:00

Rev. Pastor ISAIAH , the Founder and President Anchor of hope Evangelistic Ministries. Is serving the Lord since several years. Anchor of hope Evangelistic Ministries was started in the year 2000. The society registered under the A.P. Societies Registration Act, 35 of 2001.

We are the members of the managing committee for Pastor’s welfare association society registered under the A.P. Societies Registration Act, 35 of 2001. The Executive Committee shall consists 8 (eight) members. Pastor's Welfare Association consists of 33 members. We are a group of 25 Pastors and 8 evangelists. The membership shall be open to all who are interested in promoting the society subject to the approval of the committee. The area of operation of the society shall be throughout state (province).

Every month 1st or 2nd week our Association team Gathers together for fellowship.
We are independent Pastors with very little education and skills and most of us are professionally daily laborers and we do not have financial support . So far we have been self supporting with stringent faith in GOD the ALMIGHTY. We aimed to reach un-reached and remote areas to spread the Gospel and prepare them for HIS glorious coming. Through prayers we can do great and marvelous things for our LORD.
It is our cry to the Lord for the extension of The Gospel to this area through proper support.

ANCHOR OF HOPE (ministry action teams) consist of local indigenous teams of 5 evangelists going to 5 remote villages each month. The report for the same would be shared once a month during monthly gathering. And we pray accordingly.

What do our teams do in the villages?
We have a very specific plan that has proven to be most effective.
During the day , we go out as a precession and preach Gospel in the streets as much as possible.
In the same day evening we arrange a cottage meeting as requested by the newly joined believers.
Having been equipped with sound system, DVD player, mega phone, etc. and two powerful Video presentations (i.e. Videos parables Like "The Passion of Christ” , “JESUS" movies) to win more souls.
Pray for the new believers to stand firm in the face of persecution that comes from their own family and the community. The problems are overwhelming, however, the solutions are not. And join your hands with us towards spreading God's Kingdom in this great nation.

For Further details on live events pl visit our website: http://anchorofhopeindia.webs.com/

The Challenge of Reaching Young People for Christ

2010-06-21T09:19:00.002-04:00

Dear Friend or Co-laborer,
This evangelism ministry for reaching the out of school youth (OSY) of Mexico will put you on an emotional roller coaster and near the front lines of some very real spiritual warfare. I often receive requests for pictures to accompany the testimonies and stories that I share from this ministry, but honestly I cannot do that this time. The story that I am about to share just happens and I do not carry a camera with me. Nor would I want to show pictures that illustrate part of this story.
I feel sometimes a picture can be used to exploit a situation in order to sensational it, and that is not my desire. These youth are victims of the roaring lion who walks about seeking whom he may devour. They are his trophies. Sin has put them in this condition and it sickens me to even think of sharing photos of people in this sin-wrecked condition.
We do our best every camp to provide a safe environment for everyone including our staff. For that to happen we search bodies and bags of every camper. We are not trying to police their life, we are merely trying to remove as many obstacles as we possibly can that may stand between them and the Gospel in these next 24 hours. Our staff understands the only thing that will help these youth is a new life in Christ. But how can they hear that message when chemicals are controlling them or they are preoccupied with violence - for those reasons the safety inspection and confiscations.
Well after more than 20,000 youth passing through this ministry the word gets out and some know there will be a check, so some have gotten very clever in bringing in contraband. (use your imagination here, I am not going into details.)
A few nights ago we had an incredible camp which had all of the major elements of a good OSY camp. We had a large crowd. We had disgruntles who left the property, we had lots of drugs and alcohol confiscated. We had hidden weapons found. We had glitches in the program and distractions during the sharing of God's Word. But in the end we witnessed an amazing movement of the Spirit if God in the lives of over 200 OSY as they came forward to be dealt with at the invitation time. I personally counseled with 12 that evening and each made a profession of faith.
I remember standing with another pastor as the counseling was being finished up that would see more than 180 professions of faith, and we were rejoicing in what God was doing. I stood amazed not only at the working of the Holy Spirit, but also at the responsive hearts and our incredible staff who continued to labor and fight this spiritual warfare at 11:30 at night. Then it hit. Just like I would imagine the feeling of being hit in the stomach with a baseball bat.
Something said you have got to get to Dorm #1 and check on things. I dismissed myself for my conversation with this pastor and quickly made my way to one of the boys dorms. I passed through the bathrooms and shower area where a lot of horseplay was taking place, but nothing unusual. I came back out and began walking up and down between the bunk beds. Still not sure what was happening, all I knew is that I felt I had to be here for something.
I finally made my way to the farthest corner of the dorm among 9 bunks pushed together. The young men seemed relaxed and quiet, no apparent problems or disturbances, but then I smelled it. The unmistakable smell of "activo". Contraband had made it through our security check.
Jokingly I asked for it, but denials all around and even questions like "what is acitvo?" It didn't take long to know who was using it. Standing in front of me with a hollow look on his face, totally disconnected from reality, was a young man of about 15 years old. The blank look in his eyes, the unresponsiveness of his whole body made me sick and angry and the same time. Sick to see a young man in this condition, knowing that he was causing serious damage to his brain and body. Angry because the roaring lion was licking his chops and ready to devour another.
Checking his bedding the "mona" was found and removed. I walked away thinking, we may have just saved his physical life tonight, but what about his soul? The battle continues. Ten minutes ago my heart was full of joy for the decisions that were being made for Christ, but now my heart is broken as I continue to witness, touch, smell and interact with lives that are being brutally destroyed by sin and its effects.
When I want to quit, I pray I will never forget that blank, drug induced stare and that once again I will find God's strength to go back into the battle and be a part of God's rescue mission.
Pray for God's continued working and favor on this ministry. Pray for these youth that are targets for the enemy, and be very very grateful for the life you have in Christ. If you do not know Him as your personal Lord and Saviour, do not wait. Call out to Him today, He wants to forgive you of your sins and give you a gift of eternal life, a new life in Him.
For His Kingdom,
-Allen Owen, Mexico

2010-06-21T09:15:00.002-04:00

I sent this early this morning on my other email site, and I never know if the go through, so here it goes on good old reliable gmail:
Hi George, Herb and Bill
We wrapped up our Evangelistic Camps on June 5 – 7. Here are the stats on the last one:
Campers 538Volunteers 163TOTAL 701

We were pretty well running at full capacity. We moved beds up from the ranch house and put our volunteers on the floor. So we ordered more mattresses and brought in 20 tents. We didn’t have enough trays in the kitchen , so the last few had to use disposable plates. As far as lodging and feeding, we were put to the test, and I think we passed it fairly well. Meals were on time and our volunteers are such good sports that we heard no complaining about their sleeping arrangements. What was really stretched to the limit were our counselors. On the guys side, we had 16 kids per counselor.

Considering the kids who came, that made it very difficult to have ,much quality time with each one...something that is extremely important for evangelism and especially follow up. By the last day, we had 243 kids who made professions of faith! So God was good and gave us a great harvest.

Last Saturday we had a Youth Rally at church and this coming Saturday, we start our workshops in order to improve the retention. This is probably the hardest work and where we need a lot of improvement. I’ll never be satisfied with a 20% to 25% retention rate! We have to learn to do better!All in all it has been a fruitful season.

On August 7 – 8, we have our Parent’s Evangelistic Camp. We already have over 20 parents enrolled and we haven’t really opened inscriptions. Getting the parents will certainly improve our chances of keeping the kids.

Thank you for making this possible.
Craig Lingo, Colombia, SA

Amazing Results From the Hoaglands in Mexico

2010-06-21T09:08:00.002-04:00

We had $9,377.25 come in last week from some places I have never even heard of before. That means people are getting the word out and others are getting on board with us. Please keep it up until we reach our goal, which could happen this week. As of today (June 14th) we have received a total of $25,162.23 for our camps. That means we only need $11,137.77 for this project. Please keep praying and I will try to let you know on Friday what the new update is.

God bless. Ed & Annita Hoagland, Mexico City
http://bbfi-northamerica.org/hoagland1

Newsletter from Mike Peper in Sierra Leone

2010-06-21T09:01:00.000-04:00

This past month we were able to start our tenth church. They have been meeting on a vacant lot that the owner said they could use until he builds on it. He told them that it would be some time before he would be needing it. Since the rainy season has already begun, it is imperative that we provide a shelter for them. It will cost approximately $500.00 to erect a temporary building that will seat about 75-100 people.

When I come home this next month, I would like to seek the help of an engineer or architect to help us design a prefabricated building that would be more permanent. We will need something approximately 20'x40' in size. Since we don't have to be concerned about cool weather, it could be like an 'open air' pavilion. Each church could build walls to keep out the rain as they are able to raise the funds. I am planning to be home for the months of July through September in order to raise additional support and see my family.

I know this is not the best time to do deputation, but it is critical for this ministry that I increase my monthly support.

Thank you for your love toward us and for making this work in Sierra Leone possible.

In Christ, Mike & Diane Peper

News from the Ukraine, and Victor Kulbich

2010-06-21T08:22:00.003-04:00

Dear brother Bill
Greetings in the Name of Jesus!

My name is Victor Kulbich, I am a pastor in Ukraine – a young independent country that have suffered 70 years of communist regime. Today we are developing those kinds of ministry that could not be performed before because of restrictions. One of those is children’s and youth camps. Since I am the director of UCCC (Ukrainian center for Christian Cooperation – http://uccc.kiev.ua/), a large organization that took responsibility to develop kinds of ministry that could not be done earlier. For example:
1) New Church planting (creating new churches) – that term did not even exist in our language before. But with God’s help within last 15 years about 1700 new Baptist churches were planted.
2) Children’s ministry was strictly prohibited, but within last 15 years we have trained over 5000 children ministry workers, specialized in various realms.
3) Bible study department (http://biblestudy.kiev.ua/) regularly produces materials for small group Bible studies for various age groups. At the moment over 900 churches are working using these curriculums.
The goal of my letter is that we are suffering a great need in children’s and youth camps. We are having a good partnership with Herb M. Rawlings and he recommended us to contact you to help us to raise funds needed.

In last year, till May 2010, we had 8426 children and 6450 of them were unbelievers and 1463 of them accepted Jesus as a personal Savior. More that 3000 children that were in the camp have been from very pure families and 686 children from orphanages and handicapped. Our need is in finances for camps for this season.

For this season camps, in order to accommodate 9000 children, we need $84’559.

We also need to finish dormitory for the camp which will allow as to double the number of children accommodated. The dormitory needs $145’000.

It’s also important for the camp to have a dining hall. At the moment we are using temporary building for those needs and children are feed there. The dining hall is in the repair process and in order to finish it we need additional $220’000. This is a large hall that will be capable of holding 320 children at once.

If you are able to help us at least partially, we would be very thankful to God and to you.

Money can be sent though Rawling Foundation – they know how to send it to Ukraine.

If you have any questions or need an additional info – we would gladly present it to you.

With sincere love in Jesus,
Victor Kulbich.

Editor's Note: This is a camp that has been supported by the Rawlings Foundation, and we feel it is a worthy cause if you would choose to place some of your mission money towards this project.

FREE Bible App for iPhone

2010-05-19T15:41:00.001-04:00

Check out the Logos website to obtain a free app for a Bible program on your iPhone. Makes a great addition. You can purchase Bible study materials, so your iPhone becomes a library for your study on the go. Take a look at this link for more information.

http://www.logos.com/iphone

FREE Discipleship and Training Materials

2010-05-19T15:36:00.001-04:00

I read with interest the article from Mexico City, where we help support a large work. It brought to mind that they as well as others may want to download free (pdf) files of discipleship prepared by Pastor Fred Allen, Lees Summit Baptist Temple in Lees Summit MO. Although the material is copyrighted, it also notes the material may be freely copied and used as long as it is not changed (translation is not a change). It is being used across Mexico as well as around the world to train and equip church members to be the workers in the church. The overall goal is to build the lives of people so they can truly be called "Christian".

Check them out at lsbt.org. Titles include: Basic Christianity, Building Christian Ministers, Building Christian Leaders (this has the philosophy of discipleship), Building Christian Counselors (what do you say when someone at work shares a problem), Building Christian Elders (42 characteristics of an elder), Building Spiritual Christians (flesh vs the Spirit) and Building Christian Ladies. All contain 14 lessons, designed to be used on a school semester plan. Contact ken@lsbt.org for more information and teaching helps. Currently available in English and Spanish(Mexico).
And it is about time we Baptists started fighting Satan and not ourselves.
Ken Kerr, Missions Pastor, LSBT

April 2010 Middle East Banquets

2010-05-19T15:26:00.003-04:00

The Rawlings Foundation sponsored three International Baptist Network (IBN)banquets for pastors and their wives recently in the Middle East under theleadership of Dwight and Jeanne Billingsley.

The Banquets were held onthree consecutive days in Beirut, Lebanon, Damascus, Syria and Amman, Jordanin April of 2010. There are now over 125 Arabic-speaking Baptist pastors on the network. Dwight and Jeanne Billingsley have been working in the Arabic speaking Middle East since their approval as Missionaries in 1965, though in recentyears their role has changed into that of a facilitator, advisor and coordinator.

The Lebanese Civil War of 1975-1990 necessitated all BBFI missionaries leave the country. Billingsley began to organize the pastors in 2001 and the first event was a conference at the Rawlings' Castle near Brussels, Belgium in 2004; it was the first of its kind ever and the pastors were able to meet their counterparts from all the countries in the MiddleEast, Europe and North America. Another conference/workshop was recentlyheld on a floating hotel down the Nile River in Egypt. Jeanne Billingsleywas able to conduct the seminar for the pastors' wives and Dwight led the sessions for the Pastors.

According to the Billingsleys, the churches in all the Arabic countries and Israel are experiencing growth and are winningmany to Christ. Every church in America should get behind this effort.

The BBFI Mission Office in Springfield, MO handles financial gifts for this effort.

The Mexican Gang Is Growing.....

2010-05-19T11:24:00.001-04:00

The gang is growing…
When you hear the word “gang”, what goes through your mind? A gang typically is united around a common identity, and seeking a sense of belonging to something bigger than themselves that can take them further than they fear they could go alone.
We regularly have individual gang members attend our OSY camps and on occasions a strong representation of a gang or gangs.
A sizable delegation of a street gang from the Mexico City area arrived at one of our Evangelistic camps. There were close to 25 from this gang at this camp. They participated without problems during the camp and I am sure many even made decisions to follow Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.
This gang, like most, practices “tagging”. Walls, benches, signs and abandoned cars can all carry their secret or overt messages. It has become very obvious that their encounter with Christ is making an impact on this gang.
The graffiti messages now make statements like, “God we don’t really know You, but we thank You for your love…” That doesn’t sound too tough to me, but it does sound like something continues to happen in the lives of these young men.
A hunger has been stirred in their hearts, a hunger to know God and to study His Word. This common bond is uniting them. They are finding strength and a purpose as they pursue a relationship with God.
I just received a report from a local church in Mexico City that these 25 gang members showed up for church. They showed up with questions following the camp.
Today they have grown to more than 40 of them attending this small inner‐city church. They are still a gang and they still hang out in front of a pharmacy that has video games. But today the storeowner is not afraid and he is not chasing them off.
Today they no longer linger in front of this store in order to deal drugs. But if you were to drive by you will see them sitting together with their Bibles open and asking questions and seeking to know this God that they feel they do not know. But they do know that this God loves them.
Thank you for helping us to be here in order to share that message of God’s love and to introduce a gang member or perhaps an entire gang to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the world.
What a God! What a story of transformation. The Gospel – it still changes lives!
Allen Owen, Camp Director - Highlands Camp, Mexico

Pastor: Vel Z aSiama, Yangon, Myanmar

2010-05-18T13:11:00.003-04:00

May 10, 2010

Dear Pastor & Praying Friends,

Greetings once again in Jesus name from the heathen land of Pagodas. My apology for not being able to write this report sooner. The heat of the weather is so hot that it prevents us from doing many things. It has not been raining for 8 months now here in Yangon city and the temperature is 44 degree centigrade as of May 9, 2010. It is so hot that many children died and as a matter of fact, a baby girl 1 yr and 7 months old died on May 6th whose mother and sister are our converts. I preached there about death and eternity at the funeral. I pray that the father would get saved soon.

On April 4, 2010, 5 new believers followed the Lord in water baptism. By the grace of God, averaging of 30 children, not including our orphans, come and attend our Sunday School every Sunday and we feed them. Please do pray that the Lord enables us to continue feeding them. This is how we bring people to church so that they will hear the gospel. All of them are Buddhists.

April 12 to 16, 2010, we held a 5 days seminar at one of our mission church in Hmaw Bi for Christian Life. 18 people attended thru out the seminar. On the last day 10 people stood up and gave their testimonies that they were blessed and that they would live a life God wants them to live.

On May 9, 2010, our church commissioned Bro. Yin Aung and family to be the missionaries of our church to Inn Yit Kyi, Taik Kyi township, Yangon division. What a blessing and the Lord is so good!

We are always grateful and thank God for your financial support and prayer supports! We would like to assure you that all your gift to our ministry are a sure investment for eternity. May God bless you all!

Your Missionaries to the Land of Pagodas,

Siama, Nute, Jean, James & Julie

Pastor Jeff Jones, Lake Lanier, Georgia, USA

2010-05-18T13:07:00.001-04:00

Evening Bro. Bill,

Just following up on the IBN email that you sent…our church is a young church plant 4.5 years old and through some of the ups/downs of the economy, God has been faithful! Recently we’ve began to uptick in attendance again, and have had 2 baptized in the last month…with another joining the church soon and getting baptized…presently we are looking for a new place to meet for worship and have about 60 days to find something suitable. Thanks for praying!

Blessings,
Jeff Jones

Pastor – FBC Lake Lanier

Pastor Ananias Bangonon; Mindanao, Philippines

2010-05-18T13:01:00.002-04:00

Dear Sir,

I'm glad to know that you're inviting us to write something about our ministry here.Before anything else I would like to introduce myself to you briefly. My name is ANANIAS C. BANGONON, I'm pastoring a small church located at the municipality of Cantilan, province of Surigao del Sur,part of Mindanao, Philippines. I began to be a pioneering missionary while Rev.Ricaredo Jayona was still alive way back November of 1994. I was sent to start a mission work in this place with my wife and our first son ( Joshua Amaziah ) without any single centavo has been promised to support us while doing this mission work.

After 3months of staying as missionary the Bethany Baptist Church Cubao sent me a money order check worth 1,500Php. In a short message inclosed therewith told me that iot was my financial assistance for the of November 1994 to January 1995. It means to understand that they are going to send worth 500 Php to me as financial assistance for every month. God has been so gracious and let me survived cause I need to stay on God's calling for His ministry.That's why I seek God's guidance in order for me to continue doing what He commanded me to do. By His grace and mercy I was able to survive and we had just celebrated our 10th church anniversary last April 9,2010.

We have two extension ministries some ten kilometers away from our church but sad to say we found no man to handle this extension that's why I am doing it myself with my family and some church members to conduct worship services to the extension areas every Sunday afternoon.Our only problem as of today is the vihicle that would be used for this ministries. I just only make an adjustment for our time of worship every Sunday.You can visit and view our site at http://bethanybaptistchurchcantilan.blogspot.com and you can visit at facebook... http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=231244&id=1739607615&fbid=1124516129985#!/profile.php?id=617023726&ref=profile.

Thank you so much Sir... I will be sending a more lengthen message to you next time. May the Lord our God continue to bless us...
Sincerely, Pastor ANANIAS C. BANGONON

Report From Missionary Craig Lingo, Bogata, Colombia

2010-05-18T12:55:00.002-04:00

Hi George, Herb and Bill,

Just wanted to let you know that we have have 406 kids and 143 volunteers scheduled to get on the buses in Bogota in about an hour. We have had about about 30 volunteers down here at camp for the last 2 days getting things ready. The Lord woke me up very early this morning and I having been asking Him to give us a great harvest. Please join us in pleading with the Lord that He would rescue these teens from the grip of Satan and bring redemption to their hearts.

On Thursday evening a teen called the church saying that he had sent in his application to come to camp with some friends. It was never received because he was missing some papers. He and his Mom both begged us to let him come. He said that he had a pretty bad drug problem and really longed for a change in his life. I don't even know his name, but I'm hoping to meet him tonight, and I'm praying that God will save him. This is not an isolated case. This time we are dealing with a pretty tough crowd. They need Jesus!!

Thanks for everything, and please remember us in your prayers.
Craig Lingo, Highlands Camp, Bogata, Colombis, SA

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2010-05-07T13:34:00.003-04:00

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April-May Newsletter From Sierra Leone

2010-05-06T20:17:00.001-04:00

Last Sunday we celebrated the first anniversary of our combined services. We had nine churches that met together with a total of 807 present and 32 saved.. All the people were not able to attend because of distance and the cost of transportation. The music, fellowship, and the entire service was outstanding. I reflected on our first combined service with 64 in attendance and only 2 churches present and thanked God for all He had allowed us to experience in just one short year.

Last month we started another branch of our college outreach ministry called "180 Degree Cafe". In each region where our churches are located we use the Friday Night Cafe for gathering college students. We held one of these college meetings in one of our newer churches where we had 289 in attendance and 200 of those were college students with 57 of them making a profession of faith in Christ.

We are very grateful for all of you who have invested in this ministry. You are so faithful in your financial support!

Thank you!!
In Christ, Mike & Diane PeperMissionaries to Sierra Leone

Mike Peper in Sierra Leone

2010-04-08T08:58:00.002-04:00

A year ago last Sunday we started our first church with 36 in attendance and 12 accepting Christ as Saviour. For the month of February we averaged 665 with 360 saved and 87 baptized. We now have 8 churches and they are all pastored by national pastors who receive their support from the churches they serve.
We are in the second semester of the Bible Institute and we have a Christian School that began last summer with 231 elementary students. God has truly blessed the ministry here in Sierra Leone. One of the newest churches had a special 'Outreach Sunday' and they had 182 present with 91 making profession of faith. They are presently meeting in a former night club. The property owner has been letting them conduct services rent free, but he told the church that he has sold the building.
They can continue to meet in the facility until the new owners begin remodeling it. We have located a piece of land that they can lease for five years at a total cost of $188.00. Because the rainy season is approaching, I want tolease the property and build them a covered meeting place at a cost of approximately $3,000.00. We need to do this as quickly as possible. If you can, please help us with this project. I want to thank you for your prayers and support. If it were not for God's blessings and your investment, none of this would have taken place.
We are so grateful.
In Christ,
Mike & Diane Peper

Lomer Hope dela Cruz from Cambodia

2010-04-08T08:55:00.000-04:00

Dear Beloved ,

As of March 31, we had been here in Cambodia for 13 years. As I look back to what God has done through us all, I can’t help but praise Him. Our partnership has brought salvation to many, trained leaders and planted churches. WE are like a cord or a threefold rope. namely : 1. You pastor and the church, 2. my family as your missionary and 3. Our Cambodian national pastors and churches. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says “And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken”.

We must continue to use our rope to pull us all together in these needy times. As we know, the rope is never intended to push but to pull, I am grateful that God has pulled us all together to fulfill the Great Commission in our generation.

This 1st quarter our fruits are: an average attendance of 320 in all 20 churches ; total tithes and offerings $151.15; missions offerings $ 17.82 ( these does not include our personal offerings) ; souls saved 93 and 16 baptized in our regular services.

We held 4 Youth Rallies in Snaor, Treng Trayoeng , Sre Ambel and Prey Nup Churches last February . God gave us a total of 623 souls that heard the Gospel Through songs, drama and Preaching. There was a total of 146 souls that got saved.

Our Roving Bible Institute continues to thrive with 5 new students added this quarter. Please pray for them namely, Sovat, Chumruen, Sovanh, Sokunthea and Dara. Preacher Chun Sung opened a new extension work in Veal Thom in Srok Sre Ambel and now he averages 45 every Saturday Bible Class. Thank God he now has a motorbike to use.

Our Primary School (Liberty English School) in Treng Trayoeng goes on with 27 kids.. Recently we had the parents come for the Quarterly Recognition Program last March 26 and they were happy to send their kids to our Sunday School. Preacher Phearun is also happy to have Bro. Hok Samnang surrender his life as assistant preacher in Treng Trayoeng.

Please pray for the following:
Good health: my sore back and neck, Grace’s ear problem, Gershom’s sinusitis
Safety, Wisdom and protection
Growth of New Believers
Training of National Pastors and leaders
Souls Saved at Youth Rallies to be held this May.

We are ever grateful to God for your prayers and support.

Highlands Philippines through 52 camps

2010-04-05T10:31:00.002-04:00

Here are the latest camp statistics:
Campers - 59,268
Salvation Decisions - 30,570
Baptism Decisions - 4,597
Bible College New Student Applications - 855
We're on track to reach just over 100,000 young people, once we complete the 89 camps! We're also seeing just over 50% of the young people saved. This is really the hand of God working this year.

We had a Vice Governor from the province of Bulacan, plus 4 of his provincial councilmen come to camp 10 days ago. During the invitation, all of them came forward with the young people to be saved! Incredible!

Additionally, we have had several gang members come to Christ and are working out peace meetings between rival gangs. When a life is revolutionized by the changing power of salvation, a new direction follows. We're seeing this in many ministries!

Thanks so much for all the Rawlings Foundation does for souls in Metro Manila and around the world!

Sincerely,
Greg

The Real History of the Middle East

2010-03-16T14:21:00.001-04:00

The Real History of The Middle East - Jack Kinsella - Omega Letter Editor – www.omegaletter.com

We are constantly amazed at the number of people who write in complaining that we are too pro-Israel and 'what about the Palestinians -- are you ever going to stand up for them'? It is hard to do when they haven't a leg to stand on historically. And even harder when they take the stand that killing Jews for being Jews isn't racist, but that Israel fighting back is genocide.

But Hal asked me to do a little digging and see what's what. Does Israel have a right to exist? Who owns the land? Is it Arab land? What is historical Palestine? This is what I ended up with.

The Palestinian Authority has never revised its Charter calling for Israel's destruction or denying its right to exist. Oh, they convened a meeting to discuss it. Then they said they had a meeting and agreed to change it. That was as far as they went.

Like going out to dinner with a friend and saying, 'how's business?' and then trying to take a tax deduction for the bill as a business expense.

The Arab world claims Israel is an 'occupying power'. The Durban Conference, in it's modified declaration, makes the same explicit statement.

What about the claims of the Arabs to their homelands? The same British government that created the modern Arab world in 1920 at the San Remo Conference in Italy -- by decree -- also created a Jewish homeland the same way at the same conference.

And the Jewish Palestine of the Balfour Declaration as confirmed at San Remo encompassed a much bigger chunk of ground than Israel claims today.

We saw the global reaction when Iraq tried to undo the British freehand redrawing of the map of the Middle East when he reclaimed 'Province 19', or what the British have called 'Kuwait' since 1899.

It's important to remember also that Iraq was both 'Mesopotamia' and 'Palestine' until the British created the modern state Iraq, carving it out of a number of different Arab 'provinces' - there were no countries, just provinces of the Ottoman Empire. The British completely forgot to draw borders for Kurdistan.

The Kurds were no happier about it than were the Arabs of the Ottoman Empire that the world now refers to as the 'Palestinians'. Nobody at the UN is calling for the redrawing of that map.

Three fourths of what became Iraq were Assyrians of Mesopotamia who woke up one morning as 'Iraqis'. And where is the UN's indignation at Saddam's ethnic cleansing of the Kurds? Israel never wiped out any villages [Kurdish, Palestinian or otherwise] with poison gas.

Or is this all Jewish propaganda? Better tell the Arabs. Most of this is on the Arab-Net website, as well. They'll want to revise that.

And Jordan was created by the British in 1921 as Trans-Jordan. Is it not really Jordan at all?

What is really hard to find in history is a nation of Palestine. If we use Palestine as it was under the Ottoman Turks from 1517 to 1917, there is no Jordan, Syria, or Lebanon. I haven't heard those countries offering to dissolve themselves and give the land to Arafat.

At the beginning of the 20th century, 'Palestinian' cities included Acre, Jerusalem, Amman, Damascus and Baghdad.

Syria was created by the British and subsequently given to France as the French Mandate. The Syrians declared independence after the British left in 1946, two years before Israel did the same thing. How are they different? They are both historically 'Palestinian'.

Either both the Arab Middle East and the Jewish homeland are equally valid, or equally invalid, since both were created by the same power at the same time. You can't have it both ways. But facts don't seem to bother the UN or the Arabs much. It seems when facts get in the way, they are dismissed as 'Jewish propaganda'.

The Palestinians chose Arafat to stand up for them. They don't need our help. Arafat's done quite a job at Durban. Israel was the only nation singled out for condemnation for its 'racist, genocidal practices'.

Maybe the concept that Jews practice 'racial superiority' doesn't bother the UN, but since I know Jews of virtually every single race -- including those from Arab countries, it does me. The main argument against Israel, from the Arab perspective, is that the Israelis stole the land from the 'native' people of the region.

First, the question of the 'native' people of the region. The Book of Psalms, chapter 137, penned three thousand years ago by a Jew [actually an 'Israelite' -- a play on words? I think not], says,

"If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy." -- Psalm 137:6

The Jewish sacred writings of antiquity refer to Jerusalem some 767 times, compared to the Koran, which does not mention it once.

Americans don't like to remind themselves that we stole the land from the Indians, but nobody denies what a 'native American' is.

One would guess it's all in how you define 'native' but I wouldn't try that one on the Apaches -- or even the Mexicans, when referring to most of the American Southwest.

The only reason we aren't behaving as the Israelis are is because the Mexicans aren't setting off bombs in Safeway supermarkets across California, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico because we 'stole' them from Mexico.

But what do you think America's response would be if they did? Would the UN call Americans a single 'race' in order to lay charges of genocide, racism and ethnic cleansing against the Mexicans?

America is the 'great melting pot' consisting of every race, creed and religious perspective under the sun. So, too is Israel.

Melchior's statement that the Jews are being castigated on race when they are people 'of a particular birth, irrespective of their faith, and those of a particular faith, irrespective of their birth' is accurate.

And therefore hardly 'racist'.

Any Arab argument about Arabs being second-class citizens in Israel is immediately counter-balanced by the record of human rights extended to Jews in Muslim countries.

The radical Islamists claim to be 'People of the Book' - the 'Book' being the Bible, including the Old Testament. Yet they say Israel has no right to exist as a nation. They should take a look into the 'Book' they claim to follow.

"Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me forever." Jeremiah 31:36

I am not one to say Israel is right no matter what. But the starting point for discussion is that Israel has a right to exist, and they have a right to determine the terms of their own existence. As we do in America. Until that happens, one cannot begin to discuss the Palestinian claim.

Vladimir Putin, the former president of Russia said in a news conference, speaking of the ongoing suicide attacks in Jerusalem, "Nothing can justify terrorist attacks against civilians". Apparently, the UN believes some things do. I am surprised to find myself in agreement with the Russians, but there is a first time for everything.

Miraculous Story from the Highlands Mexico Camp

2010-03-10T23:02:00.002-05:00

No one ever told me that when I became a child of God that I would be able to live such an incredible life! I was told about eternal life and I embraced that gift, but no one said anything about how amazing this life here and now could be.
I cannot even imagine how wonderful Heaven is going to be in His presence some day, because to see His Spirit move in the lives of these OSY is like a taste of Heaven for me. It is so powerful. I trust that every one who reads this has had at least one moment in their lives where they have experienced such a tangible moving of the Spirit of God.
I just witnessed again, His power and His grace. I witnessed that release of the guilt of our sin and the cleansing power of God's unconditional love and forgiveness of sin. Young people who 10 hours earlier had no interest in the things of God and could only think of the fact that we had taken away their drugs and alcohol and were asking them to follow a structure program, were now wiping away tears and bowing their heads and asking for forgiveness for the mess they had made in their lives and the sin that they had embraced.
Erika was one of those young people. In a camp of 490 OSY with 3 different gangs present, our staff was stretched to control and guide them. They were the rowdiest, most disrespectful group of OSY we have ever hosted up to this point. When you have had more than 14,000 young people come through this program that may give you an idea of how "bad" they were.
But in spite of all that, God's Spirit moved - He honored the proclamation of His Word and the faithfulness of His witnesses. Erika and 116 others made a profession of faith. Erika's story is so typical to many of these youth that I hesitate to share it for fear that our hearts can become accustomed to the pain, anguish and details of these stories that they no longer move us. But how can I be quiet? - my God moved, and people responded! I have again witnessed the miracle of His salvation!
Since she was a child she was physically and sexually abused by her father. He is no longer in her life as he moved to the United States and has no contact with her at all. Her mother is in jail. And now as a 21 year old she is a mother of 2 but not married. She arrived high and wreaking of activo.
Today I counseled Erika in regards to eternal security, and baptism. I will never forget this counseling moment because of how intent she was on every word and the life that just sparkled from her eyes was so captivating - she exuded the new life in Christ. She could not wait to be baptized.
There were so many radical changes that took place in this girl's life in this OSY camp experience. She renounced her following of the saint of death - and proclaimed "I feel free!" Reminding me of the truth of God's Word in John 8:36 "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."
The tattoos she carries will be a constant reminder of those dark hopeless days when she trusted in death, but the new life she has in Christ has so filled her and transformed her that she no longer fears this saint of death but knows that her Savior is stronger.
I watched Erika in the last session in the last hour of the camp. She was on the front row of her team and she was singing with all her heart the words of the song of praise that was being sung. She sang with passion, she had a smile on her face and she never asked for her drugs, they were no longer needed - she was a miracle in my eyes.
I still stand in awe of the power of the Gospel. Tomorrow, Lord willing we will welcome another 500 OSY here and witness once again the moving of God's Spirit as He rescues the perishing and transforms lives with His love, mercy and forgiveness.
Thank you for helping us to be here and witness His goodness and bear record of the miracles that are taking place in the lives of people like Erika.
-Allen & Aase Owens

Mark Milioni: Proud To Be A Patriot!

2010-03-02T17:53:00.005-05:00

BBC graduates across the globe are "world class" church leaders.
Mark Milioni grew up in Albion, Michigan where his dad was pastor of the First Baptist Church. After graduation from high school Mark joined the local police force. He and his wife came to Baptist Bible College in the Fall of 1985. Since 2003 Milioni has been the Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Midina, Ohio. Under his leadership the church has shown consistent growth numerically, financially, and spirituallyPastor Mark brings seasoned pastoral experience to FBC. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Pastoral Ministry at Baptist Bible College, Springfield, MO; a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry and Bible at Luther Rice Seminary, Atlanta, GA; and a Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership from Regent University (ABD), Virginia Beach, VA. .
First Baptist Church currently averages 650 in worship, with a budget of 2 million dollars, and see an average of 60 baptized per year. Mark is excited to see many young families with great kids getting involved with their church. Two BBC graduates are also employed by the church. Nate Harmon and Nate Day are greatly responsible for the blessings the church is experiencing.
Of his time at BBC, Pastor Milioni writes: “I love BBC. To this day I am so thankful for the education I received at BBC. After becoming a youth pastor at my home church a month after graduation in 1988 I unexpectedly became the Senior Pastor two months later. Because of my education at BBC I could stand and defend my faith and protect my church. Because I had ecclesiology I could stand and lead my church in the face of those that didin’t believe in pastoral leadership. Because I had soteriology I was able to withstand those that came in with both hyper-Calvinism and Armenian theology. Because I had pneumatology I was able to explain the scriptures to the charismatics that had come into our church.
Because I had great training, because I had been given an example of hard work and great preaching, God used it all and helped me to experience success after success in ministry. BBC impacts my life and ministry every day. My staff is from BBC. My background, my friends, so much of my life has been influenced by this place. BBC gave me a love for God’s word, a desire to win souls, and a passion to grow a great church. Our world, our country needs Baptist Bible College more now than ever before.”
Mark Milioni
Proud to be a Patriot!

New Church Plant in Marysville, Ohio

2010-03-01T16:21:00.001-05:00

Bible Baptist Church of Marysville began in the Marysville High School with afternoon Sunday services at 2:00 pm in August of 2007. We knocked doors and invited people the month of July and began having church. Our mother church (Bible Baptist Church of Wilmington) sent people to help visit and to be at the first afternoon services in order to give support. We moved to the American Legion building in September and began having a full schedule of services, with our first Sunday morning attendance of 48 people from the Marysville area.
From that time until April of 2008, the church grew from about 40 people to almost 100. It was at this point that Bible Baptist Church chartered and took a very big step of faith. Our existing building that we were renting was only temporary at best, and we had to set up and tear down the entire church on a weekly basis. So, we were praying for a place and the Stockyard Steakhouse and Saloon had just went out of business January of 08. I can still remember looking through a dark building on a Monday night with the owner and seeing all of the bar items, hung where I would be preaching if we were to lease the building and thinking surely God would not put us here! Oh, not to mention in the other half of the premise there was a working brewery that would still be in operation for about 9 months after we moved into the building that we are still currently using for our church.
But God was in the move and the church signed a two year lease for more money than we had coming in on a monthly basis, but that is where faith comes in to the picture. God has continued to bless Bible Baptist and provided every need, as now the church is averaging nearly 200 people in attendance every Sunday morning and the offerings have almost doubled since the day we signed our lease. We have seen God work with over 2,000 salvation decisions through outreach efforts of our people and 164 people baptized into the church.
The church supports 14 missionary works along with 3 other new church plants. We are truly an example of God using the foolish things of this world to confound the wise and how He has chosen the weak things to confound the mighty.
All the glory belongs to Him!
Jeremy Stout
Pastor

Arlington Baptist College - Dr. D. L. Moody

2010-03-01T16:14:00.000-05:00

Arlington Baptist College is turning the corner from a declining enrollment and financial distress. The college has posted a substantial increase in enrollment for both the fall and spring semesters of 2009-10. There is still a great need for financial improvement but it has made great strides in getting and staying current with financial obligations. From a deep financial hole at the beginning of the summer of 2009, by the end of the fall semester, ABC was current on salaries and financial obligations.

The spirit on campus is high; the students are eagerly involved in their course work and Christian service; the Holy Spirit of God is meeting with us in every chapel service and an authentic spirit of revival is permeating our campus. We have re-instituted the intercollegiate sports program with men's basketball and ladies' volleyball. We have organized student ministry teams called "Impact Teams" which are ministering in area churches. We have visitation projects for small and newly organized churches in our area in which our students go out and do visitation for these local bodies. Our students are also actively involved in their own local churches and are putting into practice what they are learning in classrooms. We have broadened and expanded our scholarship offerings. Seventeen of the twenty goals that we set for the first year of our five-year plan have been completed.

Substantial remodeling has been done on our campus buildings. This is through the help of work teams from area churches as well as an insurance claim resulting from past storms. The student dormitories, chapel, library, Entzminger Building, Alumni Building and staff house have all been given new roofs and much needed repairs.

Our prayer and goal is to end this fiscal year with a positive balance. Once this is accomplished we will be making application for additional accreditation from Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. This move will greatly enhance our recruiting efforts and will enable us to start a one-year Bible certificate and a two-year Associate of Arts degree. Our desire is to effectively prepare servants for Christ for the local church even if the student desires to finish a degree elsewhere in a degree program that we do not offer. Any financial help that you may be able to render will be greatly appreciated so that we can see this come to pass.

The often over-used cliche "New Day" can appropriately be used in relation to Arlington Baptist College. We are committed to the absolutes of the Word of God; we are grateful for our rich heritage; and we are passionate about reaching this world for Jesus Christ. We refuse to be caught up in the struggle between being overly "progressive" or "traditional." Instead, we are simply seeking to prepare a Generation of Giants for Christ that are authentic, passionate for Jesus, grounded in the Word, relevant to the culture that God calls them to, and consumed with a love for lost souls.

We can reclaim this nation for God! We can make an eternal impact globally! We can through the grace and power of Almighty God!

Straight Ahead!

Dr. D.L. Moody
President - Arlington Baptist College

Address:
Arlington Baptist College
3001 W. Division
Arlington, Texas 76012
www.abconline.edu
(817) 461-8741

White House Holds Historic Meeting with "Nontheists"

2010-02-27T14:37:00.002-05:00

A high senior official met with top "Nontheists" Friday morning at the White House. These are men that are totally opposed to a Christian viewpoint. Read their agenda here.

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100226/nontheists-hold-historic-meeting-with-white-house-officials/index.html

THE SIX PERCENT SOLUTION OF CHURCH GROWTH

2010-02-23T12:34:00.001-05:00

The Six Percent Solution

When I was at my first church, I was complaining to a wise, experienced pastor that I had “too few talented lay persons” in my little church to change the downward course of the congregation. (Even forty years ago I was trying to change the church!) “I have no more than five or six folks who show any ability to move forward,” I whined.
“Well consider yourself fortunate,” replied the wise pastor. “My congregation is twice the size of yours and I can count no more than five or six Spirit-filled, innovative leaders. Fortunately, God rarely needs more than that to get the ball rolling.”
What? Jesus changed the whole world with twelve (only eleven of whom panned out) disciples. Malcolm Gladwell’s, The Tipping Point is a study of how human organizations change. How does a system reach the “tipping point” whereby an organizational culture is transformed? Gladwell documents that it takes no more than six children in a school to begin wearing a certain brand of sport shoe to reach the tipping point whereby in just a few days a hundred children will begin wearing that same brand of shoe.
I believe Gladwell is right. In all of the churches I have served as a pastor only six percent of the members gave nearly two-thirds of all the financial gifts to the church. I’ve served some wonderful churches but I’ve never served a church that wasn’t being led by six percent of the members. Only six percent of the congregation are people to whom God has given the passion and the position to lead the whole church.
There is a word of grace here for church leaders. If you want to give the church a brighter future, you only have to convince six percent of the people in the church. As a bishop, if I want to reverse the decline of my Conference, I only have to identify a mere six percent who know how to make that turnaround happen.
When Gil Rendel was advising us on the transformation of our Conference, as we were thinking about how to convince the Conference to move toward eight rather than twelve districts, Rendle put before us the proverbial Bell Curve. He noted that in any significant change 15% of the people are against the change and will remain against the change no matter how that change is presented to them. On the other end of the curve, 15% will say “let’s go for it” no matter how risky the change may be.
“That leaves a full 70% of your people who show a good possibility of conversion into support for this change,” said Gil. “Too many pastors wait in the vain hope that they were good enough to get everybody on board, don’t move until they are sure that they can take everyone along with them. As a result, they never go anywhere.”
Christianity tends to be a minority movement. Jesus occasionally attracted multitudes, but his transformative work tended to be through a small group of disciples. Thanks be to God we don’t have to wait to follow the Spirit until 99% of everyone thinks this direction is a good idea. God can work through something as seemingly small and insignificant as a mustard seed to grow the Kingdom.
Thanks be to God, on our way to “make disciples of all nations,” we only need six percent to get the job done.
Will Willimon

This was recently posted on Will Willimon's blog. I felt it would be an encouragement to you.

East Texas Pastor's Conference

2010-02-10T12:18:00.001-05:00

Pastor’s Conference

The East Texas BBF met at the Northside Baptist Church, Rev. Joe Adams pastor. It was a well attended meeting in spite of bad weather. Pastor Joe and his people did a tremendous job as the host church.
Monday evening, Rev. Brad Wilkerson was the speaker and brought a great challenge from Isaiah chapter six. Pastor Brad is a church planter, and about 18 months ago launched a new work in the Dallas/Denton area. Last Sunday, they had 377 in attendance. Currently they are meeting in a school building.
The first speaker on Tuesday morning was Rev. Andy Plunk. About 4 years ago he planted a church in Gilmer, with the help of Rev. Don Bebee and Grace Baptist Church of Kilgore. Today they have a good congregation and building facilities. His subject was, “What Can We Do?” taken from First Corinthians chapter 1.
Rev. Bob Logan closed out the session with a challenge from Mark 6. Bob had recently returned from a mission trip sponsored by OTAN, to the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia training national pastors how to better serve their people. It was a thrill to hear the stories of faithful pastors who serve in their countries against tremendous difficulties.
The ladies of Northside topped it off with a great lunch. Thanks to Pastor Joe and his wonderful people for hosting the meeting.

News from Mike Peper and Sierra Leone

2010-02-02T15:03:00.000-05:00

February 1, 2010

It was our privilege to host a wonderful group of thirteen members of the Heritage Baptist Church of Georgetown, Texas, beginning on December 27th. They conducted Vacation Bible Schools for three of our churches, held a three-day meeting for the beginning of our newest community church, and led in a New Year’s Eve outdoor service. The crowd was numbered at 904 people.

The group ministered to a village that had been devastated by a sweeping fire. Forty-five homes had been affected and over 500 people had been displaced. It will cost approximately $500.00 per home to make repairs and put metal roofs on the homes. It would be a wonderful testimony for Christ if we could assist them with this project in this predominant Muslim community.

The last day of their stay with us was ministering to our college students. They visited several campuses inviting students to the evening service. They had 93 in attendance with 14 being saved.

When they left us they were tired, but it was a ‘good tired’. During their 11 days we had 622 names and addresses of people that made profession of faith.

Thank you for all that you do to make it possible to be here among this great harvest of souls.

In Christ,

Mike & Diane Peper

Sending Agency: Central Missionary Clearing House, P.O. Box 219228, Houston, Texas 77218-9228

Awesome Results from the Highlands Philippines Camp

2010-01-29T16:11:00.002-05:00

Missionary Greg Lyons and his team have started their High School Senior class camps. Obviously, these are for the seniors in school only. Many of these students previously went to another religious camp, but because of the tremendous results of the students who have gone to the Highlands Philippine camp constructed by the Rawlings Foundation, many schools have chosen to have their students go to our camps.
The Gospel message will change lives, and because it does, the school officials have made this important decision. These Senior camps will have a tremendous impact on the lives of these students. Will you pray today for these camps? Thanks.

Campers - 6,915
Saved - 3,857
Baptized - 528
Baptist Bible College Asia New Student Applications - 96

These figures are the result of the first seven camps.

Goals For Impact Youth Worldwide Youth Camps for 2010

2010-01-29T13:07:00.003-05:00

GOALS FOR EACH CAMP:
Belgium 3,000
Botswana 10,000
Cambodia 25,000
Colombia 15,000
Dominican Republic 20,000
England-UK 1,500
Kenya 3,000
Mexico 25,000
Philippines 105,000
Sierra Leone 3,500
Tanzania 14,000
TOTAL CAMPERS 225,000
NUMBER OF SALVATIONS: Based on only a 40% salvation rate: 100,000
Goal for Bible College applications: 5,000

You can read about and view pictures of these camps at www.impactyouthww.com

2,200 Saved In Dominican Republic Baseball Camps

2010-01-29T13:01:00.003-05:00

Bill,
Here is the article on our recent baseball outreach:
"In November, The Rawlings Foundation Complex in the Dominican Republic hosted the annual SCORE International Baseball Outreach. There were 191 men from the USA who travelled to the DR to conduct baseball clinics. Each day, Dominican boys came to the clinics to get instruction, equipment, and to hear the Gospel. There were more than 6,000 Dominican boys who attended.
At every clinic, the Gospel of Jesus Christ was clearly presented in testimonies of the USA players and coaches and the preaching of missionaries. Over 2,200 boys prayed to receive Jesus as Savior. The beautiful Highlands Complex, built by the Rawlings Foundation, is the site for future sports evangelistic efforts. The camp will also be used for discipleship.
Currently, over 200 boys attend weekly discipleship classes. Gary Carter, member of Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame, participated in the clinics as well as players from the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and LA Dodgers."
Bill, I will also be sending you a DVD of this year's outreach along with some photos.
-Ron Bishop
Director of SCORE International

Bibles for Sierra Leone

2010-01-29T12:58:00.000-05:00

Dear Pastors and Friends,

Hello to all of you again. I have great news from Mike Peper and the wonderful work being done in Sierra Leone. As I have told you previously, Mike is now superintending seven churches that have been started under his brief ministry there. Last Sunday they all met together for their monthly combined service. There were 707 Sierra Leonians present with 89 professions of faith and 67 baptized that day. The church that was started thru the preaching of Harold Anderson while we were there (In Waterloo) sent 68 folks to this meeting. Wow, God is so good! I praise the Lord for such a marvelous mission field and all of you who have had a part in it.
Now some more good news. We are ordering the books for the pastors and students early next week. Almost all of that money has come in and I feel that need will be met by the end of next week. We are ordering 34 sets of books at $77 for each set.
Now, for some really remarkable news. Missionary Mike Peper estimates that only about ten per cent of his church members own a Bible. We want to remedy that if we can. We have found paperback New King James Bibles for a buck a piece...that's right, one dollar buys a Bible. I just got off the phone with Mike and he is ecstatic. His words were, "Ed, do you realize we can put a Bible in the hands of every believer for about $500?". So, here's the deal. Harold and I would like to lead in the raising of this money for Bibles to send to Sierra Leone. Do you realize you can put Bibles into 25 homes in W. Africa for $25? Now, I know that it is Christmas time...and, many of you have already given sacrificially to this work. However, I believe most of us can find 25 bucks in the next 30 days. I can and I will! Our goal is to send 1000 Bibles...500 to give out immediately and another 500 for Mike to give to future believers. If there is such a need as this in such a poor country as Sierra Leone, how can we not rise up and meet this challenge together?
Now, the container that will be packed with these books and Bibles will not be shipped until the end of January. We have plenty of time to get the money raised and the books shipped to Mike's Pennsylvania address. Mike is home until after Christmas and he said he would help raise money for this. I told him..."No way!" He has many other needs and he needs to raise money for them. I told him that I have great confidence that Harold's friends, as well as my own, will meet the challenge for these Bibles.

Ed Rothenberger

Lomar delaCruz from Cambodia

2010-01-28T14:54:00.001-05:00

Dear Beloved,

We started the month of November with tracts distribution and we were able to pass out 23,000 copies of a newly translated tracts entilted "How to get to heaven". As a result we have 2 families added to our church in Prey Nup, 6 souls in Dangkao, a new Bible stundent named Sophara.

Below is a Testimony testifying about the result of Soul Winning.

Bro. Tong Borin had to work in the Acelda Bank with a pay check of $230 per month. He had to pay her mother's debt, but when he did , he quit the job to go on with the ministry. A "country-boy" who had to feed a broken home of 7 and yet gave up the money to obey the HIGHER CALLING of GOD. He is the Mission Pastor of Talat Baptist Church. Here is one of his lates soul winning testimony:

On November 21 he went soul winning in Domnak Trach Village and and went to the house of Mr. San to share the Gospel to his brother in-law but when I arrived they were arguing together for Mr. San is asking money so he can drink wine early in then day. So Bro. Borin pacified Mr. San and asked him to listen to me. But he said if you want me to listen to you, give me money to drink wine then I will listen. But bro. Borin convinced him to listen to "the greatest story ever told". Then Mr. San asked "what will I do so I will stop drinking and stop boxing my wife?" If you want to know more come to our Bible Study every Friday and Saturday and come attend church every Sunday. Then he said "can I stop now?". So I asked him to listen more and at the end he prayed the sinner's prayer. After prayer, he did not ask for money to buy wine. His wife came to Mr. Borin and gave 4 coconu fruits. Now, Mr. San asked Bro. Borin to teach Bible in their house and he has been coming to church every Sunday now.

God is still in the business of changing lives here. The church in Talat is just 14 months old. One of the church member , Aunt Boun offered to God 3,000 square meters of property so the church can build a church there. God is so good to us and the ministry.

Nov.8 was the 4th Annivesary of Treng Trayoeng Baptist Church. We had 7 saved that day. Our Primary School there has an increased attendance of 24.

Please pray for our coming Sports Camp on Dec.9-10 and our 10 Christmas Evangelistic Programs beginning Dec.13.

Thank you for your prayers and support.

Yours for the sake of Calvary,

Lomer Hope and Grace dela Cruz

Sierra Leone According to Ed Rothenberger

2009-11-17T16:37:00.003-05:00

My Dear Supporting Friends,
I am back from Sierra Leone but many of my thoughts and much of my heart is still there. This country is truly an “open heaven” as my good friend Harold Anderson described it. The harvest there is “ripe” and missionary Mike Peper is certainly God’s man for the hour. It is difficult to believe that this much has been done and he has only been in Africa since March of this year.
I am so privileged to have spent 19 days in ministry there. Harold and I saw almost 300 professions of faith and that doesn’t count the many children who also prayed to receive Christ. Both of us preached 3 nite revivals that ended with the birthing of a new churches on the following Sundays. What a joy that was! Harold was used by the Lord to plant a new work in a suburb of Freetown called “Waterloo”. They had over 100 professions of faith there. On their first Sunday service after the revival (which Harold preached) there were 67 in attendance.
For some time now, Mike has wanted a church plant in downtown Freetown and that was my great honor to have a part in. We held the revival meeting outside and on the last nite, the crowd nearly closed off the street. We saw at least 60 adults come to know the Lord in those three nites. The following Sunday, our first church service (which I was honored to preach), we had 47 in attendance and another church was born. Right after that we had to catch a taxi and race to the airport to catch our flight home.
Mike now has seen seven churches established in his seven months in Sierra Leone. God has blessed and all of the churches but the one just established in downtown Freetown are pastored by nationals. Mike will pastor the downtown church for a short while until he can train a national to take that one. By the way, once a month all of the churches meet together for a combined meeting and that crowd will run between 500 and 700 wonderful folks (the number varies depending on the difficulty many find in getting to the central location). Our first Sunday in Sierra Leone was such a Sunday and my first experience in the country was preaching to this crowd of over 500. We had 35 adults saved that day. Wow, what a country; what a missionary, what a ministry!
In a follow-up letter to this one, I will tell you about the wonderful moving of the Lord in the Bible Institute. Twenty-seven young men (and one lady) are in preparation for ministry and what a delight to teach them in the classroom. Much more about this later.
Many of you have written to ask about needs over there. I will share just one now and more later. Mike Peper needs more monthly support and I cannot think of a better place to put your mission money that this “Open Heaven”. I am committing myself to send Mike $100 each month, beginning today. How I pray and hope that many of you will do the same. For your information, monthly checks can be sent to a missions clearing house in Houston where they will process them for Mike. Checks should be made out to “Central Missionary Clearing House” and Mike Peper’s name should not appear on the check but his name should be used in an accompanying note. The clearing house will keep a record for your income tax purposes and send you a yearly statement. The address is…
Central Missionary Clearing House
POB 219228
Houston, TX 77218-9228

Editor's note: Sierra Leone can be one of the most productive mission fields during the year 2010. I encourage you to get behind this project and let's see what God can really do.

November Newsletter From Sierra Leone

2009-11-17T16:21:00.004-05:00

It has been a wonderful month of blessings.
Two new churches were started, giving us a total of seven churches. The average attendance of the churches for the month of October was 574. We have had 1,097 saved since we started 7 months ago. The Friday night college ministry has averaged 48 each week with 80 students accepting Christ as Saviour.
Two of my pastor friends of 49 years came to Sierra Leone to help us launch the Bible Institute. We had 26 men and 1 young lady enroll. For two weeks they not only gave college level courses to them, but they gave them their heart and lives. What a wonderful blessing they were to this ministry. The students fully engaged themselves into the classroom lectures and studies. I am going to need to purchase 30 chairs at a cost of $15.00 a chair for the Institute.
Our container has arrived and we should be able to get it out of customs and to our newly rented home early next week. We were without electricity for three days last week so it will be wonderful to connect the new generator that is coming in the container. It is large enough to provide energy for our daughter and son-in-law upstairs and for us downstairs.
We desperately need an increase in our monthly support as this ministry moves forward. We ask you to help us cover the additional expenses if possible. Thank you for the confidence you have placed in us. May God continue to richly bless you.
In Christ, Mike & Diane Peper

Editor's note: The Rawlings Foundation has supplied finances for a place for the Peper's to work. However you can see they need additional funds to continue to do a wonderful work. Go to www.impactyouthww.com to see additional pictures of the work there.

Newest Report and Results from the Lingo's in Colombia

2009-11-03T12:25:00.001-05:00

Hi Bill,

We are just now getting started with the evangelistic camps, and are already seeing some amazing results! Since we are only using our own church staff and the rest are all volunteers, we can only do the camps on long weekends. In addition, the task of assimilating the ones who get saved into our churches is a major undertaking, so the follow-up becomes a much bigger task than even putting on a camp.

We call our evangelistic camps Dia Zero -- Un Evento Que Transformara Tu Vida!, which translated is Day Zero -- An Event That Will Transform Your Life! We did one in May. Here are the stats on that event:

Attendance: Campers 272
Volunteers: 162
SALVATIONS 194

We just concluded our second Day Zero on October 12th. Here are the final stats.
Campers: Girls 191 Boys 217
Total Campers: 408
Volunteers: 143
TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 551
Professions of Faith: 263

As you can tell, we are getting better at gathering information. We are also getting better at follow-up. Last Saturday we had 216 people at a Youth Rally in one church, and approximately 40 at the other church. This past Saturday, in just a normal Youth Activity, we had a total 167 kids at both churches.
We are in the process of assigning mentors to the young people who were saved.

Pray for us, this is placing a major strain on our facilities. God is going to have to provide more room soon!

Exciting News and Results in Cambodia

2009-11-03T12:14:00.000-05:00

Dear Beloved,

God is on our side!

This past 7 days we have our Team in the city and in the province go out and did Evangelistic Campaigns in
Phnom Penh, Kampot Province, Kampong Spue, Preah Sihanouk Province and kampot province.

We were able to have 1,301 that listened and attended to the preaching. We also had the "Jesus Film" showed in 5 locations. Hundreds came and saw.

We are very happy to see 828 souls get saved and 64 souls baptized at the camp!

Thank you for your prayers.

This week we are passing out tracts during the "water festival" already we passed out 1,500 this last Sunday.

We covet your prayers for our coming Sports camp this December 10 and our Evangelsitic Christmas programs this Year end.

Thank you for your support.

Yours sincerely,

Lomer Hope dela Cruz

A Marvelous Story of Redemption

2009-11-03T11:50:00.002-05:00

Hands & Hearts ‐ Liliana’s Story

Have you ever thought that your hands can be a reflection of your heart? I mean what they do, how they look, can be affected by the storms or the peace that rules our heart.
Christ’s hands were nail scarred because His heart was full of love and compassion for the sinner. As a father, my hands can comfort and reassure a sick child or worried wife; if my heart is kind and unselfish.
When Liliana thinks of hands, immediately her memories swirl and draw her back to a dark time in her life ‐ before she met Christ and took His hand and free gift of Eternal Life.
Liliana worked in our OSY evangelistic camps during the month of June as program staff and female counselor. She was a long way from her first 25 years of life. The hands of her father and mother were bloody hands as she recalls her alcoholic father repeatedly beating her mother. He would pin her against the wall as his hands wrapped around her neck and slammed her and held her there under his force and anger. Her mother was a beaten
visage and the blood would trickle and find its way to her hands in a horrible scene that Liliana would watch. Another beating endured another brutal display of a wicked heart.
As Liliana was witness to these repeated anguishes of the heart, her heart became filled with fear. The beatings and abuse did not stay isolated on Liliana’s mother but spread to Liliana’s life and that of her siblings. Her father’s heart would be filled with such rage that he would turn on his
own children in his drunken rampages and throw them out into the streets where they were forced to survive on their own for days at a time. Liliana’s hands learned to find food from the garbage cans outside of local restaurants ‐ a desperate heart and desperately hungry hands.
At 20 years old and after experiencing continued abuse at the hands and heart of an alcoholic father, Liliana’s heart was now filled with hatred. She hated men, and her heart made a decision that no man would ever hurt her again. To find the strength to live such an isolated and guarded life her hands grabbed the same bottle that controlled her father and now without realization she began to fill her heart with the same poison. The alcohol abuse that would control her life for years to come had now begun.
With her hands wrapped tightly around the bottle and her heart numb to relationships with men, almost unnoticeably she entered the world of prostitution where her heart was telling her she was using the men for their money, they weren’t using her for the sex.
Five years into trying to escape the pain in her heart through drugs, alcohol and prostitution, Liliana became pregnant. Her heart was selfish, it was the only model she really had to follow, for her mother’s heart had been broken, but her dad’s had been to dominate.
Her selfish heart chose the drugs instead of being a good mother. The baby was born, but intervention had to be made in order for that birth to take place. Liliana would not leave the street and party life alone, so her mother would tie her to the bed and not allow her to leave until the baby was born. As soon as the baby was born Liliana returned to the streets.
Liliana continued to reach for the drugs and alcohol in an attempt to calm the storms in her heart, but it was killing her and she hated every waking moment of her life, which caused the partying to become even more intense and dangerous. After a night of partying she blacked out with a toxic combination of drugs and alcohol.
The three days of no memory that followed her blackout filled Liliana’s heart once again with fear. All she knew is that she woke up bruised, beaten and her clothes had been torn off. An empty heart, no memory of how this nightmarish image in the mirror - her image - got that way. But it was finally the break she needed. She was empty.
It was now that she sought something real - and through a friend she met Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. A friend who for years had told her there is more to life and His name is Jesus. Now she was willing to receive Christ into her heart as her personal Lord and Saviour.
Through serving at our OSY camps, we saw Liliana’s new heart, as her hands reached out to other girls that were walking down the same dangerous path of drugs, alcohol and prostitution. Liliana was gently
guiding them to the Saviour. Her smile and sparkling eyes are more proof to the change in this once dark, cold, detached heart that is today filled with the love of God.
Liliana’s message today for others like her; “There is a God who loves you very much and wants a better life for you. There is more to life - it is called God and He will help you change - allow Him to.”
This ministry is not only helping the lost, but God is using it to strengthen and heal His children. Hearts and hands once bent on evil and destruction today are reflecting and mirroring the heart and hands of the Saviour.

Please pray for our staff as we prepare for the 9inal OSY camps of 2009.

Quartrerly Report from Cambodia, Asia

2009-10-16T12:17:00.003-04:00

Dear Pastor and Church,
“Is anything too hard for the Lord? Genesis 18:14”. We believe that GOD CAN DO THE IMPOSSIBLE.
This 3rd quarter of 2009 we saw God has done the impossible once more in our ministries.

July: We graduated 57 Bible College Students in the province and the 16 congregations were happy to see that a part of these graduates are now working full time in our areas. We also have retained 49 preachers and workers during the summer months as they work in our 16 mission works in the province. Our Church Building in Wat Prasat was finished and our Toilet in Talat church was done. This month we had 162 professions of Faith and 23 baptisms in all our areas. We had Fellowship Baptist Youth Camp and my wife’s Birthday was celebrated with our beloved missionary families and visitors present.

August : We pushed our church workers to do Vacation Bible Schools and we were able to saturate 4 areas in the province and 3 areas in Phnom Penh city. We were able to see our leaders have grown to lead other leaders as well. This month we had 83 saved and 14 baptisms. We have worked on our church permits and God is helping us financially to process all thee paper works.

September : We started this month with many God given troubles. We saw a tumor re-growth in my post-surgical site (left breast cancer site). Grace had some migranes and her thyroid size had increased too. We had 103 saved and 35 baptized this month.

We made A STEP OF FAITH and we started our “Roving Bible College”... we call it Indochina Baptist Institute. With God’s provision and some veteran missionaries advises we went ahead and we are now on our 3rd week of operation as I write to you. “Roving” because we go around the areas every Quarter. Tong Borin who had to work at an Acleda Bank and was receiving salary of $230 per month had quit his job and came to do our church work in Talat and he continues to get Bible training at IBI. What a sacrifice for a poor Cambodian who had to support his parents and siblings yet he willingly surrendered to obey the call of our God, yes! God can do the Impossible. We have 31 other Young People that have made a step of faith too and joined IBI.

Yours in prayers believing God is blessing our partnership,
Lomer Hope and Grace dela Cruz

Article submitted by Bill Aven -

Awesome Results at Highlands Cambodia Camp

2009-09-01T21:17:00.002-04:00

We just finished the 13th Batch of Camp. We have 2 more batches until the weekend and our Camping season 2009 ends. We would love to do as many camps as we can but we are scheduled to have Academy opening in Phnom Penh on September 14. We also have enrollment at CBBC from September 15 onwards. CBBC opens the new school year on October 12.

We will see if we can do other camps towards the end of the year or at the beginning of 2010. Surely these camps are a great blessing to us and many other churches. An older pastor in a nearby province called me yesterday (Monday) afternoon and he was almost unending in his appreciation for us allowing him to bring just 2 buses in 2 separate batches in camp. Provincial buses usually pack up to 60 or more people in a 45-seater bus! I do not know how big his worship place is but he is rejoicing with the problem that he does not have enough seating room for people coming to his church since they brought people to camp. He is asking help to house 7 young people to come to our Bible college in Phnom Penh. I felt sorry for him because we do not have provisions for dorm and board for his young people but even a problem like this is good because this means that we are reaching young people who are really considering serving the Lord full-time. Please help pray for the Lord's leading and provision for provincial students who want to come to CBBC in Phnom Penh.

Here are the results of our 13th Batch of camp: We have a total of 883 campers with 154 getting saved and 25 being baptized. 1 Young man came to surrender to go to Bible college.

Thank you very much for your kindness in providing us with the facility and financial help to do these Evangelistic Camps. Every batch of camp we have people, individuals and churches, giving testimonies of being touched by Lord and being blessed in manifold ways simply for being at a camp like this. You might be particularly interested to know that one older Pastor commented on the names you have given to the buildings. He said that whoever named these buildings must have had the vision that people from all the different provinces of Cambodia will be coming to this place and experience the blessings of the Lord. That is indeed what's happening here at The Highlands, Cambodia through these Evangelistic Camps.

Have a nice day and God bless you.

Yours for Cambodian souls,

Mike Valdez

Cambodia Camp News: 10 weeks of camp

2009-08-27T14:26:00.002-04:00

Camp is going well. We just finished our 10th Batch. We had a total registered attendance of 754. There were 232 who got saved and 91 believers were baptized.

To this date the total number of campers is 8,633. Total number of souls saved is 1,726. While the total number of believers baptized is 413.

Some of us who have been in camp since day one are beginning to feel wear and tear not so much with the work load but due to the erratic weather changes. The alternating sudden rains and the high humidity when the sun is up is causing many of our camp staff to feel minor illnesses such as colds and headaches but all are undeterred in their commitment to finish the whole camping season.

Our hearts are excited with testimonies of how the Lord has been working in ways we were not even aware of. A Cambodian Pastor in the capital town of Kampong Spue (the large community about 60 kilometers before the campsite coming from Phnom Penh) excitedly shared to me a very encouraging testimony. Pastor Bontheoun, has a brother in-law (husband of one of his sisters-in law) who he tried to witness to for over 4 years. He was very resistant and so even his wife who wanted to go to church could not go because she was afraid he would beat her if she did. This man came to camp during the 5th batch. On the first night of camp, he was very absorbed listening to the very first message he heard. When the invitation was given for people to trust Christ, he came with tears from his eyes. On one of the subsequent services, he came to present himself for believer's baptism. While in camp, before baptism, he took off the talisman (amulet) he wore for a long time around his waist and got baptized. Immediately, when he got home, he tore off and broke to pieces the spirit house in their home. The next Sunday he called all his family members and took them to church on his vehicle. This has happened during the second week of camp. We only knew about it because Pastor Bontheoun came to camp bringing another big group of unbelievers from his community, several of these got saved and were baptized on this last batch.

There are many wonderful stories of lives changed as a result of these Evangelistic Camps we do together. Thank you so much for supporting us both in finances and in prayers so that we can reach Cambodians with the Gospel. You might be able to get acquainted with only about a dozen of these people on your trips here in Cambodia but for sure all these other people whose lives are touch by your spiritual investments will be glad to meet and thank you and your family in Heaven.

Thanks again and God bless you.

Mike Valdez

Editors note: This is a letter sent to Herb Rawlings of the Rawlings Foundation.

The Brothers of Cyrene reaching out to Black America

2009-08-24T17:07:00.007-04:00

The Brothers of Cyrene was started primarily for the purpose of fellowship. However, their mission and purpose today is to evangelize Black America by planting strong Independent Baptist Churches in their cities, towns, communities, and neighborhoods with aggressive emphasis on soul winning, teaching, preaching, praying, discipleship, and education.

The Brothers of Cyrene, with the Lord’s help, desire to reverse the negative trends found in the home, education, drug and crime, incarceration, and high mortality.

Pastors James Richardson, Living Waters Baptist Church, Mobile, AL.; Samuel Mitchell, Bible Study Baptist Church, Moss Point, MS.; and Ira A. Walton Sr., Crenshaw Community Baptist Church, Luverne, AL., are all close friends, shepherding churches they planted, and active in their state’s fellowships.

Because these pastors were all bi-vocational, they never had time for any serious fellowship except when their paths would cross or they spoke on the phone. Two of these men and their wives would soon meet at a restaurant and have a time of fellowship. They quickly realized they shared and were experiencing some of the same problems and concerns in their ministries and in their communities. They discussed the urgency as well as the difficulties encountered in reaching Black America and how could they best evangelize and do it at a faster pace.

This was very exciting to Pastor Walton and he felt led of God to arrange for some type of permanent fellowship on a larger scale and with structure. He suggested that instead of meeting at a restaurant that the group should meet at someone’s church and invite other inner city independent Baptist pastors to be a part of the fellowship.

On August 9, 2007, Pastor Richardson was host of the Baptist Bible Alabama/ Northwest Florida Fellowship meeting and Pastor Walton decided at that meeting to engage the six Black pastors who were in attendance.

With a flyer in hand complete with an agenda, a date, time, and place for a larger fellowship, Pastor Walton went to work in inviting those pastors in attendance to a special fellowship meeting. The meeting took place at Living Waters Baptist Church in Mobile where Pastor Walton began to share his God given vision for the fellowship with all the pastors in attendance. In that first meeting they discussed structure, issues and concerns in reaching Black America, the need to plant more churches, and the need to assist and encourage other pastors.

On September 14, 2007, the fellowship began to organize and Pastor Walton would once again share the vision and go into greater detail as to the scope and magnitude of the fellowship and how to assist those independent Baptist pastors who are just starting their ministries in predominantly black neighborhoods.

On March 28, 2008, at Living Waters Baptist Church, the fellowship instituted rules to govern themselves, developed a purpose and mission statement and named the fellowship “BROTHERS OF CYRENE,” taken from Matthew 27:32, “And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.” The name of the fellowship originated in the heart and mind of Pastor Walton’s great friend, Pastor Chuck Ford, Community Baptist Church, Grady. AL.

During that March 2008 meeting, the fellowship voted in two officers, the moderator and secretary. Pastor Walton assumed the duties of moderator and Evangelist Isaiah Moore, Living Waters Baptist Church, Mobile, AL., was voted secretary of the Brothers of Cyrene. On March 19, 2009, Pastor Bill Fluker, Grace & Mercy Baptist Church, Jackson, MS., was voted in as secretary replacing Evangelist Moore, and on June 8, 2009, Pastor Mitchell was voted in as treasurer.

The Brothers of Cyrene are not of the opinion that the blacks must separate in order to effectively address the unique circumstances involving Black America. They desire and desperately need the help of predominantly non-black congregations to reach Black America and plant churches.

This organization, through its website, will serve as an information hub for Bible College graduates, laymen, church members, etc., who have been called of God to help evangelize Black America. The website will provide information and locations where pastors, youth directors, Christian school teachers, choir directors, etc., are needed. Additionally this site will provide a means by which believers of like faith will have the opportunity to search for and find independent Baptist churches in other cities and towns. The site will offer other opportunities as well.

The Brothers of Cyrene are affiliated with and work closely in conjunction with the Baptist Bible Fellowship International (BBFI) and state fellowships in planting churches. They desire to work with other Bible-believing fellowships, mission’s boards and local churches in their efforts to evangelize their communities and neighborhoods.

The Brothers of Cyrene are pastors and laymen who are active participants in their state fellowships. They strongly desire the pastors of the state fellowships to truly embrace their vision by encouraging their members to pray and to get involved. The Brothers of Cyrene are ready and willing to “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” (Luke 14:23). They ask all those in the BBFI and in other Bible-believing ministries who already have productive and prosperous ministries, to help the Brothers of Cyrene to reach the unreached for Christ.

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

If you desire to write us, send correspondence to the following address:

Brothers of Cyrene
c/o: Crenshaw Community Baptist Church
1607 Rutledge Loop Road
Luverne, AL 36049
www.brothersofcyrene.com/

How To Reach Out To Your Community

2009-08-08T20:42:00.002-04:00

Community Outreach

Our church just completed a week of outreach to our community. We began with a carnival on Saturday, August 1 from 11 AM to 4 PM. The carnival was geared to children but there was something there for everyone. Everything was free – food, games, etc. We had the inflatable jumpers for the children, volleyball, a radar speed gun for judging the speed of pitches. That was a real hit. We had a gospel sing that lasted for an hour. We had over 150 attendees and most of the children who came were not part of our church family. We distributed tickets the two weeks before the carnival and that seemed to be an effective way to reach people.

Then on Sunday, August 2, at 6.30 PM we began our Vacation Bible School and it continued through Thursday night. We registered over 90 students with a high of 68 on Thursday night. We invited the parents to come on Thursday night and we extended the program an additional 30 minutes. We had the largest turn out of parents ever – about 40. There were ten children who prayed to receive Christ. On the last night we did a pictorial review of the week so the parents could see what the children had been doing all week. That was a real hit with the parents and children.

We praise God for the desire of our church body to invest time and money into such outreaches. Only eternity will reveal the impact of these events on our community.

Editor's Note:
Dr. Jerry Burton and the members of Calvary Baptist Church, Rittman, Ohio, were responsible for the outreach program you are reading about. Way to go, Jerry.

Dr. Armie Jesalva's Philosophy of Ministry

2009-08-07T22:05:00.001-04:00

WHAT I BELIEVE ABOUT THE MINISTRY
By: DR. ARMIE F. JESALVA

Acts 2: 41 – 47
The Ministry is my life touching another life for the sake of the gospel.

* Every Christian is always on duty:

- To win souls.
- To follow them up for baptism and added to the church membership.
- Members must be steadfast – in the apostle’s doctrine.
- They ought to be given opportunity to fellowship and pray with other Christians.
- They ought to be in one accord and to strengthen one another.

I praise God for the people that are added to our ministry and the opportunities to expand our outreach or enlarge our spiritual influence. We ought to discover in our ministry the places where we can have more harvest of souls.

I have been pastor of Bible Baptist Church, Cebu City for 40 years, and the more I stay, the more I see the harvest field further away that I must conquer. Orison Marden said, “Go as far as you can and when you get there you can see further.”

When Bob Hughes came to Cebu City in 1957 there were already Southern Baptists and Canadian Baptists. There were other groups but he took it upon himself the responsibility to capture all of Cebu City.

He worked with other Baptists. He partnered with them. He had good fellowship with them. He prayed with them. He was part of the team. He knew that teamwork divides the effort but multiplies the effect. But his motivation was to reach Cebu City for Christ. He stood one day on Beverly Hills, looked over Cebu City with tears in his eyes and said “LORD, HELP ME CAPTURE CEBU CITY. Give me 1,000,000 Bibles to give to the people.” God gave him one and a half million.

I am glad to have a little part in that journey of faith that Bob Hughes initiated many years back. But I believe that if I have to strengthen my ministry and do more to pursue what God has began, I believe three things about the ministry.

I. The Ministry Is A Marathon. It is not a 100 meter dash thing. It is a long distance race.
You cannot have a strong, growing church if you stay in one place for five or ten years. It takes more than desire or even dedication. – It takes insight, it takes patience, it takes vision, it takes strong faith, and it takes skill to attain it.

Dr. Don Tackett of the Rawlings Foundation said, “Our ministry is suffering because there is no continuity.” I Cor. 3:6 “I have planted, Apollos watered but God gave the increase.” The ministry is a marathon.

a) It is a marathon of work. Not Proselyting but working. II Tim 2:3 “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” From the time of watering new believers in discipleship it takes a lot of hard work.
- Memorizing verses
- Daily in the word
- Preaching messages intended to make them grow and be involved in missions.
- Teaching them ways to live the Christian life. It takes hard work, consistent hard work, courageous hard work, and continuous hard work.

Dr. Jack Hyles pastored First Baptist Church in Hammond, Indiana for over 50 years and had a big day of over 26,000 in Sunday School, the biggest Sunday School in the world. He is our example of hard work.

Dr. Jerry Falwell had a high day of 18,000 in Sunday School at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia. He has been pastor of the church for 49 years. Just imagine how hard he worked.

Dr. Lee Roberson built the Highland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee for 47 years through – a marathon of soulwinning, - a marathon of teaching, - a marathon of discipleship. A hireling will not do that. A hireling will keep changing flocks but the true shepherd does not.

The ministry is not a 100-meter dash. It is a 10,000 – meter run. It takes a long time to accomplish something big for Jesus Christ. You’ve to stay on the road a long time. It is a marathon of work.

b) It is a marathon of stay. When you pastor a church or be a missionary, you orchestrate your work with a single-minded attitude.
- Of building up lives
- Building up standards
- Equipping them
- Organizing your Sunday School Department .
- And training believers.
Eph. 4:11- 12 “And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelist, and some pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

You must have a long term ministry. Nobody has done anything meaningful for the Lord by staying in one place for two years. The ministry is a marathon of stay. You stay in the will of God. You stay in the purpose of God, you stay focused. Once you establish the fact that God has called you in a specific area, then, stay there. Claim that area for Christ. The ministry is a marathon.

II. The Ministry is Multitudes. Matt 4:25 “And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan.” Multitude of people was coming from all directions. They were coming from the north, from the south, from the east, and from the west. Great crowds were coming. Huge crowds, enormous crowds. People were attracted to his ministry that one time the Bible says in Luke 8:42 “. . . the people thronged Him”.

It does not matter if they have to travel a great distance; people came because they were attracted to the ministry of the Lord Jesus. In Matt. 14:21 Jesus fed 5000 men and if you count the women and children, there may have been probably more than 15,000 people attending that service. That was many years back when transportation was slow and few. And remember, the church of Jesus Christ is still attracting crowds of people today.
- You don’t need to use gimmicks to attract people.
- You don’t need to compromise your convictions of music to gather them.
- In fact, you don’t need to have a beautiful building to make them come.

How can we attract people to the ministry?

1. We should love unbelievers. When Bro. Gerry Nable of Bethany Baptist, Makati was just a few years into the pastorate, he asked what would be my advice for him in the ministry. I said “love the people.” Matthew 9:36 “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them because they fainted and were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd.”
Jesus loved lost people and he spent some time with them. Jesus enjoyed being with people who are seeking the truth far more than with religious leaders who oppose the truth. He was called “a friend of sinners”. People could feel his love for them.

Even little children enjoyed being around Him. We should love unbelievers. They are your potential members.

This is probably the most overlooked key to a growing church. Without compassion, we will never be willing to make the sacrifice necessary to reach people. The ministry is multitude. If we don’t love people nothing else matters. This is why, as church members, our love should be focused towards visitors and first timers not just towards each other. You’ll never attract unbelievers if you don’t love them. Jesus loved unbelievers.

How can we show our love for unbelievers?
a). We should have an atmosphere of acceptance. While plants need to have the right climate to grow, it's the same way with our ministry. The right climate for ministry growth is an atmosphere of love and acceptance. Dr. Rick Warren said, “Growing ministries are loving ministries and loving ministries are growing ministries. This seems very simple but many times we overlook it. If your ministry is going to grow, have an atmosphere of acceptance. If a church does not rescue sinners, that church must be rescued.

b) Be nice when people come. Smile and be friendly. Make them feel welcome. Long before the pastor stands to preach, the people are already deciding whether they’ll come back or not depending on how you welcome them. Be nice when people come.

c) The pastor must be loving. If you are the pastor, you set the tone and atmosphere on the congregation. I have visited many churches and the main reason the church is not growing is because the love of the pastor is lacking in the atmosphere. The pastor hides in his office.

d) Remember names. It shows you are interested in people. Nothing sounds sweeter to the second- time visitor than hearing the use of his name. You say, but I don’t have the gift of remembering names. Well, just work at it.

e) Greet people personally before the services. You can warm up the crowd by meeting as many people as you can before the Sunday school or services. Get out among the crowd and talk to people and encourage them.

f) Touch people. How? Give them a look, a word, a smile or a pat on the back. There’s a lot of lonely people in the world. A pat on the back may be the only thing that will make a difference in their lives.

g) Accept people without approving them. As Christians we are called to accept and love unbelievers without approving their sinful lifestyles.
- Think of the Samaritan woman at the well of Sychar. Jesus accepted her without approving of her licentious lifestyle.
- Think of Zachaeus. Jesus dined with him without approving his dishonesty.
- Think of the woman who was caught in the very act of adultery. Jesus defended her dignity without approving her immorality.

h). We should meet people needs. – Physical needs, - relational needs of those rejected by parents, - spiritual needs, - financial needs

Our Lord would open a door for evangelizing a person’s by meeting a felt need. They’ll pay attention to the good news of salvation if you discover the key to his heart.
- Medical & Dental Evangelism
- Feeding Program in very depressed areas.

Sometimes I would drive around Cebu City and find myself behind the wheels praying, Lord, there are so many people. They are potential members of my church, potential missionaries or potential Bible students that can be trained and equipped to carry the gospel of Jesus Christ. How can I reach them for you?” Many times we think that the answer to every need is a sermon or a verse of scripture. It is meeting people needs. James 2:14–17. Read.

I never believed in advertising our school in the newspapers. If parents decide to enroll their children in Bob Hughes Christian Academy or in Bible Baptist College, they’ll do so when they see one of our graduates. Changed lives are our greatest advertisements. The ministry should meet people needs. The ministry is multitudes...

III. The Ministry is Missions. Missions is reaching our world for Jesus Christ. This is our ultimate goal. The health of the church is measured not by its seating capacity but by its sending capacity.

How many missionaries have you sent out from your church? Jesus said, “As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” Acts 13:3 “And when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” V. 5 “… and they preached the word of God.” How many missionaries have you sent out?

How many missionaries do you support locally and globally? The way we answer this question depends upon how strong is our missions program.

A weak missions program cannot help propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ. Eph. 5:21. It cannot fulfill the great commission. The ministry is missions.

If you have to start supporting missionaries in small amounts don’t be ashamed of it. The journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step. The devil tries to put all kinds of roadblocks to discourage you in your missions outreach. But if you determine that with God’s help you will obey God’s command, the Lord will strengthen your faith and bless your work.

THE MINISTRY IS A MARATHON
THE MINISTRY IS A MULTITUDES OF PEOPLE
THE MINISTRY IS MISSIONS

This is what I believe about the ministry.

Fantastic Plans from Tanzania

2009-07-20T12:21:00.006-04:00

God blessed us with good meetings here at the Highlands Camp. The pastors meeting, as well as the youth leaders meeting, went well and men left with a vision for youth ministry and camp ministry that can have an impact on our churches and our nation. Twenty-one were in attendance at the Pastors and Missionaries meeting and 27 in the Youth Leaders meeting.
The Vision Casting meetings were Step One of our strategy for launching the youth camp ministry. Those of you in attendance at the annual BBMT meeting may remember we outlined 4 Strategical Steps.
Step One: Vision Casting (July 2009)
Step Two: Teaching and Training (December 2009)
Step Three: Preparing and Promoting (January-June 2010)
Step Four: Launching (June 2010)
Tentative dates were set for Step Two, the Teaching and Training camp, to be held here at the Highlands December 14th - 17th. This camp will be a training camp for leaders and youth who will serve in our first evangelistic camps. Only faithful leaders and young people from our churches will be invited to this training camp. There is a list of qualifications which must be met by all in attendance December. The qualifications are currently as follows:
1. Must be a saved, baptized member of the church
2. Must have a good testimony in the church and in the community
3. Must have a heart to do ministry in the church (either actively doing a ministry or eager to volunteer and do ministry when asked)
4. Must have a learning spirit and willing to receive instruction (either a Bible institute student or pursuing enrollment, etc)
5. Must be faithful in church services and youth meetings as well
6. Must be willing to pay the fee for the training camp (to be determined)
7. Must fulfill other qualifications (memorization verses to be issued as well as a book reading assignment)
8. Must be 15 years of age or older (unless a secondary school student of 14 years old)
Strategically, we are on schedule and on track for launching our first evangelistic camps in June of 2010. The concern is the construction and equipping of the camp. It is very unlikely that the camp will be fully ready to receive the leaders and youth for training in December. It is probable that we will have to make do with the facilities available and supplement with outside cooking, etc. I will be asking Bob to assist us by pushing for the following by December:
1. Two dorms operational with adequate running water and useable toilets and showers.
2. Enough beds and mattresses for sleeping 50 - 100 leaders and student leaders
3. Tables and chairs for meal times with the above
We will likely have to use one side of a dorm for our meetings and training, and hire cooking from outside.
All of the men were particularly excited about the development of the sports field across the ravine from the camp. This is on the original property purchased before the Rawlings came on board. It is a beautiful property and ideal location for our playing fields. It helps to expand the camp and allow breathing room for when we have hundreds of campers on the property for game times. Knowing the fanaticism of Tanzanian youth when it comes to soccer, they have ideas of using that area for sports related camps, etc. after the evangelistic camps are launched.
I will send several emails with some scaled down photos of our meeting. If you do not want to download them, delete those coming with "Photos" in the subject line. If you would like some full scale photos for printing, contact me with your request.
All for now. Thank you for praying,

Dave and Bonnie Jones
P.O. Box 986
Morogoro
Tanzania

For pictures and additional information about the Highlands Tanzania ministry, go to http://www.impactyouthww.com/

A Day In The Life Of A Camp Director

2009-07-16T23:21:00.002-04:00

"When Everything Goes Wrong"
It was our 2nd OSY camp. We have seen mini-riots in the dorms at 2 AM. We have confiscated shanks, knives, razor blades, narcotics, marijuana, alcohol, huffing products, pornography, cigarettes and much more. We have experience dealing with youth that arrive high and hallucinating, men and women hung-over and vomiting and even those who believe they are actually ghost people. We have separated gang members as they tried to beat up homosexuals. We have refined our schedule, our program and our staff; we are better prepared than ever before.
We felt confident going into our last camp of the month that we were going to have a great camp. Everyone was excited. We had had a great team-building staff devotion and meeting in the morning. We had spent time in prayer. We had special Christian Hip-Hop artists that were to share in the event in the evening, only adding to what we believe to be a great program and ministry for the at risk youth that arrive at these camps.
We had 462 campers present and plenty of experience. We believed God was going to do a great work in this last camp. Then it all went wrong.
The B-Boyz weren't going to show, so we changed the order of events. Then the left side of the sound went out, then the main speakers, leaving only the floor monitors. Then the B-Boyz texted and said they were coming. We changed the order of events again and began passing the changes through the chain of communication, but the chain broke and the M/C never got the message. He followed the old order. Now a glitch, with sound, lighting and stage dynamics. This was turning out to be a nightmare.
Wait the street cars were supposed to move in now, but one was out of position and we nearly ran over youth trying to get it in position for the B-Boyz, in the crowded auditorium. Oh, for crying out loud! Where is the sound? Why can't they hear the music!?! This is a disaster.
Okay we have sound now, and it looks like everyone is finally on the same page. Wow! Thank-you Lord we were able to reconnect the youth with the program. They really enjoyed the Hip-Hop lyrics and even sang the message of a new life in Christ. Now the drama - the final preparation of the soul before the preaching of God's precious Word.
What is going on now? Why is the band breaking down their instruments and the drum set now? This is crazy? Do they have to leave? Arghhh! Okay, the M/C did a good job of buying time and saving the moment from complete disaster.
Now the preaching - this is going very well, wait, what happened to the sound? He sounds like he his mouth has been duct taped by an angry gang member? Can anyone even understand what he is saying right now? Just take me home, Lord, please!
The sound is back up and clear, we can hear the message. I am going to go and get the counseling area ready for the invitation call. Oh, you have got to be kidding - we haven't had this problem in any of our previous camps. It is a torrential downpour and I think I just received an email from Noah with an attachment - "How to Build an Ark". The rain is coming down so hard on the metal roof, that even with the sound system the speaker cannot be heard, and he is giving the invitation right now.
I cannot move the youth to the counseling area; they will drown before they get under the roof. Now what? Plan "B". We move the staff around those who have come forward in the invitation and have them lock hands, forming a human chain-link fence around those under conviction. We dismiss the other campers to the dorms (should have gotten on the ark with the others) and we redistribute the chairs in small circles with a counselor in each circle. Now we begin to release those who responded to the altar call in small groups to meet with a counselor.
In 10 minutes all are seated, still dry and hearing the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The rain is still pounding but now it is very obvious that this has nothing to do with us, the program, the experience, the organization, plan "A" or plan "B", this has everything to do with a Sovereign God Who loves these youth and is offering to them His forgiveness of sins and gift of eternal life.
I stand amazed that in spite of all the glitches and proverbial monkey wrenches laying around the auditorium, youth are responding, tears are flowing, hearts are changing, God's Spirit is winning...the rain stops, it is quiet...there is peace. The enemy has been beaten back.
I am so thankful that this ministry does not depend upon me or any other person, but that the factors that are most important all depend upon God, His Word and His Spirit, and the completed work of His Son Jesus Christ. Tonight we witnessed the largest single response we have ever seen in our "Out Of School Youth" evangelism camps. 142 professions of faith!
When we are weak He is strong; when we can't, He can; when we won't, He will; when we don't know, He does.
What a night! What a lesson! What a blessing! What a battle! Thank-you for your prayers and support - you made a difference this night as you stood in the gap for us.

Allen Owen, Highlands Mexico

Baptisten Gemeinde (Baptist Church) of Aschaffenburg, Germany

2009-06-21T17:16:00.001-04:00

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power. Alan Cohen

August 15 – 17th, 2008, Al Houck, missions director of Broadway Ave. Baptist Church and I had the privilege of attending Revofest, a new approach to evangelism and church planting, hosted and facilitated by the Baptisten Gemeinde (Baptist Church) of Aschaffenburg, Germany, Keith Gandy, BBFI Missionary and Pastor.

Last year Keith and his leadership team were challenged to step out and go beyond themselves by finding a way to export and expand their approach to church planting. The seed for Revofest was planted. The idea was to host a music festival featuring German, American, and European Christian bands to attract Christian and lost youth. Through this venue they would be able to present the gospel, and enhance the value of the local church to a youth culture that hasn’t been exposed to an effective church ministry. “ Bob Hines visited our leadership team in the summer of 2007 and challenged us to export our DNA. The church has grown 15% annually for over a decade and he felt that Germany needs just this kind of church. Our burden became to bring a young demographic together and challenge/resource them in order for them to create platforms of ministry that would be effective in impacting their own generation. If we reach them at the end of schooling, but before they fully enter the workforce and begin a family, we seek to inspire them to assume responsibility for reaching their communities for Christ and plant a church.” Keith Gandy

This was a grand task for a church of 300, for it required a budget beyond their means, and a work force of at least 100. With a gift from the Rawlings Foundation and the help of two churches in the states, they set out by faith to make this event happen….AND IT HAPPENED WITH EXCELLENCE!!!

With 16 bands that included Six Pence-None the Richer, Salvador, FireFlight, and Sarah Hughes, a work staff of 130, and the Lord’s leadership, Revofest was a resounding success. With approximately 900 total teens and young adults in attendance, it was held over a three day period, Friday through Sunday, with the music starting at 5:00 P.M. on Friday and Saturday evening. Classes and seminars were held on Saturday morning and afternoon. The young adults camped on location, were fed from a well organized feeding center, had excellent restroom and shower facilities, attended classes in buildings set up for teaching, and were all exposed to the beautiful 16th century Chateau that housed the entire event. “We desire to create a new movement, so it will require targeting innovators and early adopters, rather than those that simply duplicate or model what already exists. The entrepreneurs will be the ones to take risks, which is the requirement for creating new movements. The challenge of this, to spark their interes,t requires very trendy, inspirational platforms. Anything less than creative excellence will pancake among such minds.

Our leadership team thinks that exposing young people to experienced and proven leadership in a speaking venue is where the information can be conveyed. The challenge is to attract them to that environment. To target the 20-24 year age category we selected the platform of a major music festival. This is the only tool known to us that will presently attract major numbers of young people.” Keith Gandy

There was a constant flow of teens and young adults to the counseling area and reports are still being gathered on the number that were dealt with and saved.

Everyone that attended was impressed with the wonderful spirit that was present, how well everything was organized, and the quality of the music and classes. Keith brought a good message at the Sunday morning service where the gospel was clearly presented.

This festival was a new approach to the traditional youth camp held during the summer. “We know that many of our future pastors, church planters, and missionaries come from youth camps and we just haven’t had much success in reaching German youth with the traditional model, so we wanted to try something new.” Denny Gandy.

Was it successful?…Here are some comments of some of the participants:

Derrick Webster, Missionary from Switzerland : “This impact is going to be felt for the– next five years – It is huge for believers to create this kind of Synergy for the future.”

Andra – “This is Church reaching out to the community to bring souls in.
The impact is awesome, because they are reaching young people and our generation.”

Jo Anna – Reporter for German radio station– “I think it’s very great in a Christian way. I have never heard of any festival with a Christian emphasis.”

Tim Downs BBFI Missionary – Impact – The impact on the Church is significant. Young people are being impacted that wouldn’t have been associated with the church in any way. Many young people don’t think about church, even though they may think about God, and this is a way for the church to connect with them. I think this approach is going to be a stretch for some people, but the reality is if we are going to reach them, we have to connect with them where they live.

Denny – A lot of things surprised me. It has been really great for our church but especially for church growth in the future. Our people got a vision for the importance of the church and what a church can do. Many of the people that have been saved in our church have come from State churches (Catholic) and have never seen a church that has a passion for people or passion for a project like this. I think this is a very good start for what God is wanting to do in Germany.

One teen who confessed he was not a Christian said “This is so fantastic, this has to spread”

Keith and Debby Gandy have been BBFI missionaries to Germany for 28 years and have built a great church and ministry in Aschaffenburg. All three of their children are active in the ministry, with Denny, their oldest son serving as Associate Pastor and is involved in planting a new church in the area. Their son-in-law, Christoph is their worship leader and their daughter, Lisa, and youngest son, Robert are actively involved in the ministry of the church. Keith is also aided in this ministry by Renea Thompson and Linda Fitzgerald, two BBFI missionaries. Frustrated by the inability to build a ministry that was effective in evangelism and church planting, Keith decided to change his methods and began using a more contemporary approach to worship with an emphasis on young couples and youth. The results have been a church averaging 280, a facility that the church has built valued at more the 1 million euros, and a passion for evangelism and church planting. They are committed to creating a model for evangelism and church planting in Germany that will accelerate the fulfilling of the Great Commission and make an impact on Germany and the rest of Europe.

If you would like for Keith and Debby to come to your church and share the vision and opportunity this ministry presents, please contact him at the following address:

Keith Gandy
Schweinheimerstr. 13
63743 Aschaffenburg
Germany
Church Phone – 001 49 6021 218415

Bob Hines
iMap

221 Saved and 69 Baptized in Sierra Leone

2009-05-27T17:01:00.008-04:00

This past Sunday we held our second combined service with the two house churches, and had our highest attendance thus far. There were 178 in the worship service with 8 adults accepting Christ as Saviour. At the close of our service I had the privilege of baptizing 48 people from the two churches. One of our men expressed what all of us were feeling when he said, “Pastor, the spirit is too high this morning.” Although I did the preaching, the rest of the service was conducted by the nationals themselves. You would be so pleased with the quality of the people God has given to this ministry. We all went away thanking the Lord for meeting with us in such a wonderful way.
So far we have 221 people saved in our churches and 69 people baptized in these last eleven weeks. A young lady from the Salem Baptist Temple in Salem, Oregon, has been working with us since the eighth of April. Her goal was to establish a children’s Sunday school in both of our churches, train teachers, and mentor someone to head up the children’s ministry. She has trained five teachers, and mentored one of them to become the children’s ministry director. We had a total of sixty children last Sunday. She and my grandson, who just arrived, have been developing a college ministry program which will begin this Friday night. I have been so thankful for their dedication and commitment to this ministry.
Discipleship has been a focus in both of the churches. It has been a slow but steady process. We now have several that I have taken through the lessons and two weeks ago they themselves became disciplers. We have our discipleship classes following the Sunday morning service with over forty of our people engaged in intense Bible study. We want both of the churches to be biblically solid before we launch into the establishment of more churches in September.
I will be returning to the states in July for six weeks of deputation. I simply do not have enough monthly support coming in to sustain Diane and myself and the ministry. Bill Dougherty is helping me to fill the schedule with new churches.
Thank you for being so faithful to us. We are partners in one of the most wonderful harvest fields in the world.

Mike and Diane Peper

Bill Aven, reporter

Sierra Leone, West Africa and Dr. Mike Peper

2009-05-20T16:05:00.005-04:00

Ever so often you get a letter that absolutely thrills your soul to see how God is working around the world. This letter is one of them. It was received from Dr. Mike Peper just a few days ago.

Dear Dr. Rawlings and Herb,

I just wanted to give you a quick update as to what is happening here in Sierra Leone. Bill Dougherty accompanied me to Sierra Leone and was here for about six weeks, helping us get our first two churches established. In our first house church we just had our ninth service, and the eighth service in our second house church. This last Sunday our combined attendance was 149. In the past nine weeks we have had 189 people saved, and in our first baptism service, 21 adults were baptized.

I am in the process of putting together a team of nationals to help me in the starting of these house churches. We'll have directors of outreach, discipleship, music, children's ministries, and youth. I am calling them our leadership team. I've written job descriptions for each of these members and am in the process of training them for their respective positions. The leadership team will, in September, help to plant another house church. From October on, we will plant two house churches a month.

Within about a year's time, we'll be able to expand our leadership team to accomodate the foundation of another house church for every week. Two weeks ago I taught the church members about tithing, and we started taking our first offerings. In the first church that we started, the offerings have been such that they could take on a national pastor immediately. In the second church the offerings are a little less, but are still enough to support a pastor. I have been teaching them about missions work from the beginning, so that our first mission offering we take will be used to help support the leadership team. From the very beginning they have caught they vision of the house church concept and they are very excited about the potential.

The quality of the people that God has given us is far beyond my expectation. These are very sharp people. Our goal by next April is to be averaging a combined total of 1,000 in the house churches. I really believe that within three years, we will have over 100 house churches averaging 10,000. At the present time, Abdul and I have been doing the preaching at allservices, but our next step is to place pastors at each church.

Bill F. Aven, reporter

Harvest of Souls

2009-01-19T00:25:00.004-05:00

By Dr. D.L. Moody
Pastor, Pleasantview Baptist Church, Arlington, Texas

There seems to be an unspoken and yet prevalent notion that God cannot or does not move in our contemporary society and among modern day churches…at least not in any mighty way. I am not talking about some “charismatic” drama or “slick religious maneuver.” I am talking a true “breath of God” that results in souls being saved, baptized, and a church being revived to carry out the Great Commission.

Please know that the following report is totally for the glory of God. It is certainly not about me nor is it about our staff and congregation…God simply allowed us to be used by Him.

We had designated Sunday, November 23, 2008 (the Sunday before Thanksgiving) as “Harvest Sunday.” We promoted and encouraged our people to bring in their unsaved and unchurched friends, family and neighbors. Our people responded and we had a full house for the morning worship service. Evangelist, Dr. Bailey Smith was our guest speaker and he brought a simple and yet powerful salvation message. The presence and power of God was so real that each of us sat in awe as He moved through the congregation.

When the invitation was given, 59 teens and adults came forward to receive Jesus Christ as Savior. The following Sunday night I had the privilege of baptizing 46 in one service. We have baptized and had professions of faith every Sunday since.

I am convinced that God still desires to save souls and that He can still move in an incredible way in Bible-preaching, fundamental Baptist churches. There are still lost people all around us, souls for whom Jesus died. We simply must pray hard, consistently encourage our people to reach out, and then allow God to work.

Straight Ahead!

A New Approach to Camp in Germany

2009-01-10T11:05:00.003-05:00

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power. Alan Cohen

August 15 – 17th, Al Houck, missions director of Broadway Ave. Baptist Church and I had the privilege of attending Revofest, a new approach to evangelism and church planting, hosted and facilitated by the Baptisten Gemeinde (Baptist Church) of Aschaffenburg, Germany, Keith Gandy, BBFI Missionary and Pastor.

Last year Keith and his leadership team were challenged to step out and go beyond themselves by finding a way to export and expand their approach to church planting. The seed for Revofest was planted. The idea was to host a music festival featuring German, American, and European Christian bands to attract Christian and lost youth. Through this venue they would be able to present the gospel, and enhance the value of the local church to a youth culture that hasn’t been exposed to an effective church ministry. “ Bob Hines visited our leadership team in the summer of 2007 and challenged us to export our DNA. The church has grown 15% annually for over a decade and he felt that Germany needs just this kind of church. Our burden became to bring a young demographic together and challenge/resource them in order for them to create platforms of ministry that would be effective in impacting their own generation. If we reach them at the end of schooling, but before they fully enter the workforce and begin a family, we seek to inspire them to assume responsibility for reaching their communities for Christ and plant a church.” Keith Gandy

This was a grand task for a church of 300, for it required a budget beyond their means, and a work force of at least 100. With a gift from the Rawlings Foundation and the help of two churches in the states, they set out by faith to make this event happen….AND IT HAPPENED WITH EXCELLENCE!!!

With 16 bands that included Six Pence-None the Richer, Salvador, FireFlight, and Sarah Hughes, a work staff of 130, and the Lord’s leadership, Revofest was a resounding success. With approximately 900 total teens and young adults in attendance, it was held over a three day period, Friday through Sunday, with the music starting at 5:00 P.M. on Friday and Saturday evening. Classes and seminars were held on Saturday morning and afternoon. The young adults camped on location, were fed from a well organized feeding center, had excellent restroom and shower facilities, attended classes in buildings set up for teaching, and were all exposed to the beautiful 16th century Chateau that housed the entire event. “We desire to create a new movement, so it will require targeting innovators and early adopters, rather than those that simply duplicate or model what already exists. The entrepreneurs will be the ones to take risks, which is the requirement for creating new movements. The challenge of this, to spark their interes,t requires very trendy, inspirational platforms. Anything less than creative excellence will pancake among such minds.

Our leadership team thinks that exposing young people to experienced and proven leadership in a speaking venue is where the information can be conveyed. The challenge is to attract them to that environment. To target the 20-24 year age category we selected the platform of a major music festival. This is the only tool known to us that will presently attract major numbers of young people.” Keith Gandy

There was a constant flow of teens and young adults to the counseling area and reports are still being gathered on the number that were dealt with and saved.

Everyone that attended was impressed with the wonderful spirit that was present, how well everything was organized, and the quality of the music and classes. Keith brought a good message at the Sunday morning service where the gospel was clearly presented.

This festival was a new approach to the traditional youth camp held during the summer. “We know that many of our future pastors, church planters, and missionaries come from youth camps and we just haven’t had much success in reaching German youth with the traditional model, so we wanted to try something new.” Denny Gandy.

Was it successful?…Here are some comments of some of the participants:

Derrick Webster, Missionary from Switzerland : “This impact is going to be felt for the– next five years – It is huge for believers to create this kind of Synergy for the future.”

Andra – “This is Church reaching out to the community to bring souls in.
The impact is awesome, because they are reaching young people and our generation.”

Jo Anna – Reporter for German radio station– “I think it’s very great in a Christian way. I have never heard of any festival with a Christian emphasis.”

Tim Downs BBFI Missionary – Impact – The impact on the Church is significant. Young people are being impacted that wouldn’t have been associated with the church in any way. Many young people don’t think about church, even though they may think about God, and this is a way for the church to connect with them. I think this approach is going to be a stretch for some people, but the reality is if we are going to reach them, we have to connect with them where they live.

Denny – A lot of things surprised me. It has been really great for our church but especially for church growth in the future. Our people got a vision for the importance of the church and what a church can do. Many of the people that have been saved in our church have come from State churches (Catholic) and have never seen a church that has a passion for people or passion for a project like this. I think this is a very good start for what God is wanting to do in Germany.

One teen who confessed he was not a Christian said “This is so fantastic, this has to spread”

Keith and Debby Gandy have been BBFI missionaries to Germany for 28 years and have built a great church and ministry in Aschaffenburg. All three of their children are active in the ministry, with Denny, their oldest son serving as Associate Pastor and is involved in planting a new church in the area. Their son-in-law, Christoph is their worship leader and their daughter, Lisa, and youngest son, Robert are actively involved in the ministry of the church. Keith is also aided in this ministry by Renea Thompson and Linda Fitzgerald, two BBFI missionaries. Frustrated by the inability to build a ministry that was effective in evangelism and church planting, Keith decided to change his methods and began using a more contemporary approach to worship with an emphasis on young couples and youth. The results have been a church averaging 280, a facility that the church has built valued at more the 1 million euros, and a passion for evangelism and church planting. They are committed to creating a model for evangelism and church planting in Germany that will accelerate the fulfilling of the Great Commission and make an impact on Germany and the rest of Europe.

If you would like for Keith and Debby to come to your church and share the vision and opportunity this ministry presents, please contact him at the following address:

Keith Gandy
Schweinheimerstr. 13
63743 Aschaffenburg
Germany
Church Phone – 001 49 6021 218415

Bob Hines
iMap

Women’s Camp in Cambodia June 18

2008-06-30T23:56:00.007-04:00

June 18 is the holiday for the Queen of Cambodia’s birthday so we used this day to invite all the ladies from the community churches surrounding the Highlands Camp to hear the Word. A total of 587 ladies attended. They also brought 17 of their husbands and 256 of their children. Only ladies were originally invited but there were no babysitters so they could not leave them home. We had to rent 5 busses and 3 vans to transport them.

These are the churches represented, Liberty Bible Baptist Churches and Missions in Snaor, Trey Trayoeng, Phnom Sroyt, Cham Kar Chek, Chamkar Luong, Stueng Chay, Prey Nup and Sre Ambel. There have been 14 churches started as a result of the Camp Ministry around the region. A special invitation was extended to Russey Keo Baptist Church which sent 48 to the meeting.

There were 7 lecturers that gave lessons on Salvation, Assurance of Salvation, Baptism, Hygiene, Love, Courtship, Marriage, and how to be a faithful wife of a Servant.

We provided Cambodian games which they love to participate in, preached to them on the evening of the 17th . and noon on the 18th. 156 ladies, 189 children and 7 men came to Christ for Salvation. We held a baptismal service at 4:00pm and 100 were baptized.

One story that we do not need to overlook was that a wife really wanted to come though her baby was due at any time. She and her husband were saved the evening service and the baby was born the next day. They are now members of our church in Kiriom.

God is good all the time. Praise the Lord for His marvelous work, and thanks to the Rawlings Foundation for making this possible.

Bro. Lomer Hope DeLaCruz

Camp Supervisor