Around the World: A Chinese Bible Lectureship, Christian nursing graduates in Zambia and more quick takes

Around the World is our monthly rundown of news briefs, links and quotes from Churches of Christ all over the globe. Got an idea for this column? Email Erik Tryggestad at [email protected].

Featured photo (above): Ministers introduce themselves during the Chinese Bible Lectureship in Malaysia.

HONDURAS

TEGUCIGALPA — Christians in this Central American nation dedicated a new meeting place for the Church of Christ in El Diamante. Church members from Honduras and Tampa, Fla., assisted in construction. Members of the Los Pinos Church of Christ and students and staff from the Baxter Institute took part in the Sunday worship and dedication service.

“After the sermon, we celebrated the decision of 10 people to give their lives to the Lord through baptism,” said Baxter Institute president Steve Teel. “Our hearts overflow with joy for this beautiful experience.”

MALAYSIA

MALACCA — About 165 Christians from seven countries gathered in this historic coastal city to “Think of the Home Over There.” That was the theme of the 18th annual Chinese Bible Lectureship. Speakers included missionary John Grubb and Taiwanese ministers John Yo, Boaz Wong and William Chen.

Chen, who operates an online Chinese Bible School, presented 15 lessons in three languages — English, Mandarian and the Taiwanese dialect. Chen and his wife, Yolanda Wu, are members of the University Church of Christ in San Marcos, Texas, which oversees ChineseBibleSchool.org.

Ministers introduce themselves during the Chinese Bible Lectureship in Malaysia.

During their time in Malaysia, Chen and his wife visited the Skudai Church of Christ in Johor Bahru, where Chen conducted a three-day gospel meeting, “Why Is There Suffering in This World?”

“What a blessing it is to assemble as (God’s) family, diligently search the inspired Scriptures and humbly seek his divine wisdom,” Wu said. “He wholeheartedly commends your unwavering devotion to the truth, your fervent love for one another and your compassionate commitment to reaching souls with the saving Gospel of Christ.”

TONGA

NUKU’ALOFA — Samuel Schuurman, a chaplain with the Royal New Zealand Air Force and a graduate of South Pacific Bible College, was part of a two-week deployment to this island nation. The airmen, mostly communications technicians, practiced establishing remote communications from Tonga to New Zealand in the event of a natural disaster.

“As I did not have many prior contacts, I simply visited various churches and Christian organizations (including theological colleges and denominational headquarters), hoping to form meaningful relationships,” Schuurman said. “It required me to step out of my comfort zone and trust that God would open doors, which he certainly did.

Samuel Schuurman, right, speaks with leaders of the Sia’atoutai Theological College in Tonga.

“I was deeply encouraged by the warmth, receptivity and hospitality of the Christian community in Tonga, and I believe I was able to establish and develop many meaningful relationships.”
South Pacific Bible College is associated with Churches of Christ. See spbc.org.nz.

UGANDA

MOROTO — Severe drought, made worse by the El Niño climate pattern, has created a food crisis in Uganda’s northeast Kotido District. One Kingdom, a Louisiana-based nonprofit supported by Churches of Christ, sent emergency funds to Christians in Uganda to provide food for those in greatest need.

“Along with providing food for our brothers and sisters in Christ, our partners are working alongside local government leaders to identify families whose lives are at immediate risk due to hunger and have delivered food to both believers and their neighbors throughout the community,” workers with One Kingdom said in a news release. See onekingdom.org.

ZAMBIA

KALOMO — For completing their first-semester exams, 41 students at the Namwianga Mission College of Nursing were honored in a “capping ceremony,” which was “a moment to celebrate progress, encourage these future Christian nurses and remind them of the important calling they are preparing to fulfill,” administrators said. Twenty five more students began studies in July.

Students receive their nurse caps at a ceremony on the campus of Namwianga Mission College of Nursing in Zambia. The college is associated with Churches of Christ.

ZIMBABWE

MUTARE — Brian Davis, president of World Bible School, traveled to rural eastern Zimbabwe’s Manicaland Province with his wife, Sondra, and South African evangelist Machona Monyamane.

“A couple of years ago, several graduates of the Mutare School of Preaching embarked upon a mission of recruiting high school students (to enroll in the Bible correspondence ministry) in the public schools of this remote area,” Davis said. The Davises, their son, Bryson and Zimbabwean minister and WBS board member Washington Mhlanga visited the region to promote the program, enrolling additional students and school administrators. Recently, Mhlanga learned that “these young volunteers were planting a new church in one of the schools,” Davis said. By the time the Davises and Monyamane arrived to visit, the volunteers had planted three additional churches.

“Three Gospel meetings were organized for follow-up with these four congregations and their communities,” Davis said. “Local government officials, school administrators and community leaders gave testimony as to how their school’s student body began functioning on a higher level when the teachings of the Bible were a part of their daily studies. … Over the course of our gospel meetings 35 more souls, both parents and students, came forward to be baptized.”

Filed under: Around the World Bible lectureship Food insecurity Honduras International Malaysia News Tonga Top Stories Uganda World Bible School Zambia