Around the world: April 2006
Brady,of Hope Hull, Ala., began his ministry in 1984 while serving in the military onassignment in Panama.The mission now works with 15 congregations and provides support for 10indigenous ministers.
Formore information, see usembassy.state.gov/panama or www.panmission.org.
BELGIUM
ANTWERP
On the same day thatsome Muslims rioted in Antwerpover cartoons depicting Muhammad, church members opened their newly renovatedbuilding to a Muslim group for a birth celebration, said missionary PaulBrazle. More than 150 Muslim ladies met at the church building for the event.
“They wereexcessively thankful that we would open our space to them when all others weretaken,” Brazle said. “We were gratified by the opportunity to do somethingpositive amid the cloudiness.”
CAMBODIA
PHNOM PENH
They call it “tuk tukevangelism.” Workers in Cambodiaadvertise World English Institute, a U.S.-based ministry that teaches Englishusing the Bible, on the back of “tuk tuks,” three-wheeled taxis that cruise thestreets of Phnom Penh.
“As it cruises thecity thousands of people see the sign and many are signing up,” said missionaryBill McDonough.
CROATIA
ZAGREB
Vlado Psenko,evangelist for the Downtown Zagreb church, reported new contacts as a result ofThe Valley of Blessings. Psenko writes and records the 15-minute radio program,heard on a Zagrebstation. Mladen Jovanovic launched the ministry 15 years ago and recently tookPsenko on as a partner.
Psenko hopes toexpand the ministry to eastern Croatia,where he grew up. A radio station has offered daily three-minute slots. Psenkois raising funds to buy the air time.
GUATEMALA
MONTELLANO
Health TalentsInternational hosted its first Midwife Training Seminar recently at theministry’s Clinica Ezell in Montellano.
Dr. Celia ElubiaAlbizures, a neonatologist from Guatemala City, and Health Talents nurse Rosario Ponce Ajutaught 46 women.
The ministry willprovide sterile supplies to the midwives, said Rick Harper, executive director.
TECULUTAN
A late-Februarycampaign to Teculutan, northeast of Guatemala City, yielded 56 baptisms and a new congregation, saidmissionary George Hall. Hall directs the Biblical Institute of Central America,a school for ministers and church leaders with campuses in Guatemala City and El Progreso, Honduras.Churches in Texas,support the ministry.
Thirty-six studentsfrom the Guatemala City campus and churchmembers from Belton and San Angelo, Texas, participated in thecampaign.
HAITI
LIMONADE
Churches in northern Haiti and theHaitian Christian Foundation sponsored a youth rally “to counteract thedepravity seen in the local Carnival celebrations,” said missionary BobValerius. The 227 youths who attended came from 11 churches to the village of Limonade,near Cap Haitien.They attended classes on topics from basic Christianity to teen sexuality. Theyalso played games, including a soccer tournament won by the Peltan churchyouths. For more information, see www.haitianchristianfoundation.org
HONDURAS
SANTA BARBARA
Medical missions andmarriage enrichment were on the agendas of church members who traveled to Honduras in early March, under the direction ofBerto Murillo, cross-cultural minister for the South MacArthur church, Irving, Texas.
Murillo and his wife,Carmen, conducted an annual Family Dynamic Seminar at a retreat center.Participants discussed strategies for a successful marriage and the need forspiritual leadership in families. Church members participated in a medicalcampaign in the Santa Barbaraarea, providing medical, dental and ophthalmology services.
INDIA
CHINNACUMBUM
About 25 ministersattended a preachers’ conference, hosted by the Chinnacumbum church, in thePrakasam district, in early March, said minister Paul Subhan. The ministersdiscussed churches’ needs and provided encouragement for each other, Subhansaid. The Lemon Grove, Calif., church supports the work.
VIJAYWADA
About 1,700 peopleattended a recent lectureship that featured speakers from India and the UnitedStates, said Babu Pothan, minister for the Mylavaram church, Vijaywada.Pothan’s wife, Latha, taught Bible classes for about 1,000 women during theevent.
The Sonoma Avenuechurch, Santa Rosa, Calif., and other churches and church members support thework.
LIBERIA
GBARNGA
Six baptisms, agraduation and a wedding were part of the recent “Winning Gbarnga for ChristCrusade.” About 100 participants from 16 congregations knocked on doors andconducted Bible studies during the four-day campaign, said minister DavidKolleh. Justin Bamen, Sammie N. Yarkpawolo and Washington Yan-whea gave eveningsermons.
Twenty students werehonored for completing their studies at the Gbarnga School of Biblical Studies.Church members Cyrus Padmore and Sarah Mulbah were married. Neyor Karmueconducted a program for women.
UNITED KINGDOM
SKELMERSDALE
Pete and DulcieHodge, who worked as missionaries in Elbasan, Albania, for eight years, havereturned to England and will work with the 35-member Skelmersdale church, nearLiverpool and Manchester.
Pete Hodge will workin outreach and his wife will work with the children’s ministry. Students fromHarding University, Searcy, Ark., are scheduled to work with the church in June.
