Around the world: At age 70, he’s P-H-Done
Young is a leader among churches in the West African nation of Nigeria. He has traveled throughout the country teaching and ministering, said Oji O. Oji, editor of Christian Restoration Voice, a Nigerian church publication.
Young recently published a book, What You Need To Know About …, tackling topics to from church conflicts to miracles. He studied at a university in Illinois, but completed much of his doctorate by correspondence, Oji said.
“He started the process long ago and took his time, Oji said. “Now that it has come at 70, he thanks God that he lived to receive it.
“Who says there is an age limit to learning?”
BRAZIL
CAMPINAS
Thirty-three members of the Guanabara church visited a local orphanagein late December to distribute gifts to the 40 children living there,missionary Allen Dutton Jr. said. Church leaders taped each child’swish list to poinsettias, and members cared for the plants and boughtpresents for the orphans. “Just to see their faces smiling made thisall worth it,” Dutton said. The Memorial Road church, Oklahoma City,sponsors Dutton and his wife, Robin.
BENIN
KANSOUHOUE
Morethan 400 people attended the annual All-Aja Meeting Dec. 15-18 in Kansouhoue.Local church members collected funds to provide food and transportation. Theweekend of fellowship and praise included five age-specific classes. One of thespeakers, Nestor Numovi, asked participants with Bibles to raise them in theair.
Aboutone-quarter of the congregation lifted their copies. “Last year there (were) noNew Testaments in the language of the Aja, and now it seems that many arereading them,” missionary Richard Chowning said. The Homewoodchurch, Birmingham, Ala., supports the work.
CANADA
MONTREAL
TheVerdun churchcelebrated its 20th anniversary in December, said missionary Mike Mazzalongo.The church began in Mazzalongo’s livng room and purchased its present meetingplace in 1987. The anniversary included historical displays and distribution ofa new book about the history of the church in Quebec. Mazzalongo and Roger Saumur led theservice.
INDIA
KAKINADA
TonyCoffey, minister for the Dublin, Ireland, church, returned to Kakinada and Chennai recently to follow up onrelief funds sent to tsunami victims and to conduct gospel meetings.
Localminister Vijay Kumar assisted in the work, organizing a three-day meetingattended by more than 1,800 people, Coffey said. Twelve were baptized. “Some ofthe work is easy to quantify,” Coffey said. “We see boats, nets, houses, etc.
“Butthere are more than material changes taking place. People are being changed.Hope in God is growing in their lives.”
MEXICO
TOLUCA
Churchleaders from nine cities across Mexicoattended the fifth annual meeting of regional advisers for the Latin AmericanBible Institute, a branch school of Sunset International Bible Institute, Lubbock, Texas.Rudy Wray, Sunset’s dean of ministry training, Pan American, spoke to attendeesabout the institute’s role in training future generations of ministers, saidRoberto Zepeda, director of the Tolucaschool. Liberato Ovalle and Raul Solis also coordinated the event.
TheToluca churchrecently launched a blog at www.robizepeda.blogspot.com.
NETHERLANDS
MAASTRICHT
Acappella singing group Listen Up! presented a concert titled “CHRISTmas Always”at six cities in the Netherlandsand Belgiumduring December, said missionary Scott Raab. About 550 people attended — manyof them visitors.
“InMaastricht wetalked about and prayed about the concert for months before it arrived,” Raabsaid. “We divided the various tasks, including how some in the church would bepraying during the concert while others would be talking to visitors.”
PAPUANEW GUINEA
ALOTAU
TheAlotau church sponsored a Vacation Bible SchoolDec. 20-21, said missionary Diane Reese. About 40 children attended. TheWestover Hills church, Austin, Texas, sponsors Reese and herhusband, Marcus.
PARAGUAY
ASUNCION
LikeNorth Americans, “Paraguayans are always looking for an excuse to eat,” saidmissionary Vanessa Heady. More than 100 people attended a fellowship dinnerrecently at the Asuncionchurch. Members of the Capiata and Centro churches also attended. Heady is partof a six-member mission team in the South American country. The Collegesidechurch, Cookeville, Tenn., oversees Heady.
SENEGAL
DAKAR
“Thework in Senegalis catching fire and I wouldn’t like us to fail and kill the enthusiasm of thepeople,” Arnold Dzah said. The minister for the church in Dakar said he has invitations to startchurches in at least two other cities in this predominantly Muslim country as aresult of his radio program. Dzah is a speaker for West Monroe, La.-based WorldRadio.
Dzahand a minister from neighboring Mauritaniaplan to launch a two-year ministry training school in March to meet the needsof growing churches in West Africa.
THAILAND
KHONKAEN
Morethan 400 people attended the National Lectureship in Khon Kaen Dec. 2-5, saidmissionary Kim Voraritskul. Four attendees were baptized. The Silver Spring, Md., church oversees thework of Kim and his wife, Rebecca.
UKRAINE
KIEV
TheUkrainian EducationCenter hosted a Dec. 17 seminar on thelife of C.S. Lewis, in conjunction with the Dec. 29 opening of the film TheChronicles of Narnia in Ukraine.More than 55 people attended the audio-visual presentation, which focused onChristian imagery in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Theministry’s staff and members of the Nivki church organized the event.Missionary Lena Lovingood gave attendees free samples of Turkish delight.
Churchesin Tennesseesupport the work.
