Around the world: ‘I left a part of my heart in Cambodia’
That’s how Joel Osborne described a recent youth camp in the Asian nation of Cambodia. Thirteen missionaries and 57 Christian youths from Cambodia. Thailand, Japan, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore gathered near the historic temple of Angkor Wat for the 10-day “Angkor of Faith Mission Camp.” About 100 Cambodians participated. Many of them were “street kids” who work 12-hour days selling postcards, books and bracelets to raise money for their families, said Osborne, a missionary in Sendai, Japan. “They have fears and hurts, and for one week they were allowed to just be kids,” Osborne said.
See additonal photos and stories about the campers at www.s2s4a.com and inoutseason.blogspot.com.
INDIA
KAKINADA
Studying hard paid of for Prabhu Das Nag. The church member from thetown of Brahmani in southern India earned the “Most Disciplined” awardalong with fellow student G. Robin after three years of study at theKakinada School of Preaching. They were among the 36 students honoredat the school’s recent graduation, said director Nehemiah Gootam.
The graduation followed the 22nd Bible Lectureship at the school,attended by no less than 3,500 people, Gootam said. In addition totheir diplomas, each graduate got Bibles, hymnals and a bicycle.
“They take these new bicycles and go into village after village,sometimes traveling 30 to 40 kilometers (13 to 19 miles), preaching attwo to three places every Sunday in the hopes of reaching new souls,”Gootam said. The school has 60 students and 10 instructors teaching inthree languages.
BAHAMAS
FREEPORT
Andrew Major, minister for the Central church in Nassau, Bahamas, spokeon “Men of Integrity, Sons of Dignity and Destiny during the Freeportchurch’s recent bring-a-friend Sunday, said minister Spurge Moss.Several visitors were among the 159 people in attendance, Moss said.The church launced an 11-week “Fishers of Men” program in April withFlorida minister Barry Hatcher.
CHILE
SANTIAGO
The Providencia church celebrated its seventh anniversary and thefirst anniversary of its new building recently, missionary KelleyGrant said. “Instead of inviting a lot of visitors … we decided toconcentrate on church members that had been away from the church,”Grant said. “We had a night of phone calls the week before, with thegoal of calling every church member and letting them know about theanniversary service.” About 160 people nearly 50 more than usual attended the service, Grant said.
CHINA
HONG KONG
Church members from the Philippines traveled to Hong Kong recently toprovide medical care for Filipinos living the this city of nearly 7million people. The team, part of the MARCH for Christ medical mission,worked with the Wanchai church, a congregation of about 70 Filipinosand 30 Chinese Christians, to provide the free clinics, said tripcoordinator Gigie Carranza.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
BELLOSO
Churches in this Caribbean nation are cooperating to launch a newcongregation in Belloso, about 90 minutes from Puerto Plata, ministerLucrecio Mercado said. Victor and Gladys Martinez will oversee the newchurch, Mercado said.
Eleven additional churches meet int eh Puerto Plata area, Mercado said.
GERMANY
GEMUNDEN
Church members from Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, theCzech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Croatia attended the recentAdvanced Bible Study Series at a camp in Gemunden. Belgium missionaryPaul Brazle coordinated the event.
JAPAN
TOKYO
Church members in the Tokyo area conducted an Entrance Service recentlyfor the Japan School of Evangelism, said Shiro Obata, minister for thechurch in Haruna, Japan. The ministry training program welcomed itsnewest student, Hiroshi Satoh. Satoh and his wife, Yuko, are members ofthe Naha church on the island of Okinawa. Minister Nao Fukushima isdean of the school.
NEPAL
KATHMANDU
Despite some Nepali church members leaving the country to find jobs,congregations in this Himalayan country are growing, Krishna Gopalsaid. The minister for the Kamal Pokhari church in Kathmandu reportedsix baptisms so far this year. The Kamal Pokhari church hosted aquarterly Bible study for church members from eight cities across thenation, Gopal said.
NEW ZEALAND
AUCKLAND
About 150 church members from the Auckland area attended a recentseminar presented by Peter Mostert, minister for the Magnolia Centerchurch in Riverside, Calf. Mostert, who was born in the African nationof Zambia, spoke about creating and maintaining relationships withinChurches of Christ, said John Staiger, minister for the Morningsidechurch in Auckland, which hosted the event.
NICARAGUA
JINOTEGA
Workers with Mision Para Cristo (Spanish for “Mission for Christ”) wantthe children of Nicaragua to be free of parasites and cavities. Theministry recently launched its parasite Treatment and Flouride Projectfor children in the Jinotega region. The U.S.-based Watson Foundationprovides parasite treatment, vitamins and basic medicine for thechildren, said Mision Para Cristo director Benny Baker. A dentist inGrapevine, Texas, is providing fluoride treatments for the children.
During a recent medical mission, church members treated 1,100 children.The ministry also plans to train community health workers in 51communities near Jinotega, Baker said.
PAPAU NEW GUINEA
ALOTAU
Ira Hill fielded questions about making soap and vacuum packaging seacucumbers during a recent trip to this South Pacific nation. Hill aretired businessman, conducted a management seminar in Alotau afterinterviewing several business owners and assessing their needs. About40 people attended. Hill also conducted a business ethics seminar.
His wife, June, has written a book on Sunday school teaching techniques and worked with the women of the Alotau congregation.
The Hills are members of the Westover Hills church in Austin, Texas.
See additonal photos and stories about the campers at www.s2s4a.com and inoutseason.blogspot.com.
INDIA
KAKINADA
Studying hard paid of for Prabhu Das Nag. The church member from thetown of Brahmani in southern India earned the “Most Disciplined” awardalong with fellow student G. Robin after three years of study at theKakinada School of Preaching. They were among the 36 students honoredat the school’s recent graduation, said director Nehemiah Gootam.
The graduation followed the 22nd Bible Lectureship at the school,attended by no less than 3,500 people, Gootam said. In addition totheir diplomas, each graduate got Bibles, hymnals and a bicycle.
“They take these new bicycles and go into village after village,sometimes traveling 30 to 40 kilometers (13 to 19 miles), preaching attwo to three places every Sunday in the hopes of reaching new souls,”Gootam said. The school has 60 students and 10 instructors teaching inthree languages.
BAHAMAS
FREEPORT
Andrew Major, minister for the Central church in Nassau, Bahamas, spokeon “Men of Integrity, Sons of Dignity and Destiny during the Freeportchurch’s recent bring-a-friend Sunday, said minister Spurge Moss.Several visitors were among the 159 people in attendance, Moss said.The church launced an 11-week “Fishers of Men” program in April withFlorida minister Barry Hatcher.
CHILE
SANTIAGO
The Providencia church celebrated its seventh anniversary and thefirst anniversary of its new building recently, missionary KelleyGrant said. “Instead of inviting a lot of visitors … we decided toconcentrate on church members that had been away from the church,”Grant said. “We had a night of phone calls the week before, with thegoal of calling every church member and letting them know about theanniversary service.” About 160 people nearly 50 more than usual attended the service, Grant said.
CHINA
HONG KONG
Church members from the Philippines traveled to Hong Kong recently toprovide medical care for Filipinos living the this city of nearly 7million people. The team, part of the MARCH for Christ medical mission,worked with the Wanchai church, a congregation of about 70 Filipinosand 30 Chinese Christians, to provide the free clinics, said tripcoordinator Gigie Carranza.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
BELLOSO
Churches in this Caribbean nation are cooperating to launch a newcongregation in Belloso, about 90 minutes from Puerto Plata, ministerLucrecio Mercado said. Victor and Gladys Martinez will oversee the newchurch, Mercado said.
Eleven additional churches meet int eh Puerto Plata area, Mercado said.
GERMANY
GEMUNDEN
Church members from Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, theCzech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Croatia attended the recentAdvanced Bible Study Series at a camp in Gemunden. Belgium missionaryPaul Brazle coordinated the event.
JAPAN
TOKYO
Church members in the Tokyo area conducted an Entrance Service recentlyfor the Japan School of Evangelism, said Shiro Obata, minister for thechurch in Haruna, Japan. The ministry training program welcomed itsnewest student, Hiroshi Satoh. Satoh and his wife, Yuko, are members ofthe Naha church on the island of Okinawa. Minister Nao Fukushima isdean of the school.
NEPAL
KATHMANDU
Despite some Nepali church members leaving the country to find jobs,congregations in this Himalayan country are growing, Krishna Gopalsaid. The minister for the Kamal Pokhari church in Kathmandu reportedsix baptisms so far this year. The Kamal Pokhari church hosted aquarterly Bible study for church members from eight cities across thenation, Gopal said.
NEW ZEALAND
AUCKLAND
About 150 church members from the Auckland area attended a recentseminar presented by Peter Mostert, minister for the Magnolia Centerchurch in Riverside, Calf. Mostert, who was born in the African nationof Zambia, spoke about creating and maintaining relationships withinChurches of Christ, said John Staiger, minister for the Morningsidechurch in Auckland, which hosted the event.
NICARAGUA
JINOTEGA
Workers with Mision Para Cristo (Spanish for “Mission for Christ”) wantthe children of Nicaragua to be free of parasites and cavities. Theministry recently launched its parasite Treatment and Flouride Projectfor children in the Jinotega region. The U.S.-based Watson Foundationprovides parasite treatment, vitamins and basic medicine for thechildren, said Mision Para Cristo director Benny Baker. A dentist inGrapevine, Texas, is providing fluoride treatments for the children.
During a recent medical mission, church members treated 1,100 children.The ministry also plans to train community health workers in 51communities near Jinotega, Baker said.
PAPAU NEW GUINEA
ALOTAU
Ira Hill fielded questions about making soap and vacuum packaging seacucumbers during a recent trip to this South Pacific nation. Hill aretired businessman, conducted a management seminar in Alotau afterinterviewing several business owners and assessing their needs. About40 people attended. Hill also conducted a business ethics seminar.
His wife, June, has written a book on Sunday school teaching techniques and worked with the women of the Alotau congregation.
The Hills are members of the Westover Hills church in Austin, Texas.
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