Around the world: ‘Papa’ of the bride
MARIUPOL, Ukraine — Denis Zolotaryov and Julia Grachova were two of the first teenagers to stay at the Transitional Living Center, a home that provides a Christian environment for orphans as they move from government-run orphanages to independent living. The ministry’s Web site is jeremiahshope.org.
Now living on their own, the young couple recently married. The ministry’s director, Anderw Kelly, walked Grachova down the aisle during the ceremony.
“I was blessed when she asked me – and I will never forget her saying – ‘Papa, will you walk me down the aisle because you are the only papa I have,” Kelly said.
“There was no answer other than ‘Yes!'”
CUBA
MATANZAS
Workers with Herald of Truth conducted gospel campaigns and worship services recently in Havana and Matanzas and in house churches across the island nation, said Bill Brant, president of the Abilene, Texas-based ministry. Forty-four people were baptized during the campaign.
The workers, including Juan Monroy. Tony Fernandez, Tim Archer and Skye Noe, helped with the ninth annual Youth Encounter in Matanzas, attended by more than 350 people. Participants received a Bible and study material.
Herald of Truth will ship more than 3,000 additional Bibles to Cuba “to keep up with the response that the campaign has generated,” Brant said. A follow-up campaign is scheduled for October.
GREECE
KALAMAKI
Hebrews 12:1 (“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses …”) appeared in Greek, Bulgarian, Romanian, Russian and English on T-shirts distributed at the Omonia church’s annual summer retreat.
“Ninety happy faces from five nations signed up,” said Alexander Melirrytos, a minister from the Omonia church in Athens, “and for three full days we enjoyed the warmth and Christian love of each other.” The Kalamaki Beach Hotel, minutes away from the biblical city of Corinth, was the site of the retreat.
Sixteen campaigners from the Smyrna, Tenn., church taught classes. They also provided study materials – and the T-shirts – for the retreat, Melirrytos said.
GUYANA
GEORGETOWN
In less than a year, Sunday attendance at the Lamaha Gardens church has grown from about 35 to more than 80, said missionary Colleen DeLoaches oversee Operation Guyana, a medical and evangelistic mission in Georgetown. The ministry’s Web site is www.guyana-missions.org.
MALI
SEGOU
Church members are using radio broadcasts and Bible literature to reach people in Segou, a small city in this land-locked, West African nation, said minister Peter Ofor. The minister delivers English and French versions of the magazine Truth for Today to people in Segou interested in learning about the Bible.
Ofori, speaker for West Monroe, La.-based World radio Gospel Broadcasts, is on the town’s airwaves from 9 to 9:30 a.m. every Sunday in prerecorded messages, telling the pole of Segou about Jesus. David Antwi supervises the program in Segou.
“There is hope to begin a new congregation in the town. Therefore, put it in your daily prayers,” Ofori asked church members.
MICRONESIA
KOLONIA
Missionaries Robert and Mary Martin recently added this coastal town on the island of Pohnpei to the list of sites they visit for the Pacific Islands Bible College, or PIBC. Robert Martin teaches Bible courses in 21 locations in 10 countries scattered across the Pacific islands.
“We are always looking for more instructors to teach PIBC courses, Robert Martin said. The Forest Park, Ga., church supports the work.
MEXICO
TIJUANA
Six men, ages 21 to 36, graduated recently from the Latin American Bible Institute. Several plan to return to their homes in souther Mexico to work among congregations there, said Steve Mock, an instructor at the institute.
Juan Nunez will preach in Tzutzil, his native language, in Chiapas, a state with one of the largeest populations of indigenous people in Mexico. Other graduates will minister in Oaxaca, Campeche and Monterrey, Mock said.
NICARAGUA
MANAGUA
More than 2,000 people from churches across Nicaragua and the United states attended Uplift Nicaragua, an annual event focused on youth in this Central American nation, said Benny Baker of Plainview, Texas-based Mision Para Cristo (Mission for Christ).
Harding University in Searcy, Ark., provided support for the event. Youth groups from Snellville, Ga., and Franklin, Tenn., participated in service projects as part of Uplift Nicaragua.
RUSSIA
ROSTOV-ON-DON
More than 80 Christians from 37 cities in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and the United States learned the ABC’s of “Do, Re, Mi” at a recent singing seminar, said Sergei Besedin, a Bible teacher in Barnaul, Russia.
American church members launched the seminar 10 years ago and taught most of the classes, but now more Russian and Ukrainian church members are involved in teaching, Besedin said.
“The purpose of the singing school is not just to learn musical grammar, but to learn how we can worship or God better and help those who participate in the school to teach their fellow Christians back home,” he added.
Now living on their own, the young couple recently married. The ministry’s director, Anderw Kelly, walked Grachova down the aisle during the ceremony.
“I was blessed when she asked me – and I will never forget her saying – ‘Papa, will you walk me down the aisle because you are the only papa I have,” Kelly said.
“There was no answer other than ‘Yes!'”
CUBA
MATANZAS
Workers with Herald of Truth conducted gospel campaigns and worship services recently in Havana and Matanzas and in house churches across the island nation, said Bill Brant, president of the Abilene, Texas-based ministry. Forty-four people were baptized during the campaign.
The workers, including Juan Monroy. Tony Fernandez, Tim Archer and Skye Noe, helped with the ninth annual Youth Encounter in Matanzas, attended by more than 350 people. Participants received a Bible and study material.
Herald of Truth will ship more than 3,000 additional Bibles to Cuba “to keep up with the response that the campaign has generated,” Brant said. A follow-up campaign is scheduled for October.
GREECE
KALAMAKI
Hebrews 12:1 (“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses …”) appeared in Greek, Bulgarian, Romanian, Russian and English on T-shirts distributed at the Omonia church’s annual summer retreat.
“Ninety happy faces from five nations signed up,” said Alexander Melirrytos, a minister from the Omonia church in Athens, “and for three full days we enjoyed the warmth and Christian love of each other.” The Kalamaki Beach Hotel, minutes away from the biblical city of Corinth, was the site of the retreat.
Sixteen campaigners from the Smyrna, Tenn., church taught classes. They also provided study materials – and the T-shirts – for the retreat, Melirrytos said.
GUYANA
GEORGETOWN
In less than a year, Sunday attendance at the Lamaha Gardens church has grown from about 35 to more than 80, said missionary Colleen DeLoaches oversee Operation Guyana, a medical and evangelistic mission in Georgetown. The ministry’s Web site is www.guyana-missions.org.
MALI
SEGOU
Church members are using radio broadcasts and Bible literature to reach people in Segou, a small city in this land-locked, West African nation, said minister Peter Ofor. The minister delivers English and French versions of the magazine Truth for Today to people in Segou interested in learning about the Bible.
Ofori, speaker for West Monroe, La.-based World radio Gospel Broadcasts, is on the town’s airwaves from 9 to 9:30 a.m. every Sunday in prerecorded messages, telling the pole of Segou about Jesus. David Antwi supervises the program in Segou.
“There is hope to begin a new congregation in the town. Therefore, put it in your daily prayers,” Ofori asked church members.
MICRONESIA
KOLONIA
Missionaries Robert and Mary Martin recently added this coastal town on the island of Pohnpei to the list of sites they visit for the Pacific Islands Bible College, or PIBC. Robert Martin teaches Bible courses in 21 locations in 10 countries scattered across the Pacific islands.
“We are always looking for more instructors to teach PIBC courses, Robert Martin said. The Forest Park, Ga., church supports the work.
MEXICO
TIJUANA
Six men, ages 21 to 36, graduated recently from the Latin American Bible Institute. Several plan to return to their homes in souther Mexico to work among congregations there, said Steve Mock, an instructor at the institute.
Juan Nunez will preach in Tzutzil, his native language, in Chiapas, a state with one of the largeest populations of indigenous people in Mexico. Other graduates will minister in Oaxaca, Campeche and Monterrey, Mock said.
NICARAGUA
MANAGUA
More than 2,000 people from churches across Nicaragua and the United states attended Uplift Nicaragua, an annual event focused on youth in this Central American nation, said Benny Baker of Plainview, Texas-based Mision Para Cristo (Mission for Christ).
Harding University in Searcy, Ark., provided support for the event. Youth groups from Snellville, Ga., and Franklin, Tenn., participated in service projects as part of Uplift Nicaragua.
RUSSIA
ROSTOV-ON-DON
More than 80 Christians from 37 cities in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and the United States learned the ABC’s of “Do, Re, Mi” at a recent singing seminar, said Sergei Besedin, a Bible teacher in Barnaul, Russia.
American church members launched the seminar 10 years ago and taught most of the classes, but now more Russian and Ukrainian church members are involved in teaching, Besedin said.
“The purpose of the singing school is not just to learn musical grammar, but to learn how we can worship or God better and help those who participate in the school to teach their fellow Christians back home,” he added.
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