Around the world: Sharing the ministry
CAP HAITIEN, Haiti — The center for Biblical Training recently began classes with 12 new students – and a new emphasis on local leadership, said Tim Mastenbrook, chairman of the Haitian Christian Foundation, which supports the school. The 10-year-old foundation turned over some of the administrative duties at the school to Haitian Christians, Mastenbrook said.
Missionary David Dirrim continues to serve as the school’s director, but lives in the United States. Handling the schools day-to-day operations are Fonrose Teogene and a new administrative committee comprised of Bellot Calice, Cherfils Wisnique and Jackie Pierrot. All three are graduates of the Center for Biblical Training. For more information, see www.haitianchristianfoundation.org
BELGIUM
ANTWERP
Thirty-seven church members from Belgium and the Netherlands attended the second annual Flemish-Speaking Ladies Day in Antwerp recently, missionary Holly Brazle said. Speakers Ruth Krumrei and Ans van Erp talked about suffering and trusting God. Bozena van Gestel, of the Eindhoven, Netherlands, church, told her conversion story, Brazle said.
BRAZIL
RECIFE
More than 100 church members from congregations in the Recife area attended a recent seminar titled “Building the Kingdom of God,” missionary Michael Pruitt said. Kevin Wise, a minister from Escondido, Calif., was the guest speaker.
The seminar was part of a series designed to train church members “to be more effective in their perspective ministries,” Pruitt said. The goal of the series is to prepare prospective elders and deacons — and help current church leaders improve their ministry, he said.
CUBA
HAVANA
About 250 ministers attended a recent preacher’s reunion conference in Havana, said Roberto Zepeda, a minister for the church in Toluca, Mexico. During the three-day conference, “I realized how much the Cuban brothers submit to the Lord,” said Zepeda, who made his first visit to the conference at the request of the Cuban ministers. The island nation is home to hundreds of Churches of Christ.
“Despite their many limitations, their work for the Lord is strong and significant,” Zepeda said.
INDIA
EDARA
Members of the Edara church conducted a nightly study of the book of Acts recently. At the conclusion of the lessons, church members tested their knowledge in exams, and top students got prizes, minister N. Vinoda Rao said. The church recently launched a Summer Village Evangelism campaign, targeting nine villages in the Edara and Nuzvid area of southern India, the minister said.
KENYA
NAIROBI
About 150 church members from across Kenya gathered for the annual “Jipe Moyo,” Swahili for “encouragement,” at the Nairobi church, missionary Berkeley Hackett said. Speakers included Pat Cox, Eloise Cooper, Stephanie Codara and Amy Bacon from the Saturn Road church in Garland, Texas. Kenyan church members taught classes and led drama and singing groups.
The Saturn Road church sponsors Hackett and his wife, Charlotte.
KUWAIT
KUWAIT CITY
A church in this Middle Eastern country has experienced nearly 25 baptisms since it was planted in November, according to workers who asked that their names be withheld for security reasons. The workers teach Bible among expatriate communities, mostly Indian, in the Middle East.
MEXICO
PIEDRAS NEGRAS
A building project turned into a rebuilding project after a tornado struck this Mexican city, just west of Eagle Pass, Texas, recently.
Members of the Memorial Road church in Oklahoma City were helping Mexican church members build a school for special-needs children, but the storm scattered bricks and knocked down half-built walls. The Oklahoma church members concluded their mission trip by cleaning up debris and encouraging the Mexican Christians, said singles minister Bart Rybinski.
“To see God put our group in the right place at the right time to help our brothers and sisters there was an incredible, faith-shaping experience,” he said.
PARAGUAY
ASUNCION
The Asuncion congregation hosted its first Ladies’ Day recently, missionary Vanessa Hardin said. More than 65 womean attended, and about one-third of them were first-time visitors, Hardin said. Tae Perkins, a missionary in Santiago, Chile, facilitated the event.
SWAZILAND
MANZINI
After 40 years of training church members for ministry, the Manzini Bible School has a new name — African Christian College.
Faculty, administrators and supporters from Africa and the United States celebrated the school’s anniversary and unveiled its new moniker recently, said missionaries Larry and Susan Carter.
Attendees included members of the Montgomery Boulevard church in Albuquerque, N.M., and faculty from the Southern African Bible College in nearby Benoni, South Africa.
Alumni from Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Congo, Malawi, South Africa and Swaziland also attended, the missionaries said.
UNITED KINGDOM
NEWCASTLE
“Whose fool are you?” was the theme of a recent youth weekend at the Newcastle church, missionary David Coggin said. Fifty-six youths from 14 congregations attended. Speakers included ministers from Scotland, Ireland and England.
The church also hosted a gospel seminar recently. David Young, teaching minister for the North Boulevard church in Murfreesboro, Tenn., was the guest speaker. Members from four churches — some three hours away — attended, Coggin said.
Missionary David Dirrim continues to serve as the school’s director, but lives in the United States. Handling the schools day-to-day operations are Fonrose Teogene and a new administrative committee comprised of Bellot Calice, Cherfils Wisnique and Jackie Pierrot. All three are graduates of the Center for Biblical Training. For more information, see www.haitianchristianfoundation.org
BELGIUM
ANTWERP
Thirty-seven church members from Belgium and the Netherlands attended the second annual Flemish-Speaking Ladies Day in Antwerp recently, missionary Holly Brazle said. Speakers Ruth Krumrei and Ans van Erp talked about suffering and trusting God. Bozena van Gestel, of the Eindhoven, Netherlands, church, told her conversion story, Brazle said.
BRAZIL
RECIFE
More than 100 church members from congregations in the Recife area attended a recent seminar titled “Building the Kingdom of God,” missionary Michael Pruitt said. Kevin Wise, a minister from Escondido, Calif., was the guest speaker.
The seminar was part of a series designed to train church members “to be more effective in their perspective ministries,” Pruitt said. The goal of the series is to prepare prospective elders and deacons — and help current church leaders improve their ministry, he said.
CUBA
HAVANA
About 250 ministers attended a recent preacher’s reunion conference in Havana, said Roberto Zepeda, a minister for the church in Toluca, Mexico. During the three-day conference, “I realized how much the Cuban brothers submit to the Lord,” said Zepeda, who made his first visit to the conference at the request of the Cuban ministers. The island nation is home to hundreds of Churches of Christ.
“Despite their many limitations, their work for the Lord is strong and significant,” Zepeda said.
INDIA
EDARA
Members of the Edara church conducted a nightly study of the book of Acts recently. At the conclusion of the lessons, church members tested their knowledge in exams, and top students got prizes, minister N. Vinoda Rao said. The church recently launched a Summer Village Evangelism campaign, targeting nine villages in the Edara and Nuzvid area of southern India, the minister said.
KENYA
NAIROBI
About 150 church members from across Kenya gathered for the annual “Jipe Moyo,” Swahili for “encouragement,” at the Nairobi church, missionary Berkeley Hackett said. Speakers included Pat Cox, Eloise Cooper, Stephanie Codara and Amy Bacon from the Saturn Road church in Garland, Texas. Kenyan church members taught classes and led drama and singing groups.
The Saturn Road church sponsors Hackett and his wife, Charlotte.
KUWAIT
KUWAIT CITY
A church in this Middle Eastern country has experienced nearly 25 baptisms since it was planted in November, according to workers who asked that their names be withheld for security reasons. The workers teach Bible among expatriate communities, mostly Indian, in the Middle East.
MEXICO
PIEDRAS NEGRAS
A building project turned into a rebuilding project after a tornado struck this Mexican city, just west of Eagle Pass, Texas, recently.
Members of the Memorial Road church in Oklahoma City were helping Mexican church members build a school for special-needs children, but the storm scattered bricks and knocked down half-built walls. The Oklahoma church members concluded their mission trip by cleaning up debris and encouraging the Mexican Christians, said singles minister Bart Rybinski.
“To see God put our group in the right place at the right time to help our brothers and sisters there was an incredible, faith-shaping experience,” he said.
PARAGUAY
ASUNCION
The Asuncion congregation hosted its first Ladies’ Day recently, missionary Vanessa Hardin said. More than 65 womean attended, and about one-third of them were first-time visitors, Hardin said. Tae Perkins, a missionary in Santiago, Chile, facilitated the event.
SWAZILAND
MANZINI
After 40 years of training church members for ministry, the Manzini Bible School has a new name — African Christian College.
Faculty, administrators and supporters from Africa and the United States celebrated the school’s anniversary and unveiled its new moniker recently, said missionaries Larry and Susan Carter.
Attendees included members of the Montgomery Boulevard church in Albuquerque, N.M., and faculty from the Southern African Bible College in nearby Benoni, South Africa.
Alumni from Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Congo, Malawi, South Africa and Swaziland also attended, the missionaries said.
UNITED KINGDOM
NEWCASTLE
“Whose fool are you?” was the theme of a recent youth weekend at the Newcastle church, missionary David Coggin said. Fifty-six youths from 14 congregations attended. Speakers included ministers from Scotland, Ireland and England.
The church also hosted a gospel seminar recently. David Young, teaching minister for the North Boulevard church in Murfreesboro, Tenn., was the guest speaker. Members from four churches — some three hours away — attended, Coggin said.
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